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Techno00's avatar

Hello, new commenter here. Been reading The Downballot since it was Daily Kos Elections, and I just want to say thank you for all the hard work. You provide a valuable service in politics. (Also do note that I am staunchly left-wing, so if I do comment from any sort of bias (which I will try to avoid) I may occasionally write from that perspective.)

Anyway, figured I'd start with some news -- we've got our first GOP candidate in the Georgia U.S. Senate race: Buddy Carter (GA-01).

https://www.ajc.com/politics/politically-georgia/buddy-carters-us-senate-campaign-is-the-first-of-many-gop-bids-to-come/72DYVNXXC5G5FLXKFZ32JIUUFI/

Additionally, according to the article, some potential GOP candidates for the now-open GA-01 include state Rep. James Burchett and insurance executive Jim Kingston, the son of former Rep. Jack Kingston.

Next, we have another IA-03 candidate: Jennifer Konfrst, the minority leader of the Iowa State House.

https://www.iowapublicradio.org/ipr-news/2025-05-08/democrat-jennifer-konfrst-running-for-congress-iowa-3rd-district

She is the second Democrat to announce for the seat, after state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott.

Finally, the open MI-11, a seat vacated by now-U.S. Senate candidate Haley Stevens, has its own first announced candidate. Democratic State Sen. Jeremy Moss is the first candidate to announce.

https://michiganadvance.com/2025/05/08/jeremy-moss-announces-candidacy-for-congress-says-democrats-need-a-bold-voice-in-trump-era/

Make of all this news what you will.

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MPC's avatar

2028 is going to be a massive one for North Carolina, not just President and control of the NC Supreme Court:

- Gov Josh Stein is up for re-election

- Election denier US Senator Ted Budd is up for reelection (could be a pivotal seat that determines whether Dems flip back control of the Senate)

- State auditor Dave Boliek is up for re-election (who controls NC State Board of Elections after NC GOP forced through a last minute power grab from the governor)

- The sore loser Jefferson Griffin will be running for re-election to his NC Court of Appeals seat

This will be Anderson Clayton’s big litmus test after last year and the 2026 midterms.

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