All articles tagged with #senate elections
Centrist Rep. Angie Craig will not seek the Minnesota Democrats’ endorsement for the Senate, clearing the path for Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to secure it at this weekend’s convention. Craig will still run in the primary, and the endorsement shift could funnel more party resources to Flanagan as the liberal favorite.
Georgia’s Republican Senate primary is headed to a runoff on June 16 after Rep. Mike Collins and ex-football coach Derek Dooley emerge as the top two contenders to face Democrat Jon Ossoff. Collins led the initial vote; Dooley edged Buddy Carter for second. Kemp has campaigned for Dooley, arguing he can win moderates and independents, while Dooley supporters tout electability and opponents highlight ethics scrutiny surrounding Collins. The outcome could shape party control of the Senate in a pivotal race for 2026.
Nebraska Democrats knew they couldn’t unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts, so they backed a Democratic nominee who promised to drop out if she won and urged supporters to consolidate behind an independent with the best chance to win statewide. The strategy, aimed at unseating a deep-red incumbent, got complicated and will test whether an independent can prevail in Nebraska.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) disclosed she has a benign essential tremor she has lived with for decades, stressing that it does not affect her ability to do her job as she runs for a sixth term. Neurologists say essential tremor is common and usually benign with little cognitive impact, and the revelation comes amid renewed scrutiny of health and age in elections, including Maine’s competitive Senate race.
President Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Andy Barr to succeed Mitch McConnell in Kentucky’s Senate race, reshaping the GOP primary just weeks before the May 19 election. Trump also pressed one rival to drop out—Nate Morris—while former Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron remains in the contest, in a state that hasn’t elected a Democratic senator since 1992.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills withdrew from the Democratic primary to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins, citing a lack of funds to compete; this clears the way for Graham Platner, a Democrat and oyster farmer, to win the primary and likely face Collins in the Senate race this fall.
Democrats warn that a bitter Maine Senate primary between Gov. Janet Mills and Graham Platner could imperil their chances to unseat incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, with Mills hammering ads against Platner as Republicans celebrate a divisive fight; Collins remains a formidable candidate amid Maine’s political shift, making the race a key test for control of the Senate.
Two-term Maine Gov. Janet Mills released a blistering negative ad against her Senate primary opponent, oyster farmer Graham Platner, criticizing his past Reddit comments about sexual assault as polls show Mills trailing in a closely watched Democratic primary.
President Donald Trump is weighing endorsing longtime Senate incumbent John Cornyn over his loyal ally Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a high-stakes Republican primary, a move that could alienate parts of the MAGA base that backed Paxton’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results; Trump had previously called Cornyn a “RINO,” highlighting potential tension between the movement and its Texas allies.
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a four‑term GOP stalwart, faces two challengers in a high‑stakes Texas primary that could head to a runoff, a race that could reshape the state’s red stronghold and give Democrats a potential opening.
A surge of federal ICE agents into Maine has put the Senate’s most vulnerable Republican, Susan Collins, on the defensive. Collins declined to say whether she supported the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement effort, while two Democratic challengers press her to take a stand, highlighting immigration policy in a tight Maine race, with protests like one in Portland underscoring the political heat.
President Trump publicly urged Rep. Julia Letlow of Louisiana to challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict him in the impeachment trial; Letlow has not announced a Senate bid.
On the second day of the Republican National Convention, GOP leaders emphasized unity and traditional themes like border security and public safety, with prominent figures like Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley urging support for Donald Trump. Despite efforts to show cohesion, there were acknowledgments of internal disagreements and calls to broaden the party's appeal. The event also highlighted the GOP's criticism of Trump's legal troubles and their focus on flipping the Senate, with candidates linking their Democratic opponents to President Biden's policies.
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended their longest win streaks in two years, with the S&P 500 falling 0.8% and the Nasdaq Composite declining 0.9%. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell expressed uncertainty about whether the central bank has done enough to cool inflation. The IRS announced that income tax brackets and standard deductions will be adjusted higher for 2024 to reflect persistent inflation. Senator Joe Manchin's decision not to run for reelection in 2024 opens the possibility for the GOP to claim a majority in the Senate. Gen Alpha, the youngest generation of consumers, is showing interest in skincare, driven in part by social media exposure and the influence of "skinfluencers."
France's conservative Les Républicains party is set to maintain its dominance in the Senate following Sunday's elections, dealing another blow to President Emmanuel Macron's ruling party. The Senate, unlike the lower house, is not elected through direct universal suffrage but by an electoral college representing local officials. The results showed a trend of incumbent senators retaining their seats, with Les Républicains expected to remain the largest faction, followed by the Socialists. Macron's party has faced electoral setbacks in recent years, losing its majority in the National Assembly in 2022. The far-right National Rally also celebrated its return to the Senate, winning three seats.