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The Earth is sizzling, but climate isn't a hot topic for Democrats in this year's campaigns
Climate change has become a less prominent election-year issue for Democrats as voters say concerns such as affordability are more pressing.
Michael Minogue, a GOP candidate, is leaning into the blues
Experts in political branding said Michael Minogue's blue color scheme could be an intentional play to make him more appealing to voters in a state that largely elects Democrats to its highest offices
This Appalachian memoir author is running as a Democratic contrast to JD Vance
Beth Macy is challenging Rep. Ben Cline in a bright-red Virginia district, hoping her own story and the stories she told about the region will win back rural and working-class White voters.
Elon Musk enters the midterm chat: From the Politics Desk
Plus, voter frustrations with Trump pile up.
Colorado measure adding ID checks to mail-in voting qualifies for ballot
A ballot initiative that would require voters to include additional information on mail-in ballots has qualified for the November election, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Backed by El Paso County Treasurer Chuck Broerman and former Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Taheri, Initiative No. 362 would require voters to include either the last four […]
Colorado measure adding new ID checks to mail-in voting qualifies for November ballot
A ballot initiative that would require voters to include additional information on mail-in ballots has qualified for the November election, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Backed by El Paso County Treasurer Chuck Broerman and former Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Taheri, Initiative 362 would require voters to include either the last four digits […]
Colorado election website error exposes personal data of confidential voters
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office says a system update accidentally lifted protections on confidential voter records, exposing dozens of voters’ personal information. The limit that normally blocks access to confidential voter profiles was inadvertently disabled during an update to the Find My Voter Registration Tool, briefly exposing personal information for 59 voters who had […]
Colorado leaders cheer court decision to block Trump’s mail ballot order in a ruling that’s likely to be swiftly appealed
A federal judge on Thursday halted — at least for now — attempts to implement President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to restrict the mailing of ballots to American citizens on an eligible voters list. The move stalled the directive for a second time only about a week before the first mail ballots are […]
Trump election fraud crackdown lands first arrest, putting longtime critics in White House crosshairs
A Honduran national in Los Angeles faces felony charges and deportation after allegedly registering to vote, as officials promise more arrests to come.
Debates set for Maine U.S. Senate race
Regardless of the format, the debates are likely to be must-see TV for voters who will make a big decision this fall about who represents them in the U.S. Senate.
How NYC plans to get young people to vote: Less politics, more influencers
Ahead of this fall’s midterm elections, New York City’s Campaign Finance Board is betting that one way to reach young voters is to make voting information
Colorado’s hunting and fishing traditions rest on science, conservation and a proven heritage
By John Howard Eric Washburn’s recent column warns Coloradans the right to hunt and fish amendment is a Trojan horse designed to resurrect “cruel” practices voters have already banned and to elevate killing above every other form of wildlife management. The argument is passionate. It is also wrong on the text, the history, the experience […]
Hope Florida report leaked weeks before voting starts. Will it change the election?
Millions of Florida voters will receive mail ballots in about a month.
Florence Harding Photographed Taught Me About Women Partaking in Politics
What would Florence Kling Harding think now? A week or so ago when I cast my ballot at my designated polling place this thought crossed my mind. I imagine the former first lady would be pleased about how routine voting has become for women in the United States. But perhaps she would not be satisfied. Today, a published essay I wrote for In Pursuit spotlights a lesson in leadership demonstrated by First Lady Florence Harding. In my research, I discovered there’s a lot to be said about this strong female historic figure. But it was the blurry photograph capturing Mrs. Harding voting for her husband Warren G. Harding, one of two presidential candidates from Ohio, on Nov. 2, 1920—Election Day—that drew my attention. It was the first presidential election held in the United States after the ratification and certification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Its 106th anniversary was marked on Wednesday. I remember thinking what a shame it was that her presence in the image was imperfect while the mostly men surrounding her were in sharp focus. Perhaps cynically I thought, “No surprise!” On further examination, though, the clear reaction of the people surrounding Mrs. Harding was equally important. In that snapshot of time, many of their expressions were serious. One man stood elevated above the rest with a slight smile as he caught a glimpse of history. Mr. Harding hovered over his wife’s shoulder closely observing the last seconds of her vote being cast. Their gazes were locked in on who would hours later become first lady. Subscribe The attention she drew is worth noting, mostly because, as I learned, Mrs. Harding understood the power her image could have on women across the country. She and I share in common a career in newspapers—hers the business side and mine on the editorial side. Nevertheless, it became clear to me as I write in the essay that she understood if she was seen voting, other women would follow suit. That wouldn’t necessarily be the case in that 1920 election, though, Karen Kedrowski, the director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, explained to me. Florence Harding was a suffrage advocate. But, suffrage was a contentious issue and women were far from united at the time of the election. In fact, a substantial number of women and active anti-suffrage organizations thought women participating in elections was a “bad idea and antithetical to their roles in the private sphere as mothers and homemakers,” Kedrowski said, adding that women were also viewed as the moral compass for their husbands and sons. If women got involved in politics they would become contaminated by it. Suffragists, on the other hand, wanted to bring that moral presence into politics to help clean things up. Only about 30% of women voted in that 1920 presidential election. That was a start. More than 100 years later in the 2024 presidential election, 66.9% of eligible women voted (91.3 million), compared to 63.7% of men who voted (82.6 million), according to the League of Women Voters. Yes, Florence Harding would be pleased. Subscribe That imperfect Election Day image was important symbolism about women’s potential during what was known as the “Modern Woman” era and the growing public role women were taking in the 1920s. I imagine Florence Harding might agree with other succeeding first ladies when it comes to gender equality and the importance of the vote. Like Michelle Obama when she said in her memoir Becoming, “We all play a role in this democracy. We need to remember the power of every vote.” Or Hillary Clinton during her unsuccessful run for president in 2016 when she remarked on International Women’s Day: “We celebrate the progress we’ve made to advance the full participation of women in economies and societies. And most importantly, we recommit to finishing the unfinished work that remains …” I hope if you are reading this, you will also read my essay on Florence Harding’s leadership lesson for In Pursuit. And perhaps that will move you to dig deeper and read more about Florence Harding’s life circumstances in biographies like First Lady Florence Harding: Behind the Tragedy and Controversy by Katherine A. S. Sibley. No, I do not think Florence Harding would be satisfied despite how far women have come from that day she first entered her polling place. She once wrote to the Camp Fire Girls, “The part that women play in the world has been greatly changed … It has been broadened and enlarged …” It has. And as women continue to engage in civics it continues to be. I imagine Florence Harding would want women to keep meeting the moment. Read the In Pursuit essay Watch on C-SPAN Share East Wing Magazine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
New poll shows Democrats lead GOP in battleground districts in South Texas
The results suggest that some Hispanic voters might be returning to the Democratic Party after shifting to the GOP in recent elections.
Douglas County Commissioners to consider ballot title for voter-initiated ballot measure at Friday Special Business Meeting
The next step for a voter-initiated measure to add two Douglas County Commissioners comes Friday, when the Board will consider the measure’s ballot title at a Special Business Meeting. The Special Business Meeting follows…
Trump is preparing to blame the GOP for the midterms
President Donald Trump has never taken kindly to losing elections. He’s often tried to explain it away by citing bogus claims of mass voter fraud. But now he’s lining up a new scapegoat.
Michigan voters to weigh utility political spending
The November proposal would limit contributions and require more ad disclosure.
Trump’s Strength in Primaries is Clear. The Midterms Pose a Different Test.
The president’s pull with the party base has been clear and his resources are vast. But his low approval ratings make him a liability with swing voters.
Republicans worry Trump’s midterms convention will flop
President Donald Trump has touted his one-of-a-kind midterm convention as the spectacle his party needs to reenergize voters and alter its political fortunes ahead of the midterms.
The Don’t-Mention-the-War Midterms Strategy
The shift to an economic pressure campaign could also push the conflict out of the minds of voters.
‘Maine has been through a lot’: Democrats sharpen pitch to women after turmoil in must-win Senate race
A month after he became the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, Troy Jackson is ramping up his appeals to women and voters who care about abortion rights, looking to sharpen a contrast with Republican Sen. Susan Collins that has long been at the center of the race.
WA sues Trump administration again over mail ballot restrictions
Trump wants the federal government maintain a national list of eligible voters and would tell the Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters on that list.
Campaign finance reform proposal heads to Michigan voters after Senate declines to act
A proposal to ban utility and contractor political contributions will go to Michigan voters in November after the Senate declines to act.
SEE IT: LA Dem candidates torched by disgusted residents after ‘disgraceful’ debate: ‘Both bad’
Los Angeles Democratic mayoral candidates Karen Bass and Nithya Raman face voter fury after a debate one resident called "disgraceful" for the city.
California's political battle over key environmental law brews on two fronts
Legislators this week and voters this November will weigh in on measures to curtail some of CEQA's vexing construction project restrictions.
Brazil vote offers opposing politics, similar fiscal outcomes
Brazil’s October election offers voters yet another stark left-versus-right choice, but investors see less difference on the fiscal front with debt likely to keep rising under either candidate.
Voter discontent abounds as third parties search for recipe to tap into it
Polls suggest voters are sick of a two-party system and Minnesota has a history of third-party success. But that doesn’t necessarily mean alternative candidates will do well this November.
trump midterm ads MAGA own record
Some Republicans welcome his involvement but whether voters will is another question.
Brinks says Senate won’t vote on Money Out of Politics measure, leaving voters to decide
The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal seeking to bar political contributions from major utility companies and government contractors is headed for the November ballot, after Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said the chamber will not take up a version of the proposal in the Legislature.
Tisdel stands with Michigan voters to get money out of politics
State Rep. Mark Tisdel today voted to reduce the influence of powerful special interests in Michigan politics and strengthen public confidence that decisions in Lansing are made on behalf of taxpayers, patients and ratepayers, not major corporations seeking political influence. “The people of Michigan have been clear: They want money out of politics and accountability […]
Elon Musk won't face election bribery charges in Wisconsin
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission in July referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney’s office for possible charges.
How Trump's trade war with Canada could rattle states with key Senate races
President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada is escalating as the midterm elections approach, threatening Republican efforts to address voters' economic concerns in a year when control of the U.S. Senate hinges on states along the border between the United States and its northern neighbor.
Clinton’s eyebrow-raising socialism take sparks brutal mockery: ‘Definition of insanity’
Hillary Clinton called the Democratic Party's embrace of socialism a "healthy" experiment to reach young voters, sparking fierce backlash on X.
Trump reminds voters that trade wars are also affecting prices
The threat of higher prices for gas, cars, hockey sticks and more gave fresh life to Democratic arguments that the president is destabilizing the economy.
Darline Graham, Ralph Norman go head-to-head in South Carolina's GOP Senate runoff
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman face South Carolina voters yet again in a special Republican primary runoff to replace the late Lindsey Graham in the Senate | NewsRadio WILK
Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up
A Gavin Newsom aide mocked former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's South Carolina NAACP visit as the Democratic Party faces a growing fight over Black voter outreach in 2028.
California voters divided over election integrity ahead of midterms
California voters are deeply divided along party lines about whether they believe the vote will be conducted fairly
California voters divided over election integrity ahead of midterms
California voters are deeply divided along party lines about whether they believe the vote will be conducted fairly
Supreme Court clears the way for Trump mail voting order ahead of midterms
The U.S. Postal Service laid out how it would implement the order last week, but time is running short to impose major changes with some states beginning to send mail ballots to voters in just a few weeks.
Pete Buttigieg returns to South Carolina as he weighs another White House run
Returning to South Carolina this weekend as he mulls a second run for the White House, Buttigieg set out to reintroduce himself to the state and the Black voters he struggled to win in 2020.
Vance says Canada friendlier to China on trade than to US: 'Insanity'
JD Vance told Maine voters that Canada treats Chinese goods more fairly than Maine farm products, blaming Ottawa for derailing trade talks.
Guide to SC GOP Senate runoff between Darline Graham, Ralph Norman
Voters decide between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman in the August 25 Republican Senate runoff election.
Making the case for independent science
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's 16-year rule ended in the spring, when voters replaced him with Péter Magyar, who has pledged to undo Orbán-led initiatives that, in the eyes of critics, isolated ...
As Democrats Struggle in Some Western States, Independents See an Opening
From South Dakota to Alaska, independents are challenging incumbent Republicans and eschewing a Democratic label that Western voters find toxic.
Poll: Voters weigh in on 4 ballot proposals
The Arkansas legislature has referred four issues to voters this fall. In the latest Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll, respondents offered their early positions on all four referrals. “These...
Poll: Voters weigh in on 4 ballot proposals
The Arkansas legislature has referred four issues to voters this fall. In the latest Talk Business & Politics-Hendrix College Poll, respondents offered their early positions on all four referrals. “These...
Kirkwood bond would pay for needed equipment and technology upgrades for health care students
Voters across 18 Iowa counties will decide this fall whether to approve an $88 million bond to upgrade Kirkwood Community College, including new equipment for nursing and EMT students.
Pete Buttigieg returns to first-in-the-nation South Carolina with a fresh appeal to Black voters
Pete Buttigieg has been to this small but historic city in South Carolina’s Midlands at least twice before, as an underdog presidential candidate in 2020 and then as the better-known transportation secretary under President Joe Biden in 2023.
Inside California Politics
(FOX40.COM) — This week on Inside California Politics, political strategist Mike Madrid joined the show to discuss his recent poll of Latino voters and two of the state’s upcoming ballot init…
Alaska Republicans scramble to educate voters on suspected Dem plant as 'ballot fatigue' threatens race
Dan Sullivan faces voter confusion from a candidate look-alike sharing his name as Alaska's ranked choice voting system adds complexity to the Senate race.
Gov. Abbott dismisses GOP worries about Texas, says voters will be 'rushing to vote for Ken Paxton'
Abbott also spoke with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl about Trump’s job performance.
Buttigieg returns to South Carolina to court the Black voters who stalled his first White House run
Pete Buttigieg was in South Carolina this weekend as he considers a second presidential campaign.
The Midterms Feel Like 2006 All Over Again
With an unpopular war and high prices agitating voters, members of both parties see parallels to an election cycle when Democrats romped. But a lot has changed.
Angry Ohio Voters Could Turn Their State Purple Again
A governor’s race, a Senate contest and enough congressional contests to swing control of the House are all in play in Ohio, where voters of all stripes express a deep sense of powerlessness.
DECISION 2026: Political labels are everywhere in 2026 campaigns. But what do they actually tell voters?
WEAU political analyst John Frank says much of today’s political labeling is campaign strategy as Pew research shows voters’ beliefs are more complicated than red versus blue.
WHO RUNS MARYLAND POLITICS NOW?
ByThe Maryland Wire The Machine Didn’t Die — It Broke Apart Mike Miller is gone. Steny Hoyer is retiring. The two men who helped define Maryland political power for generations are disappearing from the map. Nobody has inherited all of what they controlled. Instead, Maryland power has fractured among Wes Moore, legislative leaders, county organizations, federal figures and a new generation fighting to connect the pieces. By The Maryland Wire For decades, there were two names in Maryland politics that required almost no explanation. Mike Miller. Steny Hoyer. You didn’t necessarily have to agree with them. You didn’t even have to like them. But everyone understood something: Not social-media power. Not cable-news power. Not the temporary power that comes from one big election. They possessed political infrastructure. Relationships. Institutional memory. Donors. Staff. Allies. County leaders. Lobbyists. Legislators. Operatives. And the ability to connect people who needed something with people capable of delivering it. Today one is gone. The other is preparing to leave Congress after more than four decades. And Maryland faces a question it hasn’t had to answer in generations: The answer may be: Nobody. At least not the way Miller once did. Maryland’s old machine wasn’t inherited by one person. It fragmented. And now several ambitious political networks are competing to assemble the pieces. Miller presided over the Maryland Senate for 33 years, becoming one of the longest-serving legislative leaders in American history. He stepped down as Senate president in 2019 and died in January 2021. (Behavioral and Social Sciences) But Miller’s real power wasn’t the title printed on his door. It was the accumulation of relationships behind it. Miller came from Maryland’s old Democratic organization and developed into an extraordinarily adaptable political operator, retaining authority even as the Senate around him became younger and more liberal. (The Washington Post) He understood something fundamental: politics is information. Who wants what? Who owes whom? Which senator needs help? Which county executive wants something in the budget? Which committee chairman can move a bill? Which lobbyist represents which client? Which candidate should receive support today because that candidate could be a senator ten years from now? Miller knew the answers because he’d spent decades collecting them. Miller’s influence wasn’t confined to elected officials. Former Miller aides became prominent Annapolis lobbyists. Maryland Matters noted figures such as Joseph Bryce and Timothy Perry among the high-profile lobbyists who had once served as top Miller aides. (Maryland Matters) That was one of Miller’s greatest political achievements. He didn’t merely accumulate power around himself. He produced alumni. Staffers became lobbyists. Legislators became committee chairs. Allies became power brokers. And decades of relationships reinforced one another. By the end, Mike Miller wasn’t simply a person. He was an ecosystem. Hoyer’s network was different. Miller’s power was rooted in Annapolis. Hoyer connected Maryland to Washington. He served in the Maryland Senate before winning election to Congress in 1981 and ultimately became one of the longest-serving members of the U.S. House and a longtime No. 2 in House Democratic leadership. In January 2026, Hoyer announced that he would retire rather than seek another term. (The Washington Post) His influence stretched through: Prince George’s County, Southern Maryland, Congress, federal agencies, donors, campaign organizations, and generations of Democratic candidates. And Hoyer had something machine builders value enormously: a succession network. That became obvious almost immediately. When Hoyer announced his retirement, Maryland’s 5th Congressional District exploded with candidates. Twenty-four Democrats entered the race. But when the votes were counted, the winner was Adrian Boafo, Hoyer’s former campaign manager. Boafo wasn’t running without establishment help. He was endorsed by Hoyer. He was endorsed by Governor Wes Moore. And he ultimately won the Democratic nomination. (AP News) In his victory speech, Boafo described the result as voters deciding it was time to “pass the torch to a new generation of leaders.” (AP News) That phrase captures the transition perfectly. Hoyer’s seat isn’t simply being vacated. Parts of his network are being transferred. But they aren’t being transferred to another Steny Hoyer. They’re being absorbed into a newer political constellation. And standing prominently inside that constellation is Wes Moore. If someone forces you to name the single person sitting nearest the center of Maryland Democratic politics today, the answer is Governor Wes Moore. The 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary underscored the scale of his position. Moore won renomination overwhelmingly, receiving roughly 88% of the Democratic primary vote. (WBAL-TV) But raw votes tell only part of the story. Look at the party infrastructure. The Maryland Democratic Party says Steuart Pittman ran for state party chairman in 2025 “at the suggestion of Governor Wes Moore.” Pittman took office that July. (The Maryland Democratic Party) That’s important. Governors traditionally influence their state parties. But party leadership plus fundraising, endorsements, executive appointments and national relationships creates the beginning of something bigger: a political network that could survive the governor’s term. Moore also played a role in the Hoyer succession by backing Boafo. That’s how political organizations reproduce themselves. You support tomorrow’s politician today. And that’s the distinction that matters. Moore has enormous statewide visibility. Miller had decades of accumulated legislative control. Moore can endorse candidates. Miller could influence the environment in which legislators lived every day. Committee assignments. Leadership positions. Legislative priorities. Relationships that had been accumulating since before many current lawmakers entered politics. Moore may have a larger national profile than Miller ever possessed. But he doesn’t possess Miller’s half-century of Annapolis memory. Nobody does. Which is why the modern Maryland political structure looks less like a pyramid and more like several power centers connected by overlapping relationships. One of those centers belongs to Senate President Bill Ferguson. Ferguson controls an institution no governor can simply command. The Senate. Maryland’s official 2026 legislative records identify Ferguson as Senate President. (Maryland General Assembly) That means influence over: committee structure, Senate leadership, legislative priorities, confirmations, and negotiations with the House and governor. But Ferguson is not Mike Miller 2.0. Miller’s extraordinary longevity allowed him to become almost inseparable from the institution. Ferguson possesses the office. Miller possessed the office plus decades of political mythology and accumulated relationships. Those aren’t the same thing. The House now has its own new center of gravity. Official 2026 legislative records identify Joseline Peña-Melnyk as Speaker of the House of Delegates, alongside Ferguson as Senate President. (Maryland General Assembly) That makes the current Maryland governing triangle: Executive power. Senate power. House power. None fully controls the others. And that fact alone demonstrates how different modern Maryland is from the Miller era. The governor proposes. The legislature disposes. Committee leaders negotiate. County interests intervene. And political coalitions shift issue by issue. That’s not one machine. That’s a networked power structure. Then there’s U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks. Her significance isn’t that she is the new Hoyer. She isn’t. Hoyer spent decades constructing his network. Alsobrooks brings something different: Prince George’s County roots, a statewide electoral organization, a United States Senate platform, and relationships with national Democratic leaders. That makes her a critical bridge between Maryland and Washington at precisely the moment Hoyer leaves. Hoyer’s retirement therefore doesn’t necessarily weaken Prince George’s influence. It changes who carries it. Prince George’s itself is undergoing a dramatic generational transition. Official 2026 results show Aisha Braveboy winning the Democratic County Executive primary with 87,944 votes and 73.31% of the vote. (Maryland State Board of Elections) That’s political infrastructure. Prince George’s is one of Maryland’s central Democratic vote engines. A county executive with that level of primary support gains: appointments, budget influence, organizational relationships, donor access, and a platform for cultivating the next generation of political leadership. Braveboy therefore isn’t merely another person on the Maryland power map. She controls a place from which a political organization can be built. Boafo is particularly interesting because he sits almost perfectly at the intersection between the old and new worlds. He worked for Hoyer. Hoyer endorsed him. Moore endorsed him. Then Boafo beat an enormous Democratic field for Hoyer’s seat. (AP News) That doesn’t make him powerful on Hoyer’s scale. He’s just beginning. But it illustrates how power actually transfers: not through a ceremonial handoff, but through endorsements, donors, staff, relationships, and voter confidence. Boafo may become Hoyer’s congressional successor. He will not automatically inherit Hoyer’s 40-plus years of political capital. That part has to be rebuilt. This is the part that often gets overlooked. When a machine breaks apart, power doesn’t only move upward. Some people’s relationships become less valuable. Former Miller aides still know Annapolis. Former Miller allies still possess institutional memory. Veteran lobbyists don’t forget how legislation works. But something fundamental disappeared when Miller did: the common center. The person capable of connecting all of them instantly was gone. That changes the value of a political network. Imagine knowing everybody in Annapolis. Useful. Now imagine the person who introduced many of those people, appointed committee chairs, influenced Senate priorities and understood decades of relationships is simultaneously Senate President. Much more useful. Remove that person and the individual relationships remain. But the system becomes decentralized. First: Bill Ferguson. The Senate’s institutional relationships now run through his leadership rather than Miller’s. Second: the House leadership. With the Miller-Busch generation gone, today’s House leaders are building their own committee chairs, alliances and relationships. Third: Wes Moore. Moore became governor after Miller was gone. That distinction matters. Earlier governors had to operate with Miller sitting across State Circle. Moore entered office during a generational reset. Instead of negotiating with the old machine, he has the opportunity to help build the next network. Fourth: Angela Alsobrooks and the emerging Prince George’s generation. Hoyer is leaving. Miller is gone. The county’s political leadership now belongs to another generation. Fifth: politicians who were outside the old Miller organization. When someone dominates an institution for 33 years, inevitably some politicians develop within that organization and others outside it. Miller’s departure created room for people who may never have risen as quickly under the old structure. That’s the biggest point. If Mike Miller’s power had simply transferred to Bill Ferguson, Maryland would still have a machine. If Hoyer’s influence simply transferred to Boafo, Maryland would still have a machine. If every county leader simply took orders from Moore, Maryland would have a machine. None of those things happened. Instead: Moore controls the statewide executive platform. Ferguson controls the Senate. Peña-Melnyk controls the House. Alsobrooks has statewide and federal reach. Braveboy has Prince George’s executive power. Pittman leads the state Democratic Party after Moore encouraged him to seek the role. (The Maryland Democratic Party) Boafo represents the beginning of the post-Hoyer congressional generation. And Baltimore, Montgomery County, organized labor, donors and other county organizations maintain their own centers of influence. That’s not one machine. If you want to understand where Maryland power is moving, don’t simply watch office titles. Watch endorsements. Who does Moore support? Who does Alsobrooks support? Who gets Ferguson’s allies? Who gets House leadership? Who gets Hoyer’s blessing? Who gets labor? Who gets major donors? And most importantly: That is where the new Maryland network becomes visible. The Boafo race was a textbook example. Hoyer’s successor didn’t emerge randomly from 24 candidates. He had ties to the outgoing incumbent and support from the governor. The old network and the emerging one overlapped. And voters chose him. (AP News) Moore may ultimately become the most important person in determining whether Maryland develops another durable statewide political organization. But the test isn’t whether Moore himself remains popular. The test is what happens to the people he supports. Which delegates become senators? Which senators become committee chairs? Which county officials become executives? Which staffers become candidates? Which appointees become statewide leaders? Who gets his donor network? Who gets his political advisers? Who eventually gets his endorsement when Maryland faces a post-Moore gubernatorial succession fight? That’s how we’ll know whether Moore was merely a successful governor— or the founder of another generation of Maryland power. There’s another category worth watching: politicians who came from Miller’s Maryland but remain active in the new one. Dereck Davis is one. Anthony Brown is another. Veteran legislators and former officials throughout the state still possess old relationships that newer politicians don’t. These people can function as bridges. That’s important because political systems rarely reset completely. The new machine usually grows partly from pieces of the old one. Donors don’t disappear. Lobbyists don’t disappear. Operatives don’t disappear. Institutional memory doesn’t disappear. They find new centers of gravity. If you want one name: His overwhelming 2026 Democratic renomination, executive authority, national profile and influence within the Maryland Democratic Party make that difficult to dispute. (WBAL-TV) But saying Moore “runs Maryland” the way Miller once ran the Senate would oversimplify the reality. Maryland power today looks more like this: WES MOORE Statewide organization.Appointments.Fundraising.Executive government.National Democratic relationships. BILL FERGUSON The Senate.Committees.Confirmations.Legislative leverage. JOSELINE PEÑA-MELNYK The House.Committee leadership.Budget and legislative leverage. ANGELA ALSOBROOKS Statewide electoral organization.Federal platform.Prince George’s relationships.National Democratic connections. AISHA BRAVEBOY Prince George’s executive organization.County government.A major Democratic vote base. THE POST-HOYER GENERATION Boafo and the emerging political class that will have to rebuild Hoyer’s Washington-Maryland network rather than simply inherit it. It did something more interesting. Mike Miller’s influence was too personal, too old and too deeply rooted in his own relationships to be inherited whole. Hoyer’s network is too extensive and too intertwined with decades of congressional politics to fit neatly inside one successor. So the pieces are moving. Toward Moore. Toward Ferguson. Toward Peña-Melnyk. Toward Alsobrooks. Toward Braveboy. Toward younger candidates and new county organizations. And toward veteran political survivors who understand both eras. That’s the next chapter of Maryland politics. The person who eventually connects: Annapolis, Prince George’s, Montgomery County, Baltimore, labor, business, donors, the Maryland Democratic Party, and the congressional delegation will possess something Maryland hasn’t truly seen since Miller’s heyday. Not merely another elected official. And maybe that’s why searching for “the next Mike Miller” is the wrong exercise. There may never be another one. The more important question is: Miller spent half a century becoming that person. Hoyer spent decades becoming another version of it. Maryland’s current political leaders are still competing for the privilege. And until somebody actually connects all those pieces, the most accurate answer to the question “Who runs Maryland?” may be the most fascinating one of all: No one does. Not anymore. But there are plenty of people trying. Sources University of Maryland and Maryland Matters — Miller’s 33-year Senate presidency and political legacy. (Behavioral and Social Sciences) Washington Post historical reporting — Miller’s rise from Maryland machine politics and ability to retain power as the Senate evolved. (The Washington Post) Maryland Matters — former top Miller aides who moved into Annapolis lobbying and the changing Senate power structure. (Maryland Matters) Washington Post and Reuters — Hoyer’s January 2026 retirement announcement after more than four decades in Congress and his long Democratic leadership career. (The Washington Post) Associated Press — Adrian Boafo’s 2026 victory in the Democratic primary to succeed Hoyer, including Hoyer and Moore’s support and Boafo’s “pass the torch” remarks. (AP News) Maryland Democratic Party — Steuart Pittman’s official biography stating that he sought the state chairmanship at Moore’s suggestion. (The Maryland Democratic Party) Maryland General Assembly — official 2026 records identifying Bill Ferguson as Senate President and Joseline Peña-Melnyk as Speaker. (Maryland General Assembly) Maryland State Board of Elections — official 2026 Prince George’s County results showing Aisha Braveboy’s dominant County Executive primary victory. (Maryland State Board of Elections) 2026 election reporting — Moore’s overwhelming Democratic gubernatorial primary victory. (WBAL-TV)
A veteran political reporter shares the lessons she learned hearing from swing voters
As a political correspondent, NPR's Ashley Lopez regularly speaks to voters about their worries, and their dreams. But finding swing voters in swing states — the people who can decide elections — can be a difficult assignment. For this week’s Reporter’s Notebook, Lopez talks about her larger takeaways from working on NPR’s Swing Voter Project. This episode was produced by Kai McNamee.It was edited by Ben Swasey and Adam Raney.Our interim executive producer is Courtney Dorning.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.
Trump fatigue and immigration crackdowns test Republican hold on Miami-Dade
A recent poll of Hispanic voters in Florida shows that Trump’s popularity has waned over the past two years.
Byron Donalds details affordability plans, defends Trump economy in interview
He said he would also revisit property tax cuts if Florida voters reject Amendment 3 in November.
Political parties see high stakes in NC Supreme Court election
Anita Earls and Sarah Stevens compete for voters’ attention and make case for why people should back them in race for NC Supreme Court seat.
How a decades-old logger blockade is shaping Troy Jackson’s pitch in Maine’s Senate race
Jackson is trying to win over working-class voters who have drifted away from Democrats. At least one of his fellow former protesters isn’t convinced.
Why Polling Chaos Could Create Big Problems for American Politics
Bad polls. Misleading betting odds. Surveys meant to shape narratives. Ahead of the midterms and 2028, there is suddenly serious confusion about candidate strength and voter sentiment.
Measures to legalize, regulate online sports betting qualify for Nebraska ballot
Two statewide measures seeking to legalize and regulate online sports betting have qualified to appear before Nebraska voters this November.
Trump officials touted a voter fraud bombshell. Their data hasn’t proved it
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stood before the cameras last month and announced what he cast as a bombshell.
Black voters rip Dems over taking them for granted in El-Sayed's backyard: ‘Hush us up’
Black voters in Detroit told Fox News Digital they feel Democrats take their support for granted, a dynamic that could reshape Michigan's Senate race.
Colorado voters will decide fate of ‘right to hunt’ proposal
Colorado’s election office said Thursday that a proposal to add a constitutional right to hunting and fishing has qualified for the November ballot. Backed by the International Order of T. Roosevelt, a group dedicated to preserving the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, Initiative No. 302 would amend the Colorado Constitution to include language establishing […]
Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief
The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund has endorsed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed for the U.S. Senate. VoteVets announced its endorsement of Callie Barr, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 1st Congressional District. Ben Ambrose, Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 2nd Congressional District, has been endorsed by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951. Joanna Whaley, Democratic candidate […]
What’s animating undecided voters in two key states: From the Politics Desk
Plus, Biden and Harris return to the campaign airwaves.
Norman: What growing a business taught me about politics
We invited US Rep Ralph Norman and US Sen Darline Graham to explain why voters should select them in Tuesday’s GOP runoff for South Carolina’s Senate seat. Here’s Rep. Norman’s column.
Norman: What growing a business taught me about politics
We invited US Rep Ralph Norman and US Sen Darline Graham to explain why voters should select them in Tuesday’s GOP runoff for South Carolina’s Senate seat. Here’s Rep. Norman’s column.
Focus groups: Deep anxiety about the economy drives undecided voters in two key Senate races
Undecided voters in the Iowa and Georgia Senate races, many of whom voted for Trump, say they’re concerned about high costs.
Trump keeps embracing data centers, an unpopular topic in midterm races
The race to build data centers, which power artificial intelligence and cloud computing, has run aground amid frustration from voters who don't want to live near the massive warehouse campuses.
‘Doesn’t wanna win’: Charlamagne Tha God bashes Hakeem Jeffries over healthcare
if a political leader as powerful as Hakeem Jeffries changes position on a major issue, voters deserve more than a pivot. They deserve the why and, more importantly, the what now.
Selling data centers to voters: Frank Luntz on the politics of AI data centers
Frank Luntz, FIL Inc. pollster and political strategist, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss AI data centers in the midterms, how companies and politicians are selling data center buildouts to voters, state of political polling, and more.
California voters deserve to see Becerra and Hilton debate
The Democratic front-runner has signaled his willingness to debate his GOP foe, but hasn't committed to a time or place. Hilton is eager to meet anytime, anywhere.
Missouri court allows new Trump-backed US House districts be used in November election
A Missouri judge has rejected bid to let voters decide whether to use new U.S. House districts backed by President Donald Trump.
More of Trump’s Chosen Candidates Lose Republican Primaries
A series of recent losses has eroded the president’s winning record, raising new questions about his hold over the party’s voters.
Gov. DeSantis, Moms for Liberty reshaped Sarasota school politics. Voters just gave them the boot
Voters dismantled Sarasota’s conservative School Board majority and rejected the candidate most closely tied to Moms for Liberty.
Progressive scores upset victory in Florida, and other takeaways from Tuesday's elections
As the long, contentious primary season nears its end, Democratic voters elevated another progressive Senate candidate in Florida, while President Donald Trump's chosen candidate in his adopted home state, Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, won the nomination to be the state's first Black governor.
New National Poll Indicates High Health Care Costs and Hospital Prices Are Top Voter Concerns
A July 2026 survey of 1,000 registered voters found that voters on both sides of the aisle are opposed to federal Medicaid cuts.
High Health Care Costs, Unreasonable Hospital Prices Top Voter Concerns in New National Poll as Midterm Elections Inch Closer
Key findings include overwhelming concern about health care costs; strong opposition to Medicaid cuts; strong bipartisan concern with hospital prices; and deep skepticism about the Administration’s arguments on coverage losses. WASHINGTON, D.C. – A national poll released by Families USA shows that high health care costs, including unreasonably high hospital prices, are top of mind […]
Key takeaways from Tuesday’s primaries in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming
As Florida voters prepare to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republicans on Tuesday chose a close ally of President Donald Trump, while Democrats nominated a party-switcher who left the GOP because of the president.
Poll: Gov. Sanders holds lead over two opponents
Incumbent Republican Gov. Sarah Sanders is leading her two general election opponents despite the headwinds of President Trump’s political woes in Arkansas. A new statewide survey of 1,217 likely voters...
Poll: Gov. Sanders holds lead over two opponents
Incumbent Republican Gov. Sarah Sanders is leading her two general election opponents despite the headwinds of President Trump’s political woes in Arkansas. A new statewide survey of 1,217 likely voters...
Poll: Trump gets low marks for job performance
New polling from Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College shows President Donald Trump is viewed unfavorably by state voters and his unpopularity is a drag on several GOP incumbents....
Poll: Trump gets low marks for job performance
New polling from Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College shows President Donald Trump is viewed unfavorably by state voters and his unpopularity is a drag on several GOP incumbents....
Bill Maher rips left-wing lawmaker for sacrificing liberal values to appease Muslim voters
Bill Maher slammed Melissa Chaudhry, a progressive Democrat challenging Rep. Adam Smith in Seattle, for omitting LGBT rights to appeal to Muslims.
What Florida Has Taught Our Reporter About National Politics
Voters may select an “R” or a “D” next to a candidate’s name, but their political views are often more nuanced than a binary choice represents.
Governors' races are being increasingly buffeted by the toxic politics of data centers
As midterms near, data centers are becoming a flashpoint in governor races, with voters raising concerns about power bills, water use and land.
Dan Sullivan, another Dan Sullivan and an ex-congresswoman face off in Alaska's U.S. Senate primary
Alaska voters are choosing candidates for November's general election in a series of primary contests Tuesday, including a U.S. Senate race that will be among the most closely watched in the nation this fall.
Antisemitism fight explodes in Florida as voters head to the polls: 'Political pogrom'
Randy Fine calls Dan Bilzerian's GOP primary challenge an "organized pogrom against Jews" after an AI video depicted Nazi tropes.
Florida holds primaries for governor and Congress, testing Trump's grip on adopted state
Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday for Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and several congressional races. The primaries will define a midterm ballot set to test President Donald Trump’s grip on his adopted state.
Do Democrats have ‘SWAMP’ disease? A major SF donor thinks so
An audit of the Democratic Party’s spending concludes that it’s too focused on wooing white, male voters.
Trump-inspired political cynicism continues to transform NC conservatives
Today, longstanding American political traditions in elections and lawmaking like respect for one’s adversary, self-discipline and sacrifice, abiding by established rules and roles, and commitments to open debate, widespread voter participation and honorable, nonpartisan public service are fast becoming passé. Instead, accumulating and maintaining power at all costs now trumps all other priorities.
Florida voters choose in governor, Senate primaries and more races to watch today
Florida Primary Underscores State’s New Identity as a Republican Juggernaut
Republicans hold every statewide elected office and have drastically swung voter registration in the state. A newly gerrymandered congressional map has added four Republican-leaning seats.
Voters weigh a DeSantis successor and other key races to watch in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming
Florida Republicans are set to choose their nominee in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday in a contest that has in some ways turned into a bitter intra-party feud — even though there is little drama about its likely outcome.
Poll: Trump Approval Falls to 33%, Lowest of His Presidency
About 38% of registered voters said Democrats would handle the economy better, compared with 35% who preferred Republicans.
Florida holds primaries for governor and Congress, testing Trump's grip on adopted state
Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday for Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and several congressional races