Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate race, Democratic Rep. Angie Craig has kicked off a statewide bid, hoping to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. The congresswoman joins Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Melisa López Franzen, the former state Senate minority leader, in the Democratic field.
* Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms hasn’t officially launched a gubernatorial race, but the Georgia Democrat this week filed the paperwork to begin raising money for a 2026 candidacy. During Joe Biden’s presidency, Bottoms worked as the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
* In Michigan, Rep. Shri Thanedar is facing a new Democratic primary challenge from state Rep. Donavan McKinney, and the latter will enjoy the backing of the progressive group Justice Democrats.
* On a related note, the day McKinney launched his primary campaign against Thanedar, Thanedar also announced that he would introduce articles of impeachment targeting Donald Trump.
* Republican Sen. John Cornyn is already facing a primary challenge in Texas from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and according to multiple sources who spoke to The Associated Press, Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas has already met with the White House about joining the GOP field. * In New Jersey — one of two states holding gubernatorial races this year — the Democratic field remains quite competitive. The latest survey from Rutgers University’s Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling found Rep. Mikie Sherrill leading the crowded pack with 17% support, followed by Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s 12%. (Click the link for more information on the poll’s methodology and margin of error.) * With Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin retiring in Illinois, the race is on to replace him as the #2 Democrat in the Senate. Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii formally kicked off his candidacy for the leadership post this week, though he’s expected to face challenges from Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Patty Murray of Washington.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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