“Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist and current front-runner in the New York City mayor’s race, sought to distance himself on Thursday from the national Democratic Socialists of America platform, which includes proposals to eliminate all misdemeanor offenses and to close local jails,” the New York Times reports.

“Senate Democrats are trying to recruit Mary Peltola, the one candidate they think can make next year’s race in Alaska competitive. But the former congresswoman hasn’t said ‘yes’ — yet — in part because she hasn’t ruled out a different statewide run,” NOTUS reports.

“With high name recognition, the proven political chops to build a winning coalition in Alaska and a national fundraising machine behind her, the former lawmaker is the Democratic Party’s undisputed favorite candidate to run for governor, Senate or House.”

“Is Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new MAGA-inspired merchandise a big hit, a bad joke, or some combination thereof?,” the New York Times reports.

“On sale at Mr. Newsom’s ‘Patriot Shop,’ unveiled on Sunday, the merchandise generated about $300,000 in sales on its first day, according to the governor’s team, with healthy demand for items like a T-shirt depicting the governor as ‘the chosen one’ — touched by a haloed Hulk Hogan — and a familiar red hat reading ‘Newsom was right about everything!’”

“Those products are both legitimate campaign swag — with proceeds going to support a California ballot measure meant to tip congressional districts toward Democrats — and an elaborate parody, reflecting the look of President Trump’s own merchandise, which has come to dominate the nation’s political iconography over the last decade.”

The Guardian: Can Democrats win by trolling Trump?