Bodnar plans Senate run as an independent, and Tester’s apparent support angers Democrats in Montana
University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is expected to run for U.S. Senate as an independent, part of an elaborate plan apparently backed by former U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a move that has angered Democrats.
A spokesperson for Bodnar confirmed the plan to Montana Free Press on Tuesday, saying that the president will wait to discuss the election until he’s ready to make a formal announcement. The spokesperson said Bodnar would resign his presidential post to run.
Rumors of the move swirled through Democratic circles last week as it appeared that Tester intended not to support a Democratic challenger to two-term Republican U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, who played a heavy role in unseating Tester in 2024. The Republican has never had a close race for federal office.
montanafreepress.org/...
FEC 4th Quarter Fundraising
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GA-Sen: Jon Ossoff (D-inc): $9.9 million raised, $25 million cash on hand
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LA-Sen: Bill Cassidy (R-inc): $1.65 million raised, $11 million cash on hand
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AZ-Gov: Karrin Taylor Robson (R): $700,000 raised, $1.1 million cash on hand
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TX-Gov: Greg Abbott (R-inc): $22.7 million raised (in six months), $105.7 million cash on hand; Gina Hinojosa (D): $1.3 million raised (in 10 weeks); Bobby Cole (D): $61,000 raised (in six months), $27,000 cash on hand
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WI-Gov: Sara Rodriguez (D): $650,000 raised (in six months); Mandela Barnes (D): $555,000 raised (in one month); Kelda Roys (D): $378,000 raised, $335,000 cash on hand; Francesca Hong (D): $368,000 raised (in three-and-a-half months).
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CA-22: Randy Villegas (D): $374,000 raised
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FL-07: Bale Dalton (D): $340,000 raised (in six weeks), $300,000 cash on hand
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FL-19: Catalina Lauf (R): $432,000 raised
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KS-03: Sharice Davids (D-inc): $729,000 raised, $1.3 million cash on hand
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NJ-05: Josh Gottheimer (D-inc): $1.06 million raised
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NJ-09: Nellie Pou (D-inc): $425,000 raised, $1.3 million cash on hand
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VA-07: Eugene Vindman (D-inc): $1.7 million raised, $4.2 million cash on hand
Top ICE official launches campaign to flip House seat in Ohio
Madison Sheahan announced Thursday that she was stepping down as deputy director of ICE and seeking the Republican nomination to take on Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
“In less than one year at ICE, I’ve stopped more illegal immigration than Marcy Kaptur has in her 43 years in Washington,” Sheahan proclaims in her launch video. “Ohio neighborhoods are safer thanks to President Trump and ICE.”
Sheahan, a 28-year-old Ohio native who previously worked as a political aide for then-South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and in Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration, is competing in a busy May 5 primary.
Lombardo touted women’s sports measure as ‘vote getter’ that could help his re-election
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo called his newly announced ballot initiative to block transgender women from female sports a part of his “game plan”to win his 2026 gubernatorial re-election bid, according to audio obtained by The Nevada Independent
At a closed-door event for supporters in September, Lombardo expressed uncertainty about his ability to motivate voters in a non-presidential election year without a ballot initiative, saying that in 2023 he narrowly won the gubernatorial race against then-incumbent Steve Sisolak by about 15,000 votes. Later, at an event in January, Lombardo said, “I am not enough of a motivator as a governor candidate to get them off the couch.”
At an earlier event, Lombardo also touted the passage of a voter ID initiative in 2024 and said that its reappearance on the 2026 ballot — potentially alongside his new ballot initiative dealing with transgender athletes — could be key to driving turnout.
thenevadaindependent.com/...
Why I Don’t Worry About Trump Canceling the Midterms
President Trump told Reuters that he’s doing such a good job that “when you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election.”
The White House later walked it back, insisting he was “simply joking.” But when a sitting president casually floats the idea of canceling elections, it’s not a punchline. It’s unsettling — and revealing.
That said, even if Trump were serious — and it’s hard to believe the thought hasn’t crossed his mind — the structure of American democracy makes it virtually impossible to pull off.
politicalwire.com
