U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock leading Herschel Walker by five percentage points

In Georgia’s race for U.S. Senate, Raphael Warnock (47%) leads Herschel Walker (42%) by 5 points statewide. Warnock (47%) and Walker (45%) are closely matched among registered voters who say they definitely plan to vote.

Warnock’s lead over Walker is bolstered by independents (+9 points) and women. A 23-point gender gap exists. 52% of women support Warnock while 49% of men back Walker.

70% of registered voters with a candidate preference for U.S. Senate strongly support their choice. This includes 74% of Warnock’s supporters and 68% of Walker’s backers.

43% of Georgians have a favorable opinion of Warnock, and 40% have an unfavorable impression of him. Walker’s favorable rating is upside down (37% favorable to 41% unfavorable).

[SOURCE: MARIST]

Rep. Jamaal Bowman wins New York Democratic primary

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) has fended off his Democratic challengers to win the primary contest in New York’s 16th Congressional District. He is expected to easily win reelection in November’s general election in the Democratic stronghold.

The New York Times declared Bowman the winner with more than 50% of the vote.

“Tonight, we proved to the world that if you lead with peace and with love, you win,” Bowman said in a campaign statement released Tuesday night. “Because when we got to D.C. two years ago — just days before the first attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812 — that is how we led.”

He added, “We introduced the Green New Deal for Public Schools to invest in young people. We brought back resources to support the elderly and children in our communities. We fought back against hate, racism, and anti-semitism.”

Summer Lee wins Pennsylvania Democratic primary

Summer Lee has won a five-way Democratic primary for a Pittsburgh-based U.S. House seat, making her the favorite in the heavily Democratic district to win the fall general election and become the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.

After Tuesday, Lee led by less than half a percentage point. But there were still in-person ballots to be counted, as 26 precincts within the district didn’t return their memory sticks properly.

On Friday, those precincts were counted and they increased Lee’s lead up to 740 votes, according to unofficial results. Lee leads with 41.8% of the vote, and Irwin is behind her with 41.1% of the vote.

The Associated Press called the race Friday evening.

“We built a movement in Western Pennsylvania that took on corporate power, stood up for working families, and beat back a multimillion-dollar smear campaign,” Lee said in a statement.

Lee, a second-term state House member, lawyer and former labor organizer, comes from the party's progressive wing. She was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two-time presidential candidate and a leading voice in the Democratic Party’s left wing who came to campaign for Lee.

Lee will face the Republican nominee of the same name as the outgoing Democratic incumbent, Mike Doyle in the fall general election.

State Sen. Don Davis wins Democratic North Carolina House primary

State Sen. Don Davis has won the Democratic nomination for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.

Davis, an Air Force veteran, emerged from a field with three other competitors and will face a competitive general election race in November.

He said he plans to spend his time in Congress focusing on rural infrastructure and economic support.

“Plainly, eastern North Carolina is in dire straits. Despite North Carolina as a whole gaining population and gaining an additional Congressional seat, District 1 was the only district that lost population,” Davis said. “Our communities are facing a crisis on many fronts and we need to address the economic, educational, and health care disparities head-on."

Davis will face Republican Sandy Smith in the November 8 general election.

Watch Davis discuss his victory below:

Donna Edwards announces run for former congressional seat

Former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) on Thursday launched a campaign for her old House seat in Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards represented Maryland's 4th District for five terms before waging an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 2016, losing in the Democratic primary race to then-Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

She is now looking to replace Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) as he vacates his seat to run for Maryland attorney general.

In a video announcing her candidacy, Edwards said she is running to give her district a stronger perch in Washington, emphasizing her experience serving in national politics.

Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick wins Florida's District 20 Congressional seat

Progressive Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has been elected to Congress in a landslide victory over Republican candidate Jason Mariner in a special South Florida election to replace the late Congressman Alcee Hastings, who passed away in April 2021.

Cherfilus-McCormick was projected Tuesday night to win Florida's 20th Congressional District with a commanding 78.7% of the vote compared to Mariner's nearly 20%, according to state election data.

"It's officially official!" Cherfilus-McCormick cheered on Facebook. "This is just the beginning. Thank you for standing with me. I'm ready to stand in the gap and prioritize the needs of my fellow residents, of our families and of the next generation. It's time for a district that works for every resident."

The win makes Cherfilus-McCormick the first Democratic House representative of Haitian descent, according to the National Haitian American Elected Officials Network, which celebrated her victory on social media.

Rep. Maxine Waters: Rep. Matt Gaetz needs to shut up about January 6

While appearing on MSNBC's The Sunday Show, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) said the Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) needs to shut up after his ridiculous comments concerning January 6, 2021.

"We're ashamed of nothing. We're proud of the work that we did on January 6 to make legitimate arguments about election integrity," Gaetz said about the GOP on Steve Bannon's radio talk show.

"We're actually going to walk the grounds that patriotic Americans walked from the White House to the Capitol who had no intent of breaking the law or doing violence," added Gaetz>

Watch Rep. Waters response to those comments below:

.@RepMaxineWaters says Rep. Matt Gaetz "needs to shut up" for saying he’s proud of their work on Jan. 6th. #SundayShow pic.twitter.com/5w8YYVqrUD

— The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart (@TheSundayShow) January 9, 2022

Rep. Bobby Rush to retire after 30 years in Congress

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) said Monday he will not seek reelection after 15 terms in Congress.

Rush told the Chicago Sun-Times he made the decision in the past several weeks and that it was a result of a conversation he had with his grandson.

“I don’t want my grandchildren . . . to know me from a television news clip or something they read in a newspaper,” Rush told the Sun-Times.

“I want them to know me on an intimate level, know something about me and I want to know something about them. I don’t want to be a historical figure to my grandchildren.”

Rush co-founded the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers, becoming acting chairman following the killings of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark in a police raid in December 1969.

Rush, 75, was first elected to Congress in 1992, said in an interview he intends to stay active in his ministry and find ways to use his remarkable life story — a trajectory from a 1960s radical to House member — to inspire younger generations.

He notably defeated then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in a 2000 Democratic primary for the the state's 1st Congressional District. He served previously as a Chicago alderman.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Eric Adams Sworn In As New York City’s 110th Mayor

Eric Adams was sworn in as the 110th mayor of New York City just after the ball dropped at midnight on Saturday. Adams held a picture of his mother and used his family’s bible to take the oath of office in Times Square with members of his family by his side.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles announces 2022 re-election bid

Charlotte, North Carolina Mayor Vi Lyles used a holiday greeting to also touch on her political future.

In a 30-second video posted to her social media pages, Lyles not only wished the community a Happy Thanksgiving but also announced that she will run for re-election in 2022.

“I’m so proud of our community for all of the good works that we’re doing – jobs and housing and so much more,” Lyles said.

November’s election featured no races from the city of Charlotte because of the census data delays that are in legislation. Due to the larger amount of population, these city elections were delayed to early 2022 in March or April.

In 2019, Lyles, a Democrat, was re-elected as mayor over Republican David Michael Rice.

Eddie Bernice Johnson endorses Jasmine Crockett for her House seat

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) endorsed Texas state House Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D) for the House seat she has held for decades.

Crockett announced her candidacy soon after Johnson said she would be retiring.

"A vibrant congressional district like TX-30 needs a representative in Washington with high energy, a passion to fight for us, shrewd intelligence, leadership, and an incessant drive," Johnson said in a statement soon after Crockett announced her run, The Dallas Morning News reported.

"After proudly serving the City of Dallas and Southern sector for 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, I firmly believe that Texas State Representative Jasmine Crockett is just the person we need in Congress at this critical time," she added.

Crockett said in a statement, "The Congresswoman was one or the first Black women elected to the Texas House and I am the most recent - this responsibility has not been lost on me."

"I intend to honor their service by continuing their legacy of coalition building, fierce bravery, and relentless tenacity in the halls of Congress," she added.

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson announces retirement after almost 30 years in Congress

Longtime U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, announced Saturday she is not running for reelection after serving nearly three decades in Congress.

First elected to Congress in 1992, Johnson, 85, is among its most senior members — the longest-serving member from Texas — and serves as dean of the Texas delegation. She chairs the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

A former state legislator, Johnson is known for breaking barriers. She was the first Black woman ever elected to public office in Dallas when she won a state House seat in 1972. She went on to become the first registered nurse to ever serve in Congress.

Speaking Saturday surrounded by family, Johnson emphasized her longtime advocacy for funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the city's public transit agency, calling it "my baby from the first day that I got there." She also highlighted her role in helping flip Dallas County for Democrats in 2006.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done because there is no Texan in the history of this state who has brought more home," Johnson said, reflecting on how she had to work across party lines during long stretches in the minority. "As much as we trash the names of some of the Republicans. they were some of the same ones that helped me be successful."

The decision Johnson announced Saturday is consistent with what she told constituents in 2019 — that her current term would be her last.

Eric Adams elected mayor of New York

Eric Adams was elected the 110th mayor of New York City Tuesday. He will be the city’s second Black mayor.

Adams, a Democrat, beat Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, who founded the Guardian Angels.

The Associated Press declared the 61-year-old Democratic Brooklyn borough president the winner over Republican anti-crime activist Curtis Sliwa. Adams had 67% of the vote with 65% of precincts reporting, according to the AP, which called the race 11 minutes after polls closed.

The 61-year-old Adams takes over in January from Democrat Bill de Blasio, who was term-limited after eight years in office.

NINA TURNER FILES 2022 CAMPAIGN PAPERS

Former Ohio State SEN. Nina Turner has filed “statement of candidacy” election papers to challenge Shontel Brown for the Cleveland-area congressional district’s Democratic primary in 2022, federal campaign records show, though she has not made a final decision on whether to officially run.

Turner’s filing allows her to keep her campaign apparatus running while making a final decision on a 2022 bid although the filing does not guarantee she will make a bid.

Turner noted that Brown will only have been in office for a short time before the next race begins, and the district lines will be redrawn as a result of redistricting. If the district becomes more working-class, Turner has a better shot, but if it incorporates more of the wealthier suburbs that leaned toward Brown, Turner will have a harder time. “The lines will be different, and also if the person takes office, they can’t take office before November. It’d [then] be the holidays. You know? And then it’s January, right? And February,” she observed.

The Democratic primary is scheduled for May 2022.

[SOURCE: THEINTERCEPT]

Democrat Kenyatte Hassell wins election to fill vacancy in Alabama House of Representatives

Democrat Kenyatte Hassell is the newest member of Alabama's House of Representatives.

Hassell won the vacant District 78 seat in an election Tuesday, garnering 1,028 votes — or 80.1% — in unofficial returns posted on the Alabama Secretary of State's website. Hassell's opponent, Republican Loretta Grant, received 254 votes — or 19.8%, the website said.

Turnout for the election was 4.8%.

Hassell fills the seat that became vacant earlier this year when then-Rep. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, won election to the Alabama Senate. He served as a campaign manager and strategist for Hatcher and has consulted with other campaigns. He's also a member of the Alabama State Democratic Executive Committee.

In a speech streamed on his Facebook page, Kenyatte Hassell thanked his family and said he hoped “to help people” in his time in the House, The Montgomery Advertiser reported. During the campaign, Hassell spoke of focusing on economic development and improving local schools.

Hassell is a native of Montgomery and has lived in the district, which encompasses north and west Montgomery, his entire life. He will fill the remainder of Hatcher's term before facing voters again in the 2022 election.

[SOURCE: MACON.COM]

Barack Obama makes campaign ad in support of Newsom ahead of California recall

Former President Obama is appearing in a TV ad backing California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) as part of his campaign's final efforts to boost Democratic turnout in next Tuesday's recall election.

Watch that ad below:

Here it is: the ad Obama just cut for the Gavin Newsom anti-recall campaign. Focuses on covid, specifically vaccines mandates, and hits Elder for being close to Trump.

"Protect California by voting NO on the Republican Recall." pic.twitter.com/OsCc2YGIHr

— Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) September 8, 2021

Ohio Democrat Morgan Harper announces U.S. Senate bid

Consumer protection attorney Morgan Harper announced Wednesday that she is entering the race for the Democratic nomination for Ohio’s open Senate seat.

In her announcement, Harper said she grew up in “working-class Ohio and that she is a Black woman who grew up in a foster home and was adopted and raised by an immigrant from Trinidad who was an educator and lifelong member of the Ohio Education Association.”

“I’m a Democrat running to represent Ohio in the United States Senate to give power back to our communities,” Harper said. “We need fresh, new leadership in Washington and a new game plan. This campaign is going to be built from the ground up, door by door, block by block not only to win but to deliver real change. It’s our turn.”

Harper is an attorney and community organizer who served during the Obama Administration at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Shontel Brown interview after her victory in Ohio Democratic Primary

Democrat Shontel Brown won a special election primary Tuesday in Ohio’s 11th Congressional District. Brown joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss the primary and her win against former state senator Nina Turner. Watch the interview below.

Democrat Shontel Brown defeats Nina Turner in primary for open House seat

Shontel Brown, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party chair and a county councilwoman, on Tuesday won the Democratic primary in the race for former Rep. Marcia Fudge's seat, after opponent Nina Turner conceded.

Brown will be the overwhelming favorite to win the Nov. 2 general election.

"I am eternally grateful," she told a group of supporters on Tuesday night. "I am completely overwhelmed by all of you that have showed up and showed out on my behalf. This was a collaborative partnership of the community."

She added: "This isn't an all-or-nothing thing. This is about making progress. Sometimes, it takes compromise."

Democrat Wes Moore announces run for Governor of Maryland

Author, former nonprofit executive and combat veteran Wes Moore on Monday afternoon officially joined the field of Democratic candidates vying to become the next governor of Maryland in 2022. Watch his announcement video below:

I defied the odds to become a Rhodes Scholar, Army officer & CEO.

Now, I'm announcing my run for Maryland Governor.

Because I believe no matter our start—we all deserve an equal opportunity to succeed.

I'd be humbled by your support→ https://t.co/rX4BO0kIyc#MooreforMaryland pic.twitter.com/CyVrwX2sfn

— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) June 7, 2021