Politics, Parties, Candidates
Here's a look at documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties
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What They're Saying: "There's a Storm Coming" - Senate Republicans "Sound the Alarm" as Democrats Create "A Feasible Path" to the Majority
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "There's a Storm Coming" - Senate Republicans "Sound the Alarm" as Democrats Create "A Feasible Path" to the Majority
New York Times: "[Democrats have] recruited unusually strong candidates in three states that supported Mr. Trump three times: North Carolina, Ohio and Alaska"
MS NOW: "Now, just over six months out from Election Day, the herculean suddenly seems plausible"
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"There's a storm coming" for Senate Republicans, who are now "sounding the alarm and urging
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: "There's a Storm Coming" - Senate Republicans "Sound the Alarm" as Democrats Create "A Feasible Path" to the Majority
New York Times: "[Democrats have] recruited unusually strong candidates in three states that supported Mr. Trump three times: North Carolina, Ohio and Alaska"
MS NOW: "Now, just over six months out from Election Day, the herculean suddenly seems plausible"
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"There's a storm coming" for Senate Republicans, who are now "sounding the alarm and urgingsignificant changes ahead of November's midterm elections." A wave of new reporting highlights how Senate Democrats have "expand[ed] the map and create[d] multiple paths to a majority," forcing the GOP to "play defense" and "stretch its resources."
The Senate map now looks "much more difficult than it once appeared" for the GOP, with "growing anxiety gnawing at battleground Republicans" as "a feasible path for [Democrats] to win the Senate is coming into focus."
Now, "the herculean suddenly seems plausible," as election analysts at Cook Political Report shift multiple Senate races towards Democrats and "Democratic Senate candidates [outraise] Republicans across nearly every battleground in the first quarter of 2026."
See for yourself:
New York Times: Why a Democratic Senate, Once Unthinkable, Is a Real Possibility
* At the start of the 2026 election cycle, the Senate looked far out of reach for the Democrats. The House always seemed competitive, but retaking the Senate would require flipping at least four Republican-held seats -- including at least two seats in states that President Trump won by double digits in 2024. In today's polarized era, Democrats would need everything to break their way.
* So far, everything is breaking the Democrats' way. With Mr. Trump's approval rating falling and inflation rising, along with the uncertainty of a war in the Middle East, it's not hard to imagine a Democratic tsunami in November. [...] But a feasible path for the party to win the Senate is coming into focus.
* In recent polls, Democrats appear tied or ahead in four Republican-controlled seats -- the number they would need to take the Senate [...] There are also signs that Republicans could be in danger in two more states where Mr. Trump won by double digits: Iowa and Texas.
* Over the last few weeks, the betting markets have shifted to make the Senate a tossup, though some analysts haven't gone quite so far. Whether the Senate is a tossup or not, it's clearly competitive -- and that's something that might have been hard to imagine a year ago.
* Let's start with the national environment. There's no doubt that the political winds are at the party's back -- and might get stronger.
* Democrats clearly have an enormous advantage among these highly engaged voters: In recent special elections, Democrats have significantly outperformed Kamala Harris's 2024 showings. For good measure, there's a longstanding tendency for the generic ballot polling to drift toward the party out of power.
* If there's a single reason Democrats have a realistic chance to win the Senate, it's that they've recruited unusually strong candidates in three states that supported Mr. Trump three times: North Carolina, Ohio and Alaska.
* In all three states, the Democrats' likely nominees are popular recent statewide office holders. They either won their last campaign or were highly competitive in losing re-election under less favorable political conditions. So far, the polls show those Democrats running well ahead of what one might otherwise expect.
* In light-red-to-purple North Carolina, the former governor Roy Cooper's decision to run for the Senate might turn the contest into a snoozer. He won comfortable re-election as governor in 2020, even as Mr. Trump carried the state. And he's running against a candidate -- Michael Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee -- who has never held office.
* Perhaps more significant are the candidacies of the former senator Sherrod Brown in Ohio and the former House member Mary Peltola in Alaska. Their entries into the race are certainly more unusual. The minority party doesn't usually have many strong candidates in states that lean heavily toward the other party. It would be fortunate for Democrats to have even one established candidate in a red state, let alone one for both Alaska and Ohio.
* Ms. Peltola and Mr. Brown lost re-election in 2024, but their strong showings make it easy to imagine how they could prevail in this year's more favorable political environment. In Ohio, Mr. Brown lost by 3.6 points in 2024; Ms. Peltola lost by around two points in Alaska. Today, the Democrats are faring about eight points better on the generic congressional ballot than they did in the 2024 combined U.S. congressional popular vote. Or put another way: Mr. Brown and Ms. Peltola probably would have won re-election in 2024 if those contests had been held in this political environment.
* There haven't been many polls in either state, but every recent poll in Alaska shows Ms. Peltola ahead; every poll in Ohio shows a very close race.
* While Mr. Trump won [Texas] by 14 points, the Lone Star may not be as red as it seems. In 2020, Texas voted for Mr. Trump by just 5.6 points; his double-digit victory in 2024 was built on enormous gains among nonwhite voters, who have snapped back to the Democrats in recent polls. That would send Texas zooming back toward the left -- and, in this national environment, into contention. In the state primary in March, more voters cast ballots for Democrats than Republicans.
* The Republican position could weaken further if the incumbent, John Cornyn, loses the primary runoff to Ken Paxton, the state attorney general and a conservative firebrand.
POLITICO: Battleground Republicans are starting to worry about the Senate
* There's a growing anxiety gnawing at battleground Republicans: Maybe their Senate majority isn't as safe as they once thought.
* [...] interviews with nearly two dozen GOP operatives, party chairs and strategists across the country's battlegrounds found a persistent concern that the longer the Iran war drags on and the economy sputters, the more it could complicate their path to keeping their majority in November.
* "Momentum has shifted to Democrats," said Michigan-based GOP strategist Jason Roe.
* "I wouldn't say I feel warm and fuzzy about things right now," said a Georgia Republican operative [...]
* The Senate wasn't initially expected to be a concern for Republicans.
* But Republicans across key Senate battlegrounds said that Democrats have fielded strong candidates, and a tough national environment -- fueled by voter anxiety over rising costs and the ongoing Iran war -- has made their path much more difficult than it once appeared.
* One Iowa-based strategist gave the White House's midterms strategy a "C" rating so far, reflecting a frustration among some Republicans with the White House.
* Republicans were seeing some cracks in their best-case-scenario map even before the war began.
* Party operatives were originally bullish about holding North Carolina and Ohio and flipping Georgia. Then, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) announced his retirement, leaving an open seat in a key battleground state. Republicans nominated former RNC Chair Michael Whatley, and Democrats countered with former Gov. Roy Cooper, who has wide name recognition and strong fundraising chops.
* "This is a pretty close state, and it's a close race," said a GOP operative in the state. "But with the national environment looking as tough as it is right now for Republicans, and you already have an established governor like Roy Cooper, that's why I think he's got the advantage."
* Democrats scored another recruiting win in former Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, another prolific fundraiser. Early public polling shows the three-term former senator running neck and neck with GOP Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill the vacancy left by JD Vance's ascension to the vice presidency and suffers from lower name recognition than is typical for an incumbent.
* "I think we're back in 2018 where the headwinds were against Republicans," said former Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Renacci, who unsuccessfully challenged Brown that year. "I mean, I ran against Sherrod Brown in 2018 and the national electorate was about a D plus 6 to 8. I think we're getting about that same place in Ohio."
* In Georgia, a messy three-way GOP primary has Republicans increasingly uneasy about their prospects against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who has amassed a massive war chest.
* "Republicans really need to unify behind one candidate to beat Jon Ossoff," Iowa-based GOP strategist Morgan Bonwell said. "I don't think they can continue, or afford to continue, beating each other up."
MS NOW: A political vibe shift: The Senate is suddenly in play
* Now, just over six months out from Election Day, the herculean suddenly seems plausible.
* "There's a storm coming," Matt Rexroad, a Republican consultant, told MS NOW. "This is the time to hold what you've got, get good candidates and just try to hold on to the seats we have."
* Some Republican strategists caution that the emerging red flags of a more competitive map will force the party to stretch its resources.
* "There are warning signs in some races," Evan Siegfried, a Republican strategist, told MS NOW. "The concerns right now are if we're seeing an expanded map, that means we're going to need to go and play defense ... in more places."
* The numbers have started to match the mood. Democratic Senate candidates outraised Republicans across nearly every battleground in the first quarter of 2026, including James Talarico's reported $27 million haul in Texas, Sen. Jon Ossoff's $14 million quarter in Georgia and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's $13.8 million in the Tar Heel State. On April 13, Cook Political Report moved four Senate races in Democrats' direction, including shifting Georgia and North Carolina from "toss-up" to "lean Democratic," and downgrading Ohio from "lean Republican" to "toss-up."
* One of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's biggest strategic shifts has been broadening the number of Senate races it is targeting. Early in the cycle, Democrats were eyeing a small set of states like Maine and North Carolina, but the committee has since worked to expand the map and create multiple paths to a majority.
* That includes putting traditionally Republican-leaning states into play. Alaska offers an instructive example: The DSCC has spent $1 million to boost the party's on-the-ground infrastructure. The recruitment of former Rep. Mary Peltola has also been central to that shift, giving Democrats a credible challenger to incumbent GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola raised four times as much as her opponent in the first quarter.
* "The White House isn't really popular right now. It's going to cause problems for Republicans all over the country," said Rexroad, the Republican consultant. "We are facing some really difficult headwinds this year, and you can say it's still months away, but I don't see that changing between now and November."
* "There is energy on the ground among the grassroots of Democrats. We've seen it all across the country," Siegfried said. "Republicans need to find a way to energize their base and make sure they turn out and that they can match the intensity in terms of turnout."
* But for the first time this cycle, Republicans are the ones bracing. And Democrats are starting to allow themselves to count seats.
Wall Street Journal: Republican Nerves Are Fraying Ahead of Midterm Elections
* Republican officials are sounding the alarm and urging significant changes ahead of November's midterm elections, worried that the war in Iran and Democratic enthusiasm could lead to a blowout. In some places, they fear it might already be too late.
* Even in deeply red Texas, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned a conservative conference last week that the climate echoes that of 2018, when Democrat Beto O'Rourke nearly defeated GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. He said mudslinging in the GOP Senate primary between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton could hurt down-ballot Republicans--and cost control of the statehouse--if the party remained divided.
* Todd Blodgett, a Republican activist in Iowa, said he sees rising costs hurting farmers and darkening the mood of his state's voters. "What optimism I did feel pretty much evaporated with this war," he said. "[...] the price of fertilizer has doubled in Iowa and gas is up 35% to 40% a gallon."
* The Cook Political Report this week moved forecasts for three Senate races in states Trump won in 2024 toward Democrats: Ohio moved to tossup, and Georgia and North Carolina are leaning blue.
* [...] Patrick, the Texas lieutenant governor, delivered his alert at the influential Texas Public Policy Foundation's annual summit in Austin. Citing a state Senate special election in January in which a staunchly Trump-supporting North Texas district swung 31 points leftward to elect a Democrat, he told the crowd not to take the GOP's 23-year control of Texas for granted.
* In an interview, Patrick said he fears complacency among Republicans and has been struck by the number who have told him they would never vote for either Paxton or Cornyn. It would only take 10% to 15% of GOP voters staying home for Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico to win, he said.
* "This is the nastiest race we've had in a primary between Republicans in 20 to 25 years and maybe ever," Patrick said. "I want to wake people up."
* Talarico's eye-popping $27 million first-quarter fundraising haul lit up his phone this week, [Dade Phelan, a Republican Texas state representative] said. He thinks swing voters could gravitate to Talarico's relatively calm demeanor during a chaotic national environment.
* "There's definitely a nervous buzz," he said.
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Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/what-theyre-saying-theres-a-storm-coming-senate-republicans-sound-the-alarm-as-democrats-create-a-feasible-path-to-the-majority/
MDP Launches Billboards, Digital Ads on Cancerous Chemicals That Mike Duggan Allowed Near Kids
LANSING, Michigan, April 21 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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MDP Launches Billboards, Digital Ads on Cancerous Chemicals That Mike Duggan Allowed Near Kids
DETROIT -- Today, the Michigan Democratic Party launched new billboards across Detroit and a digital ad campaign calling out MAGA-funded Mike Duggan for allowing cancerous chemicals, including lead and arsenic, to be dumped in neighborhoods across Detroit--putting kids at risk and leaving taxpayers to foot the clean-up bill.
Testing has shown that the dirt Duggan used to backfill
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 21 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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MDP Launches Billboards, Digital Ads on Cancerous Chemicals That Mike Duggan Allowed Near Kids
DETROIT -- Today, the Michigan Democratic Party launched new billboards across Detroit and a digital ad campaign calling out MAGA-funded Mike Duggan for allowing cancerous chemicals, including lead and arsenic, to be dumped in neighborhoods across Detroit--putting kids at risk and leaving taxpayers to foot the clean-up bill.
Testing has shown that the dirt Duggan used to backfillsites across Detroit is rife with lead, arsenic, and other harmful contaminants that pose serious cancer risks. According to experts, Duggan's dirty dirt is especially dangerous to children playing outside.
Taxpayers are now on the hook for a multi-million dollar clean-up at hundreds of sites across Detroit, and journalist Tom Perkins noted that Duggan was now "skating out of town, leaving these pits full of toxic waste next to people."
In 2015, Duggan promised Detroiters that he was making it "very difficult" to bring in soil "unless we were confident where it came from." But Duggan failed to keep his promise, and by the end of 2025, a criminal probe was opened into Duggan's dirty dirt. Experts have questioned Duggan's failures to manage the situation and properly test the dirt, with a former state regulator describing it as "mismanagement."
"Because of Mike Duggan, children across Detroit are now exposed to dangerous and cancerous chemicals that pose serious health risks," said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel. "Duggan allowed lead and arsenic to be dumped across the city and taxpayers are now footing the bill to clean up his toxic mess. Mike Duggan should explain why he downplayed this issue and allowed these cancerous chemicals near our kids."
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Billboards running across Detroit:
Digital Ad:
[View photos in the link at bottom.]
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/mdp-launches-billboards-digital-ads-on-cancerous-chemicals-that-mike-duggan-allowed-near-kids/
MDP Endorses Candidates for Key Statewide Offices
LANSING, Michigan, April 21 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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MDP Endorses Candidates for Key Statewide Offices
DETROIT -- Yesterday, the Michigan Democratic Party endorsed several candidates for key statewide positions, as more than 7,200 members showed up at the 2026 Endorsement Convention--the party's largest convention in history.
After the convention, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Yesterday's record-breaking turnout was more proof that enthusiasm is on our side and that Democrats
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, April 21 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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MDP Endorses Candidates for Key Statewide Offices
DETROIT -- Yesterday, the Michigan Democratic Party endorsed several candidates for key statewide positions, as more than 7,200 members showed up at the 2026 Endorsement Convention--the party's largest convention in history.
After the convention, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Yesterday's record-breaking turnout was more proof that enthusiasm is on our side and that Democratsare energized heading into November. I'd like to thank Michigan Democrats from every corner of the state who showed up and made their voices heard.
"Congratulations to each of the endorsed candidates on their victories. As we now come together as one party, I look forward to working with each of the endorsed candidates as we fight to lower costs for working families and stand up against the Trump administration.
"I'd also like to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to every candidate who ran for office. Michigan Democrats are truly proud to have such a deep bench of leaders to choose from, and we're grateful to each candidate for their service to our party."
"Looking ahead, Michigan Democrats are fired up and ready to win up and down the ballot this November."
The Michigan Democratic Party endorsed the following candidates:
* Garlin Gilchrist for Secretary of State
* Eli Savit for Attorney General
* Megan Cavanagh and Noah Hood for Supreme Court
* Judith Pritchett and Tiffany Tilley for State Board of Education
* Kelly Tebay Zemke and Brianna Scott for Michigan State University Board of Trustees
* Shereef Akeel and Richard Mack for Wayne State University Board of Governors
* Paul Brown and Amir Makled for University of Michigan Board of Regents
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/mdp-endorses-candidates-for-key-statewide-offices/
ICYMI: Trump Is Throwing Cornyn to the Wolves [New York Magazine]
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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ICYMI: Trump Is Throwing Cornyn to the Wolves [New York Magazine]
New York Magazine: "Ken Paxton's challenge to four-term incumbent John Cornyn in Texas has evolved from a scare into a deadly threat"
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In case you missed it, New York Magazine is shining a light on how Senate Republicans are "deeply worried" about the "deadly threat" posed by the Texas GOP Senate primary runoff between floundering incumbent John Cornyn and "sexual and financial scandal magnet of the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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ICYMI: Trump Is Throwing Cornyn to the Wolves [New York Magazine]
New York Magazine: "Ken Paxton's challenge to four-term incumbent John Cornyn in Texas has evolved from a scare into a deadly threat"
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In case you missed it, New York Magazine is shining a light on how Senate Republicans are "deeply worried" about the "deadly threat" posed by the Texas GOP Senate primary runoff between floundering incumbent John Cornyn and "sexual and financial scandal magnet of thehighest order" Ken Paxton.
After Senate Republicans "begged on bended knee" for Trump to intervene, the President vowed months ago to "soon" endorse in the race. Since then, there have been "crickets" from the White House, creating "agony, not just for Cornyn, but for GOP donors and strategists too" as "Republicans grow uneasy about beating James Talarico."
With poll after poll showing "vulnerable" Paxton leading "RINO" Cornyn - with or without a Trump endorsement - Trump appears to be "throwing Cornyn to the right-wing wolves." Cornyn and Paxton combined "fell short of the campaign cash amassed this year by James Talarico" who "wowed the political world by raising $27 million in the first three months of the year."
See for yourself:
New York Magazine: Trump Is Throwing Cornyn to the Wolves
* To the operatives and elected officials battling to save the GOP's Senate majority in November, the emergence of a bitter Senate primary in the red state of Texas has been a nasty surprise.
* But MAGA militant and attorney general Ken Paxton's challenge to four-term incumbent John Cornyn in Texas has evolved from a scare into a deadly threat, reflecting a major turn to the far right in the Lone Star GOP.
* But Senate Republicans will go to great lengths to protect their incumbents, aside from the fact that Paxton (not just an extremist but also a sexual and financial scandal magnet of the highest order) is deemed a lot more vulnerable to a general-election upset by Democratic nominee James Talarico that could be disastrous for the GOP.
* So Senate Republicans have thrown a ton of money into saving Cornyn, who managed to edge Paxton in the March 3 primary. But thanks to a third candidate in the race, the incumbent must now cope with a May 26 runoff. Typically, GOP runoffs in Texas are low-turnout affairs that give a big advantage to the more ideologically inclined candidates, a phenomenon that could be exacerbated this year by proximity to the Memorial Day weekend.
* All this explains why the Senate GOP is deeply worried about Cornyn and has begged on bended knee for the closest thing to divine intervention: a Cornyn endorsement by Donald Trump.
* And the day after the primary, it looked like they might get their wish, as Trump promised to "soon" endorse a candidate and then demand that the unlucky rival drop out [...] Since then, we've heard crickets from the White House about the Texas race, and now Cornyn's friends have pretty much given up on getting the Boss's assistance:
* Senator Steve Daines is very close to the Senate leadership and to the president. His comment suggests that if Trump is going to endorse anyone in Texas, it could be Paxton. If that's true, then at a minimum Trump is throwing Cornyn to the right-wing wolves of the runoff electorate, and one day when he's feeling especially ornery, he might just tell Texans to finish him off.
* This situation has to be agony, not just for Cornyn, but for GOP donors and strategists too. Nobody wants to throw good money after bad, particularly to help Cornyn (whose attacks on Paxton have been nasty and personal in the extreme) make his potential vanquisher even weaker in a close general election that could be decisive for Senate control.
* It's probably significant that the announcement last week of massive new investments by the Senate Leadership Fund into an array of 2026 races did not include anything for Texas. As it happens, Talarico just wowed the political world by raising $27 million in the first three months of the year.
* Maybe the incumbent can save himself without help from Trump or Senate Republicans. But I wouldn't bet on it.
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Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/icymi-trump-is-throwing-cornyn-to-the-wolves-new-york-magazine/
ICYMI: Republicans Plan Big Spending to Keep Ohio's Senate Seat - Bribery Scandal Adds to Their Challenges [Associated Press]
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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Apr 20, 2026
ICYMI: Republicans Plan Big Spending to Keep Ohio's Senate Seat. A Bribery Scandal Adds to Their Challenges [Associated Press]
Associated Press: "Husted was recently called to testify as a defense witness in the related criminal trial of two former energy executives, testimony he might have to reprise after a hung jury led to a mistrial in the case in March"
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In case you missed it, new bombshell reporting from the Associated Press is highlighting how
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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Apr 20, 2026
ICYMI: Republicans Plan Big Spending to Keep Ohio's Senate Seat. A Bribery Scandal Adds to Their Challenges [Associated Press]
Associated Press: "Husted was recently called to testify as a defense witness in the related criminal trial of two former energy executives, testimony he might have to reprise after a hung jury led to a mistrial in the case in March"
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In case you missed it, new bombshell reporting from the Associated Press is highlighting howJon Husted has been at the center of "a $60 million bribery scandal that has roiled [Ohio] politics for more than five years." Husted, who was called to testify as a defense witness in the criminal trial of two indicted former FirstEnergy executives, could be "back on the witness stand a week before early voting begins for the November elections" as the case heads to a retrial.
Husted was mentioned nearly 400 times as his key role in the FirstEnergy corruption scheme came into focus during the trial, which revealed phone calls, text messages, and secret meetings between Husted and the indicted FirstEnergy executives. Now, Ohioans are paying $663 a year more in utility costs to pay for the bailout negotiated by Husted.
See for yourself:
Associated Press: Republicans plan big spending to keep Ohio's Senate seat. A bribery scandal adds to their challenges
* As he seeks to retain his U.S. Senate seat this fall, Ohio Republican Jon Husted has been unable to escape the shadow of a $60 million bribery scandal that has roiled state politics for more than five years.
* Husted was recently called to testify as a defense witness in the related criminal trial of two former energy executives, testimony he might have to reprise after a hung jury led to a mistrial in the case in March. A judge in Akron scheduled the retrial to begin Sept. 28, meaning Husted could be back on the witness stand a week before early voting begins for the November elections.
* [...] the vast public record that has emerged from the scandal has raised questions about Husted's dealings with key players who have been indicted or imprisoned in the scheme, which revolved around legislative approval of a $1 billion bailout for the state's two nuclear power plants.
* In a potential sign of concern, Senate Republicans' main super political action committee, the Senate Leadership Fund, recently announced plans to spend $79 million on Husted's behalf. That's roughly one-quarter of its planned national spending in eight tightly contested Senate races.
* Husted calendars that came to light during the recent trial involving executives for the utility, Akron-based FirstEnergy, showed a number of additional meetings or phone calls that he had with former CEO Chuck Jones, with the state's former top utility regulator, who has since died, and with then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder. They formed the triangle of influence at the heart of scheme as laid out by federal prosecutors. Husted's calendars were obtained by the Ohio Capital Journal through a public records request and have been reviewed by The Associated Press.
* Jones and former FirstEnergy lobbyist Michael Dowling were charged for their alleged roles in the bribery scandal and will be retried in the fall. Householder is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of orchestrating the scheme, which FirstEnergy has admitted to underwriting.
* The interactions noted in Husted's calendars were around the time the bailout bill was being developed and passed. Evidence presented in various cases showed Jones and Dowling discussing a push by Husted for additional subsidies in the legislation.
* In June 2019, Jones texted Dowling screenshots of a conversation he had with Householder that suggested Husted was working on FirstEnergy's behalf to extend the term of the nuclear plant subsidies from six years to 10 years.
* Jones urged Householder to "negotiate hard" for 10 years of subsidies or he would be forced to revisit the issue again before his speakership ended. "Ugh, that adds $600M," Householder wrote about an additional amount that has not been previously reported. The bill called for charging Ohio ratepayers $150 million a year in nuclear subsidies.
* "Husted called me 2 nights ago and was supposed to get it in the Senate version," Jones replied.
* A longtime Ohio lobbyist told federal agents that FirstEnergy and FirstEnergy Solutions, the subsidiary that owned the nuclear power plants helped by the bailout, funneled dark money to nonprofits that benefited Husted and Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican.
* According to the notes from his Department of Justice interview obtained by The Associated Press and not previously reported, lobbyist Neil Clark identified one of the groups as Freedom Frontier. That was the very group that received a $1 million contribution in 2017 marked internally by FirstEnergy as "Husted campaign." The donation was brought to light through documents filed in a lawsuit by FirstEnergy shareholders and obtained through a records request by cleveland.com. Husted was a candidate for governor at the time.
* Dark money refers to political contributions flowing to certain nonprofit organizations whose donors do not have to be publicly identified. Coordinating between those groups and candidate campaigns is generally prohibited by federal law.
* Internal FirstEnergy communications from 2017 and 2018, which is evidence in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, include discussions involving Jones, Dowling and others about attending Husted events as far back as 2016. They also reflect Dowling's concerns about dark money contributions becoming public.
* Jones and Dowling also discussed strategies to contribute under alternate names. In July 2018, for instance, as the two were planning a DeWine-Husted fundraiser in Naples, Florida, they discussed contributing under one name while covering event costs under another -- so there would be "no cost billed to (the) campaign."
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Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/icymi-republicans-plan-big-spending-to-keep-ohios-senate-seat-a-bribery-scandal-adds-to-their-challenges-associated-press/
DNC: Republicans Are in Trouble Ahead of the Midterms - And They Know It
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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Republicans Are in Trouble Ahead of the Midterms - And They Know It
Ahead of the midterm elections, Americans are facing soaring prices on everything from gas to groceries to health care as they foot the bill for Donald Trump's deadly and costly war of choice with Iran -- and voters are fed up. A new poll released yesterday showed Trump's approval rating sinking to the lowest point of his presidency, as only a dismal 37% of Americans approve of Trump's performance.
Two-thirds
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on April 20, 2026:
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Republicans Are in Trouble Ahead of the Midterms - And They Know It
Ahead of the midterm elections, Americans are facing soaring prices on everything from gas to groceries to health care as they foot the bill for Donald Trump's deadly and costly war of choice with Iran -- and voters are fed up. A new poll released yesterday showed Trump's approval rating sinking to the lowest point of his presidency, as only a dismal 37% of Americans approve of Trump's performance.
Two-thirdsof Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, and nearly 70% disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation and the cost of living, with a majority strongly disapproving of Trump's economic performance. Among Republicans, the percentage of those who approve of Trump's handling of inflation is 10 points lower than last summer.
Trump's top advisors, including his chief of staff Susie Wiles and the head of Trump's political operation James Blair, are convening dozens of political operatives today to strategize as they grow increasingly worried about their chances in the midterm elections.
In response, DNC Spokesperson Jaelin O'Halloran released the following statement:
"Donald Trump and Republicans are headed for an embarrassing defeat in the midterms -- and they're panicking. Americans are being squeezed by sky-high prices, made even worse as Trump forces them to foot the bill for his unpopular war with Iran. Working families who were already struggling to make ends meet in Trump's economy are being pushed even further -- and they're fed up. As Trump and Republicans look the other way, Democrats are focused on what actually matters: lowering prices and making life better for everyday Americans."
Trump and Republicans are out of touch with working families. The average price of a gallon of gasoline is a whopping $4.04, and 95% of Americans are paying more in taxes this year because of Trump's disastrous policies. Just last week, Trump called rising prices "fake inflation," and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said people "in their heart of hearts, they feel good" about the economy.
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/republicans-are-in-trouble-ahead-of-the-midterms-and-they-know-it/
DNC Chair Martin Issues Statement on Labor Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Resignation
WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement on April 20, 2026, by Chair Ken Martin:
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Statement from DNC Chair Ken Martin on Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigning in Disgrace
The White House today announced that Donald Trump's Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is resigning after a 13-month tenure plagued by endless misconduct allegations as American workers were left behind. Chavez-DeRemer is the third cabinet official to leave Trump's administration in less than two months after Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary
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WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement on April 20, 2026, by Chair Ken Martin:
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Statement from DNC Chair Ken Martin on Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer Resigning in Disgrace
The White House today announced that Donald Trump's Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer is resigning after a 13-month tenure plagued by endless misconduct allegations as American workers were left behind. Chavez-DeRemer is the third cabinet official to leave Trump's administration in less than two months after Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretaryof Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Throughout her tenure at the Department of Labor (DOL), Chavez-DeRemer allegedly misused taxpayer funds and engaged in "inappropriate" relationships with her security guard. Chavez-DeRemer reportedly used DOL funds to throw herself a birthday party under the guise of a "swearing-in celebration." The DOL's inspector general has been investigating a complaint against her for using taxpayer money for her personal travel, including traveling with a staffer to a resort in Las Vegas while the federal government was shut down.
Under Chavez-DeRemer, the DOL worked to rescind regulations designed to ensure workers have safe workplaces, including those that limit workers' exposure to harmful substances and chemicals, as well as protections for workers' wages. Meanwhile, everyday Americans were left struggling to find good-paying jobs: U.S. employers cut more than 60,000 jobs in March, 25% more than the cuts announced in February.
In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned in disgrace as the latest cabinet member to leave Donald Trump's circus. The history books will remember her tenure as one plagued by scandals while American workers were left to fend for themselves. Trump's job market is in shambles and everyday Americans are being forced to work multiple jobs just to stay afloat, but instead of improving workers' lives, Chavez-DeRemer used her position for personal gain at the expense of hardworking taxpayers."
Just last week, new reporting revealed that Chavez-DeRemer, her top aides, and family members are under investigation for regularly sending personal messages to young staffers, making requests like bringing wine to their hotel rooms on official trips or asking female staffers to stay in touch with Chavez-DeRemer's husband and father.
In 2025, the department spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on Chavez-DeRemer's travel for more than 50 official trips, at least 10 of which were to locations where she has personal ties. Even on official trips, the complaint alleges that Chavez-DeRemer would speak for 30 minutes to an hour and then "goes out drinking at night."
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/news/statement-from-dnc-chair-ken-martin-on-secretary-of-labor-lori-chavez-deremer-resigning-in-disgrace/
