“As Republican Indiana state senators lost their seats this week in a revenge-fueled primary after defying President Donald Trump on redistricting, the prominent Maryland Democrat who also sank partisan gerrymandering took note,” the Washington Post reports.

“Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) faces a Democratic version of that retribution, drawing the most difficult primary challenge of his 16-year career.”

“Like the ousted Indiana Republicans, Ferguson defied demands from his party’s leaders to create new congressional maps to boost chances of controlling the U.S. House. He, too, faces political consequences after rejecting efforts to eliminate the state’s one GOP-leaning House district.”

“The two most consequential races in California have devolved into twin spectacles, with years of visible dysfunction hollowing out Democrats’ case for competent leadership,” Axios reports.

“California is the ultimate paradox of Democratic rule. A state of immense wealth, innovation and cultural power is increasingly unable to deliver the basics of housing, public safety and disaster response.”

Dan Pfeiffer: “Look, this is a big blow, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it, but Democrats can still win the House and might even be slight favorites. We currently have a 6-point advantage in the generic ballot.”

“Democrats have been outperforming Kamala Harris’s 2024 numbers by about 13 points in special elections and maintain a sizable enthusiasm advantage going forward. Democrats are fired up. Republicans are divided and depressed. These court rulings don’t change the basic reality that the American people think Trump and the Republicans are doing a terrible job, are focused on all of the wrong things, and want a change in Washington.”

“The hurdle is higher, but Democrats can absolutely still get over it. This sucks, but all is not lost.”