Friday, October 30, 2026

Really Bad News For Trump’s People Four Days Out

                                                                                                            

LOTS OF POSTS IGNORED BY BLOGGER.....

OR REMOVED ON THEIR WHIM!

ALL POSTS ARE AVAILABLE ON

MIDDLEBORO REVIEW AND SO ON

BLOGGER DOESN'T LIKE TRUTH OR FACTS!

BLOGGER DOESN'T LIKE FUND RAISERS AND DELETES

POSTS THAT INCLUDE FUNDRAISING THAT 'VIOLATES THEIR

UNDEFINED COMMUNITY STANDARDS SO ALL 'FUND RAISING'

IS DELETED - CONTRIBUTE AS YOU ARE INCLINED TO SUPPORT

IMPORTANT ISSUES! THESE ARE NOT SOLICITATIONS


We’re four days out, and I’m grateful we’re in this together. Here’s one detail I couldn’t fit in the section: outside Texas, the $50,000 you’ll read about today is the biggest check the donor’s written for any Senate candidate this cycle.

If someone you know should be in the room with us Tuesday night, gift them a subscription, and if you want to add more fuel to our fight, upgrade to a Founding Member. We are looking for three people to join at that level today.


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Really Bad News For Trump’s People Four Days Out

Inside: the $50,000 check, the escape to Miami, and the poll workers who just caught Trump’s fans.


Exclusive: An Oil Leak. Then $50,000

 To Help Mike Rogers.


On September 18, someone at a gas station in Sterling Heights, Michigan—just north of Detroit—saw crude oil coming up out of the ground. It was leaking from a 59-year-old pipeline buried under the lot.

It’s owned by Energy Transfer, the Texas company behind the Dakota Access pipeline. The company’s leak detection missed it. By Energy Transfer’s own count, about 630 gallons got out. The company couldn’t find the original records for the old patch—welded onto the line in 2010—that broke.

Crude oil from Energy Transfer’s pipeline pools in a Sterling Heights parking lot and runs down Mound Road on September 18.

Three days later, the federal government ordered Energy Transfer to check the repairs on every oil and fuel line it runs, warning of “a system-wide risk of additional similar failures.” The company requested a hearing to fight it.

I figured there might be some political contributions linked to the company, so I looked into it. Nine days after that order from the federal government, the committee raising money for Mike Rogers—who is running for Senate in Michigan—took in a $50,000 check from Energy Transfer’s billionaire chairman, Kelcy Warren.

That same month, Warren and 11 of his company’s employees sent Rogers’s campaign more through a second committee, including Warren’s own $3,500 five days after the order.

This is no small donor. In February 2025, the same month regulators went after another leaking Energy Transfer pipeline in Pennsylvania, Warren and his company sent $25 million to Trump’s super PAC.

Rogers hasn’t said anything about the spill. Michigan voters get their say on Tuesday. The latest Detroit News poll had Rogers down six to Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. The check is on the record, and so is the spill. Now the voters get to decide.

For 23 years I’ve worked on and around campaigns. The last weekend always feels like this. Every race tightens up, you can’t trust the polls, Republican propaganda and nonsense flood our phones and TVs, and everything feels a whole lot better or worse than it actually is. But we have something they can’t buy—each other—and that’s all we need.

I’ve got more big news for you, but before we continue, can you do me one favor? Hit the ❤️ like button, then hit restack. Restacking puts this story in front of everyone who follows you on Substack. Every voter in Michigan needs to see that check before Tuesday, and you can help make it happen.

And if you haven’t yet, join us as a paid subscriber today. You’d be funding the next check I dig up, and helping me get it in front of voters before they cast their ballots. Fuel our movement here:



Brazil Beat Trump’s Candidate. Now

 He’s In Miami.


On Sunday, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat Flávio Bolsonaro by about 4.4 million votes in Brazil’s presidential election. Flávio’s father, Jair, is already serving 27 years for plotting a coup after he lost in 2022. Trump, of course, had Flávio in the Oval Office in May.

Flávio has his own issues, which have quickly bubbled to the surface. Brazil’s Supreme Court is investigating if Flávio used a sports betting company to launder money taken from seniors’ pensions. He denies it.

Minutes after the results came in, a justice ordered his passports taken.

On Monday, Flávio swore: “I never had any intention of leaving the country.” That same day, the regime said it would grant visas to him and his family. On Tuesday, he crossed into Argentina by land. By Wednesday, he was stepping off a private plane outside Miami using an Italian passport. Trump called the family “fine people.”

Lula didn’t hold back: “This act of leaving Brazil is shameful.”

Trump rolled out the welcome mat for someone who skipped out on his own country’s court order. Brazil’s voters were smart enough to say no to Trump’s buddy, and on Tuesday, it’s our turn.


Alaska Fights Trump’s Attacks


Trump is so scared of losing Alaska that he’s trying to throw out the votes before anyone counts them. On October 22, the DOJ sued the state’s elections office. It wants a judge to block Alaska from certifying its Senate results if GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan narrowly loses to Democrat Mary Peltola. Trump bragged that it was his idea: “I’m the one that said, ‘do it.’”

His excuse is a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot—a retired teacher from Petersburg who got 2.5% in the primary. Alaska’s Supreme Court already ruled on the matter on June 29, saying he belonged on the ballot.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that people on Peltola’s campaign had texted about recruiting a candidate with the senator’s name. Peltola denies it, and Elisa Rios, the fired campaign manager who talked to the Times, has since taken back what she said. That same day, Trump went further. He said Peltola “should be removed from the Ballot and prosecuted.”

Even if true, none of this gives Trump the power to cancel an election. Alaska’s Department of Law says “the United States has no legal authority over how candidates secure their place on the ballot in state elections.” Peltola’s lawyers called Trump’s case “wholly baseless.”

Judge Sharon Gleason fast tracked the case, noting the regime waited “nearly four months” after the state’s top court ruled. A ruling on whether the case will be thrown out could come at any moment.

Trump’s interference here might ironically seal Sullivan’s fate.


The Poll Workers Who Saw Right

 Through Them


Phony voter fraud stories have been pushed for years by right-wing instigators like James O’Keefe. In 2024, his old group admitted that it had zero evidence behind one of its stories. On August 11, O’Keefe and fellow activist Cam Higby went to four Minneapolis polling places donning costumes, with hidden cameras and disguised voices.

At each stop, they gave election judges the name of a real voter. O’Keefe said he dressed in “Muslim garb” to “expose the sheer lunacy” of the state’s vouching law, which lets a voter vouch for a neighbor who’s signing up to vote at the polls.

So I read the criminal complaint. In his own video, Higby bragged: “I walked into this polling station with a random name of a random person who is registered to vote in this precinct. I am not that person.” One of the voters whose name O’Keefe used told investigators he never gave permission.

But the poll workers didn’t play along. One election judge called Higby’s visit “quite peculiar” after he asked about 10 times if he needed an ID. He left after a worker asked to see one, promising to come back with eight more people, the most one voter is allowed to vouch for.

On Wednesday, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty charged both men with felony identity theft and unlawful voting, with each count carrying up to five years in prison.

O’Keefe and Higby are due in court November 16. The poll workers who saw right through them deserve our thanks.

If someone you know would love to be with us Tuesday night, a gift subscription gets them in the room.


The Morning Briefing: Four Days

 Out


Six Senate races in states Trump won are up for grabs. Maine leans our way too.

Texas has tipped toward Democrats. James Talarico leads Ken Paxton 49.3 to 46.0 in the FiftyPlusOne average. Emerson’s latest Texas poll, taken October 17 to 19, had Talarico up 48 to 46. “Since August, Talarico’s support has slowly inched up by about a point each month,” said Spencer Kimball, who runs the Emerson poll.

Kansas is moving our way. Adam Hamilton leads Roger Marshall 48.7 to 45.4 in the average. Cook moved the race to Toss Up on October 6, and Sabato’s Crystal Ball followed. Kansas hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1932, but that could end Tuesday. In Marshall’s hometown of Great Bend, the mayor told the Kansas City Star, “It’s quite obvious he doesn’t live here anymore.” Craig Neeland, his old loan officer, put it plainly: “He gives Trump free rein every time.”

Ohio is competitive. Trump won the state by double digits in 2024. Now, Democrat Sherrod Brown leads Jon Husted, who was appointed to the seat last year, 48.0 to 44.7 in the average. Cook still calls it a toss-up.

Iowa and Nebraska are coin flips. Democrat Josh Turek leads Republican Ashley Hinson 46.1 to 45.7 in Iowa. “Voters under 50 are more consistent: they break for Turek on the Senate ballot by 14,” Kimball said of Emerson’s October Iowa poll. In Nebraska, independent Dan Osborn trails Pete Ricketts by three-tenths of a point, 46.1 to 46.4.

Alaska and Maine tilt our way. Democrat Mary Peltola currently leads GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan 49.7 to 47.7, which is probably why the regime’s in court trying to freeze the results. In Maine, Troy Jackson leads Susan Collins 49.4 to 46.2.

The Bottom Line: Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take the Senate. No matter what the polls say, we must work like we’re behind, and sprint through the finish.

In 2006, I worked on the Christine Jennings for Congress race in Sarasota, Florida. She lost by only 369 votes. Twenty years later, I still think about that number. Some race on Tuesday will come down to a few hundred people who almost stayed home.

That’s why we are pushing people to vote and spreading the truth about Trump’s Republicans to millions of people every day. Our independence allows us to do that organizing work on top of our reporting—and no boss or sponsor can tell us to slow down. This whole operation is paid for by the people who read it, and that’s the only reason I can go after these kinds of stories four days before an election.

So if you haven’t yet, please join us as a paid subscriber. We’re trying to bring 52 new people in by Sunday night. Join today, and let’s finish this.


Before you go, hit the ❤️ like button and restack so this edition breaks through the noise. Thank you for everything you do.

Onward!

Scott


What is the top reason you are voting?

If you could scream ten words or less at Trump, what would you say?


Thanks for your support! Another way to help us out is by gifting subscriptions to friends and family! You can get yours by clicking the link or button below:

For all contact Congress links, or to volunteer, you can go here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-for-the-watchdog-coalition

Four days left. Spend two minutes on these before the weekend:

Stand with Ukraine against Putin:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-stand-with-ukraine-over-russia

Impeach Pete Hegseth:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-impeach-pete-hegseth/

Open the Epstein files:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-demand-acting-ag-blanche-release-all-of-the-epstein-files-now/

Impeach John Roberts:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-impeach-supreme-court-chief-justice-john-roberts/

Tell me below which ones you sent.



JUST A FEW OF MANY COMMENTS: 

#1 and #3

As to # 2 that looks like a done deal.

As to # 4, wjile I do not agree with much of what John Roberts has done, impeachment is not an appropriate remedy.


How do you think Roberts and the other five corrupt judges should be held accountable? Not sure myself but wondering if you think there is a better alternative to impeach and remove.


Thomas may well qualify as "corrupt," but what's your evidence for the others? They're right-wingers for sure, but that was true when each of them was confirmed.


All. There are so many things to say to the horrendous Trump. He wouldn't listen to name calling so I would just tell him his skill is as small as his crowds and he is on his way out. He is fired!


For anyone who hasn't seen it, here is the link to the documentary - 'Corruptionland'. It is a powerful civics lesson.

https://www.corruptionland.org


Every one of these fights started with someone who refused to stay quiet. That’s the whole fight. It always has been.


4 days left. I don't care what the polls say. We've been fooled by polling before. Get off your butt and VOTE. #VoteBluetoSaveAmerica


Agree, Denise. Poll numbers make too many complacent, as in, "They are already ahead in the polls so they don't need my vote."


Four days. Don't stop pushing. Onward.


My top reason is to prevent us from turning into a police state/authoritarian government. I keep wondering what these thousands of ICE agents will do when there are no illegal immigrants to round up. Are Democrats next? But also to restore our reputation in the world.


Agree, Linda. I have said for two years now that if ICE and the regime can keep going, especially with their outrageous quotas to fill for-profit concentration camps, that every segment of the population (include Magats) will be vulnerable to ICE. We already know that ICE has been using surveillance of oppositional groups and protesters for some time now.


All I can say is if you're not mad, you're not paying attention. Vote Blue! Expecting some insane stuff from Trump over the next 4 days. Fasten your seatbelts.


Always vote. This time is detrimental to a free democracy. Hoping we take back the House and Senate to try to deter this regime. Impeach if Dems can and try to restore things

I would say to 45/47, "You are the most disgusting inhuman ever to be in WH!!


Very true, Kay. I would just tweak your comment to Trumps slightly: "...most disgusting excuse of a human to ever walk the Earth."


I voted yesterday. No line at the early voting place but a steady stream of people. They were so well organized and efficient, my voting took only minutes. Friendly and helpful poll workers! I voted early to ensure my voice is heard. We know there will be observers at polling places in my county on Tuesday and I just didn't want to deal with that. I wanted to be a part of a blue wave! What would I say to the Toddler Tyrant? "RESIGN NOW!"


Appreciate your polling place report. I think we all owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those upstanding, dedicated (and in these times, brave) poll officials, workers, and observers.


Thank you Scott for bringing us updates of our resistance to Trump and his policies.

Go Blue Poems

A new poem daily until after the election

A storm is coming in our direction

It happens when there is too much deception

Trump is lying about fraud in our election

Our systems are secure free from foreign infection

Politicians forget who gave them power

They think they are safe in DC's Ivory tower

Where is the help DC promised to send

All we see is the corruption that they now defend

Our military was once led by battled hard experience

Now it is being manipulated to serve as a political alliance

Hegseth's firing battle experienced Generals is insane

Weakening our military by letting the experience go down the drain

Monuments aren't built to please one man's vanity

They are to honor above and beyond heroic service to the country

The leader of our country must be above suspicion

Not profiting from their leadership position

The 1st Amendment is not just a protection of free speech

It is a law for the prevention of government over-reach

Trump lying to us as a private citizen is protectable

Doing it as President from the Oval office is detestable

American citizens deserve better from our president

We have the right to know the amount of money he has spent

His unchecked spending on wars without a plan

Have ballooned our national debt as only Trump can

He gave billionaires a tax break with our tax money

We the People get stuck with the bill and that's not funny

Reality is patient, but only if there is accountability

Republicans have forsaken their constitutional duty

Our Forefathers gave us the vote and the solution

To require our government follows the Constitution

All wars past 100 days must be approved by Congress

Republicans refused to hold a vote, now they are Trump's accomplice

Democracy demands that we all pay attention

We must never give up the vote or our dissension

Please restack and share my poems on FB and elsewhere, so the message is seen. Thanks, Packy Paules ✌️


In red Oklahoma, I chose to vote early. I saw crowds, people smiling and speaking to each other in a mix of older, middle agers. The County hdqtrs. are very spacious; volunteers were quickly moving voters into lines. The atmosphere was not angry nor impatient and every time a vote was recorded as a "new" voter, a bell was run and everyone cheered! I was gobsmacked by people's joy.


Still SO ANGRY about what O'Keefe did to ACORN. (But I imagine Trump will give him the Presidential Medal of Freedom (since most victims were Black.))

But my anger eases slightly, as I see O'Keefe becoming the Poster Boy for KARMA!


Ironically, MAGA influencer James O’Keefe proved that local poll workers do a great job of preventing fraudulent voting. He also demonstrated yet again that the only people trying to vote illegally are MAGA fanatics.


Maybe like bolsanaro, there will be an indictment for trump and he'll leave America for who cares where.


Less than 10 words to yell at the Orangeman??? You're wrecking the entire planet! Resign!


Top reason for voting: to participate in the American Experiment & have a say in its results. Ten words to trump: you gained wealth but you've lost all that's of value.

ONWARD!


🗳️ I am voting for Democracy and a return of the rule of law. 💙🌊. 👊🏼 Protest because it’s easier than hiding a family in my attic. 🙅🏻‍♀️ 👑, ❌ dictator!



Morning Digest: As Iowa turns against Trump, Democrats look for gains at every level

                                                                                                           

LOTS OF POSTS IGNORED BY BLOGGER.....

OR REMOVED ON THEIR WHIM!

ALL POSTS ARE AVAILABLE ON

MIDDLEBORO REVIEW AND SO ON

BLOGGER DOESN'T LIKE TRUTH OR FACTS!

BLOGGER DOESN'T LIKE FUND RAISERS AND DELETES

POSTS THAT INCLUDE FUNDRAISING THAT 'VIOLATES THEIR

UNDEFINED COMMUNITY STANDARDS SO ALL 'FUND RAISING'

IS DELETED - CONTRIBUTE AS YOU ARE INCLINED TO SUPPORT

IMPORTANT ISSUES! THESE ARE NOT SOLICITATIONS


Today at 12 PM ET, The Downballot’s publisher, David Nir, will join Lyzz Schwegler and Shawn Werner from States Win to discuss one of the most important—and overlooked—sets of races taking place next week: the battles for state legislatures.

These elections are critical for so many reasons, but we’re focusing on a theme that’s particularly near and dear to us: the contests that will determine who’s in charge of redistricting for the remainder of the decade.

As Stephen Wolf explained in a new special report, the redistricting wars are not over—they’ve just hit a lull. They’ll soon pick back up, and when they do, whoever controls the mapmaker’s pen will wield massive influence on the next batch of elections.

You can set a calendar reminder for our livestream by clicking below:

Apple | Google | Office 365 | Outlook | Outlook.com | Yahoo

We look forward to seeing you later today!


Iowa state Auditor Rob Sand (D), the frontrunner in the race for governor (credit: Rob Sand Facebook)

Leading Off

Iowa

With state Auditor Rob Sand favored to win Iowa’s governorship and state Rep. Josh Turek locked in a close race for the state’s open seat in the Senate, Democrats are trying to flip a host of other offices in a one-time swing state that finally seems to have grown tired of Donald Trump’s Republican Party.

Sand’s razor-thin 50.1 to 49.8 reelection victory in 2022 was the only bright spot for Hawkeye State Democrats on a brutal night that saw Republicans win every other statewide post.

One of the biggest shockers that night came in the race for attorney general when Republican Brenna Bird scored a 51-49 win over incumbent Tom Miller, whose 40 years in office made him the longest-serving attorney general in American history.

That victory made Bird the first Republican to serve as Iowa’s top lawyer since Miller began his first term following the 1978 election. (Another Democrat served as attorney general in the four years he was out of office following his failed 1990 campaign for governor.) Bird, though, now faces former state Rep. Nate Willems in what looks to be another tight contest.

Earlier this week, the Democratic Attorneys General Association released a poll showing the two deadlocked at 47 apiece heading into the final days of the election. The only other survey that’s surfaced since Labor Day was a September poll for the conservative group Iowans for Tax Relief Foundation that likewise found a tie at 40-all.

Bird backed Trump ahead of the 2024 Iowa caucuses that kicked off his return to the White House, and at a rally in Sioux City last week, he called her up on stage and praised her for “[s]uch an early endorsement.”

Willems, however, has argued that Bird is failing to look out for regular Iowans. The Democrat debuted a commercial last month focusing on the state’s high cancer rate, telling viewers, “[I]f Brenna Bird won’t prosecute the polluters giving us cancer, I will.”

But this battle is by no means the only contest in Iowa—one of the few states where cancer rates are rising—where the issue could hurt Republicans.


“Everyone knows someone with cancer,” an unidentified GOP consultant told the Washington Sun this week. “These voters are saying, ‘Holy crap, this is a big problem, and Republicans have been in charge for over a decade,’ so there’s no other place to point [a] finger.”

Anger over cancer rates is just one of many problems facing Iowa’s long-dominant Republican Party. While Trump easily carried the state in all three of his campaigns, his unpopularity has voters taking another look at Democrats in races up and down the ballot. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who announced last year that she would not seek reelection, is also poised to leave office with underwater approval ratings.

Not helping matters is the campaign of wealthy investor Zach Lahn, who won the GOP primary for governor in an upset only to immediately face extensive and ongoing scrutiny over how much time he spends in Kansas.

At the outset of the general election, Sand launched ads highlighting the cancer crisis as part of his argument that the state can’t be led by a “part-time Iowan.” Voters seem to agree: An aggregate of polling compiled by FiftyPlusOne shows Sand with a 51-44 advantage as of Thursday.

And though Sand is currently the only Democrat in statewide office, he could have company soon.

Secretary of State Paul Pate faces Navy veteran Ryan Peterman in his quest for a fourth consecutive term as Iowa’s chief elections officer. An unanswered internal poll for Peterman in September found Pate ahead just 42-40.

Meanwhile, state Treasurer Roby Smith, who unseated 10-term incumbent Michael Fitzgerald four years ago, is now going up against businessman ​John Norwood, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for state agriculture secretary in 2022.

As for Mike Naig, the Republican who easily beat Norwood​ four years ago, he’s trying to fend off environmental activist Chris Jones this time. Finally, the race to succeed Sand as auditor pits Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer against Democrat Taylor Wettach, an attorney.

And while it will be challenging for Democrats to flip either chamber of the legislature, they’ve already broken the GOP’s two-thirds supermajority in the Senate and could do the same in the House.

Last year, Senate Republicans lost the supermajority they’d won in 2022 after a pair of Democrats, Mike Zimmer and Catelin Drey, scored massive upsets in separate special elections. That left Republicans with 33 seats—one shy of a supermajority. They now hold a 32-17 advantage, with one vacant seat last held by a Republican.

Democrats could follow suit next week in the 100-member House, where they need to net just one seat to cost the GOP its supermajority. Republicans head into Tuesday with a 66-33 edge, with one GOP vacancy. Crucially, keeping Republicans under two-thirds in at least one chamber would allow Democrats to sustain any of Sand’s vetoes on their own.

Republicans, though, are testing whether Zimmer and Drey can repeat their stunning victories. The pair hold two of the 25 Senate seats that are on the ballot this year, while the other half of the chamber will be up in 2028.

The battle for control of state government takes place as both parties continue to direct massive sums to Iowa’s congressional contests.

Turek is currently locked in a tight and expensive race against Republican Ashley Hinson for the Senate seat that GOP incumbent Joni Ernst is giving up after two terms.

Democrat Lindsay James, meanwhile, is going up against Republican Joe Mitchell to replace Hinson in the 2nd Congressional District in the northeastern part of the state, while GOP Rep. Zach Nunn faces challenger Sarah Trone Garriott for the 3rd District around Des Moines.

But Democrats are already on track to flip one House seat and break the GOP’s four-year monopoly on Iowa’s congressional delegation. Earlier this month, major Republican groups left Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to fend for herself against Democrat Christina Bohannan in the 1st District in the state’s southeastern corner.

Bohannan fell short against Miller-Meeks in both 2022 and 2024 in what were solid years for Republicans, but the state’s recent shift away from the GOP has helped her become the frontrunner heading into Tuesday.

The Downballot
Our hour-by-hour guide to election night 2026
Finally, Election Day is almost here! But with literally thousands of races on the docket, how will you make sense of election night? The supremely knowledgeable Jeff Singer, our managing editor, joins us for the last pre-election episode of The Downballot podcast to give us an hour-by-hour overview of the key contests to watch…
Listen now

House

PA-10

At least one TV station in Pennsylvania’s 10th District is taking down an ad from a GOP super PAC attacking Democrat Janelle Stelson while another isn’t airing it at all, Politico reports.

The spot at issue, from the Donald Trump-funded No Going Back PAC, claims Stelson walked nude outdoors at her home in sight of a child. That accusation was made by a neighbor who also said she called police, but no charges were ever filed. According to abc27, the neighbor later said that “the child did not see anyone undressed.”

Stelson’s campaign responded to a similar ad from her Republican opponent, Rep. Scott Perry, with a vigorous denial.

“This false accusation is a pathetic, desperate attempt by Scott Perry to rescue his failing campaign, with easily disproven lies,” her campaign manager said in a statement.


According to Politico, WHTM, the local ABC affiliate, said in an email that it was “pulling the ad in question out of rotation as soon as we can.” Meanwhile, NBC affiliate WGAL, where Stelson served as a news anchor from 1997 to 2023, said it was “not airing” the spot from No Going Back.

Perry’s ad, though, remains beyond the reach of any takedown demands, due to a 92-year-old federal law that bars broadcasters from refusing to air ads from political candidates. Because of this law, a North Dakota TV and radio station successfully argued before the Supreme Court in 1959 that it could not be held liable for any defamatory statements made by candidates in content it was obliged to carry.

Stations do not, however, have a similar legal obligation to air ads from third-party groups like super PACs. They therefore can be found liable for defamation as the “publisher” of such ads. When faced with possible lawsuits over third-party political ads, stations will sometimes choose not to run them rather than risk legal exposure.

The race for Pennsylvania’s normally conservative-leaning 10th District, which includes the Harrisburg and York areas, has drawn intense outside spending. Two polls taken in October showed Stelson with narrow leads, while a third survey had the race tied.

Poll Pile

All polls must comply with The Downballot’s requirements.

  • AR-Sen: Grayhouse for America One Policies (pro-Tom Cotton):

    • Cotton (R-inc): 55, Hallie Shoffner (D): 39, Jeff Wadlin (L): 4.

    • Mid-Oct.: 51-40 Cotton.

  • FL-Sen: Workbench Strategy for unidentified client:

    • Ashley Moody (R-inc): 49, Angie Nixon (D): 47.

    • Workbench is a Democratic firm.

  • IA-Sen: co/efficient:

    • Ashley Hinson (R): 48, Josh Turek (D): 46, Thomas Laehn (L): 1.

    • Mid-Oct.: 48-45 Hinson.

    • Co/efficient, a Republican firm, says this poll was “[n]ot sponsored by any candidate committee, party committee or other independent expenditure.”

  • MI-Sen: Upswing Research for Demand Justice (pro-Abdul El-Sayed):

    • El-Sayed (D): 50, Mike Rogers (R): 45.

  • AZ-Gov: Noble Predictive Insights:

    • Katie Hobbs (D-inc): 51, Andy Biggs (R): 45, all others 1% or less.

    • Aug.: 48-35 Hobbs.

  • FL-Gov: Workbench:

    • David Jolly (D): 48, Byron Donalds (R): 46.

  • IA-Gov: co/efficient:

    • Rob Sand (D): 50, Zach Lahn (R): 45.

    • Mid-Oct.: 49-45 Sand.

  • MI-Gov: Mitchell Research & Communications for WWJ/WWJ-TV:

    • Jocelyn Benson (D): 49, John James (R): 44.

  • MN-Gov: State Navigate:

    • Amy Klobuchar (D): 52, Lisa Demuth (R): 42, Steven Young (G): 3.

  • AZ-01: Keating Research:

    • Amish Shah (D): 49, Jay Feely (R): 45.

    • Keating, a Democratic firm, tells The Downballot this poll was not conducted for a client.

  • PA-07: Muhlenberg College:

    • Bob Brooks (D): 49, Ryan Mackenzie (R-inc): 43.

  • AZ-AG: NPI:

    • Kris Mayes (D-inc): 50, Warren Petersen (R): 46.

    • Aug.: 44-38 Mayes.

  • MN-AG: State Navigate:

    • Keith Ellison (D-inc): 52, Ron Schutz (R): 44.

  • AZ-SoS: NPI:

    • Adrian Fontes (D-inc): 50, Alex Kolodin (R): 44.

    • Aug.: 41-35 Fontes.

  • CA Ballot - Proposition 39 (voter ID): UC Berkeley for the Los Angeles Times:

    • No: 57, Yes: 37.

    • Sept.: 52-39 “No.”

  • CA Ballot - Proposition 40 (wealth tax): UC Berkeley:

    • No: 50, Yes: 42.

    • Sept.: 45-42 “Yes.”

  • CA Ballot - Proposition 41 (restrict spending-limit exemptions and require audits): UC Berkeley:

    • No: 47, Yes: 38.

    • Sept.: 37-33 “Yes.”

  • CA Ballot - Proposition 42 (bar taxing certain assets): UC Berkeley:

    • No: 45, Yes: 43.

    • Sept.: 43-34 “Yes.”

  • MA Ballot - Question 3 (establish ranked-choice voting): UMass Lowell/YouGov:

    • No: 44, Yes: 41.

  • UT Ballot - Constitutional Amendment B (raise threshold for tax-related initiatives): Noble Predictive Insights:

    • No: 56, Yes: 34.

    • Sept.: 50-21 “Yes.”

    • The amendment would require “citizen-proposed laws that increase taxes” to pass with at least 60% of the vote instead of a simple majority.

  • AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction: NPI:

    • Kimberly Yee (R): 48, Teresa Leyba Ruiz (D): 46.

    • Aug.: 40-37 Yee.



Middleboro Town Meeting to discuss data center ban, school roof replacement, license plate reader ban

                                                                                                                 LOTS OF POSTS IGNORED BY BL...