Talarico Pulls Ahead of Paxton by 5 Points in New Texas Senate Race Poll July 28, 2026
Introduction:
Texas Public Opinion Research (TPOR) today released a new poll of likely Texas general election voters, surveying their attitudes on the 2026 races for U.S. Senate, Governor, and Attorney General.
The survey of 1,048 likely Texas voters was conducted from July 15 to July 17, 2026 and has a margin of error of ±3.4 percentage points...
The takeaway: Democrat James Talarico (45%) leads Republican Ken Paxton (40%) by 5 points in the U.S. Senate race, a 2 point increase from TPOR’s post-runoff poll in May. Talarico continues to post strong margins with voters who self-identify as moderate (+34) and independent (+20).
Talarico’s lead is driven by a strong performance on affordability, which 44% of voters rank as their top priority in this election. Voters say Talarico better understands the economic challenges facing working Texans over Paxton by 7 points, and also trust Talarico to lower costs and improve Texans’ financial situations over Paxton by a 9-point margin. Renters and non-college voters trust Talarico on these issues by even wider margins.
In the Governor’s race, Greg Abbott leads Gina Hinojosa by 3 points (45% to 42%) with 10% still undecided. In the Attorney General’s race, Republican Mayes Middleton and Democrat Nathan Johnson are in a dead heat (39% to 38%) with 18% undecided
Elon Musk Planning to Throw Financial Support Behind Susan Collins’ U.S. Senate Bid By Billy Kobin
July 31, 2026
Introduction:
(Portland Press Herald) Elon Musk is reportedly planning to spend at least $100 million to help U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in Maine and Republicans in several other states with high-stakes Senate races this fall.
The world’s richest person has authorized his America PAC to spend $100 million to $120 million to boost Republicans in at least eight states, according to The New York Times, which cited two people briefed on the plans who requested anonymity to discuss private discussions.
His initial plans include targeting Senate races in Maine, Michigan, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa, and America PAC is reportedly considering also spending in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina, per Thursday’s report from the Times.
The precise spending amounts could reportedly change, but Musk’s group is planning a field operation revolving around knocking on doors to reach voters. America PAC has reportedly relayed its plans to other groups such as President Donald Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc.
An America PAC spokesperson has not confirmed the group’s plans and did not respond to a request for comment Friday morning.
“If I Prove That You Can Win Statewide Taking on AIPAC, That Is Catastrophic” By Najib Aminy
August 1, 2026
Introduction:
(Mother Jones) On July 8, Abdul El-Sayed had just wrapped up a campaign stop inside a sweltering church auditorium in Ferndale, Michigan. The room was packed with supporters fanning themselves with campaign signs, many braving the summer heat to hear the progressive Senate candidate make his case against his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens.
Then came the applause.
It wasn’t for Medicare for All or his warnings about the rise of data centers. It was for a message that has come to define what is expected to be the most expensive Democratic Senate primary in history.
“The central corrupting feature of our politics right now is the power of money to buy politicians so that government is captured by them, not for us,” El-Sayed said as he fielded questions from the stage from the stage, wearing his signature black T-shirt and blue jeans. “AIPAC will spend huge amounts of money if you’re uppity like me and you speak out of turn to beat you, and you’re seeing it play out on TV every day.”
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and its affiliated groups have poured more than $30 million into the race in support of Stevens. It is the largest investment the organization has made in an electoral contest since launching its United Democracy Project super PAC in 2021.
“I have been very clear, consistent and transparent, and I have continued to be,” Stevens said during a recent televised debate when asked about AIPAC’s support for her campaign. “I want to see long-term peace. I want to see a two-state solution. I am deeply proud to represent one of the largest Jewish populations in a congressional district in the country.”
caltrek's comment: If El-Sayed can win the Michigan primary it will show that Netanyahu has pushed the U.S. support of Israel to a breaking point. It may signal that support for Israel will no longer be unconditional, that support without hesitation for genocide cannot be expected. Many voters recognize that there is nothing "moderate" about supporting genocide.
Michigan’s Primary Reckoning for the Democrats By Noah Lanard
August 5, 2026
Introduction:
(Mother Jones) No congressional candidate in Democratic history ever had as much outside money dumped on them in one primary as Abdul El-Sayed. But El-Sayed has now survived the onslaught in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. Barely. The Bernie Sanders-endorsed champion of Medicare for All defeated Rep. Haley Stevens by about a one-point margin on Tuesday, according to the Associated Press.
The dynamics of the election in Michigan were not new. Like in other recent primaries spanning from Manhattan to California’s Central Valley, a populist outsider ran against an establishment Democrat backed by millions of dollars of super PAC money—much of it from AIPAC allies that aim to keep critics of Israel out of Congress. What sets El-Sayed’s victory apart are the stakes and the scale of the effort to defeat him.
Democrats need to keep the Michigan seat that Sen. Gary Peters is retiring from if they hope to take back the Senate. To do that, they now have to defeat former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in a swing state that has gone for Donald Trump twice, and where Rogers barely lost to Sen. Elissa Slotkin in 2024. It is far from certain that El-Sayed will prevail in November—just as there were no guarantees that Stevens would have won.
After a polarizing primary, El-Sayed has just three months to consolidate Democratic support and make his case to independent voters. El-Sayed began that work in an election-night speech before the race was called. “However much we might disagree with our Democratic opponent, there is so much more that unites us than divides us,” he told supporters. “Tomorrow, we begin to mend fences.” In a Wednesday speech after the race was called, El-Sayed said he had a “great conversation” with Stevens, and called his former opponent “one of the most committed public servants that you’ll ever meet.”
Sunrise Movement Co-founder William Lawrence Wins Michigan Battleground House Primary By Andrew Howard
August 4, 2026
Introduction:
(Politico) Progressive Sunrise Movement co-founder William Lawrence won the Democratic primary to take on GOP Rep. Tom Barrett in a battleground Michigan House race.
His general election campaign will be one of the biggest tests for whether progressives can win in purple territory: President Donald Trump won the Lansing-based district by just one percentage point in 2024.
In Lawrence, Republicans got their preferred opponent in November. A GOP-linked group spent heavily on last-minute ads to elevate his candidacy, as Republicans continue to prefer further-left candidates that they can cast as out of touch with the mainstream.
Lawrence spent much of the primary attacking data center development, and he was bolstered by endorsements from progressive stalwarts including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
Lawrence’s victory in Michigan’s 7th District — which could be key to deciding the House majority — was boosted by the fact his two more-moderate challengers split the vote.
Democrat Drops Out of South Dakota’s Senate Race, Clearing Path for Independent Candidate By Bridget Bowman
August 4, 2026
Introduction:
(NBC) Julian Beaudion, the Democratic nominee for the Senate in South Dakota, announced Tuesday that he is ending his campaign, clearing the way for independent Brian Bengs to take on GOP Sen. Mike Rounds this fall.
Beaudion is the latest Democrat in a solidly Republican state to drop out of a race that also featured an independent contender.
Democrat Cindy Burbank recently did so in Nebraska, where independent Dan Osborn is running against GOP Sen. Pete Ricketts. Democrat David Roth also ended his Senate bid in Idaho, allowing independent Todd Achilles to face GOP Sen. Jim Risch. Independent Seth Bodnar is also running for the Senate in Montana, but Democrat Alani Bankhead has said she plans to remain in the race.
Beaudion, a nonprofit organization leader and former state highway patrol officer, suggested he was not exiting the race to help give the independent candidate a better chance at victory in November. He said in a lengthy statement on X that he would not be endorsing Bengs or Rounds.
Beaudion said he was ending his campaign after he and his family faced “intimidating threats to drop out of the race.”
'Strong Signal': Voters Choose Drop-out Over Trump's Congressional Candidate By Alexander Willis
August 5, 2026
Introduction:
(Raw Story) President Donald Trump's preferred congressional candidate has fallen 20 points behind a competitor who dropped out of the race, reports show.
This GOP primary underperformance Tuesday night represents a “strong signal,” some said, of how the midterm elections may pan out.
Republican candidate and former law enforcement officer Amir Hassan secured Trump’s endorsement in June in his bid to represent Michigan's 8th Congressional District. While the race has yet to be called as of 6 a.m. ET, Hassan is projected to lose after receiving around 33% of the vote.
Hassan’s GOP opponent, retired engineer Thomas Smith – who had previously dropped out of the race – received more than 50% of the vote as of Tuesday morning.
caltrek wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2026 5:49 pm Sunrise Movement Co-founder William Lawrence Wins Michigan Battleground House Primary By Andrew Howard
August 4, 2026
Introduction:
(Politico) Progressive Sunrise Movement co-founder William Lawrence won the Democratic primary to take on GOP Rep. Tom Barrett in a battleground Michigan House race.
His general election campaign will be one of the biggest tests for whether progressives can win in purple territory: President Donald Trump won the Lansing-based district by just one percentage point in 2024.
In Lawrence, Republicans got their preferred opponent in November. A GOP-linked group spent heavily on last-minute ads to elevate his candidacy, as Republicans continue to prefer further-left candidates that they can cast as out of touch with the mainstream.
Lawrence spent much of the primary attacking data center development, and he was bolstered by endorsements from progressive stalwarts including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
Lawrence’s victory in Michigan’s 7th District — which could be key to deciding the House majority — was boosted by the fact his two more-moderate challengers split the vote.
