Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* After Donald Trump presented his radical plan to acquire the Gaza Strip, the group formerly known as Arab Americans for Trump changed its name to Arab Americans for Peace.
* As Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik prepares to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, there will be a special election in her upstate New York district to fill the vacancy. Local Democratic officials have decided to nominate Blake Gendebien, a local dairy farmer and small-business owner. This will be Gendebien’s first bid for elected office.
* Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding Elon Musk and his “DOGE” initiative, the National Republican Congressional Committee has launched a new fundraising campaign touting the billionaire megadonor and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
* In Florida, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez is reportedly stepping down from her office to become the interim president of Florida International University. This is notable for political reasons because it will allow Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who cannot seek a third term next year, to choose an heir apparent for the 2026 election cycle.
* Ohio’s state treasurer, Robert Sprague, was reportedly eyeing a Republican gubernatorial campaign, but he changed course this week, endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy’s unannounced candidacy, and announced that he would instead run for secretary of state.
* New York’s Democratic lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, was asked this week whether he’s prepared to endorse his boss, Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, ahead of her expected re-election bid next year. “My focus right now isn’t on the election,” Delgado responded. “My focus is on governing right now. That’s the focus.”
* And in Wisconsin, where there’s a closely watched state Supreme Court race underway, conservative Brad Schimel’s campaign appears to have included a doctored image of the progressive candidate, Susan Crawford, in one of his latest television ads. While Schimel’s team said there’s nothing improper about the editing, Crawford’s team told The Associated Press that the ad “could be a violation of a recently enacted state law.”
