2025/26/27/28 Elections

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Derek Dooley didn’t vote for years. Now he wants Georgia voters to send him to Washington

ATLANTA (AP) — Lots of candidates pitch themselves as political outsiders. Derek Dooley goes a step further. Not only is the former football coach running for the first time, he says he did not vote for nearly two decades.

https://apnews.com/article/derek-dooley-georgia-football-republican-senate-trump-79206ea3f3150a1441c940c4b390b1a4?

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🫏 Trail mix: The week in the pre-campaign

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

A look at what potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders have been up to: Former Biden Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo re-emerged this week with a series of media appearances. She also participated in the Munich Security Conference. Speaking of Munich, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and Newsom all made the trip. Ocasio-Cortez and Whitmer stumbled on foreign policy questions (watch AOC on Taiwan here and Whitmer on the Ukraine-Russia war here). Newsom is planning to go to New Hampshire, an early primary state, next month. Former Transportation Secretary Buttigieg went on the "Lemonade Stand" podcast. A spokesperson for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker told Mother Jones that the governor thinks AIPAC "has abandoned its bipartisan principles and become a pro-Trump organization." Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is in a legal battle with one of his neighbors and talked about his music interests on the "Track Star" podcast. Gallego will headline the Montana Dems' fundraising dinner on March 7. Murphy is getting existential about AI. Moore was in North Carolina today and will remain there Monday, campaigning with Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper and having a mix of political and official meetings. Moore also was on CBS News' town hall series that premieres tonight after "60 Minutes," in which he argues that "Democrats have gotta stop being the party of no and slow, and start being the party of yes and now." Former Vice President Harris is still paying off millions in campaign debt, The New York Times' Shane Goldmacher reported. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear did a New York City media swing, appearing on "The Daily Show," "The View," Stephen A. Smith's podcast, and MS NOW. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock gave the keynote address at the UAW's conference in D.C. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled a new education-focused policy proposal ahead of a swing through Michigan.

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GOP wipeout

Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios

Republicans are getting crushed in scores of state and local races, raising deep concerns about a deflated base refusing to show up to vote even in the most pro-Trump areas, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. Why it matters: The numbers are startling. In race after race, Democrats are outpacing their 2024 performance by double digits, a clear sign of a yawning GOP enthusiasm gap. 🧮 By the numbers: Democrats have outperformed former Vice President Harris' 2024 numbers by an average of 10.5 percentage points in the 20 state legislative districts that've held special elections this year. Democratic candidates outperformed Harris by even more — an average of 13.9 points — in the 67 state House and Senate races last year, according to The Downballot, which tracks state-level and congressional campaigns. Republicans' internal data aligns with polling showing declining support for GOP candidates. Many Republicans trace their troubles to Trump not being on the ballot this year or in 2028. But strategists acknowledge that some of his actions — including the administration's reluctance to release more of the Epstein files — have turned off parts of his MAGA base, while energizing Democrats and anti-GOP independents. Polls have shown widespread dissatisfaction with Trump's immigration crackdown and with how he's handling the economy. 🔎 Zoom in: Since the start of the year, Republicans have suffered double-digit drop-offs from Trump's 2024 performance in state legislative elections in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, northern and central Virginia, New York City, east-central Minnesota, and southeastern Connecticut. A GOP operative told Axios: "While it is tempting for many in our party to wish away these results, the pattern is clear that there is at least a current 10-point Democratic over-performance from Trump 2024 — and it's built on a fired-up Democratic base and a sleepy GOP base." 🥊 Reality check: Some Republicans caution against reading too much into state and local elections, arguing they often don't reflect national trends. They note that Trump's cash-flush political operation didn't focus on turning out the president's supporters in any of the recent elections — something it'll do for House and Senate elections this November. They also point out that Trump plans to hit the trail aggressively.

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A policy wonk who wants Nancy Pelosi’s House seat is unafraid of a fight

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California state lawmaker favored to succeed Nancy Pelosi in the U.S. House has already been thrust into the national spotlight as the force behind headline-grabbing policies like a ban on masks for federal agents and protections for transgender youth.

https://apnews.com/article/california-scott-wiener-house-seat-gaza-2e98d345646f70b931402d90fcf2b1e7?

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🤖 Dems' big AI retreat

Illustration: Maura Kearns/Axios

😬 The AI backpedaling has begun: 2028 Democratic contenders who bet big on data centers are suddenly retreating amid a growing voter revolt. Why it matters: The politics of AI are evolving almost as rapidly as the technology. Just a few months ago, potential 2028 presidential candidates — including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore — were bending over backwards to lure data centers with offers of lavish tax breaks and other goodies. 💪 The projects seemed like no-brainers to many pols: They promised jobs, made building trade unions happy, took on China and pleased Silicon Valley execs. Now those Democrats are abruptly retreating — and vowing to protect voters from the consequences of the AI revolution. ⚡️ The reason: From MAGA country to liberal Prince George's County in Maryland's D.C. suburbs, Americans are increasingly blaming the power-sucking centers for high energy bills — and they're freaked out about AI's ability to eliminate jobs. Zoom in: Before the dawn of ChatGPT, Pritzker signed legislation in 2019 doling out tax breaks for data centers. AI took off and Chicago became one of the nation's biggest data-center hubs. But households' electricity bills went up, and some faulted data centers. This past week, Pritzker hit the pause button in his State of the State speech, proposing a two-year moratorium on the tax incentives. Shapiro has shifted from proclaiming last year that Pennsylvania was "all in on AI" and trumpeting a $20 billion investment by Amazon in his state. After residents complained about data centers in their backyards, Shapiro called for additional oversight during his budget address this month, saying: "I know Pennsylvanians have real concerns about these data centers ... and so do I." Moore has been wooing data centers, signing a bill in 2024 that removed building roadblocks and vetoing legislation to study their impacts. He changed tone at his State of the State address this month, unveiling new guidelines that Maryland data centers must follow to win his support. What they're saying: "We're in the early innings of the anxiety people are feeling about artificial intelligence," said Rob Flaherty, a deputy campaign manager for Kamala Harris in 2024. "Data centers are just one manifestation of that, but they're a serious one." "It's smart for Democrats to be on the front foot of this," he added. ✍️ The intrigue: In an interview with Axios, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear described his approach, which is quickly becoming Democrats' playbook for navigating the issue. Beshear, who's also eyeing a White House run, said data center developers in his state should do three things: "Pay for 100% of your power," "pay your fair share of taxes," and "be embraced by the community." Pritzker, Shapiro and Moore — who unlike Beshear face reelection this year — now are making similar demands. Other Democrats weighing 2028 runs also are starting to lay out early visions to address AI anxiety. This weekend, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called for "a new social contract" to respond to AI's rise. And California Rep. Ro Khanna laid out seven principles for new tech while appearing at Stanford University with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, calling for "real protections against mass displacement." Read more. — Holly Otterbein, Alex Thompson

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🫏 Trail mix: The week in the pre-campaign

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

A look at what potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders are up to: Harris said she "might" run for the White House again in an interview with liberal podcaster Sharon McMahon. Harris also waded into the competitive Texas Senate primary, recording a robocall for vocal Trump critic Jasmine Crockett. Ocasio-Cortez boycotted Trump's State of the Union address. A slimmed-down Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker unveiled a new reelection ad showing him "walking to get more steps in." We also learned this week that he owns a "Pritzker for Khan" mug. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told the libertarian outlet Reason that DOGE was a good idea, but "they missed a chance to make real change that could have made government run more efficiently." Newsom's spokesperson Izzy Gardon became the story by, among other things, telling a conservative reporter in an email to "Respectfully, f**k off." Shapiro vowed to fight two proposed ICE detention centers in his state and announced plans to take on "predatory" AI practices. A Quinnipiac poll found that Pennsylvania voters would oppose an AI data center in their community by an eye-popping margin of 48 percentage points. Gallego is campaigning in Texas for gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa today. Van Hollen and Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy are speaking at the J Street National Convention over the next two days. The liberal pro-Israel group backs a two-state solution and is critical of the current Israeli government. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will headline a Michigan Democratic Party dinner on April 18 that will honor Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

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✏️ 1 nerdy thing: SAT stories

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Newsom earned headlines and scorn this past week for citing his poor SAT scores as proof of his relatability (something he's done in many past interviews in discussing his dyslexia). "I'm not trying to impress you. I'm just trying to impress upon you: I'm like you. I'm no better than you. You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy," he said during a chat with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. We asked Newsom's potential 2028 rivals how they did on their SATs to see how they measured up. Most didn't respond, but the responses by Gallego and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel stood out. "Gallego went to school in the Midwest; they don't take SATs like coastal elites," his spokesperson told Axios. "His ASVAB [Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery] score was high enough to be in the infantry of United States Marine Corps." Emanuel told Axios he couldn't remember his exact score. "Don't worry about my test scores. Not important to our kids' future," he said. "Whatever it was, I got into Sarah Lawrence and Northwestern." — Alex Thompson

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👢 GOP's Texas trepidation

GOP operatives tell Axios they're worried their worst possible scenario is unfolding in tomorrow's Texas Senate primaries, Axios' Alex Isenstadt writes.

• Why it matters: Sen. John Cornyn's seat has long been a virtual lock for the GOP. But competitive races in both parties' primaries — and the national headwinds facing Republicans — have blown up all assumptions.

Top Republican operatives think James Talarico, a state House member and seminary student, has a slight edge over his Democratic primary rival, Rep. Jasmine Crockett.

• Republicans believe Talarico and his "progressive Christian" campaign pitch would be a tougher general election opponent than Crockett, who has gained a national profile with her sharp criticism of the Trump administration.

On the GOP side, party strategists say Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton — a MAGA loyalist they regard as a weaker November candidate than Cornyn — has the advantage over the senator tomorrow, if recent polls are right.

• Paxton and Cornyn are expected to be the top two vote-getters in the crowded Republican primary. They'd face each other in a May 26 runoff if neither gets a majority.

Keep reading.

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• 📊 Kalshi, one of the world's largest prediction market companies, struck a deal with AP to license election data starting with the midterms, Axios' Sara Fischer reports.

🤠 Cornyn's moment of truth

Republicans will be scrutinizing the margin between Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in tomorrow's Senate primary.

Why it matters: Margins matter in a three-way primary.

• 💰 That's true for the GOP establishment, which has already spent more than $50 million to bolster Cornyn.
• It's also the case for Trump, who has resisted numerous entreaties to endorse Cornyn, Paxton — the expected top two vote-getters — or Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas).
• 🏆 Trump likes to back winners — or at least candidates who show that they're in shot of winning.

The hope is that the race will reset if Hunt comes in a distant third, allowing Cornyn to pull ahead of Paxton and regain the momentum he lost when Hunt entered the race.

Zoom out: GOP operatives tell Axios' Alex Isenstadt they're worried their worst possible scenario is unfolding in both of Texas' Senate primaries: A victory by state Rep. James Talarico on the Democratic side, followed by a clear win for Paxton.

• Republicans widely believe Talarico and his "progressive Christian" campaign pitch would be a tougher general election opponent than Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a liberal who's drawn national attention for her sharp criticism of the Trump administration.

At the same time, GOP strategists say Paxton— a MAGA loyalist they regard as a weaker November candidate than Cornyn — has the advantage over the incumbent, if recent polls are right.

• "A Paxton versus Talarico match in November would be unnecessarily competitive and costly" for Republicans, one GOP operative told us.

The other side: Some GOP strategists think that placement matters more than margin. They can't envision Trump endorsing a second-place finisher under any circumstances.

— Hans Nichols

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Lone Star Primaries

Voters in Texas cast ballots today in a pair of hotly contested primary races, choosing their candidates to face off for a US Senate seat in November. They are the most expensive such races in US history, with more than $110M spent in total.  For Republicans, incumbent John Cornyn is seeking his fifth term in the seat and has been locked in a combative three-way race with Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (TX-38). Paxton, who survived a 2023 impeachment on bribery and corruption charges, enters the day with a four-point lead over Cornyn (40% to 36%). On the Democratic side, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) faces state Rep. James Talarico, with each trying to build a multiracial coalition in a state where Democrats haven’t defended a statewide office since 1994. See polling for each race here. Separately, Rep. Ryan Zinke (R, MT-1) announced he will not run for reelection, citing health issues. He joins a growing list of Republicans retiring before the 2026 midterms.

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🗳️ Charted: Dems' early Texas surge

Data: Texas Secretary of State. Chart: Axios Visuals Turnout during the 11 days of early voting in today's Texas Democratic primary outpaced Republican turnout for the first time since 2020, Axios Dallas' Tasha Tsiaperas writes. Why it matters: The turnout points to high interest in the race at the top of the Democratic ballot: U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) vs. state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) for U.S. Senate. 🐘 Republican turnout has lagged far behind recent elections' early voting. Sen. John Cornyn is locked in an expensive reelection battle with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Polling indicates the race is likely headed to a runoff. Keep reading. ps:Lets not get carried away! If the democrats are going to do good in Texas they should be way ahead in the polls not just a little bit!!

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🥊 Dem insurgents wage costly civil war

Data: FEC. Table: Jacque Schrag/Axios An expensive Democratic civil war is brewing this election cycle, with a staggering 30 House Democrats facing at least one primary challenger who has raised $100,000 or more, Axios' Andrew Solender found. Why it matters: These primaries are drawing tens of millions of dollars from Democrats' efforts to retake the House while priming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) to inherit a rebellious class of freshmen. The collective fundraising in these races adds up to more than $64 million — out of roughly $500 million raised by all Democratic House campaigns so far this cycle. Nearly a dozen House Democrats face primary challengers who have raised more money than they have. Many primary insurgents — along with a huge cohort of outsiders and progressives running in open primaries — won't commit to supporting Jeffries' leadership if elected. 👂 What we're hearing: These candidates "don't care what Hakeem thinks, they care what AOC may think," said a House Democrat close to leadership. Keep reading.

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• 🗳️ Midterms begin in earnest today: Primary results in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas will provide some of the first concrete voter sentiment as President Trump's second term approaches the halfway mark. What to watch tonight in Texas ... North Carolina ... Arkansas.

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Talarico wins Texas Senate Democratic nomination while Cornyn and Paxton head to Republican runoff

DALLAS (AP) — State Rep. James Talarico topped Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in an expensive and fiercely contested Texas Senate Democratic primary that once again has the party dreaming of a big upset in November.

https://apnews.com/article/texas-election-senate-crockett-talarico-cornyn-paxton-hunt-4d2fa601c0dab451c2cbd7c6f1483547?

March 3, 2026 election results

https://apnews.com/projects/elections-2026/march-3-primary/

 

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Early primaries show incumbents are on shaky ground in midterms

The first round of primary elections is showing how this year’s midterms will be taking place on shifting political ground for incumbents. That was particularly true in Texas — the first state to redraw its congressional districts last year — where incumbent members of Congress have been pushed to runoffs and another has been scuttled from the House altogether. Read more.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤

Texan James Talarico becomes a fresh face of Democrats’ midterm hopes after Senate primary win Republicans brace for an ugly fight in the Texas Senate runoff between Cornyn and Paxton An Arkansas man accused of killing his daughter’s alleged abuser wins GOP sheriff’s nomination

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Incumbents' brutal night

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Last night's Texas primaries don't instill confidence for lawmakers trying to survive the anti-incumbency wave ripping through both parties, Axios' Andrew Solender writes. 🏛️ One House Republican lost his seat outright, while four other House members will face grueling 12-week runoffs. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a longtime target of the right, was defeated in Texas' 2nd District by Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, who criticized him as insufficiently conservative. 🗳️ Other notable results, with factors including ideology, age and redistricting: Texas' 18th: Reps. Al Green (D) and Christian Menefee (D) are headed to a runoff after Texas Republicans' mid-decade redistricting forced them to compete for the same Houston-based seat. Texas' 23rd: Rep. Tony Gonzales (R) will go to a runoff with right-wing gun influencer and past opponent Brandon Herrera. Gonzales faces a House Ethics probe over an alleged affair with a staffer who died by suicide. Texas' 33rd: Freshman Rep. Julie Johnson (D) is facing a runoff with former Rep. Colin Allred (D), who had millions to spend from his abandoned Senate bid. Meanwhile: President Trump is expected to endorse Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in his effort to fight off Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in a May runoff, Axios' Alex Isenstadt reports. Trump said today that whichever of the two he doesn't endorse should drop out. 🥊 What's next: Incumbents in dozens of upcoming Democratic primaries are trying to fend off well-funded, younger insurgents. And on the Republican side: Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.) are facing off for a single seat due to mid-decade redistricting. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) is being challenged by Trump-backed Ed Gallrein. Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), who recently lost his Trump endorsement, also has a primary challenger. Go deeper.

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🤖 AI's big night

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios

A super PAC affiliated with OpenAI went three-for-three in yesterday's GOP primaries, helping Republican candidates win their House races with investments of $500,000 or more. 💬 Why it matters: OpenAI money has entered the chat. The GOP primary winners — two in Texas and one in North Carolina — will advance to the general election in red seats, all but guaranteeing three new pro-OpenAI lawmakers. Expect more. The super PAC, Leading the Future, plans to spend $125 million in the 2026 midterm to help establish a national regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. "We were proud to back three successful candidates last night who will be champions for innovation in Congress and lead the country to a safer, more prosperous future," said Jesse Hunt, a Leading the Future spokesperson. 🔎 Zoom in: Jessica Steinmann, a former DOJ official endorsed by Trump, won the primary in Texas' 8th District. LTF spent $500,000 on her behalf. Chris Gober, a conservative attorney, is projected to win the GOP primary in Texas' 10th District. He benefited from $750,000 in LFT advertising. And in North Carolina's 1st District, Laurie Buckhout will advance to the general election in a newly redrawn district that is now more pro-Trump — and with the help of $500,000 from LTF. The Super PAC has received the majority of its funding from OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman, as well as 8VC founder and managing partner Joe Lonsdale and Andreessen Horowitz. Between the lines: A rival super PAC — Public First, which received $20 million from Anthropic — had mixed results on the opening night of the 2026 primary season. In North Carolina, $1.6 million from Public First likely helped Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.). Her opponent, Nida Allam, conceded today. Two GOP candidates supported by Public First in Texas — Alex Mealer and Carlos De La Cruz — will face runoffs on May 26. And a Texas Democrat the group supported, former Rep. Colin Allred, will also face a runoff against Rep. Julie Johnson.  — Hans Nichols

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🗳️ Blue flickers in Texas

Data: Texas Secretary of State. Chart: Axios Visuals "Turn Texas blue" has been more of a punch line than a battle cry in the Lone Star State. But Democrats' enthusiastic turnout in Tuesday's Senate primary has given them hope for November, Axios managing editor for politics David Lindsey writes. Why it matters: In counties across Texas, Democratic voters made up a dramatically larger percentage of the electorate than in 2024 — with big increases in hot battlegrounds such as mostly Hispanic South Texas and the well-off suburbs of North Texas. 🔭 Zoom in: James Talarico's win over U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett came with the usual caveats for Texas Democrats — namely, whether a party that hasn't won a statewide election since 1994 can really win in November. But there were sparks of encouragement for Democrats nearly everywhere they looked: 71% of primary voters in mostly Hispanic Cameron County in South Texas cast Democratic ballots. Trump won the county by nearly 6 points in 2024. That scenario was repeated throughout South Texas, where Talarico dominated in majority-Hispanic counties. In red-leaning, fast-growing Collin County just north of Dallas — where no Democrat has won the presidential race since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 — 57% of the votes cast Tuesday were in the Democratic primary. Keep reading ...

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🗳️ MTG pushes Tucker 2028

Via X Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) suggested Tucker Carlson should run for president (above) after President Trump told ABC's Jonathan Karl in a phone interview: "Tucker has lost his way ... I knew that a long time ago, and he's not MAGA. MAGA is saving our country. MAGA is making our country great again. MAGA is America first, and Tucker is none of those things. And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that." Carlson responded to Status founder Oliver Darcy: "There are times I get annoyed with Trump, right now definitely included ... but I'll always love him no matter what he says about me."

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Trail mix: This week in the pre-campaign

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

A look at what potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders are up to: California Gov. Gavin Newsom promoted his new book in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Nevada and his own state. At one event he compared Israel to an "apartheid state" but he emphasized he was referencing New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman's use of "apartheid" in a recent column. Newsom also appeared on "The Adam Friedland Show," and the progressive host teased Newsom for claiming he was a "complete loser" as a kid. Former Vice President Harris and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker spoke at the Chicago memorial service for the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Newsom also attended. Congressional Black Caucus chair Yvette Clarke had tough words for Pritzker, saying his "effort to tip the scales in Illinois' U.S. Senate race is beyond frustrating." He's financially backing Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, while the CBC is supporting Rep. Robin Kelly. Both women are Black. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego waded into the messy Maine Senate primary, endorsing progressive Graham Platner over Gov. Janet Mills. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro received campaign donations from hundreds of business leaders last year, including some with interests in Harrisburg. Shapiro also recorded a video message for the North Dakota Democratic Party's convention this weekend. California Rep. Ro Khanna introduced a wealth tax on billionaires with Sen. Bernie Sanders that would fund social programs. Former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo penned a New York Times op-ed arguing that an AI-driven unemployment crisis is not inevitable, but the answer "isn't to slow down" innovation. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear headed to Detroit to meet with Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and members of the state's Legislative Black Caucus. He's also trekking to New Hampshire this weekend to fundraise for Rep. Chris Pappas' Senate campaign. A clip of New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker questioning then DHS Secretary Kristi Noem received more than 1.6 million views on YouTube, as Axios' Stephen Neukam reported. Moore gave the keynote speech at a Legal Defense Fund panel in Alabama to commemorate the 61st anniversary of "Bloody Sunday." Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stumped for Pennsylvania congressional candidate Bob Brooks in the Lehigh Valley. Buttigieg is the latest potential presidential candidate to be profiled in The Atlantic. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is headlining a town hall Sunday night in upstate New York with Rep. Pat Ryan as AOC weighs whether to run for Senate or president in 2028. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly is headlining Washoe Democrats' annual fundraiser in Reno, Nev., on Sunday. Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin will appear at the Polk County Democratic Party dinner in Iowa on April 7.

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1 fun thing: 🤖 ChatGPT's take on Gallego

🧐 We occasionally turn to AI to assess the messaging of potential 2028 presidential contenders. Today's subject: Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego.

We uploaded more than 10,000 words to ChatGPT from dozens of Gallego's speeches and interviews to see if it detected any illuminating patterns and themes.

🎤 "His main distinction is that he talks like a witness, not a commentator — and he delivers that witness testimony with moral-clarity framing that's built for repetition," ChatGPT observed.

"So if you had to name the 'Gallego thing' as a speaker: combat vet/working-class authenticity + courtroom certainty + slogan repetition — delivered in a blunt, non-delicate register that signals he's not performing 'politician voice.' "

Gallego has go-to phrases such as, "Let's be clear," and variations of "working-class people."

But ChatGPT said one of the most distinctive things about Gallego is this: "He's unusually willing (for a senator) to use casual insults."

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Trump-backed Fuller and Democrat Harris move to Georgia runoff to succeed Marjorie Taylor Greene

ROME, Ga. (AP) — Democrat Shawn Harris and Republican Clay Fuller advanced to a runoff for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s former U.S. House seat in Georgia after no candidate won a majority in Tuesday’s special election.

https://apnews.com/article/georgia-congress-house-marjorie-greene-special-election-76dd6570a5deef7036650530aed3be93?

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• 🏛️ Dorothy McAuliffe — the former Virginia first lady, onetime State Department official and wife of then-Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe — announced she's running for Congress in newly drawn VA-07. Go deeper.

• 🏛️ Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), 85, will seek another term — bucking a trend of generational change that has led other older House Democrats to retire. Go deeper.

📺 White House officials are outraged over CBS News' hiring of Jeremy Adler for its communications team, Alex Isenstadt and Sara Fischer report. Adler previously worked for former Rep. Liz Cheney, once one of President Trump's biggest foils. Go deeper.

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📺 Illinois ad wars

Data: AdImpact; Chart: Axios Visuals Democrats will learn whether money talks in 2026 in the Illinois Senate primary Tuesday in a race that will almost certainly determine who replaces Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Why it matters: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi is hoping the better-funded candidate emerges victorious in Illinois, just like in Texas this month, when state Rep. James Talarico beat Rep. Jasmine Crockett, 52%–46%. 💰 Krishnamoorthi has vastly outraised — and outspent — his two primary opponents: Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly. Two outsized presences have added a layer of intrigue to the race. Fairshake, a crypto PAC, has spent $7.7 million on TV ads, according to AdImpact. The group, which played big in 2024, is sitting on close to $200 million. 🎯 Most of those ads have been hammering Stratton, who has the endorsement of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and appears to be the progressives' preferred candidate. But Stratton has a super PAC, backed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, that has spent close to $13 million on her behalf. By the numbers: There's a massive disparity in campaign spending. Krishnamoorthi has spent more than $28 million, according to AdImpact. Stratton and Kelly have each spent around $1 million. The bottom line: OpenAI had a good night in Texas and North Carolina on the opening night of the 2026 primaries, going three for three in House races. Now Fairshake is on deck. Share this story — Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam ps:What a waste of money!!!!!

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💰 $1M to be a top Georgia contender

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Billionaire Rick Jackson filed to run for Georgia governor at the last minute even though another Republican had been endorsed by President Trump. But the health care tycoon made a splashy entrance that helped put him in contention: He gave $1 million to Trump's political operation, Axios' Alex Isenstadt writes. Why it matters: Now Jackson, a political neophyte, is atop GOP polls. He has become the latest wealthy Republican to cozy up to Trump by funneling massive sums to the president's pet causes. Jackson, whose team adamantly denies he's trying to buy Trump's support, attended a dinner with Trump and a small group of other major donors at Mar-a-Lago just hours after Trump launched the attack on Iran. At one point, Trump asked Jackson to introduce himself to the other donors and explain why he was running. "Mr. President, I'm going to be your favorite governor," Jackson said as Trump smiled. Keep reading.