Said Johnson: “Heaven forbid, if we lose this majority or whatever, I don’t know what my next chapter of life is. If God moves on our hearts and says we should, you know, go back to my hometown of Shreveport and start a lawn business, I’ll do that with equal fervor.”

“The worst cycle was 2020, when polls overestimated Democratic candidates by 4.7 percentage points on average, higher than the three-point miss in 2016 and the 2.9 point error in 2024. Election surveys were relatively accurate in President Donald Trump’s first midterms in 2018 and President Joe Biden’s midterms in 2022, with systematic error less than one point.”

The New Republic: Trump polls take brutal turn as allies grow rattled: “Worse than 2006.”

“Katie Wiles is a partner at Continental Strategy, which signed its contract to lobby for the self-governing entity within Bosnia and Herzegovina in February.”

CBS News: Trump aide’s daughter pictured with pro-Russia politician.

The same poll in Texas finds Greg Abbott (R) leading Gina Hinojosa (D) in the governor’s race, 48% to 44%, with Pat Dixon (L) at 1%.

Said Vice President JD Vance: “There has been no company in the United States, unfortunately, that has abused this system more than Microsoft.”

“Mark Esper said on Thursday he saw the conflict continuing ‘well into 2027,’ with a possibility that it could be handed to the next U.S. administration in three years’ time.”

Said Esper: “At some point, we will reach a point where maybe both sides are willing to come to the table and find a negotiated settlement, but the challenge for president Trump will be he’s going to have to get a deal that returns the Strait of Hormuz to the status quo, which is going to be really hard, and is a deal that’s better than what Barack Obama got out of the JCPOA, and I think that’s going to be very difficult too.”

“According to AdImpact projections, about $11.6 billion is expected to be spent on the 2026 midterms, roughly $400 million more than the $11.2 billion spent during the 2024 general election.”

“It’s not the first time the noted dealmaker offered such a deal, but what is fresh is new details of who will actually get the check, which seemingly change with every passing day as the election draws closer.”

“As a result, voters are taking Trump’s word with a grain of salt. An Economist and YouGov poll from September found that only 21% of registered voters think Trump would ‘definitely or probably would’ issue that $5,000 dividend if Republicans retain control of Congress, while more than half (57%) said he probably or definitely would not. Even among Republicans, less than half (45%) think Trump will follow through.”

“Nowhere is that reversal of fortune more visible than in South Texas, where President Trump ran up historic numbers in 2024 — and Republicans redrew the map in 2025, assuming those Latino gains would last.”

“Trump won 55% of Texas Latino voters in 2024 exit polls, carried 14 of the 18 counties within 20 miles of the border and won all four Rio Grande Valley counties.”

“Polling shows Trump’s disapproval ratings have skyrocketed among Latinos in Texas since 2024.”

“Novembers in Iowa don’t traditionally bring as much drama.”

“Republicans in recent years have tightened their hold on the state, controlling the governor’s mansion since 2011 and holding both U.S. Senate seats since 2015.”

“That could be about to change.”

Just two years ago, the idea that Democrats could win back the Senate in 2026 seemed almost fanciful.

The electoral map was simply too difficult. Republicans held a 53 to 47 majority and Democrats needed to flip four seats without losing any of their own.

“President Donald Trump is on a steep decline in Pennsylvania, according to new polling, while Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro is climbing ahead of a nearly-certain White House run in 2028.”

“Their trajectories could ripple far beyond their own political fortunes. Pennsylvania hosts four critical House races this year — enough to give Democrats a majority — and Trump’s struggles (combined with Shapiro’s surging reelection run) are making it even harder for Republicans to hang on.”

A quick look at the poll closing times around the country suggests we’ll know a lot as Pennsylvania votes are counted.

— Former Gov. Chris Christie (R), quoted by Politico.

“Democrats across a slate of deep-red states are clamoring for more cash to fight for Senate seats that suddenly seem within reach, with polling showing them competitive across a swath of normally impregnable territory from Kansas to Florida and South Carolina to Mississippi prompting a sudden bump in late-stage spending from outside groups. The party’s main campaign groups have already begun spending in Texas, another state they once downplayed that’s come seriously into play.”

“But those same groups say they don’t have enough cash to protect the core battleground and also make significant investments beyond it — setting up Democrats for a series of difficult choices in the closing weeks of the midterms.”

While Democratic candidates have done a good job raising money, this would be why a healthier DNC is still important.

“Companies and investors are eager to hire those with recent access to the White House, knowledge of the administration’s Venezuela policy or contacts… And lobbyists, consultants and former government officials from both major U.S. political parties are descending on Caracas on behalf of new clients or businesses.”

“Le Pen has reasserted her hold on the National Rally party her late father founded in 1972 since courts in July cleared her to run for the highest office. Differences over policy and style they brushed aside as she fought the fallout of an embezzlement conviction are increasingly emerging in public view.”

“The economic blueprint Le Pen announced Tuesday shows how the 31-year-old Bardella and his pro-business agenda have been shunted to the background behind Le Pen’s populist priorities.”

“Fourteen of the 20 largest donors and donor groups this election cycle have exclusively or nearly exclusively backed GOP candidates or aligned groups… Together, the 20 account for $1.2 billion, or about an eighth of the roughly $9.8 billion raised this election cycle.”

Just an astounding statistic on money in politics.