Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* As expected, former Gov. Roy Cooper began the week with a big campaign announcement: The North Carolina Democrat is running for the U.S. Senate, hoping to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
* Around the same time as Cooper’s kickoff, Republican Rep. Mike Collins launched a U.S. Senate bid in Georgia, joining a crowded GOP primary field, hoping to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff.
* Speaking of conservative U.S. House members giving up their seats to run for statewide office, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman, an occasional thorn in the side of House GOP leaders, announced over the weekend that he’s running for governor in South Carolina, joining a crowded field.
* In Wisconsin, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced late last week that he won’t seek a third term in 2026, setting the stage for a closely watched open-seat contest.
* Late last week, Trump formally endorsed Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley’s Senate bid in North Carolina, and the president added soon after that Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters would be his choice to succeed Whatley in the RNC leadership post.
* With 14 weeks remaining before Election Day in New Jersey, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill has made an unconventional choice for her running mate: Dale Caldwell, the president of Centenary University. For Caldwell, who’s also the pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church, this will be his first bid for elected office.
* And in Texas, Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, just days after announcing a re-election bid, reversed course and said his current term would be his last. Capriglione’s switch happened after an exotic dancer claimed she had a lengthy affair with the married far-right legislator, alleging that he also paid for her abortions. Capriglione admitted he had an affair, but denied the woman’s other claims.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
