2025-2026 election thread for Senate, House, State and cities

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[Cyber_Rebel]

A spark of hope within otherwise dark times politically. Now, if only the entire Democratic establishment could be washed away like Cuomo was, then perhaps things might shift. Thank you, NYC, for rejecting that scumbag who should never had been running again after both Covid mishandling & the sexual harassment allegations to begin with.

As little faith as I have in this country, at least there are times when people do something worth noting.

[caltrek]

'We Made History.' What Zohran Mamdani's Win Means for Democrats and the Trump GOP
By Phillip M. Bailey
June 25, 2025

Introduction:

(USA Todau) Z did it.

Facing a mountain of opposition from major Democrats warning against going too far to the left, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old New York state legislator, pulled off one of the more incredible upsets in U.S. history by defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the June 24 Democratic primary for New York City mayor.

Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is now being heralded by the activist left and other prominent progressives as the type of youthful and bold candidate the party needs to pull itself out of the gutter.

"It's a wake-up call for the Democratic Party establishment, should they choose to listen," Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of Progressive Change Campaign Committee, told USA TODAY.

"It's voters saying very clearly what they want and offering a direction for how the Democratic Party can start to win again."

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politic ... &ei=105

Mother Jones has several articles on Mamdani's victory:

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/20 ... ew-cuomo/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/20 ... ent-win/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/20 ... ech-party/

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/20 ... ald-trump/

...and from Common Dreams: https://www.commondreams.org/news/mayor-race-nyc , https://www.commondreams.org/news/zohra ... ns-primary & https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/mamdani-trump

[caltrek]

Republican Mulls Challenge Against Lindsey Graham
By Khaleda Rahman
June 26, 2025

Introduction:

(Newsweek) Andre Bauer, the former lieutenant governor of South Carolina, said he is seriously considering challenging Senator Lindsey Graham in the 2026 Republican Senate primary.

Bauer told the Washington Examiner that Graham has "lost his way" as he accused him of abandoning President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda over the senator's push for the U.S. to go "all in" on backing Israel against Iran.

bby Zilch, a spokesperson for Graham's campaign, told Newsweek that the senator is "focused on helping Trump enact his America First agenda" and is proud to have his "complete and total endorsement."

Newsweek reached out to Bauer via social media for comment.

Why It Matters

Graham has repeatedly fended off primary challengers during his four terms in the Senate, but Bauer's entry into the race could be the biggest test of his grip on Republican voters.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politic ... &ei=122

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Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon Not Running for Reelection
By Amalia Huot-Marchan
June 27, 2025

Introduction:

(The Hill) Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon will not be running for re-election and will retire in 2026, a source familiar confirmed to The Hill.

His district, which includes Omaha, was won by former Vice President Harris in the 2024 election and presents an opportunity for Democrats to pick up the “blue dot” district Bacon has held since 2016.

The five-term lawmaker will hold a press conference on Monday.

Bacon, a long-time critic of President Trump, has signaled his openness to retirement in recent months, per local media.

His decision to step aside opens the door for Democrats in the competitive district as it seeks to gain control of the House in 2026.

Read more here: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/ ... ection/

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[firestar464]

I mean, he'd probably win

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[caltrek]

More on the race to replace Ron Bacon (R-Neb):

Omaha City Council Member Launches Bid for Bacon Seat in House
By Amalia Huot-Marchand
July 1, 2025

Introduction:

(The Hill vial MSN) Omaha City Council member Brinker Harding has launched a bid for Rep. Don Bacon’s (R-Neb.) seat.

“I’m running for Congress because I’m choosing to fight for America’s future, to make America more like its heartland, and to make the next 250 years a new golden age for America,” Harding said in a video posted to the social platform X on Tuesday.

We have so much momentum, and together, we have so much more to accomplish,” said Harding, who is the first Republican to launch a bid for the seat.

According to the Nebraska Examiner, 2017 marked Harding’s start on the Omaha City Council. He was also former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub’s chief of staff and director of economic development.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom told KETV in Omaha he’s considering joining the race on the GOP side, which also could include Dan Frei, who challenged Bacon in the 2024 GOP primary. A handful of Democrats — including state Sen. John Cavanaugh and Denise Powell, co-founder of the Women Who Run Nebraska political action committee — have already announced bids for Bacon’s seat.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politic ... c&ei=82

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Bannon Savages Elon Musk for Wanting to Start ‘America Party’: ‘No, Brother, You’re Not an American’
By Alex Griffing
July 4, 2025

Introduction:

(Mediaite) Former Trump White House advisor turned MAGA podcaster, Steve Bannon, savaged Elon Musk on Friday over his ongoing calls to start a third party to challenge President Donald Trump and the GOP’s recent deficit spending.

Musk wrote on X on Friday, “Independence Day is the perfect time to ask if you want independence from the two-party (some would say uniparty) system!”

“Should we create the America Party?” he added, polling his followers with a “yes” and “no” option. He followed that post up with some specifics, adding, “One way to execute on this would be to laser-focus on just 2 or 3 Senate seats and 8 to 10 House districts. Given the razor-thin legislative margins, that would be enough to serve as the deciding vote on contentious laws, ensuring that they serve the true will of the people.” Musk’s posts are the latest sign of his split with President Trump, who he spent over $250 million to get reelected.

Bannon, who helped run Trump’s first campaign in 2016, tore into Musk and called for his deportation – something he has raised in the past.
“The foul, the buffoon. Elmo the Mook, formerly known as Elon Musk, Elmo the Mook. He’s today, in another smear, and this – only a foreigner could do this – think about it, he’s got up on, he’s got up on Twitter right now, a poll about starting an America Party, a non-American starting an America Party,” Bannon fumed, adding:

No, brother, you’re not an American. You’re a South African. We take enough time and prove the facts of that, you should be deported because it’s a crime of what you did – among many.

Read more here: https://www.mediaite.com/media/podcast ... erican/

caltrek's comment: Bannon's "you're not an American" is a low blow lacking proof. Still, one can find these extremist devouring each other to be entertaining, at the very least.

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Elon Musk's Plan for New Party Scores Polling Win
By Martha McHardy
July 4, 2025

Introduction:

(Newsweek) Elon Musk's surprise push to create a new political party is already shaking up the 2026 landscape, with fresh polling showing early momentum behind his outsider bid.

A new survey conducted by Quantus Insights between June 30-July 2 among 1,000 registered voters found that 40 percent of voters—including many Republican voters—say they would consider backing the Tesla and SpaceX CEO's party over traditional GOP or Democratic candidates. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

Additional extract:

The poll suggests Musk's new party could split conservative coalitions and draw in independents.

What To Know

According to the survey, 14 percent of voters said they would be "very likely" to support or vote for Musk's proposed party if it were launched, while 26 percent said they would be "somewhat likely." Another 38 percent said they were not likely to support it, while 22 percent remained unsure.

The survey also revealed clear divides across party lines and demographics. Among men who identify as Republicans, interest was especially strong: 23 percent said they are "very likely" and 34 percent say "somewhat likely" to back the America Party—a total of 57 percent expressing openness to Musk's political brand. Male independents were also a promising base, with nearly half (47 percent) saying they're likely to support it.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politic ... 0&ei=28