All articles tagged with #2026 elections
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged Graham Platner to end his Maine Senate campaign after a new sexual assault accusation; Mamdani has not endorsed Platner, though several of his aides are involved in the bid. Platner denies the allegation, and other prominent Democrats including Chuck Schumer have pressed him to drop out before the ballot replacement deadline as Platner’s campaign faces scrutiny.
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Don Huffines, a former Republican state senator, to be Texas comptroller for the rest of the year after acting head Kelly Hancock resigns; Huffines, who defeated Hancock for the GOP nomination, is running for a full term against Democrat Sarah Eckhardt in November and would oversee taxes, spending audits, contracts and the state’s $1 billion Education Freedom Accounts voucher program.
CNN identifies nine Senate seats most likely to determine control in 2026, led by North Carolina, Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Alaska, Iowa, Georgia, New Hampshire and Texas. Democrats must defend incumbents and flip four in red-leaning states, aided by strong fundraising, favorable polling, and heavy outside spending now more freely coordinated between campaigns and parties after a Supreme Court ruling.
Steve Bannon says the U.S. is in a transformational moment as the old political order dies, with democratic-socialist wins like Zohran Mamdani and Melat Kiros showing that grassroots canvassing can trump money. He argues Republicans must embrace populist economic policies to counter the left, while Democrats are unprepared, and foresees a 2028 shaped by AI and concentrated capital. The path to victory, he insists, is relentless, policy-driven action that empowers ordinary people and breaks up oligarchy.
Sen. John Hickenlooper won Colorado’s Democratic Senate primary against state Sen. Julie Gonzales, leading 57% to 43% with more than 80% of votes counted, advancing to a general election against Republican Mark Baisley. He frames the race as a bid for a final term and touts bipartisan accomplishments, while Gonzales ran on Medicare for All and progressive reforms.
Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are tied at 47% each among likely Texas voters in a New York Times/Siena poll for the open Senate seat, with 6% undecided. Gov. Greg Abbott leads Democrat Gina Hinojosa 51–44, and President Trump’s Texas approval remains underwater (44% approve, 53% disapprove). The survey of 656 likely voters (June 19–27) has a ±4.5-point margin of error. Talarico’s strong fundraising and Paxton’s bruising primary, plus GOP concerns about Paxton’s viability, keep Texas as a major battleground in the 2026 elections.
Colorado Democrats brace for an anti-establishment wave in their 2026 primaries: Sen. Michael Bennet’s bid for governor is tighter than expected against AG Phil Weiser, while Rep. Diana DeGette faces a serious challenge from progressive Melat Kiros. Outside money, grassroots organizing, and momentum from New York’s insurgent wins are fueling the races, with donors scrambling to back challengers and DeGette’s camp warning of a tightening race. A Kiros upset would mark a major shift in Colorado politics, though DeGette still benefits from decades of incumbency and name recognition.
An internal poll funded by Democrat Blake Gendebien shows a dead-heat in NY-21 against Republican Anthony Constantino (Gendebien 45%, Constantino 44%, 11% undecided) in a district Trump carried by 20 points in 2024. The race could become a three-way contest if ex-Republican Robert Smullen seeks the Conservative line. Stefanik is the incumbent; Constantino has Trump’s endorsement and self-funds his campaign, while Democratic politics point to primary infighting as a potential edge for them. No independent polling has been released, leaving the general election in a tight, unsettled position.
Progressive candidates swept New York and other primaries, triggering alarm among centrist Democrats who fear an ideological civil war could hurt the party’s 2026 prospects. Moderates are rushing to defend battleground seats in states like Colorado, Michigan, and Wisconsin, while leaders push for unity and warn against letting fringe ideas define the party’s electability.
Tucker Carlson says he will no longer support the Republican Party, marking a high-profile break with GOP leadership as he attends a White House meeting with Donald Trump and oil executives. The move suggests potential shifts within conservative circles ahead of the 2026 cycle.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used a Brooklyn rally to sharply criticize the Democratic Party and publicly back three progressive candidates (Claire Valdez, Brad Lander, Darializa Avila Chevalier) in New York’s upcoming congressional primaries. He argued the party’s current approach risks losing presidential elections and urged bold change now, highlighting opposition to corruption-fueled ads and pressure from groups like AIPAC. His slate targets incumbents Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, pitting party unity against a broader push for electoral reform and new leadership ahead of the 2026 elections.
President Donald Trump endorses Susan Collins in Maine’s Senate race, calling Democrat Graham Platner a “thug” and an “outright pig” while accusing Democrats of hypocrisy over Platner amid questions about Trump’s past conduct.
Democrats largely back Graham Platner in Maine’s Senate race against Susan Collins after a landslide primary, despite ongoing scandals; Republicans have lined up tens of millions in ads to exploit the baggage, while Platner’s supporters tout his populist appeal and potential to flip the chamber.
In California’s Central Valley, Rep. David Valadao advances to a runoff against Bernie Sanders–backed progressive Randy Villegas after Villegas defeats moderate Jasmeet Bains; the DCCC tried to buoy Bains, triggering backlash from some progressives, while the district’s redraw aimed to favor Democrats and Valadao posted under 41% in the primary, setting up a high-stakes rematch in a district seen as a potential test of left-wing populism in a Trump-won area.
Graham Platner, a political newcomer and oysterman, won Maine’s Democratic Senate primary to face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins after surviving scrutiny of his past posts, a Nazi-symbol tattoo, and personal controversies. Backed by progressives including Bernie Sanders, Platner’s campaign has benefited from a favorable national climate as Democrats aim to flip the Collins seat in 2026, with polls suggesting a tight general election in a state Harris won in 2024.