Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Rhode Island, incumbent Gov. Dan McKee lost badly to Helena Foulkes, a former CVS executive, in a Democratic primary. He’s the first governor to lose in a primary since Kansas Republican Jeff Colyer lost to Trump-backed Kris Kobach in 2018.
McKee wasn’t the only Democratic incumbent to struggle: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley also lost his primary, falling short against state Rep. David Morales, a Bernie Sanders-endorsed democratic socialist.
The trend did not, however, affect incumbent Democratic Sen. Jack Reed, who finished 63 points ahead of his intraparty rivals.
* The ongoing legal mess surrounding Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map gained new clarity on Thursday morning. As MS NOW reported, the U.S. Supreme Court “granted an emergency bid from opponents of Missouri’s GOP-friendly congressional map to stop the state from using that map for November’s midterm elections. The court’s order marked the second Supreme Court loss on the map for Republicans this week, and it came without any justices dissenting in the order.”
* In Michigan’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, the latest CNN poll found Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed with a narrow lead over former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, 47% to 44%.
The same poll suggested that the state’s gubernatorial race is less competitive: Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson had a 9-point advantage over Republican Rep. John James in the survey, 50% to 41%.
* Speaking of El-Sayed, the former state health official picked up an endorsement this week from the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, which was notable in part because the CBC had previously offered enthusiastic support for El-Sayed’s Democratic primary rival, Rep. Haley Stevens.
* In Maine’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, the latest CNN poll also found former Democratic state Senate President Troy Jackson ahead of incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, 48% to 45%.
As is the case in Michigan, Maine’s gubernatorial race appears likely to be more lopsided: The same survey showed Democrat Hannah Pingree leading Republican Bobby Charles, 52% to 39%.
* In Texas’ competitive statewide contests, the latest Univision News/YouGov poll found Democratic state Rep. James Talarico with a 5-point advantage over Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton, 48% to 43%.
More surprisingly, however, the same survey found Republican Gov. Greg Abbott tied with Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, with each candidate garnering 47% support. (Other recent polling, however, has shown the incumbent governor ahead.)
The post Thursday’s Campaign Round-Up, 9.10.26: Rhode Island governor loses in Democratic primary appeared first on MS NOW.
