2026 Mid-Term Elections

[Patooka]

Jan. 6 Election Deniers Are Back on the Ballot

From California to Florida, Republicans who backed Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election are running for office.

capitalandmain.com

The group defines an election denier as someone who “participated in spreading Donald Trump’s lie about the 2020 election, refused to certify the results of that election, or attempted to overturn the results.” Its tally includes 163 races for Congress and 30 races for statewide offices that play a role in elections — including governors, attorneys general and secretaries of state.

He's my question - if you think the elections are rigged, why the living fuck are you legitimising them by participating in them?

Because the ones they win are not rigged. Only the ones they lose.

Ah, yes. The "I have the mental maturity of a five year old and I have a bitch fit everytime I lose", rule. Forgot about that.

 

[ZiprHead]

Important information for voters on your healthcare.

 

[ZiprHead]

Trump DOJ sues to block Alaska US Senate results if Republican incumbent loses

The Trump administration has preemptively filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s US Senate election if the Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan loses in the critical contest which could decide the balance of power in the Senate.

The lawsuit represents the latest attempt of the Trump Justice Department to insert itself in the administration of elections, running up against the minimal role the Constitution gives the Executive Branch. It alleges that a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan could confuse voters and wants a court to potentially delay the certification of the election if the incumbent is defeated but would have won if “all votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan” had “been cast instead for Senator Sullivan.”

President Donald Trump took credit for the legal challenge.

“Well, I’m the one that said ‘do it,’” Trump told reporters in Florida on Friday when asked about the lawsuit. The president has regularly complained about the presence of the non-incumbent Sullivan on the ballot.

In June, ahead of the state’s primary, the Alaska state Supreme Court ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan should be included on the ballot after the state’s Division of Elections had removed him.

Muller noted that Alaska election officials “went out of their way” to reduce voter confusion, by including on the ballot the candidates’ middle initials, identifying Dan S. Sullivan as the incumbent, and leaving off the GOP party designation of the other Daniel Sullivan.

“This is friendly fire, this is suing Republicans in Alaska, I don’t know that is going to be taken well by state officials,” Muller said.

^That's bad.

This, reported by the Alaska Beacon, is worse:

In numerous prior interviews, Dan J. Sullivan has said that his candidacy was motivated by dissatisfaction with Sen. Sullivan, and that he is not linked to the Democratic Party or Peltola’s campaign.

Democratic officials have said the same thing.

But that hasn’t stopped Trump and Sen. Sullivan — as well as other Republicans — from accusing both Peltola and Petersburg Sullivan of fraud.

Trump and other administration officials hinted throughout the summer and fall that they were working to bring a criminal case against Dan J. Sullivan.

And there's also this:

“I told him — I just shook his hand, took a picture — I said I hope you’re going to make sure there’s no cheating, because any place you have rank(ed) choice, you have damn bad cheating. And we can’t let that happen. So, we’re going to defend the integrity of Alaska’s elections,” Trump said at the Oct. 13 event.

The Republican Party has been trying to eliminate ranked choice voting in Alaska ever since it was adopted. They can't freeze out moderates anymore because nowadays the primaries are open instead of members-only and there are dozens of candidates on the primary ballot representing a much broader range of political stances. And Big Money can't buy elections as easily or as blatantly with the current provisions that require candidates to disclose where they got their campaign financing. That's why there is yet again a measure on the ballot to eliminate ranked-choice voting and why the GOP in Alaska is plastering the State with campaign signs to persuade voters to go back to the previous system where the Party leaders chose the candidates.

It's pretty obvious Trump is going to have his minions attempt to seize ballots and to stop the counting of mail-in ballots. And Senator Daniel S. Sullivan (Republican, incumbent) will kiss his ass and thank him for the election interference.

Republicans did it first in Florida.

Florida Democrats Call For A New Election After GOP Charged With Manipulating Race

A GOP political operative is being charged with paying a sham candidate to run for Florida State Senate and unseating the incumbent Democrat. Democrats are calling for a new election.

KATHERINE RUNDLE: It's to confuse the public. An unknown person that will not campaign, doesn't put any effort into a campaign, won't reply to media contacts, is suddenly on a ballot.

ALLEN: Recruiting or running as a ghost candidate isn't illegal in Florida, but paying them to run is. Rundle says Frank Artiles, a well-connected Republican operative, paid an auto parts dealer, Alex Rodriguez, $45,000 to run as an independent candidate in a state Senate race in November. Rundle says Artiles invited Rodriguez to his home in a Miami suburb, where he allegedly outlined a simple strategy.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

RUNDLE: With Alex Pedro Rodriguez sharing the last name as the incumbent senator, Jose Javier Rodriguez, his candidacy would confuse voters and influence the outcome of the election.

ALLEN: In this Senate race, the strategy appears to have worked. In an upset, the Democrat state senator, Joseph Javier Rodriguez, was defeated by Republican Ileana Garcia by just 32 votes. The shadow candidate, Alex Rodriguez, received more than 6,000 votes. The man alleged to have concocted the scheme, Republican Frank Artiles, is no stranger to scandal. He was forced to resign his Senate seat three years ago after using a racist slur to refer to two African American lawmakers.

ETA: NY Republicans did it on Long Island, too. The managed to get an independent on the ballot for a local office. But, the person they used was an elderly women who had no idea she was running for office.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

It is really BS. What is happening in Alaska is wrong and there shouldn't be two Dan Sullivans on the ballot. The local courts ruled on this though. I disagree with it, but they've ruled. I've had to swallow many court decisions I have disagreed with. Are the GOP special and they don't need to abide by the Courts.... rhetorically I mean.

The GOP whining about fairness in this election is so hypocritical. This maneuver in Alaska is to Al Franken Mary Peltola, so they might be able to maintain a "majority" in the Senate without actually winning one while they tie this up in court for months.

 

[robnisch]

It is really BS. What is happening in Alaska is wrong and there shouldn't be two Dan Sullivans on the ballot. The local courts ruled on this though. I disagree with it, but they've ruled. I've had to swallow many court decisions I have disagreed with. Are the GOP special and they don't need to abide by the Courts.... rhetorically I mean.

The GOP whining about fairness in this election is so hypocritical. This maneuver in Alaska is to Al Franken Mary Peltola, so they might be able to maintain a "majority" in the Senate without actually winning one while they tie this up in court for months.

And incumbent Sullivan did poorly in the rank voting.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

It is really BS. What is happening in Alaska is wrong and there shouldn't be two Dan Sullivans on the ballot. The local courts ruled on this though. I disagree with it, but they've ruled. I've had to swallow many court decisions I have disagreed with. Are the GOP special and they don't need to abide by the Courts.... rhetorically I mean.

The GOP whining about fairness in this election is so hypocritical. This maneuver in Alaska is to Al Franken Mary Peltola, so they might be able to maintain a "majority" in the Senate without actually winning one while they tie this up in court for months.

And incumbent Sullivan did poorly in the rank voting.

I was going to say not too badly... but Sullivan received 41.4%, with the other Dan around 2.5%, Peltola was just 0.5% shy of the 50% +1 threshold needed to win on the first count.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

NY Times Siena polls showing some nutty numbers.
MN 54-40 for the Dem
FL 44-50 for the Rep
SC 48-48 for the... umm... tie.

Minnesota is one of those it could just take off for the Dems states, one of the only. So that trending to easy win isn't crazy, though it has been close due to the local politics. Florida and SC seem skewed in favor of the Dems. If those numbers are real, the GOP is going to be taking a big dump (having a big dump taken on them?) on election night. But I'm just not seeing that being much but an outlier.

I received some rat phucking mailers from the GOP telling me that I should vote for the socialist for Senate (the actual one). No, it didn't say it was from the GOP, just their PAC. I've never received rat phucking mailers before.

 

[ZiprHead]

From an email I received from the El Sayed campaign:

If you’re reading this, then that means Meta has restricted our campaign from running any new ads on Facebook or Instagram for the rest of the election cycle.

These ads are an essential part of our campaign. They accomplish two things:

1. They bring in grassroots donations. We’ve raised millions of dollars online through these ads alone.
2. They help us persuade undecided voters. Many of our ads don’t ask for money. Instead, they share important messages to key groups of Michiganders in hopes of earning their support.

Now that we’re essentially frozen for the next 7 days, that means we have to pick up the slack in other places.

 

[Elixir]

From an email I received from the El Sayed campaign:

If you’re reading this, then that means Meta has restricted our campaign from running any new ads on Facebook or Instagram for the rest of the election cycle.

These ads are an essential part of our campaign. They accomplish two things:

1. They bring in grassroots donations. We’ve raised millions of dollars online through these ads alone.
2. They help us persuade undecided voters. Many of our ads don’t ask for money. Instead, they share important messages to key groups of Michiganders in hopes of earning their support.

Now that we’re essentially frozen for the next 7 days, that means we have to pick up the slack in other places.

Is that even legal? I thought there were equal access statutes.
Iirc, when I was in radio we were not allowed to turn away ad buys from political candidates and PACs.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

From an email I received from the El Sayed campaign:

If you’re reading this, then that means Meta has restricted our campaign from running any new ads on Facebook or Instagram for the rest of the election cycle.

These ads are an essential part of our campaign. They accomplish two things:

1. They bring in grassroots donations. We’ve raised millions of dollars online through these ads alone.
2. They help us persuade undecided voters. Many of our ads don’t ask for money. Instead, they share important messages to key groups of Michiganders in hopes of earning their support.

Now that we’re essentially frozen for the next 7 days, that means we have to pick up the slack in other places.

link

Sounds like a broad freeze that isn't exactly a freeze. I'm just stunned that Meta is saying no to money. It isn't like they are remotely ethical in how they run the platform.

 

[scombrid]

And meanwhile, as Trump sucks up to Putin, Putin's bot are out there spreading lies mainly about Democrats running for the Senate.

I wouldn't be surprised of Trump knows and approves of this. Maybe one reason he's being so accommodating to Putin to get the Russian bots to lie for Trump.

Covert Russian Group Injects Baseless Claim Into the Texas Senate Race​

Russian influence operations appear to be stepping up efforts to meddle in the midterms, according to intelligence officials. Most are targeting Democrats.

Even as President Trump pursued a thawing of relations with the Kremlin this week, a covert Russian influence operation targeted the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Texas, James Talarico, by spreading a fabricated claim of misconduct.

Several groups of researchers who track Russian disinformation operations attributed the claim to Storm-1516, a covert group that in 2024 peddled a similarly unfounded accusation against Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, who was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.

The attack followed a flurry of Russian posts on social media in recent weeks and provided the latest indication that Moscow is once again targeting an American election with online influence operations. In recent weeks, Russia has ramped up those efforts, according to a U.S. official familiar with classified intelligence assessments on the matter.

Most of the Russian content so far, spread by bot networks around the world, has targeted Democratic candidates, especially in closely contested Senate races that could determine control of Congress in Mr. Trump’s remaining two years in office. Still, the intelligence assessments do not specify that Russia is explicitly seeking to harm one political party more than the other, the official said.

Don't expect Trump to complain about this.

Covert Russian Group Targets James Talarico With Baseless Claims in Texas Senate Race

Russian influence operations appear to be stepping up efforts to meddle in the midterms, according to intelligence officials. Most are targeting Democrats.

www.nytimes.com

But on the other hand Trump Administration and that really scummy US Ambassador to Canada is further pissing off Canada by making shit up to blame Canada for messing with the US election.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-us-embassy-alleged-election-interference-9.7390549

But it was just fine for Trump to encourage Alberta to vote to leave Canada.

Trump has zero ethics. It's all about his feeling whether something helps him personally or hurts him personally. No ethics at all.

Musk also controls lots of bots. And he has all of our personal data which is probably being shared with others that share his goals.

 

[Tigers!]

In late Nov. Victoria, Australia has its state elections. This is an unusual one because for the 1st time in decades the cosy duopoly of Coalition (Lib/Nats) vs. Labour is threaten by a 3rd party, One Nation.
Here is a primer from the Guardian about how the election will be run.
For you Yanks note how easy we make it to vote and how quickly we get it all done.
Note we still rarely get decent pollies or policies but at least the mechanics of organising and running the election are sorted out.
Our Commonwealth election rules are about 97% the same as the state rules.

 

[ZiprHead]

Conservative influencer James O’Keefe charged with unlawful voting and identity theft in Minnesota

O’Keefe was charged alongside fellow influencer Cam Higby. They are accused of misrepresenting themselves at polling places during Minnesota’s primary in August.

www.nbcnews.com

A Minnesota prosecutor charged conservative provocateur James O’Keefe and influencer Cam Higby on Wednesday with felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft after they showed up at polling places in August using the names of registered voters.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who announced the charges at a news conference, accused the pair of entering polling places during state primary election voting on Aug. 11 and identifying themselves using the names of registered voters in those precincts without those voters’ knowledge or permission.

“Both men stopped short of signing the oath we all sign before receiving our ballot,” she said. “But Minnesota law states clearly that no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot.”

O’Keefe and Higby were using a process under Minnesota law known as vouching. It allows people to vouch for other voters on Election Day. A registered voter who lives in the same precinct can vouch for up to eight voters, while staff members of residential facilities can vouch for their residents.

The pair of influencers disguised and recorded themselves going undercover using hidden cameras at the polling places. They posted videos capturing their interactions on social media in August. O’Keefe said on X that they dressed in “Muslim garb” — including, for one of them, a full-face veil known as a niqab — and that their goal was to “expose the sheer lunacy of Minnesota’s ‘vouching’ system.”

Couldn't happen to a better asshole.

 

[Patooka]

This is an unusual one because for the 1st time in decades the cosy duopoly of Coalition (Lib/Nats) vs. Labour is threaten by a 3rd party, One Nation

Not so much anymore since those cunts doubled down on the prolapsed vagina cartoon.

And for everybody else - google "One Nation prolapsed vagina". It's a bit of a wild ride.

Personally, I suspect One Nation has guaranteed a Labor victory.

 

[laughing dog]

Conservative influencer James O’Keefe charged with unlawful voting and identity theft in Minnesota

O’Keefe was charged alongside fellow influencer Cam Higby. They are accused of misrepresenting themselves at polling places during Minnesota’s primary in August.

www.nbcnews.com

A Minnesota prosecutor charged conservative provocateur James O’Keefe and influencer Cam Higby on Wednesday with felony counts of unlawful voting and identity theft after they showed up at polling places in August using the names of registered voters.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who announced the charges at a news conference, accused the pair of entering polling places during state primary election voting on Aug. 11 and identifying themselves using the names of registered voters in those precincts without those voters’ knowledge or permission.

“Both men stopped short of signing the oath we all sign before receiving our ballot,” she said. “But Minnesota law states clearly that no individual shall intentionally misrepresent their identity in applying for a ballot.”

O’Keefe and Higby were using a process under Minnesota law known as vouching. It allows people to vouch for other voters on Election Day. A registered voter who lives in the same precinct can vouch for up to eight voters, while staff members of residential facilities can vouch for their residents.

The pair of influencers disguised and recorded themselves going undercover using hidden cameras at the polling places. They posted videos capturing their interactions on social media in August. O’Keefe said on X that they dressed in “Muslim garb” — including, for one of them, a full-face veil known as a niqab — and that their goal was to “expose the sheer lunacy of Minnesota’s ‘vouching’ system.”

Couldn't happen to a better asshole.

For the record, vouching in Mn is affirming an address, nothing else.

 

[Derec]

Why am I not surprised that Mary Moriarty, one of the most loony of the crop of "progressive" DAs elected in recent years, is involved? Whatever you think of O'Keefe, it is obvious that the intent was documenting how easy it is to pose as somebody else, and not an actual attempt to illegally vote.

Unlike most^* states, Minnesota does not require any form of id in order to vote.

^* It is 36, just for you, ld.

 

[laughing dog]

Why am I not surprised that Mary Moriarty, one of the most loony of the crop of "progressive" DAs elected in recent years, is involved? Whatever you think of O'Keefe, it is obvious that the intent was documenting how easy it is to pose as somebody else, and not an actual attempt to illegally vote.

So law breakers ought not be charged. He wasn’t charged with illegal voting.

Unlike most^* states, Minnesota does not require any form of id in order to vote.

^* It is 36, just for you, ld.

If you are registering on the day you are voting, you do. If you don’t know your address, you do. If someone there has good reason to think you are misrepresenting yourself, you do.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Polls breaking for the Dems at the moment, grab some salt. CNN releases poll showing El Sayed up 7 pts (MI), Hamilton up 4 pts (KS) with him at 49%. According to the SSRS / CNN poll, Hamilton is up 58 - 33 on the 35-49 age group. Polls have a tendency to break in a direction. Gas / Diesel got more expensive just now. West Texas Oil at $103 a barrel. SSRS / CNN also has Talarico up 49 to 43, which would be effectively a safe result to say Talarico is leading. Favorability, about 1 to 1 for Talarico 1 to 2 against for Paxton (I imagine Cornyn could have survived a blue wave). The poll also shows Paxton is only leading among 65+ and that Talarico is up 63 to 29 among Latino while Paxton only has 53% of the whites. That'd be an over 10 pt drop from Trump.

2016 makes one very weary of getting too excited (or excited at all). However, there are multiple pollsters showing a trend in the same direction. Is this the break the finish? Is this a repeat of 2006? Of course 2006 was the culmination of rather bad leadership in DC where as this would be about more transient issues like data centers, gasoline/diesel, and inflation. The fact Trump is out there, desperately trying to get enhanced turnout from his base would imply things may just be looking this good for the Democrats.

I'm still hedging at 51/52 seats for the Dems in the Senate. Government is reporting 3.2% growth for third quarter. But those numbers won't be relevant. Much like how Biden/Harris were shackled by consumer sentiment in 2024, the mood is baked regarding the economy. To make matters worse for 2028, that level of growth could impact (well it is via the AI buildout which is soaring computer costs) inflation as well, making a need to increase rates more to slow growth that most people aren't benefiting from.

 

[ZiprHead]

Someone who has no respect for the first amendment has no place in Congress.

 

[Elixir]

Someone who has no respect for the first amendment has no place in Congress.

Superstitious morons will be the death of us all, if greedy atheistic morons like Trump don’t kill us first.