SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " governor " 2,518 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Wisconsin weighs a democratic socialist governor and other key races to watch in Tuesday’s primaries
The next battles over the Democratic Party’s ideological direction come Tuesday in a slate of primaries that includes showdowns in two upper Midwestern political battlegrounds.
Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Lone Arranger
Read the release on Sen. Ernst's website HERE. Throughout this Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties. RED OAK, Iowa – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Lone Arranger of Adams County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. "Lone Arranger has been in full bloom in Adams County for more than 28 years,” said Chair Ernst. "One bouquet at a time, Jessica has created beautiful arrangements for countless occasions – from displays for Governors Chet Culver and Terry Branstad to serving as a longtime vendor at the Adams County Fair. Lone Arranger is beloved for its high-quality products and attentive customer service, all stemming from hard work that has not gone unnoticed." Lone Arranger got its start as the “Flower and Garden Center” founded by Dale and Caroline Jackson out of their home. Over the years, the business passed into the hands of Larry and Sherry Archer, followed by Ros and Darlene Peterson. In 1999, Jessica Wilson purchased the shop after completing two internships there and earning a degree in floriculture from Kirkwood Community College. Today, under Jessica’s leadership, Lone Arranger has continued to grow its presence both locally and beyond. The shop contributed to the award-winning Rain Bird float featured in the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade and has provided decorations for community organizations and events, including the Adams County Chamber of Commerce. The florist is cherished by Iowans for its versatility to cater to all events, including proms, weddings, and baby showers. Jessica’s “Operation Dream Closet” helps high schoolers in need access free prom attire through donations and has made an exceptional difference in the local community. Stay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award. ###
Wisconsin’s Roller Coaster of a Democratic Primary Race for Governor Crashes to an End
Democrats appear likely to nominate a democratic socialist for governor. How did they get here?
Bullard, Stagner reappointed as judges to Texas Business Court in Fort Worth
Governor Greg Abbott today reappointed all ten judges of the Texas Business Court Divisions to new two-year terms beginning Sept. 1, 2026. “Businesses
Maryland Department of Health Announces $80 Million in First Round of Rural Health Transformation Program Awards
Maryland Department of Health Announces $80 Million in First Round of Rural Health Transformation Program Awards
The State of Politics: Questions for Wisconsin’s Next Governor
From a $2.36 billion surplus to child care, here are issues the nominees must answer for voters.
Mike Lindell touts Trump ties in race for governor of Minnesota, where Trump has lost
Lindell, of "MyPillow," plays up his ties to Trump, who endorsed him for Tuesday's primary. But the state Republican convention backed one of his opponents.
Cancel Thanksgiving? This Democratic candidate is testing limits
Opponent says the 37-year-old frontrunner for Wisconsin's Democratic governor nomination is 'not ready for prime time' ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
Wisconsin, Minnesota primaries are next to feature progressive clash with Democratic establishment
Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday’s election
California Forever hopes for last minute help from state lawmakers, Gov. Newsom
The developers of a new, proposed town called California Forever have been struggling to get it started and are now hoping to get some last-minute help from state lawmakers and the governor to move it forward.
Why haven't Mississippi Democrats found a governor candidate?
The election for governor in 2027 is a crucial moment for the Mississippi Democratic Party. The problem? The party still doesn't have a candidate.
Nigerian governor details victims' health after government rescues hundreds from jihadi kidnappings
AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the governor of Nigeria's Kwara State, says the country is still assessing victims' health after Nigerian forces rescued hundreds of women and children after six months in jihadi captivity. Credit: Associated Press
Data centers are a political issue crossing party lines, driving voters to candidates
Wisconsin Democratic candidate for governor Francesca Hong called for a moratorium on data centers. So did Ohio Republican governor hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, as data centers begin to dominate campaigns.
Democratic socialist Francesca Hong has former child star, OnlyFans model in senior campaign role: report
An OnlyFans model and sex worker advocate is reportedly serving as deputy campaign manager for Francesca Hong's Wisconsin governor campaign.
California May Fine Content Creators Who Don't Disclose They Were Paid to Post About Politics
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Weeks before voting ended in California's primary for governor, Los Angeles-based influencer Shaka Smith took to Instagram to tell his more than 700,000 followers whom he was voting for and why. “Healthcare shouldn't bankrupt you, housing should not feel impossible,
Could the last time a Democrat was elected Ohio governor foreshadow this year's election?
Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland was elected governor twenty years ago this November, and recent polls indicate the race for Ohio governor this year is close.
All candidates for Ohio governor have this in common
Each of the candidates for Ohio governor now wants to restrict the data center boom, all proposing some form of moratorium unless certain guidelines are met.
Delaware expands health care access with new laws giving pharmacists, dental hygienists more responsibilities
A trip to the pharmacy could soon look different for Delaware patients. Governor Matt Meyer recently signed a package of healthcare legislation aimed at expanding access to care.
Live Results: Hawaii midterm primaries
An ongoing corruption scandal involving Hawaii’s lieutenant governor looms over Saturday’s state primary as nine candidates jockey to replace her.
Trump won’t let the Supreme Court have the last word
The president moved this week to counter legal defeats on ending birthright citizenship and firing a Fed governor, while seeking the justices’ help with his ballroom.
Trump administration proceeds with efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
The Trump administration is moving ahead with its efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, two months after the Supreme Court allowed her to retain her job while she fights the president’s effort to terminate her over mortgage fraud allegations that she has denied.
Trump administration pursues efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
Two months ago, the Supreme Court allowed her to retain her job
Trump administration pursues efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
Two months ago, the Supreme Court allowed her to retain her job
Trump administration pursues efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
Two months ago, the Supreme Court allowed her to retain her job
Trump administration pursues efforts to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook
Two months ago, the Supreme Court allowed her to retain her job
Trump considering renewing push to fire Lisa Cook from Federal Reserve Board
President Donald Trump is signaling that he may move forward with his attempt to fire Federal Reserve Board Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations.
Loretta Carpio Carr: An Emerging Young Voice in Politics
With the upcoming Governor’s election in California, I watch with curiosity who will vote and who they will vote for. California’s population is comparatively young, with the median age range of 37.9 to 38.4 years. That’s younger than the overall United States, according to World Population Review. The Public Policy Institute of California shows that
The heart of service: Traquavis Harris
This year, Traquavis Harris received a North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Award for making a significant contribution to the community through volunteer service.
Conservative firebrand who went viral with anti-CCP ad survives key primary
Marsha Blackburn defeated John Rose and Monty Fritts in the Tennessee GOP primary, positioning her as the likely next governor of the state.
Community Leaders, Horse Industry, Business Community and More Praise Governor Moore Preakness Announcement
Community Leaders, Horse Industry, Business Community and More Praise Governor Moore Preakness Announcement
El-Sayed win kicks Democrats’ Midwest ideological battle into high gear — and some Dems fear November fallout
Progressive Democrats scored key wins in Michigan's primary, and now Wisconsin's governor race and Minnesota's senate primary are the next battlegrounds.
Hemp bill and others left up in the air as N.C. lawmakers go on break
NC state lawmakers go on 3 month break, leaving some legislation not passed and Governor Josh Stein's vetoes are left alone, for now.
Francesca Hong faces scrutiny over ‘cancel Thanksgiving’ post
Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist running for Wisconsin governor, is getting attention for social media posts calling for canceling Thanksgiving and abolishing police.
Bennett calls on Pingree, Charles to disclose donors
Maine State Senator and independent candidate for governor Rick Bennett is demanding more transparency in campaign finance, asking opponents Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republicam Bobby Charles to disclose the names of who he said are anonymous donors funding their campaigns.
MN wildfires: Businesses push Walz, lawmakers for recovery package
Northeastern Minnesota businesses struggling amid the wildfires burning the Boundary Waters are pushing Governor Walz and state lawmakers to move forward with a special session to pass an economic recovery package.
Governor Meyer Signs Legislation to Strengthen Delaware's Health Care Workforce
Governor Matt Meyer recently signed legislation that strengthens Delaware's health care workforce by allowing qualified health professionals to provide more care and creating new pathways into health care careers.
Governor Moore Announces Kevin Sexton as Nominee for Chair of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission
Governor Moore Announces Kevin Sexton as Nominee for Chair of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission
Governor Stein Highlights State Budget’s Investment in SUN Bucks Program at Durham Farmers’ Market
Today during National Farmers Market Week, Governor Josh Stein and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai visited the Durham Farmers’…
The Arsenal and the Statehouse: New Defense Firms, Venture Capital and State Industrial Policy
When Anduril announced a $910 million drone production facility in Ohio, it was not politics as usual. The main message came from Ohio’s governor, Mike
Government, not politics, to be focus of Governor George Pataki Center in City of Albany
Georgia gubernatorial candidates pitch competing plans at business forum
ATHENS — Georgia’s two candidates for governor showcased their competing plans for healthcare, jobs and other top issues at a business-focused gathering Wednesday. Gov. Brian Kemp also gave his full-throated support to fellow Republican Rick Jackson, saying Jackson was the most likely candidate to continue his business-friendly policies. The Democrat in the race, former Atlanta […]
A Democratic Socialist Disparaged Thanksgiving. Will Voters Forgive Her?
“Cancel Thanksgiving,” she wrote. “VDay” brings out “the worst of humanity,” she mused. Francesca Hong’s old social media posts get a fresh look ahead of Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor.
Tennessee’s Republican governor endorses challenge to sitting GOP congressman
Gov. Bill Lee just endorsed against Trump-backed Rep. Andy Ogles, a fellow Republican, ahead of the Thursday election.
Post-Primary Recap: The Electability Argument Falls Flat
Kingmaking isn’t what it used to be in Democratic politics.In Democratic primaries for governor of Kansas, Michigan’s 7th district, and Michigan’s open Senate seat, battle-tested and popular Democratic elected officials urged voters to select the candidates they said would be stronger general election choices. Instead, Democratic primary voters picked candidates who were more progressive, despite warnings that those nominees could tank the party’s chances of clawing back control of Congress.
Why CT voters are seeing so much political advertising this year
Candidates for governor and Congress in Connecticut have advertised aggressively in recent weeks, leading up to the primary.
Marx’s ‘through line’ predates Trump, connects to Maes
Eric Sondermann is of course correct Victor Marx is an unserious, unelectable, embarrassing Republican nominee for governor of Colorado. But I respectfully submit that the “through line,” as Mr. Sondermann describes it, is not from Trump to Marx, despite their both being grifters with a loose, and mostly forgotten, acquaintance with the truth. Instead, the […]
Michigan’s top election official wins Democratic primary for governor, advances to battleground race
Jocelyn Benson defeated Chris Swanson in Michigan's Democratic gubernatorial primary and will face either John James or Perry Johnson this fall.
N.C. House passes new election law changes
The state's House passed the two bills Tuesday afternoon, and they now go to the governor's desk.
Officials push back on federal changes that could impact WA science news
The Trump administration proposed sweeping changes to federal funding rules. Washington’s governor and university leaders say this would politicize the grant award process.
Ariana Grande sets record straight after announcing break from spotlight
PR expert says Ariana Grande's strategic absence after her "Eternal Sunshine Tour" could build anticipation and make her return an event.
Perry Johnson touts business experience, efficiency in bid for Michigan governor
The businessman is making his second bid for the Republican nomination.
Drazan nonprofit paid her consulting firm while lacking conflict policy
The Oregon governor candidate says the nonprofit complied with all laws. Experts say the missing safeguard raises questions.
What to Watch in the Kansas Primaries: Can Republicans Flip a Governor’s Mansion?
Republicans see the marquee race to lead the state as perhaps their best chance this year to win a governorship held by Democrats.
Governor’s Award of Excellence Recognizes State Employees’ Rapid Response to Bristol Explosion
Governor’s Award of Excellence Recognizes State Employees’ Rapid Response to Bristol Explosion
Wisconsin governor’s race tests limits of Democrats’ leftward shift
After years of Republican rule, Wisconsin Democrats are testing whether a democratic socialist is a viable candidate for governor in a swing state.
States sue Trump administration over federal assistance data sharing
Filed by 23 state attorneys general and two governors, the lawsuit alleges the federal government is sharing Social Security numbers with DHS
If Not AOC, Then Who?
What do we do if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez decides not to run for president in 2028? It makes sense that many leftists are currently focused on calling on her to take the plunge. But the absence of a Plan B, or even much discussion about one, is worrisome. The US Left can’t afford to sit out the 2028 Democratic primary. Doing so in 2024 was a disaster: our abstention self-marginalized anti-billionaire politics from the national conversation and thereby gave space for Harris to pivot to the “center” (i.e. the policy preferences of corporate donors, establishment hacks, and AIPAC). Abstaining again in 2028 would be especially counterproductive since democratic socialists now have so much wind in our sails after our big electoral wins in NYC and across the country. It’s time to deepen our momentum, organization, and profile — not to retreat to the margins during America’s single most important political battle. Even more urgently, keeping Trump’s heir out of the White House may depend on whether leftists and the party’s unprecedentedly disenchanted base can force the Democrats in 2028 to take meaningful steps towards a very angry electorate and away from the corporate-consultant blob that has helped get us into this mess. If AOC (or Abdul El-Sayed) decides to run, we should enthusiastically go all in — DSA, fighting unions, progressive organizations, anybody who wants to see a better country and world. But, as far as I can tell from the outside, there’s a real chance that she doesn’t run. And we can’t just wait and see where she lands before discussing alternatives, since AOC’s decision might not come for quite a while, giving us little time to scramble at the last minute for an alternative. So we should start working now on getting a Plan B into motion, and recruiting a good candidate for the role. Here’s one idea. A Worker Candidate — Healthcare Not Warfare 2028 Run a union worker Leftists don’t need to always run experienced, well-known socialist politicians for high-profile contests. Lula, the current president of Brazil, began his political career as a metalworker militant who ran for governor of São Paulo in 1982. Especially in an era of institutional distrust, it’s possible to lean hard into making a virtue out of a working-class comrade’s distance from traditional politics. Experience abroad shows this clearly. Rachel Kéké — an immigrant hotel housekeeper — ran as the candidate of the leftist La France Insoumise for the National Assembly in 2022, defeating a former minister in the Macron government. The Belgian Workers’ Party in 2024 won its first Flemish seat in the European Parliament by running Rudi Kennes, a three-decade veteran of the Opel Antwerp auto factory. And the South Korean left in 2024 elected auto factory militant Yoon Jong-oh to the National Assembly. If a tiny French Trotskyist organization could make such a big splash in 2002 and 2007 by running a well-spoken postal worker cadre for office — the LCR’s Olivier Besancenot received about 1.5 million first-round votes — it’s not far-fetched to expect that a much larger organization like DSA, together with a broader coalition of the willing, could run this playbook to much greater effect. This is especially the case now that almost everything DSA does immediately becomes a national news story. We don’t need someone famous. We just need a charismatic, well-vetted comrade who works in a relatable working-class occupation — e.g. a nurse, or a worker in auto or construction, or at Amazon. Ideally, they have a compelling personal story or have been part of a significant strike or organizing campaign, but even those criteria don’t necessarily have to be deal-breakers. The main lesson of the Graham Platner fiasco isn’t that we should never run outsiders for office (the momentum he generated proves the exact opposite), but that they need proper vetting and roots in democratic membership organizations like DSA or a union. In any case, there are plenty of ways to signal working-class authenticity without resorting to Platner’s or Fetterman’s performative macho white dude affect. Better to have someone of any gender or race who is actually working class, with firm socialist politics, who can speak from experience about the day-to-day realities of trying to make it in America. There are surely at least a dozen such worker leaders in our movement nationwide; we just need to sit down and convince one that their personal sacrifice for the greater good (i.e. running for president) will be worth it. If we don’t have a frontrunner with a clear path to victory like AOC (or El-Sayed, were he to win Michigan), it’s better to embrace someone whose decision to run in itself tells an important story about US politics: workers have been iced out of our political system and are now fighting hard to break back in. The novelty factor, in itself, would generate press. And it would help democratic socialists signal to the American public that our movement’s defining characteristic is that we represent workers vs. bosses, not that we’re “the furthest left” force in American politics — a framework that suggests we’re extremists and that helps our opponents isolate us from non-college-educated voters by highlighting extremely minoritarian (and misguided) stances included in DSA’s platform like prison abolition. We don’t get many opportunities to speak to tens of millions of Americans; we need to use these opportunities to broaden our appeal beyond those already in our orbit. Run to polarize the 2028 primary and general election around “Medicare for All” and “End All Aid to Israel” Why should democratic socialists use our scarce time and volunteer energy to run in a race we’re unlikely to win? Running in the 2028 primary will not only recruit us scores of members (imagine having a DSA member intervening in eleven nationally televised primary debates!), but — more importantly — it has the potential to be a decisive leap forward towards an America that finally starts meeting the needs of working people instead of HMO and AIPAC billionaire donors. Polarizing litmus tests are good, actually — as long as they’re fought for around popular demands in a thoughtful and strategic way. Democratic socialists have an opportunity and responsibility to make the 2028 primary about two of the most widely and deeply felt issues of our moment: domestically, America’s unaffordable, family-breaking private healthcare system; internationally, America’s bankrolling of the genocidal Israeli government. A candidacy relentlessly demanding Medicare for All and No Aid to Israel would pose a sharp question to the American public, the Democratic Party, and other 2028 contenders: Why can’t working-class Americans afford their healthcare bills at the same time that our government is spending at least $3.8 billion yearly to fund an Israeli regime eager to keep dragging us and the world into more forever wars? Our candidate can agitate around a clear message: I’m running to give voice to all those working-class Americans who are struggling to get by. No matter what state you live in, who you voted for in 2024, or your background, it’s just plain common sense that we should make healthcare more affordable instead of spending billions to enable the Israeli government’s crimes against humanity. Every American who agrees with me when I say ‘Medicare for All — Not a Dime for Israel’ should make their voice heard through our campaign. Racking up a high number of votes for this agenda is a crucial way to show the Democratic Party and the country as a whole that we can’t keep supporting a life-destroying status quo in our healthcare system and in the Middle East. If we want to defeat Trump’s handpicked crony this coming November, we need to speak to ordinary people’s frustrations with the status quo — we can’t keep running the same tired establishment playbook and expecting a different result. For those highly engaged voters (or skeptical media pundits) who raise concerns about wasting votes, the candidate can take the time to explain why this isn’t the case: It's true I'm a long shot. But Zohran showed anything can happen — and voting for me is a pragmatic decision, not a wasted vote. In a heavily divided primary with a large number of candidates and a very discredited establishment, my campaign and the democratic socialist movement I’m part of are positioned to be the balance of power if we can get a large enough number of voters to loudly demand Healthcare Not Warfare. Since there’s a high chance no candidate will get to 50% in the 2028 primaries, the Democrats could very well be heading towards a brokered convention, where a disciplined, principled current committed to breaking from corporate donors can play an outsized role in making sure whoever ends up with the nomination raises the banner of single-payer healthcare and cutting aid to Israel. How exactly could running this sort of primary campaign be translated into actual leverage? The candidate replies: I’m aiming to win the nomination, but if I don’t achieve that goal, my delegates and I will pledge our support in the primary only for a candidate who agrees in the general election to call for ending US aid to Israel and establishing Medicare for All at home. These are both winning planks for November against the Republicans, and the only reason I can see that other candidates haven’t yet raised these is that they’re still more scared of the donor class than they are of the people. That needs to change. If Democratic leaders want young people, workers, and those sick of the status quo to show up in big numbers this November, they need to meet us halfway. In this way, whether or not we win the nomination, democratic socialists could still play a decisive role in 2028. The approach outlined here is similar to what radical left parties periodically do in parliamentary democracies like Denmark or Sweden when they find themselves as a junior partner electorally: they dictate to center-left allies what their terms would be for enabling, from the outside, the formation of a new government. Running a Healthcare Not Warfare candidate will make it significantly more likely that the 2028 Democratic candidate stands with ordinary people instead of donors on these two pivotal planks — a shift that will, in turn, make it easier to achieve the existentially important task of defeating MAGA’s heir in November. Look at how much popular traction the Uncommitted movement got with a similar strategy in 2024 with so little on-the-ground organization — surely we can go much further with a working-class candidate, a much bigger DSA, and a Democratic Party base that has turned against Israel, billionaires, and the hacks in the party who prop them up. Objections and Responses There are quite a few objections to this proposal, many of which are very reasonable. Let me briefly address each here. Socialists shouldn’t waste their scarce time and resources on a candidate unlikely to win. This is a good rule in general, but there are important exceptions, and presidential elections are the main one. There’s no other political contest that gets anything like this level of attention and engagement in the US, so if you want to be a serious force in nationwide politics, you basically can’t afford not to have a candidate. Far from being an overall drain on our resources, running a dynamic 2028 campaign would likely result in a major net increase in members and capacity. In that spirit, the very pragmatic Milwaukee sewer socialists — who mostly ran to win at home in Wisconsin — supported Eugene Debs’s propagandistic presidential campaigns, which they correctly saw as a crucial means of recruiting to the Socialist Party. And now that the (post-1972) Democratic Party gives more weight to voters than party operatives in determining its presidential nomination, it’s become feasible to run as a socialist in primaries without risking a split in the vote against the Republicans in November. We should just support Ro Khanna, who also supports M4A and ending aid to Israel. I like Ro Khanna and would enthusiastically vote and canvass for him for president were he to get the nomination. But there’s a real chance that Khanna’s bid for office doesn’t catch on; he lacks the grassroots organizational apparatus of DSA, and, because he’s not really of the Left or labor (despite his current very good positions), he’s unlikely to generate the type of buy-in and enthusiasm that a DSA candidate would. Moreover, Khanna would be running as an individual, not as someone emerging from and building an organized movement — his campaign would not likely focus on building sustained power from below, nor would it likely polarize the 2028 primary around M4A and Israel aid. Also, and not inconsequentially, the poor electoral results for Tom Steyer and Saikat Chakrabarti this spring suggest that there’s perhaps not much of a popular appetite in the Democrats’ base to support multi-millionaire class traitors. Much better, then, to run a democratic socialist worker. If by Super Tuesday it’s clear that our campaign has captured the main left lane in the primary, Khanna should drop out and endorse us; conversely, if he’s managed to capture this lane, DSA could at that point transform its Healthcare Not Warfare campaign into an independent campaign to elect Ro Khanna focused on winning (and holding him accountable to) those two critical planks. An openness to consolidating an anti-corporate candidate by Super Tuesday is a necessary component of the strategy I’m proposing, because otherwise we risk splitting the primary votes (per DNC rules, you need at least 15% to get any delegates to convention). We should convince Shawn Fain or Sara Nelson to run for president instead. I agree it’d be great if either ran for president, but my impression is that there’s basically no chance that will happen in 2028, because both are firmly focused on their union leadership duties (and, in the case of Fain, beating back a federal witch-hunt). This plan could have DSA end up endorsing a non-socialist, non-DSAer for president. That’s against our principles. It’s a myth, and bad politics, that socialists can’t ever support candidates who aren’t members of their organization and/or who don’t call themselves socialists. Bernie, after all, was not a DSAer. And socialists abroad regularly make tactical decisions about if and when supporting a non-socialist candidate makes sense from the standpoint of promoting working-class interests, defending democracy, and building a socialist current in the process. If your “principles” prevent you and DSA from helping achieve the momentous stride forward of having a Democratic candidate in 2028 run on Medicare for All and ending aid to Israel, those “principles” are not very good. In fact, they actively undermine the causes they’re aiming to support. We shouldn’t confuse principles (working-class independence) with tactics (the best way to advance this in a given context). In my recent article in Catalyst on Milwaukee sewer socialism (I’ve uploaded the full text here), I have a section showing how similarly rigid rules about endorsements had to be eventually discarded in the old Socialist Party nationwide after WWI because they tended to lead socialists towards a sectarian abstention from broader anti-corporate electoral insurgencies beyond their party’s control. For what it’s worth, Lenin’s current under Tsarism frequently backed bourgeois candidates in the second round of elections and Lenin himself advocated that British Communists support Labour Party candidates; for his part, Kautsky in 1912 defended the German Social Democracy’s electoral pact with the Progressives in the runoffs. If our predecessors could be that tactically flexible in an era before the limits of their underlying strategic assumptions about intransigent class politics in capitalist democracies were made clear, then there’s no need to insist on being more tactically rigid today, after a century’s worth of accumulated experience. As long as you maintain your own political profile and organization while engaging in broader coalitional efforts, there’s zero inherent contradiction with the principle of political independence. More specifically: DSA and allied organizations should enthusiastically back Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed if AOC declines to run and he throws his hat in the presidential ring. (I have no idea whether he’s even considering this path, but there’ll surely be chatter about it if he wins his Senate race this November.) Though he doesn’t call himself a socialist, El-Sayed is a principled Berniecrat, a consistent fighter for Palestine, and would have a clear path to victory. Using the “s” word is far less important than whether a campaign fights for the interests of working people at home and abroad — and whether actively participating in it can grow the organized working class and the Left. And the same holds true if a less anti-corporate candidate were, under pressure, to adopt our two Healthcare Not Warfare planks. Why focus only on M4A and ending US aid to Israel? There are so many other important issues to fight for! Obviously there are many pivotal issues beyond healthcare and Israel, and our candidate — and especially our organizations involved in the campaign — should be prepared to speak on all of these. But one of the crucial lessons of the Zohran campaign is that you have to relentlessly stay on message if you want to cut through the noise. CNN and Fox News will want to talk about DSA’s views on Venezuela and abolishing the police; we need to polarize the debate on the widely and deeply felt issues that are most favorable for growing the Left, isolating our opponents, and winning urgently needed changes. One recent poll found 63% of Americans support M4A, even after respondents were told it would raise taxes and eliminate most private insurance. Another found that 74% of Democrats opposed “providing additional economic and military support to Israel.” And focusing on two demands sets the campaign up to be able to leverage its mandate to make clear demands upon other candidates (which we can’t do if we run with a laundry list of demands). Talking about a Plan B is a distraction from the more urgent work of building a groundswell of calls on AOC to run. It’s good for DSAers, fightback unionists, and progressive organizations to try to convince AOC to run. This proposal is meant as an addendum to pushes to get AOC to run and to line DSA up for that eventuality, not as a substitute for those efforts. But I’m worried that, like in 2024, we might eventually find ourselves with no time to find a viable alternative unless we start now. DSA, with its abundant deliberative processes, moves slowly. The approach you’re suggesting seems risky. If a DSA candidate runs but doesn’t receive a lot of votes, it’ll undercut our current national momentum. This is a reasonable worry. All big initiatives always carry risks, and the path I’m advocating is certainly not free of these. That said, if a Healthcare Not Warfare campaign doesn’t catch on like we envisioned, it’s a pretty simple pivot in March 2028 to explain that in the future we really need our standard-bearers like AOC, or our growing bench of national electeds, to step up in presidential primaries. Moreover, it’s worth noting that the risk of my Plan B proposal is on the whole significantly less than the risk entailed by an AOC run. We should all back her if she runs, since she’d fire up the base, provide huge openings for organizing, have a real shot at defeating a Republican (especially given MAGA’s unpopularity), be a great standard-bearer for our issues, particularly M4A and ending aid to Israel, and be less willing than mainstream candidates to capitulate to any anti-democratic machinations from Trump and co. But it’s also true that AOC could lose, which would be a devastating setback to the country and the Left. Or she could win and find herself unable to pass much, if any, of her (and our) program, a demoralizing prospect. So if we’re willing to take these risks with AOC (and we should), it follows that we should be able to take lower-level risks if she doesn’t throw her hat in the ring. What’s Your Plan B? The US Left is facing its biggest opening for growth and influence since the 1930s. Initiatives that would have been impossible a few months ago are now potentially feasible. A President AOC is now easier to imagine, but if she ultimately assesses that the risks aren’t worth the potential reward in 2028, we can’t be left flat-footed. So even if you’re not convinced by the specifics of my Plan B, I hope you can at least agree that it’d be a disaster for us not to have one — and not to start getting a Plan B into motion. Hopefully other organizers and political currents will put forward their responses and alternative ideas ASAP. The stakes are too high to just wait and see. More As always, please share this article widely. This newsletter depends on all you lovely people to get the word out. Thank you! I uploaded the full text of my Catalyst article on Milwaukee sewer socialism here (it’s updated and 3x as long as the version published earlier on this substack). If you haven’t yet, please make sure to subscribe to Catalyst here; I read every issue front to back, highly recommend. 🌹🎵 Ivan Lins (arranged by Arthur Verocai) — “General da Banda” 🌹🎵
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the Kansas state primary
Kansas Republicans will narrow down a crowded field for governor in a state primary Tuesday as they look to retake the state’s top office after eight years of Democratic rule.
The Fauci-Paul battle shows real cracks in public health. One group has answers.
a nonpartisan commission — which includes a former Kentucky governor — is pushing for better relationships between elected and public health officials.
Kickstarted governor race tops Fancy Farm Kentucky politics highlights
Fancy Farm was missing familiar faces this year without Mitch McConnell and Andy Beshear. It wasn't missing big Kentucky politics moments, though.
Democratic socialists face a prove-it moment in battleground Wisconsin
Francesca Hong, the democratic socialist leading Wisconsin’s Democratic field for governor, could soon test whether the progressive insurgency that notched primary victories in deep-blue districts this summer can prevail statewide in a perennial presidential battleground.
Why Congressman Vince Fong is urging the Trump administration to reject a health tax in California
Congressman Vince Fong has voiced strong opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed changes to California’s Managed Care Organization tax, arguing that the plan misuses resources and worsens the state’s affordability crisis.
Why Congressman Vince Fong is urging the Trump administration to reject a health tax in California
Congressman Vince Fong has voiced strong opposition to Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed changes to California’s Managed Care Organization tax, arguing that the plan misuses resources and worsens the state’s affordability crisis.
California Politics 360 full episode | Governor, First Partner release tax returns
The move comes as the Department of Justice is apparently investigating them and their nonprofits.
Kentucky governor says McConnell should disclose health details or resign
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) issued an ultimatum to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in a Monday letter: address Kentuckians about his ongoing absence from Congress or resign.
Pols & Politics: Gov’s race shifts focus towards growing GOP stronghold on south coast
The south coast is proving crucial in the governor’s race as all three candidates attended the Portuguese Feast in New Bedford. This as Ed Markey and Seth Moulton are set to debate again on Monday.
Gavin Newsom Reportedly Concerned About Paramount, WB Merger State Suit
In a Friday report, sources told The Wall Street Journal that California's governor has said if the merger is blocked due to the lawsuit, state employment will suffer, and that "Newsom’s office has encouraged Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office, which has independent authority to file such suits, to find a resolution out of court."
After years of teasing, Michael Adams makes surprising decision in 2027 KY governor’s race
Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams has long hinted at his interest in running for governor. So what led to this unexpected decision?
America’s Most Divided State Loves Its Extremes
Wisconsin has never been a bastion of moderation.
CMS Administrator Oz Joins Governors and NGA to Advance Rural Health Transformation and Address Medicaid Program Integrity
OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Governors Association (NGA) today welcomed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for discussion to advance the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) and address Medicaid program integrity in states across the country. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee facilitated the wide-ranging conversation during NGA’s annual Summer Meeting in Oklahoma City. “With […]
At typically tranquil Camp David, Trump publicly lashes out at political enemies
The president criticized a GOP senator, Democratic governor and Iranian leaders at what he said was the first televised Cabinet meeting from the retreat.
Kentucky governor presses McConnell on legacy-'ruining' health
Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has used the Republican senator's weekslong absence to demand proof of his capacity to serve.
NGA, Dignity.Us Launch Center for Dignity in Politics to Strengthen Democratic Leadership and Promote Civil Discourse
New bipartisan center will equip governors with tools to foster respect, reduce political polarization and strengthen democratic culture OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Governors Association (NGA) today announced the launch of the Center for Dignity in Politics, an initiative that will equip governors with the tools, training and resources to strengthen democratic culture, reduce political polarization and […]
Trump rejects Iran blame for Minnesota cyberattack, points finger at 'corrupt' political foe
Trump dismissed claims that Iranian hackers targeted Minnesota water systems, instead blaming the state's governor for what he called gross incompetence.
Republican Victor Marx taps George Markert as his lieutenant governor pick in Colorado’s gubernatorial race
Colorado Republican gubernatorial nominee Victor Marx named George Markert, a retired Marine colonel, as his running mate for lieutenant governor Friday morning, saying the former U.S. Senate candidate will bring “exceptional character, proven leadership and a lifetime of serving others” to the ticket. Marx is facing Democratic nominee Phil Weiser, the state’s attorney general, and […]
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt thinks political drama can be toned down
Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt is hosting the National Governors Association meeting in Oklahoma City.
They Worked To Protect Public Health. Now They Want the Public’s Votes.
They’re known for touting pandemic precautions, Affordable Care Act plans, and testing for lead in schools. This year, some former public health officials are touting themselves — for governor or senator.
Democrats’ novel red-state strategy: From the Politics Desk
Plus, another shake-up in the Wisconsin governor’s race.
Wisconsin's 2026 primary for governor gets shaken up again
Four candidates remain in the topsy-turvy 2026 Democratic primary for governor as Mandela Barnes ends his campaign — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers the state of the race in its closing […]
Mandela Barnes drops out of Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor
The former lieutenant governor made the announcement in a video posted on his Facebook page as democratic socialist Francesca Hong has garnered strong support from the liberal wing of the party.
Mandela Barnes drops out of Wisconsin governor’s race
Former Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes dropped his bid for governor on Thursday, scrambling the race to replace Gov. Tony Evers less than two weeks from the Democratic primary.
Democrat Mandela Barnes drops out of the Wisconsin governor’s race
Barnes, the former lieutenant governor and 2022 Senate nominee, had struggled to gain traction ahead of the Aug. 11 primary.
Where Michigan governor candidates stand on health care costs, access
Michigan’s next governor has no shortage of health care issues to grapple with. What candidates say they’ll do on costs, access and more.
Dunlap, LePage spar over healthcare options
LePage senior advisor Brent Littlefield said during LePage’s time as governor, he paid off “massive hospital debt” to keep Maine hospitals afloat. He said Medicare for All would reduce care options for Mainers.
State encourages business owners to use SMB.co tools
Governor Mike Braun is encouraging small business owners in south central Indiana to explore free tools that will help them plan for the future.
Abbott Reappoints Ten Judges To Texas Business Court
Governor Greg Abbott reappointed all ten judges of the Texas Business Court Divisions to new two-year terms beginning September 1, 2026.
Governor Meyer Announces Funding to Establish Four New School-Based Health Centers in Sussex County
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services today announced awards to establish four new school-based health centers in Sussex County through the state's Rural Health Transformation Program.
Betting On Hawaiʻi Politics Is Legal Despite State’s Gambling Ban
Users can now wager on when indicted Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke may resign on the prediction market app Kalshi, which is not covered by Hawaiʻi’s gambling law.
Where governor candidates stand on incentives, data centers and other business issues
Crain’s asked each contender to respond to seven questions ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, when voters will decide which Democrat and Republican will face off in November.
New York finalizes social media restrictions for kids
The regulations, which take effect in January, limit the use of algorithmic feeds and nighttime notifications.
What’s Going on With Mitch McConnell? Kentucky’s Governor Has Questions.
Gov. Andy Beshear called on Senator McConnell, who has been hospitalized since June, to prove his capacity to serve, or resign.
GOP governor survives challenge from Bitcoin evangelist in gubernatorial runoff
South Dakota's first gubernatorial primary runoff pitted incumbent Larry Rhoden against outsider Toby Doeden after neither cleared the 35% threshold to win outright.
Kentucky governor demands 'honesty' on McConnell's health
Kentucky governor demands 'honesty' on McConnell's health
Early voting begins in Wisconsin primary featuring chaotic Democratic governor's race
Early in-person voting is beginning in swing state Wisconsin’s chaotic Democratic primary for governor, with a democratic socialist trying to overcome the incumbent governor’s pick.
Kentucky Gov. Beshear demands McConnell ‘prove capacity to serve’ or resign
The Democratic governor criticized the limited communication between the Republican senator and constituents after he suffered a fall.
This South Dakota race shows how wealthy candidates are changing American politics
The incumbent governor faces an unexpected challenge from a self-funded outsider.
Denish: Politics Can Be Shocking And Hilarious
By DIANE DENISH Corner To Corner diane@dianedenish.com Politics is nothing if not both hilarious and shocking. There has been a lot going on lately regarding lieutenant governor nominees in New Mexico. On the Democratic side, primary winner Maggie Toulouse Oliver withdrew for personal reasons, requiring the Democratic Party to choose a replacement before general election […]
Data centers have become a political issue. Here's where the Ohio governor candidates stand.
The frontrunners for Ohio governor both want to regulate data centers but have different plans for how to address growing concerns.