Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

RandySF

RandySF's Journal
RandySF's Journal
April 9, 2026

IA-GOV: The Cook Political Report moves the race from Lean R to Tossup

https://x.com/CookPolitical/status/2042226595549544652?s=20



Cook Political Report
@CookPolitical
A strong campaign by Democratic state Auditor Rob Sand and local economic concerns move Iowa Governor from Lean R to Toss Up.

Read more from
@MattKleinOnline

:
April 9, 2026

WI-GOV: Democrats running for governor have common ground, differences on health care policy

Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for governor talk about many of the same goals when it comes to Wisconsin’s health care system: expanding access, reducing costs and ensuring quality.

Some of their proposals to those ends are almost identical. But key details vary.

“If there’s one thing that’s a certainty, the context will change between now and when one of us takes office and has a Legislature that hopefully is going to work with us,” said Joel Brennan, former secretary of the Department of Administration, at a forum Wednesday conducted by Wisconsin Health News. “That context will change in the next nine to 10 months and we better be ready to change with it too.”

Brennan said his campaign’s health care policy will rest on four principles: broadening access to health care, particularly in rural areas; reducing costs; fostering a pathway to increase the health care workforce; and ensuring that mental health is “a basic part of health care.”



https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/04/09/health-care-forums-show-common-ground-differences-among-democrats-running-for-governor/

April 9, 2026

Can Democrats Win the Senate?

Bloomberg: “It’s a stretch, especially with Republicans holding a fundraising advantage, including a plan this week by the GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund to allocate $342 million to the key battlegrounds. But Democrats have history and momentum on their side. In 2006, another Republican president with fading popularity in the middle of his second term — George W. Bush — lost both the House and, more surprisingly, the Senate amid waning support for the war in Iraq.”

“Democrats’ chances likely hinge on four states where they are seen as most competitive, and several more that are potentially in play. They’ll then have to stave off well-funded Republican efforts to flip several Democratic-held seats, including two in states won by Trump, with the GOP touting Trump’s tax cuts and other issues that helped elect the president, like border security.”



https://politicalwire.com/2026/04/09/can-democrats-win-the-senate/

April 9, 2026

Poll shows majority of Virginia voters could approve redistricting referendum

RICHMOND, Va. (WSET) — A new poll indicates that voters in Virginia could approve changes to congressional district maps during the April 21 redistricting referendum.

According to a survey conducted by George Mason University in partnership with The Washington Post, a majority of voters say they plan to vote “yes” on the upcoming referendum. The poll also found that more than 60 percent of registered voters in the Commonwealth said they are certain they will participate in the vote.

When asked how they plan to vote, 53 percent of respondents said they support changing the current congressional map, while 44 percent said they plan to vote “no.”

Political analyst Dr. David Richards said the referendum is drawing unusual levels of attention for a special election, which typically sees lower voter turnout.



https://wset.com/news/local/poll-shows-majority-of-virginia-voters-could-approve-redistricting-referendum-voting-special-election-democrat-republican-map-april-2026

April 9, 2026

VIRGINIA N2N LAUNCH CALL FOR REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM

We are in the final weeks of the critical Virginia Redistricting Referendum and polls show a tight race. But don’t worry! Indivisible is launching Neighbor2Neighbor (N2N), Indivisible’s unique door knocking program, to get us across the finish line!

N2N provides you with a list of 10 like-minded voters in your community. All you need to do is remind them to Vote Yes before April 21st! The tool is incredibly easy to use, you don’t need to download an app, and you can meet with your neighbors according to your schedule!

We will have a Launch Call on Monday, April 13th, at 8pm Eastern Time. There will be plenty of time for your questions so if you are uncertain about any aspect of N2N don’t hesitate to ask us about it then.

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday, April 13th, at 8pm Eastern Time!



https://indivisible.org/events/virginia-n2n-launch-call-for-redistricting-referendum/

April 9, 2026

VIRGINIA N2N LAUNCH CALL FOR REDISTRICTING REFERENDUM

We are in the final weeks of the critical Virginia Redistricting Referendum and polls show a tight race. But don’t worry! Indivisible is launching Neighbor2Neighbor (N2N), Indivisible’s unique door knocking program, to get us across the finish line!

N2N provides you with a list of 10 like-minded voters in your community. All you need to do is remind them to Vote Yes before April 21st! The tool is incredibly easy to use, you don’t need to download an app, and you can meet with your neighbors according to your schedule!

We will have a Launch Call on Monday, April 13th, at 8pm Eastern Time. There will be plenty of time for your questions so if you are uncertain about any aspect of N2N don’t hesitate to ask us about it then.

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday, April 13th, at 8pm Eastern Time!



https://indivisible.org/events/virginia-n2n-launch-call-for-redistricting-referendum/

April 9, 2026

MI-07: In Barrett's backyard, Democratic candidates make their case to be his next challenger

Three candidates aiming to challenge U.S. Representative Tom Barrett gathered at a forum on the Charlotte Republican’s home turf, taking questions on why they should represent the Democratic Party in their effort to flip Michigan’s hotly contested 7th Congressional District.

Wednesday’s forum, held at the Charlotte Community Library, brought together former Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, retired Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam and Lansing-area political organizer William Lawrence, who shared stories from their life, the path that led them to the campaign trail and their priorities if elected to office.

Brink was up first, touting her experience working in foreign relations under five presidential administrations. Of the three candidates in attendance, Brink said she’s been the one who’s publicly stood up to President Donald Trump on the national stage, referencing her decision to resign over the Trump Administration’s Ukraine policy.

“What I knew is that I not only had to resign, I had to speak out, I had to do something about it, to change it,” Brink said. “And the only thing I could think of doing – and my family and I had like a family huddle – is come home to Michigan and run for Congress. And that’s what I did.”


https://michiganadvance.com/2026/04/09/in-barretts-backyard-democratic-candidates-make-their-case-to-be-his-next-challenger/

April 9, 2026

TX-15: In South Texas, "quinceanera" dig becomes campaign fuel for Tejano musician Bobby Pulido (D)

Jimena Sáenz’s glittery blue quinceañera gown caught the light and sparkled as she swayed to the Tejano music flowing through the Edinburg event center last month.

Her friends and family formed a circle around her, some mouthing lyrics as they filmed on their phones and danced to the live performance from Bobby Pulido, the Tejano music star who is running for Congress in South Texas.

It was one of a dozen quinceañeras the Democrat and first-time political candidate has gone to since mid-March, an effort aimed at spinning a dig from his opponent (R) — who said the election “isn’t about who you want performing at your niece’s quinceañera” — into an offbeat way of reaching new voters.

At Sáenz’s quinceañera, Pulido started the evening singing “Hermoso Cariño” by Mexican singer Vicente Fernández and later performed “Desvelado,” the title track of his 1995 album that propelled him to fame and reached the top 10 on Billboard’s chart of top Latin albums.



https://www.texastribune.org/2026/04/09/bobby-pulido-quinceaneras-monica-de-la-cruz-south-texas-congress/

April 9, 2026

Anchorage General Election: Assembly Remains Left of Center (Same site)

I HAVE TO GIVE THIS GUY CREDIT FOR AT LEAST COVERING ANCHORAGE


The Municipality of Anchorage held its General Election yesterday, April 7, 2026. Despite conservatives’ efforts to flip the Assembly and position Anchorage right-of-center, the unofficial results show only two conservative candidates won their races: Donald Handeland (District 2, Seat C) and Dave Donley (District 4, Seat G). District 1, Seat B was taken by Syndey Scout; District 3, Seat E by Anna Brawley; District 5, Seat I by George Martinez; and District 6, Seat K by Zac Johnson.




https://mustreadalaska.com/anchorage-general-election-assembly-remains-left-of-center/
April 9, 2026

Anchorage General Election: School Board Seats Go to "Left-wing" Candidates (From right wing site)

APOLOGIES UP FRONT BUT ALASKA NEWS IS SPARSE.



In yesterday’s General Election, Anchorage voters decided on two School Board seats. According to the unofficial election results, Seat C went to Rachel Blakeslee and Seat D went to Paul McDonough.

Blakeslee won against Alexander Rosales with 54.38% of the vote. She was a former educator in Texas and Colorado before moving to Alaska. Her priorities include environmental justice, equity and inclusion in education, and growing and retaining a diverse teaching workforce.

Rachel Blakeslee received endorsements from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 959, Anchorage Education Association, Alaska Public Employees Association (APEA), Alaska Center for Climate and Choice (ACLC), Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates – Alaska; and from individuals including Les Gara, Anchorage School Board Members Margo Bellamy, Kelly Lessens, and Andy Holleman, School Board President Carl Jacobs, School Board Member Pat Higgins, Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, State Representative Zack Fields, Anchorage Assembly Member Zac Johnson, Anchorage Parent Jessica Noble, Anchorage Parents Ellen and Leon Jaimes, and Parent and former high school teacher Megan McBride.

McDonough won against Sharon Gibbons and Dustin Darden with 46.87% of the vote. He formerly taught in the Anchorage School District. His priorities include ending the teacher retention crisis, advocating for more state funding for education, advancing whole-student learning, and seeking equity solutions for Anchorage’s diverse community. Learn more about Paul McDonough here aul McDonogh for Anchorage School Board.




https://mustreadalaska.com/anchorage-general-election-school-board-seats-go-to-left-wing-candidates/

Profile Information

Gender: Male
Hometown: Detroit Area, MI
Home country: USA
Current location: San Francisco, CA
Member since: Wed Oct 29, 2008, 02:53 PM
Number of posts: 84,709

About RandySF

Partner, father and liberal Democrat. I am a native Michigander living in San Francisco who is a citizen of the world.
Latest Discussions»RandySF's Journal