Trump downplays GOP midterm expectations: The president ‘always loses’
President Trump downplayed Republicans’ midterm expectations in an interview with Sean Hannity that aired Thursday, acknowledging that the president’s party “always loses” no matter how successful they deem themselves to be.
“If you go back a long way, the sitting president, whether it’s Democrat or Republican, always loses the midterm, even if they’ve done well. Almost always,” Trump told Fox News’ Hannity.
“And, you know, you’d think it’d be like a 50/50 deal. Even if the president’s done a great job. I think we’ve done a great job. We’ve done maybe the best job ever in the first year, but they always seem to lose the midterm,” he continued.
thehill.com/...
FEC 4th Quarter fundraising
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NE-Sen: Dan Osborn (I): $762,000 raised
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IA-Gov: Rob Sand (D): $9.5 million raised (in 2025), $13.2 million cash on hand; Randy Feenstra (R): $4.3 million raised (in 2025)
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NE-Gov: Jim Pillen (R-inc): $7.6 million raised (in 2025), $10 million cash on hand
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SC-Gov: Pamela Evette (R): $1 million raised
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WI-Gov: Tom Tiffany (R): $2 million raised (reporting period covers last half of 2025; Tiffany launched campaign in late September)
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MI-04: Sean McCann (D): $250,000 raised
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NH-01: Maura Sullivan (D): $520,000 raised, $1.1 million cash on hand; Stefany Shaheen (D): $400,000 raised
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NY-21: Anthony Constantino (R): $5 million self-funded
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PA-07: Ryan Crosswell (D): $440,000 raised
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TX-19: Tom Sell (R): $725,000 raised
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VA-01: Shannon Taylor (D): $400,000 raised
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WI-03: Rebecca Cooke (D): $1.1 million raised, $2.5 million cash on hand
www.the-downballot.com/...
Ryan Busse joins race to challenge Zinke for House seat
Another Democratic hopeful, Kalispell-based former firearms executive Ryan Busse, has joined the primary race for the chance to unseat incumbent U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke.
Busse, who ran an unsuccessful campaign to oust Gov. Greg Gianforte in 2024, announced today he is re-entering the political sphere with high confidence he can emerge victorious, in both a crowded primary field and in the general election.
“We need to run somebody who’s run a big-time campaign, who’s done the work, and who’s proven they can raise the money,” Busse told the Daily Montanan. “I think I’m the best candidate for the primary, but, for me, this is about winning the general, and it’s about taking back the state.”
dailymontanan.com/...
Dafis withdraws from NJ-11 special election
Maplewood Committeeman Dean Dafis has withdrawn from the special election for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, bringing the number of Democrats competing to succeed Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill down to 11.
Dafis, a former mayor of his deeply progressive hometown, will still appear on February 5 primary ballots, many of which have already gone out to vote-by-mail voters.
In a statement announcing the suspension of his campaign, Dafis did not cite any specific reason for his decision, saying only that “the fight doesn’t end with one outcome.”
newjerseyglobe.com/...
Sixth Democrat enters PA 7th Congressional District race
A leader in the Lehigh Valley Young Democrats has joined the mix of Democratic contenders running in the 7th Congressional District.
Aiden Gonzalez, 27, of Bethlehem announced this week that he will seek the party’s nomination in the May 19 primary election.
The 7th spans Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties and a section of Monroe County. Incumbent Republican Ryan Mackenzie is seeking reelection to a second two-year term.
armchairlehighvalley.substack.com/...
Fulton commissioner enters Georgia secretary of state race
Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett formally announced her campaign for Georgia secretary of state Thursday with a promise to protect voting rights from forces she says are making it harder to vote.
“We should make it easy for every eligible voter in Georgia to vote,” she said at an Atlanta event announcing her candidacy.
