SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " senate " 4,028 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Retired political science professor discusses Michigan primary and the road to the November Election
Kulisheck expects the U.S. Senate and Michigan Gubernatorial race to be close.
One question about the Constitution puts liberals’ appetite for sweeping change to the test
March on Washington activists called to abolish the Senate and rewrite the Constitution while pushing Zohran Mamdani-style socialist policies.
Report: New Yorkers paying $5,000 for everyday essentials
A new report from the U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee – Minority finds New Yorkers are paying $5,000 more on everyday goods and services as of July 2026.
Pastor behind viral Dearborn clash discusses El-Sayed Senate bid, faith and political stakes
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell discusses his concerns about Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed and the stakes of the November election.
Abdul El-Sayed must take stand against political violence
Lon Johnson says it's time for Abdul El-Sayed to stop equivocating on political hate and violence
Texas Politics Project director discusses new poll results, Senate race and data center opinion
Rep. Crockett says she’ll be campaigning ‘downballot’ instead of with Talarico
The congresswoman, who lost the primary Senate race to state Rep. James Talarico, did not mention him by name.
Jasmine Crockett has no plans to campaign for James Talarico
Jasmine Crockett tells Laura she will not be campaigning with James Talarico in the closely-watched Senate race in Texas. Crockett says she’ll be supporting down ballot candidates in the midterms who are often overshadowed.
Debates set for Maine U.S. Senate race
Regardless of the format, the debates are likely to be must-see TV for voters who will make a big decision this fall about who represents them in the U.S. Senate.
John Cornyn is raising money for competitive Senate races
The GOP senator said he plans to use his considerable fundraising prowess to help colleagues in New Hampshire, Michigan, Alaska and elsewhere.
What Hasan Piker could mean for Democrats’ Senate hopes
Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker’s involvement in Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign is raising questions about the party’s path to a Senate majority. Meanwhile, Presi…
Florida Governor Moves From Solid to Likely Republican
Florida has been a mirage for Democrats during the era of President Donald Trump. Some in the party hoped the Senate race could come online thanks to Alex Vindman’s massive fundraising hauls, but his loss to democratic socialist Angie Nixon effectively took that race off the table.
Democrats hand Trump one power they spent years fighting
Senate Democrats voted to give Trump limited tariff authority in exchange for Russia sanctions, a move some warn he could exploit against trade partners.
Trump keeps winning Republican primaries. His losses may be more revealing.
The president is 24-for-24 in Senate primaries and 214-for-218 in House races, according to a Fox News tracker
As data center criticism grows, focus turns to NC Senate race
The construction of massive data centers around the country has become a significant issue in the midterm elections with a growing number of political candidates taking a stand against them.
12 races scramble Senate battlefield as Democrats eye comeback
Six toss-up senate races could flip the majority before Election Day 2026 as Republicans defend seats in Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Maine, and Alaska.
Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico teams with Mark Cuban on plan to break up healthcare
Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico unveiled a plan to bust what he says are healthcare monopolies in an effort to lower costs.
Primary conversations: Manzur says it’s time to break donors’ grip on party politics
Senate Democratic candidate Karishma Manzur lives in Exeter, serves as a volunteer with progressive organizations and has a background in medical science.
Senate hopeful’s ex-staffer shared KKK and Nazi imagery, adding to concerns about his associates
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Georgia) is challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff. The former staffer posted a swastika and shared an image of himself in what appear to be KKK robes.
Democrats at odds in Michigan over El-Sayed’s ties to controversial streamer
Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed (D) has close political ties to political commentator Hasan Piker, who has been accused of antisemitism. Piker says his comments against Israel have been misunderstood.
Jon Ossoff, usually a head down senator, has found a formula to excite Democrats
Ossoff should be among the most vulnerable Senate incumbents this year. Instead, the Georgia Democrat has opened a steady lead in polls and is increasingly seen as a potential 2028 contender.
Talarico wants to unearth Paxton's depositions to keep focus on his past in Senate race
Talarico is trying to keep attention on Paxton’s past by pushing to make depositions public. The case involved Unity Resources and was settled.
Senator Rosen, UNLV Host Sports Tourism Discussion with UFC, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Athletics, and Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
LAS VEGAS, NV – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Interim President Chris Heavey hosted a roundtable with representatives from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Las Vegas Raiders, the Las Vegas Athletics, and the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix to discuss the emerging global hub of sports tourism […]
How Darline Graham’s Politics Compare With Her Brother’s as She Runs for Senate
Senator Darline Graham has spoken far more about her desire to support President Trump’s agenda than she has talked about her brother’s political goals — or her own.
Analysis | Alaska’s weird (and important) Senate race
There will be two Dan Sullivans on the ballot, which greatly benefits Democrats.
Senator Cabrera statement on proposed health insurance hikes
SEN. JORGE CABRERA STATEMENT ON TODAY'S INSURANCE DEPT. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES FOR 220,000 CONNECTICUT RESIDENTS "The debate we should be having around health insurance in Connecticut is not whether rates are going up 12% or 14% or 16%, but when are we going to enact universal health care for all. That's the debate. Health care…
How worried should the GOP be about two Dan Sullivans on the ballot in Alaska?
The situation that Republicans strove to avoid in Alaska has come to pass: Two Dan Sullivans will appear on the general election ballot for US Senate.
Green New Dodge: El-Sayed runs from policy as newly surfaced deleted posts show years of support
Abdul El-Sayed refused to defend the Green New Deal on air, but deleted posts show he once wrote "I believe in a Green New Deal" in all caps.
‘Maine has been through a lot’: Democrats sharpen pitch to women after turmoil in must-win Senate race
A month after he became the Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine, Troy Jackson is ramping up his appeals to women and voters who care about abortion rights, looking to sharpen a contrast with Republican Sen. Susan Collins that has long been at the center of the race.
Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late brother in U.S. Senate
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother on South Carolina’s general election ballot, notching another win for President Donald Trump after he threw his support behind the political novice.
New Texas poll shows tight Senate race, GOP pulling ahead for governor
Talarico leads Paxton 42-39 in the new UT/Texas Politics Project poll. Abbott leads Hinojosa in the governor's race, and data center opposition holds.
Republican with same name as incumbent Dan Sullivan advances from Alaska U.S. Senate primary
A candidate with the same name as Alaska’s incumbent U.S. senator has advanced to the general election in what will be one of the most closely watched races in the country this fall.
Campaign finance reform proposal heads to Michigan voters after Senate declines to act
A proposal to ban utility and contractor political contributions will go to Michigan voters in November after the Senate declines to act.
In Texas Senate race, Talarico seeks depositions that could damage Paxton
Democrat James Talarico has leaned into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s past legal scandals to try to win over moderate Republicans.
'Our grief is not raw material' for Husted Senate ad, family says in call for removal
A central Ohio family who died in a fiery car crash is front and center in an Ohio Senate race ad − and their relatives want it taken down.
SEEING DOUBLE: Second Dan Sullivan advances, setting up bizarre Alaska Senate ballot
Dan Sullivan Jr. advances to Alaska's general election, complicating the race for Sen. Dan Sullivan as ranked-choice voting amplifies name confusion.
El-Sayed's tribute to Dolly Parton after her death sparks internet fury as critics cry foul: 'Gimme a break'
Abdul El-Sayed's Dolly Parton tribute on X was ratioed after critics accused the Michigan Senate candidate of exploiting her death for political gain.
Maine’s U.S. Senate race to include 6 write in candidates
If neither Republican Sen. Susan Collins nor former Democratic Maine Senate President Troy Jackson get over 50% on election night, the tallies will go to a ranked choice count.
Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late brother in US Senate
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother on South Carolina's general election ballot, notching another win for President Trump after he threw his support behind the political novice.
Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late brother in US Senate
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham won the Republican nomination to replace her late brother on South Carolina's general election ballot, notching another win for President Trump after he threw his support behind the political novice.
State House approves getting money out of politics, Senate won’t vote on it
LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) - The Michigan House voted Tuesday approve a proposal that would limit corporations f...
Darline Graham wins South Carolina GOP nomination to replace her late brother in US Senate
Sister of late Lindsey Graham, who has been backed by Trump, overcomes concern about lack of experience to win place on November ballot
Even as Trump’s Standing Slips, He Slingshots Darline Graham to Victory
After facing low approval ratings and endorsement setbacks, the president made a show of force in lifting Darline Graham to the Republican nomination for Senate in South Carolina.
In Headache for Republicans, Second Dan Sullivan Advances in Alaska Senate Race
A long-shot candidate with the same name as the incumbent Republican senator will be on the ballot in November. That could be a problem for the G.O.P.
Trump nabs crucial primary win in South Carolina: 4 takeaways
President Trump notched a critical win in the Palmetto State on Tuesday, with Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) defeating Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) to clinch the GOP nod in the South Carolina Senate ra…
Sen. Darline Graham projected to win runoff in South Carolina GOP Senate primary, defeating Rep. Ralph Norman
Trump Senate Pick Darline Graham Wins South Carolina Republican Runoff Election
Sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham defeats Rep. Ralph Norman
Political newcomer Darline Graham wins South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff
Her win in the snap primary to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham comes after President Donald Trump significantly boosted her campaign.
Funding cuts 'devastating' N.Y. victim assistance programs
Senate Republicans are speaking out amid the cuts, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul in a letter to increase funding for these assistance programs.
Sen. Darline Graham wins her first election
Sen. Darline Graham has won the special Republican Senate runoff in South Carolina, replacing her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, on the general election ballot. CNN’s Dianne Gallagher reports.
Brinks says Senate won’t vote on Money Out of Politics measure, leaving voters to decide
The Michiganders for Money Out of Politics ballot proposal seeking to bar political contributions from major utility companies and government contractors is headed for the November ballot, after Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) said the chamber will not take up a version of the proposal in the Legislature.
Republicans seize on transgender issues in Texas U.S. Senate race
As he runs for U.S. Senate in Texas, state Attorney General Ken Paxton is seizing on a familiar strategy from the Republican playbook.
Newsom’s climate whisperer gets some political cover
The Senate Rules Committee gave California Air Resources Board chair Lauren Sanchez the thumbs up — and aired some concerns about the powerful climate agency.
South Carolina Election Becomes Test for Trump
Runoffs in the state are typically sleepy, but the Republican Senate contest between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman seemed to be drawing relatively high turnout.
James Talarico continues to edge out Ken Paxton in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, new poll finds
The latest University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows Democratic state Rep. Talarico leading Republican Attorney General Paxton by three percentage points, with 14% of respondents undecided. Republicans maintain a modest lead over Democratic candidates in most other leading statewide contests.
Trump-backed Ken Paxton unveils ‘Texas first’ datacenter plan aimed at ‘negative impact’
The Republican Senate candidate announced the plan with a graphic X flagged as ‘Made with AI’
South Carolina Senate Primary Special Runoff Election 2026 Live Results
View results from the 2026 South Carolina Senate Primary Special Runoff Election. Follow live outcomes as votes are added up on Election Day.
How Trump's trade war with Canada could rattle states with key Senate races
President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada is escalating as the midterm elections approach, threatening Republican efforts to address voters' economic concerns in a year when control of the U.S. Senate hinges on states along the border between the United States and its northern neighbor.
Darline Graham, Ralph Norman go head-to-head in South Carolina's GOP Senate runoff
The two-week runoff window since the two Republicans were the top vote-getters in an Aug. 11 primary has been a slugfest.
South Carolina Senate race between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman heads to runoff today
Darline Graham faces make-or-break GOP runoff in historic bid to keep brother’s Senate seat
Republican primary runoffs in South Carolina and Oklahoma put Trump's endorsement record on the line after five gubernatorial picks fell short this cycle.
Darline Graham, Ralph Norman go head-to-head in South Carolina's GOP Senate runoff
U.S. Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman face South Carolina voters yet again in a special Republican primary runoff to replace the late Lindsey Graham in the Senate | NewsRadio WILK
El-Sayed confronted about culture wars on Fox News
The Democratic nominee for Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, clashed with Fox News host Jesse Waters during a heated interview. Laura’s panelists debate the top issues from the segment on everything from culture wars to affordability.
Guest columnist: Bill appears more political than science-based
Senate Bill 39, initially “An Act Relating to Fishing in Privately Owned Lakes and Ponds,” was passed by the 2026 General Assembly this year. In the last minutes of the […]
Data centers emerge as key issue in Texas politics: where candidates for governor, U.S. Senate stand
California lawmakers vote to increase transparency over influencers’ paid political posts
The California Senate has passed a bill to fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot
California lawmakers vote to increase transparency over influencers’ paid political posts
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Senate passed a bill Monday that would fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot.
California could tighten rules around influencers' paid political posts
The California Senate has passed a bill to fine content creators who don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot.
Live Results: Oklahoma's midterm primary runoff
Oklahoma Republicans will return to the polls Tuesday to settle an expensive nomination fight for governor, while Democrats will pick a nominee for U.S. Senate.
Live Results: South Carolina's special Senate GOP primary runoff
South Carolina Republicans will return to the polls Tuesday for the fourth time since June to replace the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on the fall general election ballot.
Is Trump’s Endorsement of Darline Graham Enough in South Carolina Senate Runoff?
The president has made a big bet on a senator’s sister.
Trump to headline RNC fundraiser in Houston aimed at boosting Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign
An analysis by AdImpact suggests that Paxton, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico, and groups supporting both campaigns could spend roughly $440 million on the Texas Senate race, making it the second-most expensive U.S. Senate contest in history.
Darline Graham, Ralph Norman wrap up a whirlwind South Carolina Senate primary campaign
Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman are wrapping up their campaigns for South Carolina's Republican nomination in a special U.S. Senate primary.
Darline Graham, Ralph Norman wrap up a whirlwind South Carolina Senate primary campaign
Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman are wrapping up their campaigns for South Carolina's Republican nomination in a special U.S. Senate primary.
Trump Lays It on the Line for Darline Graham Ahead of South Carolina Runoff
The president rallied for the sister of Lindsey Graham in her Senate run in South Carolina and pressured other allies to endorse her. A super PAC run by his advisers weighed in. Will it be enough?
Trump wants cheaper beef. Republicans in key races warn his plan goes too far
Senate Republicans, including Tom Cotton and Tim Sheehy, push back on Trump's plan to import 300,000 metric tons of foreign ground beef to lower prices.
Guide to SC GOP Senate runoff between Darline Graham, Ralph Norman
Voters decide between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman in the August 25 Republican Senate runoff election.
Fla Dem Sen-nominee Angie Nixon backed abolishing Electoral College, ranked-choice voting in resurfaced clips
Resurfaced clips show Angie Nixon backing abolishing the electoral college, ranked-choice voting, and same-day registration in her Florida Senate bid.
Dan Osborn staffers infiltrated rival political party, tried to dissolve it
Two paid staffers of Dan Osborn’s 2024 campaign joined an effort to dissolve a rival political party last year, according to records obtained by the Flatwater Free Press. The records reveal the lengths Osborn’s allies have gone to clear the field for the nonpartisan U.S. Senate candidate as he attempts to unseat Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts.
Can Democrats Win Back the Senate? Why Their Chances Are Improving.
Republicans still have some clear advantages on the map, but President Trump’s unpopularity has opened the door for an outcome that once seemed far-fetched.
Thune-aligned groups unleash historic war chest to defend Senate majority: 'Winning message'
The Senate Leadership Fund says it raised over $500 million to defend the Republican majority in 2026 midterm elections, setting a new record.
Dan Sullivan endorses Dan Sullivan to beat Dan Sullivan in perplexing Alaska Senate race
A third Dan Sullivan — a former Anchorage mayor — has weighed in on the competitive Senate race, endorsing Sen. Dan S. Sullivan over former teacher Dan J. Sullivan.
Dr. Annie Andrews attending Upstate Black Women’s Mental Health Forum
Dr. Andrews is the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.
Alaska Republicans scramble to educate voters on suspected Dem plant as 'ballot fatigue' threatens race
Dan Sullivan faces voter confusion from a candidate look-alike sharing his name as Alaska's ranked choice voting system adds complexity to the Senate race.
Dems turning more GOP Senate strongholds into midterm battlegrounds
Republicans' clear advantage in the battle for the chamber has all but evaporated.
What Talarico, Paxton are saying about each other in the Texas Senate race now that it's a toss up
The highly regarded Cook Political Report has moved the contest from Lean Republican to Toss-Up.
Angry Ohio Voters Could Turn Their State Purple Again
A governor’s race, a Senate contest and enough congressional contests to swing control of the House are all in play in Ohio, where voters of all stripes express a deep sense of powerlessness.
WHO RUNS MARYLAND POLITICS NOW?
ByThe Maryland Wire The Machine Didn’t Die — It Broke Apart Mike Miller is gone. Steny Hoyer is retiring. The two men who helped define Maryland political power for generations are disappearing from the map. Nobody has inherited all of what they controlled. Instead, Maryland power has fractured among Wes Moore, legislative leaders, county organizations, federal figures and a new generation fighting to connect the pieces. By The Maryland Wire For decades, there were two names in Maryland politics that required almost no explanation. Mike Miller. Steny Hoyer. You didn’t necessarily have to agree with them. You didn’t even have to like them. But everyone understood something: Not social-media power. Not cable-news power. Not the temporary power that comes from one big election. They possessed political infrastructure. Relationships. Institutional memory. Donors. Staff. Allies. County leaders. Lobbyists. Legislators. Operatives. And the ability to connect people who needed something with people capable of delivering it. Today one is gone. The other is preparing to leave Congress after more than four decades. And Maryland faces a question it hasn’t had to answer in generations: The answer may be: Nobody. At least not the way Miller once did. Maryland’s old machine wasn’t inherited by one person. It fragmented. And now several ambitious political networks are competing to assemble the pieces. Miller presided over the Maryland Senate for 33 years, becoming one of the longest-serving legislative leaders in American history. He stepped down as Senate president in 2019 and died in January 2021. (Behavioral and Social Sciences) But Miller’s real power wasn’t the title printed on his door. It was the accumulation of relationships behind it. Miller came from Maryland’s old Democratic organization and developed into an extraordinarily adaptable political operator, retaining authority even as the Senate around him became younger and more liberal. (The Washington Post) He understood something fundamental: politics is information. Who wants what? Who owes whom? Which senator needs help? Which county executive wants something in the budget? Which committee chairman can move a bill? Which lobbyist represents which client? Which candidate should receive support today because that candidate could be a senator ten years from now? Miller knew the answers because he’d spent decades collecting them. Miller’s influence wasn’t confined to elected officials. Former Miller aides became prominent Annapolis lobbyists. Maryland Matters noted figures such as Joseph Bryce and Timothy Perry among the high-profile lobbyists who had once served as top Miller aides. (Maryland Matters) That was one of Miller’s greatest political achievements. He didn’t merely accumulate power around himself. He produced alumni. Staffers became lobbyists. Legislators became committee chairs. Allies became power brokers. And decades of relationships reinforced one another. By the end, Mike Miller wasn’t simply a person. He was an ecosystem. Hoyer’s network was different. Miller’s power was rooted in Annapolis. Hoyer connected Maryland to Washington. He served in the Maryland Senate before winning election to Congress in 1981 and ultimately became one of the longest-serving members of the U.S. House and a longtime No. 2 in House Democratic leadership. In January 2026, Hoyer announced that he would retire rather than seek another term. (The Washington Post) His influence stretched through: Prince George’s County, Southern Maryland, Congress, federal agencies, donors, campaign organizations, and generations of Democratic candidates. And Hoyer had something machine builders value enormously: a succession network. That became obvious almost immediately. When Hoyer announced his retirement, Maryland’s 5th Congressional District exploded with candidates. Twenty-four Democrats entered the race. But when the votes were counted, the winner was Adrian Boafo, Hoyer’s former campaign manager. Boafo wasn’t running without establishment help. He was endorsed by Hoyer. He was endorsed by Governor Wes Moore. And he ultimately won the Democratic nomination. (AP News) In his victory speech, Boafo described the result as voters deciding it was time to “pass the torch to a new generation of leaders.” (AP News) That phrase captures the transition perfectly. Hoyer’s seat isn’t simply being vacated. Parts of his network are being transferred. But they aren’t being transferred to another Steny Hoyer. They’re being absorbed into a newer political constellation. And standing prominently inside that constellation is Wes Moore. If someone forces you to name the single person sitting nearest the center of Maryland Democratic politics today, the answer is Governor Wes Moore. The 2026 Democratic gubernatorial primary underscored the scale of his position. Moore won renomination overwhelmingly, receiving roughly 88% of the Democratic primary vote. (WBAL-TV) But raw votes tell only part of the story. Look at the party infrastructure. The Maryland Democratic Party says Steuart Pittman ran for state party chairman in 2025 “at the suggestion of Governor Wes Moore.” Pittman took office that July. (The Maryland Democratic Party) That’s important. Governors traditionally influence their state parties. But party leadership plus fundraising, endorsements, executive appointments and national relationships creates the beginning of something bigger: a political network that could survive the governor’s term. Moore also played a role in the Hoyer succession by backing Boafo. That’s how political organizations reproduce themselves. You support tomorrow’s politician today. And that’s the distinction that matters. Moore has enormous statewide visibility. Miller had decades of accumulated legislative control. Moore can endorse candidates. Miller could influence the environment in which legislators lived every day. Committee assignments. Leadership positions. Legislative priorities. Relationships that had been accumulating since before many current lawmakers entered politics. Moore may have a larger national profile than Miller ever possessed. But he doesn’t possess Miller’s half-century of Annapolis memory. Nobody does. Which is why the modern Maryland political structure looks less like a pyramid and more like several power centers connected by overlapping relationships. One of those centers belongs to Senate President Bill Ferguson. Ferguson controls an institution no governor can simply command. The Senate. Maryland’s official 2026 legislative records identify Ferguson as Senate President. (Maryland General Assembly) That means influence over: committee structure, Senate leadership, legislative priorities, confirmations, and negotiations with the House and governor. But Ferguson is not Mike Miller 2.0. Miller’s extraordinary longevity allowed him to become almost inseparable from the institution. Ferguson possesses the office. Miller possessed the office plus decades of political mythology and accumulated relationships. Those aren’t the same thing. The House now has its own new center of gravity. Official 2026 legislative records identify Joseline Peña-Melnyk as Speaker of the House of Delegates, alongside Ferguson as Senate President. (Maryland General Assembly) That makes the current Maryland governing triangle: Executive power. Senate power. House power. None fully controls the others. And that fact alone demonstrates how different modern Maryland is from the Miller era. The governor proposes. The legislature disposes. Committee leaders negotiate. County interests intervene. And political coalitions shift issue by issue. That’s not one machine. That’s a networked power structure. Then there’s U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks. Her significance isn’t that she is the new Hoyer. She isn’t. Hoyer spent decades constructing his network. Alsobrooks brings something different: Prince George’s County roots, a statewide electoral organization, a United States Senate platform, and relationships with national Democratic leaders. That makes her a critical bridge between Maryland and Washington at precisely the moment Hoyer leaves. Hoyer’s retirement therefore doesn’t necessarily weaken Prince George’s influence. It changes who carries it. Prince George’s itself is undergoing a dramatic generational transition. Official 2026 results show Aisha Braveboy winning the Democratic County Executive primary with 87,944 votes and 73.31% of the vote. (Maryland State Board of Elections) That’s political infrastructure. Prince George’s is one of Maryland’s central Democratic vote engines. A county executive with that level of primary support gains: appointments, budget influence, organizational relationships, donor access, and a platform for cultivating the next generation of political leadership. Braveboy therefore isn’t merely another person on the Maryland power map. She controls a place from which a political organization can be built. Boafo is particularly interesting because he sits almost perfectly at the intersection between the old and new worlds. He worked for Hoyer. Hoyer endorsed him. Moore endorsed him. Then Boafo beat an enormous Democratic field for Hoyer’s seat. (AP News) That doesn’t make him powerful on Hoyer’s scale. He’s just beginning. But it illustrates how power actually transfers: not through a ceremonial handoff, but through endorsements, donors, staff, relationships, and voter confidence. Boafo may become Hoyer’s congressional successor. He will not automatically inherit Hoyer’s 40-plus years of political capital. That part has to be rebuilt. This is the part that often gets overlooked. When a machine breaks apart, power doesn’t only move upward. Some people’s relationships become less valuable. Former Miller aides still know Annapolis. Former Miller allies still possess institutional memory. Veteran lobbyists don’t forget how legislation works. But something fundamental disappeared when Miller did: the common center. The person capable of connecting all of them instantly was gone. That changes the value of a political network. Imagine knowing everybody in Annapolis. Useful. Now imagine the person who introduced many of those people, appointed committee chairs, influenced Senate priorities and understood decades of relationships is simultaneously Senate President. Much more useful. Remove that person and the individual relationships remain. But the system becomes decentralized. First: Bill Ferguson. The Senate’s institutional relationships now run through his leadership rather than Miller’s. Second: the House leadership. With the Miller-Busch generation gone, today’s House leaders are building their own committee chairs, alliances and relationships. Third: Wes Moore. Moore became governor after Miller was gone. That distinction matters. Earlier governors had to operate with Miller sitting across State Circle. Moore entered office during a generational reset. Instead of negotiating with the old machine, he has the opportunity to help build the next network. Fourth: Angela Alsobrooks and the emerging Prince George’s generation. Hoyer is leaving. Miller is gone. The county’s political leadership now belongs to another generation. Fifth: politicians who were outside the old Miller organization. When someone dominates an institution for 33 years, inevitably some politicians develop within that organization and others outside it. Miller’s departure created room for people who may never have risen as quickly under the old structure. That’s the biggest point. If Mike Miller’s power had simply transferred to Bill Ferguson, Maryland would still have a machine. If Hoyer’s influence simply transferred to Boafo, Maryland would still have a machine. If every county leader simply took orders from Moore, Maryland would have a machine. None of those things happened. Instead: Moore controls the statewide executive platform. Ferguson controls the Senate. Peña-Melnyk controls the House. Alsobrooks has statewide and federal reach. Braveboy has Prince George’s executive power. Pittman leads the state Democratic Party after Moore encouraged him to seek the role. (The Maryland Democratic Party) Boafo represents the beginning of the post-Hoyer congressional generation. And Baltimore, Montgomery County, organized labor, donors and other county organizations maintain their own centers of influence. That’s not one machine. If you want to understand where Maryland power is moving, don’t simply watch office titles. Watch endorsements. Who does Moore support? Who does Alsobrooks support? Who gets Ferguson’s allies? Who gets House leadership? Who gets Hoyer’s blessing? Who gets labor? Who gets major donors? And most importantly: That is where the new Maryland network becomes visible. The Boafo race was a textbook example. Hoyer’s successor didn’t emerge randomly from 24 candidates. He had ties to the outgoing incumbent and support from the governor. The old network and the emerging one overlapped. And voters chose him. (AP News) Moore may ultimately become the most important person in determining whether Maryland develops another durable statewide political organization. But the test isn’t whether Moore himself remains popular. The test is what happens to the people he supports. Which delegates become senators? Which senators become committee chairs? Which county officials become executives? Which staffers become candidates? Which appointees become statewide leaders? Who gets his donor network? Who gets his political advisers? Who eventually gets his endorsement when Maryland faces a post-Moore gubernatorial succession fight? That’s how we’ll know whether Moore was merely a successful governor— or the founder of another generation of Maryland power. There’s another category worth watching: politicians who came from Miller’s Maryland but remain active in the new one. Dereck Davis is one. Anthony Brown is another. Veteran legislators and former officials throughout the state still possess old relationships that newer politicians don’t. These people can function as bridges. That’s important because political systems rarely reset completely. The new machine usually grows partly from pieces of the old one. Donors don’t disappear. Lobbyists don’t disappear. Operatives don’t disappear. Institutional memory doesn’t disappear. They find new centers of gravity. If you want one name: His overwhelming 2026 Democratic renomination, executive authority, national profile and influence within the Maryland Democratic Party make that difficult to dispute. (WBAL-TV) But saying Moore “runs Maryland” the way Miller once ran the Senate would oversimplify the reality. Maryland power today looks more like this: WES MOORE Statewide organization.Appointments.Fundraising.Executive government.National Democratic relationships. BILL FERGUSON The Senate.Committees.Confirmations.Legislative leverage. JOSELINE PEÑA-MELNYK The House.Committee leadership.Budget and legislative leverage. ANGELA ALSOBROOKS Statewide electoral organization.Federal platform.Prince George’s relationships.National Democratic connections. AISHA BRAVEBOY Prince George’s executive organization.County government.A major Democratic vote base. THE POST-HOYER GENERATION Boafo and the emerging political class that will have to rebuild Hoyer’s Washington-Maryland network rather than simply inherit it. It did something more interesting. Mike Miller’s influence was too personal, too old and too deeply rooted in his own relationships to be inherited whole. Hoyer’s network is too extensive and too intertwined with decades of congressional politics to fit neatly inside one successor. So the pieces are moving. Toward Moore. Toward Ferguson. Toward Peña-Melnyk. Toward Alsobrooks. Toward Braveboy. Toward younger candidates and new county organizations. And toward veteran political survivors who understand both eras. That’s the next chapter of Maryland politics. The person who eventually connects: Annapolis, Prince George’s, Montgomery County, Baltimore, labor, business, donors, the Maryland Democratic Party, and the congressional delegation will possess something Maryland hasn’t truly seen since Miller’s heyday. Not merely another elected official. And maybe that’s why searching for “the next Mike Miller” is the wrong exercise. There may never be another one. The more important question is: Miller spent half a century becoming that person. Hoyer spent decades becoming another version of it. Maryland’s current political leaders are still competing for the privilege. And until somebody actually connects all those pieces, the most accurate answer to the question “Who runs Maryland?” may be the most fascinating one of all: No one does. Not anymore. But there are plenty of people trying. Sources University of Maryland and Maryland Matters — Miller’s 33-year Senate presidency and political legacy. (Behavioral and Social Sciences) Washington Post historical reporting — Miller’s rise from Maryland machine politics and ability to retain power as the Senate evolved. (The Washington Post) Maryland Matters — former top Miller aides who moved into Annapolis lobbying and the changing Senate power structure. (Maryland Matters) Washington Post and Reuters — Hoyer’s January 2026 retirement announcement after more than four decades in Congress and his long Democratic leadership career. (The Washington Post) Associated Press — Adrian Boafo’s 2026 victory in the Democratic primary to succeed Hoyer, including Hoyer and Moore’s support and Boafo’s “pass the torch” remarks. (AP News) Maryland Democratic Party — Steuart Pittman’s official biography stating that he sought the state chairmanship at Moore’s suggestion. (The Maryland Democratic Party) Maryland General Assembly — official 2026 records identifying Bill Ferguson as Senate President and Joseline Peña-Melnyk as Speaker. (Maryland General Assembly) Maryland State Board of Elections — official 2026 Prince George’s County results showing Aisha Braveboy’s dominant County Executive primary victory. (Maryland State Board of Elections) 2026 election reporting — Moore’s overwhelming Democratic gubernatorial primary victory. (WBAL-TV)
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former US senator from Kansas, dies aged 94
Kassebaum Baker became the first woman elected to the US Senate without following a spouse into office
Nancy Kassebaum, First Woman to Chair a Major Senate Panel, Dies at 94
A moderate Republican from Kansas, she served three terms before tiring of political strife. “I couldn’t get elected today,” she said in 2013.
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, former U.S. senator from Kansas, dies at 94
Kassebaum, a Republican, became the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without following a spouse into office.
Former Kansas Sen. Nancy Kassebaum Baker dies at 94
Nancy Kassebaum Baker, a Kansas governor’s daughter who became the first woman elected to the US Senate without following a spouse into office, has died. She was 94.
The Former Local News Anchor in the Political Fight of Her Life
GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson faces a strong Democratic challenger in Iowa Senate race.
How a decades-old logger blockade is shaping Troy Jackson’s pitch in Maine’s Senate race
Jackson is trying to win over working-class voters who have drifted away from Democrats. At least one of his fellow former protesters isn’t convinced.
Top 5 most heated moments as progressives spar over who is farther to the left in final Dem Senate debate
Ed Markey and Seth Moulton clashed over transgender athletes and abolishing ICE in their final Senate debate in Massachusetts.
Schumer ducks question on campaigning with socialist candidate who refuses to back him as leader
Chuck Schumer says Abdul El-Sayed brings new energy to the Democratic Party but won't say whether he'll campaign with the Michigan Senate nominee.
Black voters rip Dems over taking them for granted in El-Sayed's backyard: ‘Hush us up’
Black voters in Detroit told Fox News Digital they feel Democrats take their support for granted, a dynamic that could reshape Michigan's Senate race.