Latest news with #Election2026
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Politics
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Scoop: Republican launches House bid in key swing district GOP aims to flip in 2026 midterms
FIRST ON FOX: Eric Flores, an Army veteran and former federal prosecutor, on Monday launched a Republican campaign for Congress in a key battleground House district at the southern tip of Texas. "We need fewer politicians and more fighters who will put our communities first," Flores said in a video that was shared first with Fox News Digital. He pledged that "in Congress, I'll stand with President Trump, fight and deliver for South Texas every single day." Flores is running in Texas' 34th Congressional District, which stretches along the Gulf Coast from just south of Corpus Christi to the border with Mexico. It includes Brownsville and stretches westward to include parts of McAllen. Scoop: House Republican Campaign Arm Aims To Anchor Mamdani To Vulnerable Democrats The district is one of 26 the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) is targeting in the 2026 midterm elections, as the House GOP's campaign arm defends the party's razor-thin majority in the chamber. Read On The Fox News App The district appears to be a prime pickup possibility for Republicans, as it's been trending to the right. Former President Joe Biden carried the district by 15 points in the 2020 White House race. Four years later, President Donald Trump won the district by nearly five points. First On Fox: House Republicans Launch Ad Promoting Passage Of 'Big Beautiful Bill' However, Democrats carried the district in last year's Senate election, with now-former Rep. Colin Allred (who is running again for the Senate in 2026) topping Sen. Ted Cruz by six points. Republicans view incumbent Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez as vulnerable. Gonzalez, who's in his fifth term in Congress, defeated former GOP Rep. Mayra Flores in the 2022 and 2024 elections, but his victory in last November's rematch to hold the district was by just 2.5 points. Flores, who has met with NRCC officials, is a Spanish speaker who grew up in the Rio Grande Valley. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer and rose to the rank of captain. He has served in the Texas Army National Guard and has commanded soldiers during Operation Guardian Support along the U.S. southern border with neighboring Mexico. Flores is also a former assistant U.S. attorney, helping in the prosecutions of cartel-connected and human trafficking operations. His campaign biography also notes that Flores "secured the conviction of one of Texas's 'Top Ten' most-wanted fugitives — accomplishments recognized with two U.S. Attorney's Awards." Flores, who also served as a municipal judge in Alton, Texas, is currently a partner at a statewide legal firm where he leads the litigation department, defending municipalities and school districts across Texas. He is married and the father of two children. "Every day, I see how broken policies hurt our community," Flores said. "Enough is enough. Politicians put themselves first, while the Valley gets left behind." Flores said that "President Trump stood up to the insiders and fought for places like ours: the communities the career politicians always forget. We cannot lose this opportunity. That's why I'm running for Congress. We need bold, principled leadership, and we need it now." While several other Republicans are running in the GOP primary in the district next March, Flores is considered the only major Republican article source: Scoop: Republican launches House bid in key swing district GOP aims to flip in 2026 midterms
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
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Teacher enters crowded race to topple Rep. Ken Calvert, with Barbara Boxer's blessing
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Katherine Aleman, an Inland Empire public-school teacher and part-time chicken farmer, is the latest Democrat to join a crowded field of challengers hoping to unseat 41st Congressional District Rep. Ken Calvert, the longest-serving Republican in California's congressional delegation. The race against Calvert, who for more than 30 years has represented Riverside County, will be one of the most closely watched in the nation as Democrats push to retake control of the U.S. House in 2026. The congressman, a Trump loyalist, has been a perpetual white whale for Democrats despite his controversial votes to overturn the results of the 2020 election. This time, Democratic insiders are bullish that Aleman – a mother of four sons who teaches middle school in Corona – will be the one to break their cycle of losses. Aleman is leaning into her background as a working parent and lifelong Inland Empire resident as she works to make affordability her primary message. Along with cost of living, she said veterans' issues and education are important to her as the daughter of a Marine helicopter pilot and an elementary school principal. 'Folks deserve someone who has walked in their shoes, who's had to balance a household budget, who's struggled,' Aleman told CalMatters. 'We have a congressman who really has only been serving himself and his friends.' Calvert will not be an easy target. This past quarter he outraised all of his Democratic challengers combined, pulling in more than $1.3 million in contributions and bringing his stockpile of cash on hand to an eye-popping $2.5 million. 'This massive fundraising haul shows just how energized voters are to keep him in Congress,' Christian Martinez, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee wrote in a statement when the fundraising numbers were released earlier this month. The W-shaped district spans from working-class towns like Corona and El Cerrito in the west to wealthier Coachella Valley cities like Palm Springs in the east. Aleman's fluency in Spanish, which she refined during two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay, is an asset in a district where nearly 40% of the population is Hispanic. Aleman's supporters, who include former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, say her deep roots on the western side of the district – where more than 70% of the population is – differentiate her from her competitors. That background also sets her apart from Will Rollins, a former federal prosecutor who lost to Calvert twice and whose campaign Boxer vigorously supported. Former U.S. Sen Barbara Boxer is a fan 'She's an undiscovered star,' said Boxer, who sought to support a female candidate from the western side of the district. 'I've been around a long time, and I never say that.' Boxer, a 24-year veteran of Capitol Hill who, alongside former Sen. Dianne Feinstein, won election to the Senate in 1992's 'Year of the Woman,' pointed to Aleman's successful 2020 campaign for Norco City Council as proof that she can win Republican votes. Aleman, the council's lone Democrat, won despite a nearly 30% Republican voter registration advantage, but lost her reelection bid last November. When the two women met for lunch a month ago, Boxer said she was immediately impressed with Aleman's straightforward assessment of her district's top issue – affordability. 'She said, 'Senator, people can't afford to live here anymore, and I grew up here.' And I just saw the authenticity of her,' Boxer said of Aleman. 'She fits so well into what we're looking for,' Boxer added, 'someone who has lived the lives of her constituents.' This time, Calvert has attracted at least eight other Democratic challengers. Among them are Brandon Riker, an entrepreneur who ran for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2016, and Anuj Dixit, a voting rights attorney who was born and raised in Riverside County. Tim Myers, the bassist for the band OneRepublic, has already bowed out and announced he will instead run for lieutenant governor. 'Katherine is exactly the type of candidate the Democratic Party needs,' said Orrin Evans, a media strategist working on Aleman's campaign launch. His has helped Democratic candidates such as Rep. Derek Tran defeat incumbent Republicans in tough races. Evans said the takeaway from the 2024 election should be the importance of candidate quality, and that a 'homegrown leader' like Aleman would gain the most traction. 'Katherine's not from Hollywood or Vermont,' he said. 'She's from the Inland Empire.' In addition to teaching, Aleman raises chickens and sells eggs at a family farm stand. What began as a side project during the pandemic to provide eggs for her family has grown into a small business known as 'Fluffy Butt Ranch.' The additional income helps cushion the family budget. She also runs a chicken club at her school, which provides extra food security for students in the form of farm-fresh eggs. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Who is challenging Ken Calvert for Congress Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who's in, who's out: Meet the candidates running for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District
The race for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District is getting crowded on both sides of the aisle. After U.S. Rep. Andy Barr announced a bid to replace outgoing U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, candidates quickly began throwing their names into the ring to take his seat representing Central Kentucky. The district hasn't had an open seat in more than a dozen years, with many seeing the 2026 election as a rare chance to run for federal office. Here's a look at who is — and who isn't — running for the seat. Stay up to date: Sign up for the Courier Journal's On Kentucky Politics newsletter Who's in? Ralph Alvarado (R) Ralph Alvarado is a former state senator and ex-Gov. Matt Bevin's running mate in his unsuccessful 2019 reelection campaign. He made history as the first Hispanic person elected to the Kentucky General Assembly when he won his seat in 2014. After serving in the state Senate, he was hired as Tennessee's health commissioner by Gov. Bill Lee in 2022 and stepped down from the position July 11. In his campaign announcement, Alvarado called himself "Day One MAGA" with priorities to "close the border," "crush the woke left," "bring jobs home" and "save America." Zach Dembo (D) Zach Dembo is a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy JAG officer. 'Central Kentucky deserves to have a representative in Washington who stands up for families, works to lower their cost of living, expands access to affordable healthcare, and protects their safety," Dembo said in a press release. "Instead, D.C. politicians have put Medicaid on the chopping block, tariffs are targeting our most prized industries and jobs, and everything costs more – all while they give billionaires and coastal elites a massive tax break." Dembo has never served in an elected office, but he has previously worked as a policy advisor for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Ryan Dotson (R) State Rep. Ryan Dotson announced his campaign minutes after Barr shared he would be running for Senate in 2026. Dotson has represented District 73 in the Kentucky state House since 2021 and has spent time in the Army. Now, he serves as a Pentecostal preacher and a businessman who owns a number of restaurants. Policy-wise, Dotson is known for being at the forefront of culture wars during his time in Frankfort. Ahead of the 2022 legislative session, he filed a bill to prohibit transgender women from playing on women's sports teams at public schools and colleges in Kentucky. Dotson in 2021 also called for Beshear's impeachment over a mask mandate in schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Deanna Frazier Gordon (R) State Rep. Deanna Gordon, one of the most recent contenders to make a bid, has represented District 81 in the Kentucky House since 2019. In her campaign announcement, she touted her small business background experience as an audiologist, saying she 'helped build the largest audiology clinic in Kentucky." Since selling her business, Bluegrass Hearing, Gordon started a clinic called Hear At Your Service in Richmond. Gordon emphasized she would serve the 'working class, not the Wall Street elite." Issues important to her include limiting government spending and stopping illegal immigration. David Kloiber (D) David Kloiber served on the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council from 2020 to 2022. He also ran for Lexington mayor against incumbent Linda Gorton but lost with only 29% of the vote. Kloiber is hoping his business and nonprofit experience appeals to voters in the Democratic primary. He runs the Kloiber Foundation, which provides technology to students and teachers in Fayette County, and is expected to be able to put a significant amount of his own money into the race. During the 2022 Lexington mayoral race, he put $630,000 of his own money into the campaign. Cherlynn Stevenson (D) Former state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson is hoping to make a comeback in Kentucky politics. She made her campaign announcement in May, touting her Kentucky roots and previous experience in Frankfort. Stevenson represented Kentucky House District 88 from 2019 through 2024, serving as minority caucus chair during her second term. She lost the election for a fourth term to Republican Vanessa Grossl in 2024, receiving 49.5% of the vote. Stevenson has received the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, whose name was also thrown around as a contender in the Democratic primary. Since the launch of her campaign, Stevenson has focused on fighting against tariffs and cuts to the Medicaid program, if elected. Who's out? Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R) State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, who represents District 12, was seen as an early front-runner in the Republican primary. But she recently ended speculation by announcing she wouldn't be running for Barr's seat. Mays Bledsoe said in a statement that while it "was not an easy decision," she knew it was "the right one" because the timing wasn't right for her and her family. 'As I imagined what it would take to fully commit to a campaign and to service in Washington, I kept coming back to Friday night games, school events, and everyday moments I don't want to miss," Mays Bledsoe said. Damon Thayer (R) Former state Sen. Damon Thayer, who previously served as Senate Majority Floor Leader while representing District 17, also announced he would not launch a campaign. Instead, he decided to endorse Alvarado, who he called a "true conservative who will put America First, secure the border and take the right to the radical left." "He's tough, tested, and ready to win," Thayer said in a social media post. "I'm all in for Ralph." Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@ or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky 6th Congressional district candidates: Who's in, who's out Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
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Kern County's 2026 primary candidates: One-on-one interview with AD-35 hopeful Andrae Gonzales
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The 2026 Election is already underway, as candidates throw their names in the ring for local, state and federal offices. Wednesday morning, Bakersfield Ward 2 City Councilmember Andrae Gonzales announced his run for California's 35th Assembly District. 17 Political Reporter Jenny Huh sat down with Gonzales for a candidate profile. It's a political domino effect or ladder, if you will. Gonzales announced Thursday morning he's running to replace Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains in the 35th Assembly District, who, one day prior, announced she's running for Congress. 'My goal is to know the district as well as I know Ward 2, and to be as involved, as engaged as I can,' said Gonzales. The 43-year-old has represented Bakersfield's Ward 2 since 2016, prior to that serving as a board trustee on the Bakersfield City School District. An east Bakersfield native and current Eastchester resident, the Democrat is eyeing the step up to Sacramento, saying the state must do more for cities. 'We know and I know that Sacramento can do so much more to help us address some of the most chronic pressing issues that are facing our neighborhoods for too long,' Gonzales said. 'Kern County has got the short end of the stick. We have our older brothers, the Bay Area and in the L.A. Southern California area, our big brothers who seem to have a seat at the table and kind of nudge us out.' 17's Jenny Huh: 'How do you, amid all the other state legislators and senators that are working to do the same thing for their community, how do you prioritize Kern?' Andrae Gonzales: 'I grew up in a family with five siblings, and I know a thing or two about nudging my way in. I was a middle child.' On his priorities at the state level, Gonzales said, 'Number one is to grow and diversify our local economy. We know that we're facing so many challenges when it comes to with respect to our region and in good paying jobs.' Gonzales has long focused on issues like homelessness, housing affordability and support for small local businesses, all of which he says his 'Downtown Ward' feels especially hard. 'The issues compound themselves, everything from chronic poverty to disinvestment in some of our oldest neighborhoods to homelessness, to a decline in the downtown area and a lack of investment over a period of 30, 40 years,' the assemblymember hopeful explained. AD-35 is a seat Gonzales has eyed before, in the 2024 cycle, though he ultimately bowed out. 'This opportunity with Dr. Bains running for Congress has opened the seat up. And it's an open seat, I want to give it a shot,' Gonzales answered, when asked about his first go at the seat. The work has already started. 17 News joined Gonzales Wednesday evening in Delano, as he met with community leaders. Delano is the second largest city in kern but is also where the incumbent Bains' roots lie. Gonzales said when it comes to his ability to transition to state leadership, he hopes the proof is in the pudding. He highlighted various accomplishments at the city level, especially in helping hundreds of small businesses, including through the B3K Initiative, the Bakersfield College Launch Pad Initiative, and the Prosperity Neighborhood Initiative. Gonzales also highlighted his role in the launching of the Bakersfield community land trust, which offers affordable housing opportunities to those low to moderate income. He credited his late father, who served as a counselor at Bakersfield College — for his public servant mindset, which Gonzales said began at the young age of six. 'I am very serious about getting to work and just focusing on the issues and being very pragmatic and practical in getting things done for people,' Gonzales said. Click here for the full interview with Andrae Gonzales. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
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A Georgia Republican governor candidate questions legality of rival's $10M campaign loan
Election 2026 Georgia Governor ATLANTA (AP) — A Republican candidate for Georgia governor asked a state ethics body Thursday to determine whether his GOP rival illegally lent $10 million to a campaign committee to evade restrictions under state campaign finance law. Attorney General Chris Carr's campaign lawyer asked the Georgia Ethics Commission for a legal opinion saying Lt. Gov. Burt Jones was prohibited from making the loan to his leadership committee, a special fundraising vehicle that allows the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative leaders to raise unlimited funds. A spokesperson for Jones called the complaint a 'weak attempt to get attention' in a statement. Carr and some other candidates for state office cannot have the so-called leadership committees for campaign fundraising under a 2021 state law that created the committees unless they win their party's nomination for governor or lieutenant governor. Instead, they are limited to candidate committees, which can raise a maximum of $8,400 from each donor. Opponents say that's an unfair advantage for incumbents. Jones and Carr are competing for the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Brian Kemp, who legally can't run again after two terms. The GOP primary is next May, followed by the general election in November 2026. Jones filed documents showing he made loans of $7.5 million and $2.5 million to the WBJ Leadership Committee when he announced his long-anticipated run for governor on July 8. The cash infusion was part of Jones' strategy to set himself up as the front-runner in the race. Carr announced his run for governor last year, saying he needed a long runway to raise money because he isn't personally wealthy. Carr's campaign has been voicing concerns for months that Jones will use his leadership committee and his family wealth from a string of gas stations to win the primary. Bryan Tyson, a lawyer for Carr's campaign, on Thursday requested an advisory opinion from the Ethics Commission on whether the loans are legal. Tyson argued that under Georgia law, loans can be made only to a candidate committee, not to a freestanding political action committee, or even a leadership committee, which is allowed to coordinate with a candidate committee. Carr's campaign cited a 2022 federal judge's ruling that a leadership committee for Gov. Brian Kemp could not spend money to get Kemp reelected during the Republican primary that year. U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen found that the 'unequal campaign finance scheme' violated challenger David Perdue's First Amendment right to free speech. Jones spokesperson Kendyl Parker said in a statement she was 'not surprised by this weak attempt to get attention — it's exactly what you'd expect from a campaign that's losing steam with many months to go until Election Day.' Tyson suggested that if Jones could make a loan to the leadership committee and then raise unlimited sums to repay himself, he could give the repaid money to his candidate committee to spend in the primary. That would evade Cohen's ban on the use of leadership committee money in the primary. Tyson warned that such laundering would 'wash away contribution limits entirely.' The Ethics Commission must issue an advisory opinion within 60 days under state law. In a related complaint to the commission on Thursday, Tyson alleged that Jones broke state law because his previous financial disclosures didn't show that he had $10 million in cash or securities to be able to afford such large loans. Tyson pointed to a 2022 financial disclosure that showed Jones had a net worth of $12.4 million, but only $700,000 in cash and securities. The rest was tied up in the value of real estate and Jones' insurance agency, the disclosure stated. Tyson noted that Jones' 2024 disclosure showed he hadn't sold real estate or his business, arguing 'it appears he could not have sufficient liquid assets to loan his leadership committee $10 million.' Ethics complaints can take years to resolve, but Tyson said it was 'imperative' that the commission move quickly to determine the source of the loan, whether it was properly reported and whether Jones planned to spend from his leadership committee in the primary.
