“The Working Families Party, a progressive group, plans to spend at least $150,000 in support of Democrat Nina Turner’s congressional bid, escalating national investment in an Ohio special election that has become an ideological proxy battle,” the HuffPost reports.

“With the spread of COVID-19 on the rise, Gov. Gavin Newsom faces a delicate decision over whether to again impose statewide mask requirements in all indoor public places and risk upsetting Californians just weeks before they decide if he should be recalled from office,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

“In Los Angeles County, home to one out of every four Californians, residents are required to wear masks in those settings whether they are vaccinated or not. Seven San Francisco Bay Area counties last week recommended the use of masks, as did Sacramento and Yolo counties, to help stem the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.”

First Read: “With 57 days to go until the election and with the official list of replacement candidates now complete, it’s safe to say that the 2021 California gubernatorial recall bears no resemblance whatsoever to its 2003 predecessor.”

“In 2003, then-incumbent Democratic Gov. Gray Davis’ approval ratings were in the 20s and 30s. In 2021, incumbent Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval is in the 50s.”

““The 2021 race has been a relative snoozer, with it being overshadowed by rising Covid-19 cases, heat waves, the upcoming Olympics — and even New York’s mayoral race and Virginia’s gubernatorial contest.”

Politico: “Forty-one candidates have met the qualifications to run in the California gubernatorial recall election, less than a third of the number who ran in the state’s memorable 2003 contest and well below what some political experts months ago had predicted, according to an official list released Saturday night.”

“The recall field is notably absent of prominent Democratic politicians after Gov. Gavin Newsom’s campaign successfully deterred other leaders in his party from giving their voters an attractive option.”

“Former Trump administration official Richard Grenell said Thursday he will not run to replace California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the September recall election,” Politico reports.

Politico: “Trump last month announced his support for Mike Carey, a former energy lobbyist running for a vacant Columbus-area congressional seat. But Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is bolstering former state Rep. Ron Hood in the Republican primary, while Debbie Meadows, a prominent conservative activist and the wife of former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, is promoting church leader Ruth Edmonds.”

“Their intervention has rankled some senior Trump advisers, who regard it as an act of disloyalty — and one that could lead to an embarrassing defeat for the former president, who has put his name on the line by getting involved. A late infusion of cash, they worry, could complicate Carey’s prospects in the Aug. 3 contest, given that he is already at a financial disadvantage.”

A new Trafalgar Group poll in Virginia finds Terry McAullife (D) leading Glenn Youngkin (R) in the gubernatorial race, 47% to 45%.

“California’s Democratic governor, Gavon Newsom, cannot identify his political affiliation on the ballot during an upcoming recall election,” NBC News reports.

“State Superior Court Judge James Arguellas denied Newsom’s request that his party be listed on the ballot after he failed to identify his political preference by a filing deadline.”

A new video shows Virginia gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin (R) saying that he has to limit his antiabortion comments for fear of alienating independent voters, but that he would go “on offense” if he wins office and Republicans take a majority in the House of Delegates, the American Independent reports.

Less than a day after Eric Adams was declared the winner in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary, he tweeted a video showing he’s already fulfilled a campaign promise by getting his ear pierced.

The Associated Press called the New York City mayoral race for Eric Adams.

The former Police Department captain ran as a more moderate Democrat and made curbing crime his central issue.

“Eric Adams had a lead of one percentage point over his nearest rival, Kathryn Garcia, in the race for the Democratic mayoral nomination in New York City, according to a new count on Tuesday that included tens of thousands of absentee ballots,” the New York Times reports.

“With most absentee votes now slated to be accounted for, Mr. Adams led Ms. Garcia by 8,426 votes in the Democratic mayoral primary, the city’s first mayoral contest to be determined by ranked-choice voting.”

California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D) ended months of speculation Thursday by calling the gubernatorial recall election for Sept. 14, Politico reports.

“The scores of contenders seeking to replace Newsom will now have about two weeks to officially declare their candidacies before a July 16 filing deadline. That also creates an intense time crunch for Newsom’s efforts to correct a legal error and be listed as a Democrat on the ballot: Newsom’s lawyers are due to argue their case in court July 9, about a week before elections officials will finalize the list of candidates.”