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Michigan voters really 'just want results' from Washington, says U-M political expert
Beyond the polarizing partisanship and rhetoric, most voters really just want results—and maybe some relief—from Washington.
Georgia politics: Mail ballot ruling, Cobb plans, AI voting concerns
From a major U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting mail ballots to new concerns about artificial intelligence and Georgia's voting system, several developments could affect voters ahead of the midterms.
Black Caucus hopes to boost voting among Black, rural voters
The "SO VOTE" campaign aims to register and mobilize voters in majority-Black, rural, and young communities across the South and other regions.
Black Caucus hopes to boost voting among Black, rural voters
The "SO VOTE" campaign aims to register and mobilize voters in majority-Black, rural, and young communities across the South and other regions.
Black Caucus launches effort to boost voting among Black, rural and young voters in midterms
The Congressional Black Caucus Institute is launching a multimillion-dollar campaign to engage lower-propensity voters in key districts before the midterm elections
With Trump’s Plans Blocked, States Work to Restore Trust in Mail Voting
President Trump’s efforts to restrict mail voting ahead of the midterms were thwarted by the Supreme Court, but they have sowed confusion and doubt among some voters.
Supreme Court rejects Trump mail ballot restrictions ahead of midterms
The decision allows states to continue sending ballots under existing processes used by nearly one-third of voters.
Nevada voters will have early say in 2028 presidential nominations for both parties
Nevada party voters will be able to make their choice in the Democratic Party’s primary at second in the nation and in the third calendar position for Republicans.
Supreme Court blocks sweeping mail ballot restrictions for midterm elections
The Trump administration had said the plan was necessary to protect against voter fraud, while states and voting rights groups said it could inject chaos in contests that will determine control of Congress.
Supreme Court says Trump cannot enforce new mail-in ballot regulation
The decision means a Postal Service measure that could lead to ballots not being sent to voters won’t be in effect for this November’s midterm elections.
Supreme Court rejects Trump’s plan to limit mail-in voting in midterms
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to change how mail ballots are sent to voters across the country, rebuffing a proposal that election officials warned would have had catastrophic consequences if allowed to take effect for this year’s midterms.
How Democrats Are Rethinking Election Protection for the 2026 Midterms
Democrats are gearing up to fight back against what they see as potential voter intimidation on the part of Republicans ahead of this year’s midterm elections. State parties announced Monday that they are launching an initiative called the “New Battlefield Project,” intended to recruit 10,000 ...
Gas Prices Could Cost Republicans the Midterms
Many voters understand that the president isn’t directly responsible for the price of oil. Except this time, he is.
Live Results: Delaware midterm primaries
Delaware’s Democratic U.S. senator, U.S. representative and state attorney general will go before voters in a state primary Tuesday as they seek reelection.
Albany County asking voters to replace coroners with medical examiner's office
The charter change proposal will appear on the November ballot.
Whistle-Blower: Federal Agents May Have Broken State Laws in Search For Voter Fraud
Agents expressed concern about being directed by top Homeland Security leaders to use private information to look up voter records in state databases.
Missouri voters sue Denny Hoskins for $80 million over congressional map referendum
At the center of the case is a Missouri law that says the secretary of state must pay between $100 and $500 to an aggrieved person if the officeholder “neglect[s] or refuse[s] to perform any of the duties enjoined on him by law."
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
In Africa, Youth Aren't Disengaged; They're Withholding Consent
Lagging youth voter turnout in southern Africa should be understood not as apathy, but as a refusal to endorse existing political choices.
Democrats adopting the socialist term may distract voters from the issues these candidates support
The growing focus on adopting socialism terminology could hurt Democrats in the upcoming midterm election cycle
The politics of AI, part two
First it was data centres that concerned voters and lawmakers — now they’re worrying about the models themselves
Oregon governor’s race ramps up as candidates start making their cases to voters
With the Labor Day holiday over, the race to be the next governor of Oregon is speeding up and it’s safe to expect the candidates will hone and amplify their messaging.
Siding with Ron DeSantis, Byron Donalds bucks Donald Trump on paying voters if GOP holds Congress
Trump's candidate wants to put the brakes on payouts based on political outcomes.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Delaware’s state primary
Delaware’s Democratic U.S. senator, U.S. representative and state attorney general will go before voters in a state primary Tuesday as they seek reelection. Voters will also choose nominees for state
Arizona independents expected to have influential sway in the November midterms
More than 900 thousand voters registered in Maricopa County have no party affiliation, a larger group than either Democrats or Republicans.
50 days until 2026 Alabama election: Latest on polls, fundraising, political fights and key races
Alabama's statewide races are taking shape around data centers, residency challenges, and voter turnout.
Lowering Medicare eligibility age would be a lifeline for Ohioans
Commentary: Especially with Ohio's rapidly aging population, Ohio’s congressional delegation owes its constituents an open debate on healthcare and Medicare eligibility. Voters should be asking candidates to state their positions.
‘Sweat the asset’: new development minister plots path to make UK aid count
Kirsty McNeill reaffirms Labour’s 0.7% of GDP pledge and promises value for money to allay voter concerns
Grassroots initiative bringing candidates' stances on science issues
Salisbury, Md. – With election season underway, a nationwide grassroots initiative is working to put candidates’ stances on certain science policy issues in front of voters. Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP) is a non-partisan, grassroots coalition of early-career scientists and researchers. As midterm elections get closer, they’re working to make sure voters know their candidates’ positions on science and...
Iowa, national politicians court voters at CyHawk tailgates
Iowa candidates turned CyHawk tailgates into campaign stops Saturday, with Republicans and Democrats pitching voters on the issues they say matter most.
Trump’s $5,000 ‘dividend’ strips another layer of shame from American politics
Among the questions now: just how gullible are American voters, and when will more Republicans realize they’re being made fools of?
Inside a Philadelphia barbershop, Black men debate their political past and future
Although Black men vote overwhelmingly Democratic, even small shifts in their support can help swing razor-thin elections. They are often some of the most scrutinized but least understood voters, a blind spot that political strategist Khalil Thompson wants to fix.
House Speaker Mike Johnson says Trump's $5,000 'dividend' needs congressional approval
Trump made the unusual pitch at the party's midterm convention in Dallas last week, promising a “Trump Dividend” if voters keep the GOP in power on Capitol Hill.
Swedish voters go to polls to choose a new parliament as hard right bids for role in government
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is seeking a second four-year term at the helm of the European Union nation that is also NATO’s newest member. Meanwhile, his predecessor hopes to win the job back.
Prop 39 would make California the 37th state to require voter ID
California voters will decide this November whether to approve Proposition 39, a measure that would require government-issued identification for in-person voting and different verification for mail-in ballots.
Trump and Newsom take different approaches to energize voters ahead of midterms
With the midterm elections less than two months away, President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom are employing contrasting strategies to energize their respective voter bases.
CBS News political panel on what voters can expect to see on the midterm campaign trail
The secret ballot has been an article of faith in U.S. elections. That's being tested in Georgia.
There's a flaw in Georgia’s voting equipment that can allow voters to be matched to their ballots after they’ve been cast.
'I hope for a decent period in politics': views of voters as Sweden goes to the polls
The Guardian's Europe reporter and live blogger Jakub Krupa speaks to voters outside a polling station in the Swedish capital, Stockholm
The 19 actors with the most Emmy wins of all time
An Emmy is the biggest award an actor can win for their work on the small screen and when theres a show or a performance Emmy voters love, it often gets multiple nominations and wins
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
How California Latina, Latino voters differ on politics
A new study shows a gender gap on immigration, Donald Trump and protecting democracy.
New poll reveals 1 party with huge advantage in 2026 midterms. And it’s bad news for Trump.
The Quinnipiac University poll, released Thursday, found that Democrats have an 11-point edge over Republicans when voters were asked which party they would want to see in control of the House.
The secret ballot has been an article of faith in US elections. That's being tested in Georgia
There's a flaw in Georgia’s voting equipment that can allow voters to be matched to their ballots after they’ve been cast. Election security advocates are urging Georgia officials to fix
The secret ballot has been an article of faith in US elections. That's being tested in Georgia
There's a flaw in Georgia’s voting equipment that can allow voters to be matched to their ballots after they’ve been cast.
Will the economy motivate voters? This Central Valley swing district could be a test
The 22nd District is one of fewer than two dozen toss-up races nationwide that will likely determine which party controls the U.S. House in the second half of President Trump’s term.
Keep health care top election issue and back CLARITY Act
Hospital prices have climbed 250% since 2000. Voters should demand transparency from election candidates.
A Gender War Explodes in Utah Over the Courts, Abortion and Representation
When Republicans tried to repeal a law that voters passed banning gerrymandering, they found an opposition that flew in the face of Utah women’s “tradwives” imagery.
Why Democrats will turn out even if they dislike their party’s leaders
At a rest stop off Interstate 95, Democratic voters said they are starting to set aside their frustrations to coalesce around the party's midterm candidates.
Iowa, national politicians court voters at CyHawk tailgates
Iowa political candidates for state and congressional offices took to Iowa City Saturday to engage with voters.
Kansas candidates for governor used the State Fair debate to call each other extremists
At the State Fair debate, Democrat Cindy Holscher tied Republican Ty Masterson to former Gov. Sam Brownback, while Masterson compared Holscher to national Democrats. Both hope to court independent voters.
Immigration reporting measure fuels debate over Colorado’s role with ICE
A coalition of advocacy groups and several district attorneys rallied outside the Colorado Capitol on Thursday to oppose a ballot measure that, if approved by voters in November, would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Backed by Advance Colorado, Proposition 81 would require local law enforcement agencies to notify […]
What would it take for a third-party candidate to win Wyoming’s race for governor?
by Maggie Mullen, WyoFile No minor party candidate has ever won a statewide elected office in Wyoming. Voters have exclusively elected Republicans
Ashley Moody already has 50% support in new poll of Senate race
Nixon has a narrow path to close the gap, given most voters know who they like already.
Germany’s Political Tailspin: Your Weekly SPIEGEL Recap
It might be tempting to dismiss the results of last Sunday’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party raked in 43.8 percent of the vote, as a rather unimportant extremist blip in a state that hardly anyone can find on the map. And you wouldn’t necessarily be wrong to do so. The state’s population – around 2.1 million – is a mere 2.5 percent of the German total. And while the state capital of Magdeburg was once the political heart of the Holy Roman Empire back when Otto the Great used to hang out there (more than a millenium … no … milennium … nope … millennium ago), it is today something of a backwater, albeit one with a ginormous cathedral in its center. We wanted to briefly interrupt this week’s newsletter to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our subscribers, both new and old. And to remind you all that a free subscription gets you access to this newsletter every Saturday. A paid subscription, by contrast, gets you one DER SPIEGEL article every weekday, delivered to your inbox. We strive to select pieces that both demonstrate what Europe’s leading newsmagazine has to offer and provide an international audience – namely, you – with an insight into how Germany and Europe view the world. If you haven’t already signed up for a paid subscription, please consider doing so if you can. Our Substack channel relies entirely on reader support and we are excited to continue offering you the best of DER SPIEGEL. Subscribe But even beyond the fact that a huge percentage of the voters in the state decided to place an X next to a party with an ideological lineage that runs rather directly back to the right-wing extremist soup out of which the Nazi Party was born, the results are a perfect example of a phenomenon that has been plaguing German elections in recent years: the lack of an obvious path to a majority. Call it the Balkanization of German politics. There are a number of developments driving the phenomenon, but for the purposes of this newsletter, here are two of the most salient: Persistent voter frustration with the country’s two (former) big-tent parties – the Christian Democrats (CDU) on the center-right (17.2 percent in Saxony-Anhalt last Sunday) and the Social Democrats (SPD) on the center-left (9.3 percent). The presence of parties on the far left (Left Party), the populist left (the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – BSW) and the far right (AfD) with which mainstream parties are reluctant to form coalitions. So what happens now? Stories of the Week A Lack of Leadership The answer for many people in the country, and particularly within the CDU, is clear: pin (some of) the blame on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a survey taken directly after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, 88 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that if the federal government in Berlin were doing a better job, the AfD wouldn’t be as strong. And it is true that the predominant impression of the federal government ever since Merz was sworn in on May 6, 2025, is one of ineffectiveness and bickering. His rather unique combination of bumbling-plus-bravado has also not exactly endeared him to the German public. Indeed, his standing in the country is so shaky that his popularity – according to recent polls – has now dropped even below the historic lows associated with his predecessor Olaf Scholz. The situation is such that the CDU even opted to keep him largely out of the campaign ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt vote. And since then, dissatisfied rumblings within the CDU have grown louder. DER SPIEGEL’s Swantje Karich notes that the problems with the CDU go much deeper than Merz. “The center-right has a trust problem. At a press appearance following the devastating election result in Saxony-Anhalt, Friedrich Merz said that the party wanted to ‘reach people more effectively’ through ‘emotional engagement.’ It sounded as though he were announcing a political program. On the basis of that statement, it is difficult to take his empathy seriously.” “The Chancellor’s chastened appearance did, at least, reveal where he stands: with his back to the wall. Elections will be held in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania next week, and the CDU could fare even worse there. The party is polling at between 8 and 10 percent in the state.” “What is at stake is the political tradition that has lent stability to the Federal Republic since 1945: a democratic conservatism that understands what must be preserved, but also how to embrace progress and openness to the world. If the Union continues along its current path, it risks becoming politically irrelevant after the 2029 federal election – and Germany could soon find itself with a government of the far right.” The Trumpification of Political Debate? It is often said in Germany that to understand the political and social trends that will soon be dominant in Europe, one need only look across the Atlantic to the United States. When it comes to political debate, that has certainly proven true. Donald Trump understood early on that triggering mouth-foaming outrage among Democrats is an ideal way to both generate headlines and to secure loyalty among supporters. And he realized that far more quickly than the left side of the political spectrum understood that simply ignoring the old man might be the best recipe. To be sure, there have been signs recently that the US president may be over-relying on the strategy. Earlier this week, in an apparent grandpa-discovers-AI moment, Trump sent out 60 posts in the space of 10 hours, many of them AI-assisted images portraying him as a hero – or showing Iceland as part of the US (outrageous!!!). It was also during that slew of schlock that he explicitly backed the AfD with an “MGGA” post. In Germany, though, the outrage cycle remains in full swing, with much of the focus on those who would dare to vote for the AfD. They are alternately portrayed as being dim-witted, ungrateful, backward, racist or all of the above. That, argues DER SPIEGEL columnist Sabine Rennefanz, is not particularly helpful. “Everywhere on election night, people spoke of a watershed moment, a rupture, a turning point. But what is that supposed to mean in concrete terms? A watershed would imply an interruption, a moment of pause – perhaps even a willingness to rethink and learn. At first, there was little sign of that in the main television panels. Instead, the familiar rituals that had already shaped the election campaign continued: outrage, lecturing and abuse.” “That’s just the tone, one might object. They’re only talk shows. Given that the party’s state branch has been classified by domestic intelligence officials as confirmed right-wing extremist, there are more important problems than hurt feelings on television. Yet although the condescending tone is not the cause of the AfD’s success, it is an expression of the broader mood within the so-called political center – a kind of institutional blindness that too often treats material concerns as a communications problem.” “People have a pretty good sense of whether you like them – whether you approach them with curiosity or merely study, lecture and manage them as a problem group. They notice whether you genuinely want to understand their fears and pain, or whether you are simply waiting for the chance to correct them. They can also tell whether someone still has the energy to change things, or whether they have barricaded themselves behind platitudes and empty phrases.” “Anyone who wants an egalitarian democratic society cannot promise equality only to those whose language, tastes and moral convictions they share. They must also acknowledge the wounds, resentments and fears of those whose political conclusions they consider wrong. Acknowledging them does not mean agreeing with them. But a democracy that communicates with almost half its citizens only through warnings and labels gives up on political debate before it has even begun. An atmosphere must be created in which people can express their opinions without fearing that they will be canceled. We are currently a long way from that.” East-West? One of the clear undercurrents in the election last Sunday was, of course, Germany’s ongoing east-west divide, particularly as it pertains to the success of the AfD. Historically, the party has been far stronger in the former East German states than in former West German states. The fact that this generalization no longer reliably holds is certainly one of the primary concerns that many have about the party’s growth. And yet, there is still a distinct flavor of “stupid easterners, they don’t understand democracy” to the coverage. In the weeks before the vote, there was even a rather interesting back-and-forth in Germany’s culture pages about how ungrateful eastern Germans allegedly are for being pulled out of their pre-reunification backwardness and into the light of the West. DER SPIEGEL’s Jochen-Martin Gutsch has had enough. “Ten years ago, in 2016, elections were also held in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD won more than 20 percent, which at the time rightly provoked outrage and incomprehension in western Germany. Today, in 2026, the AfD is also polling at around 20 percent in western German states, but this no longer provokes outrage and incomprehension. Instead, it is now regarded as proof of democratic conviction and civilizational resistance. After all, in the east, it’s 40 percent!” “This allows people to continue feeling morally superior to the East, but the wiser course would be to admit: if something doesn’t happen soon, the West will turn AfD-blue too. Or bluish.” “But will anything happen? The truly depressing thing about election night was not so much the AfD leaders intoxicated by their own success. It was the representatives of the other parties, who once again said that they were utterly shocked, needed some time to digest the result and would, of course, not simply return to business as usual. The SPD, a former big-tent party, celebrated its ‘stable’ result of 9.3 percent. Congratulations!” “For 10 years, the AfD has gone from one electoral success to the next. And still, the established parties remain ‘shocked’ and scratch their heads in astonishment. How long can they keep being shocked? Friedrich Merz says he may need to communicate his reform ideas in a more ‘emotional’ way. So the CDU’s political professionals sit down together after the election, mull over a strategy, and in the end come up with this: Fritz, try to be a little more relaxed, charismatic and emotional – or something. Beyond that: no political plan, no defiance, no promise of a future. That is frightening.” What was good, what was bad for democracy? Good: Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was 77.8 percent, the highest ever recorded in the state. Whatever one thinks of the result, that figure is encouraging. Democracy needs citizens to take an interest. Bad: Although a strong AfD result had been expected in Saxony-Anhalt, many politicians from the mainstream parties – including in Berlin – appeared confused, helpless and overwhelmed in their initial reactions. That is not how they will win back voters’ trust. Last Week’s Highlights: 🗳️ Meet the Germans Who Voted for the AfD: Why would voters in a country like Germany, with its Nazi past, vote for a right-wing party? It’s a question only an editor in Berlin could come up with. On the ground, the view is different. 🟦 How the AfD Wants to Expand Its Power Across Germany: The far-right AfD is planning to decimate public broadcasting in Saxony-Anhalt, revamp education and install extremists in positions of power. And it is eyeing victory on the national stage as well. 🕯️ The Continuing Reverberations of September 11: It was a generational shock, and the consequences can still be felt today - from massive surveillance and significant increases in presidential power to violent excesses at ICE. 🤝 “For Europe, Canada Is the Preferred Partner in Trans-Atlantic Relations”: In an interview with DER SPIEGEL, Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne discusses his country’s failed trade deal with the US and why Canada is looking to Europe. 🏛️ The True Historical Roots of the AfD: During the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, there were numerous parties on the extreme right espousing “Germany first” nationalism. The Nazis may not be the best comparison for today’s AfD. 🌊 AfD in a Landslide: Merz Is the Wrong Leader for Germany: The right-wing Alternative for Germany won in a landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday. What does that mean for the country at large? Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful week! Subscribe Share Leave a comment Your SPIEGEL Substack Team Compiled and edited by Charles Hawley
After AfD's record result: Voices from Saxony-Anhalt
The far-right AfD won a record result in Saxony-Anhalt. Why are so many voters backing the party, while others fear what comes next? DW travels across the state to hear from voters, business owners, and immigrants.
I’m angry with leaders on both sides. The toxic rhetoric has to stop.
John Kasich: The question for voters is: Are we going to take the bait? If we reward this divisive rhetoric, we’re going to get more of it.
Local businessman announces write-in campaign against Carol Ammons
Keith Smith of Champaign: “This is not about tearing anyone down. It is about offering voters another direction and another voice.”
Inflation Complicates Trump’s Midterms Pitch to Voters
Gas prices are high, mortgage rates are climbing and inflation remains well above target, complicating the president’s midterm appeal.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Marcus Dell’Artino on the November election
Republican strategist Marcus Dell’Artino returns to talk about polling for the election races and whether Democrats may gain control of the Legislature. Dell’Artino says affordability—covering inflation, housing and gas prices—continues to dominate voter concerns. They also examine whether low Republican energy, Democratic turnout efforts and negative campaigning could reshape the governor’s race. Water security and Colorado River cuts are rising on voters’ priority lists as Arizona’s growth continues. The discussion also looks at whether Trump fatigue and a possible Democratic wave could affect control of the Legislature.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Marcus Dell’Artino on the November election
Republican strategist Marcus Dell’Artino returns to talk about polling for the election races and whether Democrats may gain control of the Legislature. Dell’Artino says affordability—covering inflation, housing and gas prices—continues to dominate voter concerns. They also examine whether low Republican energy, Democratic turnout efforts and negative campaigning could reshape the governor’s race. Water security and Colorado River cuts are rising on voters’ priority lists as Arizona’s growth continues. The discussion also looks at whether Trump fatigue and a possible Democratic wave could affect control of the Legislature.
Politics Unplugged Podcast: Marcus Dell’Artino on the November election
Republican strategist Marcus Dell’Artino returns to talk about polling for the election races and whether Democrats may gain control of the Legislature. Dell’Artino says affordability—covering inflation, housing and gas prices—continues to dominate voter concerns. They also examine whether low Republican energy, Democratic turnout efforts and negative campaigning could reshape the governor’s race. Water security and Colorado River cuts are rising on voters’ priority lists as Arizona’s growth continues. The discussion also looks at whether Trump fatigue and a possible Democratic wave could affect control of the Legislature.
Trump Heads to Ireland for the Irish Open at His Golf Course
President Trump’s trip comes after a two-day Republican rally in Dallas, where he tried to energize voters amid fears that the party could face losses in the midterms.
Video: Opinion
President Trump’s unpopularity is a threat to Republican candidates across the country. But that’s not stopping him from promising $5,000 checks to voters and telling them to pretend he’s on the ballot. The Opinion columnist Jamelle Bouie argues that these efforts to woo infrequent voters are not only harmful to the party but also “profound political malpractice.”
Is Trump's $5,000 pitch to voters legit? Candidates, analysts disagree
Graham says Trump's pitch to give voter $5,000 for a GOP win is "delivering for Americans." Andrews says voters need sound economic policy.
Cache Valley League of Women Voters Meet the Candidates Night 2
The League of Women Voters of Cache Valley is hosting a Meet the Candidates Night on Friday. Watch the livestream here.
Republicans made El-Sayed a top midterm target. The Democrat wants to talk about Michigan voters
Republicans are aggressively targeting Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee from Michigan, as the face of the opposition.
Republicans made El-Sayed a top midterm target. The Democrat wants to talk about Michigan voters
Republicans are aggressively targeting Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee from Michigan, as the face of the opposition.
Immigration‑reporting measure fuels debate over Colorado’s role with ICE
A coalition of advocacy groups, community members, and several district attorneys rallied outside the Colorado Capitol on Thursday to oppose a ballot measure that, if approved by voters in November, would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Backed by the interest group Advance Colorado, Proposition 81 would require law […]
Could Latinos flip this Colorado district blue?
Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is a battleground: evenly divided politically, 40% Hispanic and critical in deciding control of Congress. John King talks to voters to explore whether the Latino trend toward President Trump continues.
Politics Friday: How 9/11 changed Minnesota and the nation
Friday at noon, we kick off a season to cover the midterm election. For the next several weeks, we'll bring you interviews with candidates, voices of voters and some head-to-head debates. It’s just a taste of what's in store as Election Day approaches where the state will pick a new governor, U.S. senator and much more.
Sweden's election could mark major milestone for Europe's populist right
Once shunned over its extremist roots, the Sweden Democrats could enter government for the first time as voters weigh immigration, crime and Sweden's political transformation.
Sen. Alex Padilla on the issues that are top of mind for voters
Padilla joins Spectrum News’ Renee Eng
Trump snaps at reporter who questioned $5,000 checks for voters
The reporter asked President Donald Trump why voters need $5,000 if his economic policies are working.
As Election Day 1876 neared, politicians hit the stump in Colorado's mining boomtowns
Voters in Colorado's mining boomtowns had been an important constituency since its early days as a territory.
Trump keeps telling voters he doesn’t care much about affordability
The president is engineering a pre-midterms price spike.
Fix Colorado without shortchanging taxpayers
If we truly want to fix Colorado, we must respect taxpayers, demand accountability and prioritize classroom results. Proposition NN fails the test. The far left put forth this measure, presenting it as the only way to fund public schools. Colorado voters should look past the title and see what Prop NN really does. The Taxpayer’s Bill of […]
NJ readying ballots amid questions about Caldwell, vote-by-mail
As Trump postal changes head to the nation's highest court, officials stick to deadline to send first batches for midterms
Political scientist breaks down the messaging and tactics at the GOP Midterm Convention
Political scientist Kirby Goidel joined KBTX to talk about the proposal and the message Republicans are trying to send to voters
Fact check: Trump, RFK Jr. and others make false claims on night 2 of GOP convention
(CNN) — President Donald Trump delivered another rapid-fire series of false claims on the second night of Republicans’ midterm convention on Thursday. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did his own barrage of wrongness. And various other speakers uttered statements that were untrue, misleading or missing critical context.Here is a fact check of some of the assertions from the final day of the convention. This is not intended as a comprehensive list of Thursday’s falsehoods.Trump’s many false claimsTrump made numerous false claims, some of which he also made in his longer speech Wednesday.Trump claimed that there were “no empty seats” in the Dallas arena as he spoke Thursday, which was visibly untrue. CNN White House correspondent Alayna Treene, who was there, wrote in a live chat right after Trump made the claim that “I’m looking at rows of empty seats” and that “the idea that there are ‘no empty seats’ is just laughably untrue,” though she also said the room was mostly full. Trump has for years made false claims about supposedly never having had an empty seat.Trump further inflated one of his favorite fictional figures, claiming Thursday that “$22 trillion” in investment has come into the US; on Wednesday, he had put it at “over $20 trillion,” and even that lower figure has no apparent basis in reality. As of the time he spoke Thursday, the White House’s own website claimed there had been “$11.2 trillion” in “major investment announcements” this term, not “over $20 trillion,” and the White House figure was itself a major exaggeration of actual investment.Trump, talking about elections, lied that “there’s never been bigger cheaters” than Democrats; there is no basis for broadly describing Democrats as election cheaters. For the second straight night, Trump falsely claimed that the Biden administration allowed “25 million people” to pour into the country, though that number is nowhere close to correct. Trump again falsely claimed that former President Joe Biden and other Democrats “created the worst inflation in American history,” though even peak Biden-era inflation, 9.1% in June 2022, was far from the all-time record of 23.7%; it was a 40-year high, but the rate then fell sharply before Trump returned to office.Trump also baselessly claimed that Democrats would “defund the police” and give “voting rights and welfare to 25 million illegal aliens” if they won the midterms. Republicans will still control the White House in 2027 and 2028 and the president would be in position to veto any such changes if a Democratic-controlled Congress sought to make them, but there is no indication that Democrats want to do so. Also, even groups favoring strict immigration policies estimate that the total undocumented population is far less than “25 million” or even 20 million.As he did Wednesday, Trump claimed the US now has the world’s lowest prescription drug prices. The assertion is so broad that it is unclear what exactly Trump is referencing. But experts told CNN they highly doubt that the prices for brand-name drugs in the US are generally less than they are in other countries, and the Trump administration has not provided details to prove the claim.“It’s tough to claim that you’re getting the lowest prices anywhere in the world and then also not have any evidence to support that,” said Andrew Mulcahy, a senior health economist at RAND, while Diederik Stadig, senior healthcare economist at financial institution ING, said, “To say that the US now has the lowest drug prices in the world is at this moment not true.”And as he did Wednesday, Trump said “more Americans are working today than ever before” – which is true but nearly meaningless, since the number of people working in the US generally rises over time simply because the population rises over time.“There are more Americans working because there are more Americans. That’s the entire analysis,” Justin Wolfers, a University of Michigan professor of public policy and economics, wrote in his newsletter in August.RFK Jr.’s false claims on the pandemic, Trump’s record and moreFalse claim about Democrats and the 2024 electionKennedy unsuccessfully ran for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination before withdrawing to run as an independent and then eventually endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump. In Kennedy’s Thursday convention speech, he complained of how the Democrats handled the nomination race.At one point, he said, “For the first time in history, they cancelled their own convention. No voter ever cast a primary ballot for Kamala Harris, no elected delegate was ever consulted; the party of ‘No Kings’ simply anointed a queen.”Kennedy is entitled to express unhappiness about how quickly Democratic leaders coalesced around then-Vice President Harris after Biden unexpectedly dropped out of the race in July 2024, after the primaries were over and less than four months from Election Day. But it’s not true that the party canceled its convention or that delegates didn’t get any say.The convention was held; it was a four-day event in Chicago in August 2024. Democratic convention delegates officially nominated Harris in a virtual roll call vote in advance of the convention. It’s true that Harris was the only candidate on the roll call ballot, but that’s because she was the only candidate who gathered enough delegate signatures to appear on the ballot.It’s clear that party elites’ backing of Harris played a key role in the unusual nomination process. But Kennedy’s specific allegations that the convention was abandoned and delegates were cut out of the process are not true.False claim that Democrats closed ‘every church’ during the Covid-19 pandemicWhile attacking Democrats, Kennedy claimed that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, “They closed every church in our country for a year.”It’s not true that every church in the country was closed for a year, nor even that every church in a Democratic state was closed for a year.Every state issued some type of guidance or order about social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic, but many states – including some led by Democrats and some led by Republicans – incorporated religious exemptions into those limitations on social interactions.According to a Pew Research Center analysis from April 2020, 15 states allowed religious gatherings to continue without a limit on their size. That set of states included Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania, which all had Democratic governors. And at least two states with Republican governors, Alaska and Idaho, were among the states that prohibited religious gatherings at least briefly.False claim that Trump ‘ended nine wars’Trump has repeatedly claimed that he has ended “eight wars.” Kennedy went one higher on Thursday, declaring, “President Trump has ended nine wars.”That’s false. Trump hasn’t even ended eight wars.Trump’s list of eight includes two situations that were never actually wars during his tenure: a diplomatic dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia and a mysterious supposed situation between Serbia and Kosovo. The list also includes a war, involving Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that hasn’t actually ended despite a peace agreement brokered by the Trump administration.In addition, the list includes the war between Israel and Hamas, but Israel continues to conduct frequent attacks in Gaza despite a US-brokered ceasefire agreement. And it includes the brief 2025 conflict between Israel and Iran, though Israel proceeded to join the US in starting another war against Iran in 2026.Claim about reversing a decline in longevityKennedy speaking of the Trump administration, claimed Thursday: “We have now reversed a 30-year decline in longevity. “Kennedy referenced preliminary data that he said he had received from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week, but it’s unclear what metric of longevity he’s referring to.CDC data shows that US life expectancy had been steadily increasing for decades before a sharp drop during the Covid-19 pandemic. Life expectancy had already started to rebound in 2022, under the Biden administration, and reached a new record high in 2024 before Trump’s second term began.Preliminary data shared by the CDC in July suggests that life expectancy probably hit another record high in 2025.CNN has reached out to HHS for clarification on Kennedy’s comments.Claim that Democrats ‘lost 360,000 children’Speaking about Democrats, Kennedy said: “They somehow lost 360,000 children and they turned our federal government into the biggest child trafficking operation in world history.”Trump and other Republicans have made similar claims. But there’s no basis for the assertion that Democrats “lost” so many children or that the federal government was engaged in human trafficking.A 2024 report from the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security said Immigration and Customs Enforcement had reported that more than 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children failed to appear as scheduled for immigration court hearings after being released or transferred out of custody between fiscal years 2019 and 2023 – a period that, notably, includes two years and four months under the first Trump administration. The report also said that 291,000 unaccompanied migrant children during this period were not given notices to appear in court.The report said that ICE had “no assurances” these children “are safe from trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor.” But it did not say all the children were actually “lost” and did not definitively assert that any of them were trafficked – let alone that the government was somehow involved in a trafficking operation. And, again, the report spanned parts of both a Republican administration and a Democratic administration.Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, told CNN in 2024: “Long story short, no, there are not 320,000 kids missing. 32,000 kids missed court. That doesn’t mean they’re missing, it means they missed court (either because their sponsor didn’t bring them or they are teenagers who didn’t want to show up). The remaining 291,000 cases mentioned by the (Office of the Inspector General) are cases where ICE hasn’t filed the paperwork to start their immigration court cases.”Vance on inflation, crime and taxes on Social SecurityA false claim about the media and Biden-era inflationVice President JD Vance mocked the media during part of his speech on Thursday. But he made a false claim about Biden-era inflation while lampooning how the media supposedly challenged him over another false claim on that subject.Vance said: “The president and I would go during a campaign, we’d say, ‘You know, inflation is as high as it’s been in 100 years,’ and the fake news would say, ‘No, no, no, it’s as high as it’s been in 68 years.’ That ain’t good, ladies and gentlemen.”Mainstream journalists, at least, wouldn’t say that inflation under Biden was as high as it had been “in 68 years.” Rather, CNN and others noted that peak inflation under the Biden administration, 9.1% in June 2022, was the highest in about 40 years.Vance is entitled to make his general point that this correction still doesn’t make Biden-era inflation sound good, but his specific number was, again, wrong. And he didn’t acknowledge that inflation fell sharply under Biden after hitting the 40-year high, declining to 2.9% in Biden’s last full month in office, December 2024, and 3.0% in January 2025, when Trump and Vance were inaugurated.The rate was 3.4% in July 2026, the most recent month for which data is available.Trump didn’t end taxes on Social SecurityVance claimed, “We’ve ended taxes on Social Security.” Several other convention speakers, including Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania and Ohio House candidate Derek Merrin, similarly said the administration has achieved “no tax on Social Security.”It hasn’t. The big domestic policy bill Trump signed in 2025 did create an additional, temporary $6,000-per-year tax deduction for individuals age 65 and older (which phases out for individuals earning $75,000 per year or more), but as the White House has implicitly acknowledged, millions of Social Security recipients will continue to pay taxes on their benefits even before the temporary new deduction expires after 2028.The Social Security Administration said in 2025 that “the bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits.Claim about violent crime rate under BidenWhile criticizing the Biden administration, Vice President JD Vance claimed Thursday that the US “became a country where violent crime exploded, unless, of course, you could afford private security.”But violent crime did not explode under Biden. In fact, as FactCheck.org reported last month, data collected and published by the FBI shows that the national violent crime rate was at a lower level in 2023 and 2024, the last two full calendar years of Biden’s term, than it was in 2020, the last full calendar year of Trump’s first term. The year 2020 was highly unusual in many ways – violent crime jumped amid the Covid-19 pandemic – but Biden nonetheless left office with violent crime lower than it was when he took over. In fact, the 2024 violent crime rate was even lower than the 2019 rate under Trump before the pandemic.There was an increase in violent crime during the earlier part of Biden’s term. But given the subsequent decline, it’s misleading at best to claim violent crime “exploded” with no further context.Asked earlier this month about Trump’s similar previous claims to have reversed a Biden-era upswing in violence, crime data expert Jeff Asher said in an email: “No, crime began dropping significantly in 2023 during the Biden administration. Murder fell at record rates in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and, while 2026 may not feature a record decline nationally, it is still on track to see a sizable double-digit decline this year. Violent crime similarly fell nationally in 2023 and 2024, though the drops were more muted than the decline that was recorded by the FBI in 2025.”Other GOP speakersMike Johnson’s false claim about the inflation Republicans inherited from BidenSome other speakers at the convention took aim at inflation under Biden. House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that “Republicans inherited from the Biden administration record-high inflation.”That’s not true. The inflation rate was 2.9% in Biden’s last full month in office, December 2024, and 3.0% in January 2025, when Trump took over. That’s lower than the most recent rate, 3.4% in July 2026, and nowhere close to the all-time record of 23.7%, which was reached in 1920, or the highest point of Jimmy Carter’s presidency, 14.8%, which was reached in 1980.Johnson correctly said moments later that inflation reached “a 40-year high of 9.1% inflation” under Biden. But a 40-year high is not an all-time record. More importantly, Johnson didn’t explain that 9.1% was much higher than the rate Trump inherited or that the 9.1% rate occurred in June 2022, with roughly two-and-a-half years left in Biden’s term.The cumulative increase in prices from the beginning of the Biden administration to the end was also not the highest in US history. Federal figures show that beginning-to-end inflation under Biden was less than half of that during Carter’s term.What Johnson left out of his claim about a congressional resolutionWhile attacking Democrats as extreme, Johnson said: “Just last week, nearly every Democrat in the House of Representatives voted against condemning socialism and Marxism. They voted against it.”But the resolution didn’t use the word “Marxism.” And Johnson didn’t mention that the resolution wasn’t only about condemning socialism. Rather, it contained other language that Democratic leadership said was the focus of the party’s opposition to the resolution.The resolution’s first provision said it “condemns and denounces socialism in all its forms, including the Democratic Socialists of America, and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States.” But its fifth provision said it “calls for enactment of the SAVE America Act,” Trump’s favored elections bill, which contains various provisions opposed by many Democrats.So while it’s very possible many Democrats would have opposed the resolution even without its expression of support for the SAVE America Act, the call to pass this elections bill served as a poison pill that ensured most Democrats wouldn’t support it.“House Resolution 1490 explicitly calls for enactment of the so-called SAVE America Act, which is the top legislative priority of far-right extremists,” Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement last week.A New Mexico candidate left out key context in an attack on his opponentGreg Cunningham, a Republican House candidate in New Mexico, used some of his Thursday speech to criticize his Democratic opponent, Rep. Gabe Vasquez. Cunningham said of Vasquez: “He even voted against a resolution honoring the sacrifices and service of the brave men and women in law enforcement who protect, every day, our communities.”But Cunningham left out important context about the resolution. While its focus was expressing support for law enforcement, its preamble contained statements praising the Trump administration and criticizing “leftist activists,” “progressive politicians” and “sanctuary city policies” for allegedly making law enforcement less safe.In other words, a House member might vote against such a resolution, as the vast majority of Democrats did, because they disagreed with conservative components of it, not the general expressions of support for law enforcement. (CNN has reached out to Vasquez’s campaign and House office for comment on his vote.) It’s common for parties to write resolutions in a way that would make it difficult for opponents to support but would open those opponents to campaign attacks if they voted “no.”An Ohio candidate’s misleading attack about Democrats and votingMerrin, the Republican candidate running against Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur for a House seat in Ohio, claimed in his speech, “While Democrats talk about letting illegal immigrants vote in our election, Republicans fight for proof of citizenship, photo ID and fair elections.”It’s a big country, so it’s possible some Democrat somewhere is talking about letting undocumented people vote in some election. But Merrin’s claim is misleading at best. There is no proposal from Democrats in Congress to let undocumented people vote in the 2026 midterms – the election Merrin appeared to be referring to when he said “our election” – or vote in future federal elections.CNN has reached out to Merrin’s campaign for an explanation of his claim.House Majority Leader Steve Scalise invoked a similar theme in his speech Wednesday, claiming that Democrats had voted last week “to allow illegals to vote in our federal elections.” But there was no congressional vote on letting undocumented immigrants vote in any elections.Rather, there was a vote on the non-binding Republican resolution that included multiple provisions, including one that “reiterates the notion that American elections are for American citizens only,” one supporting Trump’s favored elections bill and one denouncing socialism.Opposing that multi-clause resolution doesn’t necessarily mean someone supports voting by any non-citizens, let alone non-citizens in the country illegally.This article has been updated with additional items.CNN’s Deja Oliver contributed to this report.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
Missouri is poised to revert to former districts after Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed map
The decision means Missouri could run the November general election with different U.S. House districts than were used in the August primary — an extremely rare situation that could switch the candidate choices for more than a million potential voters.
Voters and advocates parse Bottoms' and Jackson's platforms as health costs, coverage top election concerns
Health care, how to access it and how to afford it, is top of mind for voters heading into Georgia’s gubernatorial election.
Dan Patrick pitches Texas model at Republican midterm convention
At the Republican midterm convention, the lieutenant governor said voters should view the election as a battle for the soul of the U.S.
Republicans are touting their 'big beautiful bill' to voters. Here's what the law has actually done
A year on, what's known as the One Big Beautiful Bill has produced mixed results. Millions of people have received enhanced tax breaks, while millions are also losing access to federal food aid and health care. More immigrants are being arrested, many deported, some dying during the process.
Measure B supporters say it could help San Diegans on Medi-Cal
The San Diego County Health and Safety Act, also called Measure B, is a half-cent sales tax proposal that voters will decide on this November. Supporters say the measure would supplement cuts to California’s low-income healthcare program: Medi-Cal.
Jon Husted leans into immigration to define Senate campaign
Focusing on traditional Republican issues like immigration could help Husted define himself to voters.
Voters to decide whether places of worship should stay open
The constitutional amendment stems from criticism over Wisconsin's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Housing, addiction, politics and the touchy subject of homelessness
Accountability means little if we blame the wrong people for the wrong results. Monique DeSpain has made the case for judging Oregon’s homelessness system by results. But the burden is hers to explain what she would change through Congress — and how voters should decide if it worked.
Anger Over Health Costs Clouds Midterms
Amid a campaign already focusing on affordability, anxious voters are unlikely to be assuaged by headlines about healthcare costs rising even more next year. And a lawsuit that could cut off access nationwide to the abortion pill mifepristone gets a hearing in federal court. Joanne Kenen of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Politico Magazine, Sandhya Raman of Bloomberg Law, and Amanda Seitz of KFF Health News join KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner to discuss these stories and more. Also this week, Rovner also interviews Lauren Sausser, who wrote the latest KFF Health News “Bill of the Month.”
Poll Reveals Political Divide Between California Latina and Latino Voters
The results show that voters from the same generation do not necessarily share the same political outlook. Latinas under 30 consistently express the highest levels of concern across the issues…
Can Trump Buy Back Americans’ Love at $5,000 a Piece? Guess We’ll Find Out.
There's a trillion dollars—and a big election upset—between Trump's promise and voters' pocketbooks, but it's something new.
Will North Carolina's US Senate race feature any debates this year?
If you’re an undecided voter, you might want to compare the candidates side by side on a debate stage, or in sit-down interviews with your local TV station, or perhaps at public events where they make speeches. This year, you might not find any of those opportunities to get to know Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley.
Guest opinion: What Wisconsin’s Democratic primary reveals about data center politics
Voters’ views on data centers may be more nuanced than a simple for-or-against debate, Rob Smith and Devan Patel of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy write.
Charlie Kirk assassination anniversary comes as GOP pushes to energize voters
Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, during a public event at a university in Utah.
Charlie Kirk assassination anniversary comes as GOP pushes to energize voters
Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, during a public event at a university in Utah.
Charlie Kirk assassination anniversary comes as GOP pushes to energize voters
Kirk, 31, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Sept. 10, 2025, during a public event at a university in Utah.
New poll shows close race between Jackson and Collins
The poll also shows about 18% of likely voters saying they could change their mind or that they haven’t yet decided whom to support, according to CNN.