“House Republicans in competitive districts warned GOP leaders Thursday: We could lose our seats if you gut Obamacare to pay for a massive border, energy and tax bill,” Politico reports.
“GOP members are already concerned that they’re poised to lose their trifecta and a swath of seats in the 2026 midterms — they worry GOP efforts to pare back the Affordable Care Act could pour fuel on the fire.”
Punchbowl News: “Nearly 20 lawmakers are taking active steps or exploring a bid for governor in their home states, according to interviews with over a dozen sources. Even though Republicans have unified control of Washington, the prospect of leading an entire state — and being a more direct governing partner to President Donald Trump during his second term — can be more appealing than serving in Congress.”
“That’s especially true if you’re just one of 435 members of the House.”
“There are 10 states where Republican governors are term-limited in 2026, paving the wave for open races.”
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) would the “clear frontrunner” in the 2026 GOP primary for governor if she decided to run, Donald Trump’s longtime pollster tells Axios.
“The fact that Tony Fabrizio is polling for Blackburn indicates that she’s seriously thinking about leaving the U.S. Senate next year in a bid for the governor’s mansion in Nashville.”
You're reading the free version of Political Wire
Upgrade to a paid membership for full access, exclusive analysis, the private Trial Balloon podcast, real-time trending news and an ad-free site. It’s quick and easy — and you can use Apple Pay.
Become a member. Already a member? Log in.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) “is exploring a run for Arizona governor in 2026, setting up a potential battle on the right to lead one of the nation’s most consequential swing states,” Roll Call reports.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) said that she is “seriously considering” a gubernatorial run in 2026 and will make a final decision in the coming weeks, the AP reports.
Mace said that she plans to ask for support from President Trump, who has maintained popularity in the state since his 2016 primary win there helped cement his status as the GOP presidential nominee.
Vivek Ramaswamy will announce a bid for Ohio governor “shortly,” USA Today reports.
“With Donald Trump’s expected support, Ramaswamy could have an edge in a GOP primary.”
“Vivek Ramaswamy would consider an appointment to replace JD Vance in the Senate if it was offered — but is setting himself up for a gubernatorial run in Ohio and vastly prefers seeking that office,” Semafor reports.
Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “Just 16 districts voted for one party for president and the other for House, which is the same historically-low total as 2020.”
“But there are 13 Democrats in Donald Trump-won districts compared to just 3 Republicans in Kamala Harris-won districts.”
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has been telling potential donors and Florida political players that he is running for governor in 2026, the clearest signal yet that his much-expected bid is moving forward, NBC News reports.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has been making calls and telling people she is likely to make a bid for governor, Axios reports.
“Several GOP Senate incumbents are already staring down the threat of primary challenges next year as friction builds between the MAGA and establishment wings,” The Hill reports.
“Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), who plans to run for reelection in 2026, is facing a possible primary challenger in Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a longtime ally of President-elect Trump. Meanwhile, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment, has already drawn a MAGA challenger. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who was censured by his state party in 2023, could also face a tough fight from the right.”
“A non-profit closely aligned with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is preparing its first major investment in the 2026 election with a campaign aimed at dinging Republicans on the economy,” Axios reports.
“The effort comes as President-elect Trump and congressional Republicans are preparing a hulking fiscal policy package that could define the 119th Congress.”
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA) signaled he is seriously considering challenging Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) for his post in 2026, The Hill reports.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab on Wednesday launched a bid to become governor, making him the first major candidate to enter the 2026 field, the Kansas City Star reports.
Playbook: “With incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly term-limited, this will be one of Republicans’ biggest targets next year.”
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said he may not be done with politics despite resigning from Congress last month to be a cable news host, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Said Gaetz: “I am starting to think about running for governor.”
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) sure sounds like he’s ready to challenge Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in a Democratic primary.
“Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina is set to leave office on New Year’s Day after two terms that began with his effort to undo the state’s ‘bathroom ban’ for transgender people and ended with him muscling through a Medicaid expansion,” the New York Times reports.
“Now Mr. Cooper, 67, has plenty of options. In his farewell address last week, he pointedly said, ‘I’m not done.’”
“Many Democrats hope he will run for Senate in 2026 and help the party claw back ground in the chamber; others see him as a potential presidential contender in 2028. Asked in an interview if he was weighing bids for Senate or for president, he said ‘it’s hard for me to believe’ that he would not want to seek public office again.”
CNN: What the only battleground Democrat to do better than Trump says his party needs to learn.
“Elon Musk said he’ll be funding moderate primary challengers to incumbent Democrats in deep-blue seats around the country, as he continues to try to influence a wide swath of government,” Politico reports.
Said Musk, in response to a video of Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA): “Forgot to mention that I’m also going to be funding moderate candidates in heavily Democrat districts, so that the country can get rid of those who don’t represent them, like this jackass.”
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
“There are a lot of blogs and news sites claiming to understand politics, but only a few actually do. Political Wire is one of them.”
— Chuck Todd, host of “Meet the Press”
“Concise. Relevant. To the point. Political Wire is the first site I check when I’m looking for the latest political nugget. That pretty much says it all.”
— Stuart Rothenberg, editor of the Rothenberg Political Report
“Political Wire is one of only four or five sites that I check every day and sometimes several times a day, for the latest political news and developments.”
— Charlie Cook, editor of the Cook Political Report
“The big news, delicious tidbits, pearls of wisdom — nicely packaged, constantly updated… What political junkie could ask for more?”
— Larry Sabato, Center for Politics, University of Virginia
“Political Wire is a great, great site.”
— Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”
“Taegan Goddard has a knack for digging out political gems that too often get passed over by the mainstream press, and for delivering the latest electoral developments in a sharp, no frills style that makes his Political Wire an addictive blog habit you don’t want to kick.”
— Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post
“Political Wire is one of the absolute must-read sites in the blogosphere.”
— Glenn Reynolds, founder of Instapundit
“I rely on Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire for straight, fair political news, he gets right to the point. It’s an eagerly anticipated part of my news reading.”
— Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist.