Francesca Hong’s stunning defeat in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary has triggered a bitter debate on the Left, with some prominent Democrats and activists arguing that the socialist candidate’s loss may ultimately be good for their movement.
Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, entered Tuesday’s primary as the heavy favorite after surging to the top of the field. But Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who reentered the race just weeks before the election with the backing of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/david-crowley-stuns-socialist-frontrunner-in-wisconsin-dem-governor-primary?author=Daily+Wire+News&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Socialist+Frontrunner%E2%80%99s+Stunning+Collapse+Hands+Wisconsin+Dems+A+November+Lifeline">pulled off the upset</a> by roughly 3,000 votes.
The razor-thin loss has exposed a divide within the Left over whether Hong’s campaign represented a missed opportunity for the burgeoning socialist movement or a warning about the limits of its appeal in a battleground state. 
“There’s a reason the institutional left mostly stayed away,” one Democratic operative who works with left-wing campaigns told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/12/dsa-progressive-francesca-hong-wisconsin-01035101">Politico</a>. “The people who made those calls are relieved.”
A donor adviser who works with left-wing candidates similarly described Hong’s loss as “a good thing for the movement,” arguing that the results showed voters may be receptive to left-wing policies, but that candidate quality still matters. 
“This is a far better outcome,” the adviser said, arguing that a candidate who avoided some of Hong’s more controversial statements could have won.
The reluctance of the Democratic Party’s most prominent socialist figures to back Hong has become a major source of anger among her supporters. 
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dsas-anti-thanksgiving-governor-candidate-is-even-too-far-for-bernie?author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DSA%E2%80%99s+Anti-Thanksgiving+Governor+Candidate+Is+Even+Too+Far+For+Bernie">declined</a> to endorse Hong despite her commanding poll position, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also declined to get involved.
Their absence stood in sharp contrast to the national support given to other left-wing candidates this year, including Sanders-backed Minnesota Senate candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/candidate-known-for-pro-trans-knife-shirt-defeats-dem-establishment-pick-in-senate-race">Peggy Flanagan</a> and Michigan Senate candidate <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abdul-el-sayed-secures-far-lefts-biggest-victory-yet-over-dem-establishment">Abdul El-Sayed</a>— both won their primaries.
“This movement will fail if we see more letdowns at the critical moment, like we saw in this race,” said Nathan J. Robinson, editor of the leftist magazine Current Affairs. “Especially if AOC wants to be taken seriously as a national leader of the left movement, she needs to actually support the candidates out there who have a chance to notch victories.”
DSA political operative Deep Singh Badhesha similarly argued that the race could have ended differently if Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez had intervened. 
“Wisconsin being this close is very frustrating because folks like AOC and Bernie Sanders stayed out,” Badhesha said. “If they just did one rally in Wisconsin for Hong, that would have probably wrapped it up for her.”
But Hong’s defeat was not merely a consequence of a lack of national support. Her campaign was dogged by a series of controversial past statements that gave Democrats concerned about the November general election ample reason to keep their distance.
Hong previously called for Thanksgiving to be canceled, wrote that police “exist to uphold white supremacy” and should be “defund[ed] then abolish[ed],” and made controversial comments about race and American culture. The controversy became particularly damaging in the final weeks of the campaign, as Crowley successfully framed himself as the more electable Democrat in a state where Republicans are eager to reclaim the governor’s mansion.
Even Evers, who ultimately backed Crowley, warned that Hong was putting too much emphasis on controversies surrounding her social media posts. 
“I think she’s in a tough place,” Evers <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/from-piker-to-bernie-nobody-wants-to-be-seen-with-francesca-hong?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=From+Piker+To+Bernie%2C+Nobody+Wants+To+Be+Seen+With+Francesca+Hong">said</a> before the election. “She has spent her entire campaign dealing not with the issues, but what’s on the Twitter.”
Hong’s loss also comes amid a broader debate over whether a string of recent Democratic primary victories represents a genuine socialist insurgency or simply a series of candidate-specific successes. 
Still, not everyone on the Left views the result as a setback. Hasan Piker, the left-wing streamer who campaigned heavily for Hong, <a href="https://x.com/DSA_Watch/status/2087610635026886950">argued</a> Wednesday that the campaign’s ability to generate significant turnout without support from Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez or major establishment Democrats was itself an accomplishment. 
“The fact that she was able to, alongside the local DSA chapters, the fact that this campaign was able to bring this much turnout is incredible,” Piker said. “Do not let anybody discourage you.”
For Hong’s most committed supporters, however, the frustration is increasingly directed toward the national leaders who they believe abandoned a candidate who had a genuine chance to win.
For other Democrats on the Left, the lesson is almost the opposite: Hong’s defeat may have prevented a potentially damaging general election campaign and demonstrated that the party’s most radical candidates still face significant limits when they move beyond deep-blue districts and into statewide battlegrounds.
Crowley will now face Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany in November, with both parties fighting for control of Wisconsin’s governor’s mansion after Evers announced he would not seek another term.

Gubernatorial Candidate Francesca Hong Holds A Campaign Rally In Milwaukee

Hong’s Stunning Loss Has The Left Breathing A Sigh Of Relief

2026 midterm

2026 Midterms

2026 primaries

Abdul El-Sayed

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Anti-capitalist

Bernie Sanders

Democrat civil war

Democratic Party

Democratic Socialism

Democratic Socialists Of America

Democrats

Francesca Hong

Hasan Piker

Peggy Flanagan

Socialism

Wisconsin

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is scrambling to rewrite history — and reinvent himself — as his party lurches leftward and embraces candidate after candidate who&#8217;s younger and more extreme than the last.
Newsom, recognizing the appetite in his party for &#8220;insurgents&#8221; and agents of &#8220;change,&#8221; insisted that he could be all of those things while also bringing the experience that came with his more than two decades in elected office.
&#8220;I think what&#8217;s happening is there&#8217;s just a desire for change,&#8221; Newsom said. &#8220;I think this notion of insurgency over incumbency is the real message here, and people just want fighters — they want people with conviction, strength, clarity, people that get it and want to get things done. And they&#8217;re done with the status quo, and I totally respect that.&#8221;
Newsom went on to claim that despite his eight years as governor — and more than a decade in elected office prior to that — he was not an example of the &#8220;status quo&#8221; people were so desperate to leave behind. Instead, he still viewed himself as the &#8220;insurgent&#8221; rather than the &#8220;incumbent,&#8221; coining a new phrase to describe his position in the field: &#8220;established insurgent.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve long felt like I&#8217;ve been an established insurgent,&#8221; he explained, adding, &#8220;I&#8217;ve always had that mindset. I&#8217;ve been in elected office a long time, but I&#8217;ve never been naive about people&#8217;s desire for change, including my own desire for change.&#8221;
Newsom&#8217;s comments came as he traveled to Michigan, where Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed eked out a narrow victory over the more established Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens. The likely 2028 hopeful brushed aside concerns about El-Sayed&#8217;s more extreme views and alignment with far-Left streamer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hasan-piker-gloats-over-socialist-election-victories">Hasan Piker</a> — who is well known for praising Islamist terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, idolizing communist dictators like Mao Zedong, and making outlandish claims like &#8220;America deserved 9/11.&#8221;
El-Sayed, despite being given multiple chances to denounce Piker, has doubled down at every opportunity — but Newsom did not appear to be bothered by that, and instead argued that El-Sayed&#8217;s success was simply a manifestation of the people&#8217;s &#8220;desire for change.&#8221;
Responding to Republicans who have argued that El-Sayed is just more proof that the Democratic Party is embracing the extremes, Newsom said that was &#8220;nonsense,&#8221; adding, &#8220;He&#8217;s not even a member of the DSA.&#8221;
The California governor, whose term ends in January, is expected to launch a presidential campaign ahead of the 2028 election cycle — and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-new-2028-poll-just-shook-up-both-parties">recent polls</a>, which show democratic socialist darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) eclipsing him, might be the inspiration behind his attempts to reinvent himself.

Governor Newsom And San Francisco Mayor Lurie Announce New Funding For Homelessness And Mental Health Ffforts In The City

Gavin Newsom Has A New Buzzword For Believing In Nothing

Democrat

Gavin Newsom

Media

Politics

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is bringing the full weight of her political influence to bear in an increasingly bitter fight over who will succeed her in Congress.
Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress for nearly four decades, is throwing her support behind San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan as she works to defeat state Sen. Scott Wiener, and to do it, the retiring congresswoman has spent weeks mobilizing her network on Chan’s behalf. She has hosted major fundraisers for the supervisor, secured endorsements from congressional allies, and even loaned a top adviser to Chan’s campaign.
“Nancy has basically taken over Connie’s campaign,” Wiener told <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/10/pelosi-wages-war-over-her-succession-01030149">Politico</a>, contrasting Chan&#8217;s operation with his own campaign, which he said has “enormous grassroots support.”
Pelosi has made clear that she intends to see Chan elected. “I know and love this district, I know the Congress, and I know Connie. I’m proud to endorse Democrat Connie Chan and ask you to join me in electing her to Congress,” Pelosi said when she endorsed Chan.
Pelosi’s intervention is particularly notable because Wiener was once considered an ally. The two have known each other for decades, and Pelosi previously supported Wiener in his campaigns for local office. But their relationship deteriorated as Wiener positioned himself to succeed Pelosi. Wiener announced his congressional campaign in October 2025, before Pelosi publicly announced that she would not seek another term.
The timing of Wiener&#8217;s announcement has remained a point of contention among Pelosi&#8217;s allies. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a longtime Pelosi ally who now supports Chan, told Politico that Wiener had assured him he would not announce a congressional bid before Pelosi made her own plans public. Wiener disputes that account, calling it “fabrication” and saying he never made such a commitment.
Several of Pelosi’s longtime political allies and constituencies have followed her in backing Chan, including organized labor. Chan is also supported by Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the California Working Families Party and Our Revolution. Wiener, meanwhile, has endorsements from the California and San Francisco Democratic parties, along with several major labor unions and a majority of San Francisco’s moderate-leaning Board of Supervisors.
The latest escalation in the intraparty feud came over an AI-powered campaign chatbot created by Wiener’s campaign to attack Chan. The website, ConnieChan.ai, portrayed Chan as someone who says “no” to proposals involving housing and public transportation. Pelosi and a coalition of Democratic lawmakers and San Francisco political organizations condemned the chatbot, arguing that it could reinforce sexist and racist stereotypes.
“Women have spent generations fighting to have our own voices heard in the halls of power,” Pelosi and her allies said in a <a href="https://x.com/TeamPelosi/status/2085488807152136474">joint statement</a>. “We should not have to fight against artificial intelligence putting words in our mouths.” Wiener later apologized and announced that he would remove both the chatbot and the billboards advertising it.
The controversy has nevertheless given Pelosi another opportunity to draw a sharp contrast between her preferred successor and Wiener. Pelosi’s political intervention comes after the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pelosis-pick-stumbles-as-pro-trans-radical-moves-one-step-closer-to-congress?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Pelosi%E2%80%99s+Pick+Stumbles+As+Pro-Trans+Radical+Moves+One+Step+Closer+To+Congress">June primary</a> demonstrated that her endorsement alone may not be enough to determine the outcome. Wiener finished first with roughly 41% of the vote, while Chan received about 29%, sending the two into the November general election under California’s top-two primary system.
Pelosi has said her support for Chan is motivated in part by concerns over female representation in the Bay Area’s congressional delegation. Several prominent women who once represented the region, including former Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Rep. Jackie Speier and former Rep. Anna Eshoo, have all been succeeded by men.
With Pelosi deploying her fundraising network, congressional relationships and longtime San Francisco allies on Chan’s behalf, the November contest is shaping up as more than a race between two Democrats. It is also a test of whether one of the most powerful political figures in San Francisco history can determine who inherits the seat and influence she spent nearly 40 years building.

US Congressional Candidate Connie Chan Campaigns Ahead Of Primary Election

Nancy Pelosi Flexes Political Muscle In Fight To Pick Her Successor

2026 election

2026 elections

California

California Elections

Democratic establishment

Election

House Democrats

House of Representatives

midterm

Midterms

Nancy Pelosi

San Francisco

Scott Wiener

U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON—Ken Martin began the year with high hopes of rebuilding the Democratic Party. Today, the Democratic National Committee chairman is likely more concerned with keeping his job.
Morale is low at the DNC, the New York Times reported last month, in large part because Martin is acting as if the walls are closing in. The chairman reportedly makes macabre jokes about how he&#8217;s not long for the job. He landed in hot water when he reportedly threw his phone at a staffer&#8217;s desk during a tense exchange that resulted in a human resources complaint. Martin has also, the Times reports, grown increasingly frustrated by leaks and negative press surrounding the committee.
And then there&#8217;s the money. The DNC finished June with just $16.3 million cash on hand and $18.5 million in debt, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Things are so bad that Democratic Party officials have privately asked vendors to delay sending invoices until after the midterm elections, according to the Times.
The DNC disputes this report, but the party&#8217;s money troubles are real in other ways. Unlike its counterpart, the Republican National Committee is living large with $128.5 million in cash and no debt — and that&#8217;s just the tip of the iceberg.
According to recent FEC filings, Republican Party committees and their allied congressional super PACs held roughly $657 million in cash on hand at the end of June, compared to about $334 million for Democratic committees and their allied organizations. The gap grows even larger when including MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump&#8217;s allied super PAC, which alone reported having more than $400 million available for future spending.
For much of modern campaign history, that imbalance would have been significant. Today, it may be decisive.
In June, the Supreme Court ruled in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-supreme-court-restores-some-common-sense-to-campaign-finance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NRSC v. FEC</a> that limits on coordinated expenditures between political parties and candidates violated the First Amendment.
&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t change the money that&#8217;s available to party committees,&#8221; Jessica Furst Johnson, partner and co-chair of the political law practice at Lex Politica and counsel for the petitioners in NRSC v. FEC, told The Daily Wire. &#8220;It changes how party committees are able to spend it.&#8221;
That distinction substantially increases the value of institutional fundraising — precisely where Republicans currently hold their largest advantage.
Ironically, Democratic candidates themselves are hardly struggling. Several marquee Senate candidates continue <a href="https://rollcall.com/2026/07/16/democratic-candidates-sustain-fundraising-pace-as-gop-strains-to-keep-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posting enormous fundraising numbers</a>. Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff has built a sizable financial advantage over Republican challenger Rep. Mike Collins, and former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has likewise amassed an impressive war chest for his Senate campaign.
But those individual successes increasingly mask a broader weakness.
Historically, national party committees existed to do more than simply pay campaign bills. They recruited candidates, coordinated messaging, directed resources toward vulnerable races, elevated lesser-known challengers, and built a unified national political strategy.
Without a financially healthy national committee, those responsibilities increasingly fall on individual candidates. Instead of one cohesive fundraising operation supporting dozens of competitive races, Democrats increasingly resemble a collection of independently wealthy campaigns.
The &#8220;haves&#8221; are nationally recognizable candidates capable of raising tens of millions of dollars on their own. The &#8220;have-nots&#8221; are first-time challengers, vulnerable incumbents, and down-ballot candidates who traditionally depended on the party machinery and allied organizations to amplify their campaigns.
One longtime Democratic strategist warned that Republicans now possess enough institutional money to execute &#8220;a Cadillac plan everywhere,&#8221; while Democrats increasingly must decide which candidates deserve outside investment and which will largely fend for themselves.
&#8220;Party committees have incredibly talented staff — very experienced, very strategic, working hard and long hours — and they add a lot to the overall political ecosystem,&#8221; Furst Johnson said. &#8220;But if you truly view parties as just bill payers, then it&#8217;s no wonder you&#8217;re looking at this fundraising disparity.&#8221;
That disparity may prove lethal for Martin. Democratic strategist Eddie Vale recently told <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5992626-democrats-patience-dnc-ken-martin-midterms/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Hill</a> that the DNC chair&#8217;s poor fundraising is &#8220;hurting the other committees and candidates,&#8221; while former Kamala Harris campaign finance chair Rufus Gifford declared there is &#8220;no saving Martin&#8217;s chairmanship.&#8221;
Martin&#8217;s critics also point to his handling of the party&#8217;s delayed 2024 election autopsy, which many Democrats criticized after its eventual release for containing major omissions and errors, along with recent reports that the committee lost roughly $29,000 in an email scam last year.
But those arguments may matter less than the broader structural reality now confronting Democrats. The party still has candidates capable of raising enormous sums of money, but it increasingly lacks a national organization capable of turning those isolated fundraising successes into a coordinated national strategy.
Now, after the Supreme Court made party committees substantially more valuable, that institutional weakness may prove far more damaging than any individual candidate&#8217;s fundraising deficit.

US-VOTE-POLITICS-DEMOCRATIC-CONVENTION

What The Democrats’ Cash Crunch Means For 2026 And Beyond

2028 presidential election

campaign funds

fundraising

Ken Martin

Supreme Court

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is rolling out a new organizing strategy aimed at turning ordinary online spaces — including family group chats, neighborhood Facebook groups, and alumni networks — into vehicles for Democratic messaging as he continues expanding his national political operation ahead of a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
Newsom&#8217;s federal political action committee, Campaign for Democracy, emailed supporters this week inviting them to join a new digital volunteer program designed to spread Democratic messaging through personal relationships rather than traditional campaign advertisements, The <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/08/06/us-news/gavin-newsom-recruits-supporters-to-spread-campaign-messages-in-family-group-chats/">New York Post</a> reported.
The program centers on training volunteers to carry campaign-approved messaging into online communities where politics is typically not the focus. &#8220;A lot of those spaces aren&#8217;t political at all,&#8221; the email states. &#8220;That&#8217;s the point.&#8221; 
Rather than asking supporters to simply repost campaign content, the PAC says volunteers will receive weekly training and messaging that they are encouraged to rewrite in their own words before sharing with friends, relatives, classmates, and other acquaintances. &#8220;So the task isn&#8217;t forwarding talking points or propaganda,&#8221; the email explains. &#8220;It&#8217;s taking what we send you and translating it for people you understand better than we do.&#8221;
The email argues that trusted personal relationships provide an opportunity campaigns cannot replicate through conventional advertising. &#8220;The person already in that room is the only one who can get a message in, and the only one who knows how to say it so it doesn&#8217;t feel out of place,&#8221; it says.
Supporters who enroll will participate in weekly virtual training sessions over the next eight weeks and use a web application called &#8220;Echo&#8221; to distribute campaign messaging through their existing online networks.
Political consultant Matthew Klink criticized the organizing strategy, arguing it further blurs the line between everyday social interactions and partisan politics. 
&#8220;The Left has this preoccupation of making everything political and this is carrying it to another extreme,&#8221; Klink told the Post. &#8220;We joke that families are already divided by talking politics at the dinner table — this is that on steroids.&#8221;
According to Newsom&#8217;s PAC, volunteers will receive messaging supporting Democratic candidates in competitive races across the country, including Nevada gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford and New Hampshire Senate candidate Chris Pappas — two contests that could prove important to Democratic electoral prospects while also raising Newsom&#8217;s visibility in states expected to play significant roles during the next presidential nominating process.
The effort comes as Newsom continues building a national political infrastructure widely viewed as laying the groundwork for a 2028 White House bid, even as he continues to publicly decline to say whether he intends to run.
Newsom&#8217;s political team has framed the new initiative as part of a broader effort to help Democrats perform well in the 2026 midterms. 
&#8220;This is smart political organizing: empowering real people to persuade the people they know best,&#8221; Newsom spokesman Izzy Gardon told the Post.
Gardon emphasized that the effort relies on volunteers rather than paid influencers and said Newsom has used his national political organization to raise millions of dollars for Democratic candidates.
The digital organizing campaign coincides with Newsom&#8217;s increasingly aggressive national travel schedule. This weekend, Newsom will spend three days <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/gavin-newsom-michigan-democrats-22376220.php">campaigning in Michigan</a> following the Democratic primary victories of several Left-wing candidates, including Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.
Newsom quickly endorsed El-Sayed after his primary victory and plans to campaign for Democratic candidates up and down the ballot while meeting with black community leaders, students, labor activists, and grassroots organizers.
The Michigan trip follows similar campaign appearances in other battleground states and adds to Newsom&#8217;s growing national profile as Democrats position themselves for both the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential cycle.

Gavin Newsom Has A New Plan To Infiltrate Your Family Group Chat

2028 Elections

campaigns

Elections

Influencers

Michigan

Money In Politics

U.S. Politics

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) endorsed Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday, despite El-Sayed spending much of his primary campaign arguing Schumer should no longer lead Senate Democrats. 
The endorsement is the latest example of Democratic establishment figures quickly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/establishment-dems-fall-in-line-behind-el-sayed?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Establishment+Dems+Fall+In+Line+Behind+El-Sayed">falling in line</a> behind the socialist-backed nominee after spending months attempting to stop his insurgent campaign.
“Democrats are united by a common purpose: putting a check on Donald Trump by defeating his Republican enablers and taking back the Senate,” Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said in a <a href="https://www.dscc.org/article/dscc-statement-on-abdul-el-sayeds-victory-in-michigan-senate-primary/">joint statement</a>. “We look forward to working with Abdul and Democrats across Michigan to win this seat in November.”
The endorsement came one day after El-Sayed narrowly defeated establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) in Michigan&#8217;s Democratic Senate primary, one of the party&#8217;s most closely watched ideological battles of the 2026 cycle. 
Throughout the campaign, El-Sayed cast himself as a threat to Democratic leadership in Washington. 
“If you&#8217;re Chuck Schumer, I&#8217;m dangerous,” El-Sayed <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaMhOM0OXte/">said</a> during the primary campaign.
He also <a href="https://www.c-span.org/clip/us-senate/el-sayed-introduces-van-hollen-as-the-next-senate-majority-leader/5203501">publicly backed</a> Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to replace Schumer as Democratic leader should the party regain control of the Senate. 
“If I have anything to do about it, the next Senate majority leader — Chris Van Hollen,” El-Sayed said while introducing the Maryland senator at a campaign event.
Despite those attacks, Schumer, who endorsed Haley Stevens during the primary, quickly backed El-Sayed after Democratic voters rejected the establishment&#8217;s preferred candidate.
Schumer&#8217;s endorsement follows similar moves from Michigan Democrats who spent months backing Stevens before uniting behind El-Sayed after Tuesday night&#8217;s results. 
Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and Stevens herself all pledged to support him in November.
“Together, let&#8217;s stop MAGA Republicans so we can get to work and deliver results for the people of Michigan,” Whitmer said.
Slotkin likewise called for party unity. 
“There is nothing more important than the mission of the next 90 days: uniting, keeping this seat blue, flipping the House and Senate, and providing a real check on President Trump,” she <a href="https://x.com/ElissaSlotkin/status/2085003232149913780">wrote</a> after the race was called.
Stevens, whose candidacy became the vehicle for the Democratic establishment&#8217;s effort to block El-Sayed&#8217;s nomination, also quickly endorsed her former rival. 
“I want to congratulate Abdul El-Sayed on winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate,” Stevens said in a <a href="https://haleyformi.com/news/haley-stevens-statement-on-election-results/">statement</a>. “I am proud to offer my support as he takes on Mike Rogers in the general election.”
She added that Republicans wanted Democrats to emerge from the primary “tired and divided,” saying, “I&#8217;m not going to let that happen.”
 The rapid consolidation behind El-Sayed comes despite the Democratic establishment spending months trying to prevent his nomination.
Stevens entered the race with endorsements from Schumer, Whitmer, Peters, former Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and other prominent Democrats, while outside groups spent tens of millions of dollars backing her candidacy.
El-Sayed, meanwhile, built his campaign with support from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and other leaders of the party&#8217;s Left wing. He campaigned on Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ending U.S. military aid to Israel, restructuring the Supreme Court, and raising taxes on billionaires.
His victory continued a broader trend that has unsettled Democratic leaders this cycle, with socialist-backed candidates defeating multiple establishment Democrats in congressional primaries across the country.
El-Sayed now faces Republican Mike Rogers in a race widely viewed as critical to determining control of the Senate. With Michigan representing one of Democrats&#8217; best opportunities to hold a key seat in 2026, party leaders have rapidly coalesced behind a nominee who spent months arguing they should no longer be leading the party.

Trump Threatens No Back Pay For Shutdown’s Furloughed Workers

‘Cuck’ Schumer Endorses El-Sayed, Who Campaigned On Replacing Him

Chris Van Hollen

Chuck Schumer

Endorsement

Kirsten Gillibrand

Senate

Senate Democrats

U.S. Senate

Maryland Democrats voted this week to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would pave the way for eliminating the state&#8217;s lone Republican-held congressional district before the 2028 election.
The measure passed largely along party lines, clearing the House of Delegates 96-38 and the Senate 32-13 before being signed by Democratic Governor Wes Moore.
If voters approve the amendment this November, lawmakers would gain significantly broader authority to redraw Maryland&#8217;s congressional map ahead of the 2028 elections, allowing Democrats to target the state&#8217;s only Republican-held House seat, represented by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. Maryland Democrats currently hold seven of the state&#8217;s eight congressional seats.
The proposal would not immediately redraw district lines and would not affect the 2026 elections. Instead, it would remove state constitutional requirements that congressional districts be compact and respect natural boundaries and political subdivisions, leaving future maps subject primarily to federal legal standards.
Democrats argue the amendment is necessary to respond to Republican redistricting efforts across the country. 
&#8220;I continue to believe that our country needs national redistricting reform. But until that happens, inaction is not an option,&#8221; Moore said in a <a href="https://southernmarylandchronicle.com/2026/08/06/redistricting-question-heads-to-maryland-voters/">statement</a>. &#8220;Maryland will not be caught flat-footed while Republicans engage in political redlining that guts decades of progress that the generations before us fought for.&#8221;
Maryland House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/democrats-put-redistricting-amendment-marylands-midterm-ballot-rcna590550">added</a>, &#8220;Maryland cannot remain on the sidelines because of uncertainty in our own constitutional language.”
The amendment marks a significant shift for Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson, who earlier this year resisted calls from fellow Democrats to redraw congressional districts before the 2026 midterms. Ferguson had warned that aggressively redrawing the map could backfire in court after a Maryland judge rejected Democrats&#8217; 2021 congressional map, finding it violated the state constitution by excessively favoring one political party.
His position changed after the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year struck portions of the Voting Rights Act, a decision Ferguson said opened the door for additional Republican redistricting efforts in Southern states and changed the legal landscape surrounding congressional maps.
If approved, the amendment would remove the constitutional provisions that complicated Democrats&#8217; earlier map, making it substantially more difficult to challenge future congressional districts under Maryland law.
Republicans blasted the proposal as an openly partisan attempt to eliminate the state&#8217;s lone GOP congressional district. &#8220;Just because we can go ultra-partisan doesn&#8217;t mean we should go ultra-partisan,&#8221; Republican Delegate Kevin Hornberger said during floor debate.
Rep. Harris, whose Eastern Shore-based district is widely expected to become the primary target of any future redraw, said the amendment would fracture rural communities by combining them with heavily Democratic suburban and urban areas. He also predicted any new congressional map would face another court challenge if voters approve the amendment.
The constitutional amendment will appear on Maryland ballots during the November midterm election, with voters ultimately deciding whether the legislature should receive expanded authority to redraw the state&#8217;s congressional districts before the 2030 census.

Wes Moore

Dems Put State’s Lone GOP House Seat In Crosshairs With Redistricting Ballot Measure

Congress

Freedom Caucus

gerrymandering

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Redistricting

U.S.

Michigan&#8217;s Democratic establishment moved quickly Wednesday to unite behind far-left Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, with several of the party&#8217;s most prominent leaders endorsing the socialist-aligned candidate just hours after spending months backing his defeated moderate opponent.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) publicly endorsed El-Sayed after his<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abdul-el-sayed-secures-far-lefts-biggest-victory-yet-over-dem-establishment?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Abdul+El-Sayed+Secures+Far-Left%E2%80%99s+Biggest+Victory+Yet+Over+Dem+Establishment"> narrow primary victory</a> over Stevens in one of the Democratic Party&#8217;s most closely watched ideological battles of the 2026 cycle. 
The endorsements capped months of unsuccessful attempts to stop El-Sayed&#8217;s insurgent campaign. Stevens had backing from Whitmer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), former Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and millions of dollars in outside support.
El-Sayed now faces Republican Mike Rogers in a race <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488606" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that the Cook Political Report</a> rates as a 50-50 toss-up and could determine control of the U.S. Senate.
Whitmer offered her full support for the party&#8217;s nominees Wednesday morning. 
&#8220;Together, let&#8217;s stop MAGA Republicans so we can get to work and deliver results for the people of Michigan,&#8221; Whitmer said.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who will serve alongside Michigan&#8217;s next senator, urged party unity, but did not endorse El-Sayed.
&#8220;There is nothing more important than the mission of the next 90 days: uniting, keeping this seat blue, flipping the House and Senate, and providing a real check on President Trump,&#8221; she said. Slotkin did not endorse during the primary election.
Stevens, whose campaign had become the vehicle for the Democratic establishment&#8217;s effort to block El-Sayed, likewise <a href="https://haleyformi.com/news/haley-stevens-statement-on-election-results/">pledged her support</a> in a concession statement. 
&#8220;Donald Trump and Mike Rogers want us to come out of this primary tired and divided,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not going to let that happen.&#8221; 
Backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), and many in the Democratic Socialist movement, El-Sayed campaigned on Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, restructuring the Supreme Court, raising taxes on billionaires, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel.
His victory came despite heavy opposition from establishment Democrats, who viewed him as a riskier general election candidate in one of the nation&#8217;s most competitive Senate races.
Tuesday&#8217;s primary continued a broader trend that has unsettled Democratic leaders. Socialist-backed candidates have defeated multiple incumbent House Democrats this cycle, while Michigan voters also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/socialist-wave-claims-another-democrat-in-michigan-primary-upset?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Socialist+Wave+Claims+Another+Democrat+In+Michigan+Primary+Upset">nominated</a> democratic socialist state Rep. Donavan McKinney over Rep. Shri Thanedar and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-voters-pick-another-radical-leftist-in-crucial-house-race?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Leif+Le+Mahieu&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Dem+Voters+Pick+Another+Radical+Leftist+In+Crucial+House+Race">selected</a> Sunrise Movement co-founder William Lawrence in the competitive 7th Congressional District.
Whatever divisions defined the primary, Michigan Democrats are now presenting a united front ahead of a general election that could decide control of the Senate.

Untitled design (1)

Establishment Dems Fall In Line Behind El-Sayed

Democratic

Elissa Slotkin

Gretchen Whitmer

Haley Stevens

Michigan Primary

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) became the latest casualty of the Democratic Party&#8217;s surging Left-wing insurgency Tuesday night after voters rejected the two-term congressman in favor of democratic socialist state Rep. Donavan McKinney, capping off a victorious night for the far-Left in Michigan.
McKinney defeated Thanedar in Michigan&#8217;s heavily Democratic 13th Congressional District after mounting a campaign backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Justice Democrats, and other Left-wing organizations that have spent the past year targeting incumbent Democrats they view as insufficiently aligned with the party&#8217;s activist base.
Thanedar&#8217;s defeat came alongside another major victory for the Democratic Party&#8217;s Left flank. In Michigan&#8217;s marquee Senate primary, leftist favorite Abdul El-Sayed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/abdul-el-sayed-secures-far-lefts-biggest-victory-yet-over-dem-establishment?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Abdul+El-Sayed+Secures+Far-Left%E2%80%99s+Biggest+Victory+Yet+Over+Dem+Establishment">defeated</a> establishment-backed Rep. Haley Stevens despite endorsements for Stevens from Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and other Democratic heavyweights. Meanwhile, Sunrise Movement co-founder <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-socialist-candidate-rails-against-american-cult-of-hard-work?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=11&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Dem+Socialist+Candidate+Rails+Against+American+%E2%80%98Cult+Of+Hard+Work%E2%80%99">William Lawrence</a> secured the Democratic nomination in the battleground 7th Congressional District, defeating two moderate rivals after running as the race&#8217;s far-Left candidate.
The primary results represent another setback for Democratic leaders who have struggled to stop the party&#8217;s activist wing from replacing more conventional Democrats with candidates running further to the Left.
Thanedar&#8217;s defeat is perhaps the clearest example yet of that trend. The Michigan congressman entered Congress in 2022 after largely self-funding his campaign and initially aligned himself with the Left before breaking with the Democratic Socialists of America in 2023 amid a dispute over Israel. Since then, he increasingly positioned himself as one of Congress&#8217; more outspoken pro-Israel Democrats while repeatedly introducing articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump — efforts that frustrated many fellow Democrats and were never embraced by party leadership.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) endorsed Thanedar despite lingering frustrations over his impeachment efforts, but the backing failed to stop an organized far-Left campaign that portrayed the incumbent as out of step with his Detroit-based district.
McKinney campaigned on Medicare for All, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, restricting military aid to Israel, and expanding federal spending on housing and clean energy. He also emphasized his upbringing in Detroit and contrasted his background with Thanedar&#8217;s, arguing the district deserved representation more closely tied to the community. Justice Democrats made Thanedar one of its top targets this cycle, spending nearly $1 million to help elect McKinney, according to <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/08/05/thanedar-loses-michigan-house-primary-01025173">Politico</a>.
After conceding the race, Thanedar acknowledged the broader political forces that had overtaken his campaign. &#8220;The socialist movement that has defeated many sitting members in New York and elsewhere has come to Michigan, and we came out short,&#8221; Thanedar <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/michigan-house-primary-mckinney-thanedar.html">told reporters</a>, while pledging to support McKinney in the general election.
Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have already unseated multiple incumbent House Democrats in New York and Colorado, while socialist-aligned candidates have scored victories in municipal races from New York City to Denver.
McKinney is expected to cruise to victory in the safely Democratic 13th District this fall, while El-Sayed and Lawrence now head into competitive general elections that Republicans hope will become referendums on the Democratic Party&#8217;s increasingly leftist direction.

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI)

Socialist Wave Claims Another Democrat In Michigan Primary Upset

Democratic socialists

Primary

Primary Election

A Democratic congressional candidate competing Tuesday in a closely watched Michigan primary has repeatedly criticized what he calls America&#8217;s &#8220;cult of hard work,&#8221; urged the election of more socialist members to Congress, and accused Republicans of being an alliance between &#8220;fossil fuel billionaires&#8221; and &#8220;white supremacists.&#8221;
William Lawrence, a Democratic Socialists of America member, co-founder of the <a href="https://x.com/sunrisemvmt/status/2084685088919335135">Sunrise Movement</a>, and Democratic candidate in Michigan&#8217;s 7th Congressional District, made the remarks across multiple appearances on left-wing podcasts and radio programs uncovered by The Daily Wire.
Lawrence is competing in Tuesday&#8217;s Democratic primary against former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam for the chance to challenge Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI) in November. The district is rated a &#8220;Toss-Up&#8221; by the <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/house/race/483311">Cook Political Report</a> and is expected to be one of the country&#8217;s most competitive House races.
In one episode of his podcast “Hegemonicon,” Lawrence described what he sees as uniquely American problems facing the political Left. &#8220;You mentioned U.S. exceptionalism, the cult of hard work,&#8221; Lawrence said of American politics and culture.
In the same discussion, Lawrence argued that the Left needs to elect more openly socialist lawmakers and specifically called for additional Democratic Socialists of America members in Congress. &#8220;I think sometimes we want to talk about accountability, as if it&#8217;s simply a moral calculation, where we need more accountable working class and progressive or Left legislator[s] — we need more accountable DSA members in Congress,&#8221; Lawrence said.
Lawrence argued that socialist lawmakers should be supported by an organized political movement capable of protecting them after taking controversial votes against the political establishment. &#8220;But to become an outsider to that is, you know, we need a lot of reinforcements,&#8221; he said.
In a separate 2018 appearance on the left-wing radio program Rising Up With Sonali, Lawrence attacked the Republican Party in sweeping terms. &#8220;I said it before. The Republican Party is an organized alliance between fossil fuel billionaires like the Koch brothers and white supremacists like Steve Bannon and Ron DeSantis,&#8221; Lawrence said. &#8220;They do not care one bit for the idea of democracy, and they are actively dismantling every piece of our civil liberties and our freedoms that we have fought and people have died for over the course of this country&#8217;s history.&#8221;
Lawrence has built his political career through left-wing activist organizations. He helped found the Sunrise Movement, the youth climate organization that became one of the driving forces behind the Green New Deal, and has campaigned unapologetically on the far-left despite running in one of the nation&#8217;s most competitive congressional districts.
His candidacy has highlighted an ongoing divide within the Democratic Party between its far-left and establishment wings. Lawrence has received the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and has both <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/progressives-michigan-join-forces-key-house-battleground-crucial-senat-rcna353212">endorsed and been endorsed</a> by Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, another left-wing darling in Michigan. More moderate Democrats have lined up behind his primary opponents, with Brink endorsed by former Governor Jennifer Granholm and Maasdam backed by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
Some Democratic strategists <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6002980-michigan-democrats-senate-house-el-sayed-lawrence/">have warned</a> that nominating Lawrence could make it harder for the party to flip the district in November, arguing his far-left positions may be a difficult fit in a swing seat that President Donald Trump carried by just over one percentage point in 2024. Lawrence has dismissed those concerns, arguing voters are &#8220;tired of the status quo&#8221; and &#8220;tired of corporate-funded&#8221; candidates.
The winner of Tuesday&#8217;s Democratic primary will face Barrett in one of the House races expected to play a key role in determining control of Congress.
Republicans have already begun highlighting Lawrence&#8217;s comments. &#8220;William Lawrence is a Champagne Socialist who attacks American competition and demonizes hard work,&#8221; Republican National Committee spokesman Hunter Lovell said in a statement provided to The Daily Wire. &#8220;Lawrence hates the American way of life, and he is on a terror path to destroy our country as we know it.&#8221;

NYC-DSA holds a rally to tax the rich

Dem Socialist Candidate Rails Against American ‘Cult Of Hard Work’

Leftism

Leftist Ideology

Leftists

Texas has long been one of the Republican Party&#8217;s strongest states, particularly in the Trump era. But with just three months until Election Day, the GOP is confronting an uncomfortable reality: one of its safest Senate seats is suddenly looking competitive.
Three public polls released in the last week show Democratic state Rep. James Talarico narrowly leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, raising concerns that a bruising Republican primary and lingering questions about Paxton’s personal controversies may have left the GOP nominee vulnerable in November.
A <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-gop-divisions-shape-texas-senate-race">Fox News poll</a> released last week found Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 48% among registered voters. A <a href="https://texaspublicopinionresearch.substack.com/p/new-poll-james-talaricos-lead-over">Texas Public Opinion Research</a> (TPOR) survey of likely voters found Talarico ahead 45% to 40%, while the latest survey from the <a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67aa7aa3e284b002cd6a420e/t/6a713767d4ed824b91ea090d/1785804647961/Texas+Statewide+August2026.pdf">Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center</a> showed Talarico leading 47% to 45%.
While all three results fall within or near the polls’ margins of error, the consistency of the findings has forced Republicans to confront a difficult reality: Paxton is not beginning the general election with the overwhelming advantage traditionally enjoyed by Republican nominees in Texas.
President Donald Trump carried Texas by nearly 14 percentage points in 2024, but Paxton has struggled to replicate the strength of the broader Republican coalition, particularly among independents and some factions of the GOP electorate. The central challenge for Paxton is not simply convincing undecided voters to choose him, it is repairing the fractures created during a bitter Republican primary against longtime Sen. John Cornyn.
Paxton defeated Cornyn after receiving Trump’s endorsement, but the contest exposed a deep divide inside the Texas Republican Party. Cornyn, a longtime Senate leader with strong support among establishment Republicans and major donors, was defeated despite millions of dollars in outside spending aimed at stopping Paxton.
That division has carried into the general election. Several prominent Republican donors who supported Cornyn have been slow to fully embrace Paxton’s campaign, creating concerns among Republicans that their nominee may lack the financial resources necessary to define Talarico before Democrats can define him first. Talarico, meanwhile, has built a <a href="https://abcnews.com/Politics/democrats-dominate-fundraising-key-senate-races-republicans-ample/story?id=134829415">significant fundraising operation</a>, raising tens of millions of dollars as he attempts to become the first Democrat in more than three decades to win statewide office in Texas.
The polling suggests that Paxton’s personal image remains one of his biggest liabilities. The Fox News survey found 59% of Texas voters are concerned Paxton lacks the character necessary to serve in the Senate, compared with 47% who believe Talarico is too extreme. Even among Republicans, 36% expressed concerns about Paxton’s character. The TPOR poll found Paxton with the worst favorability rating of any major figure tested, with 33% viewing him favorably and 46% unfavorably. Talarico, meanwhile, held a net positive rating, with 43% favorable and 31% unfavorable.
The Barbara Jordan survey showed a similar dynamic, with 39% of likely voters viewing Paxton favorably compared with 57% who viewed him negatively. Talarico was more evenly rated, with 46% favorable and 47% unfavorable.
Still, Paxton’s supporters argue his personal numbers are less important than the ideological contrast between the two candidates. The Fox News poll found roughly eight in 10 supporters of both candidates said their vote was primarily about where the candidates stand on issues rather than their personal qualities.
Republicans have already begun attacking Talarico over his past statements and positions on issues including transgender policy, immigration, religion, and healthcare. 
The challenge, however, is that Talarico enters the general election with some advantages of his own. The TPOR poll found voters trusted Talarico more than Paxton on the issue dominating many voters’ concerns: affordability. 44% of respondents said the cost of living was among their top priorities heading into 2026, and voters trusted Talarico over Paxton by nine points when asked who they trusted more to lower costs and improve Texans’ financial situations.
The Democratic candidate has also performed strongly among independents. The TPOR survey found Talarico leading Paxton among independent voters 43% to 23%, while the Barbara Jordan poll showed Talarico ahead among independents 63% to 23%. The Fox News poll also found signs of an enthusiasm advantage for Democrats, with Democratic voters more likely than Republicans to describe themselves as highly motivated and highly interested in the midterms.
The demographic breakdowns have similarly raised concerns for Republicans. Texas Republicans have historically relied on overwhelming margins among rural white voters to offset Democratic strength in urban areas and minority communities. But the latest surveys suggest Paxton’s advantage among white voters is significantly smaller than recent Republican nominees.
The Barbara Jordan poll found Paxton leading among white voters by 14 points, 53% to 39%. That compares with Trump’s 33-point advantage among white voters in Texas in the 2024 election. 
The same survey found Talarico leading among Hispanic voters by 19 points, 57% to 38%, while Fox News found Talarico ahead among Hispanic voters by 18 points. The shift among Hispanic voters is particularly significant because Texas Republicans had hopes that gains could be made with the demographic after Trump won Hispanic voters in Texas narrowly in 2024.
Despite the warning signs, Republicans remain confident the race can be stabilized. Republicans have controlled every statewide office for more than three decades, and the Fox News poll found the Republican Party holding a higher favorability rating than the Democratic Party statewide.
For Republicans, the path forward is clear but difficult: unite the party, rebuild donor support, and convince voters that Talarico represents a Democratic agenda they do not want in Washington.
For Democrats, the challenge is equally clear: overcome decades of Republican dominance and prove that Texas has become competitive enough for a statewide breakthrough.
Texas is still a Republican state. But for the first time in years, Republicans are entering a Senate race there facing a question that once seemed impossible: whether their hold on the Lone Star State is beginning to weaken.

James Talarico/Ken Paxton

Senate Race In Solid Red State Remains Too Close For GOP Comfort

James Talarico

Ken Paxton

Poll

polling

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Republican Party

Senate GOP

Senate Republicans

State polls

Texas

Texas Elections

The Democratic National Committee&#8217;s effort to explain and learn from its 2024 election losses has descended into fresh controversy after the author of the party&#8217;s official postmortem claimed Democratic leaders omitted an entire chapter examining what went wrong.
According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/politics/democrats-autopsy-2024-election-dnc.html">New York Times</a>, Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, who authored the DNC&#8217;s after-action review, says a 28-page chapter titled &#8220;What Happened in 2024&#8221; was missing when the party released the report in May after <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-finally-admit-what-went-wrong-in-2024">delaying publication</a> for nearly a year.
The omitted chapter reportedly addressed some of the most politically sensitive questions surrounding Democrats&#8217; defeat, including whether former President Joe Biden should have sought reelection, the party&#8217;s declining support among key voting blocs, and what Rivera described as a self-enriching Democratic consultant class that had become disconnected from ordinary Americans.
&#8220;An emerging critique of Democratic decision-making is there are too many people who have become generationally wealthy off politics and drive too much of the decision-making within the ecosystem,&#8221; Rivera wrote in the missing chapter, which he provided to the Times. 
He also questioned Biden&#8217;s decision to remain in the race. 
&#8220;Is there a single point of failure for 2024? Perhaps it is a decision of the President to seek re-election instead of passing the torch,&#8221; the chapter states.
Rivera says he personally handed DNC Chairman Ken Martin a three-ring binder containing the completed chapter during a January meeting after Martin criticized the draft report. Rivera said Martin later returned the binder after reviewing it.
Martin denied ever receiving the missing section. 
&#8220;As we said at the time, in May we released all of the draft report as we&#8217;d received it from the author,&#8221; Martin said in a statement to the Times. &#8220;If we had this in May, we would have released it with the rest of the report.&#8221; 
Martin maintained that the January meeting focused solely on &#8220;lessons learned&#8221; materials for internal planning, not on new report chapters, arguing that neither he nor the DNC ever reviewed the disputed document.
The dispute comes after the DNC initially announced it would not release an official autopsy of the 2024 election, with Martin arguing the effort had become a distraction. He later reversed course amid mounting pressure, publishing an annotated draft in May while insisting it was &#8220;not ready for primetime&#8221; and refusing to endorse its conclusions.
Rivera told the Times he decided to go public because he believes Democrats cannot fix their problems without candid self-examination.
 &#8220;It&#8217;s coming from a place of hope and, honestly, a little bit of desperation,&#8221; Rivera said. &#8220;There&#8217;s a very comfortable ecosystem that will profit mightily from no change.&#8221;
The controversy comes as Martin is already facing growing scrutiny over his leadership. The DNC recently <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00010603/#&amp;_intcmp=fnc_media_article_main-content_article-body_6_2">reported</a> having roughly $16.3 million cash on hand while carrying $18.5 million in debt. Martin has also come under fire following <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/26/us-news/raging-dnc-boss-ken-martin-threw-phone-at-aides-desk-as-committee-forced-to-put-up-hq-as-loan-collateral-report/">reports</a> that he threw his cellphone at a staffer&#8217;s desk during an internal dispute, prompting a human resources complaint, as well as comments suggesting he was uncertain how much longer he would remain in the position.
With fewer than 100 days until the midterm elections, the dispute over whether Democrats buried the most politically explosive section of their own election autopsy will likely do little to assuage concerns about whether party leadership has fully come to terms with the reasons behind its 2024 defeat.

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