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Politico
3 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Democrats in South Carolina are barely pretending they're not already running for president
'I'm out there trying to be a common ground, common sense, get-things-done type of messenger for this Democratic Party,' Beshear told elected officials and party officials in Charleston Thursday morning. 'Because I believe that with what we're seeing coming out of Washington, D.C., the cruelty and the incompetence, that the path forward is right there in front of us.' Christy Waddil, a 67-year-old Democratic voter who waited to shake Beshear's hand Thursday night, said she was 'excited' to meet all these potential contenders. But it's a lot of responsibility to be the first state in the presidential primary calendar, she said: 'We have our work cut out for us now.' In June, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly spoke at an anti-gun event in Charleston to mark the grim anniversary of the Emanuel AME shooting. In May, Govs. Wes Moore of Maryland and Tim Walz of Minnesota headlined a pair of state party events to rub elbows with Rep. Jim Clyburn, the longtime South Carolina kingmaker whose nod helped anoint Joe Biden as the party's nominee in 2020. 'It's not a surprise,' said Clyburn when asked about the state's revolving door of 2028 hopefuls nearly three years before the actual presidential primary. 'Why argue with success? If it ain't broke, why fix it?' South Carolina Democrats know their grip on the top spot is tenuous, with traditional early states like Iowa and New Hampshire eager to reclaim their lead-off position, and others —like North Carolina and Georgia — seeking to emerge as new states to consider. And it comes as there's been a major reshuffling on a powerful panel at the Democratic National Committee that has huge sway over the presidential nominating process. 'None of what those supposed candidates are doing right now is going to have any bearing on what the Rules and Bylaws Committee ultimately does for the calendar,' said Maria Cardona, a longtime member of the powerful panel. 'That may or may not include all of the states that are in the early calendar now.' Democrats haven't won the state in a general election since 1976, and President Donald Trump won it by 18 points last year. It's led more competitive neighbors to wonder whether they should get top billing instead. '[National Democrats] have a lot of mobility to get power back at the federal level by investing early in North Carolina. And I think a lot of people will hear that message loud and clear, especially after we just got our asses kicked,'said state party chair Anderson Clayton, who is interested in usurping its neighbor to the south and angling for one of the open at-large slots on the RBC. 'The future of the state of the Democratic Party also runs right through North Carolina too.' Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will deliver the keynote address at North Carolina's state party unity dinner on July 26, and state party leaders are in talks with Sens. Kelly of Arizona and Cory Booker of New Jersey about visits to the state later this year. But moving the order of primary states is easier said than done. North Carolina is hamstrung by state law from moving its date, and Democrats would need the GOP-controlled legislature to agree to any changes. DNC members have also emphasized smaller states to allow lesser-known candidates to build followings. 'The most powerful force in the universe is inertia, so South Carolina is probably the favorite to stay just because of that,' said an incoming member of the committee granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. 'Every state has a chance to be first, but I do think we have to come into this with a degree of realism.' The DNC is attempting to remain neutral. 'The DNC is committed to running a fair, transparent, and rigorous process for the 2028 primary calendar. All states will have an opportunity to participate,' Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman said in a statement. Iowa Democrats are also gearing up on a bid to restore their caucuses to their traditional spot as the nation's first presidential contest. Michigan replaced Iowa as the Midwestern early state in 2024. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said she planned to have 'tough and direct conversations' with the party in a statement, even as the DNC r emoved Iowa's only representative, Scott Brennan, from the Rules and Bylaws Committee this year. Already, potential 2028 candidates have traveled there, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who held a town hall in Cedar Rapid s in May. Walz stopped by the Hawkeye State in March, and former Japan Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and freshman Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego are both slated to visit the state in the coming months. New Hampshire Democrats also openly clashed with top DNC officials last cycle — and plan to stick with their state law making it first primary in the nation. Pritzker went to an influential state party dinner there in April. 'The potential candidates on the Democratic side and, to some extent, the Republican side are coming through New Hampshire,' Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said in a brief interview. The positioning at the national party over early states is already underway. Party insiders are voting for the remaining open seats on the panel after DNC Chair Ken Martin named members to the governing body in recent weeks. Cardona said the goal of the committee is to ensure the strongest and most electable candidate emerges from what is expected to be a crowded field. Talks will begin on the next presidential primary calendar later this year, but will ramp up after the midterms. South Carolina's ascension was aimed at recognizing South Carolina's significant Black electorate, long considered the backbone of the Democratic Party. That's partly why Khanna is there, he said in an interview on why he is focusing on reaching out to Black voters. 'I believe that's critical for all the people who want to lead the Democratic Party, in whatever form, and to me it's encouraging that people are going down to South Carolina' to reach them. Beshear, too, expressed support for South Carolina's representation, telling reporters that Democrats 'need to make sure that the South is represented in the primary calendar' because 'for too long, the investments haven't been made in places like Kentucky and in places like South Carolina.' In defense of remaining in the early window, South Carolina Democrats are playing up the state's diverse electorate and inexpensive media markets that could allow for the best presidential candidates — not just the best fundraisers — to emerge in a wide open presidential cycle in 2028. 'The Democratic primary for president is not based on the state's competitiveness in a general election,' said Parmley. 'This is the same bullshit that loses us presidential elections, and we only play in eight competitive states.'
Politico
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The 5 big questions about the Senate battleground map
Here are the five biggest questions still hanging over the Senate race: Can Democrats get their dream recruits? Democrats are holding their breath for Roy Cooper and Janet Mills to decide if they'll run for Senate in North Carolina and Maine — a former and current governor, respectively, who could dramatically improve their party's chances to flip those swing seats. Their outstanding decisions have frozen recruitment in both states, signaling the party's strong preference for them. The odds look better for Democrats in North Carolina, where Cooper's top political strategist told POLITICO earlier this month that the former governor was 'strongly considering a run' and 'will decide in the coming weeks.' North Carolina Democrats have argued that Cooper's aw-shucks brand coupled with his strong fundraising network would instantly transform the now-open race. Tillis announced that he was not running for reelection last month after clashing with Trump over his tax-and-spend megabill. That 'puts a lot more pressure on Cooper to run,' said Democratic state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, as he is 'heads and shoulders above every other candidate.' But Cooper hasn't cleared the field yet. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel entered the Senate primary in April, and he demurred when asked if he'd exit if Cooper jumped in. Rep. Don Davis is also eyeing the race. Republicans have yet to see a major candidate step up, although the president's daughter-in-law Lara Trump has expressed interest. National Democrats are still working to woo Mills, but her interest in challenging Sen. Susan Collins is less clear. Mills, who is 77 and won reelection in 2022 by 13 percentage points, told a Maine outlet in April that 'I'm not planning to run for another office' but added that 'things change week to week, month to month.' Jordan Wood, the former chief of staff to former California Rep. Katie Porter, has already raised $1 million in his bid against Collins. But some Maine Democrats are concerned that the race hasn't yet attracted bigger name contenders. Can a bloody Republican primary in Texas put the state on the map in November? Republicans have a messy — and expensive — primary on their hands down in Texas. Senate Majority Leader John Thune discussed the high-stakes intraparty brawl with Trump — as part of a broader discussion on the 2026 midterm map during a recent White House meeting — where state Attorney General Ken Paxton is primarying Sen. John Cornyn. GOP leaders have been privately trying to sway Trump for months to back Cornyn, arguing that his conservative bona fides match the president's agenda and he would be a safer bet in November. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) speaks to press outside of his office at the Hart Senate Office Building on April 28, 2025, in Washington. |Cornyn got a break after Paxton's wife announced she was filing for divorce on 'biblical grounds,' with his allies quickly seizing on the news. And he was able to get in some face time with Trump on Friday when he traveled with the president back to Texas. But so far, Trump appears poised to remain on the sidelines for a while longer as polling has shown Cornyn consistently trailing Paxton in a primary. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who is also mulling a Senate run, traveled with Trump on Friday as well.
Axios
09-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Scoop: Pro-Collins super PAC raised $5.6 million in first half of 2025
A super PAC for Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) raised $5.6 million in the first half of the year, letting the five-term senator know she'll have ample air support for her expected reelection bid in 2026. Why it matters: Collins, the only Republican senator to represent a state won by former Vice President Harris, is a top target in 2026 for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y). But money won't be her problem. Her challenge will be to do as she did in 2020 — separate herself from President Trump without alienating his MAGA base. She won Maine by nearly nine percentage points that year, and Trump lost it by eight. By the numbers: The pro-Collins PAC, called Pine Tree Results this cycle, will report $5.4 million cash on hand, according to a person familiar with its filing, due later this month. In 2020, the 1820 PAC spent nearly $12 million to help Collins defeat Sarah Gideon, a well-financed candidate who was then the speaker of the state House of Representatives. In the 2026 cycle, the new PAC plans to raise twice as much, according to the person familiar with the matter. Collin's official reelection campaign reported $3.2 million in cash on hand at the end of March, having raised $550,000 in the first quarter. Its second quarter numbers are due on July 15. Zoom out: Democrats are still looking for a marquee candidate to challenge Collins. National Democrats are hopeful that Gov. Janet Mills (D), who has tussled with Trump, will decide to enter the race. Jordan Wood, a former House chief of staff and Democratic political operative who grew up in Maine, has moved home to run against Collins. Zoom in: Collins has continued to sharpen her independent brand in Trump's second term.
Newsweek
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani's NYC Win is a Political Revolution
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Zohran Mamdani's win in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary is more than just a stunning political upset. A self-described democratic socialist who ran on taxing the rich and making the city affordable, Mamdani defeated disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded, familiar and powerful figure backed by billionaire donors and establishment Democrats alike. Mamdani took such a commanding lead over Cuomo on Tuesday that the former governor, who was seeking a comeback after resigning in disgrace over a sexual harassment scandal, conceded the race early. The ultimate outcome may not be known for days due to the city's ranked choice voting system. He will now face off against incumbent mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent in November's election—and Cuomo could still reenter the race. Still, Mamdani, a progressive upstart with a history of pro-Palestinian activism, is on course to become the first Muslim mayor of the nation's largest city. New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the... New York mayoral candidate, State Rep. Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) speaks to supporters during an election night gathering at The Greats of Craft LIC on June 24, 2025 in the Long Island City neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. More Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images His victory is sure to reverberate through the Democratic Party at a time when it remains ideologically divided about its future after losing the White House in November. "Zohran Mamdani's triumph in New York City's Democratic primary represents more than just an electoral upset. It's a confirmation that progressive politics, when pursued with discipline, vision and vigor, can resonate broadly – even in a city known for its entrenched power structures," said Bhaskar Sunkara, president of progressive politics magazine The Nation, in an opinion piece for The Guardian. National Democrats will also likely look to Mamdani's winning strategy as they try to win back younger voters who abandoned them in November's election. Pollster Nate Silver wrote in a post on his Silver Bulletin website that it shows how the "aging Democratic establishment should probably be put out to pasture." He wrote: "If you want to inspire younger voters, nominate younger candidates. Mamdani, at age 33, is literally half Cuomo's age: the former governor is 67." Mamdani "thoroughly earned the win, and Cuomo and the Democratic establishment thoroughly earned the loss," Silver added. "And even if they finally take the hint, generational turnover in the Democratic Party is coming whether they like it or not." The progressive candidate defeated Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded figure backed by establishment Democrats, in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. The progressive candidate defeated Andrew Cuomo, a well-funded figure backed by establishment Democrats, in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary. Getty/Newsweek David Hogg, who has clashed with Democratic National Committee leadership over his plan to raise money for young progressive candidates challenging Democratic incumbents, said on X that Mamdani's campaign "constantly grows in size in person and virtually bc people believe the message so much this share it for free and get others to join in. People want something to believe in & for many Zohran was the first Democrat who gave them that, post 2024." Pablo O'Hana, a political advisor and campaign strategist who worked on former vice president Kamala Harris' failed presidential campaign last year, said Mamdani's win "is proof" that progressive ideas can win elections. Mamdani "speaks the language of renters, immigrants and low-income workers – not in abstract policy terms, but with urgency and clarity," O'Hana wrote in an opinion piece for The Independent newspaper. His platform focused on freezing rent, building affordable housing, free buses, free child care, a higher minimum wage and more, mostly paid for by new taxes on the rich. New York City "is not as friendly to progressive leftism as you might find on the West Coast," Silver noted. "Instead, it has elected mayors like Adams, Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, and there's recently been a conservative backlash in the city, which swung strongly to Donald Trump last year. But that makes Zohran's win more impressive, not less." But Thomas Gift, the director of the Centre on U.S. Politics at University College London, said Mamdani's victory could prove to be short-lived. "Mamdani's politics resonate with a relatively narrow segment of Democratic elites, which may be enough to win a New York City primary but is likely to face stiffer competition in a general election," he told Newsweek. "Self-styled socialists always have a ceiling of support." Gift added that Mamdani was also "fortunate to face a scandal-plagued primary challenger whom many New Yorkers were eager to cast aside—yet again." Mamdani's success also came despite his defiant stance against Israel, which led to accusations of antisemitism that he refuted. "In a city with more Jewish residents than Tel Aviv, this would typically be politically suicidal," O'Hana wrote. "But Mamdani has made a sharp distinction between opposing Israeli government policy and antisemitism – a feat that seems to have eluded practically every left-wing politician on the planet." Margaret DeReus, the executive director of the nonprofit IMEU Policy Project, said in a statement to Newsweek that not only did Mamdani "run a progressive campaign to lift up working-class New Yorkers of every race and in every borough, he stood up for Palestinian rights despite relentless attacks. "He understands that voters want to see their tax dollars go toward making housing, transportation, healthcare, and education affordable — not sending weapons for Israel to kill Palestinians. This is a winning message for Democrats—in New York City and around the country."
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who will Maine Democrats run against Susan Collins?
May 27—While the 2026 election cycle is already heating up in Maine and candidates are launching campaigns for Congress and the governor's office, one high-profile contest is getting off to a slower start — the race to challenge Sen. Susan Collins. National Democrats have been working behind the scenes to recruit Gov. Janet Mills, who has publicly downplayed the idea but also not ruled it out. She said last month that she wasn't planning to run for another office when her second term as governor finishes next year, but spokespeople did not respond to questions last week about whether the governor's thinking has changed. U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, another Democrat seen as a potential challenger to Collins, took himself out of the Senate race last week when he announced he plans to run for a fifth term representing Maine's 2nd Congressional District. Recent announcements that several high-profile Democrats in Maine are entering the governor's race have left some political observers wondering who the party will be able to put up for a competitive run against Collins if Mills doesn't enter the race. "I've actually racked my brain about this, and I can't really think of anybody," said Mark Brewer, a professor and chair of the political science department at the University of Maine. Collins, 72, will be seeking her sixth term, but has been expected to face a tough election cycle as she navigates tricky political waters with Donald Trump in the White House. Long seen as one of the Senate's most moderate Republicans, Collins voted to convict Trump in his second impeachment trial after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and said she wrote in Nikki Haley in the last presidential election. But she's also taken key votes in line with her party's agenda, like her February vote in support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination as U.S. health secretary. Republicans want her to be more loyal to the president, while Democrats are calling for her to stand up to him. While some see Collins as vulnerable, Democrats may still be feeling bruised from their 2020 defeat, when former Maine Speaker of the House Sara Gideon lost to Collins by nine points despite outrage over Collins' pivotal 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court and over $200 million in combined spending by the candidates and outside groups. Collins said in a written statement Friday that she intends to run for reelection in 2026 and cited her work as chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and in passing legislation such as the Social Security Fairness Act, which was co-authored by Collins and signed into law this year. "This is very rewarding work to me, and I have so much more I want to accomplish," she said. STILL EARLY Party primaries are still a year away. A handful of candidates have declared for the Senate race, including two Democrats: Jordan Wood, who served as chief of staff to former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and founded the pro-democracy organization democracyFIRST, and Natasha Alcala, who briefly entered last year's race for Sen. Angus King's seat but never qualified for the ballot. Other candidates who have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission include independent Phillip Rench and Republicans Carmen Calabrese and Daniel Smeriglio. But it's clear that other Maine Democrats, in addition to Mills, are considering a run for the seat. Maine Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau, a Biddeford Democrat, said last week he hasn't yet made a decision on whether he might run. "It's not a no," Fecteau said. Former Democratic state Sen. Cathy Breen, who is the director of government affairs for the Maine Conservation Alliance, said Friday that she is considering a run and plans to make a decision after the expected end of the legislative session in June. U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-1st District, was listed as a potential candidate in polling done last month by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. But a spokesperson for Pingree said that she is planning to run for reelection to her current seat next year. The Senate race so far hasn't attracted the same interest as the Maine governor's race, which already features several prominent Democrats including longtime legislator and former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Angus King III, a renewable energy entrepreneur and the son of U.S. Sen. King. Hannah Pingree, a former state lawmaker and official in the Mills administration and daughter of Rep. Pingree, has also been rumored as a Democratic contender to fill the seat of Mills, who can't run again due to term limits. "The governor's race is an open seat, and that's always more attractive than going up against an incumbent, particularly a multi-term incumbent who Democrats have thought multiple times before they were in a good position to knock off (and then didn't)," Brewer said. Some Democrats may be waiting to see if Mills enters the Senate race before making their own decisions. "I think most of the people who are considering running would consider (Mills) a friend and an ally, so I think people are looking to see what her intentions are before they move forward," said David Farmer, a Democratic political consultant. He said there are a "number of very bright prospects" looking at the race, but declined to list any names, saying the potential candidates should have the opportunity to announce on their own terms. "I am confident there will be a competitive field in the Democratic primary," Farmer said. MILLS A FAVORITE Mills is a former attorney general, district attorney and state lawmaker who has shown she can win statewide by appealing to both more liberal southern Maine and the 2nd Congressional District, where Trump has won one of Maine's four electoral votes in each of the last three presidential elections. The governor has also been the subject of recent national attention after challenging Trump at a White House event in February over Maine's policy allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports, and that could help in national fundraising efforts should she choose to run for Senate. But critics have pointed to Mills' age — the governor is 77 — as a potential deterrent, and Mills herself has downplayed the idea. "At the moment, I'm not planning to run for another office," she said in an interview last month. Charlie Dingman, chair of the Maine Democratic Party, said he has not spoken directly with Mills about the race, though it is a high priority for the state party to have a quality candidate take on Collins. "I'm aware many people have mentioned (Mills') name, and I'm sure she is also aware of that and is giving it careful thought," Dingman said. National Democrats, meanwhile, are working behind the scenes to recruit the governor. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, has spoken personally with Mills about the race, according to CNN. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a group dedicated to electing Democrats to the U.S. Senate, did not name Mills in a statement on the race last week, though a committee spokesperson said they are confident Democrats will have a strong candidate. "Mainers know Susan Collins isn't standing up for them, and in 2026, they will hold her accountable for selling them out," said Maeve Coyle. LESSON FROM THE PAST OR LOOKING FORWARD? Republicans used Golden's announcement that he will not run for a different office as an opportunity to attack Democrats' prospects. "Another day, another recruitment failure for Democrats in Maine as reality sets in that they have no one willing to step up and lose to Senator Susan Collins," said Chris Gustafson, communications director for the Senate Leadership Fund, a fundraising group that supports the Republican majority in the Senate, in an email the fund sent to supporters Thursday. Polling results have suggested Collins has a low approval rating in Maine among voters in both parties. Still, enthusiasm for running against Collins is "probably at an all time low" after the 2020 race in which Gideon lost, said Lance Dutson, a Republican strategist in Maine. "I think prominent Democrats in Maine understand that there's very little chance you can beat Susan Collins," Dutson said. "They had their best opportunity in 2020 and she soundly won. And especially with an open governor's race, I think that's a lot more appealing to Democratic candidates." Dingman, the Maine Democratic Party chair, said potential candidates will be motivated to counter the Trump administration's efforts to scale back the federal government and "hand it over to the very wealthy at the expense of working people." "I don't think this Senate race will be anything like the past Senate races, and I'd be surprised if potential candidates are sizing it up based on what happened at some point in the past," Dingman said. Copy the Story Link
