Illustration: BallotWire
By BallotWire
07/10/2026
Top Election Developments
A weekly recap of major election news: key race developments, candidate moves, and shifts that could shape upcoming contests.
Platner Drops Out of Maine U.S. Senate Race, Leaving Democrats to Find a Replacement
Maine Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner suspended his campaign on July 8, ending a turbulent bid to unseat Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins and leaving Democrats scrambling to find a replacement candidate less than four months before the November election. "We believe that for the movement to continue it can't be me, and for that reason we are suspending campaign operations," Platner said in a video posted on X, adding that he intends to file paperwork to withdraw.
His exit came days after a woman he previously dated accused him of sexual assault in 2021, an allegation Platner denies. The accusation triggered a wave of defections from prominent progressive allies, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, who had stuck by him through earlier controversies over past online comments and a tattoo resembling Nazi iconography.
Under Maine law, the state Democratic Party now has until July 27 to select a new nominee and has approved a plan to hold a nominating convention to do so. Potential replacements include former Maine CDC director Nirav Shah, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, and former State Senator Troy Jackson, all of whom ran in this year's gubernatorial primary, as well as brewery owner Dan Kleban, who formally declared Wednesday. Maine is one of Democrats’ top pickup opportunities as the party seeks the four seats needed to regain the U.S. Senate majority. It is also the only Democratic-leaning state with a Republican senator seeking reelection this cycle.
McMorrow Drops Out of Michigan U.S. Senate Race, Narrowing Field to Two
Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow suspended her U.S. Senate campaign on July 5, narrowing the Democratic primary to a two-way contest between U.S. Representative Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed one month before the August 4 primary. McMorrow did not endorse either candidate but urged her supporters to “elect Democrats up and down the ticket” in November.
McMorrow entered the race as a rising national figure with endorsements from U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Chris Murphy but struggled to build support in the crowded field. Recent polling showed her falling into third place as El-Sayed gained momentum.
The race to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Senator Gary Peters is among the most closely watched contests of the 2026 cycle. With Michigan remaining a pivotal battleground, the open seat could play a decisive role in determining control of the U.S. Senate.
Trump Fires Entire Election Assistance Commission, Leaving Federal Agency Unable to Act
President Trump fired the remaining commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on July 9, abruptly disabling the only federal agency devoted solely to election administration just months before the November midterms. Democratic Commissioners Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland were terminated by email, while Republican Commissioner Christy McCormick resigned. A fourth Republican commissioner had already departed earlier this year, leaving the four-member agency with no leadership.
Created by Congress in 2002 after the disputed 2000 election, the EAC is designed to be bipartisan, with no more than two commissioners from the same party. The agency certifies voting equipment, maintains the national mail voter registration form, and distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in federal election funding. With no commissioners in place, the EAC is now frozen and unable to carry out its core responsibilities.
The firings follow a recent Supreme Court ruling in the Slaughter case granting the president broader power to remove leaders of independent federal agencies. The timing of the firings is especially significant given Trump's repeated efforts to reshape federal election rules, including his stalled push for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.
McConnell Remains Hospitalized for More Than Three Weeks, Prompting Health Questions
U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized for more than three weeks, and his office has still not disclosed why the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican was admitted or what his condition is. McConnell, the former U.S. Senate GOP leader, was reportedly found unconscious the morning of June 14 and transported to a hospital, with police scanner audio indicating CPR was performed at his home for a cardiac arrest.
His office has released only brief statements saying he "continues to improve" and is "working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters." The lack of detail has fueled online speculation about his condition, prompting several high-profile Republicans, including U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and commentator Scott Jennings, to publicly state they had recently spoken with McConnell to push back on rumors that his health had significantly deteriorated.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell's office on July 8 requesting that the senator publicly update Kentuckians on his health, saying “Kentuckians have grown increasingly concerned about the health and well-being of Sen. McConnell. As Governor – and a fellow public official who understands the commitment we’ve made to the people we serve – I am requesting the Senator provide an update on his current health status.”
McConnell's absence carries added weight in a narrowly divided U.S. Senate. Notably, Kentucky changed its law in 2024 so that any U.S. Senate vacancy would be filled through a special election rather than by appointment from the state's Democratic governor. McConnell, who has faced a series of health scares in recent years, previously announced he would not seek reelection in 2026.
Maryland Democrats Set August Special Session on Redistricting Amendment
Maryland's top Democratic lawmakers announced on July 7 that the General Assembly will convene for a special session August 3-5 to consider a constitutional amendment that could clear the way for redrawing the state's congressional map, reviving a redistricting effort that stalled earlier this year.
The proposed amendment, which requires a three-fifths vote in both chambers, would go before voters in the November 3 general election. If approved, it would allow lawmakers to revisit the congressional map for a future election cycle, most likely targeting the Eastern Shore district held by U.S. Representative Andy Harris, the state's lone Republican in the House. Democrats currently hold seven of Maryland's eight congressional seats.
The move marks a reversal for State Senate President Bill Ferguson, who had previously opposed a mid-decade redistricting effort. Ferguson changed course following the U.S. Supreme Court's April 29 Callais decision, which weakened key protections under the Voting Rights Act. Governor Wes Moore, a leading advocate of the proposal, welcomed lawmakers' decision to move forward. While the new map would not affect the 2026 midterm elections, it could reshape Maryland's congressional districts beginning with the 2028 cycle.
Campaign Cash Tracker
Latest campaign finance highlights: top fundraising hauls, war chests, and trends shaping key races.
Talarico Shatters Records With $30 Million Second Quarter Haul in Texas U.S. Senate Race
Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico raised more than $30 million from April through June, his campaign announced Wednesday, more than tripling the $9 million brought in by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton over the same period. The haul is a record for a U.S. Senate candidate in the second quarter of an election year and brings Talarico's total to more than $70 million since launching his bid last September. The fundraising surge has fueled Democratic hopes that Talarico could become the first Democrat to win a Texas U.S. Senate seat since 1988, with recent polling showing the race essentially tied.
NAACP Announces Record $20 Million Get Out The Vote Campaign for the Midterms
The NAACP announced on July 6 a $20 million Get Out The Vote campaign ahead of November's midterm elections. NAACP leaders said the initiative is a response to the weakening of the Voting Rights Act and the wave recent of Republican-led racial gerrymandering across the South. Working in partnership with GSSA, the campaign aims to recruit 20,000 volunteers and mobilize 6.5 million Black voters across 14 states and 33 congressional districts. The organization has also recently filed multiple lawsuits challenging election-related actions by the Trump administration, including winning a federal court ruling blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing President Trump's executive order affecting mail-in voting.
Data & Polling Roundup
New polling and data insights on the current electoral landscape and emerging trends.
Democrats Lead Generic Congressional Ballot by 4 Points
A new Rasmussen Reports survey of 2,224 likely voters, conducted June 24–25 and June 28–July 1 with a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, finds Democrats leading Republicans 46% to 42% on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the November midterm elections. The four-point Democratic advantage is down slightly from May, when Democrats led 47% to 41%, but marks a notable shift from just before the 2024 election, when Republicans held a three-point lead before winning a narrow U.S. House majority.
Democrats' edge rests on two pillars: a narrow lead among independents, 37% to 34%, and a wide gender gap. Women back Democrats by 11 points, 49% to 38%, while men favor Republicans 45% to 43%. Democrats dominate among moderates and voters under 30, while Republicans hold a slim advantage among voters ages 40 to 64.
New Survey Finds Widespread Pessimism About Nation's Direction
A Quantus Insights national survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points, finds broad voter dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, President Trump's job approval underwater, and Democrats holding a narrow advantage on the generic congressional ballot ahead of the November midterm elections.
The poll found that 61.6% of voters believe the country is on the wrong track. Trump's job approval stands at 43% approve and 56% disapprove. On the generic congressional ballot, Democrats lead Republicans 47% to 43%. Voters also narrowly favor Democrats over Republicans on national issues, 40% to 38%, while 16% say they trust neither party.