Election 2026

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

Man Awaiting Murder Trial Wins GOP Primary for Sheriff

Arkansas man Aaron Spencer shot his 13-year-old daughter's alleged abuser

(Newser) - Arkansas man Aaron Spencer won the Republican primary for Lonoke County sheriff on Tuesday. Whether he becomes sheriff will depend on the outcome of the November election, and on the outcome of his murder trial. Spencer, who defeated the incumbent sheriff and another challenger on Tuesday, has been charged with...

ShamWow Guy Torqued GOP Left Nickname Off Ballot

Infomercial pitchman claims Texas GOP broke election rules by excluding 'ShamWow' in his failed run

(Newser) - The man who urged you to soak up spills is now asking a Texas court to soak up his legal gripes. Vince Offer Shlomi, the infomercial pitchman better known as the " ShamWow Guy ," is suing the Republican Party of Texas for leaving his nickname off the primary ballot...

In Texas, Talarico Wins, but Crockett Isn't Conceding

Citing voter disenfranchisement in Senate Democratic primary, Crockett plans to sue

(Newser) - State Rep. James Talarico topped Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in an expensive and fiercely contested Texas Senate Democratic primary that once again has the party dreaming of a big upset in November. With 91% of votes counted, Talarico led Crockett 53% to 46%. Who Talarico will face depends on a May...

Texas Lawmaker Accused of Affair With Aide Faces Runoff

GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales forced into primary runoff

(Newser) - Republican US Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas was forced into a primary runoff with his GOP opponent in Tuesday's vote as he faces calls to resign over allegations of having an affair with an aide, the AP reports. Gonzales, who has said he won't step down, entered the...

Cornyn, Paxton Advance to Runoff in GOP Primary

Wesley Hunt, running a distant third, concedes

(Newser) - Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will compete in a May runoff for the Republican nomination for US Senate. Cornyn, who is seeking a fifth term, and Paxton were the top finishers in a three-way contest Tuesday with Rep. Wesley Hunt. No candidate hit the 50% vote...

Cooper, Whatley Win Senate Primaries in NC

Former governor and former RNC chief will face off in November

(Newser) - Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and ex-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley each won their party's US Senate nominations in North Carolina on Tuesday, setting the stage for a fall campaign that could determine control of the chamber.
  • Whatley and Cooper were victorious in their respective primary elections over
...

Change in Voting Rules Causes Confusion in Texas

Voters were turned away from polling locations in 2 counties

(Newser) - Voters in two major Texas counties were turned away at polling locations and directed to different precincts Tuesday after a recent change in how the primary is conducted created confusion and frustration. In Dallas County, a judge ordered polls to remain open for two hours past the scheduled 7pm closing...

Voter Turnout in Texas Might Make GOP Nervous

Turnout among Democrats, energized by Trump opposition, is ahead of GOP in red state

(Newser) - Democrats haven't won a statewide race in Texas for more than 30 years, but turnout ahead of the 2026 midterms might be making Republicans nervous. In the first week of voting, Democratic primary ballots have outpaced Republican ones—665,664 to 593,692—pushing total turnout past 1.25...

Trump Backers Circulate Order for Election Emergency

Draft order cites unproven Chinese interference to justify unprecedented presidential control

(Newser) - President Trump is pushing hard for federal control of this year's midterm elections but with GOP leaders lukewarm on the idea , the president's supporters say they've found a way for him to take direct control. Pro-Trump activists say they've drafted a 17-page executive order asserting that...

Kelly: 'Reckless' Trump 'Only Knows How to Break Things'

Arizona Democrat weighs 2028 bid amid clash with Trump administration

(Newser) - Mark Kelly is sounding a lot like a presidential candidate these days, talking up his qualifications in a new interview with the BBC . The Democratic senator said he will "seriously consider" a 2028 presidential run, framing the decision as a response to what he called "seriously challenging times....

In Fundraising Race, GOP Is Winning by a Lot

Republicans' cash surge, super PACs, and court ruling worry Democrats

(Newser) - Democrats may be headed into the 2026 midterms with momentum—but Republicans are the ones with the cash . New filings show the GOP's main party committees and top House and Senate super PACs entered the year with about $320 million on hand, more than double Democrats' $137 million after...

Good News for GOP: Collins Launches Reelection Bid

Moderate Republican senator seen as the party's best chance in Maine

(Newser) - Susan Collins is asking Maine voters for a sixth term, and the stakes extend far beyond her state. The 73-year-old Republican senator formally launched her re-election bid on Tuesday, casting herself as an experienced moderate in an increasingly polarized Senate. "True leaders bring both sides together to seek common...

Leavitt: Trump Remarks About Canceling Midterms 'Facetious'

POTUS has made such comments at least twice recently

(Newser) - President Trump wasn't floating a constitutional crisis—he was cracking a joke, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Pressed Thursday on why the president has recently mused multiple times about scrapping this year's midterm elections, Leavitt told reporters Trump's comments were not serious, Mediaite reports....

California Gets a Win in Redistricting Battle

Federal panel rules in favor of the state, though GOP plans to appeal

(Newser) - California can use a new voter-approved US House map that is designed to boost Democrats in the 2026 midterms, a federal three-judge panel ruled Wednesday. In a 2-1 ruling, a three-judge panel in Los Angeles denied requests from state Republicans and the US Justice Department to block the map from...

Musk Is Back to Bankrolling GOP Campaigns

So much for the billionaire's 'American Party'

(Newser) - Elon Musk is quietly reemerging as a heavyweight Republican donor, this time with a focus on the 2026 battle for Congress. According to Axios , Musk has begun pouring money into GOP House and Senate campaigns, marking a notable shift from his supposed launch of a third " American Party "...

Trump Begins Campaign to Turn 'Affordability' Narrative

President travels to Pennsylvania to speak on the economy

(Newser) - President Trump on Tuesday embarks on a campaign to try to recapture the narrative that might well decide the 2026 midterms: affordability. Trump will head to Pennsylvania, where he will speak at the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, a working-class town in a swing House district, reports USA ...

Crockett Announces Senate Run in Texas

Allred drops out to pursue House comeback

(Newser) - Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett launched a campaign Monday for the US Senate in Texas, bringing a national profile to a race that may be critical to Democrats' long-shot hopes of reclaiming a Senate majority in next year's midterm elections. Crockett, one of Congress' most outspoken Democrats and a frequent...

Trump Sees 2 Factors at Play in GOP Losses

Shutdown was one, he concedes

(Newser) - President Trump acknowledged on Wednesday that Tuesday wasn't a great day for the GOP. Speaking at a White House breakfast with GOP senators, Trump had the following to say, per CNBC :
  • "Last night, it was, you know, not expected to be a victory, it was very Democrat areas,
...

Sununu Launches Senate Bid in NH
Sununu Launches
Senate Bid in NH
Oct 23, 2025 12:30 AM CDT

Sununu Launches Senate Bid in NH

Republican is seeking to reclaim seat he lost in 2008

(Newser) - New Hampshire Republican John E. Sununu announced a campaign for US Senate on Wednesday, hoping to reclaim a seat he lost nearly two decades ago and boosting the GOP's chances of regaining a foothold in a region overwhelmingly represented by Democrats. Sununu, 61, is seeking the Republican nomination for...

Judge: Utah Must Quickly Redraw Congressional Map

Judge rules state must redraw congressional districts for 2026 election

(Newser) - The Utah Legislature will need to rapidly redraw the state's congressional boundaries after a judge ruled Monday that the Republican-controlled body circumvented safeguards put in place by voters to ensure districts aren't drawn to favor any party, the AP reports. The current map, drawn in 2021, divides Salt...

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>
Most Read on Newser