Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* With a week to go till Election Day in Virginia, the latest Wason Center poll found former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in the commonwealth’s gubernatorial race, 50% to 43%.

* In California, where Donald Trump’s Justice Department is sending federal election monitors, state officials announced that the administration’s monitors will themselves be scrutinized by state observers.

* In related news, with Proposition 50 appearing likely to pass in the Golden State, Republicans have decided to stop spending money trying to defeat it. The measure will allow the state legislature to approve a new district map to counter a comparable effort in Texas.

* Speaking of redistricting, Virginia Democrats are also eyeing an effort to redraw the commonwealth’s district lines, although the process will be quite complicated.

* In case Graham Platner’s Senate candidacy in Maine weren’t in enough trouble, his campaign manager has parted ways with the Democratic hopeful. Platner’s political director also recently resigned.

* In Alabama, a former football player named A.J. McCarron started a Republican campaign for lieutenant governor last week, a few days after registering to vote. According to local records, the retired quarterback has never before cast a ballot.

* And in Texas, Chris Gober, a Republican who served as the chief lawyer for Elon Musk’s America PAC, launched a congressional campaign this week. Whether he’ll enjoy financial support from the billionaire is not yet clear.