Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Three months after Melissa Hortman was killed in what local authorities have described as a “politically motivated assassination,” local voters elected her successor: Democrat Xp Lee easily defeated Republican Ruth Bittner in this week’s special election, restoring a 67-67 tie in the Minnesota state House. According to the latest vote tallies, Lee won by roughly 21 points.
* Speaking of Minnesota, Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has been the subject of some speculation about a possible presidential campaign in 2028, but for now, the governor is running for a third term in his home state.
* Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rose to national prominence four years ago after clashing with Donald Trump in the wake of his 2020 re-election defeat. Now, the Georgia Republican has a new challenge: Raffensperger has launched a GOP gubernatorial campaign.
* And speaking of Georgia, a few years ago, Geoff Duncan was the state’s Republican lieutenant governor. But after growing disillusioned with the Trumpian GOP, Duncan switched parties and has now launched a Democratic gubernatorial campaign.
* On a related note, is there are chance Duncan would run as an independent if he comes up short in a 2026 gubernatorial primary? “I’m a proud Democrat,” he told The New Republic’s Greg Sargent this week. “No chance.” * In Illinois, where Democratic Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is running a Senate campaign, the crowd to replace him in the House is growing in unexpected ways. The newest candidate is former Democratic Rep. Melissa Bean, who left Capitol Hill 14 years ago after losing to Republican Joe Walsh (who, incidentally, later switched parties). * And in Boston’s mayor race, Josh Kraft, the son of the New England Patriots’ owner, has ended his bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu, days after he advanced to the November ballot. With Kraft’s name no longer appearing on the ballot, Wu will run effectively unopposed.
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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