Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* With about a month to go before Election Day in New Jersey, the latest Fox News poll found Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill leading former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, 50% to 42% among likely voters.
* Speaking of the Sherrill campaign, the Democratic congresswoman launched a new ad this week, focused on claims that the Trump administration and her Republican opponent’s campaign violated the law by releasing her unredacted military records.
* In Arizona, Republican Rep. David Schweikert confirmed months of rumors and announced this week that he’s running for governor. Given that the congressman represents a competitive Arizona district, his statewide candidacy creates a Democratic pick-up opportunity in the House.
* In Missouri, Republicans have completed the process of mid-decade redistricting, hoping to use gerrymandering to take down one House Democratic incumbent. Opponents of the abuse hope to force the issue onto the statewide ballot, giving voters an opportunity to reject the new map before it’s implemented.
* With five weeks remaining before Election Day in Virginia, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republicans’ gubernatorial nominee, appeared on NBC News and was asked to cite an example of a Donald Trump policy she disagreed with. She refused to answer the question directly.
* The latest New York Times/Siena poll asked respondents, “If the 2026 general election for Congress were held today, which party’s candidate would you be more likely to vote for in your district?” The Democratic advantage exists, but it’s small: 47% said they’re inclined to vote for a Democratic candidate, while 45% said they’ll back a Republican candidate.
* The field of Democratic gubernatorial candidates in California is large, but it’s also gradually shrinking: Toni Atkins, the former state legislative leader, ended her candidacy earlier this week. Atkins was the first lesbian to serve as Assembly speaker and the first woman and openly LGBTQ+ Senate president pro tem.
* And Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy raised a few eyebrows this week, donating $100,000 from his political fund to the progressive organizing group Indivisible. As NBC News reported, it’s the latest in a series of donations from the Connecticut senator that he says total nearly $1 million to grassroots groups that are taking on the Trump administration across the country.
