Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* As if there weren’t already overwhelming concerns about the politicization of federal prosecutions, Democratic congressional hopeful Kat Abughazaleh was indicted in Illinois this week over her role in protests outside a Chicago-area ICE facility.
* Barack Obama continues to take an interest in this year’s elections, including a new statement on Pennsylvania’s closely watched state Supreme Court races.
* Soon after Obama issued his statement, his Republican successor, Donald Trump, issued one of his own related to the 2025 races. “A vote for the Democrats is a DEATH WISH!” the incumbent Republican president wrote online.
* With just five days remaining before Virginia’s gubernatorial race, a new Roanoke College poll found former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger leading Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, 51% to 41%. The same survey, however, found more competitive down-ballot contests.
* In Iowa, Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra launched a gubernatorial campaign, becoming the latest member of Congress to announce he’s giving up his seat to seek statewide office.
* How confident is California Gov. Gavin Newsom about the outcome of the Proposition 50 race? The Democrat has asked supporters to stop sending money in support of the effort, which will allow state officials to redraw California’s district map.
* Related efforts in Maryland, however, aren’t going nearly as well: Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson said his Democratic-led chamber will not advance a redistricting effort in a special session.
* With time running out in New York City’s mayoral race, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg has donated $1.5 million to a super PAC backing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s independent bid.
* And as Republican officials at the national level move forward with plans for a midterm convention, Trump’s political operation is reportedly eyeing Las Vegas as a host city.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
