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October 19, 2026

93 posts · Monday

Vital Early Voting Period Begins in Texas

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“The time has finally come: Texans can begin casting ballots on Monday, and their early votes will help determine whether a prospective Democratic revival nationwide will upend three decades of statewide Republican rule,” the New York Times reports.

“Most votes in Texas tend to be cast early, with 80 percent coming before Election Day in 2024 and about two-thirds in 2022, according to state election data. That means campaigns will be hustling to get their supporters to the polls from now until Oct. 30, when the state’s early voting period ends.”

GOP Ad Blitz Targets Senate, Not House

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“Republicans have an enormous financial edge in this year’s midterms. But with two weeks until the election, it is now clear that their spending advantage is overwhelmingly playing out only in the advertising battle for the Senate — not the House,” the New York Times reports.

“In the seven Senate races that the Cook Political Report rated as tossups, Republicans are outspending Democrats on advertising by $947 million to $625 million. That is a breathtaking advantage of more than $320 million in the key races that could determine which party wins control of the Senate, according to a tally by AdImpact of ads that have been already been shown and future reservations.”

“It is a very different story in the House, though. Republicans still have an advertising advantage in the closest House races, but it is relatively narrow — just a $14 million edge across the 21 races rated as tossups.”

JD Vance Faces Test of Trump’s Messy Legacy

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“For the next two weeks, Vice President JD Vance’s job is to save Congress for Republicans,” CNN reports.

“But then he’ll turn to another political project — himself.”

“Vance’s 2026 closing arguments on the Iran war, high energy prices and immigration are becoming an early test of whether and how, as a 2028 presidential contender, he might handle the tumultuous legacy of his boss, President Donald Trump.”

“It’s not an easy task.”

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Taegan Goddard

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.

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