Squad member Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) will not primary challenge Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) in the 2026 election. She is instead opting to run for re-election to her current seat.
“Hearing from so many people from throughout our Commonwealth encouraging me to run for the United States Senate was deeply humbling and a testament to the strength of our movement,” Pressley <a href="https://x.com/AyannaPressley/status/1995949427249610967">posted to X</a> in a statement on Tuesday.
“It would be an honor to serve the whole Commonwealth-but with our daughter in her last year at home before college and a district that has been in the crosshairs of this White House, I am certain that the Massachusetts 7th is where I belong in this moment,” she continued.
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The only major primary challenger to Markey next year for the seat is now Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA).
The move comes as the Democratic Party is at a political crossroads in terms of both the age and ideology of candidates it runs. The congresswoman is 51 years old, and Markey is 79. Moulton is even younger at 47, and he’s been an advocate for having different Democratic leadership in the Senate besides Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
&#8220;Tonight is another example of why we need new leadership. If [Schumer] were an effective leader, he would have united his caucus to vote ‘No’ tonight and hold the line on healthcare. Maybe now [Markey] will finally join me in pledging not to vote for Schumer?&#8221; Moulton posted to X on November 9 when a handful of Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to take steps toward reopening the federal government.
As for Pressley, she is one of the original four members of the far-left “Squad,” which started with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Pressley, who all took office in 2019.
The debate has manifested most notably when President Joe Biden was swapped out for Vice President Kamala Harris as the 2024 presidential nominee. However, it is also showing up in other places, including the Maine Senate primary between 41-year-old veteran Graham Platner and 77-year-old Gov. Janet Mills.
“Congresswoman Pressley is a powerful fighter for working families and a national leader for her work in Congress,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) posted in response to Pressley’s announcement.
“No one fights harder than [Ayanna Pressley], and she will continue to be a strong, effective voice for Massachusetts,” she added. If Warren opts for re-election, it would not be until 2030, which is the year she turns 81.
Markey’s seat is rated as “Solid Democrat” by the Cook Political Report.

Ayanna Pressley

Squad Member Will Not Challenge Fellow Dem Senator As Party Frets Over Trump

Ayanna Pressley Will Not Primary Sen. Ed Markey As Democrats Navigate Trump-Era Direction

2026 election

Democrat

Ed Markey

Massachusetts

Senate

seth moulton

The 2026 midterms are about as high-stakes as elections can be.
Thirty-five Senate seats are up for grabs next November, as are all 435 House seats. Republicans currently hold slim majorities in both houses of Congress — one that could get even slimmer with the<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/marjorie-taylor-greene-is-resigning-heres-what-happens-now?author=Amber+Jo+Cooper&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Marjorie+Taylor+Greene+Is+Resigning.+Here%E2%80%99s+What+Happens+Now." target="_blank" rel="noopener"> coming resignation</a> of Marjorie Taylor Greene. The results of the elections could shape the final two years of President Donald Trump&#8217;s time in the White House. The midterms will also loom over the 2028 presidential election, particularly for Democrats, who do not have an obvious candidate waiting in the wings.
We&#8217;re still a ways out, but many of the most crucial races are already heating up. Here are five races to keep an eye on.
<h3>Texas</h3>
The cycle&#8217;s most heated election began months ago when Trump ally and Texas Attorney General <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ken-paxton-to-probe-womens-weightlifting-competition-after-trans-identified-athlete-wins-gold?author=Tim+Pearce&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Ken+Paxton+To+Probe+Women%E2%80%99s+Weightlifting+Competition+After+Trans-Identified+Athlete+Wins+Gold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ken Paxton</a> announced a challenge to longtime Sen. John Cornyn.
Paxton has argued that Cornyn is too establishment to continue representing the state, saying that “Cornyn’s Swamp friends are spending tens of millions of dollars to attack me.&#8221; Cornyn in turn has called Paxton a “conman and a fraud,&#8221; the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-paxton-cornyn-bc9dcc271c97ad1d724383397e5807c6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a> reported earlier this year.
The winner of that primary will face off against either Colin Allred, a former congressman, or State Rep. James Talarico, who made national headlines in 2021 when he and a group of Democrat colleagues <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrats-who-fled-texas-to-subvert-democracy-mocked-for-playing-victim-card-you-guys-are-pathetic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fled Texas</a> to prevent the state legislature from voting on bills they opposed. More recently, Talarico — who has pitched himself as a Christian Democrat — came under fire after it was revealed that he followed a number of <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/15/us-news/james-talarico-caught-following-more-onlyfans-models-and-prostitutes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">OnlyFans models</a> on Instagram.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, whose radical outbursts are almost too numerous to mention, is also weighing entering the race — which has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/crazy-radical-democrats-republicans-welcome-jasmine-crocketts-potential-senate-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republicans thrilled.</a>
<h3>Maine</h3>
Like John Cornyn, Susan Collins has caught plenty of flak from her fellow Republicans in recent years. But the moderate senator&#8217;s main concern as she runs for a fifth term comes from Democrats, not a primary challenger.
Maine Governor Janet Mills lost an early lead to populist upstart Graham Platner — though the oyster farmer blew an early lead with a series of scandals, including resurfaced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-hopeful-called-himself-a-communist-made-racist-comments-in-reddit-posts?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Dem+Senate+Hopeful+Called+Himself+A+Communist%2C+Made+Racist+Comments+In+Reddit+Posts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reddit posts</a> in which he slammed cops and called himself a “communist,” and the revelation that he had a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platner-has-known-about-his-tattoos-nazi-connotations-since-2012?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Graham+Platner+Has+Known+About+His+Tattoo%E2%80%99s+Nazi+Connotations+Since+2012" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Nazi symbol</a> tattooed on his chest.
Platner has been<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-platners-treasurer-switch-marks-yet-another-exit-from-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> bleeding staff</a> in the wake of these revelations, including his campaign manager, political director, and national finance manager.
Despite all this, Platner still seems to be the Democrat to beat — though a<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maine-voters-embrace-susan-collins-the-more-they-learn-about-graham-platner-poll?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Maine+Voters+Embrace+Susan+Collins+The+More+They+Learn+About+Graham+Platner%3A+Poll" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> recent poll</a> found that voters favor Collins the more they learn about Platner.
<h3>Michigan</h3>
In Michigan, Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, and Abdul El-Sayed are seeing who can run furthest to the Left.
McMorrow recently held a fundraiser with a leftist blogger who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/michigan-democrat-teams-up-with-leftist-blogger-who-mocked-charlie-kirk-after-assassination" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mocked</a> Charlie Kirk&#8217;s assassination. Stevens, who endorsed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), once <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-democratic-lawmaker-screams-at-constituents-over-nra-support" target="_blank" rel="noopener">screamed at her constituents</a> for supporting the Second Amendment. And El-Sayed, who&#8217;s backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), blamed Israel for &#8220;invading&#8221; Gaza in October 2023, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dem-senate-candidate-accuses-israel-of-invading-gaza-in-oct-7-fundraising-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener">failing to mention</a> that the &#8220;invasion&#8221; in question was a military response to Hamas&#8217;s October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians.
Whichever Democrat emerges victorious from the fray will face off against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-michigan-gop-congressman-launches-2nd-senate-bid-after-coming-up-short-in-2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Rogers</a>, a Trump-endorsed former congressman who lost his 2024 Senate race by a tiny margin.
<h3>Ohio</h3>
Rogers isn&#8217;t the only lawmaker staging a political comeback in 2026. In Ohio,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-dem-sherrod-brown-plots-senate-comeback?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Ohio+Dem+Sherrod+Brown+Plots+Senate+Comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Sherrod Brown</a> — a longtime leftist fixture in the Upper Chamber who fell last year to Republican Bernie Moreno — is running against Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was tapped to fill Vice President JD Vance&#8217;s seat.
Brown was dogged with allegations of hypocrisy throughout his time in the Senate, something The Daily Wire<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-dem-sherrod-brown-plots-senate-comeback" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> frequently covered</a>. The leftist was slammed for taking <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-democrat-senator-took-thousands-of-dollars-in-donations-from-pharma-companies-at-center-of-opioid-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">donations</a> from drug companies at the center of the opioid crisis and<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/east-palestine-is-still-suffering-but-ohios-democrat-senator-took-time-for-a-hollywood-fundraiser" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> attending</a> a ritzy Hollywood fundraiser while constituents worried about the water quality at their home after the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine.
<h3>California</h3>
Of all the House seats up for grabs in 2026 — and, remember, that&#8217;s all of them — the most closely-watched is California, where Democrats are fighting to fill former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi&#8217;s soon-to-be-vacated seat.
Pelosi <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/potential-pelosi-successor-pushed-a-bill-so-woke-even-the-new-york-times-has-doubts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly</a> wants San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to succeed her. But the candidate to beat is California State Senator Scott Wiener, a man so radical that even the New York Times <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/potential-pelosi-successor-pushed-a-bill-so-woke-even-the-new-york-times-has-doubts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has its doubts</a> about him.
From radical trans activism to legalizing prostitution and pedophilia, there&#8217;s almost nothing Wiener doesn&#8217;t want the state to permit — unless of course parents don&#8217;t want their minor children to undergo radical gender procedures, in which case he thinks the state should be able to take custody of those children.
Wiener&#8217;s record is almost too insane to believe, but The Daily Wire recently published the definitive account of this wannabe congressman. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/meet-scott-wiener-nancy-pelosis-likely-replacement-probably-thinks-youre-a-bigot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Give it a read here.</a>
<h3>Georgia</h3>
Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff will be defending his seat against a Republican challenger yet to be determined. The current frontrunners are Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, and former University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley.
The race is expected to be extraordinarily expensive, as Ossoff already has $21 million in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission<a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S8GA00180/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> data</a>. Although it&#8217;s unclear who the nominee on the Republican side will be, millions are already pouring in for the individual candidates at this stage,<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/inside-the-expensive-race-to-unseat-a-vulnerable-democratic-senator" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The Daily Wire</a> reported in October.
Ossoff most recently made waves for his vote against reopening the government, a vote that Republicans will likely lord over him throughout the cycle.
<h3>But Wait, There&#8217;s More&#8230;</h3>
North Carolina’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper is set to square off against Republican Michael Whatley. Former Senators John Sununu and Scott Brown are <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-gop-senator-enters-highly-competitive-race-in-hopes-to-flip-new-hampshire-red" target="_blank" rel="noopener">duking it out</a> in a New Hampshire primary. Redistricting battles are sure to make house races <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/americas-redistricting-battle-keeps-getting-messier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spicy</a> in Texas, Indiana, North Carolina, and more. And just for fun, the weirdest scion of the Kennedy family is running alongside about a dozen other Democrats to represent a district in the heart of Zohran Mamdani&#8217;s Manhattan.
It&#8217;s going to be a heck of a cycle. Stick with The Daily Wire, we&#8217;ll be covering it all!

Untitled design (75)

These Are The Most Important Races To Watch In The 2026 Midterms

Congress

house

Jon Ossoff

Susan Collins

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) might jump into the Texas Senate race, which comes as welcome news to some Republicans ahead of the 2026 election.
Crockett, a firebrand who represents a deep blue Dallas-based district, <a href="https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sotu/date/2025-11-23/segment/01">told</a> Jake Tapper on CNN&#8217;s “State of the Union” that she “will make a final decision by Thanksgiving on whether or not we&#8217;re gonna ultimately move forward.”
“To be perfectly honest, the only reason I’m continuing to consider whether or not I do this is because my polling says I can win. That is the bottom line. But at the end of the day, a poll is a poll,” she said.
“And so you need to actually be able to execute on that. So whether it’s Cornyn or whether it’s Paxton, we feel confident that we can get this done. The thing is, we would obviously prefer to have Paxton,” the congresswoman continued.
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The Republicans have their own closely-watched primary, with incumbent Sen. John Cornyn facing a challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. Crockett described the primary on CNN as a “civil war.”
“Texas is the heart of President Trump’s Senate Majority and John Cornyn is ready to take on whichever crazy radical Democrats send his way,” Joanna Rodriguez, National Republican Senatorial Committee Communications Director, said in a statement, as the group is backing the senator.
Paxton spokesperson Nick Maddux told The Daily Wire that “Jasmine Crockett would make a great addition to the Democrat primary.”
If Crockett were to enter the race, she would be facing off in a primary against former Rep. Colin Allred, who lost to Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, and state Rep. James Talarico.
Cook Political Report ranks the race as “Likely Republican.” The primary elections are on March 3, but if no candidate obtains over 50% of the vote, the top two candidates in each primary will advance to a May 26 runoff election.
The Democratic congresswoman played a key role in advocating for former President Joe Biden and then Vice President Kamala Harris on the 2024 campaign trail, and she was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention.
Crockett gained national attention for a viral moment between her and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at a committee meeting in 2024, <a href="https://www.fox4news.com/news/dallas-rep-jasmine-crockett-has-no-regrets-on-clash-with-marjorie-taylor-greene-over-fake-eyelashes-insult" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fox 4</a> reported at the time.
&#8220;I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you&#8217;re reading,&#8221; Greene told Crockett, who then referred to the Republican as &#8220;bleach blonde, bad-built butch body.&#8221; Greene announced last week she would be resigning from Congress after a falling out with President Donald Trump. Crockett responded in an <a href="https://x.com/JasmineForUS/status/1992056249202987408">X post</a> that she was surprised by the resignation, &#8220;but the threats that come with being on the opposite side of Trump ARE REAL!&#8221;
&#8220;My final word on this is that my office reached out to MTG’s to work on some member safety legislation. I’m serious about working collaboratively on this effort if there is an interest. We can get it drafted before January,&#8221; the Democrat later added in the post.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, Texas’ 30th District: An Intimate Brunch

‘Crazy Radical Democrats’: Republicans Welcome Jasmine Crockett’s Potential Senate Bid

Jasmine Crockett Could Make Major Senate Bid Decision In Coming Days

Jasmine Crockett

Texas

As she prepared to launch a statewide campaign as a Democrat in deep red Arkansas, the woman hoping to unseat Arkansas Republican Tom Cotton appears to have scrubbed from the internet her work for a nonprofit dedicated to helping people &#8220;make decisions about their sexuality&#8221; in Peru, where she literally led a pro-transgender parade through the streets of the capital city.
&#8220;The only thing Hallie ever wanted to do was farm,&#8221; Democrat Hallie Shoffner&#8217;s campaign <a href="https://www.hallieshoffner.com/about-1">website</a> states. &#8220;But if she can’t farm, she’s going to fight.&#8221;
The tunnel-vision desire to farm somehow brought her to work in South America at Peru&#8217;s Center for the Promotion and Defense of Sexual and Reproductive Rights, &#8220;a feminist non-governmental organization that, through political advocacy, knowledge generation and alliances, helps people to make decisions about their sexuality and reproduction with autonomy, dignity, justice and equality,&#8221; according to an English translation of its <a href="https://promsex.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a>.
The group, generally referred to by the acronym PROMSEX, was founded in 2005 to advocate for &#8220;a more just society for all people, free from gender stereotypes and prejudices.&#8221; During her time with the group, Shoffner appears to have run a blog for the group, called <a href="https://perusinglima.blogspot.com/2010/07/pride-in-peru.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PERUsing Lima</a>. The blog was taken down at some point between November 2023 and August 2025, before Shoffner announced her Senate bid. Her work at the nonprofit is not listed on her LinkedIn page or on her campaign website.
But a Daily Wire review of Shoffner&#8217;s social media accounts and an archived version of the blog appear to confirm her involvement. In one LinkedIn post, she touted how she led a &#8220;Gay Pride Parade&#8221; in Peru in July 2010.
“I marched in Lima&#8217;s 9th Annual Gay Pride Parade yesterday (Saturday, July 10, 2010). Now, when I say I marched in Lima&#8217;s 9th Annual Gay Pride Parade, I marched in the FRONT of Lima&#8217;s 9th Annual Gay Pride Parade. I mean in the very front. Leading the charge. My org, Promsex, funded the parade so our staff carried the opening banner,” she wrote at the time, according to an internet <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20231122025443/https:/perusinglima.blogspot.com/2010/07/pride-in-peru.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">archive</a> of the blog available on the Wayback Machine.
Shoffner&#8217;s behavior poses a sharp contrast to her state&#8217;s views on transgender issues. Arkansas has been a leader in socially conservative legislation related to transgender surgery for minors. The state&#8217;s Republican governor, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, has aggressively pursued policies to protect women&#8217;s spaces from transgender-identifying men. She won her office by nearly thirty percentage points.
Shoffner said her experience &#8220;celebrating being gay, lesbian, transexual, [and] bisexual&#8221; was &#8220;incredible!&#8221;
“On occasion, while we were marching, I would stop to take a photo of the very colorful line behind us. When I did, I saw that the front truck would stop too. So when I say I was leading the parade, I&#8217;m not kidding. It was incredible!&#8221;
“The celebration of who you are and what you believe (a celebration of self-love and pride with pure happiness) also defies the nay-sayers. And what were we celebrating? Yes, we were celebrating being gay, lesbian, transexual, bisexual&#8230;we were even celebrating being straight. But, primarily, we were celebrating love and humanity&#8217;s ability to love. That is what we should be most proud of. Some of Promsex&#8217;s staff&#8230;I&#8217;m so happy to be a part of the family!” she continued.
The blog also featured numerous photos of the parade, including shots of Shoffner herself.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1002183 size-full aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/parade-peru-2010-shoffner.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/parade-peru-2010-shoffner.jpg 512w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/parade-peru-2010-shoffner-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></div>
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<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-1002181 size-full aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/shoffner.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="341" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/shoffner.jpg 512w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/shoffner-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes=" (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></div>
Shoffner did not respond to a request for comment.
Republicans have criticized Shoffner, saying that her values make her a poor representative for Arkansas.
“Hallie Shoffner’s organization funded a trans-pride parade in Peru, she led the parade, and then she tried to hide it from Arkansans — what else is Hallie Shoffner hiding?&#8221; Bart Hester, President pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate, told The Daily Wire in a statement. &#8220;Arkansas has led the way in protecting our kids from trans surgeries, even when far-left activists attacked us. We were the first state to ban these harmful surgeries.&#8221;
“We also passed a law offering recourse to children who are victims of trans surgeries,” he continued. “It&#8217;s one thing for Hallie Shoffner to lead a trans pride parade in Peru, but for her to cover it up and try to hide the evidence shows she should be running for Senate in California, not in Arkansas.”
Cotton has introduced legislation to allows minors who have received “gender-transition procedures” to pursue damages if they choose to do so afterward.
“Gender-transition procedures aren’t safe or appropriate for children. Unfortunately, radical doctors in the United States perform dangerous, experimental, and even sterilizing gender-transition procedures on young kids, who cannot even provide informed consent,” Cotton said in a 2023 statement on the proposal.
Shoffner appears to have worked at PROMSEX while obtaining her Master&#8217;s of Public Service at the University of Arkansas&#8217; Clinton School of Public Service, which said that Shoffner &#8220;developed a fundraising strategy and donor database&#8221; for the organization, according to the school&#8217;s <a href="https://clintonschool.uasys.edu/news/panel-on-international-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">webpage</a>.
Currently, PROMSEX&#8217;s main initiative is NosoTrans, &#8220;a project that seeks to help trans women in vulnerable situations exercise their right to health, especially for hormone therapy processes, by accessing safe, reliable and transphobia-free health services in six areas of southern Lima.&#8221;

Arkansas Dem Hallie Shoffner Led Pro-Trans Parade In Peru, Derailing Moderate ‘Farmer’ Image

Arkansas

LGBT

Tom Cotton

Transgender

Maine Republicans just got a huge boost in their efforts to claim competitive Senate and House seats as Democrats duke it out in a messy primary that has become a national flash point.
State Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican, announced this week that she was launching a trio of groups — Lead Maine, Lead Maine Action, and the Lead Maine Committee — with the hopes of boosting turnout for her party in and further conservative policies.
“Maine needs a long-term, durable campaign infrastructure that grows our conservative grassroots movement and seats up Republicans up for success in 2026 and beyond,” Libby said in a statement.
Lead Maine will be a nonprofit and the action group is a state-level political action committee, while the committee will be a federal-level Super PAC, according to a press release.
Libby became a national figure over her critique of the state’s policies regarding transgender athletes, which at one point cost her the ability to even vote in the Maine House, The Daily Wire reported in June. She will not be running for re-election after three terms in the legislature, her press release noted.
“Lead Maine and its affiliated organizations are committed to building exactly that by educating and mobilizing citizens to drive meaningful societal and electoral change at both the state and national levels.”
Libby&#8217;s groups could help Republicans gain an advantage in a closely-watched cycle dominated by coverage of populist oyster farmer Graham Platner, who has faced numerous scandals for deleted Reddit posts and a Nazi tattoo. Platner is facing Governor Janet Mills in a primary that has voters split on questions of age and ideology, dividing the Democratic Party as a whole. Platner, a populist, is more than three decades younger than the more establishment Mills, who is 77.
Whoever wins will take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race the Cook Political Report calls a “toss-up,&#8221; one of the most competitive races of the coming midterm cycle. Democratic primary polls have yielded mixed results despite Platner’s scandals, and he shows no signs of dropping out despite high staff turnover.
“We can defeat Susan Collins and send a message to everyone that a new dawn has come for American politics. One that is strong, one that is principled, one that is hopeful, and most importantly, one that fights and wins,” Platner recently posted to X.
The Lead Maine Committee, a partnership with the Sentinel Action Fund, will put $4 million into Collins’ race. Grassroots movements and organizations are becoming more commonplace on the right, including with Scott Presler’s voter registration efforts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, in addition to groups like Turning Point Action.
“This partnership and investment come ahead of a pivotal midterm election cycle. Maine’s Senate seat will play a critical role in securing and expanding the Republican Senate majority and protecting it is an essential step toward achieving a 60-seat majority,” Sentinel Action Fund President Jessica Anderson said in a statement.
In Maine’s Second Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Jared Golden announced that he is retiring, leaving the seat up for grabs despite now being labeled as “likely Republican” by the Cook Political Report due to President Donald Trump’s victory in the district last year.
Democrat Jordan Wood exited the Senate race in order to run for the seat instead, and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage is running for the Republican nomination. Besides Collins, there are no other Republicans in the New England Congressional delegation.

Graham Platner Maine

How Maine’s Messy Democratic Primary Has Republicans Circling The Wagons

graham platner

janet mills

Maine

Senator John Fetterman suffered a fall Thursday morning and is currently under observation in the hospital.
The Pennsylvania Democrat fell near his home in Braddock and he was transported to a Pittsburgh hospital, his spokesman <a href="https://x.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1989026864862507493?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote on X</a>.
“Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries,” the post said.
Ventricular fibrillation is a type of irregular heart rhythm, according to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ventricular-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20364523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a>.
The spokesperson confirmed he is “doing well” and decided to stay so doctors can “fine-tune his medication regimen.”
Fetterman has a history of heart-related health issues. He was reportedly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pennsylvania-democrat-john-fetterman-to-end-absence-from-campaign-trail-two-months-after-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2017</a> and suffered a near-fatal <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/04/john-fetterman-ignored-heart-condition-stroke" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stroke</a> in 2022.
In a lighthearted statement following the incident, Fetterman said in the statement: &#8220;If you thought my face looked bad before, wait until you see it now!&#8221;
“Senator Fetterman is grateful for the EMTs, doctors, and nurses who are providing his care,” the spokesperson said.
Fetterman traveled back to Pennsylvania this week after the Senate passed the resolution to reopen the government. Fetterman was one of the few Democrats who sided with Republicans, voting with them 15 times to reopen the government.
The Daily Wire’s D.C. Bureau Chief Tim Rice interviewed Fetterman on November 3. The senator discussed his opposition to the government shutdown, the Democrat Party&#8217;s extremism problem, and why he no longer gets invited to appear on MSNBC. You can read the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-daily-wire-sits-down-with-john-fetterman-who-doesnt-hear-from-democrats-anymore" target="_blank" rel="noopener">full story here</a>.

Sen. John Fetterman

John Fetterman Hospitalized After Cardiac Incident And Fall

John Fetterman

Pennsylvania

Embattled Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner will lose the state’s Democratic primary to Governor Janet Mills, a new poll found.
EMILY’s List, which is supporting Mills in the primary, <a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000019a-7501-dfdd-af9b-75912aca0000" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commissioned a poll</a> from Impact Research that found Mills would lose to incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R) with just 42% of the vote. But that’s only when respondents were given “balanced information” about the candidates.
When “additional information” was given about the Platner — such as quotes from deleted social media posts where he called himself a communist, and his Nazi symbol tattoo — Collins’ lead climbs to 57%.
“The statements include quotes from Platner’s posts, including his history of stoking political violence, use of homophobic slurs, and offensive views towards law enforcement and sexual assault victims,” the memo stated.
The poll was taken among 700 likely voters from October 22 to 27, with a 3.7% margin of error.
The Cook Political Report currently ranks the race as a “toss-up.” The Republican won re-election in 2020 with 50.98%, compared to 42.39% for the Democrat, Sara Gideon.
Platner has remained in the race despite the wave of negative headlines and most recently spoke out against the Democrats who backed the deal to reopen the federal government, even calling on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to “step down.”
“We get nothing. No healthcare. No subsidies,” Platner posted to X on Tuesday. “This is not a ‘deal.’ It&#8217;s a surrender.”
The vote to reopen the government by Collins and other Senate Republicans, in addition to some Democrats, was the hot topic on the campaign trail in recent days.
“This short-term continuing resolution would reopen government immediately, provide back pay to all federal workers, and fund important federal programs on which many Americans rely,” Collins, who is the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Mills said Collins “voted against extending ACA subsidies,” as an amendment to continue the Obamacare subsidies for another year was shot down by Senate Republicans.
“This vote is a betrayal of Maine people, and it will send health care costs through the roof. While I have fought to expand health care and to make it more affordable, Senator Collins and Republicans in Washington are doing the opposite,” the governor posted.
The Daily Wire reached out to the Platner, Collins, and Mills campaigns, which were not immediately available for comment. Democrat Jordan Wood dropped out of the Maine Democratic primary on Wednesday, instead opting to run for Maine’s Second Congressional District, which is now open due to Rep. Jared Golden’s (D-ME) retirement announcement. The seat is considered competitive, but is labeled by the Cook Political Report as “Likely Republican.”
“If Chuck Schumer’s mountain of opposition research against Graham Platner wasn’t enough to scare him out of this race, it’s doubtful a poll from a group that has endorsed Janet Mills will do much,” National Republican Senatorial Committee Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell told The Daily Wire in a statement.

Maine Voters Embrace Susan Collins The More They Learn About Graham Platner: Poll

Polls

The House races to vote on a resolution that could end the government shutdown, the FDA removes black box warnings for hormone replacement therapy drugs, and we look at the role media bias played in shaping Americans’ views on the shutdown.
It’s Wednesday, November 12, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251112-member-exclusive">the video version can be seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
<iframe style="width: 100%; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; border-radius: 10px;" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shutdown-nears-end-black-box-warning-reversed-11-12-25/id1576594336?i=1000736400803" height="175" frameborder="0" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation"></iframe>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">House Shutdown Vote?</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-999521" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/House-Shutdown-Vote-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/House-Shutdown-Vote-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/House-Shutdown-Vote-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/House-Shutdown-Vote-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/House-Shutdown-Vote-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/House-Shutdown-Vote.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The government shutdown appears to be on the verge of finally ending, as both parties debate the future of healthcare, and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) fends off calls for his resignation.
The federal government may finally reopen on Wednesday. The bill broke through the Senate with the help of eight Democrats. That bill will now go to the House, and it is expected to begin voting today at around 4:00 p.m. ET.
This is a major development following the longest government shutdown in American history, and it comes at a time when D.C. is deeply politically divided. There has been a lot of pushback, not only against the Democrats who voted to reopen the government, but also against Minority Leader Schumer, who is now facing calls to step down or even be primaried in 2028.
What does D.C. do next? Once the government is back in operation, the focus will shift back to healthcare, but the debate will look different. During the shutdown, Democrats said they wanted the continuing resolution to be contingent upon continuing subsidies for Obamacare. Now, as part of the Senate deal, Democrats want to bring that discussion back next month, since the government will only be funded through the end of January if the bill passes. The shutdown debate could flare up again if lawmakers don&#8217;t figure this out before funding runs out.
If the subsidies don&#8217;t continue, opponents have said that a coming premium spike is proof that the Affordable Care Act was not sustainable in the first place.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said that this deal was the Senate’s, and that the House didn&#8217;t make any promises on its end, so there hasn&#8217;t been a commitment yet to finding a solution to Obamacare subsidies.
Trumpcare: There has been discussion on tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts. President Donald Trump has also floated giving some of the subsidy money back to the American people. Trump has argued that many of these subsidies only benefited large insurance companies.
“Instead of going to the insurance companies, I want the money to go into an account for people where the people buy their own health insurance. If we did that, that would be so exciting. Call it Trumpcare,” the president <a href="https://x.com/_johnnymaga/status/1988038828846670192?s=20">said</a>.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">HRT Black Box Warning Axed</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-999519" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/22Black-Box22-Warning-Axed-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/22Black-Box22-Warning-Axed-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/22Black-Box22-Warning-Axed-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/22Black-Box22-Warning-Axed-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/22Black-Box22-Warning-Axed-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/22Black-Box22-Warning-Axed.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: The FDA is removing “black box” warnings from hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms. The reversal is earning high praise from both the medical establishment and medical outsiders. 
The warnings were slapped on HRT for menopausal and perimenopausal women more than two decades ago by the FDA. But FDA Commissioner Marty Makary says those warnings were unnecessary, harmful, and based on a significantly flawed 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study that connected this treatment to an increase in breast cancer risk.
Why it matters: While currently fewer than 5% of menopausal women take HRT, Dr. Makary says between 50 and 70 million women have been denied or discouraged from taking the treatment since that study was mainstreamed. Makary also says the vast majority of those women were denied life-changing or even life-saving treatment. 
“Women who go through menopause and start hormone replacement therapy have profound short-term and long-term health benefits, including reducing the risk of bone fractures by 50-60% later in life, reducing the risk of fatal heart attacks by 30-50%,” Makary told Morning Wire. “That&#8217;s the number one cause of death in women – and reducing cognitive decline. There may be no medication in the modern era, aside from perhaps antibiotics or vaccines, that can improve the health outcomes of women on a population level more than hormone replacement therapy started within 10 years of the onset of menopause.”
Makary noted that this treatment is for the vast majority of women in this phase of life, though he said there are rare exceptions to that, for example, if a woman currently has breast cancer. Women should talk to their doctors before receiving treatment.
View from the experts: Major medical groups are supporting this. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which represents more than 60,000 physicians and medical professionals, praised the FDA for empowering women.
The Menopause Society, the American Association of Clinical Urologists, and the National Consumers League, a consumer advocacy organization, also applauded this change from the FDA. Also of note, <a href="https://magazine.hms.harvard.edu/articles/how-gender-bias-medicine-has-shaped-womens-health?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Harvard Medicine Magazine</a> last year acknowledged that this Women’s Health Initiative study “has widely been considered flawed.”
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Democrat-Media Complex</h2>
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-999517" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Media-Shutdown-Slant-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Media-Shutdown-Slant-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Media-Shutdown-Slant-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Media-Shutdown-Slant-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Media-Shutdown-Slant-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/11/Media-Shutdown-Slant.jpg 1920w" sizes=" (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" />
Topline: With the government shutdown poised to end on a sour note for most Democrats, it has become painfully obvious just how eager some in the media were to put their thumbs on the scales. 
The legacy media coverage was biased against Republicans over the shutdown, and the numbers prove it. The Media Research Center conducted a study of the first full month of the shutdown, from October 1 to October 31. It looked at the evening news broadcasts on the three major networks – ABC, CBS, and NBC – and discovered that 87% of the network news coverage during that time had been skewed in favor of the Democrats.
The center evaluates only the statements made by anchors and experts who are supposed to be nonpartisan, which would exclude comments from elected Democrats or Republicans, or from pundits who are decidedly partisan. Using that framework, it found 83 statements about the shutdown that were critical of Republicans and only 12 that were critical of Democrats.
Those same people, despite discussing the shutdown on multiple broadcasts, showed very little interest in discussing why the government was shut down or who repeatedly voted against the clean continuing resolution that would have reopened the government. According to the center, “On both ABC and CBS, only 12.5 percent of reports on either network mentioned this basic detail. On NBC, that fact was included in just 31 percent of newscasts.”
View from the media: On CNN, the network is laying it on thick against Schumer and highlighting the blowback against him within his own party. CNN pollster Harry Enten sounded off: “ What about Democrats nationwide feeling about Chuck Schumer? I think the word of the day is terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible.”
The hosts of ABC’s “The View” have been gunning for Schumer since March because, as they said, he “caved” to avoid a shutdown early in Trump’s term. They re-upped calls for him to step aside on Monday, and on Tuesday, they spent some time yelling at Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman for voting in favor of his constituents not starving.
There’s a bit of a pile-on effect happening right now. The argument appears to be that the compromise has given President Trump yet another win, which is something Democrats and many in the legacy media hate to do.

MRN_251112_V1

Morning Brief: House Vote On Shutdown, Women’s Health Gets A Reboot, & Media Blames Usual Suspects

Morning Brief: Shutdown Showdown, Women's Health Gets A Reboot, & Media Blames The Usual Suspects

Chuck Schumer

Government Shutdown

House of Representatives

Media

Media Research Center

Mike Johnson

Morning Wire

Politics

Republican senators caught up in Jack Smith’s phone-record seizures may soon get their chance to strike back thanks to a provision quietly tucked into a bill the Senate passed Monday night.
The provision was included in a bill that funded the legislative branch and was part of the package passed by the Senate to end the government shutdown. It would allow senators to sue for damages if the government accessed their records without their knowledge. 
“Any senator whose Senate data, or the Senate data of whose Senate office, has been acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed in violation of this section may bring a civil action against the United States if the violation was committed by an officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any federal department or agency,” the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/hr5371/BILLS-119hr5371eas.pdf">bill </a>says. 
The provision applies when their Senate data was “acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed pursuant to a search, seizure, or demand for information without notice being provided.”
Senators could be entitled to up to $500,000 per violation, and they would have five years from the date of learning of the infraction to bring a suit. 
“No officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any Federal department or agency shall be entitled to assert any form of absolute or qualified immunity as a defense to liability,” the provision adds. 
If a senator is under criminal investigation and there’s concern about evidence being destroyed or the senator fleeing, officials can delay notification, but only for 60 days.
The provision comes after Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beyond-watergate-bidens-fbi-snooped-on-phone-records-from-gop-lawmakers-in-trump-investigation">revealed</a> that he had uncovered evidence that the FBI analyzed the metadata of phone calls from several Republicans in Congress, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn (TN), Cynthia Lummis (WY), Ron Johnson (WI), Tommy Tuberville (AL), Dan Sullivan (AK), Josh Hawley (MO) Bill Hagerty (TN), Lindsey Graham (SC), and Rep. Mike Kelly (PA).
The FBI took those actions as part of Smith’s “Arctic Frost” investigation, which led to President Donald Trump being charged in Washington, D.C., over accusations that he tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The Biden administration also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-justice-department-took-unprecedented-action-against-trump-bondi-reveals">turned over</a> Trump&#8217;s government-issued phone to Smith as part of the investigation and subpoenaed his personal phone records. 
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) told POLITICO that Senator Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) included the provision in the bill. 
“Leader Thune inserted that in the bill to provide real teeth to the prohibition on the Department of Justice targeting senators,” Cruz <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/10/john-thune-government-funding-phone-records-seizure-00646094">said</a>.
In a series of 60-40 votes on Monday night, the Senate passed a package of spending bills to end the government shutdown that now heads to the House. The package is expected to end the longest government shutdown in history and pass after enough Democrats crossed the aisle to give the GOP-led Senate the 60 votes needed for approval.

US Special Counsel Jack Smith Statement

Shutdown Deal Packs A Surprise As Republicans Strike Back After Phone Snooping

2020 Election

Arctic Frost

Jack Smith

John Thune

WASHINGTON—The Senate&#8217;s move towards ending the government shutdown sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party, pitting former allies against each other — including a senator and her daughter.
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen was one of the Democrats who voted to break the filibuster Sunday night, a necessary first step towards ending the longest-ever government shutdown. Many Democrats opposed the move, claiming the shutdown will all be for naught if lawmakers cannot guarantee an extension of Obamacare subsidies. Shaheen acknowledged this opposition in a statement framing her vote less as a win than a necessity.
“This agreement gives Democrats control of the Senate floor — at a time when Republicans control every level of power — on one of our top legislative priorities: Extending the enhanced premium tax credits to make health care more affordable for millions of Americans,” Shaheen said.
&#8220;There is no one in the Senate who wants to see these tax credits extended more than me,&#8221; the Senator added. &#8220;But weeks of negotiations with Republicans have made clear that they will not address health care as part of shutdown talks — and that waiting longer will only prolong the pain Americans are feeling because of the shutdown.&#8221;
Not everyone agrees with Shaheen. That includes the senator&#8217;s daughter, Stefany, who&#8217;s running in New Hampshire&#8217;s First Congressional District.
&#8220;Improving health care has been the cause of my life,&#8221; the younger Shaheen said. &#8220;It&#8217;s why I am running for Congress. So I cannot support this deal when Speaker Johnson refuses to even allow a vote to extend health care tax credits.”
“Too many people will see health care costs that are already too high skyrocket even further starting in January,&#8221; she added. &#8220;This means more people will be uninsured, unable to see a doctor in times of need, and risk bankruptcy because of a diagnosis.&#8221;
Lawmakers who favored keeping the government closed say that extending Obamacare subsidies was essential, since premiums would skyrocket if they expire at the end of this year. Republicans say that the need for these subsidies is proof that the Affordable Care Act was unaffordable to begin with, and that the subsidies were not worth holding the government hostage.
Stefany Shaheen has a foot in each camp, saying, &#8220;We need to both end this shutdown and extend the ACA tax credits. Otherwise, no deal.&#8221;
It&#8217;s essential to ensure people have access to health care, and it&#8217;s past time to put paychecks back into people&#8217;s pockets and food back on families&#8217; tables,” she added.
The Cook Political Report ranks Shaheen&#8217;s race as a “Likely Democrat.” The seat is currently held by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), who is running to succeed the elder Shaheen, who plans to retire upon finishing her term in 2027.
The federal government has not reopened as of Monday early afternoon, as the legislation in the Senate still needs a final vote before it heads to the Republican-majority House, and presumably President Donald Trump’s desk afterward.
Shaheen did not respond to a request for comment on her daughter’s statement.

Senate Democrats’ Medicare drug pricing presser

Jeanne Shaheen’s Shutdown Vote Put Her On The Outs With Dems — And Her Daughter

Jeanne Shaheen

New Hampshire

The 2026 midterm elections have an unlikely focal point: Maine.
The state’s Democratic primary has been marred with drama since self-styled populist Graham Platner was revealed to have made social media posts bashing cops and labeling himself a “communist.” Platner, who is battling Governor Janet Mills for the opportunity to face incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, has been bleeding staff since it came to light that he had a Nazi symbol tattooed on his chest.
Then Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) announced earlier this week that he would not be seeking re-election to Maine’s Second Congressional District. The Cook Political Report promptly moved the race from “toss-up” to “Likely Republican.”
“After much deliberation, I’ve decided not to seek reelection in 2026,” the Democrat posted to X on Wednesday. “I’m confident that were I to run again, I would win. But recent events have made me reconsider whether the good I can do in Congress still outweighs the cost to my family.”
The race, along with a few others, might be one of the few chances for Republicans to beef up their congressional representation in New England, as Collins is the only Republican representing the region in Washington.
In 2024, President Donald Trump won the district with 54%, but Golden has held on to the seat since he first won in 2018, a Democratic flip. The district covers northern Maine and is significantly more red compared with the deep blue First Congressional District. Last year, Golden defeated Republican Austin Theriault by roughly 2,700 votes.
“Serial flip-flopper Jared Golden’s exit from Congress says it all: He’s turned his back on Mainers for years and now his chickens are coming home to roost,” National Republican Campaign Committee Spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole said in a statement earlier this week when he called it quits. “He, nor any other Democrat, has a path to victory in ME-02 and Republicans will flip this seat red in 2026.”
Maine’s former Republican Governor Paul LePage, who served from 2011-2019, is running for Golden’s seat, posting to X on Thursday a meme saying “Shot” with a poll for LePage beating Golden, and then “chaser” as a headline showing that the Democrat would not run for re-election.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee also commented on Golden’s retirement, suggesting that Tuesday night’s election results gave promising signs for Democrats.
“Last night’s election results make clear that voters are ready to elect a Democratic majority that keeps its promise to lower costs and fight for everyday people. Democrats will do everything necessary to keep this seat blue so that Mainers continue to have a voice fighting for them in Congress — and we are confident we will be successful,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement on Wednesday.
There’s fairly limited wiggle room in New England for Republicans to succeed, despite currently holding the governorship in New Hampshire and Vermont.
If a Republican wins the Maine seat, they would be the only one in the House chamber for the region, unless they also flip the seat left open by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), who’s running for Senate, and Rep. Maggie Goodlander’s seat. Cook Political Report ranks both New Hampshire seats as “Likely Democrat,” along with Connecticut’s Fifth Congressional District.
As for New Hampshire’s Senate race, a tough battle is underway for the open seat, as former Republican Sen. John Sununu is in a primary with former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. Whoever wins the primary will presumably face off against Pappas. <a href="https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cook Political Report</a> ranks the New Hampshire race to succeed Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen as “Lean Democrat” and the Maine race as a “toss-up.”

Representative Jared Golden

New England Could Face A Political Shakeup in 2026. Here’s Why.

new england

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blasted Democratic senators on Friday for continuing to hold out on a deal to reopen the government as Americans face a wave of flight cancellations and delays this weekend.
Duffy said at an event that the 10% reduction in domestic flights imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration this week could be ramped up to 20% reductions if the government remains shut down.
“If this continues, and I have more controllers who decide they can’t come to work, can’t control the airspace, but instead have to take a second job — with that, you might see 10 percent would have been a good number, because we might go to 15 percent or 20 percent,” Duffy warned, according to <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/5595194-transportation-sean-duffy-flight-reductions-shutdown/">The Hill</a>.
Speaking to reporters at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Duffy said the Senate needs to remain in Washington, D.C., to pass a spending bill and reopen the government so air traffic controllers can receive their pay.
“Let&#8217;s open the government up, let&#8217;s pay our controllers, and reduce the pressure,” Duffy said. “That&#8217;s not happening. The Senate is actually going home this weekend. As many people here can&#8217;t get home, the Senate goes home. They should be here every day, every weekend, every week trying to find a deal, so we can open the government back up.”
“I’m getting sniped at by some Democrats,” he added. “I don’t like it. I didn’t put us in this situation. They did.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/07/congress/senate-eyes-likely-weekend-work-amid-shutdown-stalemate-00641739">said</a> on Friday that he would likely keep the Senate in session over the weekend as Republicans urge their Democratic colleagues to come to an agreement on a short-term spending bill. Thune added that the Senate would likely vote on another stopgap bill over the weekend.
Duffy urged passengers who are upset over their flights getting delayed or canceled to “call your Democrat senator.”
“Fourteen times they voted no to open up the government,” he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
“They should be here every day, every weekend, every week, trying to find a deal so we can open the government back up.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy calls out Democrats in Congress for repeatedly failing to end the government shutdown, warning that the pain air travelers… <a href="https://t.co/1LJO0Eyfep">pic.twitter.com/1LJO0Eyfep</a>
— Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/1986833158310883472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
More than 1,200 flights nationwide have been canceled so far on Friday, with another 16,000 flights delayed, according to <a href="https://www.flightaware.com/live/cancelled/today">FlightAware</a>. Friday’s flight disruptions come as the FAA is requiring airlines to reduce domestic flights at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/40-airports-face-major-flight-disruptions-from-democrat-shutdown-heres-the-list">40 of the nation’s busiest airports</a>. Duffy, along with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, said on Wednesday that the flight reductions are being imposed to ensure air travel safety due to a shortage of air traffic controllers caused by the government shutdown.
Americans are growing more concerned that the flight disruptions could continue into the Thanksgiving holiday, which is typically the busiest travel weekend of the year.

Sean Duffy

Transportation Secretary Rips Dems, Says Flight Cancellations Could Double If Gov’t Isn’t Funded

Air and Space

airport

Department of Transportation

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