Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Minnesota’s evenly divided state House, an intensifying fight over a potential power-sharing agreement led Democratic legislators to stage a dramatic walkout, boycotting the first day of the session. Though Minnesota’s secretary of state concluded that the chamber lacked a necessary quorum to conduct business, Republicans nevertheless elected a state House speaker. A court fight appears inevitable.
* In Texas’ state House, members of a far-right GOP faction hoped to elevate their own choice for speaker, but they fell short: Legislators instead elected Dustin Burrows, described by The New York Times as a member of the party’s “old guard,” in line with “business-oriented Texas Republicans, in the mold of former governors such as George W. Bush and Rick Perry.”
* With only a couple of weeks remaining before the Democratic National Committee elects a new chair, Faiz Shakir unexpectedly threw his hat into the ring as the newest contender. Shakir, a frequent MSNBC guest, has worked for a variety of prominent lawmakers, including Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Bernie Sanders.
* In Michigan, where Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is prohibited from seeking a third term, state Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt kicked off his candidacy this week. He’s the first prominent Republican to enter the race. * Now that West Virginia’s new governor has taken office, Republican Sen. Jim Justice has been sworn in as the U.S. Senate’s newest member. With the West Virginian on Capitol Hill, the GOP’s majority conference now has 52 members, which will grow to 53 once Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine fills Vice President-elect JD Vance’s vacancy. * And in Tennessee, Axios and The Hill are reporting that Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn has begun taking steps for a likely gubernatorial campaign in 2026. The Volunteer State’s incumbent GOP governor, Bill Lee, is term-limited and cannot seek a third term.
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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