Republicans brace for money problems in Texas after Ken Paxton’s win
By Bridget Bowman and Matt Dixon President Donald Trump may be celebrating that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won Tuesday’s Senate primary, but some Republicans now worry that they have a Texas-sized problem on their hands. Paxton, with Trump’s endorsement, handily defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn in the runoff. Democrats largely viewed Paxton as the weaker candidate because of his many controversies. But his fundraising struggles are also raising alarm bells among Republicans. “Economically, it’s a disaster. Texas is extremely expensive,” said a GOP consultant working on Senate races, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about party resources. So far, Paxton’s fundraising has paled in
Biden sues Justice Department to stop release of audio from interviews
By Gary Grumbach and Raquel Coronell Uribe Former President Joe Biden sued the Justice Department on Tuesday, urging a federal judge to block the release of audio recordings and transcripts of his private conversations with the ghostwriter of his 2017 memoir. The suit stems from a 2024 Freedom of Information Act request by the conservative Heritage Foundation, which later filed its own lawsuit to obtain Biden’s remarks to Mark Zwonitzer when they were writing “Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose.” The Justice Department had withheld the sought-after materials, arguing they were exempt from disclosure. But during President Donald Trump’s second term, Biden’s attorney
Democrat Johnny Garcia wins Texas House primary after rival’s antisemitic comments drew national rebukes
By Ben Kamisar Democrat Johnny Garcia has won his party’s primary in Texas’ 35th Congressional District, NBC News projects, defeating a rival whom party leaders had condemned for antisemitic comments as Democrats look to compete in a district Republicans redrew to their benefit. The district stretches from Austin to San Antonio, the result of Republican efforts to combine two Democratic seats into one and create a new district leaning their way. Donald Trump carried the district by about 10.5 points in 2024. Despite that result, there are signs the district could be competitive in the general election, including $1 million in
Proposed Federal Legislation Aims to Modernize Infrastructure at HBCUs
U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chairs of the HBCU Caucus, have introduced the Institutional Grants for New Infrastructure, Technology, and Education (IGNITE) for HBCU Excellence Act. The proposed legislation would establish a competitive federal grant program within the Department of Education to support modernization efforts and long-term infrastructure improvements at HBCUs throughout the country. The program would prioritize funding for institutions with the greatest financial need, aging or unsafe facilities, limited fundraising capacity, and high-enrollment of low-income students. Colleges and universities that receive funding through the federal initiative could use their grants for the construction, modernization,
House Republicans cancel vote curbing Trump on Iran
By Kyle Stewart and Jennifer Jett House Republicans on Thursday delayed a vote on a war powers resolution that would restrict President Donald Trump’s ability to continue U.S. military operations in Iran after it became clear that the legislation would pass. Lawmakers will have to vote on the resolution in June, however, after they return from their Memorial Day recess. Congressional support for the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, which Trump launched on Feb. 28 without lawmakers’ approval, has been slipping even among Republicans as the conflict disrupts global energy supplies and sends U.S. gas prices soaring. The Democratic-backed war powers resolution has been voted down several times already by
Four swing House races in Pennsylvania loom large for both parties — and for 2028, too
By Allan Smith Control of the House of Representatives could come down to four pivotal battleground races in Pennsylvania. With an increasingly limited map of competitive seats, both Democrats and Republicans are emphasizing the importance of these campaigns, which are about to get floods of money and investment from both sides. Some of that has already started, including from Gov. Josh Shapiro, who is on a party-building kick as he faces a re-election bid that, as of yet, is not expected to be particularly competitive. Shapiro, a potential 2028 presidential contender, has emphasized those four races, making primary endorsements in each
FAMU Alumna Keisha Lance Bottoms Wins Democratic Nomination For Georgia Governor
Former Atlanta Mayor Moves One Step Closer To Making Georgia History FAMU alumna Keisha Lance Bottoms has won the Democratic nomination for Georgia governor, setting up a major general election race in November and placing one of Florida A&M University’s most recognized graduates back on a statewide political stage. The former Atlanta mayor secured the nomination Tuesday, according to the Associated Press, and will now compete for a governorship that Democrats have not won in Georgia in more than two decades. The Associated Press reported that Bottoms’ victory also marks the third straight time Georgia Democrats have nominated a Black woman for
Democrats pick candidates for key districts in the battle for the House
By Ben Kamisar Major general election matchups across the House battleground are set after Tuesday’s primaries, as the race for control of Congress takes center stage in the midterm elections. President Donald Trump’s successful effort to unseat a Republican rival, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, and battles between progressive or establishment Democrats in deep-blue seats have captured wide attention this week and in other recent primaries. But the results of four Democratic congressional primaries in battleground Pennsylvania — which have already drawn a combined $50 million in advertising dollars spent on or committed to these races, according to the ad-tracking firm
Congressional Black Caucus goes opposite HBCU leaders on NIL
HBCU conferences entered last week asking the Congressional Black Caucus for help on NIL. By Monday, the CBC had turned the SCORE Act into something much bigger than college sports. The Congressional Black Caucus announced unanimous opposition to the SCORE Act on May 18. The statement came just days after leaders from the CIAA, MEAC, SIAC and SWAC asked CBC members to support federal action on NIL. Those four HBCU conferences represent 48 institutions. They also represent roughly 15,000 student-athletes across nearly 20 states. Their message was clear. The NIL era is changing college athletics quickly. HBCU programs need federal protection
Rep. Thomas Massie confronts the full force of Trump’s wrath in a Republican primary
By Julie Tsirkin and Scott Wong HEBRON, Ky. — Rep. Thomas Massie, a constant thorn in the side of GOP leaders during his eight terms in Congress, is no stranger to a primary challenge. But this year, President Donald Trump’s fury with the Kentucky libertarian has reached a boiling point. On Tuesday, voters in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District will decide whether Massie becomes the latest casualty of Trump’s campaign to unseat foes inside the Republican Party as he faces off against Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and fifth-generation farmer who was personally recruited by the president. “People aren’t going to be voting