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When New York Rep. Elise Stefanik is ultimately confirmed as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, voters in the Empire State’s 21st District will elect a new representative for the first time in a decade.
The special election to replace the rising GOP star may also develop into…
Arizona’s 1st District. Former broadcast journalist Marlene Galan-Woods was spotted at a Capitol Hill restaurant by National Journal’s James Downs, fueling speculation that she might challenge GOP Rep. Dave Schweikert again. She finished a close third in the 2024 Democratic primary. And Schweikert…
DFL Sen. Tina Smith announced Thursday that she won’t seek re-election in 2026, creating an open seat that could become more competitive next year.
While Republicans are expressing initial confidence in the takeover opportunity, the GOP’s track record in Minnesota is not good. Republicans have…
Nathan Gonzales, Jacob Rubashkin, and Jessica Taylor of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter analyze the top three biggest races for governor in the 2026 cycle, the three most difficult races to rate at this early stage, and what’s ahead for the 2025 races for governor in Virginia and New…
By Jacob Rubashkin & Nathan L. Gonzales
The biggest potential for turnover in the 2026 midterms isn’t in Congress. It’s not even in Washington, DC, but in the states hosting 38 gubernatorial races over the next two years, including at least 14 open seats.
The 36 races taking place in 2026 are…
ALABAMA. Open; Kay Ivey (R), term-limited. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth appears the likeliest to run out of a deep bench of Alabama Republicans that also includes state Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, former state Secretary of State John Merrill, and former Veterans Affairs commissioner Kent Davis.…
IOWA. Kim Reynolds (R), assumed office 2017, elected 2018 (50.3%), 2022 (58%). Reynolds hasn’t said if she’s running for re-election though former state Rep. Brad Sherman has said he’ll challenge her for the nomination from her right flank. Reynolds reported raising $1.8 million over 2024. State…
NEW YORK. Kathy Hochul, assumed office August 2021, elected 2022 (52%). Hochul escaped an upset loss to Rep. Lee Zeldin in 2022 but remains in a difficult political position after 2024, a mixed bag of a year for New York Democrats that saw Trump make significant gains but Democrats also flip three…