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Takeaways from Massachusetts, where generational challenges fizzled
With the primary season winding down, the anti-incumbent wave spared older Democrats including Sen. Edward Markey, 80, who held off younger challengers.
Analysis | Democrats’ battle over establishment figures heads to New Hampshire
After Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey triumphed in the Democratic Senate primary, it's off to the Granite State.
Healthcare tops the Democrats’ to-do list if they win control of the House in 2026
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said his party would unify around undoing Trump’s Medicaid cuts and reviving ACA funds that the GOP ended. Some Democrats want to go bigger.
Democrat establishment flexes dominance as insurgents fall and GOP bench thins in deep blue stronghold
Massachusetts Democrats rewarded Ed Markey, 80, over Seth Moulton in a generational clash after Moulton urged the party to "pass the torch."
House adopts Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank’s resolution condemning socialism, mostly along party lines
The House on Tuesday approved a resolution sponsored by U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank to condemn socialism in a largely party-line vote that the Colorado Republican characterized as a chance for lawmakers to “stand firm” against an ideology making inroads among Democrats. The nonbinding resolution, HR 1490, also included a call for the “enactment” of GOP-led […]
Republicans weigh whether to vote for Rep. Max Miller amid abuse allegations he denies
The allegations have given Republican leaders an unexpected headache as they try to hold back Democrats from retaking the House.
Two Democrats bail out Speaker Mike Johnson after he faces internal revolt
Speaker Mike Johnson nearly lost control of the House floor — again — because of a group of disgruntled conservatives.
Massachusetts Democratic primary is a generational clash as Rep. Seth Moulton targets Sen. Ed Markey
Massachusetts Democrats head to the polls Tuesday in a Senate primary that could reshape the party's future. Will generational change win out? 🗳️
How data centers complicate American politics
Opinion: Data centers are driving a political realignment, creating contradictions in Republicans’ and Democrats’ positions on the economy, environment and the working class, writes Sreedhar Potarazu.
I helped build Obama's 2008 campaign. Democrats aren't ready for 2026.
The most dangerous political misinformation of the 2026 midterm election may not go viral. You may never see it at all.
A NY hospital tried to close its birthing center. This city united to fight back
Democrats and Republicans in Troy, New York, took on a national Catholic health system and kept the county's last birthing center open.
Massachusetts Democratic primary is a generational clash as Rep. Seth Moulton targets Sen. Ed Markey
Democrats across the U.S. are showing a strong desire for change.
Massachusetts Democratic Primary Is a Generational Clash as Rep. Seth Moulton Targets Sen. Ed Markey
As Democrats across the U.S. signal an increasing appetite for change, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton is hoping that momentum will help him oust longtime Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Ed Markey in Tuesday’s primary. Moulton, a moderate, is among the many Democrats who have called for generational change this year ...
Tensions erupt in House hearing as GOP advances anti-socialism resolution while Dems rage: 'Silly season'
House Republicans force Democrats to vote on condemning socialism and capping the Supreme Court at nine justices amid the left's inter-party civil war.
Trump Urges Congress to Pass Tax Incentives for Entertainment Industry
Aug 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said that Congress should pass tax incentives for the entertainment industry to keep production in the country. "I am going to suggest that Republicans and Democrats get together, and immediately craft Legislation to save the Movie,
Who Sees Themselves as Working Class?
Most Americans think of themselves as working class, and Republicans are more likely to do so than Democrats.
Republicans are spending big attacking Democrats on data centers. So why is Trump saying ‘let data reign’?
In Massachusetts U.S. Senate race, challenger Moulton says Markey, 80, is too old for another term. Young Democrats are divided
The 2026 midterms have brought a number of generational challenges like the one Moulton is waging against Markey, with younger Democrats taking on — and in some cases unseating — longtime incumbents.
Prominent Black Democrats rally behind Keisha Lance Bottoms
Republicans want to make Bottoms' record as Atlanta mayor a major liability in the governor's race, but her successor, Andre Dickens, offered an unequivocal defense on Sunday.
Analysis | The politics of the company you keep
The Senate race in Michigan is critical to Democrats, but associations may matter.
Plan to cut number of polling sites in a major Texas county
Plans in one of Texas’ largest counties to use dozens fewer polling location than previous years is drawing protests from Democrats who say the reductions could create confusion in the November midterm elections
Plan to cut number of polling sites in a major Texas county draws protests as Senate race looms
Plans in one of Texas’ largest counties to use dozens fewer polling location than previous years is drawing protests from Democrats who say the reductions could create confusion in the November midterm elections.
Why Republicans are focusing on transgender issues in competitive 2026 campaigns
Campaign ads in several midterm elections portray Democrats as “radical” on transgender youth medical care and sports participation. Republicans are leaning on a strategy that proved successful in 2024.
Moulton says Sen. Markey, 80, is too old for another term. Young Massachusetts Democrats are divided
Young Massachusetts voters agree that 80-year-old U.S. Sen. Ed Markey stumbled when asked during a debate how he uses artificial intelligence
Moulton says Sen. Markey, 80, is too old for another term. Young Massachusetts Democrats are divided
Young Massachusetts voters agree that 80-year-old U.S. Sen. Ed Markey stumbled when asked during a debate how he uses artificial intelligence.
Democratic Senate control has moved from a reach to a toss-up
The four-seat gain Democrats need to win control once seemed all but out of reach. Odds are looking up, though the party still faces a tough path, with toss-up races in a half dozen (mostly red) states.
These Democrats used to be Republicans — and hope that will help them win midterms
In races across the country, former GOP politicians are leaning into their pasts.
Data center backlash scrambles US midterm politics
The data centers powering America's artificial intelligence boom have become an unlikely target in November's midterm elections, as anger over rising electricity bills and noise turns Democrats -- and…
Abdul El-Sayed apologizes for comments he made responding to an attack on a Michigan synagogue
El-Sayed’s apology was his latest attempt to unify Democrats after a bitter primary in which he defeated U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens.
Democrats project unity, talk Trump at convention
The Michigan Democratic Party convention offered a chance to come together following a divisive primary and focus on defeating Trump's picks.
El-Sayed apologizes to Jewish Democrats for statement about synagogue attack
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed apologized to Jewish Democrats on Saturday for saying “hurt people hurt people” as part of his response to a March attack on a synagogue near Detroit.
The Earth is sizzling, but climate isn't a hot topic for Democrats in this year's campaigns
There has been a national shift in the conversation that is sharp enough for some researchers to coin the term "climate hushing” to describe it.
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.
Opinion | Democrats Have an Identity Politics Problem. Just Not the One You Think.
Instead of rallying around their candidates, Democrats are falling out among themselves.
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
Susan Collins and Democrats are fighting a TV ad war over her votes on Trump’s Medicaid cuts
As Democrats spend money to highlight her vote to procedurally advance the “big, beautiful bill,” Collins is running her own ads noting that she ultimately voted against the measure.
Dem candidate erupts in profane defense of Hasan Piker as party figures distance themselves
Christopher Rabb profanely defended podcaster Hasan Piker as Hakeem Jeffries and other Democrats condemned the streamer's remarks as antisemitic.
C-WIN: Uniting against data centers : The issue that transcends politics
Commentary from the California Water Impact Network Seldom have our political differences been more pronounced. Republicans and Democrats are at odds on a myriad of issues, and the bitter polarization of the American polity is the result. That’s how it seems, anyway. But semblances can be deceptive. Yes, the schism between Right and Left appeared irreconcilable in 2024, when Donald Trump was re-elected to the White House. But much has changed since then. Trump’s polls are at their nadir, with […]
Opinion | Democrats Want Fighters. A Former Republican Has Ideas.
On deep frustration with the Democratic establishment and potential souring among Trump supporters.
Boom meets backlash: How data center politics in Silicon Valley have changed
States are passing bans. Republicans and Democrats are campaigning on the issue for the midterms. The birthplace of AI has its own set of realities.
What Hasan Piker could mean for Democrats’ Senate hopes
Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker’s involvement in Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign is raising questions about the party’s path to a Senate majority. Meanwhile, Presi…
Democrats aim to emulate Republicans in building state power
A growing number of progressive groups looking to combat the influence of conservative groups. Experts say the left has years of work ahead if it wants to match the prowess of the organized right. But the second Trump administration has rallied Democrats across the states seeking to oppose federal policies.
'Right to repair' bill could free contractors' grip on military
The Pentagon spends billions of dollars fixing equipment, and Republicans and Democrats alike want to bring the work in house
Van Orden's AI videos draw rebuke from Democrats
Starting in early August, Republican Representative Derrick Van Orden has been posting a series of AI-generated videos of his Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke.
Exclusive | Corporate America Cut Big Checks to Trump. Now CEOs Fear Subpoenas Are Coming.
Tech firms are courting Democrats and hiring advisers to prepare for potential investigations if Republicans lose control of the House.
Florida Governor Moves From Solid to Likely Republican
Florida has been a mirage for Democrats during the era of President Donald Trump. Some in the party hoped the Senate race could come online thanks to Alex Vindman’s massive fundraising hauls, but his loss to democratic socialist Angie Nixon effectively took that race off the table.
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.
Democrats hand Trump one power they spent years fighting
Senate Democrats voted to give Trump limited tariff authority in exchange for Russia sanctions, a move some warn he could exploit against trade partners.
12 races scramble Senate battlefield as Democrats eye comeback
Six toss-up senate races could flip the majority before Election Day 2026 as Republicans defend seats in Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Maine, and Alaska.
Democrats want to draw more safe House seats. It could cost Black lawmakers.
Republicans have added more than a dozen conservative-leaning House districts, giving them a shot at keeping their threadbare majority.
Democrats' redistricting push in blue state hits legal snag
A Maryland court blocked Democrats' congressional redistricting ballot initiative after a judge ruled state deadlines for adding measures were violated.
Democrats at odds in Michigan over El-Sayed’s ties to controversial streamer
Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed (D) has close political ties to political commentator Hasan Piker, who has been accused of antisemitism. Piker says his comments against Israel have been misunderstood.
The primaries testing Democratic 2028ers
Democrats have used their endorsements of candidates in tough primaries as a way to wield influence over the party.
Jon Ossoff, usually a head down senator, has found a formula to excite Democrats
Ossoff should be among the most vulnerable Senate incumbents this year. Instead, the Georgia Democrat has opened a steady lead in polls and is increasingly seen as a potential 2028 contender.
Democrats want to draw more safe House seats. It could cost Black lawmakers.
Democrats want to redistrict to expand their number of safe seats in Congress. But that could mean losing some Black lawmakers.
Brooklyn party chair defends, champions leadership changes to organization
The party will meet again in September for an organizational meeting.
Analysis | Alaska’s weird (and important) Senate race
There will be two Dan Sullivans on the ballot, which greatly benefits Democrats.
‘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.
Politicians in both parties are sprinting away from data centers
In recent weeks, Democrats and Republicans alike have rushed to take a more skeptical tone to data centers as public sentiment continues to sour.
Hannity: Political rot takes over the Democratic Party
Fox News host Sean Hannity assesses recent moves from top Democrats including former 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on ‘Hannity.’
Democrats Score Victory in Campaign Finance Court Case
Republicans had hoped that a Supreme Court decision allowing party committees to coordinate with candidates would also entitle them to lower ad rates. On Tuesday, an appeals court said otherwise.
Democrats see an opening in Texas. Is it déjà vu or a breakthrough?: From the Politics Desk
Plus, what to watch in tonight’s elections.
Finally something Dems and GOP agree on: Parton was an American legend
Democrats and Republicans mourn death of Dolly Parton
‘Send help’: LA GOP leader issues desperate appeal after Dem mayor’s campaign vid shocks viewers
LA County GOP Chair Roxanne Hoge says Karen Bass's viral 6-to-1 matching funds video reveals how Democrats codified electoral 'shenanigans' into law.
Why the Democrats' Path Back to Power Runs Through the Kitchen Table
A unique new messaging study underscores the supremacy of economic populism in rural America and beyond.
Progressive Democrats slam Brooklyn party boss' attempted rule change
Siding with the progressives was Sen. Chuck Schumer.
Live Results: Oklahoma's midterm primary runoff
Oklahoma Republicans will return to the polls Tuesday to settle an expensive nomination fight for governor, while Democrats will pick a nominee for U.S. Senate.
Two good ideas from Republicans dead on arrival in Democratic Legislature
Memo to Democrats and independents: Just because an idea emanates from a Republican, doesn’t mean it necessarily stinks.
Hakeem Jeffries meeting with Jared Kushner sparks backlash amongst Democrats ahead of midterm elections
House Democratic leader meets with president’s son-in-law has ignited fury amongst own party
Healthcare costs, Medicaid cuts draw increased scrutiny from NC Democrats ahead of midterms
Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, North Carolina is expected to lose nearly $50 billion over the next 10 years, according to analysis by the NC Department of Health and Human Services. Democrats say families will be hard hit by the looming cuts.
Democrats don't agree on how to talk about trans athletes. Just look at Ohio.
Dr. Amy Acton's Trump-like statement in the governor’s race raises questions about how far candidates in battleground states can go before jeopardizing LGBTQ+ support.
Can Democrats Win Back the Senate? Why Their Chances Are Improving.
Republicans still have some clear advantages on the map, but President Trump’s unpopularity has opened the door for an outcome that once seemed far-fetched.
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.
Jena Griswold’s record: corruption, incompetence
There is no statewide elected official going back decades who is as breathtakingly corrupt and incompetent as Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who is now running for attorney general of all things. And compliant ruling Democrats know it. Their silence is nothing short of complicity with Griswold’s shameful political grift. CBS Colorado’s political reporter Shaun […]
Jared Kushner recently met with Democratic leader Jeffries
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and President Trump’s son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner recently met privately to discuss the prospect of cooperation should Democrats retake House control.
Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner meet in NYC to discuss how Democrats and Trump could cooperate
The meeting comes with just months to go before midterm elections that will determine control of Congress for the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term.
Kushner, Jeffries discuss ways White House and Democrats can collaborate
Kushner, Jeffries discuss ways White House and Democrats can collaborate
Democrats incredulous over Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner meeting
Critics include Senator Chris van Hollen, ex-aide to Obama Tommy Vietor and ex-Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger
Week in politics: primaries results, Iran pressure, Korean relations flip
Democrats have not shown a clear preference for progressive candidates over moderate ones. Republicans have rejected some of President Trump's endorsees despite his tight grip on the party's base.
Will Trump interfere in the midterms? Democrats and their allies are preparing
Across California and the nation, Democratic leaders and voting rights advocates are ramping up coordination and gaming out responses to a raft of potential actions by the Trump administration to subvert the November vote or deny its outcome.
Jeffries and Kushner Meet Privately as Midterm Attacks Fly
President Trump’s son-in-law and the man in line to be speaker of a Democratic-led House discussed how Democrats and the administration could work together.
The Data Center Backlash Bursts Into the Midterms
With opposition to the centers mounting, many Democrats and a growing number of Republicans are campaigning against them.
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.
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)
This rare Nebraska district backed Harris but sent a Republican to Congress. Can Democrats win here?
Retiring Rep. Don Bacon’s open seat pits fellow Republican and Omaha City Councilmember Brinker Harding against Democratic activist Denise Powell.
Democrats see political gain in Ohio’s health care pain
Surging costs and plummeting insurance coverage could give Ohio Democrats their best chance in years to win back power.
Democrats see political gain in Ohio’s health care pain
Surging costs and plummeting insurance coverage could give Ohio Democrats their best chance in years to win back power.
This rare Nebraska district backed Harris but sent a Republican to Congress. Can Democrats win here?
Just eight of 435 congressional districts backed a Republican in their House race and Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.
This Rare Nebraska District Backed Harris but Sent a Republican to Congress. Can Democrats Win Here?
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — “Do they still like Trump in Nebraska? I think so,” the president said during a recent event in Washington. Given that the state easily backed Republican Donald Trump three times and hasn't supported a Democrat for the White House since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, the answer may ...
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.
How a Progressive Democrat in Florida Gave Her Party New Hope
Angie Nixon, a state lawmaker from Jacksonville, shocked Democrats in red Florida by soundly defeating her centrist primary opponent. Now comes the hard part.
Democrats pressure Treasury to reconsider placing Tubman on $20
Tubman is credited with conducting 13 missions on the Underground Railroad to free approximately 70 slaves
Democrats pressure Treasury to reconsider placing Tubman on $20
Tubman is credited with conducting 13 missions on the Underground Railroad to free approximately 70 slaves
Vance unloads on El-Sayed over Sharia remarks: ‘That’s not my grandpa’s Democratic Party’
JD Vance targeted Abdul El-Sayed's past remarks linking Sharia law criticism to white supremacy, arguing Democrats have abandoned union workers.
Brooklyn Democrats blast chair over plan to overhaul key committee
The New Kings Democrats have said they have the votes to oust Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
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.
Democrats remain far behind GOP in cash on hand as midterms near
New filings find the Democratic National Committee trailing its Republican counterpart by more than $100 million, with millions of dollars in debts.