Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In a curious series of remarks, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that he’d spoken to Rep. Elise Stefanik about her possible gubernatorial candidacy in New York, though the Republican congresswoman soon after claimed no such conversation had occurred. The Louisiana Republican ultimately walked back his comments, just hours after making them.
* Despite Donald Trump’s assertions about national polls being “fake,” National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson reportedly told his colleagues some similarly discouraging news at a private briefing this week: According to the own NRCC’s data, the president is underwater in competitive congressional districts.
* In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin is facing a backlash from his fellow Republicans after he called on the party’s lieutenant gubernatorial candidate, John Reid, to end his candidacy. Reid, the Virginia GOP’s first openly gay candidate to seek statewide office, was accused of sharing pornographic material online, claims the candidate has denied.
* Though it’ll be a while before Senate Democrats have to choose a new whip, Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii has already secured endorsements from several of his colleagues. Schatz is nevertheless expected to face rivals for the post, with Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Patty Murray of Washington rumored to be interested in the leadership position.
* The president this week issued endorsements for five incumbent House Republicans, which was notable in part because four of them — Reps. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, Gabe Evans of Colorado and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania — have been listed as key Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targets for the 2026 midterm cycle. * Is Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville preparing to give up his seat and run for governor of Alabama? According to an NBC News report, the answer is yes. One of the network’s sources said, in reference to the senator’s gubernatorial ambitions, “He’s been telling anyone and everyone.” * On a related note, if Tuberville does walk away from Capitol Hill, it’ll create an open U.S. Senate race in Alabama next year, and former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones is eyeing a possible comeback. “One way or another, I’m gonna stay in the fight,” Jones told a local CBS affiliate. “And, where that will take me right now, I’m just not sure. We’re gonna be looking at a lot of different things.”
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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