Featured Stories
NRCC: Kathy Castor's Candidate Wants Her Opponent in Jail. Is Mike Beltran Next?
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
* * *
Kathy Castor's Candidate Wants Her Opponent in Jail. Is Mike Beltran Next?
October 16, 2026
In a stunning admission on CNN, socialist Angie Nixon said she wants to see her political opponent "locked up and punished in jail" if she's elected. This comes after Kathy Castor embraced Nixon, bragging Democrats are a "big tent party."
Now, Castor hasn't backed away.
Castor actually embraced Nixon and her radical agenda to defund the police, end cash bail, and raise money to keep violent criminals
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
* * *
Kathy Castor's Candidate Wants Her Opponent in Jail. Is Mike Beltran Next?
October 16, 2026
In a stunning admission on CNN, socialist Angie Nixon said she wants to see her political opponent "locked up and punished in jail" if she's elected. This comes after Kathy Castor embraced Nixon, bragging Democrats are a "big tent party."
Now, Castor hasn't backed away.
Castor actually embraced Nixon and her radical agenda to defund the police, end cash bail, and raise money to keep violent criminalsout of jail.
So Tampa voters deserve an answer: does Castor still stand with Nixon? And if Democrats are fine jailing the people who run against them, is Mike Beltran next?
"Radical Democrat Kathy Castor bragged that Angie Nixon proves Democrats are a big tent. Now Nixon wants her opponent in jail. Until Castor backs away, Tampa voters should assume she's fine with it." - NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nrcc.org/2026/10/16/kathy-castors-candidate-wants-her-opponent-in-jail-is-mike-beltran-next/
NRCC: Does Darren Soto Agree With Angie Nixon?
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
* * *
Does Darren Soto Agree With Angie Nixon?
October 16, 2026
In a stunning admission on CNN, socialist Angie Nixon said she wants to see her opponent, Senator Ashley Moody, "locked up and punished in jail" if she's elected.
And Darren Soto is refusing to condemn her insane position.
That's a pattern. Soto has stayed silent on Nixon's pushto defund the police, end cash bail, and raise money to keep violent criminals out of jail. And he's backed by Planned Parenthood, which shares her agenda.
Central
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
* * *
Does Darren Soto Agree With Angie Nixon?
October 16, 2026
In a stunning admission on CNN, socialist Angie Nixon said she wants to see her opponent, Senator Ashley Moody, "locked up and punished in jail" if she's elected.
And Darren Soto is refusing to condemn her insane position.
That's a pattern. Soto has stayed silent on Nixon's pushto defund the police, end cash bail, and raise money to keep violent criminals out of jail. And he's backed by Planned Parenthood, which shares her agenda.
CentralFlorida deserves an answer: does Soto think Nixon's political opponents belong in jail?
"Angie Nixon wants to jail her opponent, and Weirdo Democrat Darren Soto can't bring himself to say that's wrong. If voters send Soto back to Congress, he won't stand up to the radicals in his Party; he'll empower them and enable their dangerous agenda that puts criminals ahead of victims and imprisons anyone who disagrees with them." - NRCC Spokeswoman Maureen O'Toole
* * *
Original text here: https://www.nrcc.org/2026/10/16/does-darren-soto-agree-with-angie-nixon/
Minnesota DFL: 200,000 Minnesotans Have Voted, 65 New Locations Open
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
October 16, 2026
200,000 Minnesotans Have Voted, 65 New Locations Open
Early voting updates: a new way to vote early, additional locations and hours available, and an updated number of votes
-
ST. PAUL - Minnesotans just broke another record. As of this morning, a record 200,000+ Minnesotans have cast their ballots for the 2026 midterm elections. It's clear Minnesotans are ready for a change.
In previous election cycles, early votes were cast via absentee form and returned through
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
October 16, 2026
200,000 Minnesotans Have Voted, 65 New Locations Open
Early voting updates: a new way to vote early, additional locations and hours available, and an updated number of votes
-
ST. PAUL - Minnesotans just broke another record. As of this morning, a record 200,000+ Minnesotans have cast their ballots for the 2026 midterm elections. It's clear Minnesotans are ready for a change.
In previous election cycles, early votes were cast via absentee form and returned throughthe mail or in-person at select locations throughout the early voting period.
Today, Minnesotans can vote early and feed their ballot directly to the same voting machines used for Election Day.
Minnesota voters also have new places to cast their ballots as 65 additional early voting sites are now open across the state. Each county in Minnesota must offer at least one early voting site for voters.
For more information on Minnesota's early voting system, visit iwillvote.com.
In response to the start of early voting, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement:
"Today, additional voting locations open for eligible Minnesotans to cast their vote. Make your plan to vote now! Keep knocking doors, keep making calls. Be an early voter. Join the record number of Minnesotans who already voted for leaders that will bring costs down and help them build their future."
* * *
Original text here: https://dfl.org/200000-minnesotans-have-voted-65-new-locations-open/
Michele Tafoya Won't Commit to Anything But Donald Trump During MPR 'Politics Friday' Debate
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
* * *
October 16, 2026
Michele Tafoya Won't Commit to Anything But Donald Trump During MPR 'Politics Friday' Debate
ST. PAUL -- Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party U.S. Senate nominee, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, faced Donald Trump's handpicked Republican candidate, Michele Tafoya, for a live debate on MPR News today.
Peggy Flanagan laid out her strong vision to give working people the opportunities to build the life they want. That means stopping the blanket tariffs costing
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Oct. 17 -- Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party issued the following news release:
* * *
October 16, 2026
Michele Tafoya Won't Commit to Anything But Donald Trump During MPR 'Politics Friday' Debate
ST. PAUL -- Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party U.S. Senate nominee, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, faced Donald Trump's handpicked Republican candidate, Michele Tafoya, for a live debate on MPR News today.
Peggy Flanagan laid out her strong vision to give working people the opportunities to build the life they want. That means stopping the blanket tariffs costingMinnesotans money, reversing the health care cuts that are driving up care, and ending the war of choice in Iran that is making gas and groceries more expensive.
Republican choices raised Minnesotans' costs and they'll keep raising them. If they win, Minnesotans all lose.
Michele Tafoya could not meaningfully distinguish herself from the President -- or worse, totally blundered her answers.
Today she said that tariffs will lead to "victory." Donald Trump's tariffs have cost Minnesotans $4.8 billion between January 2025 and the end of August 2026, and counting.
Tafoya has said she's totally "in line" with Donald Trump on abortion. During the debate, she struggled to articulate how that abortion position is "reasonable." She also referenced the reproductive health protections on the books in Minnesota, which she previously called "awful" and "barbaric."
Tafoya completely avoided answering the essential question of how Washington should save Social Security. Over one million Minnesotans depend on social security they earned through their hard work.
Michele Tafoya is just as extreme as Donald Trump, no matter how she tries to present her candidacy to Minnesotans. She even failed to answer a simple "yes or no" to the question of whether she'd join Donald Trump on stage if he visits Minnesota.
In response to the televised debate, Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chair Richard Carlbom released the following statement:
"Peggy Flanagan will go to the United States Senate with one interest in mind: fighting for working Minnesotans. Michele Tafoya would go to the Senate with one interest in mind: Donald Trump.
"It took Tafoya 216 days to change her tune on Donald Trump's war of choice, making your gas and groceries more expensive. Tafoya wants to be labeled pro-choice, but has made clear her intention to be one hundred percent behind Donald Trump on abortion. We can't trust Tafoya."
* * *
Original text here: https://dfl.org/michele-tafoya-wont-commit-to-anything-but-donald-trump-during-mpr-politics-friday-debate/
Mich. Democratic Party Chair Hertel on Donald Trump's Last-Ditch Rally in Michigan
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
* * *
October 16, 2026
Chair Hertel on Donald Trump's Last-Ditch Rally in Michigan
LANSING -- In response to news that Donald Trump will visit Michigan on Sunday, October 18, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Donald Trump spiked costs and threw Michigan's economy into chaos by starting a reckless trade war with Canada. Now he's parachuting into our state to try and bail out Mike Rogers and John James, two loyal enablers who have stood by his disastrous
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 17 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
* * *
October 16, 2026
Chair Hertel on Donald Trump's Last-Ditch Rally in Michigan
LANSING -- In response to news that Donald Trump will visit Michigan on Sunday, October 18, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel released the following statement:
"Donald Trump spiked costs and threw Michigan's economy into chaos by starting a reckless trade war with Canada. Now he's parachuting into our state to try and bail out Mike Rogers and John James, two loyal enablers who have stood by his disastrousagenda at every turn. Michiganders know full well the economic damage Trump inflicted on our state, and like folks all across Michigan, I'll be watching the Lions play the Packers that day, rather than listen to the man who screwed us over and drove up prices."
* * *
Original text here: https://michigandems.com/chair-hertel-on-donald-trumps-last-ditch-rally-in-michigan/
DNC: In the States - Ahead of Election Day, Republicans are Desperately Abandoning Trump As Their Midterm Prospects Crumble
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release:
* * *
October 16, 2026
IN THE STATES: Ahead of Election Day, Republicans are Desperately Abandoning Trump As Their Midterm Prospects Crumble
As Donald Trump bounces across ruby-red areas in an attempt to boost support for failing candidates -- even asking voters to pretend he is on the ballot -- his own supporters are catching a serious case of buyer's remorse. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower costs, but all he's done is double down on his war with Iran and failed agenda that's making life
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release:
* * *
October 16, 2026
IN THE STATES: Ahead of Election Day, Republicans are Desperately Abandoning Trump As Their Midterm Prospects Crumble
As Donald Trump bounces across ruby-red areas in an attempt to boost support for failing candidates -- even asking voters to pretend he is on the ballot -- his own supporters are catching a serious case of buyer's remorse. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to lower costs, but all he's done is double down on his war with Iran and failed agenda that's making lifeall too unaffordable for working families.
Let's be clear: Everyday Americans are struggling, and even Trump's most loyal supporters are abandoning him after his repeated betrayals. Americans are fed up with Trump and Republicans' higher costs and string of broken promises -- and in 18 days, they will hold them accountable at the ballot box.
* In Arizona: Washington Post: In this deep-red city, rising costs test Trump's affordability message
* In Georgia: NPR: These swing voters regret voting for Trump and it's influencing their midterm choices
* In Georgia: WBUR: These Georgia swing voters regret voting for Trump
* In Montana: NBC News: Trump touts booming economy at Montana rally, but supporters feel the pinch
* In Ohio: Washington Post: In Ohio, some Trump voters question whether he's still fighting for them
* In Texas: MS NOW: Poll: 38% of Texas voters casting their ballot as a vote against Trump
With just over two weeks until Election Day, Republicans are admitting that their midterm chances are "cooked." GOP outside groups are even abandoning once-competitive races, Republicans' brazen gerrymandering is backfiring, and vulnerable members are breaking ranks with Trump as his disastrous agenda drags them all down.
While Republicans brace for the fallout of their own harmful agenda, Democrats are all gas, no brakes, to organize everywhere, mobilize voters, and make critical investments that will power victories up and down the ballot.
* In Iowa and New Jersey: NBC News: Republicans shift funds in the battle for the House, pulling money from some tough races
* In North Carolina: Politico: Whatley campaign is currently dark on TV as GOP groups retreat from North Carolina
* In Texas: Punchbowl News: Congressional Leadership Fund abandons trying to beat Henry Cuellar
* In Texas: Texas Monthly: Dade Phelan Says Republicans Are "Freaking Out"
* In Wisconsin: Associated Press: Wisconsin's Republican candidate for governor keeps his distance from Trump in nail-biter campaign
* Nationwide: CNN: 'Trump is dragging the party down': GOP scrambles to stop steep midterm losses
* Nationwide: Politico: House control all but gone, top Republicans privately concede
* Nationwide: Politico: With no October surprise in sight, Republicans try to save themselves
* Nationwide: NBC News: Some Republicans in key races break with Trump over tariffs
From grocery shelves to the gas pump, Americans face severe sticker shock as the price of just about everything rises -- and their paychecks can't keep up. Instead, families are left with no choice but to dig into their savings or take on more debt just to afford another day in Trump's Unaffordable America.
By the numbers: Under Trump's cost-hiking agenda, the average U.S. household has spent over $4,700 more on goods and services, including $856 on gas, $915 on housing costs, and $310 on groceries. Diesel prices are also up 70% since the start of Republicans' reckless war with Iran. Just this week, gas prices climbed above $4 per gallon for the 160th day in a row, breaking an all-time record. Meanwhile, families across the Northeast can expect to pay up to 39% more to heat their homes as oil prices hit record highs.
Americans are sick and tired of Trump and Republicans jacking up prices for the sake of their billionaires-first agenda, and they're ready to hold them accountable. Come November, voters will turn out in droves to elect strong Democratic leaders up and down the ballot who will fight to lower costs and put working families first.
* In Alabama: WBRC: 'It's pretty scary': Diesel prices impacting Alabama farmers
* In Arkansas: RFD-TV: Arkansas Farmers Face $343 Million in Added Fuel and Fertilizer Costs
* In California: KRCR: California farmers say diesel costs are squeezing already thin margins
* In Hawaii: Hawaii News Now: Spotlight Now: From gas to groceries, Hawaii families hit by rising costs
* In New Hampshire: New Hampshire Public Radio: High fuel costs prompt some Granite Staters to seek heating assistance for the first time
* In New Mexico: Santa Fe New Mexican: New Mexico farmers say rising fuel costs, drought pinching operations
* In New York: WSYR: 'It's been very volatile': Home heating oil prices jump more than 77% in CNY ahead of winter
* In North Carolina: News & Observer: NC drivers paid $73 more for gas last month compared to the same time last year
* In North Carolina: WTVD: Inflation climbs to highest level in four months, squeezing budgets for NC families
* In Ohio: Columbus Dispatch: More than 100,000 Ohioans lost SNAP benefits since Trump cuts
* In Pennsylvania: WHTM: Pennsylvania gas prices up 43% since start of Iran war
* In Texas: KXII: "It really puts pressure on us to decide what to do": High diesel prices squeeze Texoma farmers' budgets
* In Utah: KUER: Rural Utah still feels the labor squeeze of rising costs and immigration fears
* Nationwide: New York Times: Rising Costs Push Necessities Out of Reach for Nearly Half of Americans
* Nationwide: BBC: 'It's rough out here': Americans struggle with rising inflation
* Nationwide: The Grio: As Black wealth drops 25%, critics say Trump's agenda is making the squeeze worse
* * *
Original text here: https://democrats.org/in-the-states-ahead-of-election-day-republicans-are-desperately-abandoning-trump-as-their-midterm-prospects-crumble/
Chair Conrad Statement on MAGA Using Minors as Political Pawns
SEATTLE, Washington, Oct. 17 -- The Washington State Democratic Party issued the following news release:
* * *
Chair Conrad Statement on MAGA Using Minors as Political Pawns
Seattle, WA - Today, Chair Shasti Conrad released the following statement regarding MAGA voices targeting student athletes in Washington:
"MAGA and their allies at Let's Go Washington must be truly desperate to change the conversation when they use minors as political pawns. As most Washington state voters receive their ballots this week it's clear MAGA Republicans are desperately trying to distract from their federal policy
... Show Full Article
SEATTLE, Washington, Oct. 17 -- The Washington State Democratic Party issued the following news release:
* * *
Chair Conrad Statement on MAGA Using Minors as Political Pawns
Seattle, WA - Today, Chair Shasti Conrad released the following statement regarding MAGA voices targeting student athletes in Washington:
"MAGA and their allies at Let's Go Washington must be truly desperate to change the conversation when they use minors as political pawns. As most Washington state voters receive their ballots this week it's clear MAGA Republicans are desperately trying to distract from their federal policyfailures. They want voters to ignore their own pocketbooks which are being squeezed by sky-high inflation by the same people who are blocking the release of the Epstein files and starting illegal wars of choice. Let's Go Washington's initiatives would hurt every Washington kid, cutting $13 billion from education, removing protections for child abuse victims, and institute a government mandate for all girls to submit to sex inspections to play elementary, middle, and high school sports."
The Washington State Democratic Party is committed to advancing progressive policy, empowering the grassroots, and ensuring Democratic victories up and down the ballot. Chair of the Washington Democrats, Shasti Conrad, is the first Indian-American woman to chair a major state party and led the most successful Democratic state party in 2024 and continued that streak in 2025.
* * *
Original text here: https://wadems.org/press/10-15-26-chair-conrad-statement-on-maga-using-minors-as-political-pawns/
