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brendan fka HoosierD42's avatar

In the GA-13 item, it says votes for Scott "won't be counted". He probably wasn't going to get many votes anyway because I think voting hasn't even started, but does that mean that the threshold for majority in the primary will be reduced by that number?

Paleo's avatar

Unless there's a Georgia law to the contrary, all votes, including for dead candidates, are usually counted.

DM's avatar

They don't have to worry about counting Scott's vote, because we found out he doesn't vote, even for himself. If someone is too out of it to vote, they probably shouldn't be in Congress?

axlee's avatar

I looked up the absentee voter file. One single electronic overseas ballot cast yesterday. May or may not be for him. Lol

But as long as the name is there, chances are someone would vote on it.

MPC's avatar

The fact that Scott did NOT vote in several federal elections ticks me off. He represented constituents in a federally elected position, but didn't participate in them as a voter is outrageous.

Julius Zinn's avatar

Especially as a resident of a swing state like Georgia where his vote counts more than other places.

Hudson Democrat's avatar

i do think we become ageist at times in relation to some of our leaders, but in the true cases where retirement was long overdue, I blame the families and staffers. Too invested in being close to power to actually care about a gentleman that was clearly fading fast

Julius Zinn's avatar

Agreed, like how Jim Clyburn is probably running again mostly due to family

michaelflutist's avatar

They might not be to blame, if Scott insisted on continuing, regardless of advice.

axlee's avatar

He doesn’t live in his district. Probably without the satisfaction of voting for himself, he didn’t bother.

DM's avatar

After watching the California debate last night, my main take was couldn't California do better? I really wish we could have a mulligan with new candidates.

Both Republicans came across as racist, one telling Californians that we should get over racism. Yikes.

Personally the only two I thought came across as competent were Steyer and Porter. Becerra thought California's handling of homelessness by Newsom deserved an A rating.

Both Becerra and Steyer are slightly older than I am (by a few months), and I thought both looked really old, and Becerra lacked energy.

I still plan on voting for Porter.

Louise Purfield-Coak's avatar

As an outsider, I always liked Katie Porter when she was in Congress. I was watching the polls to see if she picked up any of Swalwell's voters or endorsements. Again though, I make it a habit to not donate or enter the fray, in other States Primaries.

bpfish's avatar

I'd probably vote for Porter myself if I lived there, but I also wouldn't be upset to have Becerra (who has lots of experience in a variety of areas of government) or Steyer (who focuses heavily on climate/environmental issues.

Zero Cool's avatar

I didn’t watch the debate but it’s evident that both Bianco and Hilton are clueless when it comes to racism.

I was leaning in the direction of voting for Porter as well as in light of Swalwell leaving the gubernatorial race, she has the best ideas and seems to be intent on challenging the status quo.

dragonfire5004's avatar

New poll. The door is open for a blue tsunami, but voters who disapprove of Trump aren’t yet convinced to support Democrats yet.

https://x.com/PollTracker2024/status/2047292384019353796

CNBC (Hart/POS) poll | 4/15-4/19

Generic congressional ballot 2026

🟦Democratic 49% (-1)

🟥Republican 45% (-1)

(Shift from December)

——

President Trump approval

❌Disapprove 58% (+6)

✅Approve 40% (-5)

(Shift from December)

President Trump approval on the issues (net)

❌Southern border: (-5)

❌Tariffs: (-21)

❌Dealing with Iran: (-25)

❌Inflation: (-39)

Link to poll: https://cnbc.com/2026/04/23/trumps-approval-rating-on-economy-and-overall-falls-to-lowest-of-his-two-terms-cnbc-survey-shows.html

Paleo's avatar

Fox has D +5, Marquette D+10.

Louise Purfield-Coak's avatar

I also find this CNBC poll a little questionable. I went to the link and found that it was a combination of a Democrat and a Republican poll. I remember in 2019 & 20, Republican polling was highly inflated. At best, if they want to keep their contracts with Trump as the head of the Party, I suspect they are fudging the numbers at best, or just plain cheating at worst. I think I would trust polls like the Marquette poll more. Even Fox has a better reputation than Most Republican polling going by previous polls. Pollsters are probably as intimidated as the media has been, in reporting just how crazy, insane this President is.

Postcards From Home's avatar

I’m not convinced on term limits— that’s what elections are for — but I’m increasingly leaning toward an upper age limit somewhere between 75 and 80.

Paleo's avatar

You'd likely need a constitutional amendment for the latter, unlike term limits.

Hudson Democrat's avatar

do you mean term limits for chairing a committee or for serving in the house, probably fine with committee chairs but term limiting members of congress would also need an amendment

dragonfire5004's avatar

HMP (Dem) initial ad buy for the fall:

https://x.com/cjwarnke/status/2047273141043335359

🚨NEW from WSJ🚨

➡️

@HouseMajPAC

announces $272 million in TV and digital reservations

➡️Nearly 80% of these reservations are in offensive districts - including OH+FL+TX+SC

➡️Record $80 million digital reservation

➡️Spanish language reservations have increased 140% from 2024

https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/democrats-ad-plans-show-party-going-on-offense-d5a15d84

Mr. Rochester's avatar

HMP announces its ad buys. Some of these are pretty aggressive and a little unexpected. For instance, there's a big investment in the Asheville media market, an investment in Savannah (I assume for SC-01,) and a sizeable investment in Alaska. Interestingly, the biggest reservation is in South Texas, with $12 million reserved in English and Spanish ads. I assume some of these will be withdrawn as the map comes clearer into focus, but I admire their ambition.

https://www.thehousemajoritypac.com/news/hmp-announces-272-million-in-2026-tv-and-digital-reservations

NewEnglandMinnesotan's avatar

Savannah could maybe also be for GA-1? It's R+8, but Carter is retiring this year so maybe it's uniquely vulnerable in this environment?

the lurking ecologist's avatar

Investments for SC01 would make more sense in Charleston, which is the majority of the district, but there is Beaufort (pronounced Byoo-fert, not Bo-fert like in NC---today's PSA) that has a D running for SC01 and is part of the district. Could be aiming at both the GA and SC districts.

NewEnglandMinnesotan's avatar

I saw they put $960,000 in Charleston as well. So I agree they could be going for both districts.

AWildLibAppeared's avatar

Lexington is the biggest surprise for me. I didn’t think they’d try to put KY-06 in play this year, even if it is an open seat.

dragonfire5004's avatar

New poll: D+6 in battleground districts. The same seats voted Trump +2 in 2024.

https://x.com/IAPolls2022/status/2047308899930218556

GENERIC BALLOT: Competitive districts (Toss Up, Lean R, or Lean D by Cook Political)

🟦 Democrats: 50%

🟥 Republicans: 44%

"If this 6-point Democratic edge holds in November, any district Trump won by 10 points or less is at serious risk of flipping"

——

Trust more to handle

🟦 Economy: D+19

🟦 Lower gas prices: D+13

——

Trump's net approval

All Voters: (-16)

Independents: (-40)

GSG/River Strategies | 4/14-17 | LV

https://cookpolitical.com/analysis/survey-research/battleground-district-project/dems-lead-six-points-battleground-districts

Image

AWildLibAppeared's avatar

Worth noting that more than half of these districts are currently held by Republicans.

dragonfire5004's avatar

First time Democrats have led on the issue of the economy since 2010 in this poll.

https://x.com/JohnAnzo/status/2047287584405987714

Not the headline you want from

@FoxNews

for Trump

73% give the economy a negative rating

60% rate their personal financial situation negatively

70% say the economy is getting worse

56% say Trump's policies hurting the economy

52% prefer Dems in generic ballot

Fox News Poll: Economic gloom, Trump ratings signal tough GOP midterm path https://foxnews.com/politics/fox-news-poll-economic-gloom-trump-ratings-signal-tough-gop-midterm-path

MPC's avatar

Since 2010? Because that means a blue tsunami.

dragonfire5004's avatar

Yes, since 2010.

https://x.com/AaronBlake/status/2047288695913349126

For those without Twitter who’re curious:

May 4-5 2010 44-41 D

July 13-14 2010 44-39 R

Jan 18-19 2011 41-38 R

May 10-13 2014 43-42 R

Jun 25-27 2017 49-41 R

Jun 3-6 2018 43-38 R

Sept 16-19 2018 43-39 R

July 21-23 2019 45-38 R

Jan 16-19 2022 56-41 R

Feb 19-22 2023 55-40 R

July 18-21 2025 49-48 R

Apr 17-20 2026 52-48 D

dragonfire5004's avatar

CLF (GOP) initial ad buy:

https://x.com/allymutnick/status/2047269028918378875

NEWS:

@CLFSuperPAC

is placing $153.1M in initial fall ad buys to protect House R majority

Biggest spends:

>> $20.4M in Michigan

>> $18.6M in NYC

>> $13.9M against Cuellar + Gonzalez in TX

>> $12.6M in CA for Valadao + against Gray

>> $10.9M in Iowa

https://punchbowl.news/article/campaigns/house-gop-153m/

AWildLibAppeared's avatar

Lol, good luck burning money trying to beat Cuellar or Gonzalez this year.

dragonfire5004's avatar

GA Supreme Court:

https://x.com/bluestein/status/2047267246469226969

Georgia Democrats are aggressively campaigning to unseat two sitting Supreme Court justices, a marked escalation in officially nonpartisan races long treated as sleepy, low-profile contests. #gapol

The aggressive strategy has rattled defenders of the incumbent justices, putting them on their heels in races they once expected to win easily. It has also alarmed some legal observers who worry it could further erode the judiciary’s impartial standing.

One of the challengers, Jen Jordan, has argued that line was crossed years ago by governors who tapped appointees, passed laws to expand the bench and financed ads for their favored candidates.

“That Pandora’s box was opened.”

https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/04/georgia-supreme-court-races-turn-into-partisan-battleground/

dragonfire5004's avatar

Democrats finally decided to fight back and actually won the battle against Trump and his puppeteer Republican party. There’s a lesson here.

https://x.com/nxthompson/status/2047141408549523865

“Trump’s move to open this new front in a centuries-old gerrymandering war between the parties looks like an enormous tactical blunder. Republicans have appeared taken aback by the ferocity with which Democrats have responded—and the speed with which they’ve set aside their drive to ban gerrymandering in the name of good government.”

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/04/virginia-gerrymandering-redistricting-election-trump/686888/

Kildere53's avatar

Where would the Democratic Party be without Louise Lucas?

the lurking ecologist's avatar

6-5, but better than six-seven

Kildere53's avatar

And speaking of Louise Lucas, it's time for the Virginia Legislature to pass a law saying that a judge whose ruling has been overturned by the VA Supreme Court is not allowed to rule again on the same case.

That would prevent all these stupid shenanigans from that asshole Tazewell County judge.

MPC's avatar

I think his appointment needs to be rescinded and that the General Assembly appoints all these judges going forward.

Paleo's avatar

There are plenty of Republicans who feel the same about some of the federal trial level judges. I don't think tampering with the independence of the judiciary in reaction to a particular case is the way to go. That's why appellate courts exist.

dragonfire5004's avatar

It’s kind of wild how much former conservatives have decided every entity under control of their former party needs to be utterly annihilated.

https://x.com/BillKristol/status/2047094817784483911

“Expanding the Supreme Court is no different that redistricting in California and Virginia. It is a proportionate response to Republican attempts to degrade liberal democracy and move America toward a post-liberal order.”

https://www.thebulwark.com/p/it-is-time-for-ruthless-aggression-supreme-court-expansion

dragonfire5004's avatar

Part of the HMP ad buy is going to Florida. 5 districts targeted with the $20m:

FL-07, FL-13, FL-15, FL-27, FL-28

https://x.com/MiamiHerald/status/2047264281280864538

Major Democratic super PAC to spend $20M in Florida in first ad buy since 2020

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315501386

Foxx Navarro's avatar

I'm not in favor of term limits or age limits for congress because I do think that it's possible to be in ones 80s and sharp as a tack, but I think if Dems had committee chair term limits like the GOP does (where no member can lead a particular committee for more than 3 terms) it would go a long way toward naturally taking care of the gerontocracy that Dems have. Just a stray thought since it seems the reason a lot of dems in congress want to stay forever is to get those committee chairs that no one wants to give up on their own.

dragonfire5004's avatar

New Wisconsin poll. Would this be enough to flip both chambers in the legislature?

https://x.com/IAPolls2022/status/2047313402201067552

WISCONSIN GOVERNOR By RMG Research (generic ballot)

🟦 Democrat: 50%

🟥 Republican: 43%

Democrats lead by +20 among very enthusiastic voters

——

Net Approval

Gov. Evers: (+6)

Sen. Baldwin: (+1)

Sen Johnson: (-12)

Pres. Trump: (-22)

@NapolitanNews

| 4/10-14 | RV

https://napolitannews.org/posts/in-wi-democrats-up-7-on-generic-governor039-s-ballot-amid-inflation-concerns

MPC's avatar

Yes, absolutely.