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NRCC: Wow - Rebecca Bennett Proudly Campaigned With an Antisemite
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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WOW: Rebecca Bennett Proudly Campaigned With an Antisemite
October 16, 2026
Radical Democrat Rebecca Bennett has spent the campaign lying to voters and telling them she is pro-Israel. Over the weekend, her true beliefs were on full display as she proudly campaigned with Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, who has been accused of blatant antisemitism and discrimination.
Read the full story here or see excerpts below:
Top N.J. Dem recruit campaigned alongside New Jersey mayor accused of antisemitism
Jewish
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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WOW: Rebecca Bennett Proudly Campaigned With an Antisemite
October 16, 2026
Radical Democrat Rebecca Bennett has spent the campaign lying to voters and telling them she is pro-Israel. Over the weekend, her true beliefs were on full display as she proudly campaigned with Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, who has been accused of blatant antisemitism and discrimination.
Read the full story here or see excerpts below:
Top N.J. Dem recruit campaigned alongside New Jersey mayor accused of antisemitism
JewishInsider
Marc Rod
October 15, 2026
New Jersey Democratic House candidate Rebecca Bennett campaigned this week alongside Linden, N.J., Mayor Derek Armstead, a Democrat who has been accused of antisemitic discrimination in an ongoing lawsuit, at an event that also featured House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY).
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Based on photos from the Bennett campaign event, held in Linden, Bennett, Armstead and Jeffries delivered remarks.
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As part of the ongoing suit, Armstead has been accused of discrimination against Jews in hiring for the local school district, and was, according to the lawsuit, recorded making multiple antisemitic comments about the growing local Orthodox Jewish population.
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"Radical Democrat Rebecca Bennett and blatantly anti-Israel Seamus O'Toole [who is also running] cannot be trusted to fight for our Middle East ally. Tom Kean Jr. is the clear choice in this race," NRCC spokesperson Maureen O'Toole said.
The lawsuit alleges that, in a discussion about hiring for the school system, Armstead said that he wanted to "keep our community [from] being taken over by guys with big hats and curls," referring to the Orthodox Jewish community. The recordings cited in the lawsuit were reviewed and reported by NJ.com.
"I'm just keeping it real. And if people don't understand that, you know, we are really trying to save our community here," Armstead continued.
In further comments, he complained that another prospective employee had "sold his house to the guys with the big hats and the curls too. So, you know, everybody's undermining the progress we're trying to make here in town."
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While Armstead has been mayor, Linden has also been accused of undertaking a campaign of antisemitic discrimination and harassment aimed at preventing the growth of the local Orthodox community through zoning laws and other measures.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) urged the Department of Justice and New Jersey State Attorney General to investigate the city for alleged rampant violations of law and the state and U.S. Constitution.
[...]
Kean has supported various efforts to combat antisemitism while he's been a member of the House, including cosponsoring legislation to pull federal funding from college campuses that allow antisemitic events on their campuses and several efforts to addressantisemitism internationally.
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Original text here: https://www.nrcc.org/2026/10/16/wow-rebecca-bennett-proudly-campaigned-with-an-antisemite/
N.C. Republican Party: Michael Whatley Votes Early in Gastonia
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Oct. 17 -- The North Carolina Republican Party issued the following news release:
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Michael Whatley Votes Early in Gastonia
October 16, 2026
GASTONIA - Michael Whatley early-voted this morning in his hometown of Gastonia and encourages Republicans across North Carolina to get out and vote!
"Proud to cast my vote for a stronger North Carolina today. This election presents a contrast between common sense and crazy. My opponent, Roy Cooper, is running on a radical agenda of emptying out prisons, putting men in girls' sports, and raising taxes on our families. I am
... Show Full Article
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Oct. 17 -- The North Carolina Republican Party issued the following news release:
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Michael Whatley Votes Early in Gastonia
October 16, 2026
GASTONIA - Michael Whatley early-voted this morning in his hometown of Gastonia and encourages Republicans across North Carolina to get out and vote!
"Proud to cast my vote for a stronger North Carolina today. This election presents a contrast between common sense and crazy. My opponent, Roy Cooper, is running on a radical agenda of emptying out prisons, putting men in girls' sports, and raising taxes on our families. I amfighting for every North Carolina family to make more and keep more, to keep our kids and communities safe and to ensure America is the strongest, most respected nation on Earth," said Michael Whatley.
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Original text here: https://www.nc.gop/michael_whatley_votes_early_in_gastonia
Mich. Democratic Party: Blue Book - 18 Days Until Victory
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
The Blue Book: 18 Days Until Victory
Hello and welcome to The Blue Book, the Michigan Democratic Party's weekly recap to keep you in the know about Michigan politics. Every week, we'll bring you the latest in how Democrats are delivering for Michiganders and standing up to Republican extremism in the Great Lakes State.
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
1. MIKE ROGERS TREATS AUTOWORKERS LIKE TRASH: According to new reporting from Michigan Advance, Mike Rogers refused to meet with
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
The Blue Book: 18 Days Until Victory
Hello and welcome to The Blue Book, the Michigan Democratic Party's weekly recap to keep you in the know about Michigan politics. Every week, we'll bring you the latest in how Democrats are delivering for Michiganders and standing up to Republican extremism in the Great Lakes State.
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
1. MIKE ROGERS TREATS AUTOWORKERS LIKE TRASH: According to new reporting from Michigan Advance, Mike Rogers refused to meet withUAW members while he was in Congress after they objected to his support for NAFTA and opposition to the 2007 General Motors strike. In fact, UAW members reported that they "spent more time with the trash can outside Rogers' office" than with Rogers himself, because of how frequently he dodged their meeting requests--and they shared a picture to prove it:
2. DAMN SHE'S GOOD AT THIS: Jocelyn Benson dominated in the second gubernatorial debate. Between exposing John James for being a rubber-stamp on Trump's cost-raising, war-mongering agenda, to putting forth her affirmative vision for an affordable Michigan, Benson made it clear that she will make an excellent governor. Maybe that's why John James only took three post-debate questions before running off scared and refusing to answer questions on his multi-million dollar mansion.
3. WHAT'S MATT HALL HIDING? For months, Republican Speaker of the Michigan House Matt Hall has refused to investigate ties to Jeffrey Epstein and alleged sexual abuse of Michigan children at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan. When a Democratic lawmaker demanded a vote to open an investigation, Hall removed her from every committee seat.
4. ELI IS EVERYWHERE: How do you win a statewide election? By traveling the state. This week, Democratic candidate for Attorney General Eli Savit returned to the Upper Peninsula to let voters across the political spectrum know that he will put people before the powerful, every time.
5. FLORIDA BAGGAGE: New reporting from MS NOW revealed Mike Rogers' Florida residency is "cutting through to voters" and continues to be a "political liability" for his second Senate campaign, with a recent focus group finding "some Macomb county voters dismissing Rogers as a 'carpetbagger.'"
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"We need to start changing the way we look at healthcare. You know, if you go up and have to pay the doctor $50 for your annual physical, that's probably okay, right?"
- Corrupt multimillionaire Mike Rogers on his plan to force Michiganders to pay more for healthcare, according to newly resurfaced audio
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/the-blue-book-18-days-until-victory/
MDP Condemns Doug Lloyd's "Proud" Alliance With Cost-Raising Trump Administration
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
MDP Condemns Doug Lloyd's "Proud" Alliance with Cost-Raising Trump Administration
MONROE, MI -- Yesterday, Republican candidate for Michigan Attorney General Doug Lloyd attended a rally with JD Vance, claiming he was "proud" to join the Vice President. Lloyd's support for the Trump Administration comes at a time when Michiganders are experiencing astronomical gas prices as a result of Trump's war with Iran and shouldering the highest tariff burden in America thanks to the Administration's
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LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
MDP Condemns Doug Lloyd's "Proud" Alliance with Cost-Raising Trump Administration
MONROE, MI -- Yesterday, Republican candidate for Michigan Attorney General Doug Lloyd attended a rally with JD Vance, claiming he was "proud" to join the Vice President. Lloyd's support for the Trump Administration comes at a time when Michiganders are experiencing astronomical gas prices as a result of Trump's war with Iran and shouldering the highest tariff burden in America thanks to the Administration'strade war with Canada.
Lloyd has indicated that he would withdraw from lawsuits against the Trump administration if elected, despite the fact that such lawsuits have already recovered almost $3.5 billion in federal funds for Michiganders that would have otherwise been cut.
"Michigan needs an Attorney General who will stand up to the Trump administration to protect us from rising costs and attacks on our fundamental rights. Instead, Doug Lloyd has proven that he will be a rubber stamp for Trump's disastrous agenda, even as it harms Michiganders. We can't afford his dangerous allegiance with Trump. Vote for Eli Savit on or before November 3rd," said Leah Leszczynski, spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party.
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Original text here: https://michigandems.com/mdp-condemns-doug-lloyds-proud-alliance-with-cost-raising-trump-administration/
DNC: Vance Claims He's Never Heard of Service Member Who Died in His Administration's War With Iran
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Vance Claims He's Never Heard of Service Member Who Died in His Administration's War with Iran
JD Vance participated in a taped town hall with CBS yesterday, and was asked about his administration's war with Iran by the husband of a U.S. service member who was killed in the war, saying the government failed her. Vance responded by saying, "This is literally the first time I've heard of this."
Donald Trump and Vance's war with Iran has already killed at least 21 U.S. service members
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
Vance Claims He's Never Heard of Service Member Who Died in His Administration's War with Iran
JD Vance participated in a taped town hall with CBS yesterday, and was asked about his administration's war with Iran by the husband of a U.S. service member who was killed in the war, saying the government failed her. Vance responded by saying, "This is literally the first time I've heard of this."
Donald Trump and Vance's war with Iran has already killed at least 21 U.S. service membersand wounded at least 865 more. Vance has recently downplayed the war, saying, "I wouldn't call it a war," and that he doesn't know when the war will end.
On the campaign trail, Vance explicitly campaigned against a war with Iran, promising voters an administration that would not send "tons of innocent Americans to die in foreign countries." Now, as the war enters its eighth month, chief dealmaker Vance has failed to reach an agreement to end the war, despite Trump and Vance assuring Americans dozens of times that the war was nearly over, that they were nearing a deal, or that the war was already over.
In response, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"Donald Trump and JD Vance promised Americans that if they got into office, they wouldn't start wars. But Trump and Vance betrayed that promise, plunging the country into a war that has killed and wounded U.S. service members. This administration's war has been an unmitigated disaster that has put soldiers in harm's way and driven up prices for Americans back home. Vance's response has been cowardly and careless. Vance's only calculus is himself, and now that Americans overwhelmingly oppose the war, he's trying to pass the buck -- but the blame lies squarely with him and Trump -- and the Republicans who are doing nothing to stop it. Democrats meanwhile have voted multiple times to rein in this unconstitutional military action, and will continue pushing to end this war of choice. My heart is with the loved ones of those who have been killed in this war, and I continue to pray for our men and women in uniform, their families, and everyone being put in harm's way."
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/vance-claims-hes-never-heard-of-service-member-who-died-in-his-administrations-war-with-iran/
DGA Statement on the Jackson-Trump Campaign Rally
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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DGA Statement on the Jackson-Trump Campaign Rally
Oct 16, 2026
Ahead of Rick Jackson and Donald Trump's second campaign event of the week at a rally in Dalton, DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe released the following statement:
"Every minute Rick Jackson spends with Donald Trump is a win for Keisha Lance Bottoms. The contrast in this race is clear: Keisha will put Georgia first, and Rick Jackson will put Trump first."
Jackson is running to bring Trump's agenda to Georgia:
* JUST LIKE TRUMP: Jackson
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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DGA Statement on the Jackson-Trump Campaign Rally
Oct 16, 2026
Ahead of Rick Jackson and Donald Trump's second campaign event of the week at a rally in Dalton, DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe released the following statement:
"Every minute Rick Jackson spends with Donald Trump is a win for Keisha Lance Bottoms. The contrast in this race is clear: Keisha will put Georgia first, and Rick Jackson will put Trump first."
Jackson is running to bring Trump's agenda to Georgia:
* JUST LIKE TRUMP: Jacksonhas said that he'll govern "just like Trump," and he "couldn't name a single White House policy he disagrees with." He has repeatedly told voters that he will be "Trump's favorite governor" and that he will be "Trump with a Southern tone."
* JACKSON: IT'S NOT TRUMP'S FAULT: Jackson said at a recent event that he's "not going to be blaming the federal government for everything," when asked about the impacts of Trump's Iran war and tariffs on Georgia's agricultural industry. He also compared Trump policies hurting Georgia to the "weather."
* CHA-CHING: Jackson has given Trump multiple $1 million donations to prove his loyalty to him, including as recently as June.
* CHA-CHING, PART 2: Jackson supports and has bragged about personally profiting off Trump's tariffs. After "The stock market went down last April when Trump announced [tariffs]," Jackson bragged that he made "an 80% return in four weeks."
* HE GETS RICH - AND GEORGIANS LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE: Jackson admitted to backing Trump's budget law because it lowered his taxes - even as it kicked 500,000 Georgians off their health care and caused premiums to spike by more than $860 a month on average for more than 1.4 million Georgians.
- "If [Trump] hadn't passed it--I'll be honest with you--I'd be paying 40% more in taxes right now..."I like that part," Jackson said.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/dga-statement-on-the-jackson-trump-campaign-rally/
DFL Campaigns Break Record With Two Million Doors Knocked in 2026
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
DFL Campaigns Break Record With Two Million Doors Knocked in 2026
ST. PAUL -- Today, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party announced that the party and its campaigns crossed the threshold of two million doors knocked in 2026 alone. This is yet another doorknocking record for the party, clearing the number of doors at this point in 2022 by 650,000 doors and 450,000 more than the 2024 presidential election.
The two millionth door was knocked by Barb and Leslie,
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
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October 16, 2026
DFL Campaigns Break Record With Two Million Doors Knocked in 2026
ST. PAUL -- Today, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party announced that the party and its campaigns crossed the threshold of two million doors knocked in 2026 alone. This is yet another doorknocking record for the party, clearing the number of doors at this point in 2022 by 650,000 doors and 450,000 more than the 2024 presidential election.
The two millionth door was knocked by Barb and Leslie,good friends and southern Minnesotans, in Mankato. Both are union members and have taken the time to knock thousands of doors together this election cycle.
Barb is a health care worker who's been hearing a lot about skyrocketing costs from voters. "Affordability is the number one issue voters are talking about. Health care is a big scare. How are we going to be able to afford things?
Barb says there's a palpable energy at the doors. "People are excited. We have candidates that we want, that people are excited about. People are excited for a change" Barb is planning to knock 700 more apartment doors just this weekend.
The excitement is personal for Barb, as well.
"I'm also Yup'ik and [the Alaska Democrat] Mary Peltola is from my tribe. So to be able to mark Peggy Flanagan as my first vote this year was a true honor because soon, I'll have someone from my state and someone from my tribe who's going to be in the U.S. Senate. So it was a really great day for me to vote."
Leslie runs a bookstore in Albert Lea and is committed to canvassing because people are fired up. "People [on the doors] are like 'of course I'm a Democrat,' and 'we have to do something about what's going on," said Leslie.
Leslie also stressed the importance of sharing your story on the doors. "Tell your stories. Have a conversation. Meet your neighbors. The more we know each other, the more human we are, and the more we'll find we have in common. It's our community. This election is about us -- right here."
The Minnesota DFL deployed organizers earlier than ever in the summer of 2025 -- just two days after the loss of Melissa and Mark Hortman -- in a tough but critical commitment to listening to voters across the state.
In response, DFL Party Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement:
"The DFL made its earliest ever investment by putting organizers on the ground all around the state on June 16, 2025. Minnesotans like Barb and Leslie -- who together made history by knocking our two millionth door this cycle -- have shown up in every way imaginable since that day. The activation and enthusiasm we've seen around the state is driven by listening and building community.
"Republicans are banking on this election being won by out-of-state billionaires and the corrupt President flooding the airwaves with ads and misinformation. But Democrats know this election is won by listening to and working for Minnesotans. Keep knocking, keep calling, keep voting early!"
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Original text here: https://dfl.org/dfl-campaigns-break-record-with-two-million-doors-knocked-in-2026/
