The DON JONES INDEX…
	GAINS POSTED in GREEN LOSSES POSTED in RED 10/23/26... 14,350.53 10/16/26... 14,361.17 10/9/26... 14,395.47 6/27/13... 15,000.00 Original
(THE DOW JONES INDEX: 10/23/26… 52,867.88; 10/16/26… 52,056.60; 6/27/13… 15,000.00) ,

LESSON for FRIDAY, OCTOBER TWENTY THIRD, 2026 – “TIME TUNNEL TWENTY EIGHT!”

The midterm 2026 elections are now a fortnite away and the troops are out of their forts – shooting it up and whooping it up in the streets and the stadiums; monkey bars and media... lusting for four hundred thirty five Congressional seats and thirty three Senatorship in a Federal bureaucracy narrowly tilted towards Trump. There are also thirty-some gubernatorial races and a plethora of downballot posts at the state and local levels – ranging from the vital to ordinary Joneses (Attorneys General, SecStates and such) through Commissioners of ‘Dis and Dat and all the way down to the ludicrous (like the two Dan Sullivans competing in Alaska). Many states also will have direct ballot initiatives where Joneses get to vote yea or nea on legislation grave or trivial as proposed by either politicians or ballot signatures.

The 2028 Presidential election rules and regulations, as outlined by Wikipedia’s summary (ATTACHMENT “A”), hold that Decision Days are to be held “on the first Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November”^[17] which, in 2028, will be Tuesday, November 7^th... with the winning POTUS and Vice inaugurated on January 20, 2029. Incumbent Republican president Donald Trump is ineligible to run for a third term due to the term limits established by the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution – unless he can overturn the provision by legislation (as with Prohibition) or by force.

The Wikihistory also covers Trump 1.0, his exile from 2020 – 24 and restoration as 2.0, attributing his 2024 victory “to a post-pandemic surge in inflation,^[a] and a migrant crisis at the US–Mexico border,^[b] amidst the global anti-incumbent backlash.”^[7][8][9] JD Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, was selected as Trump's running mate^[11], subsequently elected vice president – commentaries and polls (see below) show him to be the leading candidate for the Republican nomination.

The Wikittytachment also covers the state-imposed rules for primary elections, the role of the Electoral College and some aspects of primaries upcoming (the slim list of declared candidates only running through August, none of whom are given a ChiCom’s chance of nomination or election. Veep Vance is termed as “express(ing) interest” in running, as is former Veep Harris. Third party and independent candidates... your Libertarians, Greens and something called the Forward Party – concocted by Andrew Yang (no known relation to comedian Bowen of Saturday Night Live) who was one of the also-rans in 2020, then quit the Democrats and is making another try as an “Entrepreneur”.

Wiki also posted a list of those who have denied interest in running for the Presidency – including talking head Tucker Carlson, endorsed by Marjorie Taylor Greene, also not running, as well as billionaire businessman Mark Cuban, HHS Sec. RFK Junior and former Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Uninterested persons from the American cinema, TV, social and anti-social media include comedians Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, Charlamagne the God, Pete Davidson, and... for some reason or other known only to the WikiGods... Russell Brand (facing alleged criminal prosecutions and, also, British).

Great or small, all pols know polls to be the prevailing wind they must bend the knee to and, while we have included the gamblers’ Polymarket with their odds below, the poll of polls is compiled daily by Real Clear Politics so their findings from early October to yesterday are included as ATTACHMENT “B”. Few surprises here... almost all find Vance and Harris sweeping to their party’s nominations – but inasmuch as many voters view the former as a flunkey and the latter as a loser, there will be twists and turns to come before the summer of ’28. Those with functioning memories may recall how the nomination, and then election, of 2016 was talked by a reality TV show host. Might it happen again?

Well, there may already be a surprise celebrity dipping its toe into the tapioca – according to a Bangladeshi paper... of all sources!...find out who (see ATTACHMENT “D” below)

And see even more of these shenanigans here.

Here’s a hint about the Attachment D mystery candidate – it’s a Democrat, but not listed among the D’s in said Attachment.

And there are also two... count ‘em, 2... Republicans whom even makes President Trump tremble in dread, and who – being already in the public eye and so eminently qualified to finish his stalled wall push towards an authoritarian or even totalitarian America – the anarchists among the DJI say should be nominited President and Vice in whatever order, according to their psychoses.

We’ll give them names – One: Presidential adviser (and rumoured replacement SecPress for five day Katie): the evil robotic Stephen Miller; and Two: DefSec who changed his posting to WarSec Peter Hegseth. Ballotpedia, out of fear or caution did not include them among their lengthy lists of ‘Pubs in the club, but we do, and so do some of the media whose accounts we will combine as ATTACHMENTS “E.1” and “E.2” – because...

There are several hundred more Grade “F” flunkeys, failures, fools and fly-by-niters who have already registered with the Federal Elections Commission... not one of whom (as of September 21^st) were listed among the likely, possible or speculated pols of Attachments 22 and 26.

They are a motley crew... there’s Charley Brown (but not Snoopy), a Harvey Wizard, Paij Boring, there’s Romeo Biswa (no Juliet except, perhaps, for Sexy Vegan), a prince and two princesses.

And because the final grades of 2028 will be handed out by the Electoral College, we are listing these student/supplicant applicants in ATTACHMENT “F”. (Worse, even than Charley Brown’s ubiquitous D-Plus report cards!

Now... for this Lesson, we will take a (slightly) more serious early look at the 2028 Presidential contest... given the ubiquity of present POTUS Trump and his many and varied critics... citing potential candidates, their supporters, their critics and, of course, their money (some of which was disclosed last Lesson) as well as - as often is the case – what the effects of some of these midterm election results will have upon decisions determining who will run, what their platforms will be and wrap up with a few early polls that will either gladden, discourage or, in some cases, inspire some of these to get their message across.

The Washington Post (October 18, 2026, ATTACHMENT ONE) profiled five (or eight) potential candidates for the 2028 Democratic Party nomination in an order, more or less, of their chances and five more Republicans.

While no credible candidates have yet formally announced (there being scads and scuds of wannabees as noted in ATTACHMENT “F”)... campaigning for midterm Senators, Congressthings, Governors and the such is both a means of gleaning favors from their party and also scoping out the landscape for 2028.

Presumed Democratic leader Kamala Harris is said to be expanding her midterms presence for the final few weeks, her team told the Post. Harris began her high-profile appearances last month when she appeared with El-Sayed in Detroit and, between now and Nov. 3, will visit Mississippi, Georgia and Wisconsin and two early-primary states, Nevada and New Hampshire.

“Harris’s office and her supporters have touted her visits on the trail as a sign that she remains a high-value surrogate for the Democratic Party. But some Democrats have questioned whether the party could strengthen its chances of taking the White House by picking someone without the baggage of having lost to Donald Trump.” When asked about her ambitions, Harris has repeatedly said she hasn’t decided about 2028.

Others of the Fabulous Five (or Elite Eight) are more than happy to step in and step up.

Democratic Socialist OCASIO-CORTEZ, for example, is “going all-in to help Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in his U.S. Senate bid in Michigan. That could bolster her chances in a Democratic primary. Michigan is among six states on the Democrats’ new roster of early-primary contests.”

She also donated $1 million to a fund dedicated to electing him, the New York Times first reported on Friday.

Ocasio-Cortez, who is running for reelection to Congress, told the Times in September that she would make a decision on her political future after the midterms. In recent weeks, she has also traveled across New York to turn out Democratic voters

Former transportation secretary PETE BUTTIGIEG, who has said he is “more inclined than not” to run, is one of the most in-demand surrogates. Since January, he has visited more than 20 states to stump for candidate

“Buttigieg,” Post reporter Praveena Somasundaram wrote, “often stumps for Democrats where he lives now in Michigan, another early state that is home to the race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, a former U.S. congressman, one of this year’s marquee contests. When Buttigieg announced last year that he would not seek that open Senate seat, his decision prompted more speculation that he was instead sketching out plans for a 2028 run.”

California Gov. GAVIN NEWSOM, “a Democrat who spars frequently with Trump, was scheduled to spend this weekend in New Hampshire before returning home to campaign for Democratic candidates in the five California districts that the state redistricted last year.” He has said that he will not run if Harris does.

And Pennsylvania GOV. JOSH SHAPIRO, who is also running for re-election and is “heavily favored” over his Republican opponent, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, has declined to explicitly say that he will serve another full term if he wins his gubernatorial race. His new New Path PAC is the latest sign that he may be laying the groundwork for a presidential bid and has also campaigned for congressional and state-level candidates in Pennsylvania.

According to the Post, three others... Governors WES MOORE of Maryland and ANDY BESHEAR (Kentucky) and Georgia Senator JON OSSOFF, also running for re-election, form the second tier of potential 2028 candidates.

There are more... dozens more (Attachment “C”, below) and then hundreds more (Attachment “F”, above and below) but we will consider these at their due time.

Regarding the ‘Pubs, the WashPost voiced the common consensus thatVice President JD Vance is widely seen as the presumed front-runner in the Republican field. But the expectation that Vance will run hasn’t stopped some other Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Sen. John Kennedy (Louisiana), from floating the possibility of entering the fray – especially after Vance, defending Vivek Ramaswamy’s dirty campaigning, doubled down on his tough guy image last night, saying that Democrats need “an ass-kicking”.

Like the Old Ranger in the commercial replies to the tenderfoot’s inquiry: “Am I a Cowboy now?”... “No!”

Rootin’ tootin’ Texas Ted Cruz, who ran for president in 2016, has also been making moves that are classic for a candidate eyeing the White House and has said he wants to be part of the GOP’s discussion for 2028.

The Post Fourth... Louisiana John Kennedy (not that Kennedy, nor his nephew Bobby Junior) has stumped in Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Alaska, Kansas and Michigan recently, and he said he may return to Texas and Alaska again before Election Day.

“This month, Kennedy, whose term ends in 2029, said he plans to run for reelection to the Senate but would consider a White House bid if he thinks he can no longer be effective in Congress.”

Finally, “Little” Marco Rubio has been busy as SecState and says he supports Vance, but if the Veep declines to run or seems to be failing he might step in – despite a lack of campaigning for others due to prohibitions from the State Department. And the Pubs’ sixth man, Rand Paul, a self-anointed Libertarian, is setting himself up as that alternative to MAGA, saying that the GOP will see “disastrous” results in the midterms due to the Iran war and the rising costs resulting from it.

That’s all from the Post. (See attachment for more)

Down by the border where the cattle roam and cowboys dream of home, the El Paso Times (Oct. 13, ATTACHMENT TWO) cited the latest Focaldata-Financial Times poll, released Oct. 11, surveying 2,553 U.S. adults on a variety of topics, including President Donald Trump's job performance.

Reporter Natassia Paloma also disclosed that former VEEP Harris led with 32% of respondents asked about the Democratic primary selecting her as their first choice.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom follows with 13%, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received 10% and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg received 9%. Another 16% said they were unsure.

Paloma disclosed that Harris was particularly popular among younger respondents, “receiving 49% support among those ages 18-29 and 37% among those ages 30-39. But her support dropped significantly among older respondents. Just 8% of those ages 70 and older selected Harris, compared with 23% who chose Newsom.”

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance led the field of potential 2028 presidential candidates with 38% support.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio moved up over the Post Most with 20%, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received 9% and Donald Trump Jr. received 8%. Another 13% said they were unsure.

Vance's support was relatively consistent across age groups, ranging from 29% among respondents ages 30-39 to 42% among those ages 50-59. Rubio, meanwhile, performed better among older respondents, receiving 31% support among those ages 70 and older, compared with 12% among those ages 18-29.

Hearkening back eleven months ago, back to the vox populi performers and peanuts of the WashPost gallery – five (or eight) of the former, scads and scuds of the latter (listed above), displayed their intelligence... or ignorance... on November 6, ATTACHMENT THREE) where, ten months into Trump 2.0, Washingtonians and other nuts from far-flung trees were already chattering up his replacement.

The peanuts had plenty of monkeys to money around with... just about every conceivable Democrat (except, perhaps, Hunter Biden) had his, her or its supporters and detractors. Mohammed Bounhiss kicked off the show with a plea for competency – posting: “They need someone that can unite the party, someone articulate and charismatic with a clear message to the voters with policies that resonate with them. There is ample time to pick a candidate and hopefully the Dems have learned from their mistakes.”

The nuts started rolling downwards from there. There were admissions that Americans “would never vote for a woman”; that the Dems, like Republicans, have “too many millionaires and near billionaires” in their top tiers; that

Socialists like Sayed and AOC had their believers and haters, there were pro- and anti-Semites aplenty and... due to their standings in the polls and the press, plenty of pros and cons for Harris and Newsome. An infiltrating Republican expressed full support for AOC, and, upon viewing a group portrait of the leaders, another pip pronounced: “Looks like a graduation picture from clown school.”

So now we introduce the Downballot/Substack Axis – which, first, introduces itself (ATTACHMENT FOUR) as a new approach to special elections that transformed them from a mere curiosity into a serious tool used by journalists, academics, and political prognosticators.

Under a Trumpish regime, the Trumpish Axis celebrates itself as the next step in the evolution of how special elections can be used as a predictive tool under analyst Marsha Kessler (think Trump’s tongue) who’s applied sophisticated statistical methods to yield new insights that we couldn’t have even dreamed of when we first started down this path.

Unfortunately, her Golden Findings find that Democrats are on track for a midterm comparable to 2018—and possibly even better. But there’s always Greenland!

The Axis first rotates to the present – last Tuesday, that is (Oct. 20, ATTACHMENT FIVE) where the blades of Substack slash deeply into the chaos: “unrest in Minnesota, including the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January at the hands of ICE—both garnering national attention, rare cross-party criticism and protests, (larger and more widespread than in the first Trump administration), against what Ms. Kessler terms “an unwanted, unexplained war in Iran, gas and diesel prices skyrocketing (and c)onsumer sentiment reach(ing) all-time lows since 1960,” as well as Trump’s approval plummeting to its lowest level in either term.

The major question remains: “Has voter behavior changed?”

The Substack – confident and arrogan as a MAGAloid boasts that they, “using a robust new framework” now can use the data from a handful of special elections to predict the future... “which is a political environment for Democrats heading into the midterms that is at least as good as it was in 2018—if not better.”

How?... you might ask... and Why?

Very well, because the Substackers... unlike the common people... look “holistically” at all elections together in relation to one another and, so, “avoid two common kinds of errors: false alarms, where we think something’s happening that isn’t, and missed signals, where we fail to notice something happening before our eyes.”

ADJUSTING FOR SHIFTING PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS

Substack’s allies at Downballot have long compared special election results to the most recent presidential performance in the same districts. “If Kamala Harris won a district by 2 points in 2024, and later a Democrat won a special election in the same district by 12, then we can say the candidate overperformed by 10 points.”

But this works well “if we’re only looking at elections under a single presidential administration,” Substack alleges. If we want to look across administrations—which we need to do to compare the environment going into the 2026 midterms with that in 2018—then we need to adjust our data accordingly.

How? Continuing to the Downballot’s innings (ATTACHMENT SIX), Hannah Ledford of the Fairness Project explained how her organization supports progressive ballot measures and highlights some of the year’s most important. Two proposals in particular… well, candidacy vectors, the House and Senate, to be exact... stand out as relative to the midterms; hence, to 2028!

In the Senate, Ledford argued that the GOP’s top Senate super PAC “seems to have given up on trying to resuscitate Mike Collins’ moribund campaign” in Georgia and Michael Whatley’s in North Carolina.

In the House, “(t)he pro-Democratic House Majority PAC (HMP) has made further cuts to its ad reservations, with some moves showcasing confidence but others potentially signaling pullbacks” – based on developments in Ohio, California and Michigan – and, on the flip side, all but giving up on Florida’s conservative 7^th District, wherea conservative seat became an even tougher target “after scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills was ousted in August’s Republican primary,” and, also trimming their expenditures in Colorado’s 3^rd District.

Also in Florida (Oct, 20, ATTACHMENT SEVEN) Downballot reported that the Republican Party of Florida filed a lawsuit Friday “seeking to stop Democrats from airing a commercial centered around a scandal that continues to cause problems for the GOP”—and is even threatening criminal prosecution.

The ad cites a leaked grand jury report alleging that taxpayer money, earmarked for “Hope Florida, an idea built on a promise to help Floridians in need,” was “quietly moved” into a dark money political committee that Attorney General James Uthmeier controlled, not to Florida families. “They found $10 million was misappropriated.”

“When you were attorney general, your office was involved in the settlement that sent $10 million to Hope Florida,” WIOD radio host Manny Munoz asked Sen. Ashley Moody (Uthmeier’s immediate predecessor as attorney general) last week. “That money eventually made its way into political advertising” (to defeat a 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana). “What did you know about where that money was going?” Munoz asked Moody.

“I think at this point any insinuations have been totally political, they’re absurd,” she replied, “and I am glad they are being put to rest so we can focus on what we’re delivering for Floridans, and that we are promising to keep this the great free state of Florida and safe and secure like Floridans expect.”

CBS Miami reporter Jim DeFede, though, was far from impressed with her response.

“That is what is commonly referred to as ‘word salad,” DeFede told his audience Sunday.

Then, after that ad by Vivek Ramaswamy that features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent in the Ohio governor's race, Dr. Amy Acton, and raises questions about her traumatic childhood offended even some Republicans, Veep Vance said he was “disgusted”... not by the ad, but by the critics’ treason. (PBS, Oct. 21, ATTACHMENT EIGHT)

"I'm a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America," Vance said in his first public comments on the ad, which has roiled one of the most contentious and expensive governor's races in the country.

The features Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her "a liar" and insinuating she has mental health issues. It was criticized by both Democrats and Republicans when it exploded into public view Tuesday, just two weeks before Election Day.

Ramaswamy, a billionaire tech entrepreneur and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, claimed credit for the ad and said he will spend $4 million to promote it despite the backlash from some members of his own party.

PBS reported that Acton’s stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested for raping the then-12 year old between 1976 and 1978

In his remarks to reporters ahead of the rally, Vance said Acton, "lies about every single one of her positions."

The matter was also reported by the BBC (ATTACHMENT NINE) who interviewed Acton’s brother who said turning alleged sexual assault into "a political talking point" was a "despicable low". A Ramaswamy “spokesman” called Acton a "serial fabulist" but conceded "we don't know what happened between Amy and her mother".

Cledith Arthur was never prosecuted on the rape charge. He died in 2004.

The move has drawn intense backlash from Democrats.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on X it was "an abhorrent attack". Illinois governor and 2028 presidential hopeful JB Pritzker said Ramaswamy "has reached a new low by launching these vile and false attacks".

"We live in an age where certainly many candidates can appear mean and even inappropriate at times," said David Lublin, a professor from American University's School of Public Affairs, adding: "The key purpose of attack ads isn't necessarily to convert the followers of your opponent, but more to depress their turnout."

He expects the Ramaswamy attack ad to backfire, saying it could be an indication that his campaign is desperate to swing momentum in his favour in the increasingly competitive race for Ohio governor - even though a Democrat has not been elected governor there in over two decades.

Time’s master opinionater Philip Elliott cited two anonymous “Republican strategists” – one of whom said: “We had a real good chance and then we do this two weeks out.” (ATTACHMENT TEN)

Adds a second: “We now deserve to lose this race.”

The addition of this ad so close to Election Day roiled races in Ohio up and down the ballot. “I would not have run that ad,” Republican Sen. Jon Husted, running in a tight and expensive race for re-election against Sherrod Brown in Ohio, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Other players in the state's Republican circles say the ad has all the pieces of a misfire, especially among women.

Mike Murphy, a strategist who was in Sen. John McCain’s inner circle when he ran for President in 2000 and headed Gov. Jeb Bush’s super PAC in 2016, wrote a brutal assessment on social media, saying it “is looking more and more like political suicide.”

And former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who ran against Ramaswamy in the 2020 presidential primaries and was a frequent critic of him, was even more direct. “He’s a bad guy,” she said. “It’s a shame he continues to get away with it.”

Four months earlier, Elliott had warned that Ohio may be “the sleeper senate race of the midterms.” (June 23, ATTACHMENT ELEVEN)

Missing from much of the breathless coverage of this year’s Senate map “are the pair of understated, gray-haired, grind-it-out baby boomer Democrats running in Ohio and North Carolina—where Donald Trump won three times in a row. Both Sherrod Brown, a former Senator from Ohio, and Roy Cooper, a former North Carolina Governor, are perhaps the only Democrats who have a shot at flipping those particular Senate seats back into the blue column.”

Focusing on Brown, leading in the polls back in June and faring even better as voters view the Governor’s race with disgust, the restoration seeker...unlike Graham Platner in Maine or James Talarico in Texas... doesn’t have to spend a lot of time introducing himself to the state’s voters. Brown, who has already represented Ohio for almost two decades in the U.S. Senate, and remains the most powerful endorsement available in Ohio, “is a progressive voice who knows how to balance being a loyal Democratic elder statesman while also landing blows against Clinton-era free-trade policies.”

“Yes, he’s an old white dude in a Red State,” a “former Democratic official” told Elliott. “But he knows who he is. So do voters.”

Even in June, it was hard not to view those numbers as largely a proxy on Trump. “In that same poll, a remarkable 57% of Ohioans carr(ied) an unfavorable view of the President. To put that in context, Trump had a 52-46% positive rating in 2024, when he won the White House. It’s a massive shift that is leaving Republicans in Washington.”

In a Fox News poll that closed June 1, Husted was trailing Brown by eight points.  Despite the Rama drama, Husted has cut the margin to five as of yesterday (See RCP below)

“If Ohio is suddenly in play,” Elliott concluded, “that spells big problems for a GOP majority. While Republicans are defending seats in Maine, Texas, Iowa, and Alaska against charismatic candidates that are also drawing huge FEC numbers, their hopes of flipping seats in Georgia, New Hampshire, and Minnesota seem less sure than when the year started. 

That means Ohio (and North Carolina) may be where the fight for Senate control is actually decided. 

Returning to the Downballot/Substack Axis, new fundraising reports disclosed last Monday showed Democratic campaigns with a huge financial edge as Republicans tread water in the polls (the dark money still gives ‘Pubs an overall, but shrinking lead).

New disclosures compiled by the Downballotboxers (ATTACHMENT TWELVE) show that “Democrats running in next month’s elections, along with independents campaigning with Democratic support, hauled in $499 million from July 1 through Sept. 30, more than two-and-a-half times as much as the $194 million their GOP rivals brought in.”

Those Democratic contenders “also heavily outspent their counterparts. Collectively, Democrats deployed $574 million, versus just $288 million for Republicans—a margin of two-to-one.”

The elephantine money coming from sources like Elon Musk has failed to secure leads in the Texas Senate and Governorship races and Brown, above, “holds a 4-point edge in Ohio against Republican incumbent Jon Husted in FiftyPlusOne’s average, only a tick down from his 5-point lead at the start of September.”

Whatever small gains the GOP have made come with a huge price tag: AdImpact reported that Republicans have outspent Democrats $220 million to $151 million through Friday. An exception might be Maine, where Democrat Troy Jackson “now holds a small 2-point edge over Republican Sen. Susan Collins in FiftyPlusOne’s average, down from a 4-point lead on Sept. 1.”

In Alabama, Republicans “appeared to have scored an all-but-certain pickup in the spring when they radically redrew freshman Rep. Shomari Figures’ 2nd District. That maneuver, which followed the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, transformed Figures’ seat from a Democratic-leaning and majority-Black constituency into a majority-white seat that Donald Trump would have carried 57-42.

The new GOP gerrymander, however, seemed all but sure to cost Figures reelection against state Rep. Rhett Marques, who easily won the Republican nomination in August with Trump’s support despite Figueres dominating the airwaves with negative commercials.

“The congressman outraised Marques $1.1 million to $315,000 during the third quarter, and he finished September with a similar cash advantage.”

There are also numerous downballot candidacies and ballot measures up for either party to take, depending on the candidates, the money and the support or opposition of Trump

The Axis of Pollsters (ATTACHMENT THIRTEEN) singled out two of these “ballot measures” (in actuality, Indiana Secretary of State profiles) as indicating the direction of the country going into 2028...

“Democrats have multiple opportunities to score their first statewide win in Indiana since 2012, according to a rare independent poll.

“Democrat Beau Bayh holds a 43-35 advantage over Republican Max Engling in the race for secretary of state, according to a survey from Bellwether Research conducted on behalf of the media nonprofit Free Press Indiana. Libertarian Lauri Shillings takes another 6% as former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a one-time Republican who formed a new outfit called the Lincoln Party earlier this year, is at 5%.

Bayh, the son of former Sen. Evan Bayh, has generated attention well outside Indiana, and new campaign finance reports show he also decisively outspent Engling $3.9 million to $1.6 million during the third quarter.

Bellwether also shows Democrats with a small advantage in another statewide race. Challenger Jessica Bailey has a 39-36 edge against Republican Comptroller Elise Nieshalla, with Libertarian John Schick taking 4%.

Downballot published another Poll Pile including the race for Montana Senator, where Independent Seth Bodnar is trouncing Democrat Alani Bankhead 29-12%. Both, however, trail Republican Kurt Alme with 44% - some revolted Democrats having announced they prefer Bodnar.

And again, these midtermios will influence on 2028 when and where eyes are open to opportunity.

Polls (see specifics and dynamics below) have almost unanimously agreed that the front runners in twenty eight, to date, are Vice Vance, voicing a continuance of His Master’s agenda (with, perhaps, a twitch more rationality but also, like Trump and, in no little measure, a result of his doomed defense of “disgusting” Ramaswami), crashing in the popularity polls (as differentiated from competitive candidate polls) to the extent that he’s less popular than Mike Pence who – laterniter Seth Meyer reminded us = Republicans stormed the Capitol with an intent to kill) taking the reins of the MAGAchariot and Republican Party, probably against... again, sigh... Kamala Harris.

For ’28, USA Today cited the aforementioned Focaldata/Financial Times poll showing that, as expected, Harris and Vance lead as prospective nominees for the main event. (Oct. 12, ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN)

According to the survey, Harris leads among Democrats with 30% support, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 15% and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tied at 9%.

On the other side of the aisle, Vance leads with 38% of Republicans, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 24%, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis receiving 9% of support from GOP respondents.

Further down, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has fueled speculation about another White House bid. "It’s no secret that I want to be president," Cruz said in August on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast.

While the polls have anointed Harris and, perhaps, Newsom as equine front runners two years hence, plenty of others are weighing their options.

Neither Brown nor Cooper (Attachment Eleven, above) is likely to run in ’28... perhaps unfortunately... but other entries are also checking their prospects (and money). For example, USA Today also reported that Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, said he was “kicking the tires” at a potential run in 2028 in an appearance on NBC’s "Meet the Press" in August.

And Sen. Mark Kelly may (or may not) enter the primaries... (Axios, ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN)... saying that he'll make a decision about the 2028 Senate race after this year's election, same as the presidential campaign.

Axios reporter Jeremy Duda noted that “Kelly could run for both, even if he's the eventual Democratic presidential nominee — presidential and vice presidential candidates are permitted to run simultaneously for another federal office in Arizona,” meaning he could test the waters in some of the early primaries before deciding.

"My decision will be what I think, first, what's in the best interest of the country, and then what's in the best interest of my family," he says.

But, he added, "Certainly it would make sense for me to think about the other implications of this."

"It will be a much more crowded race if Sen. Kelly does run for president," Republican campaign consultant Matt Kenney told Axios.

Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker has been campaigning for Democrats all across the country – and, in the process, exposing himself to the voters.

The busy billionaire has funneled nearly $40 million to Democratic candidates and groups in the midterms, donating to everything from the party’s biggest super PACs to state legislative campaigns. As part of that, he’s helping to fund a $20 million effort in the final weeks of the midterms to support Democratic efforts to push deeper into red territory in their bid to capture the House majority. (CNN, October 18, ATTACHMENT SIXTEEN)

Pritzker has long been a top donor to the Democratic Party, but his midterm giving has unfolded as he considers joining what is expected to be a crowded 2028 presidential primary — and is serving multiple political purposes.

For now, he’s playing the reluctant bride. “As far as I’m concerned, focusing on anything other than this election is folly for anybody in politics right now. We must win, we Democrats.”

Winning frieds, certainly influencing people and... quite likely... collecting favors from those he supports, Pritzker gave $100,000 to a super PAC that supported Stefany Shaheen in the September primary for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. She prevailed and is poised to be heavily courted in 2028 with New Hampshire going third among early voting states. He has also spread money around in New Mexico, Michigan, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Nevada.

“In some House races,” CNN’s Patrick Svitek also took note, “Republican candidates have sought to make Pritzker’s financial backing a political liability.” After Ready for the Fight PAC began spending in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, the Republican candidate, Greg Cunningham, released a statement saying that the “liberal billionaire governor of Illinois is coming to Gabe Vasquez’s rescue because they share the same far left values.”

Partisanship aside, Pritzker has been especially focused on Texas, “where he has built a unique relationship with state Democratic lawmakers after hosting them in Illinois during a quorum break last year.

He’s joined with a potential challenger from 2008, Kentucky Gov. Beshear, in funding underdog Gina Hinojosa in what... thanks to outside money... is now a viable race. Beshear, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, wrangled donated a million dollar gift to what would be the first female Latino Governor in the United States.

Pritzger has contributed $200,000.

With midterms two weeks off and the early race for 2028 fast approaching, 3 more Democrats are slated to join summit to plot out their future. (CBS, October 20, ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN)

Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, as well as Rep. Ro Khanna of California, are among the latest additions who plan to join the "What's Next" summit, according to an updated list of attendees first shared with CBS News. 

All three lawmakers identify as progressives, and all three have drawn national attention over their political ambitions in recent years. Booker ran for president in 2020 but dropped out before the first primary contests. Khanna has described himself as a "long-shot presidential candidate," and Van Hollen (above) has acknowledged that he is "kicking the tires" on a possible 2028 run.

The meeting will take place from Nov. 12 to 14, after the midterms, and is being hosted by Majority Democrats, a group formed last year by largely moderate elected officials and other high-profile Democrats who say they are "committed to reshaping and growing the Democratic Party."  

Chaired by Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, the organization says it will take lessons from the 2026 races into the upcoming presidential election, in part by bringing together leading voices from across different factions within the party.

The three latest entrants join an initial lineup of other possible presidential candidates including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Non-contestants Govs. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey also plan to attend, as will other members of Congress and political strategists.

Many feel the party has not settled on a political identity after losing the White House in 2024, and moderate and progressive Democrats disagree on the party's direction. That split has not helped the party win over voters: In a February CBS News poll, most voters described the Democratic Party as "weak."

"Winning in 2028 will require us coming together to take the best ideas from every corner of the Democratic Party and forging them into an agenda that can build a durable majority and deliver for the American people," said executive director of Majority Democrats Rohan Patel. 

Therefore, an AI overview of potential Democratic presidential candidates, as of September, has swollen somewhere beyond earlier lists of five or eight and now includes present and former Governors, Congressthings and Senators – as well as a former Mayor of New Orleans. Also in the mix is news anchor Don Lemon, but not the frequently cited Stephen A. Smith. (ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN)

A short list of those who have said they will definitely not be running includes the Bern... now 85. Not listed, but obviously not running will be former Presidents Obama and Clinton (termed out) and Joe Biden (spaced out).

There is no mention of Michelle Obama or Hillary Clinton, so Kamala Harris will still be trying to become the first woman president. Seven others are on this longer list,

An AI overview on her prospects mirrors other polls – this saying she has 30% of the Democrat support, twice that of Newsom. Officially undecided about 2028, the 2024 loser maintains that “her primary focus is campaigning for Democrats in the 2026 midterms across key states like Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire.” [1, 2, 3]

Of course, in the doing, she’ll be meeting and greeting Democrats who can help her down the road with appearances, turnout and, of course, money.

The various contributors to the AI Overview (ATTACHMENT NINETEEN) share a common concern about AI itself. Harris promises to advocate for stricter federal regulations, growth promotion, and the creation of a new federal entity to handle independent testing and oversight of AI systems.

Internationally, she has also proposed AI safety agreements and treaties with nations like China to limit the technology's rapid development pace and establish mutual testing standards, according to the New York Times.

Running or not, the Associated Press reports that her “fall campaign blitz” will take her to “multiple early presidential primary states on Democrats’ 2028 calendar” as the former Vice mulls whether to seek the White House again. (ATTACHMENT TWENTY)

“For the past twenty months, the American people have struggled as a consequence of the cruelty and corruption of this current administration,” Harris wrote in a fundraising email Wednesday to donors asking them to support her travels via her Fight for The People PAC. “Now is the time for us to be ruthless in delivering for the people: on affordability, on fighting corruption, and on making our voices heard.”

She heads from Mississippi to New Hampshire tomorrow to campaign with Senate nominee Chris Pappas and participate in a discussion on reproductive care and abortion rights. As vice president, Harris was the Biden White House’s foremost abortion rights advocate, especially during the 2022 midterm campaign. New Hampshire comes third in Democrats’ 2028 primary order.

It’s on to Wisconsin Monday and a Halloween weekend jaunt through Georgia, campaigning with Sen. Jon Ossoff, attend voter protection events and speak Oct. 30 at the Fulton County Democratic Party’s annual gala in Atlanta. Then it’s south again, to rally with Florida Senate nominee Angie Nixon, a Democratic Socialist, after having campaigned for another “progressive” (El Sayed) – bolstering her support on the left (but also likely to create optics for the right, either Democatic or Republican).

Harris led Democratic polls of polls tabulated by RCP (seven of nine survey monkeys... ATTACHMENT TWENTY ONE) and Pollster (sixty some to a dozen... ATTACHMENT TWENTY TWO). Buttigieg and Newsome won a few each, mostly in the Emerson, Echelon, Atlas and with defeats in a Yahoo and Quantus (no relation to the Australian aircraft).

So, given the prospects of a Harris/Vance ’28, the Veep... already on his knees to President Trump... has been poking his nose further and further up His Master’s excretory outlet... telling the 2WAY app (as reported by the Hill) that “I think I would get his (Trump’s) endorsement, but... hedging his bets at least until after the midters, also expressing the view that “there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race.” (ATTACHMENT TWENTY THREE)

A Focaldata/Financial Times poll found 38 percent of respondents picked Vance as the Republican nominee in 2028 over his perceived top contender, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

“Trump has also repeatedly egged on the competition between Vance and Rubio for the 2028 Republican nomination. Vance even jokingly likened the competition to the president’s former reality show, “The Apprentice.”

Rubio told donors and other allies that he will not run, particularly against Vance, sources told The Hill. But Ted Cruz denied that the Republican Party had coalesced around Vance as a 2028 nominee, saying the party will first have a “full discussion about who we are and what we believe.”

While still himself undeclared, the Vice has been vectoring all across America until his character crash in Ohio.

The WashPost opined that “many Republicans see (Vance) as the party’s heir apparent, as the Vice veeped his way through Michigan... but not to campaign for El Sayed. This month, Vance told NBC News: “It is really obvious to me, at this very moment, (that) Ted Cruz is running for president. At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.”

Days later, Cruz hit back, saying Vance was feeling “insecure.” (ATTACHMENT TWENTY FOUR)

The Texican has traveled to Iowa three times this year. Like many of the possible contenders from both parties, he has ramped up his appearances on podcasts and broadcast television and has promoted his recently released book, a biography about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

“He’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes,” Cruz told Politico. “I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

For what the scryers can scrounge from this week, the WashPost skipped over Little Marco, Ron de Sanctimonious and even Don Junior to tab Sen. John Kennedy (R-La) as nearest competitor to Vance and Cruz.

Half competitor, half comedian, the man with the famous name reminisced to NBC News: “What’s the old Judds song? Why not me on a rainy day? Why not me to love your blues away?”

He added: “On my side of the aisle, if a bunch of goobers run, and I think they’re goobers and one of the goobers might win, and I think I could do a better job, I would consider running.”

The gambling class at Polymarket and transparencies at Real Clear agreed that Vance, goober or gomer, was running away with the nomination while RCP’s October 6^th roundup placed Kennedy fifth and Cruz all the way down at seventh. (ATTACHMENT TWENTY FIVE)

Like Harris, the Vice swept the house on his way to the White House, winning ten of ten member polls... with only one close match (Rubio coming within a point at contrarian Emerson).

As with the Democrats, another AI Overview released a longer list of Republicans – sixteen past and present officeholders some “public figures” like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson and Donald Junior (but not Eric). RFK Junior said he would not be running. Neither, unsurprisingly as he touches his neck, is Mike Pence. (ATTACHMENT TWENTY SIX)

As usual, the American presidential race... even more than two years before November, 2028... has drawn attention from beyond our borders.

Al Jazeera (ATTACHMENT TWENTY SEVEN) reported that, in Michiganm, the American President called El Sayed a Jihadist who wants to ban Christmas and impose Sharia law and promised he’d make him walk through a metal detector if he entered the Capitol.

Israel National News (ATTACHMENT TWENTY EIGHT) reported on Vance's interview with journalist Mark Halperin on 2Way, “during which the Vice President said he believed Trump would support his candidacy if he entered the 2028 Republican presidential primary.”

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race," Vance said. “And because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let like this race play out and not preemptively prejudge the results.’" (See Attachment Fifteen, above)

Asked whether there was a possibility he would stay out of the race, Vance replied, “Of course there’s a chance."

He explained that his wife, Usha, and their four young children would be important considerations in any decision about pursuing the presidency.

“We’ve got four little kids, my wife has never loved politics. She loves public service," Vance said.

Vance also acknowledged his tendency to postpone major personal decisions, suggesting that he was not eager to begin planning a presidential campaign.

“The way that I think about life, big life decisions - my wife will tell you this: I’m a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it," he said.

And, amidst Euroriots, DW reported that Germany's IG Metall union chief called Audi CEO Gernot Döllner's appearance alongside Donald Trump "deeply embarrassing"

The union says Döllner breached Audi's political neutrality rules

And finally – remember the mystery man fingered by the Dhaka Tribune at the beginning of this Lesson?

We have a name – actor and occasional political dabbler Matthew McConaughey. Awright, Awright!

	IN the NEWS: OCTOBER 16^TH to OCTOBER 22^ND, 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026 Dow: 52,002.41	It’s National Sports Day. An “equinox” is upon us in five separate major sports. President Trump threatens to drop the “mother of all (non-nuclear) bombs” on Iran... after the midterms... as the U.S.S, George Washington escorts (some) oil tankers through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab-al-Mandabi. Iran economy said to be crippled, America’s just limping: gas at $4.33/gal and oil at $110/barrel. “Gun Boss” Jose Garcia in his Gun Boss shirt displays the weaponry. The guns of war and lies lie deeply over SecPress Katie Zacariah – who sets a new record by being fired after five days, beating the infamous Tony Scammamooch (11 days). She pivots, saying she said she was not a lawyer but a “legal analyst” after first being asked where she passed the bar and answering “China”. Mother Nature starts her week off with wildfires in So Cal, floods and storms from a Nor’Easter headed to the... dhuh!... northeast and Midwest tornadoes, followed by a deep freeze many welcome as the long, hot summer seems to be finally nearing an end. Skiers and merchers welcome the first snows to the Rockies, but weatherpeople are predicting a warm, wet winter. After spreading around a few hundred million that won’t drop his net worth below a trill, Elon Musk shows off his “back to the future” car of the future – a flying Tesla roadster that “can do crazy gymnastics” say the car hearts. Musk himself admits it’s not yet “safety optimized” but says that police have told him it’s not “street legal”. Yet.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 Dow: Closed	California climate change turns deadly as 98° temperature and four hundred wildfires break out in and around San Clemente (to warm the ghost of Richard Nixon) and in Juan Capistrano, where the swallows can fly away, like Teslas, but the people can’t. “A lot of us in this neighborhood thought we were dead,” a resident says, many relieved to have lost their houses but not their lives. Others look forward to a cooldown (to 92°) and an easing of the Santa Ana winds. Now Katieless (and looking for another blonde SexPress), President Trump makes the rounds of the most contested midterming states as he greenlights state, local and Federal prosecutors to begin locking up election workers suspected of fraud (which Democrats, predictably, call an effort to intimidate voters – particularly Hispanics). ICE abides. Next for Djonald InMotion: Kentucky where he eases more sanctions on BFF Bad Vlad Putin, pissing on the grave of Lindsey Graham and watching both Russia and Ukraine respond to his beautiful ceasefire by bombing the borscht out of each other. “Good ol’ Trump!” the MAGAsuckers cheer as Donnie Dollar coins roll off the stampers – they even look like real gold, sold for only $9.95.
Sunday, October 18, 2026 Dow: Closed	It’s Talkshow Sunday and talkin’ Timesters in Gotham are buzzing over rumours that O.J. had an accomplice all these year, a mobster who took and hid his knife. Prosecutors are excited, then depressed to learn that Joseph "Joey" Ippolito has been dead for twenty years. ABC’s “Week” finds more polls finding POTUS fading. Voters don’t like Dems either, but they’re winning by default as the kitchen tables groan under the weight of sanctions, war and squatting Mexicans. EnSec Chris Wright says easing sanctions on Russia are justified because that will help lower gas and oil price. As to Zelenskyy calling it a gift to Putin and some disloyal ‘Pubs like Ted Cruz and Thom Tillis concurring, the En Sec says “they don’t understand.” Dems, of course, complain about Russia and threats to prosecute election workers, calling this “intimidation” On the “Roundtable”, liberal Donna Brazile says 2024 MAGAvoters expected a Golden Age and, instead, got higher prices – many can’t even afford chicken now. Mary Bruce says that voters are tuning out amidst the ad blitz, WashPoster Dan LaMothe says it’s too late to change now. National Reviewer Ramesh Ponneru says the Russian deal is angering our allies while Brazile says it “reeks of desperation.” “Face the Nation” brings together Rep. Mike Turner (R-Oh) who predicts a red wave because turnout will drive the midterms and says the EU is also buying Russian oil, especially France. In response, Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Fl and running for Senate) says “we (donkeys) are on fire!) and promises, if elected, to support rent controls and $15 minwage, but opposes defunding police. The Hill notes Texas gubernatorial candidate Paxton calls Talarico a gay atheist vegan while the NPR panelist says: “Texas is still Texas”
Monday, October 19, 2026 Dow: 52,061.82	Veep Vance pivots (some) on reported torture at ICE detention facilities amidst new arrest, detention and deportation surge; some businesses join liberals in contending ICE raids cutting pool of cheap labor. With two weeks to midterms, ‘Pubs support mandated prayer, Star Spangled Banner and Pledge of Allegiance, painting donkey dissenters as enemies of America and God. Their issues now school shootings, support for Israel over Iran and Russia over Ukraine. Overseas, France declares curfews but riots, burnings, lootings continue. At home, META records record profits despite losing $25M in fines for fraud in New Mexico while PETA wants K9 police dogs replaced by robots after several killed on the job. Dead humans... that’s OK: there’s no such thing as PETH. In wild week for football, NCAA lifts Miami to Number One as upsets and thrilling finishes... often both... abound. To the trashbin go #1 Georgia, #2 Notre Dame and five of the top eight. Tampa beats Cleveland to win the AL and face Milwaukee in the World Series, and NBA season begins Thursday.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 Dow: 52,495,88	Veep Vance makes the rounds of rallies for Republicans and tells a crowd that: “When the war is over, gas prices will go down. He blames Ol’ Joe Biden for the war, the inflation and the stone in his shoe, among other things, Out in the streets, ICE agents run down and break the arm of Robert Garcia, a US citizen in Long Beach because he looks Mexican. And, also in California, Operation Protect the Vote arrests two dozen with election crimes. In Senatobia, Mississipi, local police shoot a one year old in the arms of his mother, a passenger in a car whose driver was accused of shoplifting diapers. The cops, who have a bad history including brutal arrest of a ten year old black boy for public urination, as well as the nearby Nolan Welles controversy, say it was “self defense”. Belgium joins France and Italy in student riots that began over shoddy schools and expanded to draw in labor and other activists. 3,000 businesses burned and looted with more upcoming. Thousands of arrests, injuries and neighbors fighting neighbors in the street. Americans fleeing all Europe as Germany prepares to elect neo-Nazis to stop the riots, Sen. Shelly Capito (R-WV) joins renegades Cruz, Tillis and other ‘Pubs in denouncing the deal to trade support for Putin’s war for sale of diesel. Trump and Russia agree on a cease fire, immediately broken by Russian attacks on downtown Kiev, while Zelenskyy returns to bombing Russian refineries and WarSec/DefSec Hegseck greenlights Elon Musk taking back Starlink anti-missile systems from the Ukes, angering most of the world.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026 Dow: 52,856	It’s National Apple Day. In a North Carolina rally for endangered Michael Watley, President Trump promises more money to veterans over his $5,000 bounty to Joneses “if we win” in November. In Ohio, gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy draws outrage from most for video ads of DemChallenger Amy Acton’s angry mom, denying her dead husband abused the little girl, resulting in public outrage – but The good news for Trump and for America is that, as a sidebar to the oil deal, Russia releases 77 year old American Stephen Hubbard after four years of a twenty-some sentence for being an alleged mercenary. Elon Musk can well afford to donate $400 to ‘Pubs, five times Bloomberg’s $80M to the donkeys and cancel his Ukrainian Starlink deals because Tesla profits are up 161% and he is introducing a flying car, on the order of “Back to the Future”. With air fares rising 20%, more Joneses are booking sea cruises. Profits also way up for META, despite a $25B fraud fine in New Mexico... workers are being fired at Netflix, and and being replaced by robots at Kroger, but (temporary holiday jobs can be had at Amazon – 300.000 in all... plus 52K more at Spirit for Halloween – for the very short term).
Thursday, October 22, 2026 Dow: 52,867.88	The World Wide Web crashes requiring security upgrade. Two thirds of sites are open to hackers due to PHP coding flaw. Amazon says bad actors are exploiting the flaws. Rare SCOTUS Trump bump occurs when they overturn his prohibition on medical care for transsexual prisoners, but DHS is still sending armed agents to homes demanding voter ID that the courts call intimidation. MAGA replies “American elections are for Americans.” 156 vote fraud convictions give the DHS “laser focus”. TV weatherpeople note the week is ending mild and dry except for floods, hail and tornadoes in Arizona. TV docs say exercise prevents breast cancer. But if it doesn’t, TV-con-mystics advise smaller gravestones from dollar stores for Halloween. Soaring profits for META despite $25B fine for defrauding customers in New Mexico. They plan a stock split. Record hirings at Amazon and Spirit Halloween (briefly) increase jobs, even as E. Bay cuts 1,000 jobs. Dolly Partin tribute at Belmont U. in Nashville draws out dozens of celebrities and raises a million for her Imagination Reading children’s program.

THE DON JONES INDEX

CHART of CATEGORIES w/VALUE ADDED to EQUAL BASELINE of 15,000

(REFLECTING… approximately… DOW JONES INDEX of June 27, 2013)

Gains in indices as improved are noted in GREEN. Negative/harmful indices in RED as are their designation. (Note – some of the indices where the total went up created a realm where their value went down... and vice versa.) See a further explanation of categories HERE

ECONOMIC INDICES (60%) THE WEEK’S CLOSING STATS...

	CATEGORY		VALUE			BASE		LAST	CHANGE			NEXT		VALUE (ORIG.)**	CHANGE (to JAN – JUNE 2026) from 100%				JULY 17 Reconfigured		OCT. 2nd		LAST WEEK		THIS WEEK		OUR SOURCES and COMMENTS
	INCOME		(24%)			6/17/13*									% UP – DOWN
	Wages (hrly. Per cap)		9%			1350		10/9/26	+0.159%			10/26		1,909.78	70.89%		1,353.92		1,353.92		1,360.04		1,360.04		1,360.04		https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/average-hourly-earnings 37.81
	Median Inc. (yearly)		4%			600		10/9/26	+0.047%			10/23/26		1,474.31	40.75%		600.80		601.46		604.38		604.76		605.04		http://www.usdebtclock.org/   68,460 503 535
	Unempl. (BLS – in mi)		4%			600		10/9/26	-2.38%			10/26		555.52			614.28		614.28		614.28		614.28		614.28		http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000/  4.2
	Official (DC – in mi)		2%			300		10/9/26	+0.11%			10/23/26		216.73			299.92		309.27		313.52		309.35		309.70		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    6,993 7,086 7,078
	Unofficl. (DC – in mi)		2%			300		10/9/26	-0.008%			10/23/26		259.80			299.62		284.26		301.97		320.71		320.74		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    13,197 12,426 2,425
	Workforce Participation Number Percent		2%			300		10/9/26	+0.028% -0.302%			10/23/26		295.81			299.98		298.74		297.77		297.71		298.71		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    In 162,678 3,129 121 Out 106,898 5,393 429 Total: 269,576 522 550 60.346 334 .516
	WP % (ycharts)*		1%			150		10/9/26	+0.651%			10/26		149.25			149.27		149.27		149.03		150.00		150.00		https://ycharts.com/indicators/labor_force_participation_rate 61.40 .80
	OUTGO		(15%)
	Total Inflation		7%			1050		10/9/26	+0.4%			8/26		901.77			1050		1052.10		1046.85		1037.35		1037.35		http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm      +.4 .9
	Food		2%			300		10/9/26	+0.1%			8/26		257.37			300		299.40		298.89		298.89		298.89		http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +.1 0.0
	Gasoline		2%			300		10/9/26	+3.9%			8/26		181.96			300		320.10		316.53		287.73		287.73		http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm    +3.9 9.1
	Medical Costs		2%			300		10/9/26	-0.2%			8/26		267.14			300		300.30		299.10		298.20		298.20		http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     -0.2 +0.3
	Shelter		2%			300		10/9/26	+0.3%			8/26		238.38			300		299.70		298.50		297.31		297.31		http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm     +0.3 .4
	WEALTH		(6%)
	Dow Jones Index		2%			300		10/9/26	+1.56%			10/23/26		400.18			299.80		295.37		294.55		299.13		303.79		https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/index/ 52,056.60 52,867.88
	Home (Sales) (Valuation)		1% 1%			150 150		10/9/26	+0.25% -2.70%			10/23/26		137.08			155.60 154.17		152.61 158.23		147.42 150.88		147.79 146.81		147.79 146.81		https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics Sales (M):  3.98 .99 Valuations (K):  429.1 417.5
	Millionaires (New Cat,)		1%			150		10/9/26	+0.11%			10/23/26		137.72			150.15		150.32		160.30		160.40		160.58		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    24,508 523 535
	Paupers (New Category)		1%			150		10/9/26	+0.027%			10/23/26		134.69			149.92		149.82		145.27		145.22		145.18		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    37,116 129 139
	GOVERNMENT		(10%)
	Revenue (trilns.)		2%			300		10/9/26	-2.364%			10/23/26		485.69			300.85		301.77		299.50		299.82		292.73		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    5,537 543 415
	Expenditures (tr.)		2%			300		10/9/26	+0.606%			10/23/26		287.16			299.59		298.86		290.34		288.26		290.01		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    7,456 465 421
	National Debt (tr.)		3%			450		10/9/26	+0.593%			10/23/26		344.44			448.90		446.23		438.98		438.19		432.99		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    40,257 330 395
	Aggregate Debt (tr.)		3%			450		10/9/26	+0.177%			10/23/26		352.67			448.15		445.20		436.38		435.36		434,59		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    115,997 6,270 476
	TRADE		(5%)
	Foreign Debt (tr.)		2%			300		10/9/26	-0.021%			10/23/26		252.18			295.57		293.90		301.19		301.09		301.03		http://www.usdebtclock.org/    9,356 359 361
	Exports (in billions)		1%			150		10/9/26	-1.40%			11/26		197.73			145.70		145.70		137.24		137.24		137.24		https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 315.2 NC
	Imports (in billions))		1%			150		10/9/26	-5.06%			11/26		130.49			145.32		145.32		139.14		139.14		139.14		https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 420.6
	Trade Surplus/Deficit (blns.)		1%			150		10/9/26	-16.10%			11/26		182.61			108.06		108.06		84.07		84.07		84.07		https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/current/index.html 105.6
SOCIAL INDICES					(40%)																					Events of the Week
ACTS of MAN				(15%)
World Affairs		3%			450		10/9/26			-0.1%	10/23/26		466.24			448.20		448.65		444.27		444.27		443.82		Alberta wants to leave Canada, no relation to explosion on Army base as kills 4 and injures 40? Our 51^st state? Rioting and looting continue in France despite curfew; President Macron denies accusations that riots are caused by immigrants... despite riots, NFL’s Rays and Steelers play in Paris but without hut Jalen Hurts. Open AI spy linked to Saudi royal family.
War and terrorism		2%			300		10/9/26			-0.2%	10/23/26		280.07			298.80		298.22		293.17		293.17		292.58		After fire destroys iconic 1615 AD Parisian food market reported in last week’s lesson, riots, fire and looting destroy ancient cathtdral as crowd cheers while Macron attends Celine Dion concert. More of same in Italy. Far right politicians looking to cash in, blaming immigrants. Wars continue with Ukes and Russians ignoring cease-fire; 50 masked Jewish settlers attack and beat Palestinians and US media.
Politics		3%			450		10/9/26			-0.2%	10/23/26		450.15			448.20		447.75		443.29		443.29		442.40		President Trump fires SecPress Zacariah after extortion reveal; then threatens to prosecute local voting officials offering $25B in bounties to informers. He merches fake gold ego coins worth $1 for $10 and says Elon Musk stock giveaways to kids have to go into Trump accounts. Partisans double down for midterms as Ohio Gov. candidate releases ads even Pubs call “disgusting”...
Economics		3%			450		10/9/26			nc	10/23/26		426.64			450.00		449.55		442.41		442.41		442.41		Christmas merching begins with deals, steals & influencers. Slumping Victoria’s Secret wants to being back “sexy” after Epstein association. Slumping KFC pivots: No Pepsi, Coke! McDonald’s debuts Disney villain drink cups. Trump deal for Putin oil inspires flunkey Witkoff to call him a “humanitarian”
Crime		1%			150		10/9/26			-0.2%	10/23/26		201.34			149.55		149.40		147.90		147.61		147.32		NYT says OJ had help from a mobster in hiding murder knife... but he’s dead, too. Brass/Silver Rail school shooting still investigated – cops say killer went there as special needs student. Armed thieves targeting rare Pokemon cards; DoJ begins crusade against ticket scalpers (like GA Gov. candidate Young Jackson). Week’s murders include 5 shot at Georgia homecoming, cold casers hunt killer of two women found dead in suitcases in 2014, angry road rage cop kills driver who cut him off on the George Washington bridge in Gotham and starvation cult leader arrested for killing 190 children while two teen girls and separate boy busted in two failed California school shootings.
ACTS of GOD					6%
Environment/Weather		3%			450		10/9/26			nc	10/23/26		275.85			447.30		446.85		441.52		440.63		440.63		Nor’easter called erosion storm floods Rodanthe, NC – then moves northeast to BosWash now as Tropical Storm Josephine, She’s followed by a deep freeze but US ends week warm and quiet except for first snows celebrated by skiers in Rockies and a rare tornado threat for the Pacific Coast. Air quality suffers, tho’, after hazmat lead forces evacuations in Toledo
Disasters		3%			450		10/9/26			-0.1%	10/23/26		463.08			450.00		449.55		452.25		451.35		450.90		IRS delays 2027 IRS reporting for Isaiah victims. Truck overturns in KC, killng “dozens of cows”; another truek plows onto soccer field in Kansas kills 2 humans, injuring 11. NYC bans horse drawn carriages after tourist killed in crash. 19 killed at Hindu festival stampede, priest in Ecuador killed after crucifix falls on him in the midst of Mass, Army stuntman falls to death in San Antonio. Scary but safe AmAirlines jet lands at Chicago O’Hare with blown tires and hero leaps into runaway school bus to halt it and save 18 kids.
LIFESTYLE/JUSTICE INDEX							15%
Science, Tech, Education		4%			600		10/9/26			-0.1%	10/23/26		617.97			600.00		600.00		598.20		597.00		596.40		Japan launches a rocket to Martian moons. Tesla launches flying car. AI and especially data centers are the new election season devils – partisans gleefully accuse Them of supporting the tech as will Flock up Americans into concentration camps and raise electric bills.
Equality (econ/social)		4%			600		10/9/26			nc	10/23/26		675.06			603.00		603.00		600.61		600.61		600.61		Rare SCOTUS Trump bump as his ban on transgender prisoner medical care overturned. POTUS refuses to help estranged ex-SecPress and Noem boyfriend Corey Lewandowski, on trial for fraud; also arrested is 82 year old weed sales mastermind. Sheri Shepherd (“the View”) becomes first female Aladdin on Broadway.
Health		4%			600		10/9/26			-0.1%	10/23/26		440.46			595.06		595.06		592.64		591.44		591.85		Nonsmoking Pope Leo’s lung cancer surgery successful, he says Mass from his window but will postpone his S. American trip. 50K “pink walkers” in NY rally against breast cancer for 33^rd time. TV-docs warn of new sexually transmited diarrhea, others say hormone therapy can cure cancers, still other say AI even better. Recalls include fryer ovens that cook users, not contents, StarFish (not Kist) smoked salmon, Kayem meats and four million tubes of “deviating” toothpaste. Safety speakers warn that Try Star pressure cookers can explode and cook users, but they refuse compliance with recall.
Freedom and Justice		3%			450		10/9/26			-0.1%	10/23/26		477.76			449.55		449.55		446.85		445.96		445.52		Diddy beaten by other prisoners after handouts end, moved to another prison. Savannah cop accused of colluding with ICE huband to get license plates of aliens as critics say Flock cameras making America a dictatorship – First Amendment defenders say they create “one nation, under surveillance”; defenders cite crime fighting. Back in court (criminal): killers Alec Murdaugh, Clancey, bitebitch Selma Blair, Timothy Busfield sex case thrown out.
CULTURAL and MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS											7%
Cultural and mortality incidents		4%			600		10/9/26			nc	10/23/26		595.85			450.45		450.45		455.40		455.40		455.40		Jalen Hurt hurt, blood clots will end his season. NCAA and NFL have maniacal day of upsets, comebacks and bizarre plays; Miami #1 after five of top eight gridiron leaders defeated. Random fanboy at BYU kicks $3M field goal. Valkyries and Dream in WNBA finals. MLB AL champ Tampa downs Cleveland and will face off with sweeping NL Brewers in battle of never-wons. Top book is account of Eric Dane’s last days. At the movies ”Street Fighter” wins B.O. but will face plenty of competition from With new TV season upcoming, Dancing star suspended for mean meme to judge while celebrities offer tributes to Dolly Parton and “Glee” will return after 11 years in exile. RIP: actor Richard Riehle (“Office Space, 8 Santa roles), RFK grand daughter Kyle Kennedy; country singer John Anderson,
Miscellaneous incidents		3%			450		10/9/26			-0.2%	10/23/26		555.05			450.90		450.90		457.23		456.34		455.25		Animal antics include 2 escaped Pittsburgh pelicans recaptured, man on trial for stealing Peachy, the Vegas flamingo, after drinking 40 beers, bear breaks into home and steals alcoholic Sun Cruiser drink in Floridawhile a Canadian bear is routed by a man with a hockey net. Family of six screeching barn owls settle in NYC’s horseless Central Park; alligator kills and eats fisherman near FloridaFanboy in Spiderman suit wins $3M for kicking field goal at BYU.

The Don Jones Index for the week of October 16th through October 22nd, 2026 was DOWN 10.64 points

The Don Jones Index is sponsored by the Coalition for a New Consensus: retired Congressman and Independent Presidential candidate Jack “Catfish” Parnell, Chairman; Brian Doohan, Administrator. The CNC denies, emphatically, allegations that the organization, as well as any of its officers (including former Congressman Parnell, environmentalist/America-Firster Austin Tillerman and cosmetics CEO Rayna Finch) and references to Parnell’s works, “Entropy and Renaissance” and “The Coming Kill-Off” are fictitious or, at best, mere pawns in the web-serial “Black Helicopters” – and promise swift, effective legal action against parties promulgating this and/or other such slanders.

Comments, complaints, donations (especially SUPERPAC donations) always welcome at feedme@generisis.com or: speak@donjonesindex.com.

ATTACHMENT ONE – FROM WASHPOST

What the final stretch of the midterms says about the 2028 presidential field

A shake-up of the Democratic primary calendar adds to the intrigue as potential hopefuls join a sprint to help their parties in the midterms.

A shake-up of the Democratic primary calendar adds to the intrigue as potential hopefuls join a sprint to help their parties in the midterms.

By Praveena Somasundaram October 18, 2026

In this article

· Kamala Harris

· Pete Buttigieg

· Gavin Newsom

· Josh Shapiro

· Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

And also...

Wes Moore

Andy Beshaer

John Ossoff

The midterm races are kicking into their highest gear — and so are the politicians who want to run for president in 2028.

An array of potential Democratic and Republican presidential contenders are hitting the campaign trail in the final weeks before Election Day to stump for their parties’ House, Senate and governor nominees.

No prominent political figures from either party have formally declared an intention to run, but several would-be contenders have said publicly that they are weighing 2028 presidential bids, including former 2024 presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York) among the Democrats.

Vice President JD Vance is widely seen as the presumed front-runner in the Republican field. The expectation that Vance will run hasn’t stopped some other Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Sen. John Kennedy (Louisiana), from floating the possibility of entering the fray.

If history is any guide, candidates will probably launch their campaigns sometime in the first half of 2027. Some announcements could come sooner, given the massive amount of organization and fundraising involved in mounting presidential campaigns.

The Democratic Party’s shake-up of its calendar for early-state primaries has added to the intrigue as potential 2028 hopefuls fan out across the country to boost midterm candidates.

Pitching in to help midterm candidates can help potential White House contenders deepen their support within the party and build fundraising infrastructure.

Ocasio-Cortez is going all-in to help Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in his U.S. Senate bid in Michigan. That could bolster her chances in a Democratic primary. Michigan is among six states on the Democrats’ new roster of early-primary contests.

Iowa has drawn visits from prominent GOP figures including Vance and Cruz. In keeping with a long-held tradition, the state’s caucuses will kick off the Republican primary calendar in 2028. The Hawkeye State is a midterm battleground this year in gubernatorial, Senate and House races.

PROFILES: DEMOCRATS

KAMALA HARRIS

The former vice president is expanding her midterms presence for the final few weeks, her team said last week. Between now and Nov. 3, Harris will visit Mississippi, Georgia and Wisconsin and two early-primary states, Nevada and New Hampshire.

Harris began her high-profile appearances last month when she appeared with El-Sayed in Detroit.

Harris’s office and her supporters have touted her visits on the trail as a sign that she remains a high-value surrogate for the Democratic Party. But some Democrats have questioned whether the party could strengthen its chances of taking the White House by picking someone without the baggage of having lost to Donald Trump. When asked about her ambitions, Harris has repeatedly said she hasn’t decided about 2028.

PETE BUTTIGIEG

Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has said he is “more inclined than not” to run, is one of the most in-demand surrogates. Since January, he has visited more than 20 states to stump for candidates.

He has stops planned in North Carolina, Virginia and Mississippi, with more being added before Election Day.

Buttigieg often stumps for Democrats where he lives now in Michigan, another early state that is home to the race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers, a former U.S. congressman, one of this year’s marquee contests. When Buttigieg announced last year that he would not seek that open Senate seat, his decision prompted more speculation that he was instead sketching out plans for a 2028 run.

GAVIN NEWSOM

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who spars frequently with Trump, was scheduled to spend this weekend in New Hampshire before returning home to campaign for Democratic candidates in the five California districts that the state redistricted last year. The governor pushed for the new seats to help counteract GOP efforts to add Republican-leaning districts in several states.

Speculation over Harris’s possible 2028 bid only intensified last month when Newsom said he would not run if she did.

JOSH SHAPIRO

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) is homing in on the races happening in his own state and on Friday announced the launch of a new political action committee that he intends to use to help those candidates.

Shapiro is heavily favored to win reelection, fending off a challenge from Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican. But he has left the door open to a 2028 run. He has said he wants to be a “part of that conversation” and has declined to explicitly say that he will serve another full term if he wins his gubernatorial race. His new New Path PAC is the latest sign that he may be laying the groundwork for a presidential bid.

Still, Shapiro has dedicated much of his time this cycle to helping congressional and state-level candidates in Pennsylvania, and plans to stay in the state through Election Day. This year, state Democrats are hoping to maintain their House majority and flip the Senate. Those results would give Pennsylvania a Democratic trifecta if Shapiro is also reelected.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ

Ocasio-Cortez is training her focus on Michigan, where El-Sayed, a fellow progressive, is locked in a competitive race against Rogers. She kicked off campaign events with him on Thursday. She also donated $1 million to a fund dedicated to electing him, the New York Times first reported on Friday.

Ocasio-Cortez, who is running for reelection to Congress, told the Times in September that she would make a decision on her political future after the midterms. In recent weeks, she has also traveled across New York to turn out Democratic voters.

WES MOORE

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is also up for reelection this year. He has said that he is not interested in running for president but has also not committed to finishing a second term. Moore plans to stay in Maryland in the weeks leading up to Election Day. In July, he visited South Carolina as a surrogate for the state Democratic Party’s “Flip the Future” tour to boost voter turnout.

ANDY BESHEAR

Andy Beshear, the two-term governor of Kentucky who cannot run again under state law, has traveled to a dozen states to campaign with Democratic candidates or headline party dinners, including four of the six early states. This month, Beshear finished a 13-stop book tour around the country, during which he hinted that he might launch a presidential bid.

JON OSSOFF

Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has kept his focus on Georgia and has repeatedly insisted — as recently as last week — that he will not run in 2028.

During a Senate debate on Tuesday, Ossoff said that he would serve a full six-year term if he wins reelection and that he has “zero interest in running for president.” Still, he continues to generate considerable buzz as a prospective candidate given his success as a Democrat in a swing state. Candidates for years have said they would serve full terms and not run for president, but then reversed course, former president Barack Obama among them.

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Power struggle erupts in Trump’s White House as midterm losses loom

REPUBLICANS

JD VANCE

The vice president, whom many Republicans see as the party’s heir apparent, has been traveling across the country to energize the GOP’s base as the party grows anxious that it could possibly lose both chambers of Congress this year.

Vance touched down in Michigan on Thursday for a midterms rally. In recent weeks, he has also visited Iowa, Texas, Florida, Ohio and Alaska.

TED CRUZ

Cruz, who ran for president in 2016, has been making moves that are classic for a candidate eyeing the White House and has said he wants to be part of the GOP’s discussion for 2028.

Cruz has traveled to Iowa three times this year. Like many of the possible contenders from both parties, he has ramped up his appearances on podcasts and broadcast television and has promoted his recently released book, a biography about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

This month, Vance told NBC News: “It is really obvious to me, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president. At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.”

Days later, Cruz hit back, saying Vance was feeling “insecure.”

“He’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes,” Cruz told Politico. “I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

JOHN KENNEDY

The U.S. senator from Louisiana has been a prolific surrogate for Republicans locked in competitive Senate races this year. Kennedy has stumped in Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Alaska, Kansas and Michigan recently, and he said he may return to Texas and Alaska again before Election Day.

This month, Kennedy, whose term ends in 2029, said he plans to run for reelection to the Senate but would consider a White House bid if he thinks he can no longer be effective in Congress.

“I would consider it,” Kennedy told NBC News. “What’s the old Judds song? Why not me on a rainy day? Why not me to love your blues away?”

He added: “On my side of the aisle, if a bunch of goobers run, and I think they’re goobers and one of the goobers might win, and I think I could do a better job, I would consider running.”

MARCO RUBIO

Other Republicans are hoping Secretary of State Marco Rubio will run for president, though he has said he would support Vance if the vice president launched a bid. Rubio has not done any midterms travel this year because, as a Senate-confirmed Cabinet appointee, agency policy bars him from it, a State Department spokesperson said.

“This is to avoid any appearance of partisanship in the conduct of foreign relations and in recognition of the need for the U.S. Government to speak with one voice on foreign policy matters,” the State Department said.

RAND PAUL

Rand Paul, the junior Republican senator from Kentucky, has said for months that he is considering a run and will make his decision after the midterms. Paul has not been active on the campaign trail but has said publicly that the GOP will see “disastrous” results in the midterms due to the Iran war and the rising costs resulting from it. Paul, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016, said he would make a decision on a 2028 run after November.

ATTACHMENT TWO – FROM the EL PASO TIMES

Who could replace Trump in 2028? Poll reveals presidential favorites

By Natassia Paloma Oct. 13, 2026, 5:30 a.m. MT

A new poll offers an early look at who Americans would like to see on the ballot in the 2028 presidential election.

The latest Focaldata-Financial Times poll, released Oct. 11, surveyed 2,553 U.S. adults on a variety of topics, including President Donald Trump's job performance and potential candidates for the next presidential election. The survey was conducted Oct. 2-5.

When it comes to Democrats, former Vice President Kamala Harris leads the field of potential 2028 presidential contenders, with 32% of respondents asked about the Democratic primary selecting her as their first choice.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom follows with 13%, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez received 10% and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg received 9%. Another 16% said they were unsure.

Harris was particularly popular among younger respondents, receiving 49% support among those ages 18-29 and 37% among those ages 30-39. But her support dropped significantly among older respondents. Just 8% of those ages 70 and older selected Harris, compared with 23% who chose Newsom.

On the Republican side, Vice President JD Vance leads the field of potential 2028 presidential candidates with 38% support.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio follows with 20%, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received 9% and Donald Trump Jr. received 8%. Another 13% said they were unsure.

Vance's support was relatively consistent across age groups, ranging from 29% among respondents ages 30-39 to 42% among those ages 50-59. Rubio, meanwhile, performed better among older respondents, receiving 31% support among those ages 70 and older, compared with 12% among those ages 18-29.

Trump approval today

Inflation and the cost of living remain top concerns for Americans, according to the poll, with 54% of respondents citing them as major issues, followed by jobs and the economy, and health care.

The survey also asked Americans how they felt about Trump's job performance. Just 13% said they strongly approve of the job Trump is doing, while another 20% said they somewhat approve.

ATTACHMENT THREE – FROM WASHPOST (with PEANUT GALLERY)

November 6, 2025 ·

The unofficial 2028 Democratic presidential field is taking shape — and it’s sprawling. Could the candidate be Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer or a dark horse like Rahm Emanuel?

Here are the top contenders: OOPS!, PAYWALL

And here are Peanuts: FREE to ALL

Mohammed Bounhiss

They need someone that can unite the party, someone articulate and charismatic with a clear message to the voters with policies that resonate with them. There is ample time to pick a candidate and hopefully the Dems have learned from their mistakes.

·

Mike Faller

I'd like to see Wes from MD, Shapiro from PA, or Pete B. While I'd love to see AOC, I don't think the majority of the US will vote for a woman, sadly. I think that was a big downfall for Clinton and Harris. I do think if Harris runs again, she'll likely…

See more at website

·

Jay Schleifer

Not Rahm Emanuel. But add Josh Shapiro. He won by 19 pts in a state with two big cities and Alabama in between, and built the I-95 bridge in two weeks!

·

Maplewoody Autumn

The Democratic party has to start listening to its base. You have too many millionaires and near billionaires in the Democratic party who are COMPLETELY detached from the everyday lives of Americans trying to make ends meet. Newsome is too slick and R…

See more

·

Maplewoody Autumn

The Democratic party is going to have to find someone who is going to be as decisive and forceful as Rumpy with undoing the monstrosities he has rolled out even in these first 9 months. They're not going to be able to diddle and dattle for 3.5 years wr…

See more

·

Maplewoody Autumn

AIPAC cannot choose the next US president. They LOST in New York City and the Democrats are going to CONTINUE to lose the presidency until they moderate their positions on weaponizing genocide through Israel.

·

Sydney Pike

AOC would be a great VP pick.

·

Jordan David

Sydney Pike no, she needs to run for Senate and force Schumer into retirement

·

Ray Lewis III

Sydney Pike we need her to replace Schumer

·

Mike Cogdill

Sydney Pike

·

Ron Tsui

Many good candidates. If Newsom ran for it, he would win.

·

Gail Anderson

Ron Tsui I DON'T think so!

· 27w

Bruce Carriker

Booker, Newsom, or Brashear, maybe Pritzker. Put Mayor Pete on the ticket as VP.

·

Angela Furtado

Bruce Carriker Booker? Really?

·

Norman Lee

I would bet on Josh Shapiro given Pennsylvania is battleground state

·

Teri Allen

Norman Lee You must be a backer of pariah Israel then. Israel siders will not prevail in this election. Get a clue!!

·

Vinny Vance

Gavin, baby…

·

Indu Garg

Andy Beshear and Josh Shapiro should be above those

·

Karen Harless

I think Gavin is a great candidate.

·

Pamela Ann Grooms

Why ? Because of his overwhelming record of destroying California ? His waste of resources ?His lack if transparency ? His inability to protect the citizens during natural disasters? His refusal to take any responsibility ?

Sounds like a winner

· 25w

Top fan

Dave Kelley

Not AOC!

·

Chris Wilson

AOC/Newsom28! Or imagine AOC/Harris28!

·

Gene Shaw

Saw a recent report that Harris leads in surveys right now. I think she would be easily defeated.

· 34w

Wes Doughman

In other words no idea

· 30w

Darrell Hager

Governor Andy Beshear is who I’m looking for. I like Newsome what for what he’s done.

Beshear/ Newsome would check all my boxes.

·

Tom Coates

Where is Adam Schiff?

·

Kathy Donelson Carr

Yep, Mayor Pete, Gov Pritzker, Mark Kelly, Gavin, Ossoff, Beshear...but I'd like Mayor Pete because he's the best communicator and smartest.

· 26w

Marvin Starr

Looks like a graduation picture from clown school.

·

Brigit Slind

Not making any speculations until I see how they manage going forward after the shutdown

·

Mary Mcnaught

Not Emanuel.

·

Frank Fowler Jr.

Where's Obama

·

Danilo Lao

Where’s Andy Beshear?

·

Charles Micheal

Three years out. Yay?

·

Nicole Marie

Rahm Emanuel? Why?

·

Zaphod Black

I predict that I don't care. Just give us a candidate that falls in the dedicated public servant range.

·

Dennis Smith

What? No Hoosier Pete?

·

Susan Salvatore Manion

Nope nope nope nope nope

·

Dan Simon

As a conservative, my full support is behind AOC.

·

Amy Gordon-Fisher

Where is Pritzker??

·

Allison Beaumont

Where's Jasmine, and Pete?

·

Christine Craft

none of the above....Andy Beshear, twice elected democratic governor of red state,Kentucky. Smart as a whip, able to win votes in red state...repeatedly.. moderate...super bright, handsome, not a grandstander

·

Lois G. Benedict

Emanuel? Are you kidding?

·

Steve Gold

#PardonJoeExotic

·

Sherry Wells

Ramn Emanuel won't be one of them!

·

Patsy Kennan

Where’s Pete?

·

Ratu Jade

If Democrats do not want to suffer another major loss, then the candidate is supposed to be neutral and in between parties AND is against illegal immigration. DT, Bill Clinton and Obama were. People thought Biden was because he was under Obama.

· 41w

Matthew Hamilton

Mark Kelly would have my vote.

· 3w

Kathleen Knoll

Newton and Shapiro are my picks and one will win to get that monster out

· 46w

Diana Ludwig

I favor Josh Shapiro

· 1w

Mike Cogdill

Awesome!! This should ensure at least republican rule through 2032!

·

Rick Jordan Sr.

Jd vance will be the next president

·

Lynda Priest

Pete is my guy.. newsome maybe on ticket with him. Love Pete highly smart and military man.

·

Mary Baker Branson

New blood please!!

·

Timothy Rodriguez

AOC President of the United States, the number one President of the United States and God bless America in between. A.O.C claudia scheinberg, the Mexican President. These 2 ladies will run these 2 countries clear to the top. No doubt about it. These …

See more

· 2w

Pattie Phillips

I think Gavin newsom is interesting

·

David Alan Schultheis

Fingers crossed for AOC.

·

Ryan Clouse

Yes to all of the above. They’re good picks.

·

Her JH

Gavin gets it done!

·

Pattie Phillips

And easy on the eyes

·

John Thomas

Will they have a primary this time?

ATTACHMENT FOUR – FROM the DOWNBALLOT/SUBSTACK AXIS

A decade ago, The Downballot pioneered a new approach to special elections that transformed them from a mere curiosity into a serious tool used by journalists, academics, and political prognosticators.

Today, we bring you the next step in the evolution of how special elections can be used as a predictive tool, from analyst Marsha Kessler. Marsha has taken the extensive repository of data we’ve collected over the years and applied sophisticated statistical methods to yield new insights that we couldn’t have even dreamed of when we first started down this path.

As a result, we can say with confidence that special elections over the last two years are telling us that Democrats are on track for a midterm comparable to 2018—and possibly even better.

ATTACHMENT FIVE – FROM SUBSTACK

Special elections show Democrats headed for a year as good as 2018—if not better

Rigorous refinements have improved special elections as a predictive tool

By Martha Kessler, October 20th

After a turbulent beginning to Trump’s second term last year, 2026 has proven even more chaotic.

The year began with unrest in Minnesota, including the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January at the hands of ICE—both garnering national attention and rare cross-party criticism. Protests, larger and more widespread than in the first Trump administration, gained momentum. With an unwanted, unexplained war in Iran, gas and diesel prices skyrocketed. Consumer sentiment has reached all-time lows since the University of Michigan started tracking it in 1960.

Likewise, Donald Trump’s approval has plummeted to its lowest level in either term, but a major question remains: Has voter behavior changed? How are Democrats faring in real elections in 2026 compared to 2018, when they made historic gains in Trump’s first midterms?

Special elections are often cited as proof of which way the electoral winds are blowing, and applying statistics makes it possible to reveal insights never previously reported.

Using a robust new framework, we previously identified seven distinct “periods” of special elections over the past decade—including the highest-performing period on record for Democrats, which went virtually unnoticed at the time.

Not only can we quantify the impact of events like the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, but we can also see it in real time, providing extraordinary insight into whatever may be newly motivating voters.

Now we can go much further. By making adjustments to account for changes in presidential administrations and variations between states, we can compare all special elections across the entire previous decade.

And once we have, we can see that these special elections point to a political environment for Democrats heading into the midterms that is at least as good as it was in 2018—if not better.

UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF SPECIAL ELECTIONS

We often see cherry-picking of special elections to fit a certain narrative, whether doom and gloom or unfounded overconfidence. By holistically looking at all elections together in relation to one another, we avoid two common kinds of errors: false alarms, where we think something’s happening that isn’t, and missed signals, where we fail to notice something happening before our eyes.

Selectively highlighting strong Democratic performances while ignoring weak ones can lead to a false sense of an unusually good environment. On the other hand, the single best period of Democratic performance over the last decade largely passed without comment.

Our holistic approach—taking into account all special elections—ensures we aren’t cherry-picking. Still, though, there are other problems in the data itself that weaken the signal and render it misleading. We therefore have applied two corrections to create the cleanest possible dataset, giving ourselves the best chance of finding real patterns.

ADJUSTING FOR SHIFTING PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS

The Downballot has long compared special election results to the most recent presidential performance in the same districts. If Kamala Harris won a district by 2 points in 2024, and later a Democrat won a special election in the same district by 12, then we can say the candidate overperformed by 10 points.

This works well if we’re only looking at elections under a single presidential administration. But if we want to look across administrations—which we need to do to compare the environment going into the 2026 midterms with that in 2018—then we need to adjust our data accordingly.

ATTACHMENT SIX – FROM

X54 The Downballot

The top ballot measures of 2026

Amid a years-long GOP assault on direct democracy, voters across the country have the chance to turn the tide next month. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, Hannah Ledford of the Fairness Project explains how her organization supports progressive ballot measures and highlights some of the year’s most important. Two proposals in particular…

SENATE

GA-SEN, NC-SEN

The GOP’s top Senate super PAC seems to have given up on trying to resuscitate Mike Collins’ moribund campaign.

Politico reports that the Senate Leadership Fund didn’t spend anything in Georgia last week on TV ads to boost Collins against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who enjoys a wide lead in the polls. The story adds that it remains to be seen whether SLF, which AdImpact reports has spent about $20 million of the $44 million it reserved in the spring, will reengage during the final two weeks of the election.

Many Republicans, though, left Collins for dead long ago. One unnamed source told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in late September, “At this point, it’s about making the patient comfortable.”

Democrats, by contrast, aren’t acting worried that Collins’ condition might get upgraded to “alive.” The Senate Majority PAC tells Politico it’s canceled its ad time for this week, a move that came after it publicly went dark last week as well. SMP, which has spent $11.5 million of the $20 million it originally booked, has not announced its plans for the final stretch of the campaign.

Punchbowl also writes that SMP is making the same move in North Carolina’s Senate race, where SLF abandoned Republican Michael Whatley early this month. The giant Democratic super PAC didn’t run ads there last week to boost Democrat Roy Cooper, and it reportedly will remain off the air this week as well.

HOUSE

TRIAGE

The pro-Democratic House Majority PAC has made further cuts to its ad reservations, with some moves showcasing confidence but others potentially signaling pullbacks.

In Ohio’s 1st District, HMP sliced almost $200,000 from its planned buy to defend Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman but still has nearly $700,000 booked, per AdImpact data shared by Axios’ Andrew Solender. Last week, major GOP super PACs, including the Congressional Leadership Fund and outfits affiliated with Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc., reportedly abandoned the race.

HMP has also cut more ad time in both California’s 48th District (a little over $200,000) and Michigan’s 8th (around $70,000), according to AdImpact. Two weeks ago, the PAC made even larger reductions in both districts, a sign that it feels good about Democratic chances of flipping the seat in California and holding the one in Michigan.

On the flip side, HMP just pulled more than $520,000 from Florida’s 7th District, a conservative seat that became an even tougher target after scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills was ousted in August’s Republican primary. According to AdImpact data from Solender, HMP still has some $1.4 million booked in the Orlando market, though that sum could potentially be used either for this race or the Democrats’ challenging battle to hold the nearby 9th District.

Finally, HMP trimmed $27,000 from its reservations in Colorado’s 3rd District, per AdImpact data shared by Punchbowl’s Ally Mutnick. Given the small size of the move, though, it’s harder to say whether it signals anything about the PAC’s desire to keep targeting freshman GOP Rep. Jeff Hurd, particularly since it still has sizable reservations left in the relevant media markets.

ATTACHMENT SEVEN – FROM downballot

Morning Digest: Florida GOP threatens criminal prosecution over campaign ad it dislikes

Republicans have struggled to address the Hope Florida scandal. Now they want to make it go away.

by David Nir and Jeff Singer

Oct 20

The Republican Party of Florida filed a lawsuit Friday seeking to stop Democrats from airing a commercial centered around a scandal that continues to cause problems for the GOP—and is even threatening criminal prosecution.

“Hope Florida, an idea built on a promise to help Floridians in need,” says the narrator of the ad, which is paid for by the state Democratic Party and is targeted at Florida’s incumbent attorney general. “But a leaked grand jury report found taxpayer money was quietly moved into a dark money political committee that James Uthmeier controlled, not to Florida families. They found $10 million was misappropriated.”

That’s not the only spot targeting Uthmeier over Hope Florida, a charity whose stated goal is to direct people to seek help from religious organizations rather than from the government.

A separate ad from a super PAC called New Deal for All depicts Uthmeier and Sen. Ashley Moody, his immediate predecessor as attorney general, stealing medicine, hospital equipment, and even a teddy bear from suffering children.

This commercial, which is not a target of the GOP’s lawsuit, does not mention the Democrats running in either race: former state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, who is taking on Uthmeier, and state Rep. Angie Nixon, Moody’s opponent.

The ads come as Republicans like Moody struggle to answer questions surrounding Hope Florida, and specifically why the $10 million it received from a Medicaid overbilling settlement went to groups that helped defeat a 2024 ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana.

“When you were attorney general, your office was involved in the settlement that sent $10 million to Hope Florida,” WIOD radio host Manny Munoz asked Moody last week. “That money eventually made its way into political advertising. What did you know about where that money was going?”

Moody responded that the attorney general’s office was one of four agencies involved in the settlement, saying that each reviewed it before approval.

“I think at this point any insinuations have been totally political, they’re absurd,” she continued, “and I am glad they are being put to rest so we can focus on what we’re delivering for Floridans, and that we are promising to keep this the great free state of Florida and safe and secure like Floridans expect.”

CBS Miami reporter Jim DeFede, though, was far from impressed with her response.

“That is what is commonly referred to as ‘word salad,” DeFede told his audience Sunday. “I’m not sure what she said, but I am certain she never answered Manny’s question.”

“So his question remains,” DeFede concluded. “What did Ashley Moody know, and when did she know it?”

Two months ago, DeFede published a previously unreleased grand jury report that concluded Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration had “misappropriated” public funds as “part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.”

That report was especially critical of both Moody and Uthmeier, who was DeSantis’ chief of staff at the time. It cited testimony alleging that Uthmeier had “involvement in directing the money after it went to Hope Florida.” It also said Moody had “authorized” her top aide to sign the original Medicaid settlement but concluded he’d done so “without conducting his due diligence to ensure the proper appropriation of taxpayer funds.”

Grand jurors ultimately determined that there was “insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally,” but their report was back in the news earlier this month when a state appeals court ordered it expunged. Judge Lance Neff, whom the governor appointed earlier this year, ruled that a grand jury “may not declare conduct unlawful and then decline to charge it, and it may not condemn people by name without indicting them.”

The state GOP now argues that both Democrats and TV stations are breaking the law by airing a commercial based on the expunged report.

The lawsuit, which was first reported by the Florida Trident, is asking a state judge to order the ad taken off the airwaves. The GOP’s attorney went even further and told station managers that they were “referring this matter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and relevant prosecutorial authorities.”

The Florida Democratic Party responded by sharing the commercial on social media under the words, “The Republican Party of Florida is suing to stop you from seeing this ad.”

The top ballot measures of 2026

Amid a years-long GOP assault on direct democracy, voters across the country have the chance to turn the tide next month. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, Hannah Ledford of the Fairness Project explains how her organization supports progressive ballot measures and highlights some of the year’s most important. Two proposals in particular…

SENATE

GA-SEN, NC-SEN

The GOP’s top Senate super PAC seems to have given up on trying to resuscitate Mike Collins’ moribund campaign.

Politico reports that the Senate Leadership Fund didn’t spend anything in Georgia last week on TV ads to boost Collins against Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who enjoys a wide lead in the polls. The story adds that it remains to be seen whether SLF, which AdImpact reports has spent about $20 million of the $44 million it reserved in the spring, will reengage during the final two weeks of the election.

Many Republicans, though, left Collins for dead long ago. One unnamed source told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in late September, “At this point, it’s about making the patient comfortable.”

Democrats, by contrast, aren’t acting worried that Collins’ condition might get upgraded to “alive.” The Senate Majority PAC tells Politico it’s canceled its ad time for this week, a move that came after it publicly went dark last week as well. SMP, which has spent $11.5 million of the $20 million it originally booked, has not announced its plans for the final stretch of the campaign.

Punchbowl also writes that SMP is making the same move in North Carolina’s Senate race, where SLF abandoned Republican Michael Whatley early this month. The giant Democratic super PAC didn’t run ads there last week to boost Democrat Roy Cooper, and it reportedly will remain off the air this week as well.

HOUSE

TRIAGE

The pro-Democratic House Majority PAC has made further cuts to its ad reservations, with some moves showcasing confidence but others potentially signaling pullbacks.

In Ohio’s 1st District, HMP sliced almost $200,000 from its planned buy to defend Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman but still has nearly $700,000 booked, per AdImpact data shared by Axios’ Andrew Solender. Last week, major GOP super PACs, including the Congressional Leadership Fund and outfits affiliated with Donald Trump’s MAGA Inc., reportedly abandoned the race.

HMP has also cut more ad time in both California’s 48th District (a little over $200,000) and Michigan’s 8th (around $70,000), according to AdImpact. Two weeks ago, the PAC made even larger reductions in both districts, a sign that it feels good about Democratic chances of flipping the seat in California and holding the one in Michigan.

On the flip side, HMP just pulled more than $520,000 from Florida’s 7th District, a conservative seat that became an even tougher target after scandal-plagued Rep. Cory Mills was ousted in August’s Republican primary. According to AdImpact data from Solender, HMP still has some $1.4 million booked in the Orlando market, though that sum could potentially be used either for this race or the Democrats’ challenging battle to hold the nearby 9th District.

Finally, HMP trimmed $27,000 from its reservations in Colorado’s 3rd District, per AdImpact data shared by Punchbowl’s Ally Mutnick. Given the small size of the move, though, it’s harder to say whether it signals anything about the PAC’s desire to keep targeting freshman GOP Rep. Jeff Hurd, particularly since it still has sizable reservations left in the relevant media markets.

ATTACHMENT EIGHT – FROM PBS

Vance says he's 'disgusted' by Republicans 'whining' about Ramaswamy attack ad

Updated on Oct 21, 2026 2:37 PM EDT — Published on Oct 21, 2026 2:12 PM EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Vice President JD Vance said during a campaign visit to Ohio on Wednesday that he is "disgusted" by the Republican pushback against an ad by Vivek Ramaswamy that features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent in the governor's race, Dr. Amy Acton, and raises questions about her traumatic childhood.

Watch the clip HERE.

"Politics is a tough business," Vance said to reporters.

Ponder: Vance defends U.S. envoy Witkoff calling Putin a 'humanitarian' after prisoner release

In Cincinnati, the vice president said it was "not really my concern" whether the controversial 60-second spot was appropriate, and said he was focused on supporting Republican candidates in their midterm races.

Bottom of Form

"I'm a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America," Vance said in his first public comments on the ad, which has roiled one of the most contentious and expensive governor's races in the country.

The features Acton's birth mother, Donna Arthur, calling her "a liar" and insinuating she has mental health issues. It was criticized by both Democrats and Republicans when it exploded into public view Tuesday, just two weeks before Election Day.

Ramaswamy, a billionaire tech entrepreneur and 2024 Republican presidential candidate, claimed credit for the ad and said he will spend $4 million to promote it despite the backlash from some members of his own party. He didn't address it in remarks before Vance spoke at a rally outside Cincinnati.

Acton, Ohio's former health director, has made no secret of facing homelessness and abuse as a child.

Arthur lost custody of her children after their stepfather was indicted for raping Acton. Police and court records show Cledith Arthur was arrested and charged with the rape of his stepdaughter, then 12, in July 1978, after Acton's biological father reported him to authorities. The abuse allegedly happened from December 1976 to April 1978.

Her campaign on Tuesday posted a video of her brother who supported her backstory about living in a tent and being abused.

In his remarks to reporters ahead of the rally, Vance said Acton, "lies about every single one of her positions."

ATTACHMENT NINE – FROM THE BBC

Ohio governor's race turns ugly with attack ad featuring candidate's estranged mother

By Brandon Drenon

In response to the BBC, Vice President Vance says he's 'disgusted' some Republicans are 'whining' about Ramaswamy ad

The race to be Ohio's next governor has turned ugly after the Republican candidate released an in which his Democratic opponent's estranged mother urged people not to vote for her in the upcoming midterm elections.

In the ad, Donna Arthur, the mother of Democratic candidate Amy Acton, said her daughter "lied her entire life". It does not mention that Arthur's husband was charged with raping Acton when she was a child.

Acton's brother is among those who have condemned the ad, saying turning alleged sexual assault into "a political talking point" was a "despicable low".

The BBC has contacted Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign for comment.

In a statement to the BBC's US partner, CBS News, a campaign spokesman called Acton a "serial fabulist" but conceded "we don't know what happened between Amy and her mother".

Acton and her brother were removed from their mother's custody when her stepfather, Cledith Arthur, was arrested and charged in 1978.

That is when she last spoke to her mother, Acton said in an interview with The Vindicator, an Ohio news outlet. The Arthurs fled Ohio and Cledith Arthur was never prosecuted on the rape charge. He died in 2004.

When the ad featuring Donna Arthur was initially released to social media on Monday evening, it did not say who the video was paid for or authorised by. Ramaswamy confirmed on Tuesday that it came from his campaign, and he later pledged to spend $4m (£2.9m) to further air it.

The move has drawn intense backlash from Democrats.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said on X it was "an abhorrent attack". Illinois governor and 2028 presidential hopeful JB Pritzker said Ramaswamy "has reached a new low by launching these vile and false attacks".

Acton's team released its own campaign ad on Tuesday, a video featuring her brother, Philip Stearns, recounting childhood abuse and saying "Amy always got the worst of it".

"Shame on Vivek," he says in the 30-second clip. "It's the contempt he has for Amy. It's the contempt he has for Ohio."

Some Republicans have also been critical. Nikki Haley, who ran against Ramaswamy for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, said "he's a bad guy. It's a shame he continues to get away with it".

Vice-President JD Vance, when asked by the BBC at a press conference if he thought the ad was appropriate, did not say.

"It's not really my concern," Vance said. "What is my concern is who's going to govern the next generation of American government."

He also told the press conference he was "a little bit disgusted" by members of his own party who "are whining more about that than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America".

Speaking later at a rally in Ohio with Ramaswamy, Vance defended the Republican candidate, saying: "Vivek Ramaswamy had the audacity to run a TV commercial which calls it out like it is, and calls Amy Acton a liar."

Political attacks ads are not a new feature of US politics, but David Lublin, a professor from American University's School of Public Affairs, told the BBC that "they have become more intense, and the boundaries have stretched in terms of what one attacks about".

Lublin said it was not new for relatives to be used against a political opponent, mentioning family members who testified against Robert F Kennedy Jr before he was confirmed as health secretary.

"But this is of a different order," he said. "They're estranged not over policy but over a rape allegation."

Lublin believes President Donald Trump's rhetoric and campaigns have helped act as a catalyst for the coarsening of American political discourse - mentioning when Trump mocked a reporter in Ohio who had a disability.

"We live in an age where certainly many candidates can appear mean and even inappropriate at times," Lublin said, adding: "The key purpose of attack ads isn't necessarily to convert the followers of your opponent, but more to depress their turnout."

He expects the Ramaswamy attack ad to backfire, saying it could be an indication that his campaign is desperate to swing momentum in his favour in the increasingly competitive race for Ohio governor - even though a Democrat has not been elected governor there in over two decades.

Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan website that rates and tracks US elections, has moved the Ohio governor's race from "leans Republican" to "toss up", meaning neither candidate has a clear advantage.

ATTACHMENT TEN – FROM TIME

'We Now Deserve to Lose': Ramaswamy Ad Deepens GOP Panic in Ohio

By Philip Elliott Oct 21, 2026 5:03 PM ET

Vivek Ramaswamy (spoke) during the Darke County Republican Party Hog Roast in Greenville, Ohio, on Oct. 18, 2026, days before the debut of a new campaign ad drew fierce bipartisan backlash.

Bottom of Form

The fierce and bipartisan backlash to gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's decision to feature his opponent's estranged mother in an ad left Republicans in Ohio and Washington reeling on Wednesday, as both Ramaswamy and Vice President J.D. Vance doubled down on the divisive strategy.

Publicly, Republicans were mounting a defense, led by Vance, who is from Ohio and was campaigning in Cincinnati on Wednesday, treating the ad as a gamechanging October surprise. But privately, old-guard Republicans were baffled that Ramaswamy would dare to deploy Democratic nominee Amy Acton’s own mother, who has not spoken to her daughter since 1978 when she defended Acton’s stepfather who was indicted for raping Acton as a child. Some predicted the ad was likely to draw more empathy and interest in Acton from voters, and turn them away from Ramaswamy. 

“We’ve lost the plot,” says one Republican strategist. “We had a real good chance and then we do this two weeks out.”

Adds a second: “We now deserve to lose this race.”

The addition of this ad so close to Election Day roiled races in Ohio up and down the ballot. “I would not have run that ad,” Republican Sen. Jon Husted, running in a tight and expensive race for re-election against Sherrod Brown in Ohio, told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Other players in the state's Republican circles say the ad has all the pieces of a misfire, especially among women.

Recent polls have shown Acton leading but not running away with the race. A Marist University poll released this week showed her up seven points. But Ohio is a state where President Donald Trump won three times, never with fewer than eight points to spare. If elected, Acton would be the first Democrat to become Governor since 2007.

Ramaswamy’s campaign said it was putting $4 million into making sure the ad gets seen, with a goal of targeting persuadable voters still undecided between the billionaire entrepreneur and Acton, the former state health chief who steered Ohio through the pandemic. But the risk of it backfiring is incredibly high with no time to recover.

Ramaswamy’s campaign includes several operatives who previously worked for Vance, who sidestepped questions about the ad’s message on Wednesday as he urged Republicans to not allow such hard-nosed messaging to distract them from the stakes of the election. “I’m a little bit disgusted when I see Republicans across the country who are whining more about that than they are about what the congressional Democrats and other Democrats want to do to the United States of America,” he told reporters. “So I would say to Ohio Republicans: do you actually think that Amy Acton is unfit to serve as Governor of the state of Ohio? I do.”

By Wednesday afternoon, it was clear Vance might be in a decided minority. “I don’t have to agree with Amy Acton’s politics to believe that exploiting someone’s childhood trauma is wrong,” wrote Republican Lydia Mihalik, a member of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s Cabinet. 

Mike Murphy, a strategist who was in Sen. John McCain’s inner circle when he ran for President in 2000 and headed Gov. Jeb Bush’s super PAC in 2016, wrote a brutal assessment on social media, saying it “is looking more and more like political suicide.”

And former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who ran against Ramaswamy in the 2020 presidential primaries and was a frequent critic of him, was even more direct. “He’s a bad guy,” she said. “It’s a shame he continues to get away with it.”

In an editorial endorsement of Acton published Wednesday, The Columbus Dispatch roundly condemned the video: “It should go without saying that sexual violence against children should not be politicized or taken as lightly as Ramaswamy appears to take it.”

For its part, Acton’s campaign began an ad of its own calling out Ramaswamy’s effort to make her childhood a campaign issue after a half century in the past. 

"I received a lot of abuse, but Amy always got the worst of it,” Acton’s brother, Phil Stearns, says in a new 30-second ad released Wednesday. “She continued to receive that abuse because she knew she had to protect me from that, and if she hadn't done that, who knows where I would have ended up.” 

"She was 11- and 12-years-old, and to think that that's somehow a talking point—shame on Vivek,” Stearns continues. “The contempt he has for Amy is the contempt he has for Ohio. He's not fit to lead."

ATTACHMENT ELEVEN – ALSO FROM TIME

Ohio May Be the Sleeper Senate Race of the Midterms

By Philip Elliott Jun 23, 2026 2:06 PM ETBottom of Form

“Let’s call it a Red State Reset. 

“A raft of klieg-light Senate candidates are driving coverage of Democrats looking to retake the majority in this fall’s elections. Maine, Texas, Iowa, and Alaska all have high-wattage, younger nominees who are raising hopes among party insiders that John Thune won’t be the Senate’s Majority Leader much longer.

“But missing from much of the breathless coverage of this year’s Senate map are the pair of understated, gray-haired, grind-it-out baby boomer Democrats running in Ohio and North Carolina—where Donald Trump won three times in a row. Both Sherrod Brown, a former Senator from Ohio, and Roy Cooper, a former North Carolina Governor, are perhaps the only Democrats who have a shot at flipping those particular Senate seats back into the blue column. 

“Both races are worth attention, but I’m going to focus here on Brown, who is leading in polls in Ohio, which was not too long ago dismissed by Democrats as a lost cause. Now, it may be the lynchpin to Democrats winning the Senate.

“In conversations with operatives in Washington and Ohio, it’s clear Brown is running the playbook for how to run against Trump without giving him control of the conversation. 

“Making all the difference here is that, unlike Graham Platner in Maine or James Talarico in Texas, the 73-year-old Brown doesn’t have to spend a lot of time introducing himself to the state’s voters. Brown already represented Ohio for almost two decades in the U.S. Senate, and notched more than 30 years in Ohio politics before that. Brown, who remains the most powerful endorsement available in Ohio, is a progressive voice who knows how to balance being a loyal Democratic elder statesman while also landing blows against Clinton-era free-trade policies.

“Sherrod is not looking for a viral moment,” one former Democratic elected official told me. “Voters in Ohio know him and he’s the only Democrat to win statewide in near-on two decades.

“Yes, he’s an old white dude in a Red State. But he knows who he is. So do voters.”

“The incumbent, Jon Husted, was only appointed to the role last year, replacing J.D. Vance as the state’s junior Senator. In a Fox News poll that closed June 1, Husted was trailing Brown by eight points. 

“It’s hard not to view those numbers as largely a proxy on Trump. In that same poll, a remarkable 57% of Ohioans carry an unfavorable view of the President. To put that in context, Trump had a 52-46% positive rating in 2024, when he won the White House. It’s a massive shift that is leaving Republicans in Washington

“All this helps explain why increasingly frustrated Republicans are sketching out plans to shift the conversation away from Trump, and onto another national figure: Chuck Schumer. The New York Democrat is in line to take back the Majority Leader’s gavel if Democrats win back the Senate. Schumer has seen his unfavorables jump from 52% at the start of Trump’s second term, to 68% earlier this year. 

“By casting Brown as a vote for Schumer in charge, Republicans hope to galvanize Republicans and dampen Democratic enthusiasm. It’s not far off from the plan to nationalize the 2010 House races as a referendum on then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

“It was ugly as heck. But it worked. It’s why no one in Brown’s orbit wants to bathe in Schumer’s glow. Asked directly about Schumer’s return to Leader, Brown has a dodge at the ready: “I’m not doing punditry.”

“Ohio is a weird place politically. In 2004, we all looked at Ohio at the barometer of the national mood. Heck, there was even a documentary about its abilities to predict the national mood, … So Goes the Nation. Ohio also happens to be my home turf—I grew up there, went to undergrad there, got my first newspaper job there, worked in The Associated Press bureau in Columbus, took my Youngstown-based family to the Nats game last night. 

“I’ve watched the state go through a massive political reset. George W. Bush won re-election there. Then Barack Obama, Obama, Donald Trump, Trump, Trump.

“Down-ballot, the results were dramatic. Republicans over the last 20 years—with the help of demographics and redistricting commissions—moved the state from a 10-8 Democratic split in 2009 when Obama moved into the White House to the current 10-5 GOP advantage. (Population loss in Ohio and growth in other states accounts for the loss of three House districts.) 

“If Ohio is suddenly in play, that spells big problems for a GOP majority. While Republicans are defending seats in Maine, Texas, Iowa, and Alaska against charismatic candidates that are also drawing huge FEC numbers, their hopes of flipping seats in Georgia, New Hampshire, and Minnesota seem less sure than when the year started. 

“That means Ohio (and North Carolina) may be where the fight for Senate control is actually decided.” 

ATTACHMENT TWELVE – FROM DOWNBALLOT 10/19

MORNING DIGEST: DEMOCRATS JUST CRUSHED REPUBLICANS IN FUNDRAISING—AND THEY'RE WEATHERING THE GOP'S ONSLAUGHT

New data shows Democratic campaigns with a huge financial edge as Republicans tread water in the polls

by David Nir and Jeff Singer

Oct 19

Democratic candidates for the Senate and House smashed their Republican opponents in fundraising during the third quarter of the year, giving them the chance to neutralize the deluge of cash from GOP super PACs that’s flooding races from coast to coast.

New disclosures compiled by The Downballot show that Democrats running in next month’s elections, along with independents campaigning with Democratic support, hauled in $499 million from July 1 through Sept. 30, more than two-and-a-half times as much as the $194 million their GOP rivals brought in.

The Downballot's 3Q 2026 Senate and House fundraising reports roundup

Those Democratic contenders also heavily outspent their counterparts. Collectively, Democrats deployed $574 million, versus just $288 million for Republicans—a margin of two-to-one.

Not all of those funds went toward winning in November, though.

Twenty-one states held a congressional primary or runoff during the third quarter, so some of this spending went toward helping candidates earn a spot on next month’s ballot. In addition, California and Louisiana are hosting several House races that will or may pit only candidates of the same party against one another—races that won’t impact the battle for control of the chamber.

Nonetheless, congressional campaigns have devoted the vast majority of this money, in one way or another, to the general election. Yet even with their sizable spending advantage, Democrats still went into the final month of the race with more cash available: $538 million to $392 million.

The new fundraising data showing Democratic strength stands in contrast to the massive sums spent by Republican super PACs. CNBC reported on Friday that GOP groups had more than $1 billion stockpiled at the end of August, a war chest they began unloading in full force after Labor Day. Democrats, by contrast, had amassed only around half that sum to give their candidates cover.

But despite the onslaught, Democrats appear to have weathered the storm heading into the final weeks of the election.

In Texas’ Senate race, for example, Republicans began a nine-figure rescue operation in mid-September to aid Ken Paxton, who got outraised by Democrat James Talarico $60 million to $10 million in the third quarter.

In a new report published Friday, AdImpact revealed that Republicans had spent or booked $242 million on the airwaves, compared to $101 million for Democrats. On the GOP side, though, more than 90% of that figure is attributable to outside groups, while Talarico’s campaign, which has received far less aid, has been responsible for 80% of Democratic spending.

Polling, however, shows that this extraordinarily expensive air war has yet to change the trajectory of the race. On Monday, Talarico enjoyed a 48.8 to 46.0 edge in an aggregate of polling compiled by FiftyPlusOne, a margin slightly wider than his 46.7 to 44.1 advantage on Sept. 1.

And though the GOP’s advantage is stark, it’s still not as vast as it appears. While federal law entitles candidates like Talarico to the lowest rates that broadcasters offer, outside groups need to pay prevailing market rates for ads.

In one example, CNBC reported on Friday that the main super PAC supporting Paxton, Texas PAC, had to pay twice as much as the Talarico campaign to air the same number of ads in Dallas during the first half of October.

That gap can be wider for major events that draw heavy viewership. Citing data from AdImpact, the AP reported earlier this month that Texas PAC had to spend $450,000 in September to air a single ad in Austin during a football game—nine times as much as Talarico. And as Election Day draws closer and the already high cost of ads grows even higher, super PACs will see their already poor bang-for-the-buck diminish further.

Texas is by no means the only state where Democratic Senate candidates have maintained their lead in the polls in the face of intense GOP spending.

Democrat Sherrod Brown (above) holds a 4-point edge in Ohio against Republican incumbent Jon Husted in FiftyPlusOne’s average, only a tick down from his 5-point lead at the start of September. Whatever small gains the GOP made came with a huge price tag: AdImpact reported that Republicans have outspent Democrats $220 million to $151 million through Friday.

Republicans, however, may have had more success impacting Maine’s Senate race. Democrat Troy Jackson now holds a small 2-point edge over Republican Sen. Susan Collins in FiftyPlusOne’s average, down from a 4-point lead on Sept. 1.

Jackson, who lost the Democratic primary for governor in June, became his party’s Senate nominee just a month later after Graham Platner dropped out following rape allegations. Republicans immediately began attacking Jackson as he was still organizing his campaign, and the ads haven’t stopped. AdImpact reported that Collins’ side has spent $100 million, compared to $70 million from Democrats.

Jackson was also under pressure to rapidly raise money for a campaign that did not even exist when the quarter began, but he proved up to the task and hauled in $20 million to Collins’ $5 million. However, the incumbent’s nearly six-year head start left her with a small $5.4 million to $3.8 million cash-on-hand edge heading into the final month of the campaign.

GOP super PACs have also sought to use their almost bottomless resources to limit their losses in the House, but they’re still struggling. Since the start of September, Democrats have widened their lead in the generic congressional ballot from 6 points to 8 points, while Republicans have triaged many once-competitive races.

And even when public polling is limited or non-existent, signs are plentiful that Democrats are still contesting races the GOP shouldn’t have to worry about.

In Alabama, for example, Republicans appeared to have scored an all-but-certain pickup in the spring when they radically redrew freshman Rep. Shomari Figures’ 2nd District. That maneuver, which followed the Supreme Court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, transformed Figures’ seat from a Democratic-leaning and majority-Black constituency into a majority-white seat that Donald Trump would have carried 57-42.

Undaunted, though, Figures—the first African American to represent Mobile in Congress since Reconstruction—decided to seek reelection in a southeastern Alabama district that no longer includes his hometown. The new GOP gerrymander, however, seemed all but sure to cost Figures reelection against state Rep. Rhett Marques, who easily won the Republican nomination in August with Trump’s support.

But this contest has instead turned into yet another pricey showdown.

Third-party groups on each side have spent more than $1 million since the start of September, according to data from the FEC, but Democrats enjoy a big financial edge thanks to Figures’ strong fundraising. The congressman outraised Marques $1.1 million to $315,000 during the third quarter, and he finished September with a similar cash advantage.

ATTACHMENT THIRTEEN – FROM THE DOWNBALLOT/SUBSTACK AXIS

TOP BALLOT MEASURES (SIC) OF 2026

Amid a years-long GOP assault on direct democracy, voters across the country have the chance to turn the tide next month. On this week’s episode of The Downballot podcast, Hannah Ledford of the Fairness Project explains how her organization supports progressive ballot measures and highlights some of the year’s most important. Two proposals in particular…

SECRETARIES OF STATE: INDIANA

Democrats have multiple opportunities to score their first statewide win in Indiana since 2012, according to a rare independent poll.

Democrat Beau Bayh holds a 43-35 advantage over Republican Max Engling in the race for secretary of state, according to a survey from Bellwether Research conducted on behalf of the media nonprofit Free Press Indiana. Libertarian Lauri Shillings takes another 6% as former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a one-time Republican who formed a new outfit called the Lincoln Party earlier this year, is at 5%.

This is the state’s most high-profile contest in a year where neither the governorship nor either Senate seat is on the ballot. Bayh, the son of former Sen. Evan Bayh, has generated attention well outside Indiana, and new campaign finance reports show he also decisively outspent Engling $3.9 million to $1.6 million during the third quarter.

Bellwether also shows Democrats with a small advantage in another statewide race. Challenger Jessica Bailey has a 39-36 edge against Republican Comptroller Elise Nieshalla, with Libertarian John Schick taking 4%. In the battle for treasurer, however, Republican incumbent Daniel Elliott is up 43-38 on Democrat Coumba Kebe.

POLL PILE

All polls must comply with The Downballot’s requirements.

· MT-Sen: Peak Insights for Kurt Alme:

o Alme (R): 44, Seth Bodnar (I): 29, Alani Bankhead (D): 12, Kyle Austin (L): 3.

o Aug.: Alme: 44, Bodnar: 22, Bankhead: 19, Austin: 2.

· NH-Sen: National Public Affairs:

o Chris Pappas (D): 50, John Sununu (R): 43, Edmond Laplante (Constitution Party): 4.

o Pappas (D): 50, Sununu (R): 45.

o National Public Affairs, a Republican firm, did not say if this survey was conducted for a client.

· TX-Sen: University of Houston:

o James Talarico (D): 48, Ken Paxton (R): 46, Ted Brown (L): 3.

· AR-Gov: Hendrix College for Talk Business & Politics:

o Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-inc): 51, Fred Love (D): 32, Colt Shelby (L): 11.

o Aug.: 45-40 Sanders.

· NE-Gov: Public Policy Polling for Lynne Walz:

o Jim Pillen (R-inc): 44, Walz (D): 43, Brett Lindstrom (America First): 5, Rick Beard (Legal Marijuana Now): 3.

o Pillen (R-inc): 48, Walz (D): 46.

· NH-Gov: NPA:

o Kelly Ayotte (R-inc): 54, Cinde Warmington (D): 38, Stephen Villee (L): 3.

· TX-Gov: UH:

o Greg Abbott (R-inc): 49, Gina Hinojosa (D): 46, Pat Dixon (L): 2.

· CA-34: Center for Strategic Politics for Angela Gonzales-Torres:

o Gonzales-Torres (D): 48, Jimmy Gomez (D-inc): 38.

· ME-02: Tulchin Research for Matt Dunlap:

o Dunlap (D): 50, Paul LePage (R): 46.

o Sept.: 50-48 Dunlap

· OH-01: Torchlight Strategies for Eric Conroy:

o Greg Landsman (D-inc): 46, Conroy (R): 44, Nathan Weise (L): 5.

· PA-10: Susquehanna Polling & Research:

o Janelle Stelson (D): 49, Scott Perry (R-inc): 46.

ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN – FROM USA TODAY

ATTACHMENT FOURTEEN – FROM USA TODAY

Updated Oct. 12, 2026, 8:56 p.m. ET

A new Focaldata/Financial Times poll released on Oct. 11 shows former Vice President Kamala Harris and current Vice President JD Vance as the leading potential candidates in the Democratic and Republican primaries for the 2028 presidential election.

As buzz around potential 2028 presidential candidates grows, a new poll shows clear frontrunners in hypothetical Democratic and Republican primaries.

In a new Focaldata/Financial Times poll released Sunday, Oct. 11, it was a battle of the VPs: Former Vice President Kamala Harris and current Vice President JD Vance both led their respective party’s potential primary.

According to the survey, Harris leads among Democrats with 30% support, followed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom at 15% and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tied at 9%.

On the other side of the aisle, Vance leads with 38% of Republicans, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 24%, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis receiving 9% of support from GOP respondents.

The poll surveyed 2,553 U.S. adults from Oct. 2 to Oct. 5, according to Focaldata.

IS ANYONE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?

No, but many have started to signal their potential bids in recent weeks.

In September, Newsom told CNN he would not run in 2028 if Harris decided to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination again. In a podcast appearance in August, Buttigieg said he was “more inclined than not” to make another run for the White House.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, said he was “kicking the tires” at a potential run in 2028 in an appearance on NBC’s "Meet the Press" in August.

On the Republican side, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has fueled speculation about another White House bid.

"It’s no secret that I want to be president," Cruz said in August on Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s podcast.

Others, like Rubio, haven't been so direct.

"I don't know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time," Rubio said during an official visit to Colombia in September. "I'm not a candidate for anything right now. And I’m 100% focused on my job."

ATTACHMENT FIFTEEN – FROM AXIOS

KELLY'S SENATE REELECTION PLANS ARE UP IN AIR

By Jeremy Duda

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly is eyeing the 2028 presidential race, but he also has a big decision to make: whether to seek reelection.

Why it matters: Kelly's decision will affect the plans of potential candidates for a highly competitive Senate seat on both sides of the aisle.

State of play: Kelly tells Axios that he'll make a decision about the 2028 Senate race after this year's election, same as the presidential campaign.

· "Right now … this election is the one I'm focused on. I'll make a decision about this on the other side of this election," he says.

Zoom in: Kelly could run for both, even if he's the eventual Democratic presidential nominee — presidential and vice presidential candidates are permitted to run simultaneously for another federal office in Arizona.

· Kelly won't have to file signatures to get on the ballot for a Senate reelection campaign until March 20, 2028.

The first Democratic presidential primary of 2028, in South Carolina, is scheduled for Jan. 22 and Super Tuesday will be March 7.

· That means Kelly could see how he fares in the decisive earlier primaries before making a final decision on the Senate race.

What they're saying: Kelly wouldn't say what his reelection decision might be contingent on, telling Axios, "What other people do is not going to influence what I do."

· "My decision will be what I think, first, what's in the best interest of the country, and then what's in the best interest of my family," he says.

· But, he adds, "Certainly it would make sense for me to think about the other implications of this."

The intrigue: Democrats who would only be interested in the Senate seat if it's open won't be able to launch their campaigns until he announces his plans, which would put them in a tough spot.

Yes, but: Potential Democratic candidates can still work behind the scenes to lay groundwork by building relationships and support ahead of time, former Arizona Democratic Party chair Raquel Terán tells Axios.

· "I think that's already happening," she says.

But Democratic campaign consultant Joe Wolf says that kind of early maneuvering is too risky.

· Concrete support will be hard to come by until people know Kelly's plans and word would get out quickly, he tells Axios, "and all you've done is front-run a sitting senator, which is never a place to be."

Meanwhile, Kelly's plans could influence prospective Republican candidates' decisions as well.

· There are probably potential GOP candidates who would run for an open Senate seat but wouldn't run against Kelly, who's a formidable opponent, Republican campaign consultant Matt Kenney tells Axios.

· That could be especially true for Republicans who would have to decide whether to run for reelection for offices they currently hold.

· "It will be a much more crowded race if Sen. Kelly does run for president," Kenney said.

Among Kelly’s current plans are a bill on AI, summarized by AI Overview - DJI

Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a widely discussed potential 2028 presidential contender, introduced the Make AI Work for Americans Act in September 2026 to address the impact of artificial intelligence on the U.S. workforce. [1, 2, 3]

Key Details of Kelly’s AI Initiative

· The Bill: Kelly formally introduced the Make AI Work for Americans Act following a Senate floor address. [1, 2]

· The AI Horizon Fund: The legislation establishes a fund overseen by a council of experts—including representatives from labor, higher education, and workforce development—to support workers displaced or affected by AI. [1]

· Funding Mechanism: The program is designed to be financed by new artificial intelligence and digital advertising taxes levied on large technology companies, requiring Big Tech to invest back into the American workforce. [1, 2, 3]

· Support Offered: Resources from the fund are targeted toward job training, enhanced unemployment benefits, and assistance for workers starting their own businesses. [1]

· Broader Political Context: The move marks a strategic shift for several potential 2028 Democratic contenders—including Kelly and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro—as they pivot toward stronger AI and data-center guardrails and workforce protections to get ahead of rising voter anxiety regarding automation. [1, 2]

ATTACHMENT SIXTEEN – FROM CNN

How J. B. Pritzker’s midterm investments could pay off in a 2028 White House bid

By Patrick Svitek Updated Oct 18, 2026

As potential 2028 presidential candidates crisscross the country to campaign in the midterms, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is wielding an advantage that none of the others can match: his massive personal wealth.

The billionaire has funneled nearly $40 million to Democratic candidates and groups in the midterms, donating to everything from the party’s biggest super PACs to state legislative campaigns. As part of that, he’s helping to fund a $20 million effort in the final weeks of the midterms to support Democratic efforts to push deeper into red territory in their bid to capture the House majority.

“This is it,” Pritzker said in an interview.

Pritzker has long been a top donor to the Democratic Party, but his midterm giving has unfolded as he considers joining what is expected to be a crowded 2028 presidential primary — and is serving multiple political purposes.

He’s boosting Democratic campaigns in the first states on the party’s revamped 2028 primary calendar. He’s working to patch up bruised relationships inside the party that he would need for a presidential bid, particularly with the Congressional Black Caucus. And he’s become a unique force in Texas, including by giving more than $1 million to the Democratic nominee for governor, Gina Hinojosa, as her Latino allies plead for more national investment.

Pritzker, who is expected to cruise to victory in his own reelection race next month, said he understands why political observers would try to view his midterm donations as hints at his 2028 plans. But he said that would be “inaccurate” and noted his long history of political giving, estimating he has given to “virtually every state party in the country” throughout his adult life.

“This is not my first rodeo,” he said.

Other potential White House hopefuls are pouring money into the midterms. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are among those with their own nationally focused PACs. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York tapped her huge campaign war chest on Friday to send $1 million to Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed.

Other potential 2028 candidates, especially Buttigieg, have sought to show their broad appeal by making regular trips to Republican-leaning areas to campaign directly alongside candidates. Pritzker has not done as many of those trips, opting instead for large party gatherings and private fundraisers. And in some races where he has donated to Democrats, their Republicans have sought to turn him into a boogeyman, portraying him as a liberal out-of-state elite.

But Pritzker, who has an estimated net worth of $4.2 billion, is in a financial league of his own.

Democrats whom Pritzker has supported say his money has made a difference in tangible and targeted ways.

In Michigan, a $500,000 donation from Pritzker to the state Democratic Party has helped fund an expansion of organizing statewide that includes 25 offices and 80 people, according to the party’s chairman, Curtis Hertel.

Hertel said he tells potential presidential candidates, “I gotta win in 2026 before I worry about 2028.” The state has a slew of hotly contested statewide races that will determine whether Democrats can remain in charge heading into another presidential election.

“If you care about ’28 and the presidency, investing in Michigan is your best option,” Hertel said.

HITTING THE EARLY STATES

Some of Pritzker’s giving could be especially helpful in states that will vote early in the 2028 Democratic nomination process. Pritzker gave $100,000 to a super PAC that supported Stefany Shaheen in the September primary for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. She prevailed and is poised to be heavily courted in 2028 with New Hampshire going third among early voting states.

And in a somewhat unusual move, Pritzker’s Ready for the Fight PAC recently took over $2.8 million in ad reservations supporting New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez in his competitive reelection race, freeing up money for the House Majority PAC as it tries to play more offense. Like Michigan, New Mexico is a new addition to the early-state window, slated to hold its primary a week after New Hampshire in February 2028.

Democrats who have benefited from Pritzker’s money say he and his aides are rigorous about the investments. One said he is “not just throwing money” at Democratic causes.

“His team looks under the hood, looks for a competent staff, [asks], ‘Can he make a difference?’” the Democrat said.

In Michigan, Hertel said he met with Pritzker shortly after he became chair last year and “walked him through the organizing work that we were doing and what the impact of his dollars could be.” Hertel said they talk “on a regular basis” and he speaks with Pritzker’s staff “a lot.”

In Nevada, Pritzker aides join in on weekly strategy sessions to pass a ballot measure to create a state constitutional right to abortion. Pritzker has donated $650,000 to the campaign for the ballot measure.

“We rely on them,” said Mini Timmaraju, president of Reproductive Freedom for All. “The check is important, but having staff capacity — that’s great too.”

MENDING FENCES WITH THE CBC

Pritzker’s money is also helping repair his relationship with the Congressional Black Caucus after he went against one of their members, Rep. Robin Kelly, in the Illinois Senate primary earlier this year. Pritzker instead backed his lieutenant governor — Juliana Stratton, who is also Black — and spent $10 million winning her the nomination.

After the primary, Pritzker met with CBC members, “locked hands” and promised to generally help them grow their ranks in the midterms, according to a source familiar with his interactions with the caucus.

“He’s followed through on that commitment in areas that really matter to the caucus,” the source said, pointing to how Pritzker’s Ready for the Fight PAC is spending for Chris Jones in Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District, Shomari Figures in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District and Justin Pearson in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.

Yet the source cautioned that Pritzker is just one of many potential presidential candidates who are already courting the caucus ahead of 2028.

Asked about Pritzker’s midterm donations, Rep. Joyce Beatty, a CBC member from Ohio who previously chaired the caucus, echoed a sentiment she shared after the Illinois primary.

“The Democratic candidate for president that prevails has to go through the CBC,” she said, calling the group “very strategic.”

Pritzker said he and his staff remain in touch with CBC leaders, as well as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the major party committees. He said he was trying to use Ready for the Fight PAC to “to make sure that we’re kind of broadening the battlefield, forcing Republicans to pull resources away from those mainline races.”

“We might turn this into a 30- or 35- or 40-seat win in the House, and that’s not to mention this could be 52 or 53 seats for Democratic senators,” Pritzker said. “And then we’ve got to do everything we can to support Black candidates, particularly post-the terrible voting rights decision that was made by the Supreme Court.”

Jones’ race has become especially exciting to Black Democrats as he gains momentum against GOP Rep. French Hill, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, in a solidly red district in Arkansas. Jones has also been endorsed by other potential 2028 candidates, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and Buttigieg.

A Democrat working on some of the House races that Ready for the Fight PAC is targeting said they all have “huge minority populations” that are important for Democrats to figure out how to turn out more reliably in off-year elections. “All of these are winnable with additional resources,” the Democrat said.

In some House races, Republican candidates have sought to make Pritzker’s financial backing a political liability. After Ready for the Fight PAC began spending in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, the Republican candidate, Greg Cunningham, released a statement saying that the “liberal billionaire governor of Illinois is coming to Gabe Vasquez’s rescue because they share the same far left values.”

INVESTING IN TEXAS

Pritzker has been especially focused on Texas, where he has built a unique relationship with state Democratic lawmakers after hosting them in Illinois during a quorum break last year. He has made four trips to the state this cycle, most recently leading a news conference responding to the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas.

The delegate-rich state is not part of the early voting window but usually holds its primary days later in early March.

The chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, Kendall Scudder, said Pritzker’s $100,000 donation to the party is helping fund its voter protection program. But Scudder said he was most grateful for the “time and effort” that Pritkzer has taken to getting to know Texas Democrats, who’ve long fashioned themselves as scrappy red-state underdogs.

“You’ve got to throw down and fight back and not play it safe. He gets that,” Scudder said.

Pritzker’s money has been especially closely watched in the Texas governor’s race.

Pritzker first donated $200,000 to Hinojosa’s gubernatorial campaign on September 18, about two weeks after dozens of Latino leaders sent Beshear, the Democratic Governors Association chairman, a letter asking him to invest $10 million in the race. While Beshear has resisted that larger sum, he spoke with Hinojosa on September 29 and told her the DGA would commit $1 million to the race, according to two sources familiar with the conversation. Pritzker has since announced donating another $1 million to Hinojosa.

“Once [Pritzker] showed he believed in us, it helped open the door for a lot of other people to believe in us,” said Rebecca Katz, a Democratic strategist working for Hinojosa.

Pritzker downplayed any tensions with Beshear over the contest.

“Let’s not overlook this race is all I would say,” he said. “It’s not about the DGA. It’s about Democratic givers broadly recognizing the opportunity here.”

ATTACHMENT SEVENTEEN – FROM

X58 FROM CBS

With early race for 2028 fast approaching, 3 more Democrats slated to join summit to plot out future

By Jared Ochacher Updated on: October 20, 2026 / 2:09 PM EDT / CBS News

Nine days after next month's midterm elections, three prominent Democrats  who are widely believed to have presidential ambitions will join other potential 2028 party contenders in Denver to discuss the future of the party.

Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, as well as Rep. Ro Khanna of California, are among the latest additions who plan to join the "What's Next" summit, according to an updated list of attendees first shared with CBS News. 

All three lawmakers identify as progressives, and all three have drawn national attention over their political ambitions in recent years. Booker ran for president in 2020 but dropped out before the first primary contests. Khanna has described himself as a "long-shot presidential candidate," and Van Hollen has acknowledged that he is "kicking the tires" on a possible 2028 run. 

The three have also introduced tax plans that could be precursors to 2028 platforms.

The meeting will take place from Nov. 12 to 14, and is being hosted by Majority Democrats, a group formed last year by largely moderate elected officials and other high-profile Democrats who say they are "committed to reshaping and growing the Democratic Party."  

Chaired by Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, the organization says it aims to take lessons from the 2026 races into the upcoming presidential election, in part by bringing together leading voices from across different factions within the party.

"Democrats have talked a big game about building a 'big tent' that can hold onto a majority. The sad reality is, we were all hat, no cattle when it came time to live up to those ideals," said Matt Corridoni, a spokesperson for Majority Democrats. "What's Next is an opportunity for Democrats from every wing of the party to have the open and often difficult conversations we need to win in 2028."

The three latest entrants join an initial lineup of other possible presidential candidates including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Sens. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.

Govs. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey plan to attend, as well as other members of Congress and political strategists.

Democrats hope to win control of the House in November's midterm elections and carry the momentum into the 2028 presidential race. 

Many feel the party has not settled on a political identity after losing the White House in 2024, and moderate and progressive Democrats disagree on the party's direction. That split has not helped the party win over voters: In a February CBS News poll, most voters described the Democratic Party as "weak." 

Presidential contenders could begin launching their campaigns in the coming months, and some possible 2028 candidates have sought to raise their profile on the midterm trail, appearing alongside Democrats in key states. New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and former Vice President Kamala Harris have both visited Michigan this fall to campaign with Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. California Gov. Gavin Newsom campaigned in New Hampshire last weekend with Rep. Chris Pappas, who is in a tight race for Senate. 

Organizers chose to hold the inaugural What's Next summit in Denver as it is one of the cities under consideration to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Over 2,000 people are expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the planning.

"Winning in 2028 will require us coming together to take the best ideas from every corner of the Democratic Party and forging them into an agenda that can build a durable majority and deliver for the American people," said executive director of Majority Democrats Rohan Patel. 

ATTACHMENT EIGHTEEN – FROM AI OVERVIEW

Potential Democratic presidential candidates

As of September 2026, the following politicians and public figures were discussed in the media as potential candidates for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. This list does not reflect whether a candidate has said they do or do not plan on running.

Politicians

Name	Office held	Running in 2026	Expressed interest?^[1]	Source
Andy Beshear	Governor of Kentucky	No	Expressed interest	Source
Cory Booker	U.S. Senator from New Jersey	Yes	Expressed interest	Source
Pete Buttigieg	Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation	No	Expressed interest	Source
Jason Crow	U.S. Representative from Colorado's 6th Congressional District	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Rahm Emanuel	Former Mayor of Chicago	No	Expressed interest	Source
John Fetterman	U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Ruben Gallego	U.S. Senator from Arizona	No	Expressed interest	Source
Josh Green	Governor of Hawaii	Yes	Expressed interest	Source
Michelle Lujan Grisham	Governor of New Mexico	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Kamala Harris	Former Vice President	No	Expressed interest	Source
Maura Healey	Governor of Massachusetts	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Mark Kelly	U.S. Senator from Arizona	No	Expressed interest	Source
Ro Khanna	U.S. Representative from California's 17th Congressional District	Yes	Expressed interest	Source
Mitch Landrieu	Former mayor of New Orleans	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Wes Moore	Governor of Maryland	Yes	Speculated by the media^[2]	Source
Chris Murphy	U.S. Senator from Connecticut	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Phil Murphy	Former Governor of New Jersey	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Gavin Newsom	Governor of California	No	Has visited early primary states	Source
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez	U.S. Representative from New York's 14th Congressional District	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Jon Ossoff	U.S. Senator from Georgia	Yes	Speculated by the media^[2]	Source
J.B. Pritzker	Governor of Illinois	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Josh Shapiro	Governor of Pennsylvania	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Elissa Slotkin	U.S. Senator from Michigan	No	Expressed interest	Source
Chris Van Hollen	U.S. Senator from Maryland	No	Expressed interest	Source
Raphael Warnock	U.S. Senator from Georgia	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Gretchen Whitmer	Governor of Michigan	No	Expressed interest	Source

Public figures

Name	Office held	Running in 2026	Expressed interest?^[1]	Source
Don Lemon	News anchor	No	Expressed interest	Source

Declined to run for the Democratic nomination

Name	Office held	Running in 2026	Source
Stephen A. Smith	Television personality and sports journalist	No	Source 1 Source 2
Mark Cuban	Television personality and businessman	No	Source
Jared Polis	Governor of Colorado	No	Source
Gina Raimondo	Former Secretary of Commerce	No	Source
Bernie Sanders	U.S. Senator from Vermont	No	Source
Tim Walz	Governor of Minnesota	No^[3]	Source

A19

– FROM AI OVERVIEW 2028 ON CANDIDATE KAMALA HARRIS

FORMER VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS LEADS EARLY 2028 DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE POLLS, THOUGH SHE HAS STATED SHE IS STILL UNDECIDED AND FOCUSED ON THE 2026 MIDTERMS. [1, 2, 3]

2028 Presidential Outlook

· Polling Status: A Focaldata/Financial Times poll shows Harris leading potential 2028 Democratic primary candidates with 30% support, ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom at 15%. [1]

· Campaign Status: Harris has stated she is "thinking about it" regarding a 2028 run, but maintains that her primary focus is campaigning for Democrats in the 2026 midterms across key states like Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire. [1, 2, 3]

· Field Dynamics: Other frequently mentioned potential contenders include Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jon Ossoff. [1, 2]

Stance on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

· Regulation & Oversight: Harris advocates for stricter federal regulations, growth promotion, and the creation of a new federal entity to handle independent testing and oversight of AI systems. [1, 2]

· International Policy: She has proposed pursuing international AI safety agreements and treaties with nations like China to limit the technology's rapid development pace and establish mutual testing standards. [1]

ATTACHMENT TWENTY – FROM AP

ATLANTA (AP) — Kamala Harris is building out her final fall campaign blitz on behalf of other Democrats, completing a midterm schedule that by Election Day will have taken her to multiple early presidential primary states on Democrats’ 2028 calendar as the former vice president mulls whether to seek the White House again.

Spanning from Oct. 21 to Oct. 30, Harris’ expanded closing stretch will now include New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Mississippi, along with a Florida virtual event, according to a schedule her office shared first with The Associated Press. Harris already had announced late October stops in Georgia and Nevada.

Harris has said in multiple recent interviews that she’s focused on helping Democrats win in November. But she has not ruled out another presidential campaign after losing the 2024 general election to Donald Trump.

“For the past twenty months, the American people have struggled as a consequence of the cruelty and corruption of this current administration,” Harris wrote in a fundraising email Wednesday to donors asking them to support her travels via her Fight for The People PAC. “Now is the time for us to be ruthless in delivering for the people: on affordability, on fighting corruption, and on making our voices heard.”

Her late October tour focuses on nominees for governor and U.S. Senate, including pairings that put the first Black woman to serve as vice president alongside potential history-making candidates.

Harris will open Oct. 21 in Nevada with Aaron Ford, the state’s first Black attorney general who would be the state’s first Black governor, and other candidates. She’ll also meet with Culinary Workers Union members. Nevada holds the second 2028 presidential nominating contest, after South Carolina.

On Oct. 22, she will be in Mississippi with Scott Colom, who would be the state’s first Black U.S. senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction. Colom has recently begun to garner more attention from national Democrats as he faces Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

From Mississippi, Harris will head to New Hampshire on Oct. 24 to campaign with Senate nominee Chris Pappas and participate in a discussion on reproductive care and abortion rights. As vice president, Harris was the Biden White House’s foremost abortion rights advocate, especially during the 2022 midterm campaign. New Hampshire comes third in Democrats’ 2028 primary order.

Harris and Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley will campaign together Oct. 26. Harris will finish with a three-day swing in Georgia that begins Oct. 28. She will campaign with Sen. Jon Ossoff, attend voter protection events and speak Oct. 30 at the Fulton County Democratic Party’s annual gala in Atlanta.

While in Georgia, Harris will headline a virtual organizing event with Florida Senate nominee Angie Nixon, who would be her state’s first Black U.S. senator. That will put Harris, who hails from the Democrats’ liberal establishment, alongside one of the party’s most progressive nominees. A state lawmaker, Nixon identifies as a democratic socialist and draws support from many left-flank activists who in 2024 criticized Harris as too moderate.

The itinerary follows earlier in-person and online campaign appearances and fundraisers, along with voter protection and organizing events Harris helped lead, including for the Democratic National Committee. Most recently, Harris was in Michigan to campaign for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed — another notable progressive Democratic nominee — and speak at an NAACP event.

ATTACHMENT NINETEEN – FROM

AI OVERVIEW 2028 candidate kamala harris

Former Vice President Kamala Harris leads early 2028 Democratic presidential preference polls, though she has stated she is still undecided and focused on the 2026 midterms. [1, 2, 3]

2028 Presidential Outlook

· Polling Status: A Focaldata/Financial Times poll shows Harris leading potential 2028 Democratic primary candidates with 30% support, ahead of California Governor Gavin Newsom at 15%. [1]

· Campaign Status: Harris has stated she is "thinking about it" regarding a 2028 run, but maintains that her primary focus is campaigning for Democrats in the 2026 midterms across key states like Michigan, Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire. [1, 2, 3]

· Field Dynamics: Other frequently mentioned potential contenders include Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jon Ossoff. [1, 2]

Stance on Artificial Intelligence (AI)

· Regulation & Oversight: Harris advocates for stricter federal regulations, growth promotion, and the creation of a new federal entity to handle independent testing and oversight of AI systems. [1, 2]

· International Policy: She has proposed pursuing international AI safety agreements and treaties with nations like China to limit the technology's rapid development pace and establish mutual testing standards. [1]

ATTACHMENT TWENTY – FROM

X12 X12 FROM AP

ATLANTA (AP) — Kamala Harris is building out her final fall campaign blitz on behalf of other Democrats, completing a midterm schedule that by Election Day will have taken her to multiple early presidential primary states on Democrats’ 2028 calendar as the former vice president mulls whether to seek the White House again.

Spanning from Oct. 21 to Oct. 30, Harris’ expanded closing stretch will now include New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Mississippi, along with a Florida virtual event, according to a schedule her office shared first with The Associated Press. Harris already had announced late October stops in Georgia and Nevada.

Harris has said in multiple recent interviews that she’s focused on helping Democrats win in November. But she has not ruled out another presidential campaign after losing the 2024 general election to Donald Trump.

“For the past twenty months, the American people have struggled as a consequence of the cruelty and corruption of this current administration,” Harris wrote in a fundraising email Wednesday to donors asking them to support her travels via her Fight for The People PAC. “Now is the time for us to be ruthless in delivering for the people: on affordability, on fighting corruption, and on making our voices heard.”

Her late October tour focuses on nominees for governor and U.S. Senate, including pairings that put the first Black woman to serve as vice president alongside potential history-making candidates.

Harris will open Oct. 21 in Nevada with Aaron Ford, the state’s first Black attorney general who would be the state’s first Black governor, and other candidates. She’ll also meet with Culinary Workers Union members. Nevada holds the second 2028 presidential nominating contest, after South Carolina.

On Oct. 22, she will be in Mississippi with Scott Colom, who would be the state’s first Black U.S. senator since post-Civil War Reconstruction. Colom has recently begun to garner more attention from national Democrats as he faces Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

From Mississippi, Harris will head to New Hampshire on Oct. 24 to campaign with Senate nominee Chris Pappas and participate in a discussion on reproductive care and abortion rights. As vice president, Harris was the Biden White House’s foremost abortion rights advocate, especially during the 2022 midterm campaign. New Hampshire comes third in Democrats’ 2028 primary order.

Harris and Wisconsin gubernatorial nominee David Crowley will campaign together Oct. 26. Harris will finish with a three-day swing in Georgia that begins Oct. 28. She will campaign with Sen. Jon Ossoff, attend voter protection events and speak Oct. 30 at the Fulton County Democratic Party’s annual gala in Atlanta.

While in Georgia, Harris will headline a virtual organizing event with Florida Senate nominee Angie Nixon, who would be her state’s first Black U.S. senator. That will put Harris, who hails from the Democrats’ liberal establishment, alongside one of the party’s most progressive nominees. A state lawmaker, Nixon identifies as a democratic socialist and draws support from many left-flank activists who in 2024 criticized Harris as too moderate.

The itinerary follows earlier in-person and online campaign appearances and fundraisers, along with voter protection and organizing events Harris helped lead, including for the Democratic National Committee. Most recently, Harris was in Michigan to campaign for Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed — another notable progressive Democratic nominee — and speak at an NAACP event.

A21X83 the hill X36 FROM THE HILL

Vance says he thinks Trump will endorse him if he runs

by Mira Bhakta - 10/20/26 11:03 AM ET

Vice President Vance said on Monday that if he runs for the GOP presidential nomination in 2028, President Trump “would endorse” him amid speculation over whether he will announce a bid.

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race,” Vance said in an interview with 2WAY. “And because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let like this race play out and not preemptively prejudge the results.’” 

“Like sometimes you know media scrutiny, pressure, policy. I can be terrible at it, and that is the sort of thing that maybe you know, so I don’t know,” he continued.

Vance stated he had never spoken with Trump about potentially running for president, adding, “if I run, I think the president would endorse me. But I also haven’t talked to him about it yet.”

The vice president has reiterated multiple times he is focused on the 2026 midterm election, though many see him as the heir apparent to the Republican Party after Trump exits the White House.

A Focaldata/Financial Times poll found 38 percent of respondents picked Vance as the Republican nominee in 2028 over his perceived top contender, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Trump has also repeatedly egged on the competition between Vance and Rubio for the 2028 Republican nomination. Vance even jokingly likened the competition to the president’s former reality show, “The Apprentice.”

Rubio told donors and other allies that he will not run, particularly against Vance, sources told The Hill.

The vice president has also appeared at numerous rallies alongside Trump on his red state campaign blitz, with one Republican operative telling The Hill that he “will continue to be another fantastic surrogate on the trail.”

“He’s able to reach voters where they’re at across the Midwest and beyond,” the Republican operative added. 

In August, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) denied that the Republican Party had coalesced around Vance as a 2028 nominee, saying the party will first have a “full discussion about who we are and what we believe.”

21 rcp

2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination

Latest Polymarket Odds: Ocasio-Cortez 17% | Newsom 16% | Ossoff 14% | Harris 7%

pollster	date	Harris	Newsom	Buttigieg	Ocasio-Cortez	Ossoff	Kelly	Shapiro	Beshear	Pritzker	Whitmer	Khanna	spread
RCP Average	7/19 - 10/19	25.9	14.4	12.9	11.1	8.6	6.5	5.7	4.0	3.2	2.0	0.7	Harris+11.5
Echelon Insights**	10/15 - 10/19	19	14	13	12	5	7	4	2	2	1	0	Harris+5
Financial Times	10/3 - 10/6	30	15	9	9	8	5	5	3	—	—	0	Harris+15
Harvard-Harris	9/26 - 9/28	38	17	11	12	6	—	7	—	5	—	—	Harris+21
Big Data Poll	9/13 - 9/15	27	16	10	10	6	5	6	4	—	3	—	Harris+11
Harvard-Harris	8/28 - 8/30	42	18	9	9	7	—	7	—	4	—	—	Harris+24
Morning Consult	8/28 - 8/30	24	12	9	—	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	Harris+12
Quantus Insights	8/26 - 8/28	8	7	26	15	21	—	—	—	—	—	—	Buttigieg+5
Rasmussen Reports	8/2 - 8/4	37	14	10	9	4	9	6	—	2	—	—	Harris+23
Emerson	7/19 - 7/20	8	17	19	13	13	—	5	7	3	—	2	Buttigieg+2

RealClearPolitics Poll Average

A22

Poll DataFilter by Pollster

	pollster		date		Harris	Newsom	Buttigieg	Ocasio-Cortez	Ossoff	Kelly	Shapiro	Beshear	Pritzker	Whitmer		Khanna	spread
	RCP Average		7/19 - 10/19		25.9	14.4	12.9	11.1	8.6	6.5	5.7	4.0	3.2	2.0		0.7	Harris+11.5
	Echelon Insights**		10/15 - 10/19		19	14	13	12	5	7	4	2	2	1		0	Harris+5
	Financial Times		10/3 - 10/6		30	15	9	9	8	5	5	3	—	—		0	Harris+15
	Harvard-Harris		9/26 - 9/28		38	17	11	12	6	—	7	—	5	—		—	Harris+21
	Echelon Insights**		9/17 - 9/21		24	14	10	8	8	7	3	2	2	2		0	Harris+10
	Big Data Poll		9/13 - 9/15		27	16	10	10	6	5	6	4	—	3		—	Harris+11
	Financial Times		8/28 - 9/2		29	14	9	11	7	6	8	3	—	—		1	Harris+15
	Harvard-Harris		8/28 - 8/30		42	18	9	9	7	—	7	—	4	—		—	Harris+24
	Morning Consult		8/28 - 8/30		24	12	9	—	7	—	—	—	—	—		—	Harris+12
	Quantus Insights		8/26 - 8/28		8	7	26	15	21	—	—	—	—	—		—	Buttigieg+5
	Echelon Insights**		8/13 - 8/17		18	12	13	11	5	7	6	2	3	2		1	Harris+5
	Financial Times		8/7 - 8/11		26	15	13	9	5	6	8	1	—	—		1	Harris+11
	Rasmussen Reports		8/2 - 8/4		37	14	10	9	4	9	6	—	2	—		—	Harris+23
	Big Data Poll		7/26 - 7/29		30	14	7	9	6	5	7	4	—	3		—	Harris+16
	Emerson		7/19 - 7/20		8	17	19	13	13	—	5	7	3	—		2	Buttigieg+2
	Daily Mail		7/17 - 7/20		31	14	9	7	4	—	5	—	—	—		—	Harris+17
	Harvard-Harris		7/11 - 7/12		37	24	10	9	—	—	9	—	5	—		—	Harris+13
	Echelon Insights**		7/9 - 7/13		21	14	13	9	3	4	7	3	3	2		1	Harris+7
	Quantus Insights		7/3 - 7/7		35	18	13	11	—	—	7	—	—	—		—	Harris+17
	Morning Consult		7/3 - 7/6		26	20	10	7	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	Harris+6
	Financial Times		6/26 - 6/29		33	15	8	9	2	5	7	2	3	—		—	Harris+18
	Big Data Poll		6/26 - 6/28		29	16	10	8	4	6	7	2	—	4		—	Harris+13
	Daily Mail		6/24 - 6/26		29	15	11	6	2	5	4	3	3	2		1	Harris+14
	Echelon Insights**		6/11 - 6/14		20	14	14	12	2	4	6	2	3	2		1	Harris+6
	Financial Times		5/29 - 6/1		37	17	8	7	2	5	3	3	2	—		—	Harris+20
	Harvard-Harris		5/29 - 5/31		44	26	—	8	—	—	10	—	7	—		—	Harris+18
	I&I/TIPP		5/26 - 5/28		31	14	6	5	1	4	6	2	3	2		1	Harris+17
	Emerson		5/24 - 5/25		10	16	18	11	—	—	10	9	4	—		1	Buttigieg+2
	Big Data Poll		5/24 - 5/27		29	16	10	9	2	6	5	3	—	2		—	Harris+13
	Rasmussen Reports		5/18 - 5/20		34	12	10	11	—	9	9	4	2	—		—	Harris+22
	Echelon Insights**		5/14 - 5/18		23	17	10	11	1	6	5	2	4	4		1	Harris+6
	Atlas Intel		5/4 - 5/7		13	21	22	26	—	—	2	—	—	1		1	AOC+4
	Financial Times		5/1 - 5/5		38	16	9	9	1	6	5	2	3	—		—	Harris+22
	Harvard-Harris		4/23 - 4/26		50	22	—	8	—	—	9	—	6	—		—	Harris+28
	Echelon Insights**		4/17 - 4/20		22	21	12	10	2	3	5	2	3	2		1	Harris+1
	YouGov**		4/8 - 4/13		24	12	9	9	—	5	4	2	3	1		—	Harris+12
	Harvard-Harris		3/25 - 3/26		41	26	—	8	—	—	10	—	7	—		—	Harris+15
	Daily Mail		3/18 - 3/20		22	19	11	7	2	5	8	3	3	2		0	Harris+3
	Echelon Insights**		3/12 - 3/16		21	19	9	11	1	4	5	3	2	2		1	Harris+2
	Daily Mail		2/25 - 2/27		23	19	10	7	1	5	5	2	4	3		0	Harris+4
	Harvard-Harris		2/25 - 2/26		39	24	—	14	—	—	10	—	6	—		—	Harris+15
Emerson		2/21 - 2/22		13	20	16	9	—	—	7	5	3	2		—	Newsom+4
Echelon Insights**		2/19 - 2/23		18	24	8	9	1	4	4	2	4	2		0	Newsom+6
Yahoo News		2/9 - 2/12		18	19	13	12	—	9	—	—	6	—		—	Newsom+1
Harvard-Harris		1/28 - 1/29		39	30	—	12	—	—	9	—	7	—		—	Harris+9
I&I/TIPP		1/27 - 1/29		38	13	5	2	2	3	4	2	3	2		—	Harris+25
Rasmussen Reports		1/25 - 1/27		34	20	10	7	—	—	10	—	—	—		—	Harris+14
Echelon Insights**		1/22 - 1/26		21	27	8	9	—	4	3	2	3	3		0	Newsom+6
Big Data Poll		1/22 - 1/24		31	22	12	6	—	—	6	3	—	3		—	Harris+9
YouGov**		1/9 - 1/14		20	17	8	9	—	7	2	2	3	0		—	Harris+3
Daily Mail		12/17 - 12/19		30	21	7	3	1	4	4	2	3	2		1	Harris+9
Atlas Intel		12/15 - 12/19		8	35	15	16	—	—	6	6	—	2		2	Newsom+19
Echelon Insights**		12/11 - 12/15		22	23	11	6	—	2	4	3	5	2		—	Newsom+1
Big Data Poll		12/10 - 12/12		31	20	10	6	—	—	6	4	—	3		—	Harris+11
Morning Consult		11/14 - 11/16		29	20	8	7	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	Harris+9
Atlas Intel		9/12 - 9/16		21	37	12	11	—	—	2	3	—	0		—	Newsom+16
Yahoo News		8/29 - 9/2		19	21	10	12	—	—	4	—	7	2		—	Newsom+2
Emerson		8/25 - 8/26		11	25	16	4	—	—	5	2	4	2		—	Newsom+9
Morning Consult		8/22 - 8/24		29	19	9	6	—	—	4	—	3	2		—	Harris+10
Atlas Intel		7/13 - 7/18		15	16	27	19	—	—	3	—	—	1		—	Buttigieg+8
Emerson		6/24 - 6/25		13	12	16	7	—	—	7	2	2	3		—	Buttigieg+3
Morning Consult		6/13 - 6/15		34	11	7	7	—	—	2	1	2	2		—	Harris+23
Atlas Intel		5/21 - 5/27		17	7	32	19	—	—	5	0	0	—		—	Buttigieg+13
J.L. Partners**		5/13 - 5/14		30	7	8	6	—	—	7	—	—	—		—	Harris+22
Quantus Insights		4/21 - 4/23		30	7	13	14	—	—	5	—	—	—		—	Harris+16
Atlas Intel		4/10 - 4/14		24	7	28	16	—	—	—	3	—	9		—	Buttigieg+4
Data for Progress (D)		4/9 - 4/14		18	8	14	12	—	—	5	2	4	4		—	Harris+4
Morning Consult		3/14 - 3/16		36	5	10	5	—	—	4	2	2	2		—	Harris+26
Daily Mail		2/2 - 2/3		30	8	8	5	—	—	5	2	3	3		—	Harris+22
HarrisX**		11/26 - 11/26		22	7	7	3	—	—	—	—	—	—		—	Harris+12
Emerson		11/20 - 11/22		37	7	4	1	—	—	3	0	1	3		—	Harris+30

ATTACHMENT TWENTY THREE – FROM

X36 X83 the hill X36 FROM THE HILL

Vance says he thinks Trump will endorse him if he runs

by Mira Bhakta - 10/20/26 11:03 AM ET

Vice President Vance said on Monday that if he runs for the GOP presidential nomination in 2028, President Trump “would endorse” him amid speculation over whether he will announce a bid.

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race,” Vance said in an interview with 2WAY. “And because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let like this race play out and not preemptively prejudge the results.’” 

“Like sometimes you know media scrutiny, pressure, policy. I can be terrible at it, and that is the sort of thing that maybe you know, so I don’t know,” he continued.

Vance stated he had never spoken with Trump about potentially running for president, adding, “if I run, I think the president would endorse me. But I also haven’t talked to him about it yet.”

The vice president has reiterated multiple times he is focused on the 2026 midterm election, though many see him as the heir apparent to the Republican Party after Trump exits the White House.

A Focaldata/Financial Times poll found 38 percent of respondents picked Vance as the Republican nominee in 2028 over his perceived top contender, Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

Trump has also repeatedly egged on the competition between Vance and Rubio for the 2028 Republican nomination. Vance even jokingly likened the competition to the president’s former reality show, “The Apprentice.”

Rubio told donors and other allies that he will not run, particularly against Vance, sources told The Hill.

The vice president has also appeared at numerous rallies alongside Trump on his red state campaign blitz, with one Republican operative telling The Hill that he “will continue to be another fantastic surrogate on the trail.”

“He’s able to reach voters where they’re at across the Midwest and beyond,” the Republican operative added. 

In August, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) denied that the Republican Party had coalesced around Vance as a 2028 nominee, saying the party will first have a “full discussion about who we are and what we believe.”

While differentiating in order of probability below the top spot, the polls more or less confirm that possible Democratic nominees for the 2028 number about eleven as opposed to ten for the Republicans. (There is always the chance that an outlier outlaw will crash the party through charisma, a change in circumstances raising whole new issues, or just some celebrity from out of nowhere... rather as Donald Trump manifested in 2016),

These aside, Democrats, as above (excerpts x01) and in order of their accumulated polling strength, begin with front-runner Harris (biodrops) who has been lauded and applauded for who she is and would be... the second black, first woman and first black woman Chief Executive... and dreaded by the recollectionists recalling the clumsy 2004 campaign when at least some of ex-Prez and wannabee Restorationist Donnie DeTermagain’s defects were vocal and visible.

An AI overview of the leader of the pack... wolf, to some, rat to others but, given the party animal, more of a herd... Google had this to say of Kamalala (with, AI at hand, an emphasis on an issue somewhat less presently portentious than the war or kitchen table, but quickly gaining substance) – specifically...

ATTACHMENT TWENTY FOUR – FROM WASHPOST

X57 vance v. cruz JD Vance excerpt

The vice president, whom many Republicans see as the party’s heir apparent, has been traveling across the country to energize the GOP’s base as the party grows anxious that it could possibly lose both chambers of Congress this year.

Vance touched down in Michigan on Thursday for a midterms rally. In recent weeks, he has also visited Iowa, Texas, Florida, Ohio and Alaska.

Ted Cruz

Cruz, who ran for president in 2016, has been making moves that are classic for a candidate eyeing the White House and has said he wants to be part of the GOP’s discussion for 2028.

Cruz has traveled to Iowa three times this year. Like many of the possible contenders from both parties, he has ramped up his appearances on podcasts and broadcast television and has promoted his recently released book, a biography about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

This month, Vance told NBC News: “It is really obvious to me, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president. At this moment, I’m not. I’m trying to help elect Republicans.”

Days later, Cruz hit back, saying Vance was feeling “insecure.”

“He’s welcome to make whatever comments he likes,” Cruz told Politico. “I’m going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days.”

John Kennedy

The U.S. senator from Louisiana has been a prolific surrogate for Republicans locked in competitive Senate races this year. Kennedy has stumped in Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Alaska, Kansas and Michigan recently, and he said he may return to Texas and Alaska again before Election Day.

This month, Kennedy, whose term ends in 2029, said he plans to run for reelection to the Senate but would consider a White House bid if he thinks he can no longer be effective in Congress.

“I would consider it,” Kennedy told NBC News. “What’s the old Judds song? Why not me on a rainy day? Why not me to love your blues away?”

He added: “On my side of the aisle, if a bunch of goobers run, and I think they’re goobers and one of the goobers might win, and I think I could do a better job, I would consider running.”

X82, x59 el paso times above excerpt

X83, the hill above excerpt

Other pubs

ATTACHMENT TWENTY FIVE – FROM POLYMARKET

2028 Republican Presidential Nomination

Latest Polymarket Odds: Vance 47% | Rubio 13% | Carlson 3%

pollster	date	Vance	Rubio	Trump Jr.	DeSantis	Kennedy Jr.	Haley	Cruz	Carlson	Ramaswamy	Youngkin	spread
RCP Average	7/19 - 10/6	39.1	23.8	11.1	7.3	4.6	3.8	2.6	2.0	1.5	1.0	Vance+15.3
Financial Times	10/3 - 10/6	38	24	7	9	4	—	2	1	1	—	Vance+14
Harvard-Harris	9/26 - 9/28	39	17	24	—	9	5	—	5	—	—	Vance+15
Echelon Insights**	9/17 - 9/21	38	20	6	8	3	—	3	2	2	1	Vance+18
Big Data Poll	9/13 - 9/15	38	16	—	8	6	6	4	2	—	1	Vance+22
Harvard-Harris	8/28 - 8/30	44	21	18	—	7	3	—	3	—	—	Vance+23
Morning Consult	8/28 - 8/30	36	22	—	8	5	—	—	—	—	—	Vance+14
Quantus Insights	8/26 - 8/28	41	29	9	6	—	—	—	0	—	—	Vance+12
Rasmussen Reports	7/20 - 7/22	39	27	9	7	3	4	2	—	—	—	Vance+12
Emerson	7/19 - 7/20	39	38	5	5	0	1	2	1	—	—	Vance+1

RealClearPolitics Poll Average

47%J.D. Vance 13%Marco Rubio 3%Tucker Carlson

Republican Presidential Nominee 2028 Odds

ATTACHMENT TWENTY SIX – FROM AI OVERVIEW

X33 X33 ai overview 2028 candidate – Other

Potential Republican presidential candidates

As of September 2026, the following politicians and public figures were discussed in the media as potential candidates for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. This list does not reflect whether a candidate has said they do or do not plan on running.

Politicians

Name	Office held	Running in 2026	Expressed interest?^[1]	Source
Greg Abbott	Governor of Texas	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Don Bacon	U.S. Representative from Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District	No	Expressed interest	Source
Katie Britt	U.S. Senator from Alabama	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Chris Christie	Former Governor of New Jersey	No	Expressed interest	Source
Tom Cotton	U.S. Senator from Arkansas	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
Ted Cruz	U.S. Senator from Texas	No	Expressed interest	Source
Ron DeSantis	Governor of Florida	No	Expressed interest	Source
Tulsi Gabbard	Former Director of National Intelligence	No	Expressed interest	Source
Brian Kemp	Governor of Georgia	No	Speculated by the media	Source
John Kennedy	U.S. Senator from Louisiana	No	Expressed interest	Source
Rand Paul	U.S. Senator from Kentucky	No	Expressed interest	Source
Mike Pompeo	Former Secretary of State	No	Expressed interest	Source
Marco Rubio	Secretary of State	No	Expressed interest^[4]	Source
Sarah Huckabee Sanders	Governor of Arkansas	Yes	Speculated by the media	Source
J.D. Vance	Vice President	No	Expressed interest	Source
Glenn Youngkin	Former Governor of Virginia	No	Speculated by the media	Source

Public figures

Name	Office held	Running in 2026	Expressed interest?^[1]	Source
Steve Bannon	Former senior advisor to Donald Trump (R)	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Tucker Carlson	Political commentator	No	Speculated by the media	Source
Donald Trump Jr.	Businessman and political advisor	No	Expressed interest	Source

Declined to run

Name	Office held	Running in 2026	Source
Spencer Cox	Governor of Utah	No	Source
Nikki Haley	Former Ambassador to the United Nations	No	Source
Josh Hawley	U.S. Senator from Missouri	No	Source
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.	Secretary of Health and Human Services	No	Source
Mike Pence	Former Vice President	No	Source

INTERNATIONAL COMMENTARY...

ATTACHMENT TWENTY SEVEN – FROM AL JAZEERA

TRUMP DIALS UP ISLAMOPHOBIA AGAINST ABDUL EL-SAYED AT MICHIGAN SENATE RALLY

By Ali Harb

Published On 26 Oct 202626 Oct 2026

Port Huron, Michigan – United States President Donald Trump has sharpened his anti-Muslim attacks against Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, going so far as to suggest that Christmas would be cancelled if the progressive doctor won.

Trump visited Michigan on Sunday to shore up support for Republican candidates in the Midwestern state ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.

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But from his podium, he levelled unfounded allegations against El-Sayed, including calling him a “jihadist”.

“He would be the only senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he’s allowed to go into the Senate,” Trump said of El-Sayed.

“I want him to have a metal detector.”

The president, whose popularity has been slipping in part due to the US-Israel war on Iran, spoke for nearly two hours to hundreds of supporters.

His remarks largely focused on Michigan’s Senate election, which is one of only about seven toss-up races for the upper chamber of Congress.

El-Sayed faces Republican candidate Mike Rogers for the state’s open Senate seat, and the race is considered crucial for Republicans to retain control of the 100-member Senate.

If Rogers wins, he would flip a seat currently held by retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, leaving Democrats with the difficult task of flipping five other seats to regain control of the chamber.

Currently, Republicans have a 53-seat majority in the Senate. Only 35 Senate positions are up for election in 2026.

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Here are five key takeaways from the Republican event.

Trump doubles down on anti-Muslim attacks

While Trump has repeatedly targeted El-Sayed’s Muslim identity in recent weeks, including by misrepresenting the Democrat’s name as “Mohammed”, the US president took his rhetoric to new heights on Sunday.

Throughout the speech, Trump returned to themes related to El-Sayed’s Muslim faith, falsely accusing the candidate of wanting to impose Islamic law in the US.

“So Abdul… also wants our country to go to Sharia law, and if he ever pulls that off, he should be the first one that’s tried. I’ll be a witness,” Trump said, apparently imagining El-Sayed being tried in a religious court.

Several times during the rally, some attendees blurted out “traitor” when El-Sayed’s name was mentioned.

“I’m here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump said.

El-Sayed is a US-born citizen and former public health official who has pledged to uphold the Constitution. There is no evidence that he was ever a member of the Muslim Brotherhood or any foreign organisation.

Since Trump first ran for president during the 2016 election cycle, he has weaponised anti-Muslim bigotry for political gain.

In 2015, for instance – near the beginning of his first successful campaign – Trump said he would support “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”.

Less than two years later, Trump used the presidency to sign a short-lived executive order barring travel from multiple Muslim-majority countries, what became known as the “Muslim ban”.

In Sunday’s speech, Trump appealed once more to fears of Muslim immigration.

“If Abdul and the Democrats win, they will open the floodgates and invite hordes of jihadists to our shores, creating a nightmare of violence and terror until you cannot even have a Christmas,” Trump said.

El-Sayed has previously largely dismissed the anti-Muslim rhetoric against him as an attempt to create “distractions”, saying he is focused more on domestic issues, including lowering the cost of living and expanding access to healthcare.

A demonstrator poses in front of a trailer adorned with pro-Trump slogans in Port Huron, Michigan [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]

Rogers embraces Trump

With Trump’s approval ratings plummeting, some Republican candidates in tight races have kept their distance from the president.

Rogers has previously called for an end to the Iran war and expressed reservations about Trump’s tariff campaign, urging an end to the trade war with Canada, which borders Michigan.

But Rogers attended Sunday’s rally and took the stage alongside Trump in a display of mutual support.

A survey by the research firm Marketing Resource Group suggested earlier this month that only 35 percent of voters in Michigan view Trump positively.

Rogers set the tone for the anti-Muslim attacks against El-Sayed earlier in the rally, also claiming the Democrat is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, a political movement in Egypt designated as a “terrorist” group by the US this year.

As a congressman, however, Rogers voted in 2012 to continue US aid to Egypt under Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi.

In Sunday’s speech, Rogers also tried to paint El-Sayed as part of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), but unlike other progressives, El-Sayed is not a member of the left-wing group.

“This DSA-affiliated candidate is also taking a lot of money from organizations that support the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hezbollah,” Rogers said, without offering evidence.

All three groups are designated as “terrorist” organisations in the US, making it illegal to provide any material support to them.

Trump unapologetic about Iran

On Sunday, the average price of a gallon (3.8 litres) of petrol in Michigan was $4.83, up from $2.91 before the start of the war on Iran.

Tehran has restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz in response to the war, sending energy prices soaring.

Trump initially promised the conflict would only last four to six weeks.

But nearly eight months after the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, the conflict is showing no signs of concluding.

On Sunday, Trump said he has no regrets about the war.

“I made that decision, and I have no second guess,” Trump told the crowd.

He added that he thought petrol prices would have increased by much more than they had. He also defended his decision by referencing the threat of nuclear warfare.

“The number one state sponsor of terror is Iran by far, and we had to make sure they didn’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

Iran has denied seeking a nuclear weapon. It has long argued its uranium enrichment programme is for civilian energy production.

Before the war, Trump also argued that US strikes against Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities in June 2025 had completely “obliterated” the country’s nuclear programme.

‘We’re making a freaking fortune’

Despite the economic anxiety related to the cost of living and skyrocketing petrol prices, Trump bragged about the amount of profit US oil companies are making from the war.

Demand for energy products has increased globally in recent months, as supply chains tighten.

“Our country is making hundreds of billions of dollars because of what’s happened in the Middle East, because they’re coming to Texas, and they’re coming to Oklahoma, and they’re coming to Louisiana, and they’re taking that oil,” Trump said. “They’re making hundreds of billions of dollars.”

Trump added that his advisers asked him not to bring up this issue because “people are paying a little higher” for petrol and gas.

“I could just see the fake headline: ‘President Trump is talking about all the money they’re making while people are suffering at the pump.’ That’ll be the headline. I said, ‘I don’t give a damn. I’m going to say it. We’re making a freaking fortune,'” the US president said.

Trump can still mobilise Republican base

A line of Trump supporters stretched several blocks outside the rally on Sunday.

Attendees, dressed in Make America Great Again (MAGA) gear, filled the hockey arena where Trump spoke.

The crowd roared and laughed with Trump, with attendees frequently blurting out expressions of admiration for the president and insults against his opponents, especially El-Sayed.

Trump may appear politically on the back foot amid dwindling popularity and mounting anger over inflation and the Iran war.

But the president has highlighted his continued ability to mobilise his core MAGA base, often pointing to his crowd size as a metric for his success as a campaigner.

The audience remained engaged and seated throughout the speech on Sunday.

At one point, the address took a bizarre turn as the president spoke about the backside of Jon Husted, a Republican incumbent from Ohio competing in another tight Senate race.

“I looked at his a**, and I’ve never done that with a man before. Women? Yes. Men? No,” Trump said.

The US president also complimented the derriere of the rapper Nicki Minaj, one of his prominent supporters in attendance.

“By the way, I looked at one hell of a beautiful a** before: Nicki Minaj. That’s hard to miss,” Trump said.

The crowd cheered.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY EIGHT – FROM

FROM ISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS

Oct 21, 2026, 6:21 AM (GMT+3)

US President Donald Trump declined Tuesday to commit to endorsing Vice President JD Vance in the 2028 presidential election, despite Vance's recent comments expressing confidence that he would receive the President's support if he decided to run.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office alongside Vance, Trump praised his Vice President but emphasized that discussions about the next presidential election were premature.

“He’s a very talented person and he’s a very good person," Trump said when asked about a possible endorsement.

“I don’t think we’ve ever talked about it," the President added, turning toward Vance.

“No, sir. I said that too," Vance responded.

Trump then reiterated that neither had raised the subject privately.

“Who would believe that?" Trump said, “I don’t talk about it with him. He doesn’t talk about it [with me]. It’s early. We have to get through the midterms. We’ll see how it goes."

The exchange followed Vance's interview Monday with journalist Mark Halperin on 2Way, during which the Vice President said he believed Trump would support his candidacy if he entered the 2028 Republican presidential primary.

However, Vance also acknowledged that Trump might prefer to allow Republican candidates to compete before making an endorsement.

“I think I would get his endorsement, but I also think there’s something to be said for people actually running their own race," Vance said. “And because the president’s endorsement is so dispositive, you could absolutely see a scenario where the president says, ‘You know what? We need to let like this race play out and not preemptively prejudge the results.’"

Vance also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his own potential candidacy and the challenges that could arise during a presidential campaign.

“Like sometimes you know media scrutiny, pressure, policy. I can be terrible at it, and that is the sort of thing that maybe you know, so I don’t know," he continued.

The Vice President emphasized that his expectations about Trump's support were not based on any private agreement between them.

“if I run, I think the president would endorse me. But I also haven’t talked to him about it yet."

Vance has also made clear that he has not decided whether to seek the Republican nomination in 2028.

During a CBS News town hall in Michigan a day earlier, he acknowledged that he might ultimately choose not to run.

Asked whether there was a possibility he would stay out of the race, Vance replied, “Of course there’s a chance."

He explained that his wife, Usha, and their four young children would be important considerations in any decision about pursuing the presidency.

“We’ve got four little kids, my wife has never loved politics. She loves public service," Vance said.

“I think you know you can do a lot of good in this job, and I’ve tried to do as much good as possible."

Vance also acknowledged his tendency to postpone major personal decisions, suggesting that he was not eager to begin planning a presidential campaign.

“The way that I think about life, big life decisions - my wife will tell you this: I’m a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it," he said.

Related articles

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· 'Iran must make meaningful nuclear concessions to end war'

· JD Vance refuses to disavow Tucker Carlson

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The Vice President indicated that he would likely begin seriously evaluating his options after November's midterm elections, rather than while the administration remains focused on its current agenda.

Trump has previously referred to Vance as his “most likely" successor but has not formally endorsed him or any other potential Republican presidential candidate for 2028.

ATTACHMENT TWENTY NINE – FROM DW (Germany)

AUDI BOSS SLAMMED OVER TRUMP RALLY APPEARANCE

By Richard Connor

Audi on Monday issued a statement responding to "the current situation," as it coyly referred to the controversy following CEO Gernot Döllner's appearance with Donald Trump at an election rally in Georgia on Saturday.

Audi said that while a delegation was in Georgia for talks on its plans to open a production site in the US, "we were asked to present our plans publicly together with the President of the United States."

"We accepted this invitation solely with Audi's best interests in mind," the company wrote. "At the same time, we acknowledge that the circumstances surrounding the announcement may have been perceived as a political signal. We take this very seriously."

Audi said that it remained "firmly committed" to its values and principles but also said it had a "responsibility" to safeguard the company's economic future and believed these responsibilities went "hand in hand." 

The company noted that it was currently not making a profit in the US, the second-largest premium car market on the planet, saying that producing in the country could help it rectify this and help secure Audi's "long-term success." 

Despite expressing an intention to "provide context" on the decision and the approach taken, the statement neither named CEO Döllner or US President Trump, mentioned the upcoming US midterm elections, or spoke to the perceived poor judgment in Döllner appearing at a Republican Party campaign rally weeks before the vote. 

Audi hopes that its plans to build SUVs in the US can revive the company's fortunesImage: AFP

The luxury carmaker is set to open its first factory in the United States — a move Trump credits to his tariffs.

DW examines the German reaction amid a massive auto industry cull at home.

Union chief condemns Audi boss's Trump rally appearance

Germany's IG Metall union chief Christiane Benner has sharply criticized Audi CEO Gernot Döllner for appearing onstage at a campaign rally with US President Donald Trump.

Benner called the appearance "deeply embarrassing, politically unacceptable" and unworthy of Audi and its employees. She also accused Döllner of breaching the company's political neutrality rules.

Audi's code of conduct, published in April and signed by Döllner, bars public appearances with parties or politicians standing for election, and sponsorship of their events, during the three months before a vote.

Trump announced plans for an Audi factory in Georgia at Saturday's rally, with Döllner alongside him. The plant would produce around 200,000 vehicles annually, mainly large SUVs.

Benner stressed that the project still required approval, with the final decision "rightly and importantly" resting with Volkswagen's supervisory board, "with the full picture in mind."

She said employee representatives wanted safeguards for German sites alongside a clear North American strategy for Volkswagen and Audi. While acknowledging the US market's importance, she said IG Metall's priority was employment prospects in Germany.

ATTACHMENT “A” – FROM WIKIPEDIA

2028 UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in the United States on November 7, 2028, to elect the president and vice president to a four-year term, with the winners scheduled to be inaugurated on January 20, 2029.

Incumbent Republican president Donald Trump is ineligible to run for a third term due to the term limits established by the 22nd Amendment to the United States Constitution. As a result, this is the first election since 2012 where Trump is not the Republican nominee.

Background

Main articles: 2024 United States presidential election and Second presidency of Donald Trump

The Republican Party returned to power in the United States in January 2025 with a government trifecta—controlling the Senate, House of Representatives, and the presidency—following the 2024 elections. Donald Trump, who was elected president in 2016 before losing a re-election bid in 2020 to Joe Biden, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, who immediately began her campaign following Biden's withdrawal from his re-election bid. Trump's victory was attributed to a post-pandemic surge in inflation,^[a] and a migrant crisis at the US–Mexico border,^[b] amidst the global anti-incumbent backlash.^[7][8][9] In March 2024, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Trump v. Anderson that Trump could seek office after challenges to his ballot eligibility were raised by several state attorneys general.^[10]

JD Vance, a U.S. senator from Ohio, was selected as Trump's running mate^[11] and subsequently elected vice president.

In addition, Republicans secured control of the Senate, flipping four seats and earning a three-seat majority, while also retaining a House majority, though the party's majority narrowed to three seats after losing two seats.^[12]

Electoral system

Main article: United States Electoral College

See also: United States presidential primary and Primary elections in the United States

The president and vice president of the United States are elected through the Electoral College, determined by the number of senators and representatives with an additional three representatives for Washington, D.C. A majority of 270 votes is needed to win the election. 48 states use a winner-take-all system, in which states award all of their electors to the winner of the popular vote. In Maine and Nebraska, two votes are allocated to the winner of the popular vote, while each of the individual congressional districts have one vote. Electoral votes are cast by state electors in December and are counted by Congress on January 6.^[13] Presidential candidates are selected in a presidential primary, conducted through primary elections run by state governments or caucuses run by state parties which bind convention delegates to candidates.^[14] A brokered convention occurs when a candidate does not receive a majority of votes on the first round of voting,^[15] or when a candidate withdraws.^[16]

Election Day in the United States is held on the first Tuesday that falls after the first Monday in November.^[17] The 2028 presidential election will occur on November 7, 2028.

REPUBLICAN PARTY PRIMARIES and LIKELY CANDIDATES

Main article: 2028 Republican Party presidential primaries

Declared

Candidate	Born	Experience	State	Announcement date	Campaign	Ref
Dan Greaney	September 28, 1964 (age 62) Duxbury, Massachusetts	Television writer	California	May 26, 2026	FEC filing^[40] Website	^[41]
Royce White	April 10, 1991 (age 35) Minneapolis, Minnesota	Former NBA player	Minnesota	August 12, 2026	FEC filing^[42]	^[43]

Exploratory committee

Candidate	Born	Experience	State	Exploratory committee announced	Ref
Gregory Bovino	March 27, 1970 (age 56) San Bernardino County, California	Commander-at-large of U.S. Border Patrol (2025–2026)	California	June 8, 2026	^[44]

Expressed interest

Individuals who have expressed an interest in running for the Republican presidential nomination^[c]

·

Representative
Don Bacon
from Nebraska
(2017–present)

·

Former Governor
Chris Christie
from New Jersey
(2010–2018)

·

Senator
Ted Cruz
from Texas
(2013–present)

· Governor
Ron DeSantis
of Florida
(2019–present)

·

Senator
John Kennedy
from Louisiana
(2017–present)

· Senator
Rand Paul
from Kentucky
(2011–present)

·

Vice President
JD Vance
from Ohio
(2025–present)

Speculated by the media

Potential Republican candidates^[d]

·

Governor
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
of Arkansas
(2023–present)

·

Governor
Brian Kemp
of Georgia
(2019–present)

·

Representative
Thomas Massie
of Kentucky
(2012–present)

·

Former Governor
Glenn Youngkin
of Virginia
(2022–2026)

DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRIMARIES and LIKELY CANDIDATES

Main article: 2028 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Expressed interest

Individuals who have expressed an interest in running for the Democratic presidential nomination^[e]

·

Governor
Andy Beshear
of Kentucky
(2019–present)

·

Former Secretary of Transportation
Pete Buttigieg
from Michigan
(2021–2025)

·

Former Ambassador
Rahm Emanuel
from Illinois
(2022–2025)

·

Former Vice President
Kamala Harris
from California
(2021–2025)

· Senator
Mark Kelly
from Arizona
(2020–present)

· Representative
Ro Khanna
from California
(2017–present)

·

Former news anchor
Don Lemon
from Louisiana

·

Governor
Gavin Newsom
of California
(2019–present)
(won't run if Harris runs)

· Representative
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
from New York
(2019–present)

·

Senator
Elissa Slotkin
from Michigan
(2025–present)

·

Senator
Chris Van Hollen
from Maryland
(2017–present)

·

Governor
Gretchen Whitmer
of Michigan
(2019–present)

Speculated by the media

Potential Democratic candidates^[f]

·

Senator
Chris Murphy
from Connecticut
(2013–present)

·

Governor
JB Pritzker
of Illinois
(2019–present)

·

Governor
Josh Shapiro
of Pennsylvania
(2023–present)

· Senator
Raphael Warnock
from Georgia
(2021–present)

ATTACHMENT “B” – FROM REAL CLEAR POLLING

IN THE POLLS, THIS WEEK... From RCP 10/18/2026 – 10/22/2026

See more specific polls among these...

All Election Polls | 2026 Polls - Senate | Governor | House | 2028 Polls | SOTU Polls | All Latest Polls

Thursday, October 22
RACE 2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico	POLL FOX News	RESULTS Talarico 49, Paxton 49	SPREAD Tie
2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa	FOX News	Abbott 52, Hinojosa 47	Abbott+5
2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico	Emerson*	Talarico 49, Paxton 48	Talarico+1
2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa	Emerson*	Abbott 49, Hinojosa 45	Abbott+4
2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown	FOX News	Brown 52, Husted 47	Brown+5
2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton	FOX News	Acton 50, Ramaswamy 48	Acton+2
2026 North Carolina Senate - Whatley vs. Cooper	Carolina Journal/Harper*	Cooper 49, Whatley 39	Cooper+10
2026 South Dakota Senate - Rounds vs. Bengs	Emerson	Rounds 50, Bengs 42	Rounds+8
2026 South Dakota Senate - Rounds vs. Bengs	Quantus Insights	Rounds 57, Bengs 37	Rounds+20
2026 Pennsylvania Governor - Garrity vs. Shapiro	Franklin & Marshall	Shapiro 59, Garrity 36	Shapiro+23
President Trump Job Approval	Rasmussen Reports	Approve 42, Disapprove 57	Disapprove+15
President Trump Job Approval	CNBC	Approve 40, Disapprove 59	Disapprove+19
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	CNBC	Democrats 52, Republicans 45	Democrats+7

Race

Wednesday, October 21

2026 Michigan Senate - Rogers vs. El-Sayed

Marist

El-Sayed 50, Rogers 48

El-Sayed+2

2026 Michigan Governor - James vs. Benson

Marist

Benson 51, James 45

Benson+6

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

Cook Political Report*

Talarico 49, Paxton 44

Talarico+5

2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa

Cook Political Report*

Abbott 48, Hinojosa 46

Abbott+2

2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek

Cook Political Report*

Hinson 44, Turek 46

Turek+2

2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand

Cook Political Report

Sand 53, Lahn 43

Sand+10

2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown

Cook Political Report*

Brown 49, Husted 43

Brown+6

2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton

Cook Political Report*

Acton 49, Ramaswamy 44

Acton+5

2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon

Univ. of North Florida

Moody 49, Nixon 45

Moody+4

2026 Florida Governor - Donalds vs. Jolly

Univ. of North Florida

Donalds 49, Jolly 47

Donalds+2

2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon

co/efficient*

Moody 48, Nixon 40

Moody+8

2026 Florida Governor - Donalds vs. Jolly

co/efficient

Donalds 49, Jolly 40

Donalds+9

2026 Georgia Senate - Collins vs. Ossoff

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ossoff 48, Collins 40

Ossoff+8

2026 California Governor - Hilton vs. Becerra

Emerson

Becerra 60, Hilton 33

Becerra+27

2026 California Governor - Hilton vs. Becerra

Politico/Citrin

Becerra 55, Hilton 35

Becerra+20

2026 New York Governor - Blakeman vs. Hochul

Quinnipiac

Hochul 55, Blakeman 41

Hochul+14

2026 Alabama Governor - Tuberville vs. Jones

Alabama Daily News

Tuberville 51, Jones 40

Tuberville+11

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

CNN

Democrats 49, Republicans 39

Democrats+10

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

NY Times/Siena

Democrats 52, Republicans 41

Democrats+11

Race	Poll	Results	Spread
Tuesday, October 20
2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown	Marist	Brown 48, Husted 44	Brown+4
2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton	Marist	Acton 50, Ramaswamy 43	Acton+7
2026 Montana Senate - Alme vs. Bankhead vs. Bodnar vs. Austin	Quantus Insights	Alme 44, Bodnar 28, Bankhead 21, Austin 2	Alme+16
2026 North Carolina Senate - Whatley vs. Cooper	Elon University*	Cooper 52, Whatley 39	Cooper+13
2026 Georgia Governor - Jackson vs. Lance Bottoms	Atlanta Journal-Constitution	Jackson 46, Lance Bottoms 45	Jackson+1
2026 Massachusetts Senate - Deaton vs. Markey	Boston Globe/Suffolk*	Markey 60, Deaton 32	Markey+28
2026 Massachusetts Governor - Minogue vs. Healey	Boston Globe/Suffolk*	Healey 59, Minogue 36	Healey+23
2026 Alabama Senate- Moore vs. Wess	The Alabama Poll	Moore 56, Wess 35	Moore+21
2026 Alabama Governor - Tuberville vs. Jones	The Alabama Poll	Tuberville 51, Jones 39	Tuberville+12
2026 Rhode Island Senate - McKay vs. Reed	Pell Center/Embold	Reed 55, McKay 32	Reed+23
2026 Rhode Island Governor - Multi-Candidate	Pell Center/Embold	Foulkes 39, Block 28, Guckian 17, Gotra 1	Foulkes+11
2026 Alaska Senate - Sullivan vs. Peltola	Data for Progress	Peltola 51, Sullivan 49	Peltola+2
2026 Alaska Senate - RCV 1st Round	Data for Progress	Peltola 47, Sullivan 44, Heikes 1, J. Sullivan 4	Peltola+3
2026 Alaska Govenor - Wilson vs. Kreiss-Tompkins	Data for Progress	Kreiss-Tomkins 53, Wilson 47	Kreiss-Tomkins+6
2026 Alaska Govenor - Wilson vs. Kreiss-Tompkins	Alaska Survey Research**	Kreiss-Tomkins 55, Wilson 45	Kreiss-Tomkins+10
2026 Alaska Governor - RCV 1st Round	Alaska Survey Research**	Kreiss-Tomkins 50, Wilson 30, Bronson 12, Taylor 8	Kreiss-Tomkins+20
2026 Alaska Governor - RCV 1st Round	Data for Progress	Kreiss-Tomkins 46, Wilson 28, Bronson 12, Taylor 9	Kreiss-Tomkins+18
2026 Alaska At-Large District - Begich vs. Hill	Data for Progress	Begich 51, Hill 49	Begich+2
2026 Alaska At-Large District - RCV 1st Round	Data for Progress	Begich 48, Hill 42, Hafner 5, McDermott 1	Begich+6
President Trump Job Approval	Rasmussen Reports	Approve 42, Disapprove 56	Disapprove+14
2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination	Echelon Insights**	Harris 19, Newsom 14, Buttigieg 13, Ocasio-Cortez 12, Ossoff 5, Kelly 7, Shapiro 4, Beshear 2, Pritzker 2, Whitmer 1, Khanna 0	Harris+5
2028 Republican Presidential Nomination	Echelon Insights**	Vance 38, Rubio 20, Trump Jr. 7, DeSantis 12, Kennedy Jr. 2, Haley , Cruz 4, Carlson 1, Ramaswamy 0, Youngkin 0	Vance+18
Ask your AIWhich races moved the most this week?Connect RCP Polls to your AI
Monday, October 19
2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico	University of Houston*	Talarico 48, Paxton 46	Talarico+2
2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa	University of Houston*	Abbott 49, Hinojosa 46	Abbott+3
2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon	Univision/YouGov	Moody 51, Nixon 42	Moody+9
2026 Florida Governor - Donalds vs. Jolly	Univision/YouGov	Donalds 50, Jolly 42	Donalds+8
2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown	Rasmussen Reports*	Brown 47, Husted 49	Husted+2
2026 Georgia Senate - Collins vs. Ossoff	Quantus Insights	Ossoff 52, Collins 45	Ossoff+7
2026 Georgia Governor - Jackson vs. Lance Bottoms	Quantus Insights	Jackson 48, Lance Bottoms 47	Jackson+1
2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek	co/efficient	Hinson 49, Turek 46	Hinson+3
2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand	co/efficient	Sand 49, Lahn 45	Sand+4
2026 Alaska Senate - RCV 1st Round	Rasmussen Reports	Peltola 44, Sullivan 42, Heikes 4, J. Sullivan 3	Peltola+2
2026 Massachusetts Senate - Deaton vs. Markey	WCVB-TV/Amherst*	Markey 56, Deaton 29	Markey+27
2026 Massachusetts Governor - Minogue vs. Healey	WCVB-TV/Amherst*	Healey 57, Minogue 32	Healey+25
2026 South Dakota Governor - Rhoden vs. Ahlers	SDNW/Mason-Dixon	Rhoden 56, Ahlers 36	Rhoden+20
2026 Arkansas Governor - Sanders vs. Love vs. Shelby	Talk Business/Hendrix College	Huckabee Sanders 51, Love 32, Shelby 11	Huckabee Sanders+19
2026 Pennsylvania Governor - Garrity vs. Shapiro	PennLive	Shapiro 58, Garrity 28	Shapiro+30
2026 Connecticut Governor - Fazio vs. Lamont	WFSB-TV/CT Insider	Lamont 56, Fazio 33	Lamont+23
President Trump Job Approval	Reuters/Ipsos	Approve 34, Disapprove 65	Disapprove+31
President Trump Job Approval	Morning Consult	Approve 42, Disapprove 56	Disapprove+14
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	Morning Consult	Democrats 50, Republicans 43	Democrats+7
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	Reuters/Ipsos	Democrats 47, Republicans 35	Democrats+12
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	Rasmussen Reports	Democrats 48, Republicans 44	Democrats+4
Direction of Country	Rasmussen Reports	Right Direction 36, Wrong Track 61	Wrong Track+25

Poll

Results

Spread

Sunday, October 18

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

CBS News

Talarico 51, Paxton 49

Talarico+2

2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa

CBS News

Abbott 52, Hinojosa 48

Abbott+4

President Trump Job Approval

NBC News Decision Desk

Approve 39, Disapprove 61

Disapprove+22

President Trump Job Approval

ABC/Wash Post/Ipsos

Approve 38, Disapprove 62

Disapprove+24

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

ABC/Wash Post/Ipsos

Democrats 52, Republicans 44

Democrats+8

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

NBC News Decision Desk

Democrats 55, Republicans 45

Democrats+10

Direction of Country

NBC News Decision Desk

Right Direction 29, Wrong Track 71

Wrong Track+42

Direction of Country

ABC/Wash Post/Ipsos

Right Direction 29, Wrong Track 70

Wrong Track+41

Saturday, October 17

2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek

Trafalgar Group*

Turek 44, Hinson 46

Hinson+2

2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan

Trafalgar Group*

Flanagan 48, Tafoya 45

Flanagan+3

Poll

Results

Spread

Friday, October 16

2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown

Bowling Green/YouGov*

Brown 48, Husted 42

Brown+6

2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton

Bowling Green/YouGov*

Acton 50, Ramaswamy 44

Acton+6

2026 Michigan Senate - Rogers vs. El-Sayed

Rasmussen Reports*

El-Sayed 46, Rogers 44

El-Sayed+2

2026 Arkansas Senate - Cotton vs. Shoffner vs. Wadlin

Talk Business/Hendrix College

Cotton 50, Shoffner 41, Wadlin 5

Cotton+9

2026 Alabama Governor - Tuberville vs. Jones

RMG Research**

Tuberville 50, Jones 37

Tuberville+13

President Trump Job Approval

Rasmussen Reports

Approve 43, Disapprove 56

Disapprove+13

President Trump Job Approval

RMG Research

Approve 41, Disapprove 58

Disapprove+17

Thursday, October 15

2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek

Marist

Turek 48, Hinson 45

Turek+3

2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand

Marist

Sand 52, Lahn 45

Sand+7

2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan

KSTP/SurveyUSA*

Flanagan 45, Tafoya 42

Flanagan+3

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

InsiderAdvantage*

Talarico 48, Paxton 49

Paxton+1

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Jackson

InsiderAdvantage

Jackson 49, Collins 47

Jackson+2

2026 Kansas Senate - Marshall vs. Hamilton

InsiderAdvantage

Marshall 48, Hamilton 47

Marshall+1

2026 Minnesota Governor - Demuth vs. Klobuchar

KSTP/SurveyUSA*

Klobuchar 48, Demuth 41

Klobuchar+7

2026 Connecticut Governor - Fazio vs. Lamont

Emerson

Lamont 51, Fazio 38

Lamont+13

President Trump Job Approval

FOX News

Approve 36, Disapprove 64

Disapprove+28

President Trump Job Approval

AP/NORC**

Approve 36, Disapprove 64

Disapprove+28

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

AP/NORC**

Democrats 47, Republicans 38

Democrats+9

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

FOX News

Democrats 54, Republicans 45

Democrats+9

Wednesday, October 14

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

Marist

Talarico 47, Paxton 45

Talarico+2

2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa

Marist

Abbott 49, Hinojosa 45

Abbott+4

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

University of Texas*

Talarico 50, Paxton 47

Talarico+3

2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa

University of Texas*

Abbott 48, Hinojosa 49

Hinojosa+1

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Jackson

Suffolk University

Jackson 49, Collins 47

Jackson+2

2026 Maine Governor - Charles vs. Pingree

Suffolk University*

Pingree 49, Charles 38

Pingree+11

2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek

YouGov

Turek 47, Hinson 46

Turek+1

2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand

YouGov

Sand 50, Lahn 44

Sand+6

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

RMG Research**

Democrats 54, Republicans 43

Democrats+11

2026 Rhode Island Senate - McKay vs. Reed

WPRI/Emerson*

Reed 59, McKay 25

Reed+34

2026 Georgia Governor - Jackson vs. Lance Bottoms

InsiderAdvantage

Jackson 49, Lance Bottoms 47

Jackson+2

2026 Connecticut Governor - Fazio vs. Lamont

Quinnipiac

Lamont 58, Fazio 38

Lamont+20

2026 Virginia 2nd District - Kiggans vs. Luria

Christopher Newport Univ.

Luria 46, Kiggans 43

Luria+3

President Trump Job Approval

Economist/YouGov

Approve 39, Disapprove 60

Disapprove+21

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

Economist/YouGov

Democrats 49, Republicans 41

Democrats+8

Direction of Country

Economist/YouGov

Right Direction 29, Wrong Track 65

Wrong Track+36

Tuesday, October 13

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

ReconMR/Siena

Talarico 48, Paxton 44

Talarico+4

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

Quantus Insights*

Talarico 47, Paxton 47

Tie

2026 North Carolina Senate - Whatley vs. Cooper

WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA

Cooper 54, Whatley 40

Cooper+14

2026 North Carolina Senate - Whatley vs. Cooper

Carolina Forward/Change Res.*

Cooper 50, Whatley 40

Cooper+10

2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon

Stetson University**

Moody 52, Nixon 41

Moody+11

2026 Florida Governor - Donalds vs. Jolly

Stetson University**

Donalds 52, Jolly 41

Donalds+11

2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa

ReconMR/Siena

Abbott 48, Hinojosa 47

Abbott+1

2026 Arizona Governor - Biggs vs. Hobbs

Highground Public Affairs*

Hobbs 51, Biggs 34

Hobbs+17

2026 Rhode Island Governor - Multi-Candidate

WPRI/Emerson

Foulkes 44, Block 35, Guckian 10, Gotr 1

Foulkes+9

2026 Minnesota Governor - Demuth vs. Klobuchar

Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon

Klobuchar 50, Demuth 41

Klobuchar+9

2026 Minnesota 1st District - Finstad vs. Johnson

KAAL-TV/SurveyUSA

Johnson 46, Finstad 44

Johnson+2

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

NewsNation

Democrats 49, Republicans 42

Democrats+7

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

Cygnal

Democrats 51, Republicans 42

Democrats+9

Direction of Country

Cygnal

Right Direction 32, Wrong Track 63

Wrong Track+31

Monday, October 12

2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan

Star Tribune/Mason-Dixon

Flanagan 47, Tafoya 43

Flanagan+4

2026 North Carolina Senate - Whatley vs. Cooper

Trafalgar Group*

Cooper 49, Whatley 41

Cooper+8

2026 New Hampshire Governor - Ayotte vs. Warmington vs. Villee

co/efficient

Ayotte 55, Warmington 34, Villee 3

Ayotte+21

President Trump Job Approval

Morning Consult

Approve 42, Disapprove 56

Disapprove+14

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

Morning Consult

Democrats 50, Republicans 43

Democrats+7

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

Rasmussen Reports

Democrats 49, Republicans 44

Democrats+5

Direction of Country

Rasmussen Reports

Right Direction 33, Wrong Track 61

Wrong Track+28

Sunday, October 11

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Jackson

Rasmussen Reports

Jackson 49, Collins 47

Jackson+2

2026 South Carolina Senate - Graham Nordone vs. Andrews

Rasmussen Reports

Graham Nordone 49, Andrews 45

Graham Nordone+4

2026 Michigan Senate - Rogers vs. El-Sayed

InsiderAdvantage

El-Sayed 48, Rogers 46

El-Sayed+2

2026 Kansas Senate - Marshall vs. Hamilton

InsiderAdvantage

Marshall 47, Hamilton 48

Hamilton+1

2026 Alaska Senate - Sullivan vs. Peltola

InsiderAdvantage

Peltola 50, Sullivan 48

Peltola+2

2026 Alaska Senate - RCV 1st Round

InsiderAdvantage

Peltola 48, Sullivan 43, J. Sullivan 2, Heikes 2

Peltola+5

2026 New Mexico Governor - Hull vs. Haaland

Albuquerque Journal

Haaland 49, Hull 42

Haaland+7

President Trump Job Approval

Financial Times

Approve 36, Disapprove 58

Disapprove+22

2026 Generic Congressional Vote

Financial Times

Democrats 52, Republicans 44

Democrats+8

2028 Democratic Presidential Nomination

Financial Times

Sunday, October 11

Harris 30, Newsom 15, Buttigieg 9, Ocasio-Cortez 9, Ossoff 8, Kelly 5, Shapiro 5, Beshear 3, Pritzker , Whitmer , Khanna 0

Harris+15

2028 Republican Presidential Nomination

Financial Times

Vance 38, Rubio 24, Trump Jr. 7, DeSantis 9, Kennedy Jr. 4, Haley , Cruz 2, Carlson 1, Ramaswamy 1, Youngkin

Vance+14

Saturday, October 10

2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico

Trafalgar Group*

Talarico 47, Paxton 44

Talarico+3

2026 Georgia Senate - Collins vs. Ossoff

Trafalgar Group

Ossoff 51, Collins 43

Ossoff+8

Friday, October 9

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Jackson

Washington Post

Jackson 50, Collins 46

Jackson+4

2026 Maine Governor - Charles vs. Pingree

Washington Post*

Pingree 49, Charles 36

Pingree+13

2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek

Emerson*

Turek 45, Hinson 47

Hinson+2

2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand

Emerson

Sand 49, Lahn 45

Sand+4

2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan

Rasmussen Reports

Flanagan 48, Tafoya 45

Flanagan+3

2026 Minnesota Senate - Tafoya vs. Flanagan

Daily Agenda/Morning Consult

Flanagan 45, Tafoya 41

Flanagan+4

2026 Minnesota Governor - Demuth vs. Klobuchar

Daily Agenda/Morning Consult

Klobuchar 48, Demuth 39

Klobuchar+9

President Trump Job Approval

RMG Research*

Approve 43, Disapprove 56

Disapprove+13

Thursday, October 8

2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek

CNN

Turek 43, Hinson 45

Hinson+2

2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand

CNN

Sand 51, Lahn 42

Sand+9

2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown

CNN

Brown 49, Husted 43

Brown+6

Race	Poll	Results	Spread
Thursday, October 8
2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton	CNN	Acton 50, Ramaswamy 42	Acton+8
2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown	co/efficient	Brown 45, Husted 46	Husted+1
2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton	co/efficient*	Acton 43, Ramaswamy 45	Ramaswamy+2
2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico	UMass Lowell*	Talarico 45, Paxton 45	Tie
2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa	UMass Lowell*	Abbott 48, Hinojosa 44	Abbott+4
2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon	St. Pete Polls	Moody 47, Nixon 45	Moody+2
2026 Florida Governor - Donalds vs. Jolly	St. Pete Polls	Donalds 45, Jolly 45	Tie
2026 North Carolina Senate - Whatley vs. Cooper	East Carolina U.*	Cooper 50, Whatley 43	Cooper+7
2026 Oregon Governor - Drazan vs. Kotek	The Oregonian/DHM*	Kotek 46, Drazan 44	Kotek+2
2026 New York Governor - Blakeman vs. Hochul	Emerson	Hochul 52, Blakeman 40	Hochul+12
President Trump Job Approval	Pew Research	Approve 30, Disapprove 68	Disapprove+38
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	Pew Research	Democrats 44, Republicans 36	Democrats+8
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	Center Square/NPI**	Democrats 47, Republicans 42	Democrats+5
Wednesday, October 7
2026 Michigan Senate - Rogers vs. El-Sayed	Quantus Insights	El-Sayed 48, Rogers 47	El-Sayed+1
2026 Iowa Senate - Hinson vs Turek	Suffolk University*	Turek 48, Hinson 44	Turek+4
2026 Iowa Governor - Lahn vs. Sand	Suffolk University	Sand 55, Lahn 43	Sand+12
2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon	NBC 6/Mason-Dixon	Moody 50, Nixon 40	Moody+10
2026 Florida Governor - Donalds vs. Jolly	NBC 6/Mason-Dixon	Donalds 48, Jolly 41	Donalds+7
2026 Alaska Senate - Sullivan vs. Peltola	Alaska Survey Research**	Peltola 51, Sullivan 49	Peltola+2
2026 Alaska Senate - RCV 1st Round	Alaska Survey Research**	Peltola 47, Sullivan 45, J. Sullivan 5, Heikes 3	Peltola+2
2026 Pennsylvania Governor - Garrity vs. Shapiro	Quinnipiac*	Shapiro 59, Garrity 34	Shapiro+25
2026 Pennsylvania Governor - Garrity vs. Shapiro	Susquehanna	Shapiro 52, Garrity 31	Shapiro+21
2026 New York Governor - Blakeman vs. Hochul	Marist	Hochul 53, Blakeman 42	Hochul+11
2026 Generic Congressional Vote	Cygnal	Democrats 52, Republicans 43	Democrats+9
Tuesday, October 6
2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Jackson	Marist	Jackson 51, Collins 47	Jackson+4
2026 Maine Governor - Charles vs. Pingree	Marist*	Pingree 52, Charles 40	Pingree+12
2026 Michigan Senate - Rogers vs. El-Sayed	YouGov	El-Sayed 49, Rogers 48	El-Sayed+1
2026 Michigan Governor - James vs. Benson	YouGov	Benson 48, James 45	Benson+3
2026 Michigan Governor - James vs. Benson	Mitchell Research	Benson 46, James 39	Benson+7
2026 Texas Senate - Paxton vs. Talarico	YouGov	Talarico 50, Paxton 44	Talarico+6
2026 Texas Governor - Abbott vs. Hinojosa	YouGov	Abbott 47, Hinojosa 48	Hinojosa+1
2026 Ohio Senate Special Election - Husted vs. Brown	YouGov	Brown 49, Husted 45	Brown+4
2026 Ohio Governor - Ramaswamy vs. Acton	YouGov	Acton 48, Ramaswamy 44	Acton+4
2026 Kansas Senate - Marshall vs. Hamilton	YouGov	Marshall 45, Hamilton 48	Hamilton+3
2026 Kansas Governor - Masterson vs. Holscher	YouGov	Masterson 47, Holscher 44	Masterson+3
2026 New Hampshire Senate - Sununu vs. Pappas	YouGov	Pappas 51, Sununu 43	Pappas+8
2026 New Hampshire Senate - Sununu vs. Pappas	St. Anselm	Pappas 51, Sununu 44	Pappas+7
2026 New Hampshire Governor - Ayotte vs. Warmington	St. Anselm	Ayotte 52, Warmington 45	Ayotte+7
2026 New Hampshire Governor - Ayotte vs. Warmington	YouGov	Ayotte 49, Warmington 40	Ayotte+9
2026 Florida Senate Special Election - Moody vs. Nixon	YouGov	Moody 49, Nixon 44	Moody+5

X86 2028 Presidential General Election Polls

Latest Polymarket Odds: Vance (R) 21% | Ocasio-Cortez (D) 13% | Ossoff (D) 9% | Newsom (D) 9%

2028 General Election: Vance vs. Newsom

pollster	date	sample	moe	Newsom (D)	Vance (R)	spread
Emerson	8/16 - 8/17	1000 LV	3.0	49	44	Newsom+5
Big Data Poll	2/16 - 2/18	2012 RV	2.1	44	39	Newsom+5
Yahoo News	2/9 - 2/12	1149 RV	3.0	49	43	Newsom+6
Morning Consult	11/14 - 11/16	2201 RV	2.0	41	42	Vance+1
Emerson	10/13 - 10/14	1000 RV	3.0	45	46	Vance+1
Yahoo News	8/29 - 9/2	1132 RV	3.0	49	41	Newsom+8
Emerson	8/25 - 8/26	1000 RV	3.0	44	44	Tie
Emerson	7/21 - 7/22	1400 RV	2.5	42	45	Vance+3

2028 General Election: Vance vs. Harris

pollster	date	sample	moe	Harris (D)	Vance (R)	spread
Emerson	8/16 - 8/17	1000 LV	3.0	49	45	Harris+4
Morning Consult	11/14 - 11/16	2201 RV	2.0	43	42	Harris+1

2028 General Election: Vance vs. Buttigieg

pollster	date	sample	moe	Buttigieg (D)	Vance (R)	spread
Emerson	8/16 - 8/17	1000 LV	3.0	49	44	Buttigieg+5
Emerson	7/21 - 7/22	1400 RV	2.5	43	44	Vance+1

2028 General Election: Vance vs. Ocasio-Cortez

pollster	date	sample	moe	Vance (R)	Ocasio-Cortez (D)	spread
Quantus Insights	8/26 - 8/28	1200 LV	3.2	45	42	Vance+3
Emerson	8/16 - 8/17	1000 LV	3.0	46	44	Vance+2
Emerson	7/21 - 7/22	1400 RV	2.5	44	41	Vance+3

2028 General Election: Rubio vs. Harris

pollster	date	sample	moe	Rubio (R)	Harris (D)	spread
Emerson	8/16 - 8/17	1000 LV	3.0	48	43	Rubio+5
Morning Consult	11/14 - 11/16	2201 RV	2.0	40	42	Harris+2

2028 General Election: Rubio vs. Newsom

pollster	date	sample	moe	Newsom (D)	Rubio (R)	spread
Emerson	8/16 - 8/17	1000 LV	3.0	48	46	Newsom+2
Morning Consult	11/14 - 11/16	2201 RV	2.0	41	39	Newsom+2

ATTACHMENT “C” – ALSO FROM WIKIPEDIA

THIRD-PARTY AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

Forward Party

Individuals who have expressed an interest in running for the Forward presidential nomination^[g]

·

Entrepreneur
Andrew Yang
from New York

Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang is a businessman and political activist who sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2020.^[45] He later founded the Forward Party.^[46] In an April 2026 interview with The New York Times, Yang said that he was "still bent out of shape" over the Democratic Party's treatment of former congressman Dean Phillips, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Biden for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2024.^[47] He stated in a June 2026 interview with Yahoo Finance that he was "willing to serve" and... "we'll have to see what 2028 holds."^[48] In an August 2026 interview with Scripps News, Yang did not rule out another run for the White House in 2028 and said that "if there are pieces in place ... I'm still very, very much a patriot and want to do what I can for the country."^[49]

Libertarian Party

Formed exploratory committee

Candidate	Born	Experience	State	Exploratory committee announced	Website	Ref
Jo Jorgensen	May 1, 1957 (age 69) Libertyville, Illinois	2020 Libertarian presidential nominee	South Carolina	May 28, 2026	VoteJo28.com	^[50]

Jo Jorgensen

Jo Jorgensen is an academic and political activist who was the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee in the 2020 election. In May 2026, Jorgensen announced the formation of an exploratory committee to weigh a potential run for the 2028 Libertarian presidential nomination.^[50][51]

Declined to be candidates

The following individuals have, as of October 2026, publicly denied interest in being a candidate:

· Tucker Carlson, American conservative media personality and podcaster^[52][53]

· Mark Cuban, billionaire businessman, co-owner of the Dallas Mavericks, and co-founder of 2929 Entertainment^[54]

· Jack Dorsey, former CEO of Twitter and founder of Bluesky^[55] (endorsed Thomas Massie)

· Marjorie Taylor Greene, U.S. representative from GA-14 (2021–2026) (endorsed Carlson)^[56][57][58]

· Robert F. Kennedy Jr., United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (2025–present) and 2024 presidential candidate^[59]

· Bill Maher, television host, comedian, actor and political commentator^[60] (endorsed Stephen A. Smith)

· Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. senator from Arizona (2019–2025) and U.S. representative from AZ-09 (2013–2019)^[61][h]

· Jon Stewart, comedian and television presenter^[62]

Endorsements

Tucker Carlson (declined)

Executive branch officials

· Joe Kent, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center (2025–2026), acting chief of staff to the director of national intelligence (2025), and runner-up for WA-3 in 2022 and 2024 (Republican)^[63]

U.S. representatives

· Marjorie Taylor Greene, former GA-14 (2021–2026)^[56]

Individuals

· Candace Owens, political commentator (Republican)^[64]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (declined)

Individuals

· Russell Brand, actor and comedian^[65]

Jon Stewart (declined)

Individuals

· Charlamagne tha God, radio personality^[66]

· Pete Davidson, comedian and actor^[67]

Timeline

Main article: Timeline of the 2028 United States presidential election

ATTACHMENT “D” – FROM THE DHAKA TRIBUNE (BANGLADESH)

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY SPARKS 2028 PRESIDENTIAL SPECULATION WITH CALL FOR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES

The actor has yet to announce any plans to enter the 2028 presidential race

Publish : 22 Oct 2026, 04:29 PM Update : 22 Oct 2026, 04:29 PM

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has reignited speculation about a possible run for the US presidency in 2028 after releasing a six-minute video urging voters to give independent candidates a greater role in American politics.

Released on October 18, ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, the video encourages voters to take independent candidates seriously rather than dismiss them as protest candidates or spoilers. McConaughey, however, did not announce any plans to run for office or endorse a candidate or political party.

“Independent does not mean you’re middle of the road. Independent is the original road,” he said, presenting political independence as an alternative to the traditional Republican-Democratic divide.

According to The Telegraph, McConaughey also argued that independently elected representatives could encourage compromise in a closely divided Congress and hold both major parties accountable. He urged voters to examine candidates’ positions and determine whether their views aligned with their own beliefs.

The video has prompted renewed discussion about the actor’s political ambitions, although McConaughey has neither confirmed nor ruled out a presidential bid.

His potential entry into politics has been a subject of speculation for several years. In 2021, he considered running for governor of Texas but ultimately decided against entering the race. In July 2024, he described himself as being on a “learning tour” while exploring the possibility of public office. He later said he would not pursue a political campaign at that time.

McConaughey’s latest remarks have also attracted criticism from commentators and social media users who questioned whether independent candidates could split the vote and influence closely contested elections.

The discussion comes amid growing identification with political independence in the United States. According to Gallup, 45% of Americans identified as political independents in 2025, a record high at the time.

For now, McConaughey’s video has renewed questions about his political future, but the actor has yet to announce any plans to enter the 2028 presidential race.

ATTACHMENT “E.1” – FROM VARIOUS

STEPHEN MILLER for PRESIDENT

FROM AI Overview “E.1.A”

Stephen Miller serves as the White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor, while speculative and strategic roadmaps—such as the "America Reclaimed PAC" roadmap—have outlined a potential framework for a post-Trump Stephen Miller 2028 presidential run. [1, 2, 3]

Strategic Context for 2028

· Current Role: Miller acts as a central policy and immigration architect within the administration. [1, 2]

· Roadmap Projections: White papers and strategic outlines have mapped out a potential post-Trump trajectory targeting a fractured GOP, positioning against figures like J.D. Vance, and utilizing digital-first primary strategies through 2027–2028. [1]

· Democratic Focus: Democratic strategists and media reports have frequently highlighted Miller's hardline influence and role in shaping conservative immigration and domestic policy debates leading into the 2028 cycle. [1]

· AI Intersection: Broader political and media discussions around the 2028 election frequently frame the race as a referendum on an AI-dominated future and automated campaign strategies, alongside distinct party platforms regarding artificial intelligence regulation and data centers. [1, 2]

FROM AI Overview “E.1.B”

Stephen Miller is not a declared candidate for the 2028 U.S. presidential election. Instead, he serves as the White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor in the Trump administration. [1, 2]

Current Context

· Role in Administration: Miller operates as a central figure and chief architect of hardline immigration and policy strategies within the White House. [1, 2]

· 2028 Speculation: While Miller has been the subject of political analysis and strategic roadmaps regarding a post-Trump Republican landscape, he has not launched a campaign or announced a run for president in 2028. [1]

· Related Statements: Public attention regarding Miller and 2028 has primarily centered on comments from his wife, Katie Miller, who publicly joked or speculated about a third term for Donald Trump or a rematch involving Kamala Harris, rather than a campaign led by Stephen Miller himself. [1, 2]

Takeaways and URLs on Candidate Miller...

The Daily Beast

Stephen Miller Emerges as Democrats' Shock 2028 Inspiration Miller, widely seen as the architect of Trump's hardline immigration p...

LinkedIn· Stephen Pain

White Paper: Path to Power — A Strategic Roadmap for a Stephen Miller Presidential Run (2026–2028)

Strategic Plan: Stephen Miller 2028 presidential campaign roadmap targeting a post-Trump, fractured GOP and framing incumbent J.D.

URLs

The Daily Beast

https://www.thedailybeast.com › Politics

Aug 17, 2026 — Some Democrats are looking to an unlikely role model for tackling immigration if the White House turns blue in 2028: Stephen Miller. Read more

Stephen Miller 2028 - Make America First Again

millertime2028.com

https://millertime2028.com

With proven experience in crafting and implementing policies that put American citizens first, Stephen Miller is ready to lead our nation into a new era of ...Read more

Trump ousting Susie Wiles rumors have Stephen Miller ...

https://www.yahoo.com › news › politics › articles › tru...

2 days ago — Both Miller and Pulte are among the names Trump has floated to replace Wiles, according to Politico. He has also reportedly mentioned special ...Read more

Challange: Get Stephen Miller to win the 2028 Republican ...

Complicated version: everyone before Miller in Trump's cabinet dies, leading Miller to become president. He maintains good approval ratings and ...Read more

Stephen Miller vows: They will NOT get away with this…

YouTube · Fox News

125.6K+ views · 3 days ago

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller decries socialist candidates, including Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed ...

What Would Stephen Miller Do? Dems Wargame Election ...

The Bulwark

https://www.thebulwark.com › election-defenders-ice-m...

2 days ago — prosecuted by an administration elected in 2028. Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff and policy impresario, would do...

Stephen N. Miller (born August 23, 1985) is an American political advisor serving as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security advisor ...

A Strategic Roadmap for a Stephen Miller Presidential Run ...

LinkedIn · Stephen Pain

1 reaction · 1 year ago

Stephen Miller, former Trump senior advisor … to emerge as a viable Republican presidential candidate for 2028.

ATTACHMENT “E.2” – FROM VARIOUS

PETE HEGSETH for PRESIDENT

Time Magazine +1

Key Details

· Hegseth’s Response: Hegseth and Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell both rejected the speculation, stating that his sole focus is leading the Department of Defense (Department of War) and implementing the administration's agenda.

· Origin of Rumors: Reports surfaced in late August 2026 via NBC News claiming Hegseth and his wife had discussed a potential campaign with close associates, fueled in part by his appearance at the Iowa State Fair.

· President Trump’s Comments: President Donald Trump addressed the rumors by calling Hegseth's performance "fantastic" but noted it was "very early" to discuss 2028 successors, adding that the focus should remain on the upcoming midterm elections.

· Other Potential 2028 Contenders: Other figures frequently mentioned as prospective Republican candidates for 2028 include Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

PETE HEGSETH URLS

Pete Hegseth is talking about a possible run for president ...

NBC News

https://www.nbcnews.com › politics › 2028-election › p...

Highly cited

Aug 28, 2026 — “Secretary Hegseth is not running for president, and his main priority is leading the War Department. All other speculation is foolish,” chief ...Read more

Trump Responds to Talk of Hegseth Running for President ...

Time Magazine

https://time.com › Politics › Trump Administration

Sep 1, 2026 — NBC reported Friday that Hegseth was talking about a possible run for President in 2028 and had told close friends and associates of such plans, ...Read more

Hegseth, a potential 2028 candidate, installs Musk as key ...

Substack · Oligarch Watch

NBC News reported in late August that Hegseth and his wife have spent months privately discussing his interest in running for president in 2028. Read more

Is controversy-plagued Pete Hegseth eyeing up a 2028 ...

The Irish Times

https://www.irishtimes.com › world › 2026/09/08 › is-co...

Sep 8, 2026 — Hegseth has one of the lowest approval ratings, at -22 points, in the history of the defence secretarial posting. By comparison, Donald Rumsfeld ...Read more

Is Pete Hegseth's Bold Pledge To 'Kill Everyone' By 2028 ...

YouTube · The Onion

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an ambitious new plan to "kill everyone" within the next two years.

WARNING! The Onion is known as a satirical medium...

Trump says it's 'very early' to talk about a Hegseth 2028 ...

https://www.reuters.com › legal › government › trump-...

Aug 31, 2026 — Trump on Monday told reporters it was too soon to discuss his potential successor, sidestepping talk of a 2028 campaign by Defense Secretary ...

ATTACHMENT “F” - FROM BALLOTPEDIA

Registered 2028 presidential candidates

See also: Presidential candidates, 2028

The following table lists candidates who filed with the FEC to run for president as of September 21, 2026. Some applicants used pseudonyms; candidate names and party affiliations are written as they appeared on the FEC website on the date that they initially filed with the FEC.^[6][7]

The list is sorted alphabetically by first name. Scroll down in the table below to view the full list.

CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FILED FOR THE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
CANDIDATE	PARTY
Aaron Avouris	Independent
A.C. Toulme	One Earth Party
Adam Alwaleed	Independent
Adam Michael Dunn	Republican Party
Adam Ricci	Libertarian Party
Aderinola Osifeso	Republican Party
A Kennedy	Democratic Party
Alaine Giuliani	No Party Affiliation
Alan Thomas	American Independent Party
Alexander Joseph Sean Heidenreich	Independent
Alexander Wacha	Independent
Alex Cowans	Democratic Party
Alfonso Alberto Ramos	Democratic Party
Alonia Melchizedek	Republican Party
Aloysius R. Marcinek	Independent
Alphonza Mabry	American Independent Conservative Party
Amanda Catherine Eskelson	Democratic Party
Amanda Thompson	American Independent Party
Andre McKoy	Libertarian Party
Andre Ramon McNeil	Unaffiliated
Andrew Dennis	Independent
Andrew Giusto	United Party
Andrew Gooch	Independent
Andrew Heartdoc Chung	Independent
Andrew Poggio	Democratic Party
Andrew Street	Republican Party
Angela Dwyer	Independent
Angela Glass	Independent
Angela Perez	Independent
Angelo Yoshannah Scrigna	Independent
Anne Komarovsk	No party preference
Ann Parkinson	Democratic Party
Anthony Chao	Democratic Party
Anthony D. Kennedy	Libertarian Party
Anthony James Richardson	Republican Party
Anthony Lopez	Democratic Party
Anthony Pascarella	Republican Party
Anthony Robinson	Independent
Ashleigh Lottenville	Independent
Ashley Powell	Democratic Party
Augustus Schoen-Rene	Unaffiliated
Austin Loren Johnson	Democratic Party
Austin O. Jones	Democratic Party
Barbara Ann Johnson	Independent
Benjamin Beaumont	Independent
Benjamin Biggs	Democratic Party
Benjamin Cobb	Independent
Benjamin Ortlip	Independent
Berkley Davis	Independent
Bianca Hamilton	Independent
Bill Hill	Independent
Bobby Allen	Independent
Bo Grant Scruggs	Independent
Bradley Horges Jr.	Independent
Bradley Swearengin	Republican Party
Brady Williams	Republican Party
Branden Duffy	No Party Affiliation
Brandon Whorley	Democratic Party
Brendan Law	Republican Party
Brent Atwood	Democratic Party
Brian Cassidy	Republican Party
Brian Gaudet	Democratic Party
Brian Houser	Independent
Brian Mannix	Independent
Brian Stack	Democratic Party
Bruce Kenneway	Independent
Bryan James	Republican Party
Bryan Lamont Arrington	Independent
Calvin Stevens	Independent
Carlos Reese	Democratic Party
Carnell Lee	Independent
Carrie Mae Marcy	Republican Party
Chad Gammel	Democratic Party
Chad Roberts Johnson	Democratic Party
Charles Griffith Ferry	Libertarian Party
Charley Brown	Federalist Party
Chase LaPorte	Libertarian Party
Cherunda Lynn Fox	Republican Party
Chris Capparell	Republican Party
Chris Fiorenza	Unaffiliated
Christian Falstich	Independent
Christina Aufderheide-Wright	Republican Party
Christine Charyton	Republican Party
Christopher Capparell	Democratic Party
Christopher Gleason	Republican Party
Christopher LaForge	Democratic Party
Christopher Lee Smith	Republican Party
Christopher M. Phillips	Independent
Christopher Sentance	Democratic Party
Claude Reid	Republican Party
Coleman Fitzsimmons	Democratic Party
Colleen Steffes	Progressive Party
Coril Docker	Republican Party
Cory Steele	Republican Party
Craig H. Johnson II	Independent
Craig Woolcott	Republican Party
Cyrus Sajna	Republican Party
Damian Salib	Democratic Party
Daniel Bernard	Democratic Party
Daniel Davenport	Libertarian Party
Daniel Faccio Sr.	Independent
Daniel Greaney	Republican Party
Daniel Harris	Independent
Daniel Jaouen	Independent
Daniel J. Lopez	Republican Party
Daniel L. Jones	Independent
Daniel McKay	Independent
Daniel Rampke	Constitution Party
Daniel Ray Sanchez	Republican Party
Daniel Theis	Democratic Party
Darin Goslar	Independent
Dave Dube	Independent
David Bakanas	Republican Party
David Clayman	Independent
David Foster	Republican Party
Dawn Jackson	Republican Party
Dawson Son of David	Republican Party
Deirdre Briscoe	Democratic Party
Deja Golden	American Independent Party
Dennis Torii Jr.	Independent
Dennis Van Ausdal	Independent
Derek Birkeland	Democratic Party
Derron Derouin	Independent
Devone Hannon	Independent
Devon Ruiz	Natural Law Party
Diane Sare	Unaffiliated
Dominic Homan	Independent
Dominique L. Ward	Democratic Party
Donald DeJesus	Democratic Party
Donovan Smith	Independent
Douglas Underwood	Independent
Dr. Jun Cho	Democratic Party
Dustin Dunbar	Independent
Dustin Rorex	Democratic Party
Dustin Ryan Shewbert Sr.	Democratic Party
Dwight Smith	Independent
Earl William Davis II	Republican Party
Earvin Eugene	Republican Party
Edward Carlton Jewell Sr.	Independent
Edward Harder	Independent
Edward Rico	People Over Politics Party
Edward Searls	Green Party
Eliud Resendez	Independent
Elizabeth Crunkleton	Independent
Emiel Wesley	Independent
Emmett White	Democratic Party
Eric Walleck	Republican Party
Erin Fanning	Independent
Ernest Risinger	Republican Party
Esther Donaghy	American Independent Party
Ethan Crider	Independent
Evan Mantilla	Democratic Party
Fahad Malik	Republican Party
Fogel Shimp	Independent
Francisco Perez	Independent
Frank Castellucci III	Independent
Frank Lozada	Democratic Party
Fred Francis	Democratic Party
Ftema Raysor	Independent
Gabriel Kristos	Democratic Party
Gary Barve	Republican Party
Gavin Bonney	Independent
Gavin Solomon	Republican Party
Gregory Gamache	Republican Party
Gregory Gibbons	Unaffiliated
Harvey Wizard	Independent
Heath Fulkerson	Republican Party
Hugo Valdez Garcia	Libertarian Party
Huhnkie Lee	Independent
Indira Allfree	Independent
Jacob Anders	Democratic Party
Jacob James	Republican Party
Jacqueline Arechiga	Independent
Jamarrion Jones	Republican Party
James Antonik	Independent
James Byrd III	Independent
James Odom	Republican Party
James Trainor	Democratic Party
James Treibert	Independent
James Winfield Jones	Independent
Janille Centunzi	Independent
Jaquaie McAtee	Democratic Party
Jared Pixley	Independent
Jared Reid Funk	Independent
Jasmine Hull	Republican Party
Jason Bolyard	Independent
Jason Lussier	Independent
Jason Pacifico	Democratic Party
Javen Rideout	Democratic Party
Javon Ross	Independent
Jawad Hashem Hakeem	Independent
Jeffery Wacaster	Democratic Party
Jeffrey Doxsee	Independent
Jeffrey J. Downs	Republican Party
Jeffrey Wilder	Republican Party
Jennifer Alameda	Republican Party
Jennifer Lennon	Independent
Jeremy Levan	Independent
Jeremy Shane Bernheisel	Independent
Jeremy Summers	American Independent Party
Jessica Congdon	Independent
Jesus Rodriguez	Citizens' Party
Jewel Roberts	Republican Party
Jim A. Norris	Republican Party
Jimmy Cooper	Democratic Party
JJ Johnson	Democratic Party
Joel Asagba	Independent
John Damms	Republican Party
John Fial	Independent
John Grays	Independent
John Maley	Independent
Johnny Duane Buford	Independent
John Pawloski	American Independent Party
John R. Gibb Jr.	Republican Party
John Robert Badger	Democratic Party
John Washington III	Democratic Party
John Yoon	Independent
Jonathan Alfonso Alfaro	People Over Politics Party
Jonathan Bailey	Independent
Jonathan Collins	Independent
Joseph Catalano	Independent
Joseph Durazo	Ace Party
Joseph Luiz Gonzaga	Independent
Joseph McWilliams	Republican Party
Joshua Gray	Independent
Joshua Hartloper	Independent
Joshua Qualls	Democratic Party
Judah B. Wilson	Unaffiliated
Julianne Jones	Democratic Party
Justin Iolani	Independent
Kari Ann Engle	Independent American Party
Kearon Allen	Independent
Kelan Farrell-Smith	Democratic Party
Kelly Kokas	Democratic Party
Kendra Wilkerson	Democratic Party
Kenneth Matthew Young	Democratic Party
Kenneth Newton	Independence Party
Kenny Taylor	Democratic Party
Kerry Espy	Independent
Kerry Lewis	Republican Party
Kevin Odom	Democratic Party
Kevin Palmer Smith	Independent
Kevin West	Independent
Khistina Dejean	Independent
Kia Legette	Democratic Party
Kimberly Cloud	Republican Party
LaCorey Harrid	Democratic Party
Lance A. Williams	Independent
Laquita Wooten	Republican Party
Latronica Fisher	Independence Party
Lauren Jespersen	Democratic Party
Lawrence Morris	Democratic Party
Lee Thomas	Independent
Lester Blea	Independent
Logan Anderson	Independent
Logan Keener	Republican Party
Lucas Connor	Independent
Luc Langelier	Republican Party
Luis Alberto Lavin	Unaffiliated
Lyndsey Servoss	Independent
Mae Ditty	Unaffiliated
Maegan O'Callaghan	Independent
Maicol Rivera Torres	Independent
Maison Alvarez	Republican Party
Marcello Gomez	Independent
Margaret A. Johnsson	Independent
Marie Encar Arnold	Republican Party
Mark Edward Baldwin	Republican Party
Markesha Quarles-Westinghouse	Democratic Party
Marquita Nichole Harrell	Democratic Party
Matthew D. Pinnavaia	Independent
Matthew Gibbons	Independent
Matthew Madsen	Republican Party
Mavin Chavez Jr.	Independent
Megan Stritzel	Republican Party
Melissa Kotulski	Democratic Party
Melody Crombie	Republican Party
Messiah Snider	Independent
Michael Bickelmeyer	Republican Party
Michael Dombrowski	Independent
Michael Floyd	Independent
Michael Gilbert	Republican Party
Michael Harbour	Independent
Michael Ian Vargo	Independent
Michael J. Morin	Independent
Michael Lynn	Independent
Michael Martino	Independent
Michael Sigmon	Progressive Party
Michael Soetaert	Democratic Party
Michael Wayne Lowe	Independent
Michael Williams Jr.	The Human Rights Party
Miche'al Dixon	Veteran's Party
Michelle Moore	Democratic Party
Michelle Neil	Independent
Miesha Perkins	Independent
Mohammad Masadeh	Republican Party
Monique Laurette Spalding	Republican Party
Montell Moseley	Democratic Party
Morgan Gross	Independent
Moxie Goldman	Independent
Naika Ricks	Democratic Party
Najah Williams	Citizens' Party
Nathan Bork	Independent
Nathan Douglas Kelly	Republican Party
Neal Sutz	Independent
Neil Gillespie	Unaffiliated
Neil Leeds	Republican Party
Nicholas Biller	Independent
Nicholas Maddock	Unaffiliated
Nicholas Sopkovich	Republican Party
Nickolaos Grossenbacher	Independence Party
Noble Phoenix Micha El	Independent American Party
Noel Engel	Democratic Party
Nokha Barayon	Independent
Oriel Sylvester	Democratic Party
Owen N. Carlson	Republican Party
Paij Boring	Republican Party
Pamela Pinkney Apostlett	Independent
Patricia Cook	Republican Party
Paul Davis	Independent
Paul Russo	Republican Party
Personna Evans	Republican Party
Peter Andrew Johnson	United Party
Phillip Galinsky	Independent
Phyllis Jager	Republican Party
Pierre Andre Euzarraga	Independent
Prince-Armanii De'Vaughn Young	Independent
Princess Khadijah Maryam Jacob-Fambro	Democratic Party
Princess Vlandamir	Independent
Rachel Adams Edwards	Independent
Ramona Elizabeth Mayon	Independent
Randy Toler	Green Party
Ray Leverette	Republican Party
Raymond Bekeris	Independent
Rebecca Lobas	Independent
Rene Campos	Independent
Rhonda Johnson	Independent
Ricardo Donato	Independent
Richard L. Uggen	Independent
Robbie Hoffman	Democratic Party
Robert A. Mitchell	Republican Party
Robert Carlos Ayala	Democratic Party
Robert Daniel Davis	Democratic Party
Robert Grey	Independent
Robert Hellrigel	Independent
Robert Neil Cheader	Republican Party
Roberto Purrone	Independent
Robert William Sandera	Democratic Party
Rodshawn Coleman	Independent
Roland Jackson	Republican Party
Roland Kwadwo Dela Agorkle	Democratic Party
Romeo Biswa	Republican Party
Ronald Lovelace	Republican Party
Ron Helms	Independent
Royce White	Republican Party
Rune Wigglesworth	Independent
Ryan Stoner	Independent
Sampson Ramirez	Republican Party
Samuel B. Hoff	Independent
Sandrina Hamilton	Democratic Party
Sarah Hermann	Democratic Party
Sara Shepperd	Democratic Party
Saul Remi Hernandez	Republican Party
Scott Khourie	Independent
Scott Merrell	Republican Party
Sebastian Lillie	Republican Party
Seth Peacock	Independent
Sexy Vegan	Independent
Shawn Asberry	Republican Party
Shawn Bettis	Democratic Party
Shawn Townsend	Democratic Party
Shelby Smith	American Independent Party
Shirazzi Geye	American Independent Party
Shiva Ayyadurai	Independent
Shurrun Daniel	Independent
Skyles Rockefeller	Democratic Party
Stefanie Pebbler	Republican Party
Stephanie Shegrud	Independent
Stephen Cook	Independent
Stephen Hamilton	Constitution Party
Stephen Maxwell	Republican Party
Stephen M. Patterson	Democratic Party
Steven Angelucci	Independent
Susan Bell	Independent
Suzzanna V. Tanner	Independent
Tadd Rosenfield	Republican Party
Talalupe Fonzie Vavao	Republican Party
Terry Gleason	Democratic Party
Thomas Cassidy Harris	Independent
Thomas Winterbottom	Democratic Party
Tim Murnane	Independence Party
Timothy Charles Kalemkarian	Republican Party
Timothy Cotter	Independent
Timothy Michael Villari	Republican Party
Tina Jayne Hahn	Independent
Titus Pierce	Republican Party
Todd Clifton	Independent
Trenita Walker	Democratic Party
Trista di Genova	Democratic Party
Tyrone Dawayne Brown	Republican Party
Valma Kittington	Democratic Party
Valma Kitt Paul	Republican Party
Vincent Brockus	Democratic Party
Vincent Cordova	Independent
Vincent Moody	Democratic Party
Wade Hornbuckle	Republican Party
Wayne Norris	Republican Party
Wayne Pope	Democratic Party
William Day	Independent
William Farms	Democratic Party
William Lee Hunt	Independent
William Webb	Republican Party
Willie Carter	Democratic Party
Xavier Lampkin	Republican Party
Zachary Greenwald	Democratic Party

ANARCHISTS TAKE NOTE: Perennial Vermin Supreme has not even filed, as yet. Perhaps even he’s afraid of being lumped in with these losers – or with Hegshith or Miller, or even Vance and Kamalala!