Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Nebraska, Omaha’s three-term Republican mayor, Jean Stothert, lost her re-election bid to Democrat John Ewing. The unexpected result means that Nebraska’s largest city will soon have its first Black mayor.
* There was a state Senate special election in Oklahoma this week, which the Republican candidate won easily, as expected. Similarly, there was a state House special election in Massachusetts this week, which the Democrat candidate won easily, as expected.
* Last fall, Republican Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona faced a very tough challenge from Democrat Amish Shah, and this week, Shah announced that he’s seeking a rematch in the 2026 midterm elections.
* Ahead of a townhall event in Iowa, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged that he will “assess” a possible 2028 presidential campaign in the coming months, making comments that probably won’t surprise anyone.
* Completing a process that took several months too long, Allison Riggs was finally sworn in this week as the newest justice on the North Carolina Supreme Court. The Democratic jurist narrowly defeated her Republican rival last fall, but a drawn-out legal fight delayed Riggs’ ascension to the office to which she was elected.
* Several months ago, former Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump appeared interested in being appointed to one of Florida’s U.S. Senate seats. This week, Axios reported that the presidential daughter-in-law “hasn’t ruled out” a possible GOP primary campaign against incumbent Sen. Thom Tillis in North Carolina.
* And while this might seem difficult to believe, disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich told The New York Times he’s considering a possible U.S. Senate candidacy next year in his home state of Illinois. Blagojevich — who served as a Democrat but received a controversial presidential pardon from Donald Trump a few months ago — did not say which party’s nomination he might seek.
