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

* There have been some notable surprises at the Democratic National Convention this week, but Oprah Winfrey’s unexpected remarks about choosing “common sense over nonsense” stood out.

* Texas is not expected to be a competitive 2024 battleground, though a new survey will probably raise eyebrows in both parties: A new poll from the University of Houston Hobby School and Texas Southern University’s Jordan-Leland School has Donald Trump leading Kamala Harris by about 5 points, 49.5% to 44.6%. (Click the link for information on the survey’s methodology and margins of error.)

* On a related note, the same poll found Republican Sen. Ted Cruz with a surprisingly narrow lead over Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, 46.6% to 44.5%

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* In Alaska’s multi-candidate U.S. House primary this week, incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola finished first with just over 50% of the vote. As a New York Times reported explained, “The results put Ms. Peltola in a strong position for the general election in November, setting the stage for a possible replay of her successful run in 2022, when Republicans split their party’s support in the state’s unusual ranked-choice system and propelled her to victory.”

* NBC News reported that the Harris/Walz campaign this week released its “first two presidential campaign ads speaking to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voters, and they focus on health care and anti-Asian hate. The two spots, shared first with NBC News, are airing both digitally and on television and are part of a larger $90 million media buy across several battleground states.”

* According to Nielsen data, the second night of the Democratic National Convention drew more than 20 million viewers — roughly the same as the first night — which is more than the 14.8 million viewers who tuned in to the second night of the Republican National Convention.

* In Colorado, incumbent Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper announced that he’ll run for re-election in 2026, but if successful, his second term on Capitol Hill will be his last.