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UC Davis Experts Share Worries, Hopes for 2026 Midterm Elections

The 2026 U.S. midterm election is among the most contentious elections ever without a candidate running for president. This year voters will determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, potentially reshaping the nation’s political landscape.

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Oct 20 • 12:20 PM EDT • Politics • ucdavis.edu
Senate Democrats launch first ad in Mississippi as their midterm optimism spreads to the South

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats' top campaign spending group is wading into Mississippi's U.S. Senate race for the first time this year, an aggressive move i

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Oct 20 • 12:06 PM EDT • Politics • wtop.com
Political Pulse: Independent candidate Rep. Peri Pourier runs on public safety for District 27 Senate

Independent candidate Peri Pourier is running for South Dakota's District 27 Senate seat on a platform of public safety and improving state and tribal relationships.

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Oct 20 • 12:00 PM EDT • Politics • kotatv.com
Who is Tommy Tuberville? Auburn coach turned governor candidate

From the Auburn sidelines to the U.S. Senate, Tommy Tuberville is now seeking Alabama's top office. Here's what voters should know.

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Oct 20 • 10:22 AM EDT • Politics • montgomeryadvertiser.com
Paxton campaign showing ‘desperation’ with manufactured story: Political commentator

In the final days until election, President Trump is set to hold another rally in Texas for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. MS NOW National Reporter Rosa Flores shares what she is hearing from voters there. MediasTouch Journalist Adam Mockler, Democratic Strategist Basil Smikle, Bloomberg Businessweek Journalist Max Chafkin, and Rolling Stone Magazine Politics Reporter Nikki McCann Ramirez join the Group Chat with Stephanie Ruhle to share their analysis.

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Oct 20 • 10:02 AM EDT • Politics • ms.now
Bush family royalty backs Democrat in battle to flip Texas blue

Barbara Bush donated $2,500 to a PAC supporting James Talarico's Texas Senate race against Ken Paxton, using her real name in public FEC filings.

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Oct 20 • 9:36 AM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Trump continues midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina

President to stump for Michael Whatley, who is facing an uphill battle against Democrat Roy Cooper for the Senate, as elections are just two weeks away

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Oct 20 • 8:10 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com
The Case for Republicans to Hold the Senate | WSJ Politics Newsletter for Oct. 20

Plus, seven candidates tell The Journal how they would fix Congress, and an Abdul El-Sayed opponent handed him a viral campaign highlight.

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Oct 20 • 6:54 AM EDT • Politics • wsj.com
Rogers argues El-Sayed is vulnerable with 2 traditionally Democratic blocs as Obama heads to Michigan

Mike Rogers argues Abdul El-Sayed may lose Black and Jewish voters in Michigan's Senate race during a Sean Hannity town hall on key demographics.

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Oct 20 • 12:03 AM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
‘He’s solid, has integrity and character’: Longtime TX GOP judge backs Talarico for Senate
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Oct 19 • 11:55 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
UNT students and local residents pack Emerald Ballroom for Talarico event

Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico spoke to a packed Emerald Ballroom in the University of North Texas Union on Monday.

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Oct 19 • 10:28 PM EDT • Politics • dentonrc.com
Abdul El-Sayed leans into faith in new political ad

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed embraces faith as a core part of his identity after months of Republican criticism centered on his Muslim background.

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Oct 19 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Ex-GOP Kansas governor compares Trump rally to ‘freak show’ while backing Democrat in Senate race
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Oct 19 • 7:34 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Why the Muslim Brotherhood has become a flashpoint in the Michigan Senate race

The Muslim Brotherhood has become a flashpoint in Michigan’s Senate race, with Republicans trying to cast Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed as sympathetic to interests connected to Islamic terror and El-Sayed arguing that he is being unfairly accused of the same “dual loyalties” that former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Barack Obama once were.

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Oct 19 • 4:50 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza

Michigan’s closely contested Senate race has become deeply personal for some voters.

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Oct 19 • 4:26 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
How Iran war votes in Congress became a focal point for campaign ad attacks

Democrats and aligned advocacy groups are hitting the airwaves with a flood of campaign ads on the Iran war as they seek to win back in the House and Senate.

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Oct 19 • 3:30 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
A blue-collar bellwether weighs ousting longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins in Maine

Voters in Lewiston helped propel Collins to victory in her last election. Some are ready for a change, but others are wary of losing Collins’ sway in the Senate.

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Oct 19 • 3:22 PM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
2026 Election Preview: 6th Senate District

The midterm elections are less than two weeks away and PoliticsPA has identified seven State Senate races throughout the Commonwealth to focus on during the run-up to the 2026 election, as part of our 31 Races in 31 Days series. SD-6: Frank Farry (R) vs. Eileen Albillar (D) The Key…

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Oct 19 • 10:42 AM EDT • Politics • politicspa.com
Senator urges FCC to reject conservative group's bid to use political AI-generated robocalls

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Monday urged the Federal Communications Commission not to approve a petition to allow political AI-

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Oct 19 • 8:48 AM EDT • Politics • centraloregondaily.com
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Senator Urges FCC to Reject Conservative Group's Bid to Use Political AI-Generated Robocalls

WASHINGTON, Oct ⁠19 (Reuters) - ⁠Senate Democratic ⁠leader Chuck Schumer on Monday ‌urged the Federal ‌Communications ⁠Commission ⁠not to approve a petition to allow political AI-generated robocalls from conservative political ⁠group Club ⁠for ⁠Growth ahead of the November congressional ...

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Oct 19 • 8:23 AM EDT • Politics • usnews.com
Paxton, Talarico pull in celebrities as Senate race heats up

It's all about eyes, hearts and red meat as we reach the finish line.

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Oct 19 • 7:19 AM EDT • Politics • chron.com
Bridges, Colorado Dems have embraced every tax hike

Kevin Grantham, the Republican nominee for state treasurer, exposed the single most important issue that defines Colorado Democrats during a debate with his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Jeff Bridges. Grantham is a Fremont County commissioner and former state senator from Cañon City who served as president of the Colorado state Senate when Republicans controlled the […]

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Oct 19 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Affordability, immigration and a referendum on Trump: Listeners weigh in on the U.S. Senate race in Texas

Houston Public Media conducted a survey of what issues listeners considered the most significant in helping decide their votes between Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Democratic state Rep. James Talarico.

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Oct 19 • 7:00 AM EDT • Politics • houstonpublicmedia.org
The 10 colleges with the most current US senators among graduates

US senators have attended a variety of schools, from Harvard and Yale to BYU. See which schools are represented the most in the current Senate.

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Oct 19 • 5:38 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
‘Pitchfork Populism’ Over Data Centers Rattles Ohio’s U.S. Senate Race

The issue, which barely registered with candidates last year, looms large in a race that could determine control of Congress.

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Oct 19 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • insideclimatenews.org
Fears about kids’ online safety unite Democrats and Republicans

The U.S. Senate candidates in Texas could hardly be more different: James Talarico, a former seminarian turned Democratic state lawmaker who speaks in calm cadences about love and empathy, and

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Oct 19 • 4:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com
Voter guide: What to know about candidates for Kansas insurance commissioner

House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes are running alongside Libertarian nominee Ric Koehn.

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Oct 19 • 3:15 AM EDT • Politics • kansas.com
Talarico holds slight edge over Paxton in U.S. Senate race on cusp of election, poll shows

The latest survey by the UH Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic state Rep. James Talarico leading GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton by two percentage points among likely voters, just within the margin of error.

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Oct 19 • 12:00 AM EDT • Politics • houstonpublicmedia.org
Faith and fury: Texas Senate rivals offer contrasting visions

One preaches love and reconciliation.He defeated the more combative congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary, promising a "politics of love."

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Oct 18 • 9:50 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
James Talarico kicks off tour with ‘Friday Night Lights’ cast

Some of the cast of the Emmy Award-winning high school football drama “Friday Night Lights” teamed up with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico in a new video announcing a slew of campaign events.

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Oct 18 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
2028 Presidential ‘Shadow Primary’ Descends on the Midterm Elections

The schedule is especially packed in New Hampshire, an early presidential nominating state where there is a competitive Senate race Democrats are flocking to this month.

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Oct 18 • 3:47 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Jackson doesn't regret telling Collins to 'shut up' after protester interrupted Maine Senate debate

"She said that it was a Troy supporter. She accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was,” Jackson said.

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Oct 18 • 2:01 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
‘This is disgusting’: Nebraska’s independent Senate candidate rips dark money in politics

Democrats are hoping to whittle away at the Republican Senate majority in unexpectedly vulnerable red states like Nebraska. Incumbent Senator Pete Ricketts, a multimillionaire former governor, is defending his seat against independent challenger Dan Osborn, a Navy veteran and industrial mechanic. Osborn says he wants Congress to take back its power, end the war in Iran, lower fuel costs, so we “can worry about little league and bake sales.”

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Oct 18 • 1:46 PM EDT • Politics • ms.now
Jackson doesn't regret telling Collins to 'shut up' after protester interrupted Maine Senate debate

Maine Democrat Troy Jackson says he doesn't regret telling Susan Collins that she should “shut up” after the Republican senator suggested that a protester who interrupted their recent debate was one of his campaign’s backers.

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Oct 18 • 1:24 PM EDT • Politics • wsls.com
Slotkin wants GOP prosecutions to deter young people from Trump administration jobs

Elissa Slotkin said she wants young people to fear legal problems before joining the Trump administration, sparking fierce online backlash..

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Oct 18 • 1:04 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Exclusive interview with Maine Democratic Senate candidate Troy Jackson
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Oct 18 • 11:19 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Troy Jackson says not enough people in Senate ‘give a sh*t’ about working-class issues
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Oct 18 • 11:15 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Democrats try to show unity in critical Michigan Senate race

With just 16 days until the midterms, candidates and top surrogates from each party have a packed schedule of campaign events. Follow for the latest on the trail.

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Oct 18 • 8:30 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Sen. Warnock says Colom can win Senate race in MS like he won in Georgia

"Mississippi is a blue state," Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock said. "It just doesn't know it yet."

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Oct 18 • 6:15 AM EDT • Politics • clarionledger.com
In tight Texas Senate race, Trump's immigration crackdown tests Republicans' hold on voters

The race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton is hotly contested and enormously expensive, with total ad spending topping $500 million.

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Oct 18 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Abdul El-Sayed disavows Muslim Brotherhood and criticizes implications that he has ‘dual loyalty’

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Saturday disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist political movement, during a heated exchange at a town hall.

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Oct 17 • 10:16 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Tracking Mississippi’s Senate Race: Democratic Nominee Scott Colom and GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith
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Oct 17 • 8:57 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
State of Texas: Tight races test voters, parties and a new political map

The race for U.S. Senate is the biggest story in Texas politics, and it's getting nationwide attention. Campaign spending between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is on pace to set records, and the race ...

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Oct 17 • 7:00 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
State of Texas: Tight races test voters, parties and a new political map

The race for U.S. Senate is the biggest story in Texas politics, and it’s getting nationwide attention. Campaign spending between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is on pace to set records, and …

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Oct 17 • 7:00 PM EDT • Politics • kxan.com
Bernie Sanders Visits Florida to Campaign With Angie Nixon

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has made a point of investing in Republican-leaning states. He rallied in Tampa for Ms. Nixon, the underdog Democratic nominee for Florida Senate.

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Oct 17 • 6:24 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Paxton touts economic plan, attacks Talarico at Killeen rally

Attorney General Ken Paxton pitched his U.S. Senate campaign as a fight to ease costs for Texas families and preserve the state’s values at a rally Saturday afternoon at Southern

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Oct 17 • 5:53 PM EDT • Politics • kdhnews.com
Graham Breaks With Trump Over Russia Sanctions Law Her Brother Championed

Senator Darline Graham, appointed to fill the Senate seat of her late brother, Lindsey, gently disagreed with the president’s decision to exempt Russia from the sanctions legislation.

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Oct 17 • 4:14 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
The Senate Race Republicans Never Expected to Sweat

With Trump’s help, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall scrambles to fend off a surprisingly strong Democratic challenger.

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Oct 17 • 3:53 PM EDT • Politics • wsj.com
A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza

Michigan’s closely contested Senate race has become deeply personal for some voters | WWJ Newsradio 950

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Oct 17 • 9:31 AM EDT • Politics • audacy.com
A bitter Michigan Senate race rattles Jewish and Muslim voters already on edge over the war in Gaza

Michigan’s closely contested Senate race has become deeply personal for some voters.

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Oct 17 • 9:31 AM EDT • Politics • wsls.com
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Some hope to see lawmakers create AI framework for education

Could Senate Republicans prevent Senate Democrats from achieving a veto-proof majority in the upper chamber this election?

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Oct 16 • 7:30 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
Musical chairs in the Maryland Senate president's office and other political notes

Musical chairs in the Maryland Senate president's office and other political notes

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Oct 16 • 6:18 PM EDT • Politics • marylandmatters.org
Trump rallies with top Republicans in critical battleground state of Georgia

Donald Trump flew to Georgia to campaign with Republican candidates for the Senate and governor. Senate candidate Mike Collins faces Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson is taking

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Oct 16 • 6:09 PM EDT • Politics • lancasteronline.com
Former classmate accuses James Talarico of putting political ambition over truth

Fox News host Will Cain discusses accusations from James Talarico’s former classmate Mike Garcia about the Democratic Texas Senate candidate's honesty on 'The Will Cain Show.'

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Oct 16 • 6:07 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Democratic Senate candidates swamp GOP rivals in fundraising: From the Politics Desk

Plus, tensions boil over on the debate stage.

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Oct 16 • 5:02 PM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
Barbara Bush's latest political move backs James Talarico's U.S. Senate bid

Barbara Bush gave $2,500 to Lone Star Rising PAC, which supports Democrat James Talarico in his U.S. Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton.

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Oct 16 • 4:47 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Obama's star power gets a reality check from Black voters in crucial Senate race: 'It's a turn-off'

Barack Obama's endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed drew mixed reactions from Detroit Black voters, with undecided residents saying it didn't move the needle.

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Oct 16 • 4:07 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Talarico raises record $64M in Texas Senate race against Paxton

Democrat James Talarico scored record-breaking numbers in Q3, widening his fundraising lead in the Texas U.S. Senate race against Republican Ken Paxton.

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Oct 16 • 2:11 PM EDT • Politics • elpasotimes.com
Mike Rogers discusses contentious Senate race at Detroit business luncheon

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers joined the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 16 in Detroit. He talked about the state of Michigan and the Senate race with FOX 2’s Roop Raj.

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Oct 16 • 1:53 PM EDT • Business • fox2detroit.com
Democrats are up in the polls. They’re sick to their stomachs.

Polls show Democrats with a clear path to controlling the House and maybe the Senate. But they have burned before.

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Oct 16 • 1:31 PM EDT • Politics • washingtonpost.com
Georgia's Senate and governor races test Trump's political influence
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Oct 16 • 1:09 PM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Georgia's Senate and governor races test Trump's political influence

Trump plays a significant role in Georgia's races, with Democrats working to tie their GOP opponents to Trump’s unpopular policies on the economy and war with Iran.

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Oct 16 • 1:06 PM EDT • Politics • abcnews.com
Is the Texas Senate race tightening?

Unbiased Politics News

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Oct 16 • 12:55 PM EDT • Politics • thehill.com
Mike Rogers: Media Q&A at Detroit business luncheon

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers joined the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Luncheon on Friday, Oct. 16, and took questions from the media before the event.

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Oct 16 • 12:14 PM EDT • Business • fox2detroit.com
Your Weekly Michigan Political Brief

U.S. Senate Abdul El-Sayed more than tripled the fundraising haul of his Republican challenger, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat. Online records show El-Sayed raised $30,659,157 in the reporting period from July 16 to Sept. 30, while Rogers brought in $9,662,538. Despite that, Rogers’ campaign maintains a nearly […]

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Oct 16 • 12:00 PM EDT • Politics • michiganadvance.com
Fastest Warming Congressional Districts Where Politician Is Funded By Fossil Fuel Industry

The midterm elections are less than a month away, and 35 seats in the U.S. Senate, as well as...

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Oct 16 • 11:35 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
Ocasio-Cortez Transfers $1 Million to Help El-Sayed in Michigan Senate Race

The transfer represents an unusually large amount for a House member to give to a Senate race.

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Oct 16 • 10:32 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Can AI solve our mental health access problem?

Last week I asked you what worries you most about AI in health. It was close, but your top answer was “AI giving bad health advice.” Last week’s poll results: You’re in good company. This concern was top of mind at a conference I joined at Stanford last week, where researchers, clinicians, and people who build AI systems spent a day debating trust and safety in health AI. Stepping back, I’m also hearing your emerging concerns about AI’s impact on our well-being generally. I see this as a matter of public health, and we’ll take it in pieces as we learn together. Today we’ll focus on AI chatbots used for therapy for mental health. Early this month, Governor Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 903, California’s most ambitious attempt to regulate AI use for mental health. It’s at the center of active debate, and raises the questions patients, family members, citizens, and voters will face as AI moves deeper into health care. Let’s work through it. What is “AI-based therapy”? It’s really two things: purpose-built mental health apps designed to deliver structured support, and general chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini that people increasingly use for emotional support—even if they weren’t built for it. Spoiler alert: I don’t know whether the shift toward AI therapy is good or bad. The evidence isn’t there yet. But I do know it’s already happening, and I have some ideas about how we can roll it out with safety in mind. The therapy dilemma, in a nutshell Mental health challenges are common, and strain health and well-being across populations. Therapy (interactive dialogue with a trained, empathetic practitioner) helps many people heal. The demand for licensed therapists far exceeds the supply in California, and AI-based therapy can narrow that gap. AI-based therapy remains novel, unproven, and not well tested. Right off the bat, we can see we’re dealing with trade-offs here. Since the main driver of demand for therapy from a robot is lack of access to therapy from a human, we’ll start there. It’s too hard to find and afford a human therapist California is short roughly 55,000 licensed, non-prescribing therapists and counselors, about 40% of what we need. Psychiatrists, who rely on talk therapy as a complement to prescribed medications, are even more scarce. Eight counties have none, and density ranges from 1.7 per 100,000 residents in San Benito County, to 68.1 in Marin County. My wife is a psychiatrist in Marin, and even here access is tight. If it’s hard in the best-supplied county, imagine rural Sierra County, or the San Joaquin Valley. In 2024, more than half of Californians who tried to make a mental health appointment struggled to find a provider who took their insurance, compared with 14% for physical health care. When Senate staff posed as “secret shopper” patients and called 120 mental health providers in Medicare Advantage networks, they landed an appointment less than once for every five tries. Insurers pay behavioral health clinicians about 22% less than medical and surgical clinicians for comparable office visits. On top of that, billing denials and prior authorizations hit hardest at the solo and small practices common in mental health. Psychiatrists opt out of Medicare at the highest rate of any specialty. In many places, a cash practice for therapy fills quickly with patients paying $250 or more an hour, with no insurance paperwork at all. Families who can pay cash find providers more easily. Those who rely on insurance, including Medi-Cal enrollees, older adults, rural residents, and non-English speakers, compete for what’s left. So we can’t pretend the human system works, and we can’t blame people for turning to AI for support when they’re in distress. AI is filling the gap It’s estimated that roughly a quarter of AI users use it for mental health support. If you have internet, it’s available 24/7, it’s cheap, and it speaks your language. Uninsured adults are about twice as likely as insured adults to do it (30% vs. 14%). It feels anonymous in ways that may enable people to ask things they’re unsure or embarrassed about. The largely hidden, personal use makes it hard to study whether it’s actually helping people with their mental health issues, but researchers are trying. Does AI therapy work? A 2026 analysis of nearly 40 randomized trials found chatbots showed a real but small reduction in depression symptoms. But most of these trials were compared to an alternative of no therapy, not a human therapist. So the benefit of AI therapy is probably real, but modest, and mostly untested against the alternative of human contact. We need more studies. Serious concerns OpenAI’s own estimate is that more than a million ChatGPT users each week show signs of suicidal planning or intent. These are high stakes encounters, and AI doesn’t always get it right. That’s partly because a chatbot can sound like a therapist, but it has no license, no duty of care, and it’s not clear who to hold accountable when it gets things wrong. AI is also designed to help users in whatever task they’re seeking to accomplish. People may feel like they’re getting therapy, but they’re mainly getting a convincing conversation. It’s easy for an AI companion to wander into gray areas, like playing along with “creative writing” that may be about the user’s own suicidal intent. Courts are driving safety conversations A wave of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of families claiming that chatbots pushed people they loved toward self-harm, including teens who died by suicide. The first settlements came this year. OpenAI is headquartered in San Francisco, and dozens of cases alleging that ChatGPT drove users to suicide or self-harm are now before a San Francisco judge. Character.ai has filed for bankruptcy after several states brought lawsuits accusing the chatbot of pushing dangerous content to kids. But the technology seems to be improving. Last month, an independent evaluation found that newer AI models “almost never endorse suicide.” That’s progress, but our societal appetite for even one preventable death is very low. So how do we move forward? Finding a middle ground Earlier this month the governor vetoed Senate Bill 903, a bill designed to place guardrails on the use of AI for therapy. The bill would have prohibited any AI-based platform from being advertised as psychotherapy, and would have required a licensed professional to review and approve each encounter where AI was used to support therapeutic decisions. Newsom called it overly broad, since even routine screening questions would have needed clinician sign-off. Knowing we’re already short on mental health providers, requiring human review of AI encounters may not relieve our access problems. Still, the answer isn’t no oversight. Here’s one feasible short term solution. Rather than reviewing each encounter, a licensed clinician can design the guardrails: what counts as a crisis, what triggers an immediate handoff to a human, and what gets sampled for audit each month. The AI runs inside that structure. Conversations get checked, failures get reported, and a real clinician owns the framework. Medicine already has models to learn from. The FDA process for rolling out newly approved medications is an example. After a product reaches patients, we keep watching for adverse events. Patient-facing AI needs the same “digital pharmacovigilance”: systematic tracking of harms, near misses, and the types of groups that get hurt and why. It’s also critical that users know that they can reach a human if they’re in crisis. Most chatbots now include messages like these: Bottom line The rush to use unproven AI tools for mental health support is mostly a workaround, a sign of a health system people can’t get into. We need better access to proven care from licensed clinicians. That takes reimbursement that makes accepting insurance viable, and a bigger workforce. But, built and tested well, AI could be part of the answer. It could be the 2 a.m. check-in when no one else is awake, or a way for patients to practice skills their therapist taught them. It could be the first step to get someone the right level of care, and take paperwork off clinicians’ plates so they spend more time with patients. None of this is simple. The SB 903 veto doesn’t end the debate, and the legislature will be back. In the meantime, those of us using these tools need to stay informed, ask hard questions, and hold the companies building them accountable. I’ll try to do my part, and we’ll keep learning together. Love,Matt P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988- you’ll reach a real person— or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7. Dr. Matt Willis is the author of Your Local Epidemiologist in California. A California native, he’s served as a primary care physician, CDC epidemiologist, and public health officer for Marin County, where he guided the pandemic response. He lives in Marin with his family and their dogs, Teddy and Ramona. Thank you Cynthia He, MD, PhD, and Parnika Saxena, MD, for their guidance in preparing this article. Cynthia works in an outpatient mental health clinic, treating patients who have Medi-Cal or, sometimes, no insurance. Parnika works in an inpatient psychiatric unit, treating patients with public or private insurance or self-pay ability. All opinions are their own and do not represent their employers.

How Congress' college sports bill could impact Delaware’s student athletes

Despite its recent gridlock, the U.S. Senate last month passed the Protect College Sports Act with broad bipartisan support, even as the bill divided Delaware’s normally lockstep delegation.

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Oct 16 • 8:22 AM EDT • Sports • spotlightdelaware.org
Alaska Senate candidates clash over the Iran war, high prices and their times in office

Sen. Dan Sullivan attacked former Rep. Mary Peltola over reporting on high staff turnover and lobbying, while Peltola pointed to Sullivan’s increase in wealth while serving the public.

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Oct 16 • 7:16 AM EDT • Politics • nbcnews.com
High-Signal Publisher
Trump attacks fellow Republicans for ‘hurting Texas’ during senate election race

A GOP loss in Texas would be a major blow for the US president and the Republicans

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Oct 16 • 6:33 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com
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What’s at stake in the US senate race in Alaska?
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Oct 16 • 5:31 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
‘Far too close for comfort’: An under-the-radar Senate race embodies Democrats’ midterm worries

An open Senate seat in Minnesota.

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Oct 16 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Sullivan and Peltola clash in Alaska race that could decide Senate control
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Oct 16 • 4:58 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Fish, Oil and Corruption: 6 Takeaways From Alaska’s Senate Debate

The Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan, and his Democratic challenger, Mary Peltola, veered from serious discussion of high prices and economic challenges to blistering personal attacks.

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Oct 16 • 3:28 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
The record and the alternative

Elections involving incumbents offer voters something elections between newcomers cannot: evidence. Tom Sullivan need not tell Senate District 27 voters what kind of legislator he might be. After four years in the Colorado House and nearly four in the Senate, he has accumulated something more revealing than campaign promises. A record. Danielle Lammon offers something […]

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Oct 16 • 3:00 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
Bitter personal attacks and Trump’s war in Iran highlighted in Thursday’s Senate debates in Alaska and Maine

Candidates faced off in heated debates Thursday night in two of the country’s most competitive Senate races, showing how bitter — and personal — each contest has become.

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Oct 16 • 1:07 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (5%)
wow
44%
ahah
28%
angry
28%
Most of Ken Paxton’s Money Can Be Traced to One Man: Elon Musk

The world’s richest person, who has become the biggest known midterm donor, gave $158 million to a group that quickly spent that much to help Mr. Paxton’s Senate bid in Texas.

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Oct 16 • 12:51 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Trump will rally Georgia Republicans despite party divisions in battleground state

Donald Trump is headed to Georgia on Friday to campaign with Republican candidates for the Senate and governor. But the show of GOP unity actually highlights party divisions and risks

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Oct 16 • 12:03 AM EDT • Politics • lancasteronline.com
In Michigan Senate Race, Ocasio-Cortez Joins El-Sayed on Trail in Trump Country

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez campaigned with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed in a swath of Michigan including areas won by President Trump, making a progressive pitch in a key Senate race.

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Oct 15 • 10:34 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
5 Takeaways From the Senate Debate in Maine

The race’s fourth and final debate centered around whether Senator Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent, was as independent as she claimed to be from President Trump.

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Oct 15 • 9:42 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
Elon Musk donates over $150 million to Senate GOP group, assisting Ken Paxton
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Oct 15 • 9:22 PM EDT • Politics • cbsnews.com
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'Oh, shut up!': Democrat snaps at Collins after heckler drives Maine Senate debate off the rails

A protester yelling about AI data centers sparked a fiery clash between Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic challenger Troy Jackson.

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Oct 15 • 9:12 PM EDT • Politics • foxnews.com
Protester interrupts Maine Senate debate and confronts GOP Sen. Collins on data centers
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Oct 15 • 8:52 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
Vance and El-Sayed trade barbs in Michigan

Vice President JD Vance and Michigan Democratic Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed had choice words for one another while on the campaign trail in Michigan.

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Oct 15 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
WATCH LIVE: Sullivan, Peltola face off in Alaska U.S. Senate debate
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Oct 15 • 6:57 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
Leading Colorado U.S. Senate candidates debate on campus

Students filled the King Center theater to learn where each man stands on the issues and to get an up-close view of politics in action.

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Oct 15 • 6:31 PM EDT • Politics • red.msudenver.edu
Members speak up on healthcare

An important first step, S4438 has first committee hearing Earlier today, NJEA members made their voices heard at the NJ Senate’s State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee meeting.

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Oct 15 • 6:23 PM EDT • Health • njea.org
Political heavyweights campaign in Michigan amid crucial Senate race

The most recent Decision Desk HQ polling numbers show El-Sayed holds a 4% advantage over Rogers.

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Oct 15 • 4:55 PM EDT • Politics • newsnationnow.com
WATCH LIVE: Collins, Jackson face off in Maine U.S. Senate debate
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Oct 15 • 4:45 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org
Talarico rallies as his Texas U.S. Senate race against Paxton enters final weeks

Texas state Rep. James Talarico is seen as a real contender to win the seat against Republican candidate Ken Paxton.

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Oct 15 • 4:18 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com
James Talarico Raises Quarterly Record of $64 Million in Texas Senate Race Against Ken Paxton

The amount is the most that a Senate candidate has ever raised during that period, his campaign said, eclipsing his opponent in Texas, Ken Paxton.

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Oct 15 • 11:07 AM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
WATCH LIVE: WGAL\'s 36th Senate District debate with candidates Malone, Jones

Democrat James Malone and Republican Tom Jones will meet today for a televised debate before the race for Lancaster County’s 36th Senate District.

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Oct 15 • 11:00 AM EDT • Politics • lancasteronline.com
Don Bolduc, 2022 GOP Senate nominee, endorses Democrat Chris...

Former GOP Senate nominee Don Bolduc is backing Democrat Chris Pappas over Republican John E. Sununu, joining other Republicans and independents 19 days before ...

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Oct 15 • 9:00 AM EDT • Politics • unionleader.com
Democrat Charly Ray seeks open northwest Wisconsin Senate seat with focus on schools, healthcare

Charly Ray of Bayview, a member of the Bayfield County Board, is the Democratic candidate for the open 25th District Senate seat in November's 2026 election.

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Oct 15 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • wpr.org
Medicare home health bill introduced that would restore rates, help stop fraud

Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) on Tuesday introduced the Medicare Home Health Payment Integrity and Protection Act of 2026, a companion bill to the Senate version.

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Oct 15 • 12:06 AM EDT • Health • mcknightshomecare.com
Andrews questions Graham’s family business ties to China; Graham fires back

A dispute that erupted during Monday’s U.S. Senate debate in South Carolina is spilling onto the campaign trail, with Democratic nominee Dr. Annie Andrews and Republican Sen. Darline Graham clashing over alleged foreign business ties.

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Oct 14 • 11:23 PM EDT • Business • wjcl.com
Deep dive
😐 Neutral (4%)
ahah
63%
wow
37%
Vance’s Talarico Attacks Show His Penchant for Personal Broadsides

At a rally in Texas, the vice president suggested the Democratic Senate nominee is gay, a comment criticized as homophobic.

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Oct 14 • 9:38 PM EDT • Politics • nytimes.com
New poll shows Democrats ahead in most statewide races

A new poll released by the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project shows Democrats holding slim leads in the U.S. Senate race and most statewide races.

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Oct 14 • 9:21 PM EDT • Politics • ksat.com
Talarico criticizes Israel’s actions in Gaza, backs two-state solution

James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Texas’ Senate seat, addressed the nuances of a voter’s question about rising antisemitism and his stance on Israel. “I have deep love and respect for the Jewish people, for the Jewish scriptures,” noting that he learned about them from a local rabbi and not from a Christian perspective.

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Oct 14 • 8:00 PM EDT • Politics • cnn.com