“They’re expecting a blue wave. It’s starting to feel overhyped. Dems are going to win 20 seats? I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like that to me.”
— A moderate House Democrat in a close race, quoted by Politico.
Daily Archives
October 13, 2026
97 posts · Tuesday
FIFA Pays Millions for Trump Tower Office Rarely Used
“About a year before the World Cup, FIFA held a splashy opening for its latest office, a 17th-floor suite in Trump Tower. President Trump’s son Eric Trump said his family’s organization was ‘honored’ to host the global soccer body,” the New York Times reports.
“FIFA signed a more than seven-year lease, worth about $4 million, according to two officials directly involved in the deal and documents reviewed by The New York Times. The suite mostly sits empty.”
Ed Gallrein Works to Unite Kentucky’s 4th District
“After a brutal primary battle with Kentucky’s resident firebrand, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, Ed Gallrein, the GOP nominee for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, is focusing on building bridges and supporting President Donald Trump ahead of the midterm election,” the Louisville Courier-Journal reports.
“But Gallrein’s victory over Massie has left divisions within the local Republican Party that could complicate his path to a win in November. As he seeks to unite a district that long backed his previous opponent, Gallrein is promising to rebuild relationships with national GOP leaders and the Trump administration – ties that have frayed under Massie’s tenure.”
Republicans Spend Big to Defend Nebraska Senate Seat
“The big-donor group aligned with Senate Republicans disclosed that it plans to spend heavily to help Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in the closing weeks before Election Day, highlighting the all-out effort to protect a once-safe Republican seat amid broader economic angst in America’s heartland,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Senate Leadership Fund said that it will spend $8 million through Election Day on Nov. 3, bringing to $15 million the amount it plans to spend overall to defend the Republican-held seat in Nebraska. It has already spent $7 million, but through an entity called Cornhusker Majority that it hadn’t previously disclosed it was funding.”
Quote of the Day
“Do you see what I’m running against? He’s not a serious person, and they’re not a serious campaign, and he’s lazy, and he’s entitled.”
— Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D), quoted by Politico, predicting he’ll win by seven percentage points.
Democrats Have Momentum But Do They Have the Cash?
Punchbowl News: “A lot of things are going well for Democrats in the fight for control of Congress. Their candidates are polling strongly. Republicans are being forced to shift money to red states. President Donald Trump continues to drag down his party’s chances of retaining the House and Senate.”
“But the Democratic Party’s top leaders are increasingly warning that a massive cash disadvantage could blunt their gains on what otherwise may be a blockbuster night.”
“The fear? Democrats could wake up on Nov. 4 knowing they left winnable races on the table for lack of cash.”
Mike Johnson Muddles the Race to Succeed Him
Politico: “Republicans are reassessing the dynamics of potential leadership races after Speaker Mike Johnson‘s comments Monday that he would run for minority leader if the GOP loses the House — just days after he floated leaving Congress altogether in that scenario.”
“Many Republicans had predicted Johnson would step aside with a House flip, likely setting off a race between Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan for the top GOP spot. If Johnson stays put, his success may depend on if the severity of the party’s loss and if Trump weighs in for a certain candidate.”
Said one House Republican: “I hope he’s smarter than that. It would end very badly and cause unnecessary damage to the conference.”
Medicare for All Is the Big Policy Fight Splitting Democrats
Wall Street Journal: “Medicare for All has become a defining policy fight within the Democratic Party—and a measuring stick of how far to the left the party wants to move. As a presidential candidate in 2020, Joe Biden said he would veto any Medicare for All bill as too costly and disruptive, while then-candidate Kamala Harris, an early supporter, soon softened her position.”
“This year, Democratic socialists and others on the party’s left flank are calling for Medicare for All. But in many of the competitive states and districts now represented by Republicans, the Democrats trying to flip those seats are taking a more centrist position, akin to Biden’s.”
It’s Still Too Early for 2028
It’s always fun talking to Julie Mason about politics and the next election.
Talarico Releases Video Showing He Was Home
“Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico’s campaign shared security camera footage that appears to show Talarico at his home in Texas for the first eight days of this month — pushing back on claims that Talarico was hiding the reasons for his disappearance,” CBS News reports.
“The eight timestamped images — which include watermarks from home security camera company SimpliSafe — appeared to have been taken from a camera in the backyard of Talarico’s house in the state capital of Austin.”
Associated Press: False claims that Talarico was treated at mental health facility spread.
Medicaid Work Rules Hit Right After Midterms
“It is a date keeping U.S. healthcare providers up at night: January 1, 2027,” The Guardian reports.
“As the midterm elections loom, everyone from hospital leaders and to patient advocates are focused on the New Year, when Republicans scheduled the most controversial elements of their healthcare reform law to go into effect.”
“Millions of Medicaid beneficiaries will be required, though a maze of government paperwork, to show they’re working 80 hours per month. And that’s just the marquee change.”
Trump Census Plan to Cut Noncitizens From 2030 Count
“Congressional Democrats and civil rights groups are concerned about a proposed Trump administration change to the U.S. census that would exclude noncitizens without permanent resident status, altering congressional representation and potentially how federal funding is distributed,” CNBC reports.
“Opponents warn the rule, which was posted in September, could have negative effects, potentially shifting congressional power to parts of the country where fewer immigrants live and underfunding education, healthcare, food assistance and emergency management programs.”
Trump Says Russia and China Are Not Helping Iran
“President Donald Trump dismissed concerns that Russia and China might be helping Iran in its war with the U.S. adding that the two countries would have ‘too much to lose’ in aiding the Islamic Republic,” Bloomberg reports.
Said Trump: “If they are, it’s at a very low level, but I don’t believe they are at all.”
He added that the U.S. would know about such assistance “very fast.”
Trump’s Latino Vote Starts to Unravel
Financial Times: “In 2024, nearly half of Hispanic voters backed Donald Trump. But polls predict that a big majority of them will support the Democratic Party in this year’s midterms.”
“Many of them blame the Trump administration for a Middle East war that has pushed up diesel and gasoline prices, for cuts to welfare programmes they rely on more than white voters do and for a crackdown on illegal immigrants that has sown fear and anger in Hispanic neighbourhoods.”
Said Democratic strategist Tory Gavito: “They feel hoodwinked by Trump.”
Third-Party Candidates Could Play a Pivotal Role in Ohio
Columbus Dispatch: “As statewide contests for governor and U.S. Senate appear close, Libertarian and independent candidates could shake up these closely watched campaigns.”
“Third-party candidates have made a big splash in recent races, helping U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, win reelection in a close race in 2024.”
Jolly Says Black Voters Could Decide Florida Race
“Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly is making a concerted effort to win over Black voters — and keep them from considering his Republican opponent Byron Donalds — in the final weeks before Election Day,” the Miami Herald reports.
Said Jolly: “The most important front that this entire race could come down to is the 10% of undecided Black voters in Florida right now.”
Roy Cooper Way Up in North Carolina Senate Race
A new WRAL/WSOC poll in North Carolina finds Roy Cooper (D) leading Michael Whatley (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 54% to 40%.
North Carolina Senate Race
Roy Cooper (D) 54%
Michael Whatley (R) 40%
More Americans View Democrats Favorably
“More Americans believe that the Democratic Party is better positioned than the GOP to ensure the U.S. remains prosperous and to protect the nation against terror attacks, according to new Gallup polling that underscores Democrats’ advantage on image ahead of the midterms,” Semafor reports.
“Forty-three percent of Americans view Democrats favorably, compared with 35% who view Republicans positively; importantly, Democrats have a solid advantage among independents.”
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- Next Page »
Taegan Goddard
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.
More about Taegan Goddard →