Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* To the surprise of no one, Rep. Elise Stefanik launched a Republican gubernatorial campaign in New York late last week. She is likely to face a primary campaign against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who quickly questioned the congresswoman’s electability.

* On a related note, Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York’s Democratic incumbent, welcomed Stefanik into the race with a hard-hitting video, promoted via social media, presenting her as a Trump sycophant.

* In Texas’ Republican U.S. Senate primary, Rep. Wesley Hunt hoped to get the president’s attention over the weekend by airing a new television ad endorsing Trump’s position on terminating the filibuster. The commercial aired on Fox News over the weekend, during Trump’s latest Mar-a-Lago trip.

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* In Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, former Rep. Mike Rogers, a year after losing a close contest, is now suggesting a voter fraud conspiracy might’ve been responsible for his 2024 defeat. The Republican, predictably, hasn’t offered any evidence in support of the allegation.

* Texas Gov. Greg Abbott kicked off his latest re-election bid over the weekend. The Republican incumbent is seeking a fourth term.

* Speaking of the Lone Star State, the Democratic field in Texas’ U.S. Senate race just got a little smaller: Astronaut Terry Virts abandoned his statewide candidacy and announced he’s running instead for Congress in a newly redrawn Houston-area district.

* And in New Jersey, where Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill is poised to give up her U.S. House seat, a variety of candidates hope to succeed her on Capitol Hill. Former Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski wasted little time in launching a comeback bid, announcing last week that he’ll run in the upcoming special election.