The Indiana Republican lawmaker at the center of the conservative revolt over President Trump’s redistricting push is stepping down from leadership.
In a <a href="https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/bray-announces-he-will-not-seek-re-election-as-senate-president-pro-tem-in-november">surprise Friday announcement</a>, Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said he will not seek re-election for the top leadership position in November.
“As the top caucus leader, the Pro Tem’s job is also to represent and look out for his caucus members. Given promises to recruit and fund primary challengers for any senator who supports Bray’s bid to remain the leader of the Senate, he has determined he will not put members in jeopardy from their own party simply because he is asking members to support his re-election as Pro Tem,” Bray’s office said in a statement. 
Bray will continue to represent Senate District 37, but his exit from leadership is a victory for President Trump, who has repeatedly targeted Bray over his opposition to a redistricting plan that could have delivered Republicans two more House seats.
“I am pleased to announce that the man who so foolishly led the Indiana State Senate, with almost every Candidate losing their Race, many of them in Office for years, will not be seeking Re-Election as Senate President because he wouldn’t have had a chance to be elected — Better yet would be if he would resign from Office, completely, but he will be met by us at the Indiana Polls,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117015146759027639">post</a>.
In December 2025, the Indiana Senate voted 31-19 to reject a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan, defying intense pressure from Trump and Gov. Mike Braun. Twenty-one Republicans joined all 10 Democrats in rejecting the proposal, which would have created a 9-0 Republican congressional map. 
At the time, Bray defended his vote against the Trump-backed plan. 
“We finally have a resolution now,” Bray said, according to <a href="https://indianacitizen.org/redistricting-defeated-indiana-senate-votes-against-redrawing-congressional-map/">The Indiana Citizen</a>. &#8220;It really comes down to an issue of having the same goal, but a different way to process that. … There are some concerns that going this (redistricting) route is not the best way to get more conservative representation in Washington, D.C., from the state of Indiana.”
Shortly afterward, Trump vowed political retaliation, endorsing primary challengers against the state lawmakers, many of whom were popular, longtime incumbents. Turning Point Action also entered the fray, funding an on-the-ground campaign targeting seven lawmakers seeking reelection.
In May, the White House’s political operation targeted and successfully ousted five of the seven targeted lawmakers who voted against redistricting, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-flexes-political-muscle-against-republicans-who-bucked-him-on-redistricting?author=Drew+Berkemeyer&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=13&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Flexes+Political+Muscle+Against+Republicans+Who+Bucked+Him+On+Redistricting">The Daily Wire</a> previously reported. 
Bray is the latest Republican swept up in President Trump&#8217;s campaign to purge disloyal GOP officials, joining Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) among the president&#8217;s high-profile political targets.
“Rodric Bray should be ashamed of himself for costing our Country, mainly the Republican Party, two U.S. House Seats, and for costing all of his colleagues who went along with him, an Election loss! Isn’t it amazing how Politics works?” the president wrote in his Truth Social post.

Indiana Redistricting/Trump

Republican Who Tanked Trump’s Redistricting Push Steps Down From Leadership

Indiana Republican Who Tanked Trump's Redistricting Push Steps Down From Leadership

2026 elections

Elections

indiana

Indiana GOP

MAGA

Midterms

News

politics

redistricting

Republicans

Rodric Bray

trump administration

Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes abruptly dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor Thursday, minutes after reports surfaced that party officials were bracing for a damaging media story about him.
“Last night I had a very difficult conversation with staff,” Barnes <a href="https://x.com/TheOtherMandela/status/2082894497839468849">said in a social media video</a>. “We’re incredibly proud of all the things that we’ve accomplished and all the resources that we have raised to spread our message. But it’s become very clear who our nominee is going to be.”
Politico reported Thursday that Wisconsin Democratic officials were expecting negative media coverage involving Barnes. Minutes later, Barnes announced he was suspending his campaign.
Republican political consultant Ryan Girdusky <a href="https://x.com/RyanGirdusky/status/2082897705769066937?s=20">responded</a> to the announcement by posting: “Woah…. They’re really trying to wrestle this away from Francesca Hong.” 
Hong, a 37-year-old state representative and dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has emerged as the frontrunner in Wisconsin’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, a race Republicans believe presents an opportunity to flip the governor&#8217;s mansion. 
Often compared to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Hong has campaigned on a <a href="https://francescahong.com/policy/">Left-wing platform</a> that includes abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and expanding government-funded childcare and paid family leave.
Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband, creating a state-run development bank, establishing a 32-hour workweek without reducing pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, as The Daily Wire previously reported.
Hong&#8217;s rise has sparked concern from some establishment Democrats, who worry that nominating a Democratic socialist in a state President Donald Trump carried could improve Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany&#8217;s chances in the general election.  
<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/democratic-primary/2026/wisconsin">Recent polling</a> shows Hong holding a double-digit lead over established Democrats, including <a href="https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Newsroom/About_Mandela.aspx">Barnes</a> and Milwaukee County Executive <a href="https://www.crowleyforwi.com/">David Crowley.</a> Crowley briefly suspended his campaign before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. 
Asked about Barnes&#8217; surprise exit, Evers said he had learned of it only moments earlier. 
&#8220;I heard it about 30 seconds ago. Yeah, surprised,&#8221; he <a href="https://x.com/mattsmith_news/status/2082899728824508858?s=20">told</a> a local reporter before reaffirming his backing of Crowley. &#8220;He&#8217;s the best candidate running, even if Mandela was in.&#8221;
Wisconsin&#8217;s Democratic primary is set for August 11. The contest is expected to test the strength of Democratic socialist candidates in the industrial Midwest following a string of recent victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. 
<a href="https://polymarket.com/event/wisconsin-governor-democratic-primary-winner">Prediction markets</a> overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.

Democratic Senate Candidate Mandela Barnes Campaigns In Milwaukee

A Surprise Exit Leaves Wisconsin Democrats With A DSA Frontrunner

2026 Midterms

democratic socialists of america

Democrats

francesca hong

Mandela Barnes

socialism

wisconsin

President Trump&#8217;s hand-picked candidate to succeed the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham is facing growing trouble in the upcoming Republican primary, according to new polling and Republican strategists.
Darline Graham entered the U.S. Senate race on July 20 following Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/im-in-lindsey-grahams-sister-makes-it-official">enthusiastic endorsement</a>, with the president encouraging Lindsey Graham&#8217;s sister to &#8220;RUN, DARLINE, RUN!&#8221; South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appointed her to serve out the rest of her brother&#8217;s term earlier this month. 
“I’m in,” Nordone told Fox News, acknowledging “a tremendous amount of pressure” around the decision. “I have been praying a lot, talking to my family, but with the love of my family, with the support of his staff, I know I’m a hard worker… I worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state, I feel like I can do it,” she said. 
Her optimism, however, is running up against new polling and growing skepticism that enough South Carolina Republicans are comfortable with Graham&#8217;s experience and policy credentials to send her to the U.S. Senate for a full six-year term.
“This is a woman who no one heard of at all before, and I think that that hurts her in a certain way,” Republican political consultant Ryan Girdusky said in an interview with The Daily Wire. “She&#8217;s a largely unknown entity. I mean, no one really knows her except the fact that she&#8217;s Lindsey Graham&#8217;s sister.” 
In a <a href="https://x.com/DarlineGrahamSC/status/2082808644773503145?s=20">new campaign ad</a>, Graham attempted to dispel those concerns, touting her pro-life beliefs, backing the SAVE America Act, and calling for a ban on biological men competing in women&#8217;s sports.
“I am a conservative Republican,” she said, touting Trump’s endorsement. “I approve this message, and I’m ready to serve.” 
New <a href="https://emersoncollegepolling.com/south-carolina-2026-norman-graham-lead-gop-special-primary-runoff-likely/">Emerson College polling</a> released Thursday shows Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) leading the crowded Republican field with 22% support. Darline Graham Nordone trails at 19%, followed by Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) at 12% and former GovernorMark Sanford at 11%. Nine candidates have been certified for the August 11 primary, while roughly 25% of voters remain undecided, according to the survey. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to an <a href="https://scvotes.gov/u-s-senate-special-republican-party-filing-primary/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">August 25 runoff</a>. 
The poll also suggests that President Trump&#8217;s political clout may not be enough to carry Graham over the finish line. A majority of voters — 53% — said Trump&#8217;s endorsement would have no impact on their vote, while 29% said it made them more likely to support Graham. Another 18% said the endorsement made them less likely to back her candidacy.
“You&#8217;re only going to have hyper-engaged people showing up. That doesn&#8217;t always speak well for the president&#8217;s base, which can be very high level, high levels of low propensity [voters] in the mix,” Girdusky said. “If Darline Graham is counting on solely the president&#8217;s supporters to carry across the finish line, it&#8217;s a very tough, tough road.&#8221; 
Rep. Ralph Norman, who endorsed Nikki Haley in the 2024 presidential primary, has a <a href="https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/15032448994?utm_source=chatgpt.com">long track record</a> in South Carolina politics. He was first elected to Congress in a special election in 2017 and served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2007 and again from 2009 to 2017. 
“There&#8217;s nothing enormously special about him. But he, you know what you&#8217;re going to get. He is a solid conservative voter,” Girdusky said.
Norman has lined up endorsements from conservative Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Lee (R-UT), along with several Upstate sheriffs, the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/30/conservatives-skeptical-darline-graham-south-carolina-senate-race/">Washington Post</a> reported. Fry has won the support of 40 Republican state legislators. 
<a href="https://www.dgraham.senate.gov/">Darline Graham</a> earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University. She later worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and served as head of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. If elected, she would be the first woman from South Carolina to be elected to the upper chamber. 
Her brother, Lindsey, unexpectedly died earlier this month at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes was an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lindsey-graham-medical-examiner-releases-preliminary-cause-of-death">aortic dissection</a>. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain. Graham had easily won his Republican primary in June before his sudden death upended the race. 
“I think that the president was really in a state of grief. He loved Lindsey Graham,” Girdusky said. “And he picked her, you know, very, very, very quickly.”
<a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/senate/race/488671">The Cook Political Report</a> rates the seat as Solid Republican going into November.

Briefing of US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal in Kyiv

Trump’s Pick To Replace Lindsey Graham Faces Growing GOP Revolt

Darine Graham

darline graham nordone

lindsey graham

President Trump

ralph norman

south carolina

U.S. Senate

Tech billionaire Elon Musk plans to re-enter the political arena by backing a major ground operation to boost Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections, according to a new report.
Musk plans to relaunch America PAC, the same political group that spent hundreds of millions helping elect President Trump in 2024, with a heavy focus on battleground states, Axios <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/29/musk-pac-midterm-election">reported</a>. The revived operation will prioritize door-knocking, digital advertising, and direct mail aimed at turning out conservative voters who typically skip midterm elections.
It is not yet clear how much Musk plans to spend or where the resources will be deployed.
&#8220;America PAC was an essential partner for our historic GOTV operation in 2024, and their return for 2026 is a huge boost for Republicans across the country,&#8221; James Blair, President Trump&#8217;s senior political adviser, told Axios. &#8220;We will again outsmart our opponents and ruthlessly execute our mission for the GOP between now and Election Day.” 
It&#8217;s a striking reversal for the X owner, who just <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/elon-musk-goes-after-trump-over-epstein-files-time-to-drop-the-really-big-bomb">last year accused Trump </a>of covering up convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein&#8217;s crimes and implied the president himself was implicated.
“Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!” Musk said in June 2025, before adding a follow-up: “Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out.”
“This is an unfortunate episode from Elon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-responds-to-elon-musk-epstein-claims-an-unfortunate-episode-from-elon?utm_source=chatgpt.com">The Daily Wire</a> at the time, saying Musk was “unhappy with the One Big Beautiful Bill because it does not include the policies he wanted.”
Musk, who also threatened to financially back a third political party, later de-escalated the feud and deleted several of his most inflammatory posts — including his Epstein allegations — and publicly acknowledged that some of his attacks on Trump &#8220;went too far.&#8221; 
Following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, Musk and Trump publicly reconciled at <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969870768201777180?s=20">Kirk&#8217;s memorial service</a> in Arizona, where the two shook hands and spoke for the first time since their bitter falling out. The reunion fulfilled a promise made by the late conservative activist, who also helped elect Trump and transform an entire generation of young conservatives. 
“I know both these guys… I am hopeful, optimistic, and will do everything I possibly can to try and bring this back together,” Kirk <a href="https://www.wral.com/archive/22170145/">said</a> in June of last year.
Since then, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has been a social media advocate of the administration’s policies despite recently acknowledging he got “carried away” with his brief stint at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 
“I think I got a little too involved in politics,” Musk <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5988248-doge-initiative-shut-down/">told</a> The Economist. “I got carried away, frankly.”
Nonetheless, the Musk&#8217;s cash infusion will add to Republicans&#8217; already formidable financial advantage heading into the midterms. President Trump&#8217;s super PAC has amassed a roughly $400 million war chest, while the Republican National Committee has another $130 million on hand. In contrast, the Democratic National Committee is reportedly about $2 million in debt, as previously reported by The Daily Wire.
With control of both the House and Senate up for grabs, Republicans face significant headwinds heading into Election Day, including <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">elevated gas prices</a>, the lingering <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-iranian-protests-intensify-as-citizens-demand-end-to-ayatollah-rule?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=U.S.+Hammers+Iran+After+Tehran%E2%80%99s+Attempt+To+Take+Out+American+Troops">war with Iran</a>, and President Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5997864-trump-approval-rating-low/">low approval ratings</a>. The latest <a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/state-of-the-union/generic-congressional-vote">RealClearPolitics </a>polling average gives Democrats a roughly five-point lead on the generic congressional ballot. Republicans&#8217; biggest asset may be the Democratic Party&#8217;s tarnished national brand, with one polling guru saying voters increasingly see the leftist party as &#8220;weak.&#8221;
&#8220;The Democratic Party in the minds of the American public are weak, weak, weak,” CNN’s Harry Enten <a href="https://x.com/ThomasMHern/status/2081723610549383250?s=20">said</a>, noting how voters still trust the GOP more on handling Iran. &#8220;The Democrats in Congress, simply put, are not well-liked.&#8221;
“Donald Trump and Republicans may not be liked, but Democrats in Congress are really hated,” he added.

President Trump Attends NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship In Philadelphia

Elon Musk Jumps Back In To Help With Trump’s Midterm Fight

Elon Musk Rejoins Trump's Political Fight With On-The-Ground Midterm Push

2026 election

campaigns

charlie kirk

congress

donald trump

elon musk

house of representatives

Maine Democratic Gov. Janet Mills on Tuesday refused to endorse Troy Jackson, the last-minute candidate party elites chose to replace accused rapist Graham Platner on the November ballot. 
In an interview with local outlet <a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/mills-calls-collins-vulnerable-but-stops-short-of-endorsing-troy-jackson/73292374">WMTW</a>, Mills said she has not spoken with Jackson and stopped short of endorsing him, adding that she still wants to see Republican Senator Susan Collins go down in November. 
“We haven’t spoken, but clearly Susan Collins is vulnerable, and she should be — she should be defeated,” Mills said. She did not comment on whether the process her party had used to coronate Jackson as the nominee would alienate voters. 
It&#8217;s unusual for a sitting Democratic governor to withhold an endorsement from her party&#8217;s U.S. Senate nominee. Perhaps the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-democrats-choose-nazi-tatted-graham-platner-in-senate-primary?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=125&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dems+Pick+Nazi-Tatted+Graham+Platner+Even+After+%E2%80%98Predator%E2%80%99s+Paradise%E2%80%99+Photos+Surface">lingering resentment</a> stems from Mills spending months crisscrossing Maine, warning party activists and voters that Platner&#8217;s baggage would be too heavy to carry — even in a blue-leaning state. Voters, along with much of the Democratic establishment, ignored her warnings. 
The Democratic establishment viewed Mills, who was recruited and backed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), as the strongest candidate to defeat Collins. However, Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) had different plans. 
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-was-really-lefts-2nd-choice-for-maine-senate-option-1-had-a-big-skeleton?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Was+Really+Left%E2%80%99s+2nd+Choice+For+Maine+Senate+%E2%80%94+Option+1+Had+A+Big+%E2%80%98Skeleton%E2%80%99">The Daily Wire previously reported</a> that leftists turned to the embattled Platner after their initial choice was found to have a major “skeleton” in his closet. In July 2025, two Bernie Sanders-aligned political operatives hunted for a Democrat to challenge Collins, ultimately landing on and recruiting Platner. The oyster farmer launched his campaign a month later <a href="https://x.com/grahamformaine/status/1957780836062826868?s=20">with a viral video</a> that quickly attracted national attention from leftist activists and Democratic donors. 
Trying to stop his momentum, Mills went on the attack against Platner in commercials, highlighting his scandals and running with the tagline, &#8220;<a href="https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2033915569401958580?s=20">Graham Platner: The closer you look, the worse it gets</a>.&#8221; One advertisement in particular featured older women expressing disgust. 
Ultimately, her strategy failed to gain traction with an increasingly restless base eager to buck their party’s establishment. On April 30, Mills suspended her campaign. 
“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else — the fight — to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” <a href="https://x.com/JanetMillsforME/status/2049832653189152925?s=20">Mills said in a statement</a>. 
Now that Platner is off the ballot, Democrats face a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/likely-platner-replacement-used-to-be-normal-before-the-activists-got-to-him?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=27&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Likely+Platner+Replacement+Used+To+Be+Normal%2C+Before+The+Activists+Got+To+Him">new challenge</a>: rallying their base behind a nominee who previously opposed abortion and same-sex marriage and is known for a history of public outbursts.
Republicans hope to use Jackson&#8217;s conservative past and his new leftward platform as a wedge issue, arguing the shift will alienate voters across the political spectrum and help propel Collins to victory in November.
“He’s a Bernie Bro,” Collins <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/2080406319870230991?s=20">told</a> reporters in the halls of the U.S. Senate. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Susan Collins on Troy Jackson: “He’s a Bernie Bro.” <a href="https://t.co/qzt63Y3phE">pic.twitter.com/qzt63Y3phE</a>
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://x.com/mkraju/status/2080406319870230991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 23, 2026</a></blockquote>

President Trump Meets With Governors At The White House

Maine Democratic Governor Refuses To Endorse Platner Replacement

graham platner

janet mills

maine

susan collins

troy jackson

Another far-Left socialist bartender running for governor in the American heartland is giving Democrats a fresh headache as the party reels from deep ideological divisions and mounting financial woes.
Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old dues-paying member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is leading the crowded field in Wisconsin&#8217;s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a race Republicans see as ripe for a flip.
In the mold of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the state representative&#8217;s <a href="https://francescahong.com/policy/">Left-wing platform</a> calls for a sweeping expansion of government into everyday life, including abolishing ICE, imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers, creating government-owned grocery stores, and providing universal childcare and paid leave for all.
Hong also supports legalizing marijuana to fund high-speed broadband and backs a state-run development bank, a 32-hour workweek with no reduction in pay, restoring voting rights to felons, and dramatically reducing the role of prisons and police, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/a-democratic-socialist-bartender-rattles-party-elite-in-run-for-wisconsin-governor-3fe159c0">The Wall Street Journal</a>.
“It&#8217;s so stressful to get by these days, and I know a lot about stress. I work in restaurants,” Hong said in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMPU_oRquM8&amp;t=1s">campaign launch video</a>. “I&#8217;m a service worker, community organizer, and a mom. I work for a living, always have, still do.” 
“The system is rigged. I&#8217;m running for governor to fix it. For years, we&#8217;ve been told that doing better is impossible. Well, let me tell you, that&#8217;s bullsh*t,” she added. 
Hong also <a href="https://x.com/FrancescaHongWI/status/1360704499883536385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">called</a> for abolishing the U.S. Senate in a February 2021 social media post. In a statement to <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/dsa-co-chair-mocked-proudly-confirming-socialists-want-abolish-senate-national-borders-prisons">Fox News</a>, Hong&#8217;s campaign denied that she had ever called for eliminating the upper chamber: &#8220;Rep. Hong has never called for abolishing the U.S. Senate. Tiffany cannot produce a single statement where she did, because it doesn&#8217;t exist.&#8221;
The leftist populist platform has resonated with much of the Wisconsin Democratic base, triggering a last-minute scramble among establishment leaders who fear that nominating a socialist in a state that President Trump won could hand the governor&#8217;s mansion to Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany, the expected GOP nominee.
<a href="https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/governor/democratic-primary/2026/wisconsin">Recent polling</a> shows Hong with a double-digit lead over established politicians, including former <a href="https://evers.wi.gov/Pages/Newsroom/About_Mandela.aspx">Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes</a> and Milwaukee County Executive <a href="https://www.crowleyforwi.com/">David Crowley</a>, who suspended his gubernatorial bid before reviving it two weeks later with the backing of outgoing Democratic Governor Tony Evers. 
“The Republican Governors Association is bankrolling millions right now, not to attack a Democrat, but to boost one, because they&#8217;ve decided which Democratic nominee they can beat in November,” Crowley <a href="https://www.crowleyforwi.com/">said</a>, explaining his decision to get back into the race. 
“That is a five-alarm warning sign. We cannot let the GOP choose the Democratic nominee for governor of Wisconsin,” he added. 
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/wisconsin-democrat-david-crowley-dirt-mcgirk-twitter-rcna588646">NBC News</a> recently uncovered old social media posts linking Crowley to a pseudonymous X account called &#8220;Dirt McGirk,&#8221; which the outlet said featured racist, sexist, and homophobic posts between 2010 and 2014. Crowley insisted other people had access to the X burner account and condemned the derogatory posts. 
The August 11 primary will test the appeal of democratic socialists in the industrial Midwest, following a string of victories in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Denver. <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/wisconsin-governor-democratic-primary-winner">Prediction markets</a> overwhelmingly favor Hong to win the primary.  
A similar battle is playing out right next door in the U.S. Senate race in Michigan, where Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens is working overtime to fend off a stronger-than-expected challenge from leftist Abdul El-Sayed, who is leading in most polls.
The contentious race took an unexpected turn when a black Farmington school board member backing Stevens urged El-Sayed to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/black-democrat-tells-muslim-senate-candidate-to-stop-speaking-arabic?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=10&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Black+Democrat+Tells+Muslim+Senate+Candidate+To+Stop+Speaking+Arabic">stop embracing</a> his Muslim identity on the campaign trail.
“The other candidate seems to be … doesn’t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don’t come out speaking only Arabic,” Angie Smith said at a Stevens campaign event. “Don’t come out with your Arabic music on. Represent everyone.”
“You know, I’m the mother of a lesbian. I’m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don’t just represent one ethnicity or one race,” she added.
The Democratic Party&#8217;s heartburn, spilling out of deep-blue cities and into purple battleground states, comes as the cash-strapped DNC sinks <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flat-broke-dnc-meltdown-sparks-panic-on-the-left?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DNC+Chair+Has+Phone-Hurling+Tantrum+As+Party+Melts+Down+Over+Midterm+Cash">deeper into internal turmoil</a>.
DNC chairman Ken Martin is descending into fear and “a growing sense of paranoia” about his job security, The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/flat-broke-dnc-meltdown-sparks-panic-on-the-left?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=4&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=DNC+Chair+Has+Phone-Hurling+Tantrum+As+Party+Melts+Down+Over+Midterm+Cash">New York Times reported</a> on Sunday. The chairman — responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure — is “relying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts.” 
And for good reason. 
Heading into the midterms, the financial gap between the parties is striking. President Trump has amassed a $400 million war chest, the RNC has another $130 million available, and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The New York Times.
“This is not sustainable,” said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. “Anyone who cares about the Democratic Party — including Ken Martin — would say ‘Enough.’ The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.”

Untitled design – 2026-05-28T104054.501

A New Socialist Bartender Is Giving Democrat Elites Headaches

democratic party

michigan

Rustbelt

The cash-strapped Democratic National Committee is in full-blown meltdown, according to a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/26/us/politics/ken-martin-dnc-democrats.html">New York Times report</a>, with its chair, Ken Martin, descending into fear and “a growing sense of paranoia” about his job security. 
Facing a cash crunch, the Democratic National Committee has asked vendors to hold off on sending bills until after the midterms, The Times reported — an unusual move exposing the party&#8217;s financial struggles with just a few months left before the November election.
The comparative financial status of the two parties is stark: President Trump has a $400 million war chest — and the RNC has another $130 million available — and the DNC is reportedly about $2 million in debt, according to The Times. 
Martin is reportedly growing increasingly anxious about the DNC&#8217;s financial woes and whether or not he will be able to keep his job. The chairman, responsible for fundraising, party operations, and campaign infrastructure, is &#8220;relying on a vanishingly small circle of people he trusts,&#8221; The Times reported Sunday.
The outlet painted a picture of a rattled DNC chairman, who, in early July, reportedly hurled his phone at the desk of a junior aide while scolding the individual. The alleged incident was severe enough to result in a formal Human Resources complaint. Martin declined to comment. 
In a separate story, <a href="https://www.notus.org/democrats/dnc-headquarters-collateral-loan-ken-martin-phone">NOTUS</a> reported Sunday that the Democratic National Committee used its headquarters as collateral last year to secure a $15 million line of credit to fund off-year elections.
Some left-wing commentators on Sunday hit the panic button
“This is not sustainable,” said MS NOW host Joe Scarborough. “Anyone who cares about the Democratic Party — including Ken Martin — would say &#8216;Enough.&#8217; The DNC is flat broke. This must change now.&#8221; 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This is not sustainable. 
Anyone who cares about the Democratic Party—including Ken Martin—would say “Enough”. 
The DNC is flat broke. 
This must change now. <a href="https://t.co/Zse52CO2nO">https://t.co/Zse52CO2nO</a>
— Joe Scarborough (@ScarboroughNow) <a href="https://x.com/ScarboroughNow/status/2081380915813445857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2026</a></blockquote>
It&#8217;s the latest blow to the embattled DNC chairman, who faced withering criticism over his handling of the party&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-finally-admit-what-went-wrong-in-2024">so-called 2024 autopsy</a> examining Kamala Harris&#8217; loss to President Donald Trump.
In May, Martin defended releasing the report after delaying it for months, telling CNN: “After last November’s massive Democratic wins, I didn’t want to create a distraction, but by not putting the report out, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction.”
“The future could become even more difficult. Demographic and population projections indicate an accelerating population shift away from traditionally Democratic states,” the report found. “With radical midterm redistricting efforts underway, the writing is on the wall, and the call is coming from inside the House. We either adapt to the changing conditions of the arena, or history will leave us behind.”

Ken Martin

DNC Chair Has Phone-Hurling Tantrum As Party Melts Down Over Midterm Cash

campaign funds

democratic national committee

fundraising

ken martin

Money In Politics

political parties

A black school board member supporting Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens told the congresswoman&#8217;s opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, to stop speaking and playing Arabic music on the campaign trail, inflaming racial tensions in one of the nation&#8217;s most contentious Senate primaries.
In a viral video circulating on social media, Farmington school board member <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Angie_Smith_(Farmington_Public_School_District,_Michigan)#google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angie Smith </a>explained why she backs Stevens over El-Sayed.
“We need someone that can represent all of us, not just one race, but all races,” Smith said at a campaign event. &#8220;I am supporting Haley Stevens because she&#8217;s that candidate.&#8221;
The individual behind the camera pressed Smith, who was first elected to the school board in 2016, for clarification.
“When you say you know not just for one, what do you mean by that?” he asked.
<a href="https://www.farmington.k12.mi.us/page/board-members-2026-27" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smith</a>, a single mother of three daughters, doubled down.
“The other candidate seems to be … doesn&#8217;t work a room. You have to know how to work the room. Don&#8217;t come out speaking only Arabic. Don&#8217;t come out with your Arabic music on,” Smith said. “Represent everyone.”
“You know, I&#8217;m the mother of a lesbian. I&#8217;m Puerto Rican and Cherokee, with a grandfather that was a white man from Ireland. Represent us all. Don&#8217;t just represent one ethnicity or one race,” she added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Farmington school board member Angie Smith says she’s backing Stevens because she believes she will represent everyone, “not just one race… You have to know how to work the room, don’t just come in here speaking Arabic, don’t come out with your Arabic music on.” <a href="https://t.co/L6VYip6Xft" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/L6VYip6Xft</a>
— Sam Robinson (@samueljrob) <a href="https://x.com/samueljrob/status/2080758781634310654?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">July 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js"></script>
The criticism of El-Sayed — a Muslim Democratic socialist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — infuriated leftists.
“This is insanely racist,” left-wing commentator <a href="https://x.com/mehdirhasan/status/2080789249020858383?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mehdi Hasan</a> wrote on X. “Not only should this Angie Smith be asked to apologize but<a href="https://x.com/HaleyforMI" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> @HaleyforMI</a> should be asked to disown and condemn these racist remarks about<a href="https://x.com/AbdulElSayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> @AbdulElSayed</a> and Arab-Americans.”
Leftist streamer Hasan Piker, who has <a href="https://x.com/hasanthehun/status/2080788955352662130?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> America &#8220;deserved&#8221; 9/11, also criticized the viral exchange.
“This is not who we are as America. Especially sad to see it in the Democratic Party primary,” Piker said.
The flareup comes as Stevens and El-Sayed barnstorm Michigan, competing for support from crucial Democratic voting blocs, including Black and Muslim voters. With the party&#8217;s far-left wing behind El-Sayed, establishment Democrats have increasingly consolidated behind Stevens in the campaign’s homestretch.
On Friday, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/things-just-got-harder-for-abdul-el-sayed?author=Blake+Schaper&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Major+Establishment+Democrat+Plants+Flag+Against+Abdul+El-Sayed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">endorsed</a> Stevens.
“Just like me, Haley will do whatever it takes to get things done for the people of Michigan, and we need her now more than ever,” Whitmer said in a video <a href="https://x.com/gretchenwhitmer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> to X.
The congresswoman, who recently went viral for her quirky <a href="https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2077370465522155935?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;stick it to them&#8221;</a> slogan, celebrated the endorsement, calling Whitmer &#8220;a champion for our state&#8221; who understands &#8220;the stakes of this race.&#8221;
Following the high-profile endorsement, Stevens’s <a href="https://polymarket.com/event/michigan-democratic-senate-primary-winner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">odds</a> of winning the Democratic primary on prediction market Polymarket rose from 21% to 36%.
Michigan’s Democratic primary is August 4.

Bernie Sanders Continues His “Fighting Oligarchy” Tour In Detroit With Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed

Black Democrat Tells Muslim Senate Candidate To Stop Speaking Arabic

abdul el-sayed

haley stevens

Michigan Primary

Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico is facing a growing revolt from black activists who are threatening to tank his campaign over what they describe as his failure to engage black voters and organizations following the perceived snubbing of Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX).
The backlash has grown so intense that at least one elected Texas Democrat has already predicted Talarico will lose. 
“Do I think that Talarico&#8217;s refusal thus far to engage black electeds and the black infrastructure has put him at a disadvantage? Absolutely, because there&#8217;s not a lot of time to try to rally us,” Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones, a Democrat, <a href="https://x.com/BreitbartNews/status/2074908934507233660?s=20">warned in a recent interview.</a> 
&#8220;Talarico needs to pay for us to get our voters out. Only then does Talarico have a chance to win,” Jones said. “If he continues to do what he has been doing, I believe Talarico is going to lose.” 
Talarico, who has sparked backlash for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-book-is-gay-read-the-sexually-explicit-volumes-james-talaricos-church-gives-kids">fringe views on Christianity</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-james-talarico-says-he-loves-trans-children-in-unearthed-clip">affection for transgender children</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-audio-thats-blowing-a-hole-in-talaricos-christian-persona">disdain for the American flag</a>, is seeking to defeat Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in one of the nation&#8217;s most culturally conservative states.
To win the Senate seat, Talarico will need overwhelming support from minority voters, including higher-than-expected black turnout in the state&#8217;s urban centers. During the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-texas-primary.html">contentious March primary,</a> Crockett, who is black, outperformed Talarico in many of those areas, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and much of East Texas.
Months later, black voters across the Lone Star State say the Senate hopeful has failed to inspire their communities. 
&#8220;Talarico is giving out money to white GOTV organizations and white infrastructure and Hispanic infrastructure, but he&#8217;s not giving it to black infrastructure,” Jones said. “We don&#8217;t want no white pollsters. They don&#8217;t know how to poll us. And for the most part, I&#8217;ve told them it takes money to get the vote out.”
&#8220;Talarico and everybody statewide in the Democratic Party has a black problem, whether they acknowledge it or not,&#8221; Jones added. &#8220;And inspiration is not going to get us to the polls.&#8221;
Those frustrations <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/james-talarico-stammers-as-black-woman-berates-him-for-not-answering-questions-at-event">boiled over</a> during a recent campaign event when Houston activist Kandice Webber called out Talarico as he prepared to leave, warning his campaign would “suffer the consequences” if he failed to answer questions from those in attendance.
“So you stay here! You answer our questions, or you suffer the consequences,” <a href="https://forgeorganizing.org/author/kandice-webber/">Webber</a> shouted.
“I’m happy to engage,” Talarico, clearly taken aback, responded.
“I did it for my people, not for you,” Webber said, prompting applause from around the room.
“And that’s wonderful,” Talarico replied. “I think that’s wonderful.”
As the crowd began to murmur, Talarico continued, “It’s all right. It’s all right, that’s what this conversation is supposed to be about.”
On the campaign trail, Talarico has attempted to stop the bleeding, <a href="https://x.com/RNCResearch/status/2079393406493630503?s=20">blasting law enforcement</a> and <a href="https://x.com/realDailyWire/status/2080025545228619991?s=20">expressing support</a> for reparations.
Those efforts have not moved the needle for Webber, who took to social media after the viral town hall outburst to attack the Senate hopeful in a profanity-laced rant. 
“But for us, real black folks, everyday black people, we&#8217;re gonna sit this sh*t out. We&#8217;re gonna undervote your *ss James Talarico,” she said in a <a href="https://x.com/suburbanwinebro/status/2079050913340072159?s=20">viral social media video.</a> 
Webber argued that electing Paxton to the U.S. Senate would ultimately be a better strategic outcome for black voters than backing another white Democratic nominee. 
“But what I will not have you do is try to instill your great white hope in my motherf*cking people and watch you let us down,” she said. “So maybe when 2028 rolls around, you will know, black Texas voters, we ain&#8217;t f*cking playing with you. Yeah, that white boy should have stayed where the f*ck he was.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The vitriol in her voice is disturbing.
“We gon sit this shit out, we gon undervote your ass Talarico.”
And then she says it IN THE FUCKING VIDEO that she *does not care* if Ken Paxton wins this race.
This rhetoric should have NO place in our party. Get the fuck out. <a href="https://t.co/pY7I4bEpOQ">pic.twitter.com/pY7I4bEpOQ</a>
— Suburban wine bro (@suburbanwinebro) <a href="https://x.com/suburbanwinebro/status/2079050913340072159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2026</a></blockquote>

James Talarico & Jasmine Crockett

Black Activists Threaten To Nuke James Talarico’s Senate Run

Black voters

Houston

james talarico

jasmine crockett

ken paxton

texas

Swing voters have delivered a stark warning to Democrats less than five months before the critical November midterm elections.
A new poll obtained by The Daily Wire finds that a large majority of swing voters believe Democrats remain more focused on hating President Trump than offering fresh ideas to address the nation’s most pressing challenges.
Cygnal, a political polling and analytics firm, surveyed 1,500 likely 2026 general election voters, measuring the national mood ahead of America’s 250th anniversary and a pivotal election season that will shape the future of President Trump’s second-term agenda. 
Voters overall said Democrats are too focused on opposing Trump by a 6-point margin, but that sentiment was significantly stronger among swing voters, where the margin widened to 23 points.
“It&#8217;s striking that when you look at age and gender breaks, women under the age of 55 are the only group who think Democrats actually offer a more compelling alternative — every single other group thinks the left is just focused on Trump,” John Rogers, Cygnal senior partner and pollster, said in a statement to The Daily Wire.
Partisan divisions now extend to national identity as well. Ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary, just 58% of respondents said they are “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, including only 28% of voters under 30. Meanwhile, 30% of Democrats said they are “not at all” proud of the nation.
“This youth pride collapse is broader than the midterm and worth flagging as a standalone trend; it cuts across the usual partisan framing and will outlast this cycle,” the poll’s analysis said. 
“Especially in key Senate races, the choice will come down to who is on the ballot, and Republicans will have plenty of money and time to draw sharp contrasts,” he added. 
Swing voters trust Republicans over Democrats on immigration by a 53% to 23% margin, on crime by 47% to 22%, and on government spending by 39% to 23%, while independents also lean Republican on all three issues, according to the pollster&#8217;s analysis.
The data points offer a bright spot for Republicans facing national headwinds fueled by high gas prices and rising inflation, which voters rank as their top priorities, according to the Cygnal poll. 
As of Wednesday, the national average for a gallon of gas stood at $4.15, <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">according to AAA</a>, with prices sitting higher in key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, and Arizona. Driven by higher energy costs as oil prices, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inflation-passes-unfavorable-mark-for-first-time-since-2023?author=Brecca+Stoll&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Inflation+Passes+Unfavorable+Mark+For+First+Time+Since+2023">inflation ticked up</a> to 4.2% in May, the highest rate since 2023. 
“It’s not a good number,” former Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/06/10/former-dallas-fed-pres-fisher-on-may-cpi-expect-continued-pressure-on-the-fixed-income-market.html">told CNBC</a>. “I think the consumer is under tremendous pressure, and we’re just going to have to see if this is going to abate.” 
Looking to November, the generic congressional ballot still favors Democrats, with 49% of voters saying they plan to vote Democratic in November, versus 44% who say they will vote Republican, the survey said. Digging deeper into the data, men favored Republicans by 9 percentage points, while women backed Democrats by 17 points, resulting in a large 26-point gender gap.
On Capitol Hill, Republican senators reportedly attended a brutal closed-door polling presentation on Tuesday about the national political environment.
“Things aren&#8217;t perfect now. I get that. But they’re certainly a hell of a lot better than if we had Democrats in control,” Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/2064417358463037799?s=20">told reporters</a>. “I still think the economy is poised to really grow, but there’s no doubt the price of gasoline is holding us down.”

US-POLITICS-VOTE-MIDTERMS-DNC

Swing Voters Have Rude Awakening For Democrats In New Poll

Trump

The National Republican Senatorial Committee is launching a new advertising blitz to boost Republican candidates with six months remaining until Election Day.
Running in North Carolina, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, and New Hampshire, the ads focus on affordability and highlight the tax cuts enacted in President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ 
“Joe Biden and Democrats’ wasteful spending wrecked the economy,” the ad supporting Michigan&#8217;s Republican candidate states. “But Mike Rogers is fighting back – working to cut government spending and advocating for working-class Americans.” 
“Republicans are making life more affordable. That means lower costs on groceries, housing, and utilities. Huge tax cuts for hard-working families and more money for our seniors,” the advertisements say.<iframe style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; margin: 20px auto 5px; border: 0;" src="https://player.mux.com/L02oaFum7nGsnqFQmni2h13EoMCw01ZpoC?metadata-video-content-type=embed_video&amp;metadata-video-id=65c76139-c981-410e-9520-075474578f6e&amp;metadata-video-stream-type=on-demand&amp;metadata-video-title=EXCLUSIVE%3A%20Republicans%20Choose%20Their%20Midterm%20Battleground%20In%20&amp;poster=https%3A%2F%2Fdailywireplus-v2.imgix.net%2Fimages%2Fembedded-videos%2Fcdf9a7b3-4134-40ff-96d3-c35b0a5e9f0d.jpg&amp;autoplay=false&amp;accent-color=%23DB3D3B&amp;primary-color=%23ffffff&amp;secondary-color=%23000000" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The other five ads — supporting Senator John Husted in Ohio, Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska, Michael Whatley in North Carolina, Ashley Hinson in Iowa, and John Sununu in New Hampshire — use the same script.
The messaging highlights how central affordability has become, as polls show growing voter dissatisfaction with prices and the state of the economy.
“Working families and seniors are still paying the price for Democrats’ reckless spending spree,” NRSC National Press Secretary Bernadette Breslin told The Daily Wire. “Senate Republicans are fighting to make life more affordable by cutting wasteful spending, reversing Democrats’ inflation, and delivering historic tax relief for hardworking Americans.”
With tax season underway, many Americans are seeing larger refunds. As of Feb. 6, 2026, average tax refunds stood at $2,290 — up nearly 11%, <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/filing-season-statistics-for-week-ending-feb-6-2026">according to the IRS.</a>
Rising fuel prices, however, may be hitting consumers at the pump. On Wednesday, the national average gas price stood at $4.536, <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/">according to AAA.</a>  In battleground Michigan — where Republican Mike Rogers is hoping to flip the seat — gas prices are averaging even higher at $4.805.
<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/708905/affordability-dominates-americans-financial-worries.aspx">A Gallup poll</a> released on April 28 found that a record 55% of Americans say their financial situation is getting worse. One in three respondents cited inflation and high prices as their top financial concern.
Retaining control of the U.S. Senate is a critical priority for the White House and Congressional Republicans. The upper chamber is responsible for confirming Supreme Court nominees and deciding President Trump’s fate should a Democratic-led House of Representatives vote to impeach him a third time. <a href="https://kalshi.com/markets/controls/senate-winner/controls-2026">Prediction markets</a> currently give Republicans a narrow advantage in retaining control. 
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Republicans hold a 53–47 majority, meaning Democrats would need to flip four seats to take control. If the chamber were split 50–50, Vice President Vance could cast tie-breaking votes.
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Maine Senator Susan Collins — who is set to face off against Graham Platner — is not included in the NRSC’s advertisement blitz. 
Platner, who was exposed for having a Nazi tattoo, also faced backlash for past <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-called-himself-a-communist-made-racist-comments-in-reddit-posts">Reddit posts</a>, including ones where he called himself a “communist” and said, “cops are bastards.”
Chuck Schumer’s candidate of choice, Gov. Janet Mills, dropped out of the race after failing to gain traction with left-wing primary voters. 
Her exit from the race was welcome news to Republicans.
“Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats just coronated a phony who is too extreme for Maine. Susan Collins has always put in the work for her constituents and delivered. Washington Democrats always fall short in Maine and will again, because they just nominated a dishonest radical,” NRSC Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-dem-who-sparred-with-trump-over-trans-athletes-ends-campaign">said in a statement.</a>

EXCLUSIVE: Republicans Home In On Affordability In Midterm Battleground Ad Push

economy

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday sharply limited the ability of states to consider race when drawing congressional maps, a decision that could reshape the balance of power in Washington and intensify redistricting battles ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito struck down Louisiana’s congressional map, which included two majority-black districts, as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
In the court&#8217;s <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_21o3.pdf">36-page opinion</a>, Alito emphasized that “the Constitution almost never permits the Federal Government or a State to discriminate on the basis of race,” framing the central <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/in-major-voting-rights-act-case-supreme-court-strikes-down-redistricting-map-challenged-as-racia/">question </a>as whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act justifies such actions.
For the court&#8217;s conservative wing, the answer was no.
&#8220;Because the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district, no compelling interest justified the State’s use of race in creating SB8, and that map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander,&#8221; the court&#8217;s opinion held.
The ruling stopped short of overturning Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, but it significantly restricts how states can use race in redistricting, a shift that could weaken a key mechanism for creating majority-minority districts.
&#8220;Today&#8217;s 6-3 Supreme Court decision in the Callais case is BIG WIN for Equal Protection under the Law, as it returns the Voting Rights Act to its Original Intent, which was to protect against intentional Racial Discrimination,&#8221; President Trump celebrated in a <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116490075773072322">Truth Social post.</a> &#8220;Thank you to the brilliant Justice Samuel Alito for authoring this important and appropriate Opinion.&#8221;
In a bitter dissent, liberal Justice Elena Kagan warned of sweeping consequences that &#8220;are likely to be far-reaching and grave.&#8221;
&#8220;Today’s decision renders Section 2 all but a dead letter,&#8221; Kagan wrote. &#8220;In the States where that law continues to matter—the States still marked by residential segregation and racially polarized voting—minority voters can now be cracked out of the electoral process.&#8221;
Louisiana will be required to redraw its maps, and other Republican-led states will likely revisit their own districts amid an escalating nationwide redistricting battle.
Ryan Girdusky, a conservative political consultant and host of the podcast &#8220;It&#8217;s A Numbers Game,&#8221; said he expects the White House to pressure Republican-led states to act ahead of the November elections.
&#8220;I think the White House was genuinely caught off guard with how ambitious blue states would be, like California and Virginia, to redistrict their states in retaliation to Missouri and Texas,&#8221; Girdusky told The Daily Wire. &#8220;And because they are on the losing side of this calculation, as of right now, of this redistricting calculation, and because Indiana failed to redistrict, there&#8217;s going to be immense pressure on all southern states to redistrict black, majority, mostly rural districts, into Republican districts.&#8221; 
New maps in Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee could net Republicans as many as 12 seats in Congress, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/upshot/supreme-court-voting-rights-gerrymander.html">according to a New York Times analysis. </a>
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Blue states, including California and Virginia, have passed referendums expected to add Democratic seats. The Virginia Supreme Court is currently considering Republican-backed legal challenges.
&#8220;If Virginia cannot redistrict, if Virginia has to go back to its old district lines, and we have a situation where they go back to their old lines, and the South is able to redistrict, it absolutely could be game-changing as far as the midterms go,&#8221; Girdusky added.
Democrats sharply criticized the ruling. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin called Wednesday&#8217;s ruling a &#8220;dark day for America,&#8221; arguing the court &#8220;effectively killed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, a major step back in the fight for racial justice and fair representation.&#8221;
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) <a href="https://x.com/SenWarren/status/2049536788625027493?s=20">described the decision</a> as a &#8220;sledgehammer to one of the most important civil rights laws in American history.&#8221;
For Justice Clarence Thomas, who grew up in the segregated South, the court&#8217;s ruling didn&#8217;t go far enough.
&#8220;As I explained more than 30 years ago, I would go further and hold that §2 of the Voting Rights Act does not regulate districting at all,&#8221; Thomas wrote, calling the court&#8217;s prior approach a &#8220;disastrous misadventure.&#8221;

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Supreme Court Ruling Cracks Open Redistricting War And Republicans See Path To Power Shift

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