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Favorable views of Democratic Party lowest in decades: Polling
Favorable views of Democratic Party lowest in decades: Polling

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Favorable views of Democratic Party lowest in decades: Polling

Favorable views of the Democratic Party are at their lowest in three decades, a new poll revealed, as the party seeks to regain enthusiasm and power in Congress following significant 2024 election losses. The CNN poll, released early Thursday, found Democrats garnering just 28 percent favorability — a slight decline from March's record low of 29 percent. On the other side, the unfavorability came in at 54 percent, with 3 percent saying they had 'never heard' of the party and another 16 percent who said they had 'no opinion.' Following the November elections in which the Republicans gained control of the House, Senate and White House, Democrats have struggled to redefine the party. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) earlier this year announced an event called 'Organizing Summer' which is aimed at building enthusiasm on the left, creating a network of volunteers and registering people to vote ahead of the midterms in 2026. The program, focused on states the party deems as top 'battlegrounds' for gubernatorial, House and Senate races, is a coordinated effort by the Democratic campaign arms of various bodies of government: the DNC, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Democratic Governors Association and the Association of State Democratic Committees. Democrats have leaned on immigration raid protests, cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs in the recently signed tax and spending bill and chaos around files in disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein's case as fodder for upcoming races. Still, polling averages across the spectrum show the party may be underwater. In some cases, voters and prominent activists within the party have called for a new generation of leaders. A recent Reuters/Ipsos survey featuring self-identified Democrats found that about 62 percent backed the idea that party leadership should be replaced. Democrats have also been grappling with how to up their game when it comes to social media in the wake of an election cycle where they acknowledged they were handily beaten by Republicans on multiple platforms. In the same CNN poll, the Republican Party garnered 33 percent favorability and 51 percent unfavorability, while 3 percent of respondents said they had 'never heard of' the party and 13 percent said they were aware of it but had 'no opinion.' The CNN poll was conducted from July 10-13 and featured 1,057 respondents. The margin of sampling error is 3.5 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to enter race for South Texas congressional seat
Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to enter race for South Texas congressional seat

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to enter race for South Texas congressional seat

Ada Cuellar, a Harlingen-based emergency physician, launched her campaign for Texas' 15th Congressional District on Thursday, becoming the first Democrat to run for the South Texas seat that her party is targeting in the 2026 midterms. Anchored in Hidalgo County along the border and running north to the edge of San Antonio, the district — represented by Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg — has been emblematic of Democrats' recent struggles throughout the Rio Grande Valley and with Latino voters generally. De La Cruz first won office in 2022, becoming the first Republican to represent the district after it was redrawn to favor Republicans. The seat has been in Democrats' crosshairs ever since. But South Texas was the epicenter of a national rightward shift in 2024 among Latinos, who make up about three-quarters of the 15th District's eligible voting-age population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. President Donald Trump was the first Republican to win Hidalgo County in decades, improving from a 28% vote share in 2016 to 51% last year. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will likely face an uphill battle. De La Cruz won reelection by 14 points in 2024, despite the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other national groups targeting it as a potential pickup. The district leans Republican by a 7-point margin, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index. While Cuellar — who has no relation to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo — is the first candidate to officially announce, Tejano music star Bobby Pulido has also been floated as a potential candidate. Pulido said he planned to enter politics in 2026, and he has been heavily recruited by Democrats, according to Politico. Cuellar lives outside the district boundary, in the district of Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen. She is from Weslaco and went to college in Edinburg. Members of Congress do not have to live in the district they represent, though residing outside the boundaries can open candidates to attacks from their opponents. De La Cruz is the only Texas Republican the DCCC currently lists among its 2026 targets. But the spectre of redistricting, which could put more seats in play and upend the state's political map, is hanging over both parties. South Texas is a key area where Republican map-drawers will likely try to draw friendlier seats by targeting De La Cruz's Democratic neighbors, meaning the contours of the 15th District could change. Under any new map, the district's population is likely to remain overwhelmingly Hispanic — meaning Democrats will need to reverse their recent slide to have any chance of recapturing the seat. Cuellar, a 43-year-old Rio Grande Valley native, believes Latino voters, in particular, were looking for change last cycle as they felt the bite of high costs fueled by inflation. She believes Democrats can position themselves as the party of change in 2026, especially on issues like health care, after Republicans including De La Cruz voted for Medicaid cuts as part of Trump's recently enacted megabill. 'People are frustrated with health care costs, inflation, the economy, how difficult it is to succeed,' Cuellar said. 'And I think a lot of frustrations were directed towards the Democratic Party.' Democrats flipped the U.S. House in 2018 — including through pickups in Texas — largely by talking about Republicans' efforts to quash the Affordable Care Act. Democrats hope to follow a similar playbook in 2026 by homing in on the Medicaid and ACA cuts in the megabill. Groups have been actively recruiting physicians like Cuellar to run for office as part of that pitch. During her campaign, Cuellar said she also plans to discuss the need for a county hospital and more doctors in the district, along with plans to make health care more affordable. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Harlingen doctor enters South Texas congressional race as Democrat Solve the daily Crossword

Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to challenge GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz for South Texas congressional seat
Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to challenge GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz for South Texas congressional seat

Yahoo

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to challenge GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz for South Texas congressional seat

Ada Cuellar, a Harlingen-based emergency physician, launched her campaign for Texas' 15th Congressional District on Thursday, becoming the first Democrat to run for the South Texas seat that her party is targeting in the 2026 midterms. Anchored in Hidalgo County along the border and running north to the edge of San Antonio, the district — represented by Rep. Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg — has been emblematic of Democrats' recent struggles throughout the Rio Grande Valley and with Latino voters generally. De La Cruz first won office in 2022, becoming the first Republican to represent the district after it was redrawn to favor Republicans. The seat has been in Democrats' crosshairs ever since. But South Texas was the epicenter of a national rightward shift in 2024 among Latinos, who make up about three-quarters of the 15th District's eligible voting-age population, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. President Donald Trump was the first Republican to win Hidalgo County in decades, improving from a 28% vote share in 2016 to 51% last year. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will likely face an uphill battle. De La Cruz won reelection by 14 points in 2024, despite the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other national groups targeting it as a potential pickup. The district leans Republican by a 7-point margin, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index. While Cuellar — who has no relation to Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo — is the first candidate to officially announce, Tejano music star Bobby Pulido has also been floated as a potential candidate. Pulido said he planned to enter politics in 2026, and he has been heavily recruited by Democrats, according to Politico. Cuellar lives outside the district boundary, in the district of Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen. She is from Weslaco and went to college in Edinburg. Members of Congress do not have to live in the district they represent, though residing outside the boundaries can open candidates to attacks from their opponents. De La Cruz is the only Texas Republican the DCCC currently lists among its 2026 targets. But the spectre of redistricting, which could put more seats in play and upend the state's political map, is hanging over both parties. South Texas is a key area where Republican map-drawers will likely try to draw friendlier seats by targeting De La Cruz's Democratic neighbors, meaning the contours of the 15th District could change. Under any new map, the district's population is likely to remain overwhelmingly Hispanic — meaning Democrats will need to reverse their recent slide to have any chance of recapturing the seat. Cuellar, a 43-year-old Rio Grande Valley native, believes Latino voters, in particular, were looking for change last cycle as they felt the bite of high costs fueled by inflation. She believes Democrats can position themselves as the party of change in 2026, especially on issues like health care, after Republicans including De La Cruz voted for Medicaid cuts as part of Trump's recently enacted megabill. 'People are frustrated with health care costs, inflation, the economy, how difficult it is to succeed,' Cuellar said. 'And I think a lot of frustrations were directed towards the Democratic Party.' Democrats flipped the U.S. House in 2018 — including through pickups in Texas — largely by talking about Republicans' efforts to quash the Affordable Care Act. Democrats hope to follow a similar playbook in 2026 by homing in on the Medicaid and ACA cuts in the megabill. Groups have been actively recruiting physicians like Cuellar to run for office as part of that pitch. During her campaign, Cuellar said she also plans to discuss the need for a county hospital and more doctors in the district, along with plans to make health care more affordable. Disclosure: Politico has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 13–15. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Solve the daily Crossword

Exclusive: Democratic challenger to GOP Rep. Scott Perry raises $500k in 2 days
Exclusive: Democratic challenger to GOP Rep. Scott Perry raises $500k in 2 days

Axios

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • Axios

Exclusive: Democratic challenger to GOP Rep. Scott Perry raises $500k in 2 days

Janelle Stelson, a Pennsylvania Democrat who narrowly lost to Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) in 2024, raised more than $500,000 in the first 48 hours since announcing for 2026, Axios has learned. Why it matters: For a candidate essentially asking donors for a second chance, those are encouraging numbers. Bombshell fundraising announcements can also make other potential Democratic hopefuls think twice about jumping into the primary. "We are building the coalition needed to win this seat and it's clear that momentum is on our side," Stelson said in a statement to Axios. What we're watching: Stelson, like other 2024 retreads, still needs to get through a 2026 primary process, which could get messy. The Democratic party is still processing Zohran Mamdani's shock win in New York City, with even established incumbents wondering if they'll be victims of a progressive insurgency. Zoom in: Repeat candidates bring certain advantages to a rematch, including name ID and a donor list that can be resuscitated. But they also enter the race having been rejected the previous cycle. Still, Democratic party strategists are convinced that the midterm electorate will be more forgiving to their candidates with President Trump off the ballot. They are betting that tough losses in a presidential year can turn into tight wins in the off-year. Zoom out: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tends to encourage repeat candidates more than their GOP counterparts, with 10 Democratic challengers running for a second time in competitive seats in 2024. Two of them – Rep. Adam Gray (D-Calif.) and Josh Riley (D-N.Y.) – ended up prevailing in their rematches. Rep. Tom Souzi, who left his seat to run for governor in 2022, recaptured it in a special election in 2024 and then won a full term in November. Republicans mocked the tactic, likening it to microwaving "crusty lasagna". Between the lines: This year, both parties already have a handful of retread candidates looking for redemption. Former Iowa state Rep. Christina Bohannan is challenging Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) for a third time after losing by 799 votes in 2024. In Wisconsin, Rebecca Cooke wants to take another shot at Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.). In California, Joe Kerr, a retired firefighter, plans to run against Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.) again. Former Rep. Yadiro Caraveo is laying the groundwork to take back her Colorado seat from Rep. Gabe Evans (R-Colo.). And former state Rep. Amish Shah and Marlene Galán-Woods are both running in the Democratic primary to face Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona. Shah lost in 2024 in the general election. The other side: In Ohio, Kevin Coughlin is looking for a rematch against Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Ohio). And Derek Merrin is making a second run at Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio). Former Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln wants to again challenge Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) in the Central Valley. Two Nevada Republicans — Marty O'Donnell and David Flippo — who didn't advance past the primary last cycle are also running again in NV-03 and NV-04. The bottom line: Second-time candidates — and even third-time candidates — know how to dial for dollars, but they'll still face well-financed incumbents in November.

Former Jan. 6 committee lawyer running for Congress in Trump district
Former Jan. 6 committee lawyer running for Congress in Trump district

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Yahoo

Former Jan. 6 committee lawyer running for Congress in Trump district

Robin Peguero, who served as investigative counsel for the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is launching a bid to unseat Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) in Florida. 'It's time for us to write a new story for South Florida — one where hard-working families stop being forced to choose between making rent or seeing a doctor, where small businesses have access to resources and tax relief, and where we no longer get squeezed by corporations and billionaires while politicians like María Elvira Salazar do their bidding,' Peguero said in a statement on Tuesday announcing his candidacy. 'Miami deserves a representative in the House who fights for them. That's the leader I'll be.' The seat is one of 35 held by House Republicans that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said it plans to target in the 2026 midterms. Peguero was raised by a mother from Ecuador and a father from the Dominican Republic, and he has a background in law and politics. He spent time working for former Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and was also a former Miami-Dade County homicide prosecutor. He's currently a criminal law professor at St. Thomas University College of Law. Peguero is the latest Democrat to enter the race to take on the Florida Republican. Former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, accountant Alex Fornino and businessman Richard Lamondin have also launched bids to take on Salazar. The Florida Republican handily won her last election in November against Democrat Lucia Baez-Geller by more than 20 points. President Trump won the district last year by close to 15 points, according to The Downballot. The Hill has reached out to Salazar's campaign for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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