When a governor leaves their state, their second in command takes over their responsibilities. For many, this doesn’t involve doing much. For Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D), however, leaving the state isn’t an option with his No. 2 embroiled in scandal.
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke (D) admitted to taking $10,000 from a campaign donor and never reporting it as required by law. Now, a public cloud of mistrust hangs over her office.
In response, Green canceled his attendance at the National Governors Association conference in D.C. late last month, as the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
“In light of recent events and to ensure steady leadership for our state during this time, I have canceled out-of-state travel for this month, including my attendance at this long-planned conference,” the governor wrote in a press release.
When the state attorney general’s office began investigating allegations that a Hawaii lawmaker accepted $35,000 from a suspect in a federal corruption case, Luke’s name came up. The office hasn’t released its final report, but Luke admitted to accepting the $10,000. Luke has also admitted that she may be the lawmaker mentioned by the FBI, though her statements about potential involvement have varied over the past year.
This latest corruption investigation isn’t a new story. Rather, it’s the latest chapter in a scandal that started more than 10 years ago.
In 2022, two former state lawmakers were revealed to have accepted thousands in bribes during their time in office, starting as early as 2014 and continuing until at least 2020. Those bribes largely affected the state’s contracting process, which later impacted Maui’s ability to recover after the devastating 2023 wildfires. Luke’s involvement in this scandal comes from meetings and donations she accepted from both the contractors and the state lawmakers who pled guilty.
“I have never personally enriched myself or any campaign supporter, never granted special favors to a contributor, and never purposely violated campaign finance rules,” Luke wrote in a statement outlining the timeline of events from her perspective.
Both Green and Luke are still running for reelection this year, though calls for Luke to resign or be impeached have grown. Even if Luke ends up being innocent and her accounting mistakes are chalked up to clerical issues, the continuation of a corruption scandal that has plagued state lawmakers for years doesn’t make for good campaigning.
Without a conclusion to this, Green isn’t going anywhere—and staying as far away from Luke as possible.
“I just don’t want to be tied up in this thing. I want her to go through the process, to sort it out, whichever way, with the attorney general, and then people get full trust that the governor did not influence anything,” Green told Hawaii News Now on Tuesday.
2028 WATCH: Do You Remember? Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is criss-crossing the country stumping for Democrats as he eyes a potential run for president.
TEXAS SENATE: In the Air Tonight
President Trump said he would endorse either Sen. John Cornyn (R) or state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) “soon.”
UTAH: Another Day in Paradise
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-04) announced he will retire at the end of the term amid a court-ordered redraw of the map. Dozens of members said they would not run again.
GEORGIA GOVERNOR: Strangers Like Me
Trump affirmed his support for Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) as health care executive Rick Jackson (R) steadily gains momentum.
“After opting against a run for the open Senate seat in Michigan,” former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg “is one of a handful of Democrats rumored to have 2028 ambitions who does not currently hold elected office. To maintain his national presence—a challenge as he grapples with his involvement in the Biden administration—he’s hitting the stump and rolling out endorsements ahead of the midterms.”
ON A HEATER. “In the last two weeks, he has swung through New Hampshire with Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH 01) as he runs for Senate, stumped with Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Sandra Jauregui (D) in Las Vegas as she campaigns for lieutenant governor, and appeared alongside firefighter Bob Brooks, a blue-collar Democrat running in Pennsylvania’s 7th District.”
WE GO WAY BACK. “Also unlike many in the 2028 field, Buttigieg has run a presidential campaign before. Several of his endorsements this cycle stem from relationships formed during his 2020 campaign. Jauregui and California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis (D), two candidates Buttigieg has endorsed this cycle, endorsed him in 2020.” (Hotlinereporting)
WE CAN WORK IT OUT. Former White House adviser Rahm Emanuel (D) said during former President Obama’s term, Democrats “became intellectually flabby and we became intellectually lazy. To gain the confidence of the American people, you cannot just be a resistance, you also have to be a renewal. One of the things I’m trying to do is lay out that agenda.” (Wall Street Journal)
BOOK TOUR BROUHAHA. The American Jewish Committee criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) “comments likening Israel to an ‘apartheid state’ and questioning the United States’ military support for Israel as ‘confusing and problematic at a critical moment.’” A spokesperson for Newsom said he “believes in Israel’s right to exist—and its right to defend itself.” (California Playbook)
BY THE NUMBERS. Newsom’s book reportedly sold 91,000 copies in its first week reaching No. 4 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list. (CNN)
CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE. At a book tour stop in Oakland, California, former Vice President Kamala Harris pitched lowering the voting age to 16.
HARRIS SAYS: “When we ask them to understand and think about what they want for their future, they will know they have some power to decide.” (San Francisco Chronicle)
DEMOCRATS: NDTC Invests $1.25M in Training Ahead of Midterms
The National Democratic Training Committee is spending $1.25 million on staff training ahead of the midterms this year. It plans to spend nearly $4 million through 2028. (release)
REPUBLICANS: House Oversight Committee Votes to Subpoena Pam Bondi
The House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi as part of its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
BIPARTISAN EFFORT. “Five Republicans joined Democrats to support the subpoena proposed by” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC 01) “in a sign of continued frustration among conservatives with the department’s review and release of a tranche of documents related to” Epstein. (AP)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. Bondi, who early on became the face of the Trump administration’s investigation into Epstein, still bears the brunt of criticisms as the intrigue surrounding the newly released files continues to fester. What’s less clear is whether President Trump will get caught up in the frenzy. Democrats have jumped on the Epstein files with the goal of showing the president’s close associations to the disgraced financier, arguing that the high-profile depositions of the Clintons set the precedent for Trump to be interviewed. But for the Republicans driving the charge on Epstein, it’s much easier to blame a subordinate like Bondi for a dissatisfactory handling of the case than it is to criticize Trump.
MONEY TRAIN. Vice President JD Vance “headlined a fundraising dinner” in McLean, Virginia, “that raked in a massive $6 million—making it his most lucrative event since becoming vice president.” (Axios)
WHITE HOUSE: DOJ Fails to Build Case on Biden Autopen Use
After calls from President Trump to investigate former President Biden, the Justice Department scrutinized whether he “and his aides broke the law in using the autopen to sign presidential documents, but was ultimately unable to move forward with making a case.”
TRY, TRY AGAIN. It’s unclear “whether administration officials would seek to revive the investigation elsewhere” or whether it would press the U.S. attorney’s office “to try again.” (New York Times)
OH NOEM. Trump reportedly “has quietly asked Hill Republicans if he should fire” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
DON’T NAME NAMES. “Trump was said to be especially upset about Noem’s response when” Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) pressed her during a Tuesday panel before the House Judiciary Committee “about a government-funded ad campaign that Kennedy said only served to boost her own personal name recognition nationally. … Noem said repeatedly that Trump personally approved the controversial ad blitz featuring her in the lead role.” (Punchbowl News)
BATTLE FOR THE SENATE: NRSC Under the GOP Looking Glass
“Republicans in Washington are getting increasingly frustrated with their signature Senate campaign arm, with anger centered on its two leaders:” NRSC Chairman Tim Scott and NRSC executive director Jennifer DeCasper.
LAUNDRY LIST. Senate Republicans and GOP strategists are reportedly describing the committee as dysfunctional, criticizing Scott and DeCasper for being uncommunicative, and questioning the professionalism of the NRSC and Scott’s advisers ahead of the midterms.
PERPLEXING PEACHES. Some Republicans believe Scott is “injecting pessimism with donors” on the Georgia Senate race after he said last month that Michigan was the GOP’s best chance at a pickup. A “NRSC spokesperson said Scott was asked what he views right now as the party’s best pickup opportunity, and that once” President Trump and Republicans “unite behind a candidate in Georgia, the seat will be a top chance.” (NOTUS)
GEORGIA: Club for Growth PAC Endorses Mike Collins
Club for Growth PAC endorsed Rep. Mike Collins (R-10) to take on Sen. Jon Ossoff (D). Collins faces Rep. Buddy Carter (R-01) and former Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley (R). (release)
GOP PRIMARY POLL. An Emerson College poll (Feb. 28-March 2; 453 LVs; +/-4.6%) sponsored by Nexstar Media found Collins at 30%, Carter at 16%, Dooley at 10%, and 2022 candidate Jonathan McColumn (R) at 2%. 2% backed someone else and 40% were undecided.
GENERAL ELECTION. A general election poll (Feb. 28-March 2; 1,000 LVs; +/-3%) showed Ossoff ahead of Carter, 47%-44%, with 9% undecided. Ossoff led Collins, 48%-43%, with 9% undecided. Ossoff also led Dooley, 49%-41%, with 10% undecided. (release)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. Collins remains in a strong position in the primary, but an endorsement from President Trump could throw this contest into a frenzy. Republican strategists who’ve spoken to Hotline aren’t all concerned about the field, and believe Ossoff remains vulnerable whether or not Trump names a preferred candidate.
MAINE: Another Nonpartisan Poll Shows Graham Platner Ahead in Dem Primary, General Election
A Pan Atlantic Research poll (Feb. 13-March 2; 367 LVs) of the Democratic primary found oyster farmer Graham Platner (D) at 46%, Gov. Janet Mills (D) at 39%, 2024 nominee David Costello (D) at 4%, and 11% undecided.
GEO BREAKDOWN. In ME-01, Platner narrowly led Mills, 45%-43%. In ME-02, Mills led Platner, 54%-23%.
GENERAL ELECTION. A general election poll (Feb. 13-March 2; 810 LVs; +/-3.7%) found Platner ahead of Sen. Susan Collins (R), 44%-40%, with 16% undecided. A Collins-Mills matchup saw both at 44% each with 12% undecided. (Midcoast Villager)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. Platner remains formidable against Mills, but national Democrats and Republicans alike argue that the oyster farmer hasn’t been truly tested on his scandals outside of social media.
GOV CROSSOVER. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson (D), a gubernatorial candidate, endorsed Platner in the Democratic primary. Both are backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). (X)
MONTANA: Daines Retires, Kurt Alme Jumps In
Sen. Steve Daines (R) withdrew from the Senate race and passed on reelection just minutes before the filing deadline yesterday. Shortly after, U.S. Attorney for Montana Kurt Alme (R) filed for the race. “Daines’ decision to withdraw promptly before the filling deadline appears to have been intended to dissuade anyone” except Alme “from joining the race.” (Montana Free Press)
NOTHING TO SEE. Alme quickly racked up endorsements from Montana Republicans, including Daines, President Trump, Sen. Tim Sheehy (R), and Gov. Greg Gianforte (R).
THE FRONTIER. Alme is expected to clear the GOP primary against two little-known opponents. Former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar (I) is attempting to occupy the anti-Republican lane, even with several Democrats running in the primary. (Daily Montanan)
NOT WORKING. After Bodnar launched his Senate bid on Wednesday, former state Rep. Reilly Neill (D) said in a Wednesday X post: “I won’t sit down, back away or be quiet. I won’t let this guy bully me out of the race.” (X)
TEXAS: Trump Teases Incoming Endorsement
President Trump said in a Wednesday Truth Social post that he’ll soon endorse either Sen. John Cornyn (R) or state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) ahead of the runoff. The president added that he “will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!”
SORRY, NOT SORRY. Paxton told Real America’s Voice that he would stay in the race regardless of Trump’s endorsement. (AP)
TEA LEAVES.The Atlantic reported that Trump’s advisers expect him to endorse Cornyn in the runoff following his first-place finish in Tuesday’s GOP primary. “The president has not yet made a final decision, however, and is prone to last-minute vacillation, they noted.” (The Atlantic)
BACKBONE. “Black Democratic strategists, lawmakers and activists are frustrated that Texas Democrats rejected” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-30) “as their Senate nominee Tuesday night—but they also saw it coming.” Crockett’s loss raises concerns that Black voters, particularly women, will not vote for state Rep. James Talarico (D) in the numbers he needs. (Politico)
BE PREPARED. Crockett warned that the confusion over polling locations and voting hours in Dallas County could affect general election turnout if her supporters felt disenfranchised in the primary. She added: “People will not turn out because of what’s happened, in my opinion, especially if no one fights for their votes to be counted.”
NO PROMISES. “She did not directly answer questions about whether she would campaign with” Talarico. (New York Times)
A SWITCH. Former Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Talarico following his Democratic primary win. Harris endorsed Crockett during the primary. (Texas Tribune)
REDISTRICTING ROUNDUP: Virginia Supreme Court Allows Redistricting Early Voting To Proceed
The Virginia Supreme Court greenlit state Democrats’ plan to ask voters whether they approve a mid-cycle congressional redraw that could help the party flip up to four U.S. House seats, lifting a lower-court restraining order. This is the second case—this one brought by national Republican groups—lifted by the commonwealth’s high court. “The court said the issues raised by Republicans, which included claims that the General Assembly carried out invalid processes to advance the referendum, were of grave concern, but it challenged the notion of issuing an injunction.”
BUT THE LEGAL CLOUD REMAINS. The court has not yet ruled on whether the amendment enabling the redistricting is constitutional, meaning the referendum could ultimately be moot if the court decides to uphold a lower court’s decision blocking the effort. (WCTI)
MONEY. Virginia for Fair Elections, the group supporting the redistricting amendment referendum, has raised more than $21 million, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. “These are only the large donations that have to be reported quickly.” About half of that has come from the Democratic-aligned House Majority Forward, the issue-advocacy aligned with House Democrats’ top super PAC. “The Republican-aligned Virginians for Fair Maps has only reported $295,000,” with $250,000 coming from a single source. (Virginia Scope)
MORE VIRGINIA. Former President Obama released a video supporting the state’s redistricting efforts, urging voters to support it because it's a “temporary measure" and “the responsible thing to do” after President Trump pushed GOP-led states to redistrict their maps in an effort to protect Republican’s majority in the House.
OBAMA SAYS: “In April, Virginians can respond by making sure your voting power is not diminished by what Republicans are doing in other states. This amendment gives you the power to level the playing field in the midterms this fall. And voters will have the final say over what the maps look like.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
EVEN MORE VIRGINIA. Rep. Ben Cline (R-06) launched a counter-campaign called “Stop the Gerrymander,” a “get-out-the-vote-campaign against that amendment and has seeded it with an undisclosed amount of his own campaign funds.”
THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT. Cline says his group won’t focus on advertising and instead focus solely on the “ground game.” There are two other groups formed to oppose the referendum.
MISSOURI. The state’s Supreme Court agreed to consider whether it was constitutional for state legislators to redraw congressional maps using the same data they used to recut districts in 2022, which comes after a lower-court judge confirmed the redistricting plan in December. The proposed maps would likely flip a singular Democratic district to Republican control. The top court is set to hear arguments beginning on March 10.
THE CASE. Opponents of the map argued that the Missouri Constitution does not authorize the Legislature to redraw congressional districts using the same Census data used in 2022. The judge ruled that “while the Missouri Constitution does not specifically allow the Missouri legislature to create a second congressional map using the same set of census data, it does not specifically prohibit the action, either.” (KOMU)
RACE FOR THE HOUSE: Progressive Organizations Prepare for War Powers Vote
Progressive groups, including OurRevolution, MoveOn, Justice Democrats, and Progressive Change Campaign Committee, are prepping to primary any House Democrat who votes against Thursday’s resolution that would limit President Trump from continuing military operation in Iran.
YOU’VE GOT MY WORD. Even if a race’s filing deadline has passed,those groups are pledging to primary the candidate in 2028, a senior progressive House Democrat told Axios.
SHIVER ME TIMBERS. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-OH 01), running in one of the most competitive races across the country, said he plans to vote no regardless, saying these outside groups should focus on affordability concerns instead. Other Democrats said they will “do the right thing,” but didn't specify which side they’d be voting on. (Axios)
TEXAS: Candidates Officially Lock In Runoffs
Several candidates officially advanced to the runoffs on May 26 following calls by the AP. In TX-18, Reps. Christian Menefee (D) and Al Green (D-09) will square off in a runoff. (AP) In TX-33, Rep. Julie Johnson (D-32) and former Rep. Colin Allred (D) advanced to the runoff. (AP) In TX-38, real estate broker Jon Bonck (R) and pilot Shelly deZevallos (R) will face each other in two months. (AP) Only TX-32, where Air Force veteran Jace Yarbrough (R) leads with 49%, remains outstanding. (AP)
SCANDAL NEWS. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-23) admitted to his affair with a staffer, who later died by suicide. Gonzales spoke on a conservative radio show, where he said he “made a mistake, and … had a lapse in judgment and there was a lack of faith” and vowed to stay in the race.
A TWIST. He insisted the affair had nothing to do with her death, instead pointing to a police incident report in which the “female subject with burn injuries then stated her husband is gay and having an affair with her best friend.” Gonzales is in danger of losing his seat and advanced to a runoff with 2024 candidate Brandon Herrera (R). The House Ethics Committee announced Wednesday a probe into the matter. (San Antonio Express-News)
GETTING TESTY. Green challenged Menefee to a debate ahead of the runoff and went after him for missing votes. The 78 year old was also not pressed by the 41-year age disparity.
Rep. Burgess Owens (R-04) announced he will retire at the end of the term amid a court-ordered redraw of the map. The new lines created a Democratic seat in the Salt Lake County area, which would have left three districts for the four Republican incumbents in the delegation.
MOVING ON. Owens, a former NFL player, was elected in 2020 under competitive lines before redistricting in 2021 made his seat safer. He said in a statement that to “continue this work, the next chapter of my mission would be best pursued outside elected office.” (Salt Lake Tribune)
FACT. With Owens' retirement, none of the four Black Republicans will return to the House next year. (X)
MY TURN. Conference Vice Chair Blake Moore (R-01) has begun collecting signatures to run in the redrawn UT-02, which spans much of northern Utah and contains most of the territory he currently represents. Moore, who holds the fifth-highest ranking leadership position in the House GOP Conference, has already verified more than 4,000 signatures—more than halfway to the 7,000 required to qualify for the ballot. (Deseret News)
UT-03. 2024 GOV candidate Phil Lyman (R) announced he will run in the new UT-03, which underwent a massive transformation as a result of the court-ordered redistricting. Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-02) plans to run in the sprawling seat anchored by Saint George. (Deseret News)
MAINE 02: Poll Tests Democratic Primary
A Pan Atlantic Research poll (Feb. 13-March 2; 144 LVs) found state Rep. Joe Baldacci (D) at 36%, state Auditor Matt Dunlap (D) at 14%, former congressional staffer Jordan Wood (D) at 12%, and 38% undecided. (Midcoast Villager)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. With just 144 voters surveyed in this poll, there’s not much to glean from this one. Whoever emerges from the Democratic primary will face an uphill battle in the open seat vacated by Rep. Jared Golden (D), a district President Trump has won three times. Former Gov. Paul LePage (R) is the presumptive GOP nominee.
NORTH CAROLINA 04: Nida Allam Concedes
Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam (D) conceded her spirited challenge to Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-04). The race has not been formally called, but Foushee led by 1,200 votes. Allam could request a recount if the margin remains under a point. Allam took some shots at Foushee in her concession speech, saying the “AI lobby just bought their first seat in Congress.” (Raleigh News & Observer)
NEVADA 02: David Flippo Announces Run for Open Seat
2024 NV-04 candidate David Flippo (R) launched a bid to replace the retiring Rep. Mark Amodei (R). Flippo narrowly lost the nomination in NV-04 in 2024 and was running again to challenge Rep. Steven Horsford (D). He has $1 million on hand, according to a release. (Nevada Independent) Nevada Controller Andy Matthews (R) announced he will not run for the seat. (Nevada Independent)
GEORGIA: Trump Reaffirms Support for Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in Oval Office Video
President Trump filmed a video from the Oval Office reaffirming his endorsement of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R) in the governor’s race following health care executive Rick Jackson’s (R) entrance into the race. In the over a minute long video, Trump said: “I have nothing but good to say about Burt. He’s an outstanding person, an outstanding man, and he will be a great, great governor.” (release)
ON THE AIR. Former state Sen. Jason Esteves (D) launched a seven-figure ad campaign today with an initial spot that positions him as the best candidate to take on Trump. In the ad, titled “Break Through,” Esteves vows to “use every tool that we have, take Trump to court, and I’ll pass legislation to protect our families.”
WRITING THE CHECK. The ad is partly financed by $300,000 from the state Senate Democratic caucus’ leadership committee, a fundraising vehicle that’s already under legal scrutiny. A judge recently barred Jones from using his leadership committee in his gubernatorial campaign after a challenge from Jackson. (release/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
POLLING ROUNDUP: Burt Jones Can’t Shake Rick Jackson
An Emerson College poll (Feb. 28-March 2; 453 LVs; +/-4.6%) of Georgia found Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (D) and health care executive Rick Jackson (R) neck and neck with 20.6% and 20.3%, respectively. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) had 11% and state Attorney General Chris Carr (R) had 5.8%. 4% said they would vote for someone else and 38% were undecided.
DEM FIELD. In the Democratic primary (464 LVs; +/-4.5%), former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) led with 34.8%, followed by former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (D) with 12.8%, former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond (D) with 7.4%, and former state Sen. Jason Esteves (D) with 3.7%. Other candidates got 2.8% and 38.5% were undecided. (release)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. Jones is going to need more than an Oval Office video from President Trump to save him in this primary. Jones’ hands are tied behind his back after a judge paused his use of his leadership committee. If Republicans want to boost the Trump-endorsed candidate, they’ll need to get ads on the air to drown out Jackson’s.
ARIZONA. A poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights (Feb. 23-26; 1,023 RVs; +/-3.06%) found Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) leading Rep. Andy Biggs (R-05), 42%-37%. The third-party candidate got 5% and 16% were undecided. Hobbs led Rep. David Schweikert (R-01), 44%-35%. The third-party candidate got 5% and 16% were undecided. In the GOP primary (384 RVs; +/-4.99%), Biggs led Schweikert, 40%-19%, with 41% undecided. (release)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. Hobbs won by just 17,000 votes in 2022. If her reelection bid remains a competitive race as it’s anticipated to be, an independent pulling even single digits in the general election could hurt her reelection chances.
PENNSYLVANIA. A Franklin & Marshall College poll (Feb. 18-March 1; 834 RVs; +/-4.1%) found Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) leading state Treasurer Stacy Garrity (R), 48%-28%. 7% said some other candidate and 17% were unsure. (release)
HOTLINE ANALYSIS. Shapiro doesn’t need to sweat his chances at reelection. Instead, he can instead focus on championing key policy areas and talking points that he can lean on in an anticipated presidential bid.
CALIFORNIA: Longshot Democrat Drops Out, Backs Eric Swalwell
Former state Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon (D) suspended his longshot bid for governor and endorsed Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-14). He’s “the first notable Democrat to exit the governor’s race this year” after state Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks urged non-viable candidates to drop out of the race to avoid two Republicans from advancing to the general election. (California Playbook)
IOWA: Randy Feenstra Launches Multi-Million Dollar Ad Campaign
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-04) launched a “multi-million dollar” ad buy “emphasizing his ties to” President Trump's “immigration agenda” and to criticize state Auditor Rob Sand (D).
STATE OF THE UNION. The first ad in the campaign, titled “Stand,” features a clip from Trump’s State of the Union when he asked the audience to stand if they believe that protecting Americans over “illegal aliens” was the government's first duty.
ON THE CONTRARY. The narrator says: “D.C. Democrats refused, and Rob Sand is just another Democrat politician.” Sand previously said he would have stood and applauded if he was at the speech. (Des Moines Register)
MAINE: Jonathan Bush On-Air With Statewide Ad Buy
Health care executive Jonathan Bush (R) launched a statewide ad campaign on broadcast and cable TV, streaming, and digital. He’s the first candidate to go on TV with a substantial buy, according to his campaign.
SEEN STATEWIDE. In his first ad, titled “Disruptor,” Bush says direct-to-camera that he’s “made my career disrupting the status quo; Creating jobs and helping people achieve their American dream.” Bush, the cousin of former President George W. Bush, also vowed to cut income and property taxes in the state. (release)
OUT. Attorney Jason Cherry (D) dropped out of the race for governor after failing to collect enough signatures to qualify for the ballot. (WGME)
OHIO: EMILYs List Dishes Out Endorsements in the Buckeye State
EMILYs List endorsed a slate of women in Ohio: Air Force veteran Kristina Knickerbocker (D) in OH-10, State Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Brunner (D) and Judge Marilyn Zayas (D) for the state Supreme Court, and state Rep. Allison Russo (D) for secretary of state.
EMILYS LIST PRESIDENT JESSICA MACKLER SAYS: “With strong women leaders running up and down the ballot in Ohio, Democrats have a real opportunity in 2026 to flip key races and expand their impact.” The candidates “are bold leaders with proven records of service, putting these contests squarely in play and inspiring voters across the state.” (Hotline reporting)
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touched a political nerve in Massachusetts when he suggested the federal government could require chains like Dunkin' and Starbucks to prove that some of their sugary drinks are safe to consume. Speaking at a food policy rally in Texas, Kennedy questioned whether beverages containing up to 115 grams of sugar could meet the legal standard that ingredients in the nation’s food supply be demonstrably safe. But the comments quickly triggered backlash in a state where Dunkin' is less a coffee chain and more a cultural institution. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) fired back on social media, posting a “Come and Take It” meme featuring a Dunkin’ cup. Some fans and loyal customers took to X to defend the brand and mock the idea that Washington might police their beloved iced coffee orders, with one user writing: “If this administration changes *anything* that goes into Dunkin' I will make January 6th look like a tea party.” Another posted that Kennedy is a “traitor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts” alongside a Dunkin-colored flag.
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