Democrats buzz about potential retirements
Four Senate Democrats opted against reelection bids next year. Could there be more? There's some buzz in the Democratic Caucus about two progressive senators' futures — and they offered two different answers when asked about their future plans.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., 68, who won his seat in 2008, told Semafor that he's still weighing whether to run and expects to make an announcement in the second quarter, which means within the next month.
Then there's Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., 78, who said last year that he's running and defended his decision. He dismissed chatter that he might be reconsidering. 'I've already announced,' he told Semafor.
Both senators are steadily climbing the seniority ranks: Markey is the ranking member on the Small Business Committee and Merkley is the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, and both have upward opportunities if they serve an additional term.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
37 minutes ago
- Fox News
'Right down the line': Medicaid reform in 'big, beautiful bill' divides lawmakers by party
Medicaid reform in President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" has drawn a partisan line through Congress. Democrats have railed against potential Medicaid cuts since Trump was elected, while Republicans have celebrated Medicaid reform through the reconciliation process as an efficient way to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the welfare program. Fox News Digital asked lawmakers from both ends of the political spectrum to react to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act's Medicaid reform. The results were as expectedly divided. "This is all B.S., what the Democrats are doing," Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told Fox News Digital. "They're pushing the agenda that we're cutting 10 million people off Medicaid. It's people that actually shouldn't be on it, illegals that shouldn't be on it. We're reforming it." The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a nonpartisan federal agency that has been ridiculed by Republicans, estimated this week that Trump's "big, beautiful bill" would leave 10.9 million people without health insurance, including 1.4 million who are in the country without legal status in state-funded programs. But Republicans are holding firm in their defense of Medicaid reform, which Republicans say only cuts benefits to illegal immigrants, those ineligible to receive benefits who are currently receiving benefits, duplicate enrollees in one or more states and those who are able but choosing not to work. "The people who would not continue to get Medicaid benefits under this bill were not qualified to get them in the first place," Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told Fox News Digital. Democrats continue to sound off on the healthcare threat of eliminating 10 million people from Medicaid. Not a single House Democrat voted to pass Trump's championed legislation, which includes fulfilling key campaign promises like cutting taxes, immigration reform and American energy production. "These burdensome regulatory requirements for proving that somebody has obtained or sought work are going to mean millions of people will go without healthcare, and the restrictions on food assistance are equally an obstacle to people meeting their everyday needs," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said. Blumenthal added he is "very, very concerned about these seemingly cruel and unproductive ways of raising money simply to finance tax cuts" for "wealthy billionaires." New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim said he is happy to have an "honest conversation" about government efficiency and saving taxpayer dollars, but that's not the reality of this bill. "People are struggling, and I feel like, in the richest, most powerful country in the world, we should be able to make sure that people can have the basic needs they need to be able to survive," Kim said of Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., told Fox News Digital there is "nothing beautiful" about Trump's "big, beautiful bill." "This is horrific, and it adds massive amounts to our debt, compromising our ability to [fund] the fundamentals in the future, foundations for families to thrive — health care, housing, education, good-paying jobs. That's what we should be doing here, not doing massive tax cuts for billionaires and paying for them by tearing down programs for ordinary families," Merkley said. The national debt stands at more than $36.2 trillion as of June 5, according to the Fox Business, based on data from the Treasury Department. The CBO's report this week also estimated Trump's bill will cut taxes by $3.7 trillion while raising deficits by $2.4 trillion over a decade.
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
California Democrat Reacts as ICE Reportedly Held Detainees in Basement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Representative Jimmy Gomez called reports of immigrants being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the basement of a federal building in his Los Angeles district "scary," telling Newsweek he has "concerns that this facility is not meant to hold individuals overnight, and that it can actually cause harm to the people that are being held there." An ICE spokesperson rejected reports of people being held in the basement, telling Newsweek in an email statement on Friday: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement categorically refutes the assertions made by immigration activists in Los Angeles." Why It Matters The California Democrat represents parts of Los Angeles, including the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building in downtown L.A., where CBS first reported that dozens of immigrants have been detained in the basement by ICE. The reported detentions come amid an immigration crackdown under the Trump administration, during which people with valid documentation—including green cards or visas—have been detained and face legal jeopardy. President Donald Trump has pledged the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history and in the initial months of his second term his administration has deported about 100,000 illegal immigrants, many as a result of his invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which grants the president authority to deport non-citizens without appearing before a judge, among other wartime authorities. What To Know Immigration lawyers and impacted families told CBS News that their clients and relatives went to ICE check-in appointments at the federal building this week and were taken into custody and held in the basement. Some people were reported to have spent the night in the basement. A CBS report cited an attorney who said one of her clients—a couple and their two children—spent the night in a room without beds with limited access to food and water. The woman was later released because of medical concerns related to her high-risk pregnancy. Other reports include detainees being held without food or water for hours. In its statement to Newsweek, ICE added: "ICE takes very seriously it's [sic] mandate to care for people in their custody with dignity and as mandated by law." It continued: "Inaccurate statements pushing a false narrative do nothing but put ICE law enforcement personnel and our communities at risk while distorting our mission of public safety and secure borders." Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/AP Gomez told Newsweek in a video interview that the reports are "scary because a lot of these folks are people who had followed the asylum process, doing the normal check-in, and that they had deportation stays and then they were held anyways." He said his office is concerned about whether detainees are being fed, receiving necessary medical care and held in appropriate conditions, as the facility is "not meant to have overnight detainees." The building has an immigration court, Gomez explained, saying that people checked in and "then they were detained and sent to the basement." He said the rise in detentions at ICE appointments is "not normal." Across the country, there have been numerous reports of people being taken into custody during scheduled check-ins with the agency. He noted the increase in these types of detentions may be tied to the rollback of a previous policy that discouraged arrests at sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals and schools. Shortly after taking office, Trump issued an executive order revoking those protections. Gomez told Newsweek that the consequences of making arrests in these sensitive locations "are severe," saying, "if you can grab somebody at a hospital, then they're less likely to get the healthcare that they people stop showing up. "I think people are scared. They're feeling that the process that they knew was in place is being upended. That fear leads people not going to work," as well as not engaging in social life and addressing their health care needs, he said. What People Are Saying Juan Proaño, chief executive officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens, told CBS News: "They're having to literally house these immigrants in a makeshift detention center, which on its face is illegal. It is beyond inhumane treatment for any immigrant and in this particular case, you're talking about Trump administration, DHS, ICE have gotten way ahead of themselves. They haven't necessarily planned this properly and don't have the capacity required in order to continue with large-scale deportation." What Happens Next Gomez told Newsweek that he hopes to visit the facility on Saturday, noting that as a member of Congress, he has the right to "visit any facility that's detaining migrants." He said on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: "@DHS—I demand to go in to get answers. We need to know why law-abiding asylum seekers are being detained, separated, and treated like criminals." He told Newsweek: "I think it's just going to get worse before it gets better. But we're going to fight back as much as we can through the courts, through Congress, through the public, and try to get people to understand the consequences of Trump's immigration policies."
an hour ago
Former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley eyes GOP Senate run against Jon Ossoff in Georgia
DALTON, Ga. -- Derek Dooley, a former University of Tennessee football coach, said Friday that he is considering a Republican run for U.S. Senate in Georgia in 2026 against Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff. The trial balloon shows how Gov. Brian Kemp's decision not to run for the seat has left Georgia Republicans looking for other options to face off against Ossoff, considered the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent up for reelection next year. Dooley, 56, said he would decide on a bid in coming weeks. 'Georgia deserves stronger common-sense leadership in the U.S. Senate that represents all Georgians and focuses on results — not headlines,' Dooley said in a statement. 'I believe our state needs a political outsider in Washington — not another career politician — to cut through the noise and partisanship and get back to real problem solving.' The announcement, first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, came as other declared candidates stumped before the state Republican convention in the northwest Georgia city of Dalton. Among Republicans who have declared their candidacies are U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, Insurance Commissioner John King and activist Reagan Box. Other Republicans who could run include U.S. Reps. Mike Collins and Rich McCormick, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and state Sen. Greg Dolezal. Attacks on Ossoff were among the most reliable applause lines during Friday afternoon speeches at the convention. 'Folks, President Trump needs backup, he needs backup in the Senate,' King said. Dooley has never run for office before. His appeal wouldn't be based on his career 32-41 record at Louisiana Tech and Tennessee, but his status as the son of legendary University Georgia coach Vince Dooley and Kemp's long ties to the Dooley family. As a teenager, Kemp was a frequent guest in the Dooley home, and roomed with Derek's older brother, Daniel Dooley, at the University of Georgia. Kemp has the most effective Republican political organization in Georgia, and he would likely give Dooley a big credibility boost. Kemp and President Donald Trump have been trying to agree on a mutual candidate to back for Senate in 2026, hoping to avoid the conflict that plagued Kelly Loeffler's unsuccessful run, where she lost to Democrat Raphael Warnock in a 2021 runoff. That, along with Republican David Perdue's loss to Ossoff on the same day handed control of the U.S. Senate to Democrats. Trump had preferred then U.S. Rep Doug Collins instead of Loeffler. Then in 2022, Trump anointed Georgia football legend Herschel Walker as the Republican nominee, but Warnock turned back Walker's flawed candidacy in another runoff. Kemp only swung in to help Walker in the runoff. The effort to screen 2026 candidates has already produced some results, with U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene saying she wouldn't bring her right-wing positions to the Senate campaign trail. Dooley would be far from the first sports figure to run for office. His father was frequently discussed as a possible candidate, but never took the plunge. But other coaches have gone far. Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville was elected to the Senate in 2020 from Alabama and is now running for governor. Former Ohio State University coach Jim Tressel is currently that state's lieutenant governor. And University of Nebraska coaching legend Tom Osborne served three terms in the U.S. House. Dooley walked on in football at the University of Virginia and earned a scholarship as a wide receiver. He earned a law degree from the University of Georgia and briefly practiced law in Atlanta before working his way up the college coaching ladder, becoming head coach for three years at Louisiana Tech and then moving on to Tennessee. Dooley recorded three consecutive losing seasons in Knoxville before he was fired in 2012 after losing to in-state rival Vanderbilt. After that, he has worked as an assistant coach for the NFL's Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys, the University of Missouri and the New York Giants. Most recently, Dooley was an offensive analyst with the University of Alabama.
