All articles tagged with #endorsements
Several Democratic leaders and major backers, including Senate Democrats and the Maine Democratic Party, pulled endorsements and urged Graham Platner to drop out of the U.S. Senate race against Susan Collins after a former dating partner accused him of sexual assault; Platner denies the allegation but acknowledges the political fallout as allies scramble to nominate a replacement.
Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner denies a newly reported 2021 sexual-assault allegation, says he’s reflecting on the best path forward as several prominent supporters rescind endorsements; the controversy unfolds ahead of a July 13 withdrawal deadline, with some Democrats citing serious concerns and others withholding judgment while campaign statements frame the claims as a smear.
Politico reports a coordinated AOC–Mamdani endorsement strategy in New York politics: Mamdani briefed Ocasio-Cortez on his June primary endorsements (including backing Avila Chevalier against Adriano Espaillat) and, conversely, Ocasio-Cortez gave Mamdani advance notice before endorsing three Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates challenging state Assembly incumbents; their aligned moves helped ensure wins such as Brad Lander and Claire Valdez, and Bernie Sanders backed the broader DSA slate. The arrangement aims to magnify DSA influence without triggering clashes with Albany or federal leadership, but it could strain relations with some fellow New York Democrats and complicate future political calculations.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says Republicans can use him as the Democratic Party's poster child, telling them to let it happen after endorsing progressive candidates; he touts policy wins like rent freezes for nearly a million rent-stabilized units, expanded free childcare, and pothole repairs, arguing there is a hunger for a working-class-focused politics and criticizing centrists and Trump-focused messaging.
Alan Wilson won South Carolina’s Republican runoff for governor, defeating Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette 218,321 to 100,123 votes and advancing to face Democrat Jermaine Johnson in the general election. The race featured late Trump endorsement dynamics (a dual endorsement with Wilson after initially backing Evette) and strong backing from Tim Scott, while Evette built support in Myrtle Beach but fell short overall. Wilson ran a steady campaign with running mate Mike Reichenbach and emphasized affordability, safety, and government accountability, while Evette highlighted outside business experience and regional support. Significantly, the contest surfaced issues like road conditions, crime, and a 2023 pay raise controversy surrounding Wilson.)
Zohran Mamdani has become a new power broker in New York City's Democratic politics, using endorsements to propel a left-leaning slate into Congress and overturn incumbents, a year after his mayoral upset of Andrew Cuomo. His strategy has unsettled the old guard and strained ties with longtime allies like Hakeem Jeffries, Letitia James and Nydia Velázquez, triggering tensions within the Democratic establishment and fueling debates within the DSA and Working Families Party about strategy, unity, and who controls the federal funding and district leadership shaped by his endorsements.
New York primaries will test Zohran Mamdani’s influence as he endorses three House candidates, signaling rising Democratic Socialist momentum and foreshadowing 2028 debates, while Trump-backed races in Utah and South Carolina—along with high-profile NYC contests like Jack Schlossberg in the 12th District—illustrate how endorsements, wealth, and ideology are reshaping a crowded primary season.
A USA TODAY op-ed argues that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s selective endorsements—backing allies like Brad Lander while withholding support from others—offer a window into whether NYC’s progressive wave will translate to Congress. With the June 23 NY-10 primary looming, the piece suggests the test is whether Mamdani’s influence can lift candidates beyond the usual blue-district playbook, despite Goldman’s image as a far-left figure and mixed results in other districts. It notes that endorsements aren’t a guaranteed path to victory, but they could help redefine Democratic messaging if a broader progressive bloc gains traction.
President Donald Trump hedged his bets ahead of South Carolina's GOP governor runoff, saying either candidate—his previously endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette or state Attorney General Alan Wilson—would be a good pick and praising both on Truth Social; Evette called the endorsement a "golden ticket" while Tim Scott publicly backed Wilson, signaling lingering influence even as some Trump-backed candidates faltered.
New York progressives Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are taking divergent endorsement paths in the June primaries: Mamdani backs three insurgent House and state races while avoiding tense state-legislative contests to build local power, while Ocasio-Cortez backs several DSA-backed state legislators and remains cautious on congressional primaries, signaling a national focus and a more relationship-driven strategy.
Georgia’s Rick Jackson spent a record nearly $100 million to defeat Trump’s endorsed candidate Burt Jones in the GOP governor primary, showing that massive spending can outweigh a presidential endorsement and signaling limits to Trump’s sway even as he posts a string of wins elsewhere. The results were mixed across the map, with some Trump-backed candidates succeeding (e.g., Barry Moore in Alabama) and others faltering or heading to runoffs, underscoring a nuanced, not all-powerful, influence in 2026 primaries.
Trump’s sway is being tested in high-profile GOP runoffs: in Georgia, Mike Collins faces Derek Dooley for the U.S. Senate with Trump’s endorsement; Burt Jones (Georgia lieutenant governor) is in a gubernatorial runoff against Rick Jackson, with Kemp backing Jones and Ted Cruz backing Jackson, while Cruz also backs Alan Wilson in South Carolina’s gubernatorial race. In Alabama, Trump backs Barry Moore against former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson in the Senate runoff. The day’s coverage notes Oklahoma and Washington, DC primaries, plus a California 14th District special election as other contests on the ballot.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s influence is put to the test in Tuesday’s runoffs: he backed Derek Dooley in the U.S. Senate race while Trump endorsed Mike Collins, and Kemp separately endorsed Burt Jones for governor as spending from Rick Jackson reshapes the contest. The outcomes will gauge whether Kemp can steer Georgia Republicans toward a broad, win-ready coalition that could matter for his 2028 ambitions, or whether Trump’s MAGA influence prevails in the state.
Democrats remain divided over Graham Platner in Maine even after his primary victory, with several senators delaying endorsements and demanding more answers about his past scandals as Republicans spotlight the race against Sen. Susan Collins; some leaders and progressives call for unity, while others insist Platner must address voters' concerns to unite the party ahead of the general election.
Nevada’s 2026 primaries produced a mixed bag: Trump-endorsed Republicans fared well alongside Gov. Lombardo-backed candidates, while women dominated several key races, including attorney general and local offices. The film-tax-credit expansion faced defeats, signaling continued union opposition to the policy. Incumbents mostly held, though a few tight races suggested vulnerabilities, and some progressives gained ground in Clark County contests but not statewide. The secretary of state race touched on election-denial rhetoric, and Henderson residents approved a long-running parks levy to fund amenities.