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Trump’s Super PAC Will Spend $10 Million on Texas Senate Race

A financial filing announcing the TV and digital ad buy is the first general election spending by MAGA Inc. The group intends to boost the Republican nominee, Ken Paxton.

© Christopher Lee for The New York Times

Ken Paxton at a campaign rally in McAllen, Texas, in July.
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Ossoff and Talarico to Share Fund-Raising Event in Hollywood

The event with the Georgia and Texas Democrats will be hosted by Shonda Rhimes.

© Brandon Bell/Getty Images; Kendrick Brinson for The New York Times

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Missouri Asks Supreme Court to Allow Voting Map Benefiting Republicans

Missouri’s Supreme Court said a map redrawn to help Republicans could not be used in November and said voters should decide on the new boundaries.

© USA TODAY Network, via Reuters Connect

The emergency request came after the Missouri Supreme Court said that the map used in last month’s primary election was invalid, and that voters should have had a chance to weigh in on new district lines.
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German Far-Right Surges, in Threat to Postwar Taboo on Extremists in Power

Sunday’s vote in the state of Saxony-Anhalt could produce the strongest showing in the history of the Alternative for Germany party, and potentially a far-right government in the statehouse.

© Ronny Hartmann/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Ulrich Siegmund, the Alternative for Germany party’s main candidate in Saxony-Anhalt. Surveys suggest the far-right party could be the first to win a German state election since World War II.
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North Carolina Adds New Restrictions to Vote-by-Mail Program

The changes are almost certain to cause some votes to be tossed. They come at a time when President Trump is promoting false claims of widespread fraud in mail voting.

© Matt Ramey/Associated Press

A new rule in North Carolina requires officials to disqualify ballots with an unsealed envelope and limits who can drop off mail ballots on behalf of another voter.
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What to Know About Trump’s Efforts to Block Mail-in Ballots

We sort through the proposed changes and court challenges, less than two months from Election Day.

© Doug Mills/The New York Times

President Trump
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Former John Fetterman Aides Threaten to Expose Senator’s Internal Messages

The former aides started a social media account they said would publicize Senator John Fetterman’s communications, following a report detailing the Democrat’s disdain for doing his job.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Senator John Fetterman, Democrat of Pennsylvania, has seen his popularity plunge among Democratic voters in his state as he has become a fixture on conservative news outlets, bashing the policies of his own party.
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North Carolina Set to Mail The Fall’s First Ballots As Trump Tries to Restrict Them

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Postal Service rule that could impede millions of mail voters. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to weigh in.

© Matt Ramey/Associated Press

Wake County Board of Elections employees prepare absentee ballots to be mailed in Raleigh, N.C., on Thursday.
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Germany’s Far Right, Edging Close to Power, Remains Close to Extremists

The Alternative for Germany party has tried to soften its hard-line image but is still privately working with extremists. It could win a state election on Sunday.

© Jens Schluter/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Ulrich Siegmund, a leader of the Alternative for Germany party in Saxony-Anhalt, speaking in Magdeburg, Germany, on Saturday.
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A judge suggests that Trump mail-in voting rules could cause ‘major disenfranchisement.’

Judge Indira Talwani said the Postal Service appeared to be trying a haphazard “experiment” with a new rule that could result in valid ballots being tossed.

© Eric Lee/The New York Times

An official picking up a mail-in ballot drop box at the Lackawanna County Government Center in Scranton, Pa., in 2024.
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Judge Suggests Trump Mail-In Voting Rules Could Cause ‘Major Disenfranchisement’

Judge Indira Talwani said the Postal Service appeared to be trying a haphazard “experiment” with a new rule that could result in valid ballots being tossed.

© Eric Lee/The New York Times

An official picking up a mail-in ballot drop box at the Lackawanna County Government Center in Scranton, Pa., in 2024.
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Is Letting Only Seniors Vote by Mail Unconstitutional?

Federal appeals courts have split on the question, making Supreme Court review likely.

© Associated Press

A group of 18-year-old students registering to vote at what was then the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia on Jan. 15, 1954. Georgia extended the right even before the adoption of the 26th Amendment.
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After Trump Rift, Musk Begins Spending to Boost Republicans

Mr. Musk plans to spend at least $100 million in more than a dozen competitive House and Senate races. The tech billionaire helped Donald Trump to victory in 2024.

© Mark Schiefelbein/Associated Press

Elon Musk in May after a welcome ceremony with President Trump and China’s president, Xi Jinping.
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D.S.A. Chapter Endorses Nithya Raman for Mayor of Los Angeles

Ms. Raman, a member of the D.S.A. chapter, is challenging Mayor Karen Bass as democratic socialists have surged nationally.

© Gabriela Bhaskar/The New York Times

Nithya Raman campaigned in Los Angeles in May.
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El-Sayed Wants to Mend Ties With Jewish Democrats, but Some Are Still Not Impressed

Lingering concerns about the Senate nominee in Michigan could make it harder for him to assemble a winning coalition.

© Emily Elconin for The New York Times

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed spoke during the Michigan Democratic Party Nominating Convention over the weekend in Lansing, Mich.
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As Midterms Loom, Democrats Feud Over Defections

The fight has highlighted party divisions and raised questions about how Democrats will run the House should they win the majority.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Representative Jared Golden of Maine was one of two Democrats to side with House Republicans on a procedural measure on Tuesday.
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In the Midterms, Will the Nepo-Baby Attack Work?

A New Hampshire senator’s daughter is running for office, and finds her name being used against her.

© Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, via Associated Press

Maura Sullivan and Stefany Shaheen
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As Trump Throws a Midterm Party, Some Vulnerable Republicans Send Regrets

Many members of Congress in the most competitive re-election races are skipping the chance to share a pep rally stage with President Trump.

© Francis Chung/POLITICO, via Associated Press

Representative David Valadao of California said that President Trump had a part to play in the midterm elections, but that navigating around a deeply unpopular president and his policies was a challenge.
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Six Takeaways From the Massachusetts Primaries

Senator Ed Markey, 80, trounced a younger challenger who had made an argument for generational change. Two other longtime Democratic lawmakers hung on, too.

© Mark Stockwell/Associated Press

Senator Ed Markey, who has served in Washington for 50 years, easily beat back a challenge from a younger Democrat.
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Former Biden White House Aide Wins Massachusetts Democratic House Primary

Dan Koh, who ran with the endorsement of former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., topped a crowded field to secure the nomination in the safely Democratic Sixth Congressional District.

© Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call, via Associated Press

Dan Koh is one of just two congressional candidates who were endorsed by former President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
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Ed Markey Wins Massachusetts Democratic Senate Primary, Defeating Younger Challenger

Par : Tim Balk
The oldest senator in Massachusetts history used a progressive message to beat Representative Seth Moulton, 47, defying calls for generational change.

© Mel Musto for The New York Times

Senator Edward J. Markey ran on a fiercely progressive platform.
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Mike Minogue Wins G.O.P. Nomination for Massachusetts Governor

Mr. Minogue, who for years ran a medical device company, will face Gov. Maura Healey, a Democrat seeking a second term, in the November election.

© Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe, via Getty Images

Republican candidate for governor Mike Minogue in May.
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Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey Wins Democratic Nomination

Maura Healey, a former state attorney general seeking a second term, has been an outspoken critic of President Trump.

© Kylie Cooper for The New York Times

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey in 2025.
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On Trump’s Ballroom, Chief Justice Finds Himself in an Unusual Spot: In Dissent

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. has been in the majority in divided cases more times than any other chief since 1953. But not this time.

© Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times

In his understated way, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. suggested that he was distressed by what the president was doing to the White House.
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Can JD Vance Win Over Skeptical Jewish Voters?

The vice president is attempting to unite conservative Jews with their antagonists in one coalition, as one appearance in Nevada on Monday showed. Some are uneasy about it.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Vice President JD Vance at the White House in July.
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Whistle-Blower Says USPS Is Secretly Proceeding on Trump’s Mail Voting Plan Before Midterms

The Postal Service disputed allegations by the whistle-blower that the agency had violated several court orders that should have halted work on the plan.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

The office of Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, published the whistle-blower report on voting by mail.
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Can JD Vance Win Over Skeptical Jewish Voters?

The vice president is attempting to unite conservative Jews with their antagonists in one coalition, as one appearance in Nevada on Monday showed. Some are uneasy about it.

© Kenny Holston/The New York Times

Vice President JD Vance at the White House in July.
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JD Vance Called Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed ‘Evil’ in Speech

Vice President JD Vance also told Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee, to “keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth.”

© Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at a campaign rally on Monday appeared aimed at stoking tensions in Michigan’s Jewish community over Dr. El-Sayed’s nomination.
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Scott Brown Was a GOP Star. Will It Matter in the New Hampshire Senate Race?

Scott Brown is chasing the political limelight again with a seemingly improvised Senate campaign.

© Aleksandra Michalska/Reuters

Scott Brown is running for Senate in New Hampshire.
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Kalshi Suspends Republican House Candidate for Betting on Her Own Race

The trading platform Kalshi issued a three-year suspension to the candidate, Laurie Buckhout, and fined her nearly $2,600. Ms. Buckhout said she had made a “dumb mistake.”

© Chris Seward/Associated Press

Laurie Buckhout, a former U.S. Army colonel and a Republican, is challenging Representative Don Davis of North Carolina.
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More Mail Ballots Are Arriving Late This Year, and They’re Getting Tossed

State officials say they worry about the Postal Service’s ability to deliver votes this fall. They are urging voters to mail their ballots early or use drop boxes so their votes count.

© Rebecca Cook/Reuters

Nearly twice as many mail ballots were rejected for arriving late in Michigan’s primaries this year when compared to 2024.
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‘The Least Transparent Midterm’: How Dark Money Is Washing Over the 2026 Election

At least $1 billion from anonymous donors is flowing into the midterm elections. Dark money is not new, but it now permeates nearly every major contest.

Nonprofits or super PACs have aired dozens of ads this year in House and Senate races using dark money, which is political spending by groups that hide the names of their donors.
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Ed Markey Defends Transgender Athletes in Massachusetts Senate Race

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has emerged as a vocal defender of transgender rights as he tries to fend off a primary challenge from Representative Seth Moulton.

© Mel Musto for The New York Times

“Trans athletes should be able to play,” Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts said in an interview this past week with The New York Times.
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Far Right Is Poised to Win in a German State, but Fight Over Power Won’t End There

State and federal leaders are trying to avoid sharing sensitive intelligence with the Alternative for Germany should it take power in a state’s elections next week.

© Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

The Alternative for Germany campaigning in Berlin on Wednesday. The party is expected to do well in another part of Germany in elections on Sept. 6., possibly enough to take power there.
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El-Sayed Apologizes for March Comment About Michigan Synagogue Attack

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, faced criticism from Jewish Democrats after remarking, “hurt people hurt people.”

© Emily Elconin for The New York Times

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, Democratic nominee for Senate, speaking to the Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus on Saturday.
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One Democrat to Face Three Republicans for Alaska Governor

The second-place finisher in a primary where the top four advance to the November ballot said he would drop out of the race so voters could coalesce behind a single Democratic candidate.
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For Once, a New York Jet Is Destined to Win Something

A House race in Arizona pits Jay Feely, a former Jets kicker, against Amish Shah, a former sideline doctor for the team. Jets fans in the district say it’s a welcome distraction from all the losing.

© Cassidy Araiza for The New York Times

Jets fans watching a preseason game at a bar this month in Scottsdale, Ariz., where two former members of the franchise are running against each other for a local House seat.
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Wyoming Governor Objects to ‘Very Odd’ D.O.J. Election Monitoring

Par : Tim Balk
Governor Mark Gordon, a Republican, said he was concerned by the behavior of election observers who visited a polling station in Cheyenne.

© Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times

Governor Mark Gordon of Wyoming leads one of the most conservative states.
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A Town Council Turns to a Deck of Cards to Break a Tie

Two candidates for Town Council in Gila Bend, Ariz., finished with the same number of votes. A century-old state law mandated breaking the tie with a game of chance.

© Anna Watts for The New York Times

Patricia Riggs, the interim town clerk of Gila Bend, Ariz., declared Jesus Rubalcava the winner of the Town Council seat after a game of high-card draw with the opposing candidate, Athena Guerrero.
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LA Mayor Karen Bass Eases Street Vending Crackdown After Debate

Mayor Karen Bass said food vendors discourage restaurant patrons, mentioning them alongside homeless encampments. Her opponent, Nithya Raman, said vendors should be brought into the system.

© Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times

Street vendors are ubiquitous presences across the Los Angeles area, offering foods from many cultures.
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Obama to Headline Fund-Raiser With Jeffries in New York

The top Democrats will gather party donors on Sept. 10, just as Republicans converge in Texas for their unusual midterm convention.

© The New York Times, left, Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Representative Hakeem Jeffries and former President Barack Obama will aim to give Democrats a financial boost at a time when money is a concern for the party heading into the midterm elections.
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Maryland Judge Blocks Democratic Redistricting Measure

A judge found that Democratic lawmakers had not followed proper procedures in passing a redistricting amendment, but the state Supreme Court will have the final say.

© Michelle Gustafson for The New York Times

The Maryland State House in downtown Annapolis.
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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.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Ms. Graham has said she wants government to help people no longer rely on Social Security.
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Judge Allows Postal Service Effort to Restrict Mail Voting, for Now

The order came amid a spate of legal challenges, including one by Democratic state attorneys general, that could still result in the rules being blocked.

© Philip Cheung for The New York Times

Under its new plan, the Postal Service would not deliver mail ballots in states that do not share voter data with the agency and would deliver only ballots that meet certain criteria.
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