Political Wire

Shapiro Launches PAC to Back Democrats in Key Races

· Leave a Comment

“Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro launched a federal political action committee to support Democrats running in the state’s most competitive U.S. House races next month, stoking further questions about his 2028 presidential ambitions,” Bloomberg reports.

“Shapiro’s New Path PAC allows the governor to contribute directly to a slate of Democrats attempting to oust incumbents in four Republican-held seats. A sweep of those seats by Democrats, with Shapiro’s name at the top of the ticket, would be a victory for the party he could point to during a presidential primary.”

Manchin to Campaign with Susan Collins

· Leave a Comment

“Former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) is traveling to Maine this week to campaign with Republican Sen. Susan Collins, according to details shared first with Semafor,” Semafor reports.

“The moderate West Virginian said his visit is motivated by the attacks on Collins for voting too often in support of President Donald Trump.”

Abdul El-Sayed Gets a Gift From an Opponent’s Plant

· Leave a Comment

“A young man asked Abdul-El Sayed if he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. The Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan replied that he would, and then said that questions like that promote bigoted ideas about Muslim Americans,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The tense exchange at a Saturday event for El-Sayed has turned into a highlight for the candidate that he is now posting on social media.”

The entire exchange is worth watching.
Taegan
From our partner:

October Surprise! 

For a limited time, sign up for a 90-day free trial to Political Wire. 

 

Minnesota Senate Race Moves to Likely Democrat

· Leave a Comment

The Cook Political Report shifts Minnesota’s Senate race from Lean Democrat to Likely Democrat.

“We’re skeptical of some public polling that has shown the race close, and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has only just now started spending after a brutal Democratic primary. Former NFL reporter Michele Tafoya has an interesting profile, and national GOP sources maintain that voters’ anger over the state’s widespread fraud scandal will stick to Flanagan. But given the economy and the state’s ICE raids, this is a difficult climate to try to make a major play in a state Kamala Harris won.”

Republicans Barely Mention Trump in Political Ads

· Leave a Comment

“At rallies across the country, President Trump has implored voters to ‘pretend I’m on the ballot’ in the midterm elections,” the New York Times reports.

“But on the airwaves, his party is sending the opposite message.”

“Less than $1 of every $100 in Republican television ad spending on House and Senate races from Sept. 9 through Oct. 17 has gone toward commercials that mention the word ‘Trump.'”

Member feature

Trump Is an Even Bigger Liability Than Polls Suggest

· Leave a Comment

Talking PointsPresident Trump’s approval rating has fallen to new lows in at least four recent polls.

But a new Washington Post-ABC News poll suggests the political consequences could extend well beyond the president himself.

Join now to continue reading.

Members get exclusive analysis, bonus features and no advertising. Learn more.

If you’re already a member, sign in to your account.

Merz Warns Europe Is Underestimating Russian Threat

· Leave a Comment

“German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned against complacency over the dangers posed by Russia, saying that President Vladimir Putin is seeking to not only defeat Ukraine, but to also undermine democracy in Europe,” Bloomberg reports.

Said Merz: “My biggest concern is the underestimated Russian impact on our societies. Russia is on the way to destabilize the entire political order of our European continent.”

Georgia Election Chief Rejects Trump’s Claims

· Leave a Comment

“The Republican state official in charge of Georgia’s elections rebutted false claims by President Donald Trump that sought to cast doubt on the integrity of vote-counting in the state with early voting already underway in the midterm elections,” Bloomberg reports.

“Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger told Bloomberg Television that he expects the state’s election results by midnight on Election Day, calling the process ‘free, fair and fast.'”

Said Raffensperger: “We are very confident that at the end of the day you can trust the results.”

Inside the Federal Investigation Into Ilhan Omar

· Leave a Comment

“The creator of a conservative blog who was among the first to raise questions surrounding Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar says federal agents interviewed him in January 2026, suggesting authorities were building a case before the congresswoman’s home was raided in October,” NewsNation reports.

Trump Gives Susie Wiles an Additional Role

· Leave a Comment

“Three days after responding to reports that he’d discussed replacing the White House chief of staff by telling reporters there was ‘zero chance’ of that, President Donald Trump tasked Susie Wiles with leading a new initiative,” the Washington Sun reports.

“Trump praised Wiles as ‘tough’ in his remarks at a Rose Garden event to sign an executive order to launch a task force focused on women’s health. Trump mentioned her recent cancer diagnosis after initially expressing hesitation about whether she would want him to publicly discuss it.”

Said Trump: “Susie recently won her battle against a very tough opponent, breast cancer. It wasn’t easy. We went through it. We got her through it, and she got through it, and she’s tough.”

Brazil’s Powerful Court Seeks to Avert Bolsonaro’s Wrath

· Leave a Comment

“Brazil’s Supreme Court justices are making cautious overtures to a political force they thought they had contained, but whose growing power could soon put their own seats on the bench at risk,” Bloomberg reports.

“The prospect of Flávio Bolsonaro winning the presidency in next weekend’s runoff, along with enough Senate support to impeach top court members, has prompted some justices to seek a rapprochement with his camp, according to people familiar with the discussions. Recent judicial decisions and meetings have been interpreted as conciliatory gestures toward a political movement that has long regarded the tribunal as an adversary.”

Greg Abbott Raked in $9 Million From Data Center Donors

· Leave a Comment

“In June, as public opinion on data centers soured, Gov. Greg Abbott took his first big swing at reining in the industry, issuing a round of regulatory recommendations to the Legislature that included his call to end a major tax break for the facilities,” the Texas Tribune reports.

“In total, Abbott has raised about $9 million from data center-related donors since July 2025, which accounts for about 13% of the donations he’s taken in during that time.”

Secret Pay-for-Play Text Rocks Trump White House

· Leave a Comment

“Top Trump adviser Ric Grenell allegedly outlined a stunning pay-for-influence offer to a Turkish billionaire last year: access to ‘POTUS,’ ‘VIP events’ and administration officials, according to a text message that the White House counsel is investigating,” Axios reports.

“Administration officials say the text is a key piece of evidence in the White House’s investigation — ordered by President Trump — into whether Grenell abused the president’s trust and misappropriated a potential multimillion-dollar donation to the Kennedy Center, which Grenell led at the time.”

Jon Ossoff Solidly Ahead in Georgia Senate Race

· Leave a Comment

A new Quantus Insights poll in Georgia finds Jon Ossoff (D) leading Mike Collins (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 52% to 45%.

Georgia Senate Race
Jon Ossoff (D) 52%
 
Mike Collins (R) 45%
 
Quantus Insights poll · likely voters · ±3.8%
Georgia Governor’s Race
Rick Jackson (R) 48%
 
Keisha Bottoms (D) 47%
 
Quantus Insights poll · likely voters · ±3.8%
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.

More about Taegan Goddard →