EXCLUSIVE: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a 2022 interview warned supporters of reproductive rights that "one day it’s going to be your turn." "Murder is murder. And one day it's going to be your turn."

This is absurd. What the amendment would actually do is ban abortion and youth gender-affirming care. Are you getting that… at all from this ballot language? missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/m...

There's all sorts of sour grapes in politics, but it's still something to see a candidate who just badly lost literally say, "I didn't really want to win this thing anyway."

#NE02 James Leuschen (D): $220,000 raised (in 13 days). Leuschen is competing in busy Democratic primary to flip GOP-held open seat that Kamala Harris carried.

This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.

Also in our new Digest: • The lineup is set for special election where Tennessee Democrats are hoping for a big upset • Arizona Republicans are already feuding in swing House district—and none of them are running yet • Josh Shapiro stars in ad for Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul's decision to seek reelection means Democrats won't need to defend an open seat—and it could encourage more to enter the race for governor.

Kevin McCarthy told Republicans this summer he wanted to raise $100 million to stop California redistricting. So far he's absolutely *nowhere* near that goal. punchbowl.news/archive/1082...

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff raised a gigantic $12 million in the third quarter of 2025 for his reelection campaign, and he ended September with $21 million in the bank. Georgia is the Senate GOP's top pickup opportunity, but Republicans have an expensive primary to get through next year.

Polls close for the #TN07 special election primaries in one hour. Results here: elections.tn.gov/categories/u... Plus, our preview -->

Adelita Grijalva is eager to provide the final signature necessary to force a vote on releasing the Epstein files. Mike Johnson has delayed her swearing-in for weeks, even though every other special election winner this year has been seated a day after their victory.

#IA02: Lindsay James (D): $275,000 raised (in six weeks). James, a state representative, is competing for the Democratic nod to flip the House seat that GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson is giving up to run for the Senate

Folks in the media world: Do you have any experience with this site, which says it charges $26 a month for access to LexisNexis news sources? www.expertaccess.org

In which former Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., asks Amy McGrath not to run for Kentucky's Senate seat again. In 2020, McGrath raised nearly $100 million and lost to Mitch McConnell by nearly 20 points.

We've had several updates this month—including a couple of new ones today—for our live redistricting tracker, which will keep you up to date on what's going on in *every* state. Bookmark it here --> www.the-downballot.com/p/the-downba...

Updating this chart because the prior version is out of date. With Mike Johnson refusing to convene the House, the soonest Democrat Adelita Grijalva can get sworn in—and provide the 218th signature to force a vote on the Epstein files—is now three weeks after winning the #AZ07 special election.

@malcolmkenyatta.bsky.social The Downballot wrote about the PA Supreme Court twice last month!

Some big news out of Wisconsin: Attorney General Josh Kaul will NOT enter the Democratic primary for governor and will instead seek reelection. Kaul would likely have been one of the major candidates to succeed retiring Gov. Tony Evers in what's still a packed primary.

Also in our new Digest: • GOP poll shows California's redistricting amendment well ahead • Utah Republicans pass a new congressional map, but will the judge sign off? • Maine state auditor launches Democratic primary challenge to Rep. Jared Golden in seat Trump carried three times

GOP leaders told Rep. Wesley Hunt's donors to tell him to "stop wasting donor resources on Senate posturing." One of Hunt's own colleagues called him "the least liked out of everybody" in the Texas delegation. Hunt has reportedly "pissed off the White House." He's running for Senate anyway.

For more context, here's an old article that talks about the bill! #AB5 #capoli #vote www.sacbee.com/news/politic...

While checking the bills Newsom recently signed, I noticed he signed #AB5 on Friday. No, not the gig worker bill--the AB-5 from this session. The law speeds up CA's ballot counting, requiring completion in 2 weeks. The days of waiting forever for CA election results may finally be over! #capoli

Punchbowl's Ally Mutnick, who first reported on a new poll of CA's map amendment (Prop 50), has shared the complete question wording. The survey tested a variety of pro and con messages appearing on TV, but nothing moves the needle—the measure passes every which way it's tested.

#AZ01: Businessman Jonathan Treble brought in $700,000 in third quarter, his campaign tells The Downballot that $308,000 was from the candidate. Treble is one of several Democrats running to flip a swing seat that GOP Rep. David Schweikert is leaving behind to run for governor.

#IA03 Sarah Trone Garriott (D): $435,000 raised. Trone Garriott is competing in next year's Democratic primary to face Republican Rep. Zach Nunn in this competitive seat around Des Moines.

As @schotthappens.com previously detailed, "Map C" would create two districts in the Salt Lake County area that Trump won narrowly. It may not pass muster with the courts, but if it does, Dems could conceivably flip both. www.utahpoliticalwatch.news/two-competit...

Folks, come work with me and the amazing @pluribusnews.bsky.social team! We have openings in AZ, PA, NC, CA, KS, IN and WI -- my DMs are open, let me know if you or a fantastic colleague want to join a growing team.

"I think his strongest supporter is the person who he looks at in the mirror," a GOP strategist said of Lewandowski back in 2019 during one of his past flirtations with running for office. A former GOP senator was more laconic: "He’s a thug."

New Hampshire Republicans have long worried that Trump apparatchik Corey Lewandowski will curse their ballots. He's now threatening to challenge Gov. Kelly Ayotte in next year's GOP primary.

#NY17: Beth Davidson (D): $370,000 raised in third quarter of 2025. Davidson is one of the many Democrats seeking to take on GOP Rep. Mike Lawler.

Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt enters Texas Senate race that GOP leaders tried HARD to keep him out of. Hunt will take on vulnerable incumbent John Cornyn and scandal-ridden Attorney General Ken Paxton in March primary. Runoff will be in May if no one takes a majority in first round.

This episode already has Bigfoot hunters, Sand declaring his love of cartograms, and reading his tweet auditing @the-downballot.com . So basically the most Downballot ep ever

"If more and more polls continue to look like the Washington Post poll, then that really does create pressure on Republicans. And I was heartened by Jeffries expanding the message." My full discussion w/ @davidnir.com about how Democrats are winning the shutdown: www.publicnotice.co/p/democrats-...

Excellent overview

Update: Mike Johnson has now extended the House recess through Oct. 13. If he sticks to his refusal to seat Democrat Adelita Grijalva, that means she'll go at least three weeks between winning her special election and getting sworn in. Other special election winners this year waited just one day.

There's been a lot of confusion about which states could redraw their House maps before the midterms, so we've put together a definitive guide to every state that could actually do so—16 in all. We explain the likelihood of new maps, probable targeted districts, and any obstacles to passage.

NEW: November general elections are around the corner, so it’s time to launch my cheat sheet of what’s on the ballot this fall! I guide you thru the *185* elections I'm watching, & why: lawmakers, governors, judges, DAs, mayors, school boards, & dozens of ballot measures. Explore, share, save:

Former Rep. Cori Bush launches rematch campaign against incumbent Wesley Bell, who defeated her in an expensive and closely watched 2024 Democratic primary. Missouri's 1st District in the St. Louis area is safely blue and was untouched by GOP's new gerrymander.

#IASEN Josh Turek: $1 million raised (in seven weeks). Turek is competing in a busy Democratic primary for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat

#PA10: Janelle Stelson (D): $1.2 million raised, "nearly" $1 million cash on hand. Stelson is seeking a rematch against far-right Rep. Scott Perry.

Iowa Auditor and candidate for governor Rob Sand @robsandia.bsky.social joins us on this week's podcast! Sand tells us about the massive lottery scandal he busted, how he won by just 3,000 votes in 2022, and his plan to win the governorship next year. www.the-downballot.com/p/how-rob-sa...

Update: Rutinel's team tells us he raised $475,00 in the fundraising quarter that just ended, not $400,000. #CO08

#MA08: Patrick Roath (D): $142,000 raised. Roath is challenging Rep. Stephen Lynch in next year's Democratic primary

#NY17 Cait Conley (D): $500,000 raised, $900,000 cash on hand. Conley is one of several Democrats challenging GOP Rep. Mike Lawler.

House Republicans are refusing to seat Dem Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election more than a week ago. She's the last signature needed to force a vote on the Epstein files. The soonest the GOP will act is Oct. 7. In three prior specials this year, the winners were all sworn in a day later.

Rep. David Schweikert has twice won tough Republican primaries by making insinuations about his opponent's sexual orientation. In 2012 he sent out mailers saying a fellow congressman "goes both ways." In 2022 he got sued for materials saying primary foe "isn’t being straight with you."

Trump has pressured House members in swing seats to put off their dreams of running statewide and seek reelection instead. How will he feel about this Arizona congressman deciding to leave to run for governor?

He's back: Republican Madison Cawthorn, who was ejected from Congress by primary voters in North Carolina after a single chaotic term defined by scandal, run-ins with the law, and his insinuation that an unidentified colleague had invited him to an "orgy," is seeking a comeback in Florida.

Democrat Jessica Killin announces she raised $1 million in opening quarter in campaign to flip Colorado's 5th District, a Colorado Springs-based seat that the GOP has held since its creation five decades ago. mailchi.mp/05237340bc41...