Politics

Speaking to reporters in Shannon, Ireland, on September 14, Trump said it was too early to endorse JD Vance for 2028, pointing to a deep bench of potential contenders.

Why it mattersEarly succession talks focus on Vance and Marco Rubio, whom Trump has previously floated without formally endorsing either.

Rasmussen Reports published survey data on September 28 showing Democrats leading Republicans 48% to 43% among likely voters. That margin fell from an eight-point lead in its prior week's release.

Why it mattersRecent surveys show varying Democratic advantages across different voter pools, ranging from five to 14 points.

California, Los Angeles Mayor: A Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll released September 23 showed challenger Nithya Raman leading incumbent Karen Bass 39% to 28%. A third of likely voters remain undecided.

Why it mattersBass faces severe fallout over city management, with 56% of voters giving her poor marks for the Palisades Fire response.

President Donald Trump has not named a permanent successor or set a selection timeline following Karoline Leavitt's August 27 exit. Vice President JD Vance led the White House press briefing on September 3.

Why it mattersThe vacancy leaves the administration without its primary daily voice to defend policy and field questions from the briefing room.

Gavin Newsom said he fully expects Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to run for president in 2028 and that she could win the nomination, according to an interview published September 24. Newsom added that he has not decided whether he will run.

Why it mattersOcasio-Cortez has stated that her 2028 decisions will not come down to deference to other candidates as potential contenders weigh their options.

The DEA published the 2,533-page transcript from its 11-day rescheduling hearing on August 25, 2026. Reporting indicated that the DEA and participating parties had filed final briefs by August 18.

Why it mattersBroader reclassification would extend Section 280E tax relief beyond FDA-approved and state-licensed medical products to the wider cannabis sector.

A New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll reported September 24 showed Republican Susan Collins leading Democrat Troy Jackson 49% to 46%. It marked Collins's first independent survey lead since Jackson became the nominee.

Why it mattersCollins's three-point lead remains within the poll's 4.9-point margin of error, while other contemporaneous surveys show Jackson leading or the race tied.

In the Texas Senate race, a new BIG DATA POLL released September 27 found James Talarico leading Ken Paxton 44.6% to 41.6% among likely voters.

Why it mattersTalarico holds a narrow edge despite conservative super PACs deploying $98.5 million to counter his early campaign spending advantage.

The Senate failed to pass the CLARITY Act on September 23 in a 49 to 50 vote.

Why it mattersThe failed vote shifts the fight over crypto policy to regulators.

Republican Casey Askar and Democrat Pia Dandiya won their respective primaries on August 18 for Florida's redrawn open seat.

Why it mattersThe Cook Political Report characterizes the cross-state district as highly competitive despite giving Askar the edge in a seat Trump carried by 11 points.

Donald Trump signed a presidential pardon on September 3, 2026, for PGA Tour caddie Eric Larson, who served nearly 11 years on a cocaine trafficking conviction.

Why it mattersLarson's criminal conviction had prevented him from working at golf tournaments in the United Kingdom, forcing him to miss The Open in 2025.

Incumbent María Elvira Salazar launched a campaign ad on September 17 challenging Donald Trump on immigration enforcement. Democratic challenger Eliott Rodriguez responded that Salazar had voted for the policies she was criticizing.

Why it mattersForecasters have shifted the district from solid Republican to likely Republican, and the DCCC lists the Miami-Dade County seat among its Florida targets.

A poll reported by Vermont Public on September 28 showed Amanda Janoo closing in on Phil Scott in the Vermont governor's race.

Why it mattersThe narrowing contest puts Governor Phil Scott in his closest gubernatorial race in ten years.

ME-02: Paul LePage announced he will face Democrat Matt Dunlap in two October televised debates, committing to the appearances on September 14.

Why it mattersThis open northern seat is a top Republican flip target in the 2026 midterms.

NJ-07 saw Republican incumbent Tom Kean Jr. and Democrat Rebecca Bennett face off on September 27 in their only scheduled debate. Cook carries the race as a toss-up, while Sabato's Crystal Ball leans Democratic.

Why it mattersNew Jersey's 7th Congressional District is a closely watched, competitive seat where 39% of likely voters view Kean as very unfavorable.

An Arizona congressional candidate was arrested on September 22 for alleged threats against a judge and an attorney's office. The New York Times reported on the district's latest polls on September 25.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the opening of the Jobs NYC Center on September 28 to connect New Yorkers to public-service careers. He marked the launch by swearing in 17 new NYC Business Express Service Team members.

Why it mattersMamdani remains strictly focused on municipal governance, leaving higher-office buzz to allies while facing a hard constitutional bar to national office.

Cleanenergy.org published an overview on Sept. 28 detailing Republican candidate Mike Beltran's positions on climate and energy.

A Real Time Big Data poll reported September 26 showed incumbent Governor Mailza Assis leading Acre's gubernatorial race but tied with Republicanos contender Alan Rick.

Why it mattersUnder Brazil's election rules, a candidate must secure more than 50 percent of first-round votes to avoid a runoff.

Morena named senator on leave Ana Lilia Rivera its coordinator for the Defense of the Fourth Transformation and Sovereignty in Tlaxcala on September 28, 2026. Rivera became the virtual gubernatorial candidate following an internal survey, prompting rival Alfonso Sánchez García to leave.

Why it mattersRivera secures the nomination after losing the contest six years ago, cementing Morena's line of succession under sitting Governor Lorena Cuéllar.