Former Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has formed a campaign finance committee to run for mayor of Oakland, the East Bay Times reports.

“Few politicians in America face a tougher reelection than Eric Adams – New York City’s mayor is battling bribery charges, a multi-million-dollar campaign hit, angry voters and the departure of scandal-scarred top aides,” Politico reports.

“Still, the enigmatic mayor maintains a narrow path to reelection… Adams laid out how he intends to go on the offensive in the coming weeks: He’s going to demand changes to the state’s controversial bail reform laws and pointedly remind voters that his most well known possible challenger — former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — signed those reforms into law.”

Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) is exploring an independent run for Virginia governor or lieutenant governor, the Washington Post reports.

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner (D) has formally filed to run for New York City Council, the New York Post reports.

New York Times: “As Democrats try to fire up their fatigued base, two contests for the Virginia legislature will serve as the first measure of partisan enthusiasm since Donald Trump’s victory.”

“A longtime ally of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has held early discussions with potential donors about setting up a big-money group that could boost a possible run for mayor of New York City,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The talk of an independent expenditure committee is the latest step toward a comeback by the Democrat, who resigned in 2021 in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal and an impeachment investigation. Cuomo this year registered to vote in Manhattan, has made speeches at houses of worship in the city and met privately with officials and labor leaders. He has denied wrongdoing.”

“Democrats suffered a knockout punch in this month’s elections. New Jersey’s and Virginia’s off-year gubernatorial elections in 2025 offer them their first chances to get off the mat,” ABC News reports.

“Both states have become reliably blue in federal races, but President-elect Donald Trump narrowed his margins in each state, and Democrats are unable to take anything for granted as they undergo a postelection reckoning over their national brand. New Jerseyans haven’t granted one party more than eight straight years in the governor’s mansion in over five decades, and Republican Glenn Youngkin rode into Richmond just three years ago.”

“That makes the contests to replace term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, in New Jersey and Youngkin, who can’t run for two consecutive terms, in Virginia key barometers for Democrats’ ability to find their way out of the political wilderness ahead of the midterm elections in 2026.”

“Florida will conduct a special election on April 1, 2025, to fill the House seat vacated by Matt Gaetz, kicking off a sprint among Florida Republicans to represent the deep-red district,” Politico reports.

“The primaries are set for January 28, but whoever wins the GOP nomination will be the heavy favorite over the Democratic pick.”

“New York City Mayor Eric Adams has asked a federal judge to move up his criminal trial to better accommodate a run for reelection next year,” Politico reports.

“Adams is planning to run in a Democratic primary on June 24, with early voting scheduled to begin on June 14.”

“Marshawn Lynch, the former star NFL running back and Super Bowl champ, hinted at a possible run for mayor of Oakland on the podcast he co-hosts with his longtime agent, Doug Hendrickson, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom,” Politico reports.

“With Mayor Eric Adams’s political future shrouded in uncertainty, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, is considering whether to run to replace him,” the New York Times reports.

“Her decision is far from assured and is not imminent; some close to her stressed her ambivalence, if not reluctance. But Ms. James might be swayed to run if a different sullied political leader enters the race: the former governor she helped push out of office, Andrew Cuomo.”

“Even before news broke of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ indictment, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was already signaling to allies that he was preparing to run for mayor,” Axios reports.

“From a star in Democratic politics to a disgraced governor pushed to resign amid a sexual harassment scandal, Cuomo’s dramatic rise and fall could soon have another chapter.”