Politics, Parties, Candidates
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Politics, Parties, Candidates
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Michael Whatley's Appointment Of Child Predator "Continues To Dog" His Campaign As His Base Passes Resolution Barring Predators From Party Leadership
RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 2 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news:
* * *
Michael Whatley's Appointment Of Child Predator "Continues To Dog" His Campaign As His Base Passes Resolution Barring Predators From Party Leadership
*
Washington Examiner: "Who would vote for someone like that? What sort of party official would want to promote a person with that on their resume?"
New reporting from the Washington Examiner is highlighting how the NCGOP banned child sex predators from holding party office in direct response to DC insider Michael Whatley repeatedly elevating ... Show Full Article RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 2 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * Michael Whatley's Appointment Of Child Predator "Continues To Dog" His Campaign As His Base Passes Resolution Barring Predators From Party Leadership * Washington Examiner: "Who would vote for someone like that? What sort of party official would want to promote a person with that on their resume?" New reporting from the Washington Examiner is highlighting how the NCGOP banned child sex predators from holding party office in direct response to DC insider Michael Whatley repeatedly elevatingconvicted child sex offender Harvey West.
When the ban - which the Examiner calls a "setback for pedophiles in North Carolina" - was previously proposed under Whatley's leadership, it was met with " unbelievable resistance. "
For months, Whatley has been "dodg[ing] questions about how much he knew about West and when."
* * *
Read More:
Washington Examiner [Secrets Newsletter]: A setback for pedophiles in North Carolina (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/4628376/poll-reveals-reluctant-right-defecting-maga-coalition/)
Rob Crilly | June 29, 2026
* Congratulations to the North Carolina Republican Party, which passed a resolution at its recent state convention banning anyone charged or convicted of sexually abusing children from holding office.
* You might think that such a history would be automatically disqualifying in the first place. Who would vote for someone like that? What sort of party official would want to promote a person with that on their resume?
* But it seems that such a statute is needed for a state party where Harvey West Jr., a former police officer who spent six years in prison after pleading guilty to "taking indecent liberties with a child," held two senior positions until his past came under renewed scrutiny recently.
* And it continues to dog Michael Whatley's campaign for the Senate, as he dodges questions about how much he knew about West and when.
* Felons in general need not worry, however. A rival resolution barring all felons from holding state, district, or local office was shelved in favor of the leadership's preferred version, with its narrower prohibition.
***
Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/press/michael-whatleys-appointment-of-child-predator-continues-to-dog-his-campaign-as-his-base-passes-resolution-barring-predators-from-party-leadership/
* * *
Michael Whatley's Appointment Of Child Predator "Continues To Dog" His Campaign As His Base Passes Resolution Barring Predators From Party Leadership
*
Washington Examiner: "Who would vote for someone like that? What sort of party official would want to promote a person with that on their resume?"
New reporting from the Washington Examiner is highlighting how the NCGOP banned child sex predators from holding party office in direct response to DC insider Michael Whatley repeatedly elevating ... Show Full Article RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 2 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * Michael Whatley's Appointment Of Child Predator "Continues To Dog" His Campaign As His Base Passes Resolution Barring Predators From Party Leadership * Washington Examiner: "Who would vote for someone like that? What sort of party official would want to promote a person with that on their resume?" New reporting from the Washington Examiner is highlighting how the NCGOP banned child sex predators from holding party office in direct response to DC insider Michael Whatley repeatedly elevatingconvicted child sex offender Harvey West.
When the ban - which the Examiner calls a "setback for pedophiles in North Carolina" - was previously proposed under Whatley's leadership, it was met with " unbelievable resistance. "
For months, Whatley has been "dodg[ing] questions about how much he knew about West and when."
* * *
Read More:
Washington Examiner [Secrets Newsletter]: A setback for pedophiles in North Carolina (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/washington-secrets/4628376/poll-reveals-reluctant-right-defecting-maga-coalition/)
Rob Crilly | June 29, 2026
* Congratulations to the North Carolina Republican Party, which passed a resolution at its recent state convention banning anyone charged or convicted of sexually abusing children from holding office.
* You might think that such a history would be automatically disqualifying in the first place. Who would vote for someone like that? What sort of party official would want to promote a person with that on their resume?
* But it seems that such a statute is needed for a state party where Harvey West Jr., a former police officer who spent six years in prison after pleading guilty to "taking indecent liberties with a child," held two senior positions until his past came under renewed scrutiny recently.
* And it continues to dog Michael Whatley's campaign for the Senate, as he dodges questions about how much he knew about West and when.
* Felons in general need not worry, however. A rival resolution barring all felons from holding state, district, or local office was shelved in favor of the leadership's preferred version, with its narrower prohibition.
***
Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/press/michael-whatleys-appointment-of-child-predator-continues-to-dog-his-campaign-as-his-base-passes-resolution-barring-predators-from-party-leadership/
MDP, Michigan AFL-CIO, and State Leaders Slam Mike Rogers' Price Hikes Ahead of OBBBA Anniversary
LANSING, Michigan, July 2 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on July 1, 2026:
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MDP, Michigan AFL-CIO, and State Leaders Slam Mike Rogers' Price Hikes Ahead of OBBBA Anniversary
Today in Lansing, ahead of the anniversary of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber, state Senator Chedrick Greene and state Representative Jason Morgan held a press conference sounding the alarm on GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers' agenda that would spike costs for Michigan families--and slamming Rogers ... Show Full Article LANSING, Michigan, July 2 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on July 1, 2026: * * * MDP, Michigan AFL-CIO, and State Leaders Slam Mike Rogers' Price Hikes Ahead of OBBBA Anniversary Today in Lansing, ahead of the anniversary of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber, state Senator Chedrick Greene and state Representative Jason Morgan held a press conference sounding the alarm on GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers' agenda that would spike costs for Michigan families--and slamming Rogersfor repeatedly dismissing Michiganders' affordability concerns.
"On nearly every aspect of a family's budget, Mike Rogers' agenda has forced costs to increase," said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel. "Instead of fighting to lower costs for everyday people, Price Hike Mike is focused on being a rubber-stamp for Donald Trump and enriching himself and his wealthy donors."
"Mike Rogers is lying to Michigan voters while he supports cutting the programs they rely on--including ones that keep families from going hungry and help people afford healthcare," said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber. "And all the while, multimillionaires like himself are getting special tax handouts."
"At a time when people are already struggling to afford groceries, housing, and childcare, Mike Rogers wants to make healthcare more expensive too," said state Representative Jason Morgan. "Michiganders can't afford Mike Rogers' healthcare price hikes."
"If Mike Rogers spent more time with everyday Michiganders instead of ultra-wealthy elites, he wouldn't be mocking people's concerns as they struggle to afford gas and groceries," said state Senator Chedrick Greene. "We need leaders who will fight for our hardworking men and women--not someone like Mike Rogers who looks the other way while his party makes their lives more expensive."
Mike Rogers supports policies that resulted in massive price hikes for Michiganders -- and has repeatedly told them to get over it as their costs spiked:
* Rogers supports the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" -- the GOP's law that gutted Medicaid, put rural hospitals at risk of closing, and doubled premiums for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders -- which he has called a "monumental victory" for working families while repeatedly lying about the Medicaid cuts he supported.
* Rogers has denied that costs have gone up because of the policies he supported, falsely claiming that "working families are not paying more" as inflation surged to its highest level in years.
* Rogers supports Trump's war in Iran, which caused Michigan gas prices to skyrocket to nearly $5 a gallon, and has repeatedly dismissed Michiganders' pain at the gas pump, saying "We're gonna be fine, we got plenty of oil."
* Rogers supports Trump's reckless tariffs, which raised the cost of daily essentials, and mocked Michiganders' concerns about rising grocery prices, saying "Oh my gosh, coffee went up. You know, horror."
* Rogers has proposed bringing back "high risk-pools" and "ending no-cost preventive care" -- which would spike premiums even higher and force Michiganders to pay new out-of-pocket costs for basic healthcare services -- and said "If you go up and have to pay the doctor $50 for your annual physical, that's probably okay."
Visit PriceHikeMike.com to learn more about how Mike Rogers' agenda is spiking costs -- and how he dismissed Michiganders' cost concerns
* * *
Original text here: https://michigandems.com/mdp-michigan-afl-cio-and-state-leaders-slam-mike-rogers-price-hikes-ahead-of-obbba-anniversary/
* * *
MDP, Michigan AFL-CIO, and State Leaders Slam Mike Rogers' Price Hikes Ahead of OBBBA Anniversary
Today in Lansing, ahead of the anniversary of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber, state Senator Chedrick Greene and state Representative Jason Morgan held a press conference sounding the alarm on GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers' agenda that would spike costs for Michigan families--and slamming Rogers ... Show Full Article LANSING, Michigan, July 2 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release on July 1, 2026: * * * MDP, Michigan AFL-CIO, and State Leaders Slam Mike Rogers' Price Hikes Ahead of OBBBA Anniversary Today in Lansing, ahead of the anniversary of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel, Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber, state Senator Chedrick Greene and state Representative Jason Morgan held a press conference sounding the alarm on GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers' agenda that would spike costs for Michigan families--and slamming Rogersfor repeatedly dismissing Michiganders' affordability concerns.
"On nearly every aspect of a family's budget, Mike Rogers' agenda has forced costs to increase," said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel. "Instead of fighting to lower costs for everyday people, Price Hike Mike is focused on being a rubber-stamp for Donald Trump and enriching himself and his wealthy donors."
"Mike Rogers is lying to Michigan voters while he supports cutting the programs they rely on--including ones that keep families from going hungry and help people afford healthcare," said Michigan AFL-CIO President Ron Bieber. "And all the while, multimillionaires like himself are getting special tax handouts."
"At a time when people are already struggling to afford groceries, housing, and childcare, Mike Rogers wants to make healthcare more expensive too," said state Representative Jason Morgan. "Michiganders can't afford Mike Rogers' healthcare price hikes."
"If Mike Rogers spent more time with everyday Michiganders instead of ultra-wealthy elites, he wouldn't be mocking people's concerns as they struggle to afford gas and groceries," said state Senator Chedrick Greene. "We need leaders who will fight for our hardworking men and women--not someone like Mike Rogers who looks the other way while his party makes their lives more expensive."
Mike Rogers supports policies that resulted in massive price hikes for Michiganders -- and has repeatedly told them to get over it as their costs spiked:
* Rogers supports the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill" -- the GOP's law that gutted Medicaid, put rural hospitals at risk of closing, and doubled premiums for hundreds of thousands of Michiganders -- which he has called a "monumental victory" for working families while repeatedly lying about the Medicaid cuts he supported.
* Rogers has denied that costs have gone up because of the policies he supported, falsely claiming that "working families are not paying more" as inflation surged to its highest level in years.
* Rogers supports Trump's war in Iran, which caused Michigan gas prices to skyrocket to nearly $5 a gallon, and has repeatedly dismissed Michiganders' pain at the gas pump, saying "We're gonna be fine, we got plenty of oil."
* Rogers supports Trump's reckless tariffs, which raised the cost of daily essentials, and mocked Michiganders' concerns about rising grocery prices, saying "Oh my gosh, coffee went up. You know, horror."
* Rogers has proposed bringing back "high risk-pools" and "ending no-cost preventive care" -- which would spike premiums even higher and force Michiganders to pay new out-of-pocket costs for basic healthcare services -- and said "If you go up and have to pay the doctor $50 for your annual physical, that's probably okay."
Visit PriceHikeMike.com to learn more about how Mike Rogers' agenda is spiking costs -- and how he dismissed Michiganders' cost concerns
* * *
Original text here: https://michigandems.com/mdp-michigan-afl-cio-and-state-leaders-slam-mike-rogers-price-hikes-ahead-of-obbba-anniversary/
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: Alaska Senate Race Shifts Towards Peltola as Democrats Move "Within Striking Distance" of Majority
WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on July 1, 2026:
* * *
Alaska Senate Race Shifts Towards Peltola as Democrats Move "Within Striking Distance" of Majority
Today, race raters at the Cook Political Report shifted the Alaska Senate race in Democrats' favor, representing "a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control" as new polls show "ideal recruit" and "proven electoral overperformer" Mary Peltola garnering "a particularly positive impression from voters" thanks to her "independent reputation."
Meanwhile, with the political ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on July 1, 2026: * * * Alaska Senate Race Shifts Towards Peltola as Democrats Move "Within Striking Distance" of Majority Today, race raters at the Cook Political Report shifted the Alaska Senate race in Democrats' favor, representing "a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control" as new polls show "ideal recruit" and "proven electoral overperformer" Mary Peltola garnering "a particularly positive impression from voters" thanks to her "independent reputation." Meanwhile, with the politicalenvironment "working against Sullivan in a way it did not in 2020," voters are feeling "the destructive effects of high diesel prices at the outset of fishing season" thanks to Sullivan's support for the Iran war, while "around one-third of Alaskans [who] still receive Medicaid funding" feel the impact of his votes for massive health care cuts.
The move "represents a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control" and creates "a path for Democrats through the Toss Up column (Ohio, Alaska and Maine) and the Lean Democrat column (North Carolina) to get the four seats they need for a majority."
See for yourself:
Cook Political Report: Alaska Senate Shifts Into Toss Up Column (https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/alaska-senate/alaska-senate-shifts-toss-column)
* [The Alaska] race was already destined to be competitive after Democrats landed an ideal recruit in former Rep. Mary Peltola, a proven electoral overperformer, and even a few points could make the difference in the state's top-four ranked choice voting system.
* Democrats argue that Peltola's image is once again right-side up after facing millions of dollars in attack ads last cycle; Pelota also outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris by 11 points [...] Polls from Alaska Survey Research [...] have consistently shown Peltola narrowly leading Sullivan and close to 50%.
* Republicans have detested the top-four ranked choice system that was implemented for the 2022 election -- and this will be Sen. Sullivan's first time on the ballot under its new rules. The GOP's public trashing of the ranking system gives Democrats hope that Republicans will decline to rank more than one candidate, while soft Democrats and independents will use the ranking system to buoy Peltola as an alternative to their top choice.
* Since getting in the race in January, Peltola has posted strong fundraising numbers -- almost $9 million in the first quarter -- and is expected to have another impressive quarter for the period that just closed.
* But the environment is working against Sullivan in a way it did not in 2020, when President Donald Trump carried the state by 10 points at the same time the incumbent beat back an independent aligned with Democrats by almost 13 points. [Peltola, an] Alaska Native[,] has built an independent reputation in the state with the slogan "Fish. Family. Freedom." And [...] voters may not forget the destructive effects of high diesel prices at the outset of fishing season. [...] Democrats [also] will point out that around one-third of Alaskans still receive Medicaid funding, which was slashed by last year's One Big Beautiful Bill.
* Moving Alaska into Toss Up also represents a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control. There is now a path for Democrats through the Toss Up column (Ohio, Alaska and Maine) and the Lean Democrat column (North Carolina) to get the four seats they need for a majority.
New York Times: Control of the Senate Is Up for Grabs, Times/Siena Polls Find (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/politics/polls-senate-control.html)
* Democrats face an uphill battle to win control of the Senate but have pulled within striking distance of enough Republican-held seats to put the majority in play this fall, according to new New York Times/Siena polls in six Senate battleground states.
* Republicans are hampered by the unpopularity of President Trump and his diminished standing on the economy, while most of the Democratic candidates are so far running ahead of their party's own struggling brand, the polls show.
* [...] the new polls suggest that Democrats have a path.
* Mr. Trump carried five of the states in 2024, and if all six states were considered together he won them by an average of eight percentage points. In the polls, the average of the Senate races in those six states was a tie, with 47 percent for both Republicans and Democrats. The shift shows how far the political environment has tilted in the Democrats' direction ahead of the midterm elections.
* Voters across all six battlegrounds were thoroughly frustrated by rising prices -- and many blamed Mr. Trump. Only 36 percent of voters approved of his handling of cost-of-living issues, including an abysmal 24 percent among independent voters.
* "I'm confronted with it every day," said Christian Privett, a 57-year-old retired independent voter, from Durham, N.C. about rising costs. "It's insane. A box of cereal, it's, like, almost $8 today."
* Mr. Privett, who described himself as a former Republican "set adrift without a party," said he planned to vote for Mr. Cooper. "I just want to get back to that, where you don't wake up every morning wondering what is going to come out of a politician's mouth to roil the markets or to start a protest or to cause upset," he said.
* In the poll, Mr. Trump's average overall approval rating stood at 43 percent, with 54 percent disapproving.
* Economic frustrations appear to have at least cracked open the door of opportunity for Democrats in 2026.
* Voters in each state said the most important issues to them -- by far -- were jobs, the economy, inflation and the cost of living. And on those measures, Mr. Trump's image is deeply damaged.
* By a 14-percentage point margin, voters in these Senate battlegrounds said that Mr. Trump's policies have hurt more than helped.
* The view among crucial independent voters was even bleaker: 52 percent said Mr. Trump's policies had hurt, while only 22 percent said they had helped.
* Democrats were up by 14 percentage points among voters who said the economy was the most important issue to them. And they are winning 63 percent of the vote among those who said the economy is fair or poor, while Republicans are winning 75 percent of those who said the economy is excellent or good.
* The fundamental problem for Republicans: More voters think the economy is bad than good.
* Mr. Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, which sharply drove up gas prices, was also unpopular. Only 39 percent of voters approved of his handling of the war, and only 33 percent approved of his management of gas prices. Mr. Trump's strongest issue was immigration.
* The national political environment is hurting Republicans.
* But he did not have such reservations with Mr. Turek, saying he planned to vote for him in the general election. "He's far enough on the left that he aligns with a lot of my standards, but not too far to the left that it seems a bit extreme," said Mr. Major.
* For now, Democrats have an enthusiasm edge: 93 percent of Democrats said they were very likely or almost certain to vote compared with 87 percent of Republicans, across the six states.
* That excitement appears to be helping Democrats blunt natural Republican advantages in states like Iowa, Ohio, Alaska and Texas that have trended Republican in recent years -- and which voted for Mr. Trump in 2024 by double-digit percentages. In all four of those states, the Democratic candidate was outperforming the share of voters who said they actually wanted Democrats in charge of the Senate.
* In Alaska, [...] Mary Peltola, a Democratic former congresswoman who was the first Native Alaskan elected to Congress, trailed Senator Dan Sullivan, the Republican incumbent, by only two points.
* Ms. Peltola garnered a particularly positive impression from voters, with 65 percent saying she has good character and 62 percent the right kind of morals.
* Andrea Dewees, 49, is an independent voter in Juneau, Alaska, who said she values fiscal conservatism but said that she planned to vote for Ms. Peltola because thinks she is "down to earth" and will root out corruption.
* "She's not, like, swanky, or trying to make herself rich," said Ms. Dewees, a humanities professor.
* Ms. Peltola was not an aberration. In five of the six states, the Democratic candidate had a higher favorable rating than their Republican rival.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/new-alaska-senate-race-shifts-towards-peltola-as-democrats-move-within-striking-distance-of-majority/
* * *
Alaska Senate Race Shifts Towards Peltola as Democrats Move "Within Striking Distance" of Majority
Today, race raters at the Cook Political Report shifted the Alaska Senate race in Democrats' favor, representing "a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control" as new polls show "ideal recruit" and "proven electoral overperformer" Mary Peltola garnering "a particularly positive impression from voters" thanks to her "independent reputation."
Meanwhile, with the political ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release on July 1, 2026: * * * Alaska Senate Race Shifts Towards Peltola as Democrats Move "Within Striking Distance" of Majority Today, race raters at the Cook Political Report shifted the Alaska Senate race in Democrats' favor, representing "a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control" as new polls show "ideal recruit" and "proven electoral overperformer" Mary Peltola garnering "a particularly positive impression from voters" thanks to her "independent reputation." Meanwhile, with the politicalenvironment "working against Sullivan in a way it did not in 2020," voters are feeling "the destructive effects of high diesel prices at the outset of fishing season" thanks to Sullivan's support for the Iran war, while "around one-third of Alaskans [who] still receive Medicaid funding" feel the impact of his votes for massive health care cuts.
The move "represents a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control" and creates "a path for Democrats through the Toss Up column (Ohio, Alaska and Maine) and the Lean Democrat column (North Carolina) to get the four seats they need for a majority."
See for yourself:
Cook Political Report: Alaska Senate Shifts Into Toss Up Column (https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/alaska-senate/alaska-senate-shifts-toss-column)
* [The Alaska] race was already destined to be competitive after Democrats landed an ideal recruit in former Rep. Mary Peltola, a proven electoral overperformer, and even a few points could make the difference in the state's top-four ranked choice voting system.
* Democrats argue that Peltola's image is once again right-side up after facing millions of dollars in attack ads last cycle; Pelota also outperformed Vice President Kamala Harris by 11 points [...] Polls from Alaska Survey Research [...] have consistently shown Peltola narrowly leading Sullivan and close to 50%.
* Republicans have detested the top-four ranked choice system that was implemented for the 2022 election -- and this will be Sen. Sullivan's first time on the ballot under its new rules. The GOP's public trashing of the ranking system gives Democrats hope that Republicans will decline to rank more than one candidate, while soft Democrats and independents will use the ranking system to buoy Peltola as an alternative to their top choice.
* Since getting in the race in January, Peltola has posted strong fundraising numbers -- almost $9 million in the first quarter -- and is expected to have another impressive quarter for the period that just closed.
* But the environment is working against Sullivan in a way it did not in 2020, when President Donald Trump carried the state by 10 points at the same time the incumbent beat back an independent aligned with Democrats by almost 13 points. [Peltola, an] Alaska Native[,] has built an independent reputation in the state with the slogan "Fish. Family. Freedom." And [...] voters may not forget the destructive effects of high diesel prices at the outset of fishing season. [...] Democrats [also] will point out that around one-third of Alaskans still receive Medicaid funding, which was slashed by last year's One Big Beautiful Bill.
* Moving Alaska into Toss Up also represents a key shift in the overall battle for Senate control. There is now a path for Democrats through the Toss Up column (Ohio, Alaska and Maine) and the Lean Democrat column (North Carolina) to get the four seats they need for a majority.
New York Times: Control of the Senate Is Up for Grabs, Times/Siena Polls Find (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/politics/polls-senate-control.html)
* Democrats face an uphill battle to win control of the Senate but have pulled within striking distance of enough Republican-held seats to put the majority in play this fall, according to new New York Times/Siena polls in six Senate battleground states.
* Republicans are hampered by the unpopularity of President Trump and his diminished standing on the economy, while most of the Democratic candidates are so far running ahead of their party's own struggling brand, the polls show.
* [...] the new polls suggest that Democrats have a path.
* Mr. Trump carried five of the states in 2024, and if all six states were considered together he won them by an average of eight percentage points. In the polls, the average of the Senate races in those six states was a tie, with 47 percent for both Republicans and Democrats. The shift shows how far the political environment has tilted in the Democrats' direction ahead of the midterm elections.
* Voters across all six battlegrounds were thoroughly frustrated by rising prices -- and many blamed Mr. Trump. Only 36 percent of voters approved of his handling of cost-of-living issues, including an abysmal 24 percent among independent voters.
* "I'm confronted with it every day," said Christian Privett, a 57-year-old retired independent voter, from Durham, N.C. about rising costs. "It's insane. A box of cereal, it's, like, almost $8 today."
* Mr. Privett, who described himself as a former Republican "set adrift without a party," said he planned to vote for Mr. Cooper. "I just want to get back to that, where you don't wake up every morning wondering what is going to come out of a politician's mouth to roil the markets or to start a protest or to cause upset," he said.
* In the poll, Mr. Trump's average overall approval rating stood at 43 percent, with 54 percent disapproving.
* Economic frustrations appear to have at least cracked open the door of opportunity for Democrats in 2026.
* Voters in each state said the most important issues to them -- by far -- were jobs, the economy, inflation and the cost of living. And on those measures, Mr. Trump's image is deeply damaged.
* By a 14-percentage point margin, voters in these Senate battlegrounds said that Mr. Trump's policies have hurt more than helped.
* The view among crucial independent voters was even bleaker: 52 percent said Mr. Trump's policies had hurt, while only 22 percent said they had helped.
* Democrats were up by 14 percentage points among voters who said the economy was the most important issue to them. And they are winning 63 percent of the vote among those who said the economy is fair or poor, while Republicans are winning 75 percent of those who said the economy is excellent or good.
* The fundamental problem for Republicans: More voters think the economy is bad than good.
* Mr. Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, which sharply drove up gas prices, was also unpopular. Only 39 percent of voters approved of his handling of the war, and only 33 percent approved of his management of gas prices. Mr. Trump's strongest issue was immigration.
* The national political environment is hurting Republicans.
* But he did not have such reservations with Mr. Turek, saying he planned to vote for him in the general election. "He's far enough on the left that he aligns with a lot of my standards, but not too far to the left that it seems a bit extreme," said Mr. Major.
* For now, Democrats have an enthusiasm edge: 93 percent of Democrats said they were very likely or almost certain to vote compared with 87 percent of Republicans, across the six states.
* That excitement appears to be helping Democrats blunt natural Republican advantages in states like Iowa, Ohio, Alaska and Texas that have trended Republican in recent years -- and which voted for Mr. Trump in 2024 by double-digit percentages. In all four of those states, the Democratic candidate was outperforming the share of voters who said they actually wanted Democrats in charge of the Senate.
* In Alaska, [...] Mary Peltola, a Democratic former congresswoman who was the first Native Alaskan elected to Congress, trailed Senator Dan Sullivan, the Republican incumbent, by only two points.
* Ms. Peltola garnered a particularly positive impression from voters, with 65 percent saying she has good character and 62 percent the right kind of morals.
* Andrea Dewees, 49, is an independent voter in Juneau, Alaska, who said she values fiscal conservatism but said that she planned to vote for Ms. Peltola because thinks she is "down to earth" and will root out corruption.
* "She's not, like, swanky, or trying to make herself rich," said Ms. Dewees, a humanities professor.
* Ms. Peltola was not an aberration. In five of the six states, the Democratic candidate had a higher favorable rating than their Republican rival.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/new-alaska-senate-race-shifts-towards-peltola-as-democrats-move-within-striking-distance-of-majority/
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: Case Against Jeff Crank
WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following memorandum on June 30, 2026:
* * *
The Case Against Jeff Crank
"Jeff Crank works for billionaires, not for Coloradans. While families struggle to make ends meet, Crank is working every day to push tax breaks for his ultra-wealthy bosses who bankrolled his political career - at the expense of everyone else. Unlike Crank, Jessica Killin is running for Congress to lower costs for families, stand up for veterans and military families, and be an independent voice for Coloradans. A fourth-generation Coloradan ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following memorandum on June 30, 2026: * * * The Case Against Jeff Crank "Jeff Crank works for billionaires, not for Coloradans. While families struggle to make ends meet, Crank is working every day to push tax breaks for his ultra-wealthy bosses who bankrolled his political career - at the expense of everyone else. Unlike Crank, Jessica Killin is running for Congress to lower costs for families, stand up for veterans and military families, and be an independent voice for Coloradans. A fourth-generation Coloradanand U.S. Army veteran, Jessica is the leader who will put El Paso County first," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.
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To: Interested Parties
From: Lindsay Reilly, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Bought and paid for by special interests, Jeff Crank represents everything that's wrong with Washington. Crank spent years at the beck and call of billionaires Charles and David Koch, working as their puppet as the head of their right-wing dark money group in Colorado. A dedicated ally to billionaires, Crank rolled into Congress on a dark money train. After his allies spent seven figures getting Crank through his Republican primary in 2024, Crank returned the favor by voting for permanent tax cuts for his billionaire buddies - paid for by gutting Coloradans' health care, putting Colorado hospitals and nursing homes on the chopping block, and ripping food out of hungry kids' mouths. Crank continues to closely toe the party line on everything from protecting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his allies to defending the unpopular, reckless war in Iran to backing tariffs that are jacking up prices on families and small businesses. Crank has made clear where his priorities lie: with billionaires, special interests, and D.C. party bosses - not with Coloradans.
Fortunately, voters in the Fifth District have a proven fighter in Jessica Killin. Jessica is a fourth-generation Coloradan, U.S. Army veteran, and devoted mom who is deeply committed to serving her state and country. A former captain and military police officer in the U.S. Army, Jessica is a leader who wears her patriotism on her sleeve. Jessica spent more than a decade advocating for veterans at USAA, where she fought to keep military families in their homes during the 2008 financial crisis, protect veterans from predatory lenders, and streamline VA home loans. Jessica is running for Congress to lower costs, better protect veterans and military families, restore integrity and fight corruption in government, and be an independent voice for Coloradans.
Colorado's Fifth Congressional District has consistently moved towards the center in recent election cycles and is considered the fastest trending Democratic congressional seat in the country by Cook Political Report. While Crank has spent the past two decades cozying up with billionaires, Jessica has shown herself to be a true public servant who is loyal to the Constitution - not to special interests or to a political party. With " a stronger 5th district candidate this year than [Democrats] have ever had in Jessica Killin," a U.S. Army veteran who is running against a non-veteran to represent a district with one of the largest military populations in the country, CO-05 is primed to flip from red to blue in November.
A Career-Long Political Operative Who's Cozy with the Koch Brothers
Jeff Crank's thirty year political career is marked by chaos, corruption, and Koch Brothers' cash. Crank first ran for Congress in 2006 after more than a decade of working and lobbying for corporate interests on Capitol Hill. Rejected twice by voters in 2006 and 2008, Crank was then hired by the billionaire Koch brothers to do their political bidding in Colorado. Crank quickly became the face of Americans for Prosperity Colorado, the in-state arm of the Koch brothers' right-wing, dark money political machine. As the organization's state director, Crank criss-crossed Colorado to rally against affordable health care and advocated for changes to the tax code that would have overwhelmingly favored the ultra-wealthy at the expense of working class Coloradans. Nearly two decades later and now in Congress, Crank is staying true to his elite-wing roots by pushing for higher health care costs and tax breaks for his billionaire buddies.
After proving himself an ally to billionaires, Crank launched a political consultant firm " with the Kochs' blessing." Called " the candidate-support operation of the Koch network " by one GOP operative, Crank's company was created to " mix it up in primaries " and push the Republican Party further into the arms of special interests. The Kochs paid Crank well, funneling seven figures into his company in just one year and opening doors for Crank to cozy up with other right-wing billionaires. A short time later, Crank's firm launched a dark money super PAC to further the Koch brothers' political agenda. Crank's company is also closely tied to a nonprofit that seemed to violate campaign law by funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of dark money into a Senate campaign - further evidence that Crank is dedicated to helping special interests push their agenda at all costs.
Crank's close relationship with the Koch brothers extends to his (third) run for Congress in 2024. At the time, Crank was espousing his billionaire buddies' talking points on his podcast, "American Potential," which was funded by Americans for Prosperity (AFP). Seemingly pleased by Crank's bootlicking, " AFP and other groups bankrolled by wealthy right-wing donors " spent nearly $1.5 million to make sure Crank made it through the Republican primary and could do their bidding once elected. Crank has delivered for his billionaire friends so far, most notably by casting a key vote that makes tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy permanent by kicking millions of working Americans off their health care.
Jessica Killin stands with Colorado families, not billionaires. A public servant at heart, Jessica is running to restore people's trust in government by cracking down on corruption. Jessica has a plan to ban public stock trading by members of Congress, strengthen ethics rules across government, and get dark money out of politics. Unlike Crank, Jessica believes that our elected leaders should work for the people, not for a select wealthy few.
An Epstein Enabler Who Always Puts his Party First
Jeff Crank consistently sides with powerful insiders over Coloradans. Crank refused to sign onto a bipartisan push to release information related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - even as a survivor's loved ones who live in Crank's district pleaded with him to take action as their representative. The family of Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim who later took her own life, repeatedly asked Crank to help release files related to Epstein's crimes. Virginia's family reportedly never got a response from Crank, despite his staff saying he would reach out in 48 hours. After " no response " from Crank, the family resorted to protesting outside of his district office to try to get their so-called representative's attention.
Crank is making clear he's loyal to D.C. party bosses, not to Coloradans. Crank is a strong supporter of the reckless war in Iran despite concern among military families in his district and higher prices at the pump at an already economically-challenging time for Coloradans. Crank also folded faster than a lawn chair to Trump's demands to relocate the U.S. Space Command Headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Crank's decision to " choos[e] flight over fight " was a slap in the face to Colorado Springs, where the aerospace and defense industry employs more than 110,000 people and supports 40% of the local economy. As if folding wasn't bad enough, Crank went further and called a lawsuit to block the relocation "political exercises," "backwards," and not "productive" - once again proving Crank is not willing to stand up to his Republican party bosses when Colorado is getting the short end of the stick. Killin, on the other hand, has been a vocal proponent for keeping Space Command headquarters in Colorado Springs.
Crank's party over country ethos was again on display when he refused to defend the tens of thousands of veterans in his district who rely on the VA health care system. On the same day a leaked memo exposed the Administration's plan to slash 83,000 jobs from the VA, Crank said that " we've got to find cuts " and that he was " perfectly happy " - even though other Republicans were warning about the potential harm to veterans. Crank's constituents started feeling the cuts almost immediately when the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System "dismissed" probationary staff within days of the memo being leaked. Despite health care workers and Colorado veterans sounding the alarm, Crank couldn't bring himself to speak out against D.C. party leaders - both at that time and again when the Administration made additional cuts in March. Meanwhile, a U.S. Army veteran and former military police officer, Jessica is an outspoken advocate for veterans, servicemembers, and military families. At USAA, Jessica spent years fighting to keep military families in their homes during the 2008 financial crisis, protect veterans from predatory lenders, and streamline VA home loans. On the campaign trail, Jessica is leaning into her military background while calling for improvements to VA health care and more support for veterans experiencing mental health challenges.
Unlike Crank, Jessica is willing to stand up to her own party and do what's right for Coloradans. Jessica is running for Congress because she's seen Washington's tribalism and dysfunction up close - and she wants to do something to fix it.
Cranking Up the Costs: Jeff Crank Keeps Voting to Raise Prices on Coloradans
It may have taken Jeff Crank twenty years to fulfill his dream of being in Congress, but he wasted no time becoming a Republican rubberstamp willing to jack up costs on families. Crank immediately fell in line and cast a key vote for the Big, Ugly Bill - devastating legislation that pays for tax breaks for billionaires by gutting health care and ripping food off hungry kids' tables. Crank's health care cuts are raising health insurance premiums, threatening Medicaid coverage for nearly 1 in 4 of Crank's constituents, and jeopardizing nursing homes and hospitals across Colorado, including UCHealth Grandview Hospital in Crank's district. While health care centers " brace for fallout from federal health funding cuts," some Colorado patients are already draining their savings, emptying their retirement accounts, and taking out home loans to cover their skyrocketing health care premiums after Crank and D.C. Republicans refused to extend tax credits that help families afford insurance. Despite Crank's constituents seeing an estimated 159% premium increase, Crank doubled down and voted against a bipartisan push to renew the tax credits earlier this year.
The Big, Ugly Bill isn't the only component of Crank's cost-spiking agenda. Crank has repeatedly voted to protect reckless tariffs that are jacking up costs on Colorado families and small businesses. Experts have been blaring the alarm that Crank's tariffs could cost the state an additional $1.4 billion a year, while a whopping 86% of Colorado businesses say that Crank's tariffs are doing more harm than good as many weigh raising prices, laying off staff, or closing their doors altogether. Specific effects are already being felt: construction in Colorado is " buckling " with tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper jacking up project expenses by 15-25% and new home construction costs by 4-6%, while grocery prices are up and Colorado families are paying an additional $600 million more for cars and appliances this year.
Coloradans are also paying higher energy costs thanks to Crank. Despite gas prices reaching nearly $5 a gallon in Colorado, Crank has repeatedly voted to greenlight Trump's War of Choice in Iran that's jacking up fuel costs. As prices skyrocket due to the Crank-backed war, petroleum-derived products like clothes, tires, and other everyday necessities are also expected to get more expensive. On top of higher prices at the gas pump, experts are projecting a 45% increase in wholesale electricity prices by 2030 because Crank voted to gut clean energy tax credits via the Big, Ugly Bill. Coloradans just can't afford Crank's cost-spiking agenda.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Colorado Sun: Colorado's Republican US representatives decline to fight Trump on Space Command, even as they risk voter fallout [Colorado Sun, 9/16/25 ]
"After President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that the relocation was happening -saying a big factor was Colorado's broad use of mail ballots -Crank appears to be choosing flight over fight."
[...]
"Killin, an Army veteran and former chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff, said the relocation proves 'how ineffective (Crank) has been as a member of Congress.'"
"'I thought that all of this crazy political kowtowing that he was doing was to hopefully keep Space Command here,' Killin told The Sun in an interview. 'But I find it amazing that he couldn't even do that.'"
Denver Post: Rising gas prices put Colorado Republican congressmen on the defensive as midterm elections approach [Denver Post, 3/29/26 ]
Colorado Public Radio: High costs of living and health care hit Coloradans hard, according to new poll [Colorado Public Radio, 7/15/25 ]
Colorado Public Radio: Patients and providers share stories of health care despair as worries mount over coverage and costs [Colorado Public Radio, 5/6/26 ]
Denver Post: From Colorado's small businesses to its large corporations, tariffs are having a jarring impact [Denver Post, 9/6/25 ]
KOAA5: Local family of Epstein survivor urges Congressman Crank to support bill [KOAA5, 9/24/25 ]
"Standing outside Congressman Jeff Crank's Colorado Springs Office Wednesday afternoon, Sky Roberts and his wife Amanda urged the congressman to support a bill that would release all unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein."
Colorado Sun: National Democrats see a path to winning Colorado Springs' congressional seat for first time ever [Colorado Sun, 2/10/26 ]
"They have a stronger 5th District candidate this year than they've likely ever had in Jessica Killin... [and] the district -which is entirely contained within El Paso County -has been trending toward Democrats over the past decade."
National Journal: Dems look to strike gold in Colorado [National Journal, 5/21/26 ]
Colorado Public Radio: 5th Congressional District: Democrat Jessica Killin [Colorado Public Radio, 5/29/26 ]
"Jessica Killin said she has lived her version of the American Dream, and she wants people in the 5th Congressional District to have the opportunity to do the same."
[...]
"She has outraised her Democratic opponent, and as of April 1, she has outraised GOP incumbent Rep. Jeff Crank, which has helped put this race on a list of ones to watch. She has also been endorsed by every Democratic member of the current Colorado congressional delegation and won the top line at the Democratic assembly. Killin was also added to the House Democrats' Red to Blue program in early May, which means the DCCC views Killin as a top-tier candidate."
Colorado Springs Gazette: Democratic Congressional hopeful Jessica Killin makes case to El Paso County veterans [Colorado Springs Gazette, 6/19/26 ]
Colorado Springs Gazette: How important is military service in race for 5th Congressional District? [Colorado Springs Gazette, 4/18/26 ]
"Colorado's 5th Congressional District has one of the highest concentrations of military facilities in the country -Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Fort Carson, Air Force Academy, NORAD, the headquarters of Northern Command, Space Force and Space Command.
Yet, ironically, the district has not been represented by someone with military experience in more than 40 years.
PATH TO VICTORY
Colorado's Fifth Congressional District " has been trending towards Democrats over the past decade " as more families move into the rapidly growing Colorado Springs area. The district is considered the fastest Democratic-trending seat in the country by national race rater Cook Political Report, which recently shifted CO-05 in Democrats' direction. While Crank's predecessor won the district by 31 points in 2016, Crank won by 14 points in 2024 against a " first-time candidate who raised little money and effectively had no party assistance." Colorado Governor Jared Polis lost El Paso County by roughly 4 points in 2022, after losing it by 17 in 2018. Colorado Springs' " quickly changing demographics " and move towards the political center were on full display in 2023, when the city elected a mayor not affiliated with the Republican Party for the first time in over 40 years. It's clear Colorado Springs is hungry for new, independent leadership - and that's what they'll get with Jessica Killin.
In an election cycle where Democrats are overperforming in congressional special elections by 17 points, CO-05 is a prime pickup opportunity. A U.S. Army veteran and former military police officer, Jessica is a particularly " strong " candidate against non-veteran Jeff Crank in a district with one of the largest military populations in the country. Jessica's independent streak is an asset in Colorado Springs, where more than half of all voters are registered as unaffiliated. Jessica's momentum is palpable: she's outraised Crank three quarters in a row and has a significant cash-on-hand advantage going into the General Election. With deep community support and the resources to compete, Jessica is ready to flip Colorado's Fifth Congressional District from red to blue for the first time ever.
***
Original text here: https://dccc.org/the-case-against-jeff-crank/
* * *
The Case Against Jeff Crank
"Jeff Crank works for billionaires, not for Coloradans. While families struggle to make ends meet, Crank is working every day to push tax breaks for his ultra-wealthy bosses who bankrolled his political career - at the expense of everyone else. Unlike Crank, Jessica Killin is running for Congress to lower costs for families, stand up for veterans and military families, and be an independent voice for Coloradans. A fourth-generation Coloradan ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following memorandum on June 30, 2026: * * * The Case Against Jeff Crank "Jeff Crank works for billionaires, not for Coloradans. While families struggle to make ends meet, Crank is working every day to push tax breaks for his ultra-wealthy bosses who bankrolled his political career - at the expense of everyone else. Unlike Crank, Jessica Killin is running for Congress to lower costs for families, stand up for veterans and military families, and be an independent voice for Coloradans. A fourth-generation Coloradanand U.S. Army veteran, Jessica is the leader who will put El Paso County first," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.
-
To: Interested Parties
From: Lindsay Reilly, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Bought and paid for by special interests, Jeff Crank represents everything that's wrong with Washington. Crank spent years at the beck and call of billionaires Charles and David Koch, working as their puppet as the head of their right-wing dark money group in Colorado. A dedicated ally to billionaires, Crank rolled into Congress on a dark money train. After his allies spent seven figures getting Crank through his Republican primary in 2024, Crank returned the favor by voting for permanent tax cuts for his billionaire buddies - paid for by gutting Coloradans' health care, putting Colorado hospitals and nursing homes on the chopping block, and ripping food out of hungry kids' mouths. Crank continues to closely toe the party line on everything from protecting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his allies to defending the unpopular, reckless war in Iran to backing tariffs that are jacking up prices on families and small businesses. Crank has made clear where his priorities lie: with billionaires, special interests, and D.C. party bosses - not with Coloradans.
Fortunately, voters in the Fifth District have a proven fighter in Jessica Killin. Jessica is a fourth-generation Coloradan, U.S. Army veteran, and devoted mom who is deeply committed to serving her state and country. A former captain and military police officer in the U.S. Army, Jessica is a leader who wears her patriotism on her sleeve. Jessica spent more than a decade advocating for veterans at USAA, where she fought to keep military families in their homes during the 2008 financial crisis, protect veterans from predatory lenders, and streamline VA home loans. Jessica is running for Congress to lower costs, better protect veterans and military families, restore integrity and fight corruption in government, and be an independent voice for Coloradans.
Colorado's Fifth Congressional District has consistently moved towards the center in recent election cycles and is considered the fastest trending Democratic congressional seat in the country by Cook Political Report. While Crank has spent the past two decades cozying up with billionaires, Jessica has shown herself to be a true public servant who is loyal to the Constitution - not to special interests or to a political party. With " a stronger 5th district candidate this year than [Democrats] have ever had in Jessica Killin," a U.S. Army veteran who is running against a non-veteran to represent a district with one of the largest military populations in the country, CO-05 is primed to flip from red to blue in November.
A Career-Long Political Operative Who's Cozy with the Koch Brothers
Jeff Crank's thirty year political career is marked by chaos, corruption, and Koch Brothers' cash. Crank first ran for Congress in 2006 after more than a decade of working and lobbying for corporate interests on Capitol Hill. Rejected twice by voters in 2006 and 2008, Crank was then hired by the billionaire Koch brothers to do their political bidding in Colorado. Crank quickly became the face of Americans for Prosperity Colorado, the in-state arm of the Koch brothers' right-wing, dark money political machine. As the organization's state director, Crank criss-crossed Colorado to rally against affordable health care and advocated for changes to the tax code that would have overwhelmingly favored the ultra-wealthy at the expense of working class Coloradans. Nearly two decades later and now in Congress, Crank is staying true to his elite-wing roots by pushing for higher health care costs and tax breaks for his billionaire buddies.
After proving himself an ally to billionaires, Crank launched a political consultant firm " with the Kochs' blessing." Called " the candidate-support operation of the Koch network " by one GOP operative, Crank's company was created to " mix it up in primaries " and push the Republican Party further into the arms of special interests. The Kochs paid Crank well, funneling seven figures into his company in just one year and opening doors for Crank to cozy up with other right-wing billionaires. A short time later, Crank's firm launched a dark money super PAC to further the Koch brothers' political agenda. Crank's company is also closely tied to a nonprofit that seemed to violate campaign law by funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of dark money into a Senate campaign - further evidence that Crank is dedicated to helping special interests push their agenda at all costs.
Crank's close relationship with the Koch brothers extends to his (third) run for Congress in 2024. At the time, Crank was espousing his billionaire buddies' talking points on his podcast, "American Potential," which was funded by Americans for Prosperity (AFP). Seemingly pleased by Crank's bootlicking, " AFP and other groups bankrolled by wealthy right-wing donors " spent nearly $1.5 million to make sure Crank made it through the Republican primary and could do their bidding once elected. Crank has delivered for his billionaire friends so far, most notably by casting a key vote that makes tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy permanent by kicking millions of working Americans off their health care.
Jessica Killin stands with Colorado families, not billionaires. A public servant at heart, Jessica is running to restore people's trust in government by cracking down on corruption. Jessica has a plan to ban public stock trading by members of Congress, strengthen ethics rules across government, and get dark money out of politics. Unlike Crank, Jessica believes that our elected leaders should work for the people, not for a select wealthy few.
An Epstein Enabler Who Always Puts his Party First
Jeff Crank consistently sides with powerful insiders over Coloradans. Crank refused to sign onto a bipartisan push to release information related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - even as a survivor's loved ones who live in Crank's district pleaded with him to take action as their representative. The family of Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein victim who later took her own life, repeatedly asked Crank to help release files related to Epstein's crimes. Virginia's family reportedly never got a response from Crank, despite his staff saying he would reach out in 48 hours. After " no response " from Crank, the family resorted to protesting outside of his district office to try to get their so-called representative's attention.
Crank is making clear he's loyal to D.C. party bosses, not to Coloradans. Crank is a strong supporter of the reckless war in Iran despite concern among military families in his district and higher prices at the pump at an already economically-challenging time for Coloradans. Crank also folded faster than a lawn chair to Trump's demands to relocate the U.S. Space Command Headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. Crank's decision to " choos[e] flight over fight " was a slap in the face to Colorado Springs, where the aerospace and defense industry employs more than 110,000 people and supports 40% of the local economy. As if folding wasn't bad enough, Crank went further and called a lawsuit to block the relocation "political exercises," "backwards," and not "productive" - once again proving Crank is not willing to stand up to his Republican party bosses when Colorado is getting the short end of the stick. Killin, on the other hand, has been a vocal proponent for keeping Space Command headquarters in Colorado Springs.
Crank's party over country ethos was again on display when he refused to defend the tens of thousands of veterans in his district who rely on the VA health care system. On the same day a leaked memo exposed the Administration's plan to slash 83,000 jobs from the VA, Crank said that " we've got to find cuts " and that he was " perfectly happy " - even though other Republicans were warning about the potential harm to veterans. Crank's constituents started feeling the cuts almost immediately when the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System "dismissed" probationary staff within days of the memo being leaked. Despite health care workers and Colorado veterans sounding the alarm, Crank couldn't bring himself to speak out against D.C. party leaders - both at that time and again when the Administration made additional cuts in March. Meanwhile, a U.S. Army veteran and former military police officer, Jessica is an outspoken advocate for veterans, servicemembers, and military families. At USAA, Jessica spent years fighting to keep military families in their homes during the 2008 financial crisis, protect veterans from predatory lenders, and streamline VA home loans. On the campaign trail, Jessica is leaning into her military background while calling for improvements to VA health care and more support for veterans experiencing mental health challenges.
Unlike Crank, Jessica is willing to stand up to her own party and do what's right for Coloradans. Jessica is running for Congress because she's seen Washington's tribalism and dysfunction up close - and she wants to do something to fix it.
Cranking Up the Costs: Jeff Crank Keeps Voting to Raise Prices on Coloradans
It may have taken Jeff Crank twenty years to fulfill his dream of being in Congress, but he wasted no time becoming a Republican rubberstamp willing to jack up costs on families. Crank immediately fell in line and cast a key vote for the Big, Ugly Bill - devastating legislation that pays for tax breaks for billionaires by gutting health care and ripping food off hungry kids' tables. Crank's health care cuts are raising health insurance premiums, threatening Medicaid coverage for nearly 1 in 4 of Crank's constituents, and jeopardizing nursing homes and hospitals across Colorado, including UCHealth Grandview Hospital in Crank's district. While health care centers " brace for fallout from federal health funding cuts," some Colorado patients are already draining their savings, emptying their retirement accounts, and taking out home loans to cover their skyrocketing health care premiums after Crank and D.C. Republicans refused to extend tax credits that help families afford insurance. Despite Crank's constituents seeing an estimated 159% premium increase, Crank doubled down and voted against a bipartisan push to renew the tax credits earlier this year.
The Big, Ugly Bill isn't the only component of Crank's cost-spiking agenda. Crank has repeatedly voted to protect reckless tariffs that are jacking up costs on Colorado families and small businesses. Experts have been blaring the alarm that Crank's tariffs could cost the state an additional $1.4 billion a year, while a whopping 86% of Colorado businesses say that Crank's tariffs are doing more harm than good as many weigh raising prices, laying off staff, or closing their doors altogether. Specific effects are already being felt: construction in Colorado is " buckling " with tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper jacking up project expenses by 15-25% and new home construction costs by 4-6%, while grocery prices are up and Colorado families are paying an additional $600 million more for cars and appliances this year.
Coloradans are also paying higher energy costs thanks to Crank. Despite gas prices reaching nearly $5 a gallon in Colorado, Crank has repeatedly voted to greenlight Trump's War of Choice in Iran that's jacking up fuel costs. As prices skyrocket due to the Crank-backed war, petroleum-derived products like clothes, tires, and other everyday necessities are also expected to get more expensive. On top of higher prices at the gas pump, experts are projecting a 45% increase in wholesale electricity prices by 2030 because Crank voted to gut clean energy tax credits via the Big, Ugly Bill. Coloradans just can't afford Crank's cost-spiking agenda.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Colorado Sun: Colorado's Republican US representatives decline to fight Trump on Space Command, even as they risk voter fallout [Colorado Sun, 9/16/25 ]
"After President Donald Trump announced earlier this month that the relocation was happening -saying a big factor was Colorado's broad use of mail ballots -Crank appears to be choosing flight over fight."
[...]
"Killin, an Army veteran and former chief of staff to second gentleman Doug Emhoff, said the relocation proves 'how ineffective (Crank) has been as a member of Congress.'"
"'I thought that all of this crazy political kowtowing that he was doing was to hopefully keep Space Command here,' Killin told The Sun in an interview. 'But I find it amazing that he couldn't even do that.'"
Denver Post: Rising gas prices put Colorado Republican congressmen on the defensive as midterm elections approach [Denver Post, 3/29/26 ]
Colorado Public Radio: High costs of living and health care hit Coloradans hard, according to new poll [Colorado Public Radio, 7/15/25 ]
Colorado Public Radio: Patients and providers share stories of health care despair as worries mount over coverage and costs [Colorado Public Radio, 5/6/26 ]
Denver Post: From Colorado's small businesses to its large corporations, tariffs are having a jarring impact [Denver Post, 9/6/25 ]
KOAA5: Local family of Epstein survivor urges Congressman Crank to support bill [KOAA5, 9/24/25 ]
"Standing outside Congressman Jeff Crank's Colorado Springs Office Wednesday afternoon, Sky Roberts and his wife Amanda urged the congressman to support a bill that would release all unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein."
Colorado Sun: National Democrats see a path to winning Colorado Springs' congressional seat for first time ever [Colorado Sun, 2/10/26 ]
"They have a stronger 5th District candidate this year than they've likely ever had in Jessica Killin... [and] the district -which is entirely contained within El Paso County -has been trending toward Democrats over the past decade."
National Journal: Dems look to strike gold in Colorado [National Journal, 5/21/26 ]
Colorado Public Radio: 5th Congressional District: Democrat Jessica Killin [Colorado Public Radio, 5/29/26 ]
"Jessica Killin said she has lived her version of the American Dream, and she wants people in the 5th Congressional District to have the opportunity to do the same."
[...]
"She has outraised her Democratic opponent, and as of April 1, she has outraised GOP incumbent Rep. Jeff Crank, which has helped put this race on a list of ones to watch. She has also been endorsed by every Democratic member of the current Colorado congressional delegation and won the top line at the Democratic assembly. Killin was also added to the House Democrats' Red to Blue program in early May, which means the DCCC views Killin as a top-tier candidate."
Colorado Springs Gazette: Democratic Congressional hopeful Jessica Killin makes case to El Paso County veterans [Colorado Springs Gazette, 6/19/26 ]
Colorado Springs Gazette: How important is military service in race for 5th Congressional District? [Colorado Springs Gazette, 4/18/26 ]
"Colorado's 5th Congressional District has one of the highest concentrations of military facilities in the country -Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Fort Carson, Air Force Academy, NORAD, the headquarters of Northern Command, Space Force and Space Command.
Yet, ironically, the district has not been represented by someone with military experience in more than 40 years.
PATH TO VICTORY
Colorado's Fifth Congressional District " has been trending towards Democrats over the past decade " as more families move into the rapidly growing Colorado Springs area. The district is considered the fastest Democratic-trending seat in the country by national race rater Cook Political Report, which recently shifted CO-05 in Democrats' direction. While Crank's predecessor won the district by 31 points in 2016, Crank won by 14 points in 2024 against a " first-time candidate who raised little money and effectively had no party assistance." Colorado Governor Jared Polis lost El Paso County by roughly 4 points in 2022, after losing it by 17 in 2018. Colorado Springs' " quickly changing demographics " and move towards the political center were on full display in 2023, when the city elected a mayor not affiliated with the Republican Party for the first time in over 40 years. It's clear Colorado Springs is hungry for new, independent leadership - and that's what they'll get with Jessica Killin.
In an election cycle where Democrats are overperforming in congressional special elections by 17 points, CO-05 is a prime pickup opportunity. A U.S. Army veteran and former military police officer, Jessica is a particularly " strong " candidate against non-veteran Jeff Crank in a district with one of the largest military populations in the country. Jessica's independent streak is an asset in Colorado Springs, where more than half of all voters are registered as unaffiliated. Jessica's momentum is palpable: she's outraised Crank three quarters in a row and has a significant cash-on-hand advantage going into the General Election. With deep community support and the resources to compete, Jessica is ready to flip Colorado's Fifth Congressional District from red to blue for the first time ever.
***
Original text here: https://dccc.org/the-case-against-jeff-crank/
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Issues Memo on Case Against Gabe Evans
WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
* * *
The Case Against Gabe Evans
"Whether he's lying about gutting health care, misrepresenting his own personal story, or downplaying how his extreme agenda raises costs, it's clear Coloradans just can't trust Gabe Evans. Voters already know Manny Rutinel as a proven fighter who focuses on what matters most to families - lower costs, affordable health care, and a thriving economy. That's why they'll fire Evans and send Manny to Congress this November," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.
To: ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * The Case Against Gabe Evans "Whether he's lying about gutting health care, misrepresenting his own personal story, or downplaying how his extreme agenda raises costs, it's clear Coloradans just can't trust Gabe Evans. Voters already know Manny Rutinel as a proven fighter who focuses on what matters most to families - lower costs, affordable health care, and a thriving economy. That's why they'll fire Evans and send Manny to Congress this November," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. To:Interested Parties
From: Lindsay Reilly, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: June 30, 2026
If there's one thing Coloradans can rely on Gabe Evans for, it's that he'll break his promises to please his D.C. party bosses - then try to lie his way out of it. Evans vowed to fight the fentanyl crisis, but experts say " his actions in Congress will likely worsen the crisis." Evans also said he would " grill ICE " during a congressional hearing after the murder of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, but he instead used his time to " lob softballs " at agency leaders. Wearing his deference to D.C. party leaders on his sleeve, Evans also went back on his word and voted to gut energy tax credits critical to the Eighth District's economy - a move Evans admitted, in his own words, would " jeopardiz[e] " projects and jobs in his district. And as a slap in the face to hundreds of his own constituents, Evans broke his promise to union leadership to support striking workers at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley.
Perhaps Evans' most notable lie is how he promised to lower costs for families, then supported drastic cuts to health care, enabled skyrocketing gas and fertilizer prices by greenlighting the Iran War, and voted repeatedly to protect reckless tariffs that are jacking up costs on everything from groceries, to construction, to household appliances, to farming equipment. Shockingly unabashed, Evans is now desperately trying to lie his way out of the mess he's made - making outlandish statements like he's " not cutting Medicaid " ( he did ), that his policies are lowering gas prices ( they're not ), and that anonymous farmers he will not name are telling him they love that tariffs are hiking prices ( huh? ). At the same time Evans is outright lying about his policies, he's taking " 100% " credit for D.C. Republicans' cost-hiking agenda, while also making questionable claims about his own personal story.
Colorado voters know they have a proven champion in Manny Rutinel. Manny is known for tirelessly working to lower costs for families like the one he grew up in. Raised by a single, immigrant mom, Manny grew up on Medicaid and SNAP and understands the challenges working Coloradans face. As a teen, Manny worked at McDonald's, tutored kids, and sold his blood twice a week to help pay the bills after the bank foreclosed on his family home during the Great Recession. A champion for public safety, Manny also understands how important it is to enforce immigration law without terrorizing entire communities. Manny's story resonates with Coloradans, and that's why they'll send Manny to Congress to lower costs, create good jobs, and fight for working families like theirs.
One of the most competitive House districts in the country, CO-08 is a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats. After winning by fewer than 2,500 votes and underperforming Trump's margin in the district, Evans went to Washington and immediately broke promise after promise, which has led to his abysmal favorability ratings that are even worse than Donald Trump's. In a midterm election year where voters - especially Hispanic voters, who comprise 40% of the Eighth District - are souring on the GOP, Evans' re-election chances are slimmer by the day. Evans represents everything that Coloradans hate about politics, and that's why they'll send Manny to fight for them in Congress this November.
Shapeshifting Gabe Evans Keeps Lying to Coloradans
Shapeshifting Gabe Evans just can't get his stories straight, whether it comes to policy or his own biography. Evans has repeatedly been busted by fact checkers for his false claim that the Big, Ugly Bill " doesn't cut Medicaid. " In reality, the freshman's signature policy - which he, as the deciding vote, says he takes "100%" credit for - enacts the largest cuts to the program in U.S. history. Coloradans aren't fooled by Evans' false claims about Medicaid: during a press conference last year, Evans "elicit[ed] howls of derision" from a nearby crowd after he "claimed flatly that 'Medicaid is not being cut.'" Evans has also been called out in the press for trying to recast himself as a champion for Medicaid and for grossly misleading Coloradans about his cuts to rural health care.
Just like he does on his dangerous policies, Evans misrepresents his personal story with ease. Despite admitting to raising only "two or three cows a year," Evans regularly touts himself as a rancher who can relate to producers who are " feeding the world." Evans' own peer, whose ranch produced dozens of calves in 2024 and is now boarding all three of Evans' animals on his behalf, says he would never " be so arrogant " as to describe himself to be a rancher. The same can't be said for Evans, who - despite not having any actual cattle on his land - continues to enjoy a tax break meant for ranchers and farmers. Evans is likely motivated to misrepresent himself as a rancher because the Eighth District is home to one of the top beef-producing counties in the country.
Not even Evans' family history is off limits to his lies. Coloradans saw wall - to - wall coverage of how Evans misrepresents his family's immigration story to " appeal " to Latino voters in Colorado's Eighth Congressional District. Evans is on the record saying his " pitch " to Hispanic voters - who comprise roughly 40% of the district - included emphasizing his grandfather's immigration story as the " right way " to come to the U.S., as well as his mother's fears that " the best life had to offer was a dirt floor hut in Juarez, Mexico." However, records show that both stories that Evans tells are untrue. Evans' grandfather would have been deported under Evans' own immigration policies, while his aunt is sounding the alarm that Evans' claims about his mother are " made up " since she was born and raised in a middle class household in El Paso, Texas.
Evans has no problem bending the truth about what he's supposedly hearing from Coloradans. Evans raised eyebrows last summer when he implied that representatives from the Weld Food Bank told him that they supported the Big, Ugly Bill's drastic reductions in SNAP benefits. A spokesperson for the organization quickly corrected the record and said they had "made it clear" to Evans prior to his vote that his extreme budget would worsen an already "intense need." In a similar vein, Evans turned heads when he said he " sat down with " anonymous local farmers who are somehow pleased with Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs that are decimating Colorado's agricultural economy. When asked to share their names, Evans refused to connect the farmers with Colorado's senator, raising doubts about if Evans was telling the truth. Never learning his lesson, Evans has also been called out repeatedly by officials at the Denver International Airport for claiming there are "power fluctuations" at the airport, a "misleading" claim that Evans uses to tout the importance of investing in American-made energy - at the same time he, of course, is voting to gut investments in American-made energy.
Evans could teach a masterclass on saying one thing to voters but doing another in office. Evans " rode to power promising to " fight the fentanyl crisis, but experts say his policies " will likely worsen the crisis " by " leading to more overdose deaths, less health care for people with substance abuse problems, and cuts to programs and services for addicts. " Evans also claimed he would use his time during a House Oversight Committee hearing to " grill ICE " about the agency's tactics that have led to the murders of multiple U.S. citizens. However, Evans instead used his time to " lob softballs " at agency officials and " blame Democrats for President Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement." Evans' broken promise on ICE accountability was a potent betrayal to the roughly 40% of his constituents who are Hispanic or Latino, many of whom are distraught by the Administration's aggressive tactics that are targeting non-violent criminals. Evans also went back on his word to stand with striking workers at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley. And of course, Evans has repeatedly said that lowering the cost of living is a " top priority " - however his agenda has undoubtedly led to higher prices on everything from gas to groceries to utilities to health care.
Gabe Evans Ripped Health Care Away From And Jacked Up Costs On Colorado Families
Gabe Evans has been a disaster for Coloradans' wallets, especially when it comes to health care costs. Evans says he takes "100%" credit for passing the Big, Ugly Bill, which guts health care and food assistance to pay for permanent tax cuts for billionaires. Despite representing a district where nearly 1 in 3 Coloradans depend on Medicaid, Evans cast his " life-threatening " vote that could kick more than 200,000 Coloradans off their insurance. Experts warn that " the entire health care system will feel the impact " of Evans' decision, including patients who don't rely on Medicaid. Colorado hospitals are on track to lose $1 to $2.5 billion annually because of Evans' health care cuts, a loss that could force at least nine local hospitals - including North Colorado Medical Center and Platte Valley Medical Center in CO-08 - to cut services, lay off workers, or close their doors altogether. Nursing homes are also at risk, a terrifying prospect for residents and health care workers who worry patients " are gonna end up with no place, no bed." Meanwhile, Evans' " immoral " Medicaid cuts are paired with drastic cuts to food assistance programs, a move that could create a " vicious cycle " for working Coloradans.
Voters are letting Evans know just how furious they are about his support for House Republicans' health care cuts. Shortly after Evans cast the deciding vote for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, Coloradans showed up in force to hold their so-called representative accountable. Protestors " drowned out " Evans with " heckling chants " at a press conference, shouting " one and done," " Gabe you lie," " shame on you," and " midterms " to the increasingly vulnerable first-term Republican. Data shows that most registered voters in CO-08 are upset by Evans' Medicaid cuts, with 63% saying they're "less likely to vote for a candidate who voted to cut Medicaid" and 72% saying Medicaid is "very" or "somewhat important" for the community.
Evans' anti-health care agenda goes beyond gutting Medicaid to pay for billionaire tax cuts. Evans is a vocal opponent of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that lower health care premiums on the marketplace, saying they're a " smoke screen " and that he " roll[s] [his] eyes " at the idea of making health care more affordable. Evans voted against a bipartisan measure to extend the ACA tax credits - even though Coloradans in his district were expected to pay up to 200% more for the same health care plans. Indeed, now that the credits have expired, Coloradans are reportedly draining their savings, emptying their retirement accounts, and taking out home loans to afford their health care - all thanks to Evans. The expired tax credits are particularly brutal for farmers and ranchers, more than one in four of whom depend on the ACA to afford health insurance.
On top of gutting health care, Evans has jacked up costs on Coloradans by repeatedly voting to protect reckless tariffs that are hiking prices on families and small businesses. Evans' tariffs are " having a jarring impact " on Colorado's economy: construction is " buckling " because tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper are jacking up project expenses by 15-25%; beef exports were down nearly $40 million this past fall compared to the year before; and schools and health care facilities could lose as much as $805 million in revenue over the next year. A whopping 86% of Colorado businesses say Evans' tariffs are a challenge, and many are being forced to make "tough decisions... [on] whether to raise prices, take less salary, cut employees, or whether they can even keep their doors open." Evans' tariffs have hit Colorado's agricultural economy particularly hard as exports plummet and equipment costs skyrocket, and there are real " fears of more farm and ranch bankruptcies and foreclosures."
As if jacking up health care costs and repeatedly voting to protect price-spiking tariffs weren't bad enough, Evans refuses to stand up for Coloradans struggling with higher prices due to his and Trump's war of choice in Iran. As Colorado drivers " feel the pinch " at the gas pump, Evans is calling the Iran War " the best foreign policy that we've seen in decades." Evans' glee about the Iran War stands in stark contrast to his campaign promise to lower gas prices - an issue he's been noticeably quiet on since gas has surged to nearly $5 a gallon in Colorado. Meanwhile, Coloradans in the Eighth Congressional District are " using choice words to describe Trump and Republicans " whose policies are driving up gas prices, with one Thornton small business owner who hadn't "had a full tank in three weeks" and doesn't "have food on [his] table" saying "any Republican has got to go." On top of gas prices, the cost of diesel and fertilizer is especially high due to the war in Iran, which can be detrimental for farmers in CO-08 who are already reeling from reckless tariffs and health care cuts.
Manny Rutinel understands firsthand the struggles working Coloradans face because he's lived them. Unlike Evans, Manny fights to lower costs for working class families like the one he grew up in. In the state legislature, Manny has already gotten legislation passed to lower housing costs, help families make ends meet, and improve rural health care.
Gabe Evans Works For D.C. Party Bosses, Not For Coloradans
A Republican Party lapdog, Gabe Evans has proved he is loyal to D.C. party bosses, not to Coloradans. After insisting for months that he would protect energy tax credits, Evans sold out his constituents by continuing his record of voting 100% of the time with Trump and casting a key vote to take a sledgehammer to Colorado's energy economy. Evans admitted his vote " jeopardizes ongoing development, discourages long-term investment, and could significantly delay or cancel energy infrastructure projects " in the Eighth District - clear evidence that Evans cares more about pleasing his party bosses than doing what's best for Coloradans. Shortly after Evans' admission that he hurt his district, it was announced that a $190 million energy project was paused in CO-08 - an outcome that cost hundreds of jobs.
As if past was prologue, Evans did not fight D.C. party bosses after they cancelled $33 million in energy project funding for the Eighth District. Evans' silence was particularly ironic considering that he spent the previous month arguing the importance of investing in Colorado's energy economy. Evans similarly allowed the Administration to gut public health funding for Colorado, put veterans' health care at risk, and steal more than $100 million earmarked for the Eighth District. Evans also " declined to fight " when the Administration finalized plans to relocate Space Command from Colorado Springs, a decision that could create a ripple effect across the state's economy.
Evans' deference to D.C. party leaders is further evidenced by his refusal to host in-person, public town halls. Despite pleas from Coloradans, Evans continues to put D.C. Republicans first by heeding their calls not to hold any public meetings with their constituents. Unlike Evans, Manny Rutinel is making it a priority to hear directly from Coloradans about the issues that matter most to them - not to D.C. party bosses. Both on the campaign trail and as a state legislator, Manny regularly holds town halls to connect directly with the people he serves and will fight for in Congress.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans Takes '100%' Credit for Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill [Colorado Times Recorder, 12/19/25 ]
Colorado Sun: How the GOP budget bill will make the rich richer and the poor poorer, according to a nonpartisan analysis [Colorado Sun, 6/13/25 ]
Colorado Sun: Gabe Evans claims the Republican tax and spending bill he voted for doesn't cut Medicaid. That's misleading. [Colorado Sun, 7/9/25 ]
9 News: Evans defends Medicaid cuts amid protests, avoids specifics on district impact [9 News, 5/29/25 ]
American Journal News: Gabe Evans talked about lower costs, then voted against ACA subsidies [American Journal News, 2/2/26 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans Rode To Power Promising To 'Fix' the Drug Abuse Crisis, But Experts Say He's Made It Worse [Colorado Times Recorder, 4/16/26 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans Doesn't Deliver on Promise to Grill ICE at House Hearing [Colorado Times Recorder, 2/10/26 ]
Latin Times: Colorado GOP Rep. Slammed Over Misrepresenting Own Family's Immigrant Story Despite Publicly Supporting Deportations [Latin Times, 7/25/25 ]
Colorado Newsline: A century later, Rep. Gabe Evans echoes anti-immigrant attitudes his grandfather's family overcame [Colorado Newsline, 7/31/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Gabe Evans Promised To Support Striking JBS Workers, Says Union President. Then He Did Nothing [Colorado Times Recorder, 5/18/26 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: 'All Hat No Cattle'? Congressman Raises a 'Few Cows' As a Hobby, And Says It's Legitimate To Promote Himself in Politics As a 'Rancher' [Colorado Times Recorder, 6/10/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans, Who Owns Three Cows, Decides To Retain a Tax Break for Ranchers [Colorado Times Recorder, 1/13/26 ]
NBC News: 13 House Republicans urge Senate to scale back clean energy cuts in bill they voted for [NBC News, 6/6/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: News Analysis: Evans & Fellow Republicans Likely Responsible for the Death of a Clean-Energy Plant in Evans' District [Colorado Times Recorder, 7/18/25 ]
The Hill: Democrat running for competitive Colorado House seat raises more than $1M [The Hill, 4/7/25 ]
"Colorado state Rep. Manny Rutinel (D), who's running for a competitive House seat in Colorado, raised more than $1.1 million in the first quarter of fundraising of this year.
"The average donation for Rutinel's campaign was $32, according to figures first shared with The Hill, and he received contributions from more than 27,000 unique donors.
"Within the first day of his campaign, he raked in more than $400,000."
Colorado Public Radio: 8th Congressional District: Democrat Manny Rutinel [Colorado Public Radio, 5/29/26 ]
"Manny Rutinel is a trained economist and lawyer who has served in the State House since 2023. The son of a single, immigrant mom from the Dominican Republic, Rutinel said he knows the struggles of working families because he lived it.
"'I know that we need leaders in Congress that understand the stakes and are willing to fight back against this Trump administration,' Rutinel said, explaining his run for Congress."
Denver 7: New Colorado laws aim to address state's affordable housing crisis [Denver 7, 5/15/25 ]
"State Representative Manny Rutinel was one of the bill's bipartisan sponsors. He said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize housing costs are too high."
Brighton Standard Blade: Adams County groups, candidate Rutinel, offer food bank help [Brighton Standard Blade, 11/24/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: After CO Times Recorder Revealed Secret Detention Centers in CO, 31 Lawmakers Call on ICE for 'Immediate Transparency' [Colorado Times Recorder, 3/6/26 ]
"The day after the Colorado Times Recorder revealed that ICE has been detaining immigrants in at least nine makeshift facilities throughout Colorado, 31 state lawmakers -led by congressional candidate Manny Rutinel -sent a letter to the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE stating that the 'existence of undisclosed detention sites, 'hidden in plain sight' between strip malls and office parks, is unacceptable.'"
PATH TO VICTORY
An R+0 district that's considered a tossup by both Inside Elections and Cook Political Report, Colorado's Eighth Congressional District is a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats. Evans is a weak, unpopular incumbent who underperformed Trump in 2024 and whose freshman term is marked by massive cuts to health care, a reckless war of choice in Iran, higher prices on everyday necessities like groceries and utilities, and aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that have made communities less safe. Evans' decision to not only gut Medicaid but take 100% credit for it is particularly fatal to his re-election prospects, as nearly one in three Coloradans in the Eighth District depend on the program and 63% of registered voters say they are "less likely" to vote for a candidate who cut Medicaid. Consistently ranked one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress, Evans is on track to be a failed, one-term congressman.
A current state lawmaker, Manny Rutinel already represents a sizable portion of CO-08 in the state legislature and is a familiar face to Coloradans in the district. The son of a single, immigrant mom who grew up on Medicaid and food stamps, Manny has a story that resonates with the working class voters of CO-08. His ability to connect with key voters both through his story and in Spanish will be an asset in a district that is roughly 40% Hispanic or Latino - especially in an election year marked by growing dissatisfaction among these voters with Evans' cost-spiking and extreme agenda. Manny also has an impressive fundraising operation, having raised more than $4 million since launching his congressional campaign.
The path to the House majority runs through Colorado's Eighth Congressional District. With a vulnerable GOP lapdog on one side and a known champion for working families on the other, Democrats are well positioned to flip CO-08 from red to blue and retake the House majority.
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Original text here: https://dccc.org/the-case-against-gabe-evans-2/
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The Case Against Gabe Evans
"Whether he's lying about gutting health care, misrepresenting his own personal story, or downplaying how his extreme agenda raises costs, it's clear Coloradans just can't trust Gabe Evans. Voters already know Manny Rutinel as a proven fighter who focuses on what matters most to families - lower costs, affordable health care, and a thriving economy. That's why they'll fire Evans and send Manny to Congress this November," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.
To: ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * The Case Against Gabe Evans "Whether he's lying about gutting health care, misrepresenting his own personal story, or downplaying how his extreme agenda raises costs, it's clear Coloradans just can't trust Gabe Evans. Voters already know Manny Rutinel as a proven fighter who focuses on what matters most to families - lower costs, affordable health care, and a thriving economy. That's why they'll fire Evans and send Manny to Congress this November," said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. To:Interested Parties
From: Lindsay Reilly, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: June 30, 2026
If there's one thing Coloradans can rely on Gabe Evans for, it's that he'll break his promises to please his D.C. party bosses - then try to lie his way out of it. Evans vowed to fight the fentanyl crisis, but experts say " his actions in Congress will likely worsen the crisis." Evans also said he would " grill ICE " during a congressional hearing after the murder of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, but he instead used his time to " lob softballs " at agency leaders. Wearing his deference to D.C. party leaders on his sleeve, Evans also went back on his word and voted to gut energy tax credits critical to the Eighth District's economy - a move Evans admitted, in his own words, would " jeopardiz[e] " projects and jobs in his district. And as a slap in the face to hundreds of his own constituents, Evans broke his promise to union leadership to support striking workers at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley.
Perhaps Evans' most notable lie is how he promised to lower costs for families, then supported drastic cuts to health care, enabled skyrocketing gas and fertilizer prices by greenlighting the Iran War, and voted repeatedly to protect reckless tariffs that are jacking up costs on everything from groceries, to construction, to household appliances, to farming equipment. Shockingly unabashed, Evans is now desperately trying to lie his way out of the mess he's made - making outlandish statements like he's " not cutting Medicaid " ( he did ), that his policies are lowering gas prices ( they're not ), and that anonymous farmers he will not name are telling him they love that tariffs are hiking prices ( huh? ). At the same time Evans is outright lying about his policies, he's taking " 100% " credit for D.C. Republicans' cost-hiking agenda, while also making questionable claims about his own personal story.
Colorado voters know they have a proven champion in Manny Rutinel. Manny is known for tirelessly working to lower costs for families like the one he grew up in. Raised by a single, immigrant mom, Manny grew up on Medicaid and SNAP and understands the challenges working Coloradans face. As a teen, Manny worked at McDonald's, tutored kids, and sold his blood twice a week to help pay the bills after the bank foreclosed on his family home during the Great Recession. A champion for public safety, Manny also understands how important it is to enforce immigration law without terrorizing entire communities. Manny's story resonates with Coloradans, and that's why they'll send Manny to Congress to lower costs, create good jobs, and fight for working families like theirs.
One of the most competitive House districts in the country, CO-08 is a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats. After winning by fewer than 2,500 votes and underperforming Trump's margin in the district, Evans went to Washington and immediately broke promise after promise, which has led to his abysmal favorability ratings that are even worse than Donald Trump's. In a midterm election year where voters - especially Hispanic voters, who comprise 40% of the Eighth District - are souring on the GOP, Evans' re-election chances are slimmer by the day. Evans represents everything that Coloradans hate about politics, and that's why they'll send Manny to fight for them in Congress this November.
Shapeshifting Gabe Evans Keeps Lying to Coloradans
Shapeshifting Gabe Evans just can't get his stories straight, whether it comes to policy or his own biography. Evans has repeatedly been busted by fact checkers for his false claim that the Big, Ugly Bill " doesn't cut Medicaid. " In reality, the freshman's signature policy - which he, as the deciding vote, says he takes "100%" credit for - enacts the largest cuts to the program in U.S. history. Coloradans aren't fooled by Evans' false claims about Medicaid: during a press conference last year, Evans "elicit[ed] howls of derision" from a nearby crowd after he "claimed flatly that 'Medicaid is not being cut.'" Evans has also been called out in the press for trying to recast himself as a champion for Medicaid and for grossly misleading Coloradans about his cuts to rural health care.
Just like he does on his dangerous policies, Evans misrepresents his personal story with ease. Despite admitting to raising only "two or three cows a year," Evans regularly touts himself as a rancher who can relate to producers who are " feeding the world." Evans' own peer, whose ranch produced dozens of calves in 2024 and is now boarding all three of Evans' animals on his behalf, says he would never " be so arrogant " as to describe himself to be a rancher. The same can't be said for Evans, who - despite not having any actual cattle on his land - continues to enjoy a tax break meant for ranchers and farmers. Evans is likely motivated to misrepresent himself as a rancher because the Eighth District is home to one of the top beef-producing counties in the country.
Not even Evans' family history is off limits to his lies. Coloradans saw wall - to - wall coverage of how Evans misrepresents his family's immigration story to " appeal " to Latino voters in Colorado's Eighth Congressional District. Evans is on the record saying his " pitch " to Hispanic voters - who comprise roughly 40% of the district - included emphasizing his grandfather's immigration story as the " right way " to come to the U.S., as well as his mother's fears that " the best life had to offer was a dirt floor hut in Juarez, Mexico." However, records show that both stories that Evans tells are untrue. Evans' grandfather would have been deported under Evans' own immigration policies, while his aunt is sounding the alarm that Evans' claims about his mother are " made up " since she was born and raised in a middle class household in El Paso, Texas.
Evans has no problem bending the truth about what he's supposedly hearing from Coloradans. Evans raised eyebrows last summer when he implied that representatives from the Weld Food Bank told him that they supported the Big, Ugly Bill's drastic reductions in SNAP benefits. A spokesperson for the organization quickly corrected the record and said they had "made it clear" to Evans prior to his vote that his extreme budget would worsen an already "intense need." In a similar vein, Evans turned heads when he said he " sat down with " anonymous local farmers who are somehow pleased with Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs that are decimating Colorado's agricultural economy. When asked to share their names, Evans refused to connect the farmers with Colorado's senator, raising doubts about if Evans was telling the truth. Never learning his lesson, Evans has also been called out repeatedly by officials at the Denver International Airport for claiming there are "power fluctuations" at the airport, a "misleading" claim that Evans uses to tout the importance of investing in American-made energy - at the same time he, of course, is voting to gut investments in American-made energy.
Evans could teach a masterclass on saying one thing to voters but doing another in office. Evans " rode to power promising to " fight the fentanyl crisis, but experts say his policies " will likely worsen the crisis " by " leading to more overdose deaths, less health care for people with substance abuse problems, and cuts to programs and services for addicts. " Evans also claimed he would use his time during a House Oversight Committee hearing to " grill ICE " about the agency's tactics that have led to the murders of multiple U.S. citizens. However, Evans instead used his time to " lob softballs " at agency officials and " blame Democrats for President Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement." Evans' broken promise on ICE accountability was a potent betrayal to the roughly 40% of his constituents who are Hispanic or Latino, many of whom are distraught by the Administration's aggressive tactics that are targeting non-violent criminals. Evans also went back on his word to stand with striking workers at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley. And of course, Evans has repeatedly said that lowering the cost of living is a " top priority " - however his agenda has undoubtedly led to higher prices on everything from gas to groceries to utilities to health care.
Gabe Evans Ripped Health Care Away From And Jacked Up Costs On Colorado Families
Gabe Evans has been a disaster for Coloradans' wallets, especially when it comes to health care costs. Evans says he takes "100%" credit for passing the Big, Ugly Bill, which guts health care and food assistance to pay for permanent tax cuts for billionaires. Despite representing a district where nearly 1 in 3 Coloradans depend on Medicaid, Evans cast his " life-threatening " vote that could kick more than 200,000 Coloradans off their insurance. Experts warn that " the entire health care system will feel the impact " of Evans' decision, including patients who don't rely on Medicaid. Colorado hospitals are on track to lose $1 to $2.5 billion annually because of Evans' health care cuts, a loss that could force at least nine local hospitals - including North Colorado Medical Center and Platte Valley Medical Center in CO-08 - to cut services, lay off workers, or close their doors altogether. Nursing homes are also at risk, a terrifying prospect for residents and health care workers who worry patients " are gonna end up with no place, no bed." Meanwhile, Evans' " immoral " Medicaid cuts are paired with drastic cuts to food assistance programs, a move that could create a " vicious cycle " for working Coloradans.
Voters are letting Evans know just how furious they are about his support for House Republicans' health care cuts. Shortly after Evans cast the deciding vote for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, Coloradans showed up in force to hold their so-called representative accountable. Protestors " drowned out " Evans with " heckling chants " at a press conference, shouting " one and done," " Gabe you lie," " shame on you," and " midterms " to the increasingly vulnerable first-term Republican. Data shows that most registered voters in CO-08 are upset by Evans' Medicaid cuts, with 63% saying they're "less likely to vote for a candidate who voted to cut Medicaid" and 72% saying Medicaid is "very" or "somewhat important" for the community.
Evans' anti-health care agenda goes beyond gutting Medicaid to pay for billionaire tax cuts. Evans is a vocal opponent of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits that lower health care premiums on the marketplace, saying they're a " smoke screen " and that he " roll[s] [his] eyes " at the idea of making health care more affordable. Evans voted against a bipartisan measure to extend the ACA tax credits - even though Coloradans in his district were expected to pay up to 200% more for the same health care plans. Indeed, now that the credits have expired, Coloradans are reportedly draining their savings, emptying their retirement accounts, and taking out home loans to afford their health care - all thanks to Evans. The expired tax credits are particularly brutal for farmers and ranchers, more than one in four of whom depend on the ACA to afford health insurance.
On top of gutting health care, Evans has jacked up costs on Coloradans by repeatedly voting to protect reckless tariffs that are hiking prices on families and small businesses. Evans' tariffs are " having a jarring impact " on Colorado's economy: construction is " buckling " because tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper are jacking up project expenses by 15-25%; beef exports were down nearly $40 million this past fall compared to the year before; and schools and health care facilities could lose as much as $805 million in revenue over the next year. A whopping 86% of Colorado businesses say Evans' tariffs are a challenge, and many are being forced to make "tough decisions... [on] whether to raise prices, take less salary, cut employees, or whether they can even keep their doors open." Evans' tariffs have hit Colorado's agricultural economy particularly hard as exports plummet and equipment costs skyrocket, and there are real " fears of more farm and ranch bankruptcies and foreclosures."
As if jacking up health care costs and repeatedly voting to protect price-spiking tariffs weren't bad enough, Evans refuses to stand up for Coloradans struggling with higher prices due to his and Trump's war of choice in Iran. As Colorado drivers " feel the pinch " at the gas pump, Evans is calling the Iran War " the best foreign policy that we've seen in decades." Evans' glee about the Iran War stands in stark contrast to his campaign promise to lower gas prices - an issue he's been noticeably quiet on since gas has surged to nearly $5 a gallon in Colorado. Meanwhile, Coloradans in the Eighth Congressional District are " using choice words to describe Trump and Republicans " whose policies are driving up gas prices, with one Thornton small business owner who hadn't "had a full tank in three weeks" and doesn't "have food on [his] table" saying "any Republican has got to go." On top of gas prices, the cost of diesel and fertilizer is especially high due to the war in Iran, which can be detrimental for farmers in CO-08 who are already reeling from reckless tariffs and health care cuts.
Manny Rutinel understands firsthand the struggles working Coloradans face because he's lived them. Unlike Evans, Manny fights to lower costs for working class families like the one he grew up in. In the state legislature, Manny has already gotten legislation passed to lower housing costs, help families make ends meet, and improve rural health care.
Gabe Evans Works For D.C. Party Bosses, Not For Coloradans
A Republican Party lapdog, Gabe Evans has proved he is loyal to D.C. party bosses, not to Coloradans. After insisting for months that he would protect energy tax credits, Evans sold out his constituents by continuing his record of voting 100% of the time with Trump and casting a key vote to take a sledgehammer to Colorado's energy economy. Evans admitted his vote " jeopardizes ongoing development, discourages long-term investment, and could significantly delay or cancel energy infrastructure projects " in the Eighth District - clear evidence that Evans cares more about pleasing his party bosses than doing what's best for Coloradans. Shortly after Evans' admission that he hurt his district, it was announced that a $190 million energy project was paused in CO-08 - an outcome that cost hundreds of jobs.
As if past was prologue, Evans did not fight D.C. party bosses after they cancelled $33 million in energy project funding for the Eighth District. Evans' silence was particularly ironic considering that he spent the previous month arguing the importance of investing in Colorado's energy economy. Evans similarly allowed the Administration to gut public health funding for Colorado, put veterans' health care at risk, and steal more than $100 million earmarked for the Eighth District. Evans also " declined to fight " when the Administration finalized plans to relocate Space Command from Colorado Springs, a decision that could create a ripple effect across the state's economy.
Evans' deference to D.C. party leaders is further evidenced by his refusal to host in-person, public town halls. Despite pleas from Coloradans, Evans continues to put D.C. Republicans first by heeding their calls not to hold any public meetings with their constituents. Unlike Evans, Manny Rutinel is making it a priority to hear directly from Coloradans about the issues that matter most to them - not to D.C. party bosses. Both on the campaign trail and as a state legislator, Manny regularly holds town halls to connect directly with the people he serves and will fight for in Congress.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans Takes '100%' Credit for Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill [Colorado Times Recorder, 12/19/25 ]
Colorado Sun: How the GOP budget bill will make the rich richer and the poor poorer, according to a nonpartisan analysis [Colorado Sun, 6/13/25 ]
Colorado Sun: Gabe Evans claims the Republican tax and spending bill he voted for doesn't cut Medicaid. That's misleading. [Colorado Sun, 7/9/25 ]
9 News: Evans defends Medicaid cuts amid protests, avoids specifics on district impact [9 News, 5/29/25 ]
American Journal News: Gabe Evans talked about lower costs, then voted against ACA subsidies [American Journal News, 2/2/26 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans Rode To Power Promising To 'Fix' the Drug Abuse Crisis, But Experts Say He's Made It Worse [Colorado Times Recorder, 4/16/26 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans Doesn't Deliver on Promise to Grill ICE at House Hearing [Colorado Times Recorder, 2/10/26 ]
Latin Times: Colorado GOP Rep. Slammed Over Misrepresenting Own Family's Immigrant Story Despite Publicly Supporting Deportations [Latin Times, 7/25/25 ]
Colorado Newsline: A century later, Rep. Gabe Evans echoes anti-immigrant attitudes his grandfather's family overcame [Colorado Newsline, 7/31/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Gabe Evans Promised To Support Striking JBS Workers, Says Union President. Then He Did Nothing [Colorado Times Recorder, 5/18/26 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: 'All Hat No Cattle'? Congressman Raises a 'Few Cows' As a Hobby, And Says It's Legitimate To Promote Himself in Politics As a 'Rancher' [Colorado Times Recorder, 6/10/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: Evans, Who Owns Three Cows, Decides To Retain a Tax Break for Ranchers [Colorado Times Recorder, 1/13/26 ]
NBC News: 13 House Republicans urge Senate to scale back clean energy cuts in bill they voted for [NBC News, 6/6/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: News Analysis: Evans & Fellow Republicans Likely Responsible for the Death of a Clean-Energy Plant in Evans' District [Colorado Times Recorder, 7/18/25 ]
The Hill: Democrat running for competitive Colorado House seat raises more than $1M [The Hill, 4/7/25 ]
"Colorado state Rep. Manny Rutinel (D), who's running for a competitive House seat in Colorado, raised more than $1.1 million in the first quarter of fundraising of this year.
"The average donation for Rutinel's campaign was $32, according to figures first shared with The Hill, and he received contributions from more than 27,000 unique donors.
"Within the first day of his campaign, he raked in more than $400,000."
Colorado Public Radio: 8th Congressional District: Democrat Manny Rutinel [Colorado Public Radio, 5/29/26 ]
"Manny Rutinel is a trained economist and lawyer who has served in the State House since 2023. The son of a single, immigrant mom from the Dominican Republic, Rutinel said he knows the struggles of working families because he lived it.
"'I know that we need leaders in Congress that understand the stakes and are willing to fight back against this Trump administration,' Rutinel said, explaining his run for Congress."
Denver 7: New Colorado laws aim to address state's affordable housing crisis [Denver 7, 5/15/25 ]
"State Representative Manny Rutinel was one of the bill's bipartisan sponsors. He said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize housing costs are too high."
Brighton Standard Blade: Adams County groups, candidate Rutinel, offer food bank help [Brighton Standard Blade, 11/24/25 ]
Colorado Times Recorder: After CO Times Recorder Revealed Secret Detention Centers in CO, 31 Lawmakers Call on ICE for 'Immediate Transparency' [Colorado Times Recorder, 3/6/26 ]
"The day after the Colorado Times Recorder revealed that ICE has been detaining immigrants in at least nine makeshift facilities throughout Colorado, 31 state lawmakers -led by congressional candidate Manny Rutinel -sent a letter to the leaders of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE stating that the 'existence of undisclosed detention sites, 'hidden in plain sight' between strip malls and office parks, is unacceptable.'"
PATH TO VICTORY
An R+0 district that's considered a tossup by both Inside Elections and Cook Political Report, Colorado's Eighth Congressional District is a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats. Evans is a weak, unpopular incumbent who underperformed Trump in 2024 and whose freshman term is marked by massive cuts to health care, a reckless war of choice in Iran, higher prices on everyday necessities like groceries and utilities, and aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that have made communities less safe. Evans' decision to not only gut Medicaid but take 100% credit for it is particularly fatal to his re-election prospects, as nearly one in three Coloradans in the Eighth District depend on the program and 63% of registered voters say they are "less likely" to vote for a candidate who cut Medicaid. Consistently ranked one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress, Evans is on track to be a failed, one-term congressman.
A current state lawmaker, Manny Rutinel already represents a sizable portion of CO-08 in the state legislature and is a familiar face to Coloradans in the district. The son of a single, immigrant mom who grew up on Medicaid and food stamps, Manny has a story that resonates with the working class voters of CO-08. His ability to connect with key voters both through his story and in Spanish will be an asset in a district that is roughly 40% Hispanic or Latino - especially in an election year marked by growing dissatisfaction among these voters with Evans' cost-spiking and extreme agenda. Manny also has an impressive fundraising operation, having raised more than $4 million since launching his congressional campaign.
The path to the House majority runs through Colorado's Eighth Congressional District. With a vulnerable GOP lapdog on one side and a known champion for working families on the other, Democrats are well positioned to flip CO-08 from red to blue and retake the House majority.
***
Original text here: https://dccc.org/the-case-against-gabe-evans-2/
DNC: Trump Uses The Presidency as His Personal Piggy Bank As Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet
WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on July 1, 2026:
* * *
Trump Uses The Presidency as His Personal Piggy Bank As Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts and stock trades
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Donald Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal that he made 21,285 financial transactions in 2025, including purchases of millions of dollars in major companies that have business interests in front of the administration. Trump also made more than $1.4 BILLION in income from his family's ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on July 1, 2026: * * * Trump Uses The Presidency as His Personal Piggy Bank As Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts and stock trades - Donald Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal that he made 21,285 financial transactions in 2025, including purchases of millions of dollars in major companies that have business interests in front of the administration. Trump also made more than $1.4 BILLION in income from his family'scryptocurrency business during his first year back in office.
Trump also reported receiving more than $370,000 in gifts, including being gifted a seven-foot, $250,000 tall statue of him at his golf course and tickets valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, including for the Super Bowl, UFC fights, the World Cup, and the U.S. Open.
As Trump continues to profit off the presidency, he has repeatedly dismissed Americans' concerns about the economy. Just this morning, Trump defended his lucrative investments and dismissed Americans' concerns. Last month, Trump admitted that he doesn't even "think about Americans' financial situations."
In response, DNC Spokesperson Jaelin O'Halloran released the following statement:
"Donald Trump's brazen corruption knows no limits. Since entering office again, Trump has used the presidency as his personal ATM, taking every opportunity to cheat the system and sell out hardworking Americans to make an extra buck. As Trump and his family rake in billions of dollars, working families continue to struggle as high prices force them to decide whether to put food on the table, make rent, or pay their medical bills. Even as the overwhelming majority of Americans oppose Trump's shameless corruption, he continues to double down, making himself and his family richer and richer while using taxpayer dollars for his endless vanity projects."
As Trump profits off the presidency, everyday Americans are worse off in Trump's economy as prices on nearly everything continue to skyrocket and pessimism about finding a job is at a near-all-time high. Prices in May increased to their highest point in three years, and the Personal Savings Rate, which measures Americans' disposable income, dropped to 3% last month, one of the lowest readings since the Great Recession as Americans turn to their savings and credit to keep up with high prices.
* * *
Original text here: https://democrats.org/trump-uses-the-presidency-as-his-personal-piggy-bank-as-americans-struggle-to-make-ends-meet/
* * *
Trump Uses The Presidency as His Personal Piggy Bank As Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet
Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts and stock trades
-
Donald Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal that he made 21,285 financial transactions in 2025, including purchases of millions of dollars in major companies that have business interests in front of the administration. Trump also made more than $1.4 BILLION in income from his family's ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 2 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on July 1, 2026: * * * Trump Uses The Presidency as His Personal Piggy Bank As Americans Struggle to Make Ends Meet Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal hundreds of millions of dollars in gifts and stock trades - Donald Trump's latest financial disclosures reveal that he made 21,285 financial transactions in 2025, including purchases of millions of dollars in major companies that have business interests in front of the administration. Trump also made more than $1.4 BILLION in income from his family'scryptocurrency business during his first year back in office.
Trump also reported receiving more than $370,000 in gifts, including being gifted a seven-foot, $250,000 tall statue of him at his golf course and tickets valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, including for the Super Bowl, UFC fights, the World Cup, and the U.S. Open.
As Trump continues to profit off the presidency, he has repeatedly dismissed Americans' concerns about the economy. Just this morning, Trump defended his lucrative investments and dismissed Americans' concerns. Last month, Trump admitted that he doesn't even "think about Americans' financial situations."
In response, DNC Spokesperson Jaelin O'Halloran released the following statement:
"Donald Trump's brazen corruption knows no limits. Since entering office again, Trump has used the presidency as his personal ATM, taking every opportunity to cheat the system and sell out hardworking Americans to make an extra buck. As Trump and his family rake in billions of dollars, working families continue to struggle as high prices force them to decide whether to put food on the table, make rent, or pay their medical bills. Even as the overwhelming majority of Americans oppose Trump's shameless corruption, he continues to double down, making himself and his family richer and richer while using taxpayer dollars for his endless vanity projects."
As Trump profits off the presidency, everyday Americans are worse off in Trump's economy as prices on nearly everything continue to skyrocket and pessimism about finding a job is at a near-all-time high. Prices in May increased to their highest point in three years, and the Personal Savings Rate, which measures Americans' disposable income, dropped to 3% last month, one of the lowest readings since the Great Recession as Americans turn to their savings and credit to keep up with high prices.
* * *
Original text here: https://democrats.org/trump-uses-the-presidency-as-his-personal-piggy-bank-as-americans-struggle-to-make-ends-meet/
BREAKING FROM WSOC: Michael Whatley Supported North Carolina's Court-Ordered Prisoner Release Settlement Before He Made It A Top Campaign Attack
RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 2 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news:
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BREAKING FROM WSOC: Michael Whatley Supported North Carolina's Court-Ordered Prisoner Release Settlement Before He Made It A Top Campaign Attack
*
WSOC : " Michael Whatley's main attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper is the COVID-era settlement that resulted in the early release of inmates from prison. But in the early stages of the state's battle against COVID-19, Whatley...criticized Cooper for not doing enough to protect inmates in prison."
A new bombshell report from WSOC is exposing Michael ... Show Full Article RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 2 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * BREAKING FROM WSOC: Michael Whatley Supported North Carolina's Court-Ordered Prisoner Release Settlement Before He Made It A Top Campaign Attack * WSOC : " Michael Whatley's main attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper is the COVID-era settlement that resulted in the early release of inmates from prison. But in the early stages of the state's battle against COVID-19, Whatley...criticized Cooper for not doing enough to protect inmates in prison." A new bombshell report from WSOC is exposing MichaelWhatley for previously supporting the court-ordered settlement that forced the state to increase inmate releases during the pandemic - the same settlement he and Republicans have attacked Roy Cooper over for months, even after Whatley's attacks were fact checked as false.
As NC GOP Chair, Whatley criticized Cooper during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for not doing enough " to protect folks in prison " [1:34]. And under Whatley's leadership, the NCGOP criticized Cooper for only taking "COVID in prison seriously when a judge orders him too."
Six years later, Whatley is lying and taking the opposite position just for his own political gain.
Read More:
WSOC: Before campaign attack, Whatley urged stronger prison COVID response
Joe Bruno | July 1, 2026
* Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley's main attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper is the COVID-era settlement that resulted in the early release of inmates from prison.
* But in the early stages of the state's battle against COVID-19, Whatley and NCGOP, which he led at the time, criticized Cooper for not doing enough to protect inmates in prison.
* In a July 2020 NCGOP roundtable, Whatley called out Cooper for his COVID-19 response, including in prisons.
* A week later, NCGOP issued a press release about a TV ad Cooper was running about the COVID response. The press release criticized Cooper for only "taking COVID in prison seriously when a judge orders him to." The press release linked to a Charlotte Observer article that was about the judicial case that eventually led to people being released from prison.
***
Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/media/breaking-from-wsoc-michael-whatley-supported-north-carolinas-court-ordered-prisoner-release-settlement-before-he-made-it-a-top-campaign-attack/
* * *
BREAKING FROM WSOC: Michael Whatley Supported North Carolina's Court-Ordered Prisoner Release Settlement Before He Made It A Top Campaign Attack
*
WSOC : " Michael Whatley's main attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper is the COVID-era settlement that resulted in the early release of inmates from prison. But in the early stages of the state's battle against COVID-19, Whatley...criticized Cooper for not doing enough to protect inmates in prison."
A new bombshell report from WSOC is exposing Michael ... Show Full Article RALEIGH, North Carolina, July 2 -- The North Carolina Democratic Party posted the following news: * * * BREAKING FROM WSOC: Michael Whatley Supported North Carolina's Court-Ordered Prisoner Release Settlement Before He Made It A Top Campaign Attack * WSOC : " Michael Whatley's main attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper is the COVID-era settlement that resulted in the early release of inmates from prison. But in the early stages of the state's battle against COVID-19, Whatley...criticized Cooper for not doing enough to protect inmates in prison." A new bombshell report from WSOC is exposing MichaelWhatley for previously supporting the court-ordered settlement that forced the state to increase inmate releases during the pandemic - the same settlement he and Republicans have attacked Roy Cooper over for months, even after Whatley's attacks were fact checked as false.
As NC GOP Chair, Whatley criticized Cooper during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for not doing enough " to protect folks in prison " [1:34]. And under Whatley's leadership, the NCGOP criticized Cooper for only taking "COVID in prison seriously when a judge orders him too."
Six years later, Whatley is lying and taking the opposite position just for his own political gain.
Read More:
WSOC: Before campaign attack, Whatley urged stronger prison COVID response
Joe Bruno | July 1, 2026
* Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley's main attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper is the COVID-era settlement that resulted in the early release of inmates from prison.
* But in the early stages of the state's battle against COVID-19, Whatley and NCGOP, which he led at the time, criticized Cooper for not doing enough to protect inmates in prison.
* In a July 2020 NCGOP roundtable, Whatley called out Cooper for his COVID-19 response, including in prisons.
* A week later, NCGOP issued a press release about a TV ad Cooper was running about the COVID response. The press release criticized Cooper for only "taking COVID in prison seriously when a judge orders him to." The press release linked to a Charlotte Observer article that was about the judicial case that eventually led to people being released from prison.
***
Original text here: https://www.ncdp.org/media/breaking-from-wsoc-michael-whatley-supported-north-carolinas-court-ordered-prisoner-release-settlement-before-he-made-it-a-top-campaign-attack/