Politics, Parties, Candidates
Here's a look at documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties
Featured Stories
Report: Michael Whatley-Backed "Tariffs Are Costing North Carolina Farmers Nearly $700 Million," Could Cause Loss of 8,000 Jobs Statewide
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Jan. 16 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news:
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NEW REPORT: Michael Whatley-Backed "Tariffs Are Costing North Carolina Farmers Nearly $700 Million," Could Cause Loss of 8,000 Jobs Statewide
WFMY: "Tariffs [...] are having an unintended side effect for North Carolina farmers driving up costs and shrinking overseas markets."
New reporting from WFMY is spotlighting the devastation of Michael Whatley's tariffs on North Carolina farmers, "driving up costs" that could "lead to more than 8,000 jobs disappearing statewide." Whatley's tariffs
... Show Full Article
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Jan. 16 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party issued the following news:
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NEW REPORT: Michael Whatley-Backed "Tariffs Are Costing North Carolina Farmers Nearly $700 Million," Could Cause Loss of 8,000 Jobs Statewide
WFMY: "Tariffs [...] are having an unintended side effect for North Carolina farmers driving up costs and shrinking overseas markets."
New reporting from WFMY is spotlighting the devastation of Michael Whatley's tariffs on North Carolina farmers, "driving up costs" that could "lead to more than 8,000 jobs disappearing statewide." Whatley's tariffsalso mean "farmers are also struggling to sell their products overseas."
Michael Whatley has called the trade war "record setting in terms of [...] effectiveness" and said he supports them "wholeheartedly."
Read More:
WFMY: Farmers say tariffs are raising prices you'll eventually pay
Ben Briscoe | January 14, 2026
* Tariffs designed to protect American manufacturing are having an unintended side effect for North Carolina farmers driving up costs and shrinking overseas markets.
* On his farm, Mike Jones says the impact is hard to miss.
* His tractor, van, and fencing all rely on parts or raw materials sourced from outside the United States. Jones says repair parts now cost 20 to 25 percent more than they did a year ago, and even equipment labeled "Made in America" often includes materials imported from countries now facing steep tariffs.
* New research from an agriculture professor at North Carolina State University, published through the John Locke Foundation, estimates tariffs are costing North Carolina farmers nearly $700 million. The report also warns the losses could lead to more than 8,000 jobs disappearing statewide.
* It's not just higher costs. Farmers are also struggling to sell their products overseas as other countries respond with retaliatory tariffs.
* "When we do broad-based tariffs to every country, those countries retaliate," said Donald Bryson with the John Locke Foundation. "That puts a lot of pressure on North Carolina's farmers who no longer have a market to sell to."
* Jones says many farmers took major financial hits this year.
* "A lot of them lost a lot of money," he said.
* "It's driving up their cost and eventually, that drives up the cost you pay for stuff," he said.
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Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/media/new-report-michael-whatley-backed-tariffs-are-costing-north-carolina-farmers-nearly-700-million-could-cause-loss-of-8000-jobs-statewide/
NRCC: Cory Booker Made It Clear - NJ Dems Stand for Lawlessness
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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Cory Booker Made it Clear: NJ Dems Stand for Lawlessness.
Radical Democrat Cory Booker just made the absurd announcement that he wants to defund the Department of Homeland Security.
This means Booker is against:
* Funding for the Coast Guard, which plays a critical role in combating drug and human trafficking;
* Funding for federal immigration enforcement officers;
* And funding for TSA, which ensures that Americans are safe in the skies.
This dangerous, radical agenda is what NJ Democrats,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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Cory Booker Made it Clear: NJ Dems Stand for Lawlessness.
Radical Democrat Cory Booker just made the absurd announcement that he wants to defund the Department of Homeland Security.
This means Booker is against:
* Funding for the Coast Guard, which plays a critical role in combating drug and human trafficking;
* Funding for federal immigration enforcement officers;
* And funding for TSA, which ensures that Americans are safe in the skies.
This dangerous, radical agenda is what NJ Democrats,from Nellie Pou and Rebecca Bennett to Brian Varela and Analilia Mejia, stand for.
"Out of touch radical Cory Booker said it loud and clear: New Jersey Democrats stand for chaos and lawlessness, not safety and security. These radicals cannot be trusted to lead." -- NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole
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Original text here: https://www.nrcc.org/2026/01/14/cory-booker-made-it-clear-nj-dems-stand-for-lawlessness/
Mich. Democratic Party: Statement - Mike Rogers Silent as Trump Suggests Handing China the Keys to U.S. Auto Industry
LANSING, Michigan, Jan. 16 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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STATEMENT: Mike Rogers Silent as Trump Suggests Handing China the Keys to U.S. Auto Industry
As Trump gives Michigan auto workers the finger (literally and figuratively), multi-millionaire Florida resident Mike Rogers has remained silent after the president told American automakers they should "let China come in" to the market, a move that would effectively hand China the keys to the U.S. auto industry.
While Rogers has failed to speak out against Trump's "openness to [allowing]
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, Jan. 16 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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STATEMENT: Mike Rogers Silent as Trump Suggests Handing China the Keys to U.S. Auto Industry
As Trump gives Michigan auto workers the finger (literally and figuratively), multi-millionaire Florida resident Mike Rogers has remained silent after the president told American automakers they should "let China come in" to the market, a move that would effectively hand China the keys to the U.S. auto industry.
While Rogers has failed to speak out against Trump's "openness to [allowing]Chinese automakers in the U.S.," Michigan Democrats immediately slammed Trump's push to flood the market with Chinese vehicles--including U.S. Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, who said the president's suggestion was "bad for Michigan's auto workers" and a "major national security risk." Industry leaders like the Alliance for American Manufacturing have also sounded the alarm, calling Trump's push for "the introduction of cheap Chinese autos" a "mistake" that would "displace U.S. supply chains with Chinese ones."
In response, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Mike Rogers already declared there's no longer a 'Big Three' in Michigan--now, he's silent as Trump suggests handing China the keys to the U.S. auto industry. Rogers is a multi-millionaire Florida resident who backs the GOP agenda that is killing manufacturing jobs, and he clearly has no interest in fighting for Michigan's auto workers."
Reminder: Rogers endorsed a bogus trade deal that would hurt Michigan's auto industry, enriched himself by selling out Michiganders to China, and wrote off tens of thousands of U.S. auto workers.
- Rogers endorsed Trump's bogus Japan trade deal, which the UAW was "deeply angered by," and the American Automotive Policy Council representing GM, Ford and Stellantis called a "bad deal for US industry and US autoworkers."
- Rogers has an extensive record of enriching himself at the expense of Michiganders, having gained "hundreds of thousands of dollars in wealth through companies that have partnered with Chinese firms."
- Rogers has said there's no longer a "Big Three" in Michigan, writing off Stellantis and their 48,000 U.S. auto workers--a move that Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel has called a "a huge mistake," and "incredibly insulting to the union men and women who actually work on the line building those cars."
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/statement-mike-rogers-silent-as-trump-suggests-handing-china-the-keys-to-u-s-auto-industry/
ICYMI: Because of Donald Trump and Vulnerable House Republican Zach Nunn, Rural Iowa Hospital Forced to Close - With More on the Way
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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ICYMI: Because of Donald Trump and Vulnerable House Republican Zach Nunn, Rural Iowa Hospital Forced to Close - With More on the Way
This week, MercyOne Ottumwa Family and Internal Medicine Clinic in southeastern Iowa announced it would be closing its doors on February 27. MercyOne is the first rural hospital closure in Iowa since Donald Trump and Republicans' Big Ugly Bill took effect.
MercyOne is located in Iowa's 3rd congressional district, represented by vulnerable Republican
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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ICYMI: Because of Donald Trump and Vulnerable House Republican Zach Nunn, Rural Iowa Hospital Forced to Close - With More on the Way
This week, MercyOne Ottumwa Family and Internal Medicine Clinic in southeastern Iowa announced it would be closing its doors on February 27. MercyOne is the first rural hospital closure in Iowa since Donald Trump and Republicans' Big Ugly Bill took effect.
MercyOne is located in Iowa's 3rd congressional district, represented by vulnerable RepublicanZach Nunn - who voted for the Big Ugly Bill that's threatening health care access for Iowa families.
A reminder: Trump's Big Ugly Bill has created a health care crisis in Iowa, from kicking 110,000 Iowans off their health insurance to forcing rural hospitals like MercyOne to close their doors, all so that billionaires pay even less of their fair share.
In response, DNC Deputy Communications Director Abhi Rahman released the following statement:
"MercyOne's closure is a tragic casualty of the health care crisis Donald Trump and Republicans like Zach Nunn have created in Iowa. Thanks to Trump's $1 trillion cut to Medicaid in his Big Ugly Bill, rural hospitals across the state are struggling to stay afloat and are now closing, forcing Iowans to travel further to receive lifesaving health care when seconds and minutes matter. While Republicans harm rural Iowans by raising their costs and ripping away their health care and hospitals, Democrats won't stop fighting to lower Iowans' costs and protect their health care."
Read more below:
Ottumwa Courier: MercyOne Ottumwa clinic to close Feb. 27; another clinic reduces services (https://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/local_news/mercyone-ottumwa-clinic-to-close-feb-27-another-clinic-reduces-services/article_ddff58e6-aac2-43c8-a960-0e9605ef856a.html)
By Kyle Ocker
* Ottumwans will have fewer health care services available after one primary care clinic announced Wednesday it will soon close and another confirmed a reduction in services.
* MercyOne Ottumwa Family and Internal Medicine Clinic will close Feb. 27, MercyOne confirmed. In a statement to The Ottumwa Courier, MercyOne said the decision followed an evaluation of operations as the health system adapts to changing demographics and needs.
* "February 27 is the last day we will see patients at MercyOne Ottumwa Family Medicine and Internal Medicine," the statement said. "This decision was not made lightly, and we continue to value the relationships and partnerships we've built within the Ottumwa community."
* "This news came as a shock to providers and staff as well, as we were only notified a few short hours before this became public knowledge," she wrote.
* Separately, Pella Regional Medical Clinic in Ottumwa reduced its family practice operations effective Jan. 15.
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/icymi-because-of-donald-trump-and-vulnerable-house-republican-zach-nunn-rural-iowa-hospital-forced-to-close-with-more-on-the-way/
DNC: Polling - Most Americans Feel That Donald Trump Has Turned His Back on Them
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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NEW POLLING: Most Americans Feel That Donald Trump Has Turned His Back on Them
New polling on Donald Trump's first year shows that most Americans feel like Trump has abandoned them and their top issues. People surveyed were twice as likely to say he's focused on the wrong priorities as the right ones. About half of U.S. adults say he's mostly focusing on the wrong priorities one year into his second term, with only 2 in 10 saying he's mostly focused on the right priorities. On top
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Jan. 15, 2026:
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NEW POLLING: Most Americans Feel That Donald Trump Has Turned His Back on Them
New polling on Donald Trump's first year shows that most Americans feel like Trump has abandoned them and their top issues. People surveyed were twice as likely to say he's focused on the wrong priorities as the right ones. About half of U.S. adults say he's mostly focusing on the wrong priorities one year into his second term, with only 2 in 10 saying he's mostly focused on the right priorities. On topof that, most Americans blame Donald Trump for his failing economy, with a staggering 6 in 10 U.S. adults saying Trump has done more to hurt the cost of living in his second term.
In response, DNC Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:
"One year into his second term, Donald Trump has made one thing unmistakably clear: He doesn't care about everyday Americans -- he only cares about himself and his billionaire donors. As working families struggle to afford groceries, utilities, and health care, and worry about finding a job, Trump is busy meddling in foreign countries and palling around with executives, failing to address Americans' top concerns on the economy. Voters won't forget Trump's betrayal come midterms -- and Republicans will have to answer for it."
Only 37% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy. It's no wonder -- considering that in his first year back in office, Trump has jacked up costs and triggered mass layoffs, despite promising to lower prices on "Day One."
After the ICE shooting in Minneapolis and the tragic death of Renee Good, only 38% of U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling immigration -- a drastic change from when he first re-entered office and immigration was one of his strongest issues with Americans. Chaos from ICE and other Trump immigration enforcers is quickly losing public support, with majorities now disapproving of both the raids and how the agency is handling its job.
And as Trump has focused his full-fledged attention on foreign policy, polling shows most Americans disapprove of his approach. 6 in 10 Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling the issue of foreign policy, and most Americans say Trump has "gone too far" in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries.
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/new-polling-most-americans-feel-that-donald-trump-has-turned-his-back-on-them/
DNC: Glenn Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth Means Higher Costs for Virginia Families, Soaring Unemployment, and Fewer Freedoms
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Glenn Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth Means Higher Costs for Virginia Families, Soaring Unemployment, and Fewer Freedoms
Youngkin's Virginia put billionaires first, and working Virginians last
Tonight, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will deliver his final State of the Commonwealth address, where he will try to spin his abysmal record of higher costs, rising unemployment, and less health care and fewer freedoms for hardworking Virginia families.
Thanks to Donald Trump and
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on Jan. 14, 2026:
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Glenn Youngkin's State of the Commonwealth Means Higher Costs for Virginia Families, Soaring Unemployment, and Fewer Freedoms
Youngkin's Virginia put billionaires first, and working Virginians last
Tonight, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will deliver his final State of the Commonwealth address, where he will try to spin his abysmal record of higher costs, rising unemployment, and less health care and fewer freedoms for hardworking Virginia families.
Thanks to Donald Trump andGlenn Youngkin, Virginia has never been worse off: Unemployment is up, working families are on track to lose over $590 per year due to Trump's Big Ugly Bill and failed economic policies, and 350,000 Virginians are set to lose their health care, while an additional 300,000 Virginians face skyrocketing premiums. Meanwhile, Youngkin tried to move Virginia backwards wherever he could, including trying to implement an abortion ban before getting thwarted by Virginia voters.
By nearly every measure, Donald Trump and Glenn Youngkin have turned Virginia into a punchline -- a staggering failure of leadership.
In stark contrast, Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger will stand up for working families across Virginia and focus on lowering their costs, creating jobs, and protecting health care.
DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"Ahead of Glenn Youngkin's final State of the Commonwealth, Virginia has never had worse leadership, and it's all thanks to Donald Trump and bootlicking Virginia Republicans, like Youngkin. Working Virginians are struggling as costs continue to rise, health care becomes more expensive, and jobs disappear. While Glenn Youngkin will try to gaslight Virginians tonight and paper over the failures of his tenure, the results are clear: Virginia's Republican leadership has been abysmal. That's why Virginians elected Democrats like Abigail Spanberger and a Democratic trifecta to right the ship."
Glenn Youngkin has been a disaster for Virginia
Costs:
* Virginia working families have already lost at least $553 in higher costs due to Trump's inflation.
* Virginia families will lose a combined $590 each year from Trump and Republicans' Big Ugly Bill and Trump's reckless tariffs.
Unemployment:
* Virginia's unemployment rate has increased by 0.5 percentage points since Donald Trump took office.
Health Care:
* Virginia's 326,268 ACA marketplace enrollees are seeing their health care costs skyrocket because Donald Trump refused to extend enhanced ACA tax credits.
* Because of Trump's Big Ugly Bill and Republicans' refusal to extend enhanced ACA tax credits, 350,000 Virginians will lose their health care entirely.
Food Assistance:
* Trump's SNAP cuts will cause 447,000 Virginia families to lose some or all of their benefits.
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/glenn-youngkins-state-of-the-commonwealth-means-higher-costs-for-virginia-families-soaring-unemployment-and-fewer-freedoms/
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene: "The American people are with us -- that's why we're going to win."
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene: "The American people are with us -- that's why we're going to win."
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As the House map trends firmly in Democrats' favor, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene joined Jennifer Rubin of The Contrarian to outline the great candidates House Democrats have running to re-take the majority this November.
DelBene also called out Republicans for slashing funding for Medicaid and rural hospitals and attempting to block Democratic legislation to lower health care costs for more
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene: "The American people are with us -- that's why we're going to win."
*
As the House map trends firmly in Democrats' favor, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene joined Jennifer Rubin of The Contrarian to outline the great candidates House Democrats have running to re-take the majority this November.
DelBene also called out Republicans for slashing funding for Medicaid and rural hospitals and attempting to block Democratic legislation to lower health care costs for morethan 20 million Americans, all while providing billions in tax cuts for their billionaire donors.
See highlights from Chair DelBene's conversation below:
The Contrarian: The Battle For 2026 Midterms
* Chair DelBene: I am confident that we will take back the House, but I know that this is a very, very divisive, tough political cycle we're in. Republicans are going to throw everything at this. And so, I don't take anything for granted. We are going to work hard. We have great candidates. The American people are with us -that's why we're going to win.
[...]
* Chair DelBene: Well, the number one big theme across the country -and has been all year -is affordability. Costs have gone up for families. Housing, food, health care, childcare, energy costs, all going up, and going up directly because of actions taken by the administration and Republicans in Congress.
[...]
* Chair DelBene: People respond with what they feel and see. If they're struggling to pay a bill, it doesn't matter what Republicans say, they know that it's a hard time for them. And I think the reason we've really resonated with people across the country is because it's what they feel; it's the experience they're going through right now.
[...]
* Chair DelBene: I don't think there are moderates left in the Republican House. And the reason why is they have, over and over and over again, in the majority, I should add, voted in lockstep with Donald Trump. It's not enough for people to say something, people are looking at their actions and what they're doing to fight for them. And sometimes, they will say something about how they're going to stand up for their communities and they cave time and time and time again. So people are seeing that. And we've seen in special elections across the country, Democrats have been running ahead by about 13 points. And part of that swing is because of this ongoing set of broken promises.
[...]
* Chair DelBene: The number one thing we can do to put a check on this administration and to make sure we have a functional Congress, is to take back the House, to take back the gavels. And so, support for House members, support for the DCCC is critical.
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Original text here: https://dccc.org/dccc-chair-suzan-delbene-the-american-people-are-with-us-thats-why-were-going-to-win/
