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2026 Elections

All articles tagged with #2026 elections

Texas midterm turnout hits record highs as Democratic primary leads early voting
politics15 hours ago

Texas midterm turnout hits record highs as Democratic primary leads early voting

Early voting in Texas for the 2026 midterms is breaking records, with Democratic primary voters driving turnout well ahead of Republicans in the first week and overall Democratic primary votes topping 2024 and 2020 primaries; analysts credit high-profile Senate contests and Trump-era dynamics for energizing Democrats, while Republicans remain competitive but face a larger base, with countywide gains in places like Harris and Tarrant signaling a tight race come November.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#democratic-primary#early-voting
Gonzales faces backlash after requests for explicit photo from aide who died by suicide
politics1 day ago

Gonzales faces backlash after requests for explicit photo from aide who died by suicide

Texas Tribune reporting shows U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales pressed his district director for an explicit photo, which she refused; her husband later alleged an affair and provided texts to the Tribune. A police report indicates Santos-Aviles told officers she set herself on fire after learning her husband was involved with her best friend. Gonzales denies the affair and has faced calls to resign as he competes in a primary, with opponents accusing him of exploiting the tragedy for political points.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#congress#politics
Texas GOP AG contenders clash in lone primary debate as Paxton legacy looms
politics7 days ago

Texas GOP AG contenders clash in lone primary debate as Paxton legacy looms

At Dallas’ lone GOP attorney general primary debate, four conservative candidates touted their credentials and debated the path for the office, touching on issues like the 'Islamification' of Texas, immigration enforcement, and abortion-pill restrictions; Chip Roy emerged as the apparent frontrunner, with Mayes Middleton aiming for a runoff as early voting began for the March 3 primary.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#chip-roy#joan-huffman
politics7 days ago

New Hampshire gubernatorial race heats up as Warmington re-enters against Ayotte

Democrat Cinde Warmington launched a repeat bid for New Hampshire governor, delivering the first major challenge to GOP Gov. Kelly Ayotte in a purple, battleground state. Warmington, a former state executive councilor who previously sought the nomination in 2024, is entering an open Democratic field as Democrats hope to block Ayotte’s reelection; Ayotte has clashed with Trump on immigration policy and redistricting, and polls show a competitive but still Republican-leaning race in a state that often swings between parties.

via Politico|
#2026-elections#cinde-warmington#gubernatorial-race
Collins Kicks Off Sixth-Term Bid in High-Stakes Maine Senate Race
politics15 days ago

Collins Kicks Off Sixth-Term Bid in High-Stakes Maine Senate Race

Senator Susan Collins of Maine announced a bid for a sixth term, positioning herself as a centrist in a race Democrats consider essential to flipping the Senate. Despite being a reliable vote for Trump-era policies, Collins faces a tough, well-funded challenge from Democrats in Maine, including Gov. Janet Mills and progressive challenger Graham Platner, who has outraised Mills. The race is expected to be among the costliest in 2026, with substantial outside spending and Collins currently holding a fundraising edge over both Democrats. Trump criticized Collins after she voted to begin debate on Venezuela policy.

via The New York Times|
#2026-elections#campaign-funding#maine
Paxton, Crockett Lead Texas Senate Primary Polls Ahead of Early Voting
politics15 days ago

Paxton, Crockett Lead Texas Senate Primary Polls Ahead of Early Voting

New public polling released Feb. 9 shows Republican Ken Paxton leading incumbent Sen. John Cornyn by 7 points and Democrat Jasmine Crockett leading state Rep. James Talarico by 8 points in Texas’ U.S. Senate primaries, with about 12% still undecided; early voting begins Feb. 17, and general-election matchups show little difference between parties.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#james-talarico#jasmine-crockett
Latino Vote Swing Propels Democrat to Texas Senate District 9 Victory
politics19 days ago

Latino Vote Swing Propels Democrat to Texas Senate District 9 Victory

Latino voters were pivotal in Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s 14-point upset in Texas Senate District 9, with majority-Hispanic precincts swinging an average 34 points toward him and about 79% of the Hispanic vote going to Rehmet (a 26-point gain from 2024). Across the district, roughly 83% of precincts shifted to Democrats since 2022. The results, in a seat GOP-leaning in 2022, have Democrats eyeing red-leaning districts with large Hispanic populations for November, as Rehmet and GOP challenger Leigh Wambsganss prepare a rematch.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#fort-worth#latino-vote
politics20 days ago

AOC joins NY Democrats backing Hochul for reelection

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and all 19 New York Democratic House members will endorse Gov. Kathy Hochul’s reelection, signaling unity behind the moderate incumbent ahead of the state party convention. The lineup includes Rep. Tom Suozzi and comes as Hochul faces a June primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado. Letitia James’s endorsement for Hochul via the Working Families Party strengthens her bid, as Democrats hope to retake the House in 2026.

via Politico|
#2026-elections#alexandria-ocasio-cortez#endorsements
politics24 days ago

Dems seize early fundraising edge in 2026 Senate races

Democrats opened 2026 with a fundraising edge in several marquee Senate battles, led by Jon Ossoff in Georgia and including North Carolina, Ohio, New Hampshire, and Texas; Republicans still hold cash leads in a few contests such as Michigan, Maine, and Iowa due to primary dynamics. Overall, strong donor networks could push total 2026 Senate spending into roughly $650–$800 million as each party aims to hold open seats and flip others.

via Politico|
#2026-elections#battleground-states#democrats
Crockett and Talarico clash in first Texas Senate Democratic primary debate
politics1 month ago

Crockett and Talarico clash in first Texas Senate Democratic primary debate

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico will debate for an hour at the Texas AFL-CIO convention in Georgetown—the first debate in Texas’ 2026 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate—as early voting begins Feb. 17. The matchup spotlighted Crockett’s turnout-focused approach and Talarico’s faith- and populism-driven messaging, with polls showing Crockett leading on name/brand among Black voters and Talarico gaining traction in others, underscoring a high-stakes contest before the March 3 primary.

via texastribune.org|
#2026-elections#congress#james-talarico
us-politics1 month ago

Kelly Turns Trump Spotlight into Democratic Fundraising Engine

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly has leveraged the heightened attention from former President Trump to become a major Democratic fundraiser for 2026, directing nearly $5 million to candidates, party committees, and state parties in 2025—including over $1.4 million in direct contributions and more than $2.3 million to the DSCC—while traveling to key states and building a profile that could anchor a 2028 bid.

via Politico|
#2026-elections#dccc#dscc
Michele Tafoya Sets Sights on Minnesota Senate
politics1 month ago

Michele Tafoya Sets Sights on Minnesota Senate

Former NBC sideline reporter Michele Tafoya has filed to form a Minnesota Senate campaign committee as a Republican recruit, with an official announcement anticipated; her bid would add a high-profile outsider to a race shaped by Minnesota’s potential retirement of Democrat Tina Smith and ongoing GOP primary dynamics, including NRSC outreach and the state party’s endorsement process.

via NBC News|
#2026-elections#michele-tafoya#minnesota
california-politics1 month ago

Caruso steps back from CA governor and LA mayor bids

Billionaire developer Rick Caruso announced he will not run for either California governor or Los Angeles mayor in 2026, choosing to focus on wildfire recovery through his Steadfast LA nonprofit after last year’s devastation. He previously lost the LA mayoral race in 2022 to Karen Bass, and while he sought a more moderate, cross-partisan path, the politically polarized climate and Bass's incumbency made a rematch unlikely.

via Politico|
#2026-elections#california#california-politics
Talarico Surges to 9-Point Lead in Texas Senate Dem Primary, Emerson Poll Finds
politics1 month ago

Talarico Surges to 9-Point Lead in Texas Senate Dem Primary, Emerson Poll Finds

Emerson College’s poll of 413 likely Texas voters shows state Rep. James Talarico leading U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett by 9 points in the Democratic Senate primary (47% to 38%), with 15% undecided, marking a shift from a December TSU poll that put Crockett ahead. Talarico leads among Latino and white voters, while Crockett has strong backing from Black voters; Crockett’s Black-voter support stands around 80%. On the GOP side, Ken Paxton and John Cornyn are in a near dead heat (27% vs. 26%) with Wesley Hunt at 16%, suggesting a May runoff if no candidate clears 50% in March. The Emerson poll also finds head-to-head matchups that favor Cornyn or Hunt over Crockett but show Talarico narrowly ahead of the Republican field; Texas voters’ top concerns remain the economy, with immigration dropping to No. 2 and threats to democracy rising. Trump’s Texas approval rating has slipped to a net +2.

via The Texas Tribune|
#2026-elections#james-talarico#jasmine-felicia-crockett