
Two Special Elections Test Party Coalitions in Georgia and South Dakota
Tuesday's elections in Georgia and South Dakota test Republican and Democratic coalitions with a special House race and a gubernatorial runoff.
The essential signal, then the context behind it.
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Current reporting, analysis and essential context from the politics desk.

Tuesday's elections in Georgia and South Dakota test Republican and Democratic coalitions with a special House race and a gubernatorial runoff.

In a heated debate one week before Michigan's primary, Democratic Senate candidates Representative Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed sparred over AIPAC campaign contributions, El-Sayed's controversial 'ogre on a pike' remark, and their respective electability against the Republican nominee.

The Senate voted 51-43 along party lines to advance Jay Clayton's nomination for director of national intelligence, while the Section 702 FISA surveillance program remains in limbo after Democrats blocked renewal.

House Republicans are using the August recess to educate voters about far-left Democratic candidates, aiming to maintain their narrow majority by tying Democrats to what they call the 'commie caucus.' The GOP is also highlighting votes on stock trading, voter ID, and Iran war powers to create contrast ahead of November.

Katy Perry publicly criticized the White House for using her hit song «Firework» in a TikTok video promoting military strikes on Iran, saying she did not approve the use and that the message of hope was violated. The White House responded by sharing a clip from her own music video showing her in Marine training.

Democratic Socialists of America national co-chair Megan Romer endorsed abolishing the Senate, ICE, national borders, and other institutions, highlighting deepening ideological divisions within the Democratic Party.

The Democratic National Committee, facing $2.2 million in liabilities, spent approximately $840,000 on Democratic organizations in five non-voting U.S. territories, raising questions about its financial priorities ahead of the midterm elections.

A conservative legal group has released a guide arguing that federal law allows NYPD officers to share immigration information with ICE regardless of New York City's sanctuary policies, even as border czar Tom Homan prepares a major enforcement surge in the city.

With 100 days until the 2026 midterm elections, Republicans hold narrow majorities in Congress while Democrats aim for small net gains to retake power. New polling shows a generic ballot advantage for Democrats, but redistricting and Republican financial advantages could shape the outcome. The campaign is marked by economic discontent and a rising socialist influence within the Democratic Party.

A federal appeals court refused to allow the Trump administration to enforce key parts of an executive order tightening mail-in voting rules in 23 Democratic-led states, leaving a lower court's injunction in place ahead of the midterm elections.

A federal judge ruled Illinois' in-state tuition and financial aid policies for illegal immigrants unconstitutional, marking another victory for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts.

Trump orders signs outside Smithsonian museum amid row over its depiction of American history President Donald Trump on Friday ordered his administration to insta

DNC panel picks first 2028 primary state after battle over key voting blocs South Carolina is on course to remain the lead-off primary in the Democratic Party's 2028 presidentia

Bombshell memo shows Biden planned to leave Trump with even more massive immigration crisis A newly-uncovered Biden White House memo from the administration's final days revealed

President Trump predicts more countries will join the Abraham Accords, as polls show declining global support for Israel but officials argue government-to-government ties remain strong.

The Department of Justice under Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has released updated guidance directing federal agencies to prioritize religious liberty protections in regulations, enforcement, and workplace accommodations, reflecting recent Supreme Court rulings.

A new Fox News poll reveals that about 8 in 10 registered voters support requiring photo identification to vote, while nearly two-thirds favor universal mail-in voting, highlighting significant public backing for both measures amid ongoing congressional debate over the SAVE America Act.

Justice Department records reveal that former special counsel Jack Smith’s team obtained and reviewed text messages exchanged between Trump White House officials and 44 current and former members of Congress, prompting a criminal referral from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution limiting President Trump’s authority to engage in military action against Iran, with four Republicans joining Democrats in the latest rebuke of the administration’s handling of the conflict.

Gianno Caldwell, whose teenage brother Christian was murdered in Chicago four years ago, is organizing a march to protest what he calls soft-on-crime policies that have devastated families. He criticizes sanctuary city laws, the elimination of cash bail, and political leaders who prioritize criminals over victims.