Primary election season ended in Delaware on Tuesday, where Sen. Chris Coons sailed to victory and Rep. Sarah McBride was unopposed in the Democratic primary in the blue state.
So now it’s on to general election season, where the only certainty is that President Trump’s fear of losing makes everything uncertain.
Trump and GOP
The Trump administration won’t rule out interfering in the election:
— In a Senate hearing Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel refused to say whether FBI agents would be present at the polls during the elections.
— Attorney General Todd Blanche led a White House press briefing Tuesday, where he said the administration won’t be slowed in its efforts to oversee the midterms by the Supreme Court’s ruling on mail-in ballots.
— The Republican National Committee says it’s recruited a record number of poll watchers.
— Here is a summary of some administration efforts, from The Associated Press.
Democrats, others
— Democratic state parties announced on Monday that they’re launching an operation for the midterms they’re calling the “New Battlefield Project,” to recruit 10,000 volunteers to guard polling places in case armed federal officers show up, reports AP.
And activists are planning mass protests if the administration tries to interfere with voting or ballot counting.
Legal scholars are distributing white papers advising judges on what they should do if the government tries to seize ballots.
The National Bar Association has an Election Protection Initiative, a national, nonpartisan effort to activate lawyers, NBA organizations, communities, and partners in support of voter education and voting rights.
The Association of State Democratic Committees has a recruitment project that includes a network to share information about online threats and manipulation, says Jane Kleeb, chair of the group and of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
“If they’re saying they’re going to put armed people outside polling places, we should put friendly people outside polling locations to film them,” Kleeb says.
Kleeb is referring to widespread concerns among Democrats that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will be deployed to the polls, something multiple administration officials for months have denied will happen, says AP.
Ezra Levin of Indivisible says his group has run 17 different scenarios preparing for what could happen in November. But the first priority is to boost turnout, he says.
The No Kings network, which has spearheaded large anti-Trump protests over the president’s second term and includes Indivisible, has a campaign encouraging early voting that will peak with rallies Oct. 17.
Also in the news
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U.S. strips $52 million in military aid from Europe and Mideast to back Trump-aligned nations in Americas
Trump approves $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel, including 40,000 1-ton bombs that have drawn global anger over civilian harm
Iran war cost $38 billion through July, is likely to cost $2 billion-$3 billion a month, Congressional Budget Office reports
House votes for third time to end Iran war, with seven Republicans joining all Democrats
Kentucky GOP Rep. Thomas Massie introduces articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth over Iran war
House Oversight Committee votes 41-0 to hold Leon Black in contempt for stonewalling Epstein investigation
Senate blocks cryptocurrency regulation bill as Democrats push back on Trump investments
Congressional Black Caucus Institute launches effort to increase voting among Black, rural and young voters in midterms
Trump slams Supreme Court for rejecting his push to restrict mail ballots
Microsoft commits to AI privacy rules for students; will other tech giants follow?
Gates Foundation says AI could widen inequality as foundation pledges $1 billion to expand access
KFF: States are betting big on rural health startups, with a Silicon Valley twist
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