Two Races Move Away From Republicans
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Two congressional races have moved away from the Republican Party, according to new analysis.
After Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced that they would not seek reelection in 2026, the Cook Political Report newsletter adjusted its analysis to show more favorable potential outcomes for the Democratic Party in these races.
Why It Matters
While North Carolina hasn't voted for a Democratic candidate in a presidential election since 2008, it has elected several Democratic governors in recent cycles.
In the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris won Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, suggesting Democrats may be able to take the seat Bacon is vacating. As Republicans hold narrow leads in both chambers of Congress, the races may offer Democrats key opportunities to flip seats in the 2026 midterms.
The Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey are the heraldic animals of the U.S.'s two major parties.
The Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey are the heraldic animals of the U.S.'s two major parties.
Photo by: Dwi Anoraganingrum/Geisler-Fotop/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
What To Know
Tillis, who voted against President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" spending bill, announced on Sunday that he would not seek a third term in the Senate. His term is set to end in January 2027.
According to analysis in the Cook Political Report, Tillis' announcement makes the state a "top pickup opportunity" for Democrats. While Cook previously said the race leaned Republican, it now describes it as a toss-up state—meaning it could go either way.
Meanwhile, Bacon, who took office in 2017 and has opposed Trump's tariff powers, announced Monday that he would not seek reelection.
Cook reported that while the 2026 race was always going to be "a crucial battle in the fight for control of the House," Bacon's retirement meant the district had moved from a toss-up state to one that leans Democrat.
What People Are Saying
William F. Hall, an adjunct professor of political science at Webster University, Washington University and Maryville University in St. Louis, told Newsweek: "These two announcements of decisions made by two very conservative Republican senators, I believe reflect and represent—for the first time in a very tangible way—the beginnings of a significant fissure and split opening up within the heretofore solidly unified, conservative Republican political caucus. Considering the extremely slim margin of the majority currently held by Republicans in the U.S. Senate, this recent political development would also seem to allow for the very real potential possibility for an opportunity for the Democrats to make actual inroads in the U.S. Senate in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections."
Analyst Jessica Taylor wrote in the Cook Political Report newsletter: "The surprise move from Tillis moves this race into the toss-up category and officially makes the Tar Heel State Democrat's top pickup opportunity."
Analyst Erin Covey wrote about Nebraska in the Cook Political Report newsletter: "While this race remains highly competitive, Democrats should have an advantage in 2026, and it's become the number one seat on the party's target list."
Madison Andrus, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a news release on Friday: "The writing has been on the wall for months. Nebraskans are tired of the false promises that Republicans are trying to sell and they want real results. Don Bacon's decision to not seek reelection in 2026 is the latest vote of no-confidence for House Republicans and their electoral prospects. Next November, Nebraskans are going to elect a Democrat who will actually deliver for them."
What Happens Next
The general elections for Bacon's and Tillis' seats are scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump Visits $450 Million 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Suggests Taxpayers Should Fund More of Them
Only eight days after construction began, and 12 days after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier released a video on X announcing plans for an immigration detention center in the Everglades, "Alligator Alcatraz" will officially open this week. The site, which was visited by President Donald Trump and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, puts Florida at the forefront of the federal government's mass deportation campaign. The state-run immigration detention facility is planned to eventually hold up to 5,000 detainees and will be capable of processing and deporting migrants to speed up deportations amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The 30-square-mile parcel of land was chosen in part for its unused airstrip—and for its alligator- and python-laden surroundings serving as cheap security and deterrence. "They ain't going anywhere once they are there…because good luck getting to civilization," DeSantis said during a news conference on Monday. "The security is amazing. Natural and otherwise." During the tour of the facility, DeSantis added that Florida should not be the only state but should serve as a model. "We need other states to step up," he said. Trump called out California Gov. Gavin Newsom specifically, saying the Democratic governor could "learn something" about curbing illegal immigration. DeSantis pointed out that California is home to the original Alcatraz, implying that it, too, could be outfitted as an immigration detention center. Although both the president and DeSantis were quick to say Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem would be able to find funding for additional immigration detention centers, the cost and source of funding for these facilities merit further scrutiny, particularly since ultimately taxpayers are footing the bill. While touted as an "efficient, low-cost opportunity to build a temporary detention facility" in Uthmeier's original video about the facility, Florida's new facility is expected to cost $450 million to operate for a single year. A DHS official told CNN that Florida will fund the operation of the facility and then "submit reimbursement requests" through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and DHS. Secretary Noem said that Alligator Alcatraz and other approved detention facilities in the state will be funded "in large part" by $625 million set aside by the FEMA Shelter and Services Program. The project has faced objections from local residents and government officials, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who opposed using county-owned land for the project. After Levine Cava requested an environmental impact report and updated land appraisal, DeSantis seized the land under emergency powers in place since 2023. The post Trump Visits $450 Million 'Alligator Alcatraz,' Suggests Taxpayers Should Fund More of Them appeared first on
CNN
21 minutes ago
- CNN
Wisconsin Supreme Court's liberal majority strikes down 176-year-old abortion ban
The Wisconsin Supreme Court's liberal majority struck down the state's 176-year-old abortion ban on Wednesday, ruling 4-3 that it was superseded by a newer state law that criminalizes abortions only after a fetus can survive outside the womb. State lawmakers adopted the ban in 1849, making it a felony when anyone other than the mother 'intentionally destroys the life of an unborn child.' It was in effect until 1973, when the US Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide nullified it. Legislators never officially repealed the ban, however, and conservatives argued that the US Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe reactivated it. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, filed a lawsuit that year arguing that the ban was trumped by abortion restrictions legislators enacted during the nearly half-century that Roe was in effect. Kaul specifically cited a 1985 law that essentially permits abortions until viability. Some babies can survive with medical help after 21 weeks of gestation. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski, a Republican, defended the ban in court, arguing that the 1849 ban could coexist with the newer abortion restrictions, just as different penalties for the same crime coexist. Dane County Circuit Judge Diane Schlipper ruled in 2023 that the 1849 ban outlaws feticide – which she defined as the killing of a fetus without the mother's consent – but not consensual abortions. Abortions have been available in the state since that ruling but the state Supreme Court decision gives providers and patients more certainty that abortions will remain legal in Wisconsin. Urmanski asked the state Supreme Court to overturn Schlipper's ruling without waiting for a decision from a lower appellate court. It was expected as soon as the justices took the case that they would overturn the ban. Liberals hold a 4-3 majority on the court and one of them, Janet Protasiewicz, openly stated on the campaign trail that she supports abortion rights. Democratic-backed Susan Crawford defeated conservative Brad Schimel for an open seat on the court in April, ensuring liberals will maintain their 4-3 edge until at least 2028. Crawford has not been sworn in yet and was not part of Wednesday's ruling. She'll play pivotal role, though, in a separate Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin lawsuit challenging the 1849 ban's constitutionality. The high court decided last year to take that case. It's still pending.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thune says Senate Republicans have a deal to pass Trump megabill
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Tuesday morning that he thinks he has a deal with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) to pass President Trump's tax and spending megabill — but also cautioned he's a 'realist,' indicating he's not counting anything as finished until the final vote is cast. Asked if he had a deal as he walked from the Senate floor to his office, Thune replied, 'I believe we do.' 'But, like I said, I'm of Scandinavian heritage, so I'm always a bit of a realist. We'll see what happens,' he said. Live updates: After 24-hour debate, Thune ready for megabill vote; Trump heads to 'Alligator Alcatraz' Thune's body language appeared significantly more relaxed after he and Murkowski reviewed a sheet of legislative text on the Senate floor while Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) hovered nearby. Thune was spotted alongside Murkowski poring over the document at a desk near the back wall of the Senate chamber shortly after 8 a.m. EDT Tuesday. A person familiar with the floor conversations said the Senate parliamentarian had approved revised language to soften the impact of Medicaid cuts and food assistance cuts on Alaska. Robert Duncan, the secretary of the Republican majority, and Gary Myrick, the secretary of the Democratic conference, were spotted in a discussion with the parliamentarian at the Senate dais a short time later. The deal with Murkowski breaks a deadlock that lasted throughout Monday night and into Tuesday morning. Thune, Crapo and Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) thought they had secured Murkowski's vote by crafting language to provide an enhanced federal Medicaid match for Alaska and a waiver to shield the state from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts. But Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough threw a wrench into those plans by ruling the initial Medicaid and SNAP provisions designed to help Alaska didn't comply with the Byrd Rule and therefore weren't eligible to pass the Senate with a simple-majority vote. Republican leadership and committee staff then spent hours Monday and early Tuesday morning to craft language that could secure the approval of both Murkowski and the parliamentarian. The situation looked dire for Thune and other Republicans only a few hours earlier. Murkowski appeared to resist the entreaties of Crapo and Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) on the floor around 3:30 a.m. before she walked into Thune's office for a meeting. When Thune and Murkowski emerged from the majority leader's office to walk back to the floor, a reporter asked Thune if he would have to pull the bill. 'Those are options I don't want to have to worry about,' Thune told reporters. Even shortly before 8 a.m. Tuesday, Thune wasn't completely sure he had Murkowski's support. A person familiar with the leadership's deliberations said Thune was planning to move forward with a vote to see for sure where Murkowski stood on the legislation after hours of haggling over Alaska-related provisions. The Senate started its marathon series of procedural and amendment votes related to the bill shortly after 9:30 a.m. Monday. Thune put the Senate chamber into an extended quorum call around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday to give senators a rest and GOP leadership staff and Finance Committee's staff more time to put the finishing touches on the deal with Murkowski and the final legislative text of the Senate bill. Thune can afford to lose three Republican votes and still pass the bill, with Vice President Vance casting a tiebreaking vote. Vance arrived at the Capitol as the sun rose. Updated at 11:29 a.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
