Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Georgia’s upcoming gubernatorial race, Democrats hoped to see a high-profile contender run, and now they have their wish: Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has launched her statewide candidacy. She’s set to face state Sen. Jason Esteves in a Democratic primary.
* In a bit of a surprise, Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood has decided not to run in Illinois’ U.S. Senate race, choosing instead to seek re-election to the House.
* After having spent a quarter of a billion dollars to help Republicans in the 2024 election cycle, Elon Musk now claims he’ll spend “a lot less” on politics “in the future.” Then again, the billionaire also vowed in March 2024 not to invest in the 2024 presidential campaign, and he broke that promise soon after.
* With 24 weeks remaining before Election Day 2025, a growing number of Republicans are complaining about Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’ GOP gubernatorial campaign in Virginia, and they’re not being shy about their low expectations for her candidacy.
* Minnesota’s field of Democratic U.S. Senate candidates is suddenly a bit smaller: Former state Senate Majority Leader Melisa Lopez Franzen exited the race late last week. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig are now considered the top contenders for the party’s nomination. * In case there were any doubts about Rep. Jared Golden’s electoral plans, the Maine Democrat — who narrowly won re-election in a district Donald Trump carried — is running for another term in 2026. * And in Kansas, former Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer is running to get his old job back. After then-Gov. Sam Brownback stepped down in 2018 to join the Bush administration, Colyer was elevated to the office for about a year. He ran for a full term but lost in a crowded GOP primary — a rarity for an incumbent governor.
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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