Who Will Win New York’s 25th Congressional District in 2026?

Many Republicans facing tough November races are avoiding next week's GOP midterm convention in Dallas, the first held by a major party in over four decades. A POLITICO survey found roughly 45 of more than 70 GOP candidates and members contacted are skipping or undecided, citing scheduling conflicts, high attendance fees, and reluctance to appear alongside President Donald Trump, who is set to headline with Vice President JD Vance. Top leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune plan to attend, along with 2028 hopefuls like Sen. Ted Cruz.

Separately, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is weighing disciplinary action against Reps. Jared Golden and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez after the two Democrats helped Republicans pass a procedural rule, prompting a referral to the caucus's rules panel. Other pending items include a bipartisan bill policing lawmaker misconduct, a possible September floor vote on Russia sanctions legislation, and an unresolved GOP split over regulating data centers ahead of the midterms.

The Monroe County Legislature voted 26-0 Tuesday to approve the Monroe County Animal Abuse Registration Act, creating a centralized database to prevent people convicted of qualifying animal abuse offenses from obtaining pets through local shelters and pet dealers. The registry is intended to give shelters and dealers a quick reference tool instead of requiring manual searches through individual court records before placing an animal.

A sponsor of the bill called it a major win for animal welfare, noting more than half of New York's counties already have similar registries. Lawmakers questioned how many people would be listed and whether fish fall under the law's scope — officials confirmed fish are included, consistent with other counties' statutes. An effort to delay the vote for more data failed 4-22 before the measure passed unanimously. Details on when the registry will launch and how it will be accessed by shelters, dealers, and residents remain unresolved.

Ten immigrants took the oath of allegiance and became U.S. citizens in a naturalization ceremony held in Monroe County, New York. New York State Supreme Court Justice Bill Taylor presided over the event, telling the new citizens they were now "truly free" to choose their religion, profession, residence, and vote. Monroe County Clerk Jamie Romeo also spoke, praising the new citizens' journeys toward building "a more perfect union." Among those naturalized was Assumpta Onyekachi Nwaimo, originally from Nigeria, who completed the citizenship process after six years and urged other aspiring citizens to follow the rules and "do the right thing."

Florida's primaries produced a mixed picture for both parties ahead of November's general election. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with Trump's endorsement and a large financial edge, beating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and newcomer James Fishback despite Gov. Ron DeSantis's public misgivings; Donalds would become Florida's first Black governor if elected. Former Republican congressman David Jolly, running with Gwen Graham as his lieutenant governor pick, won the Democratic nomination over state Rep. Dotie Joseph and others, pitching himself as a centrist who wants to end the culture wars. The two will meet in November to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, in a state where Democrats haven't won the governorship in over 30 years.

Progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated establishment-backed Alex Vindman for the Senate Democratic nomination despite being outspent; she faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who won her primary with Trump's backing, in the special election for Marco Rubio's former seat. Incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz turned back challengers, including Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in redrawn districts under Florida's new Republican-favored congressional map. Trump-endorsed Cory Mills lost his House primary amid domestic violence allegations, while far-right figures Dan Bilzerian and Madison Cawthorn were also defeated, alongside Rep. Randy Fine's contentious win.

Republican U.S. House candidate Michael Bouchard released his first general election video ad, "Jump," in which the former Army paratrooper leaps from a plane while pledging to fight socialism if elected to represent Michigan's 10th District. The Rochester Hills candidate's campaign says the ad is part of a seven-figure television and social media push, funded entirely with campaign money, in a race political handicappers rate as a toss-up.

Bouchard will face Democratic nominee Christina Hines, a former Wayne County special victims prosecutor, in November. The winner succeeds GOP Rep. John James, who is running for Michigan governor instead of seeking reelection. The 10th District covers southern Macomb County and Rochester/Rochester Hills in Oakland County.

The ad is set to air during major sports broadcasts and prime programming, with some slots costing tens of thousands of dollars. Bouchard holds an early fundraising edge, reporting roughly $960,000 on hand versus Hines's approximately $160,000, though her campaign has yet to release its first ad.

The Syracuse Police Department has told the city's Citizen Review Board (CRB) it will not provide records, including body camera footage, needed to investigate 11 pending complaints against officers. CRB Chairman Don Johnson announced the refusal at a Tuesday board meeting, saying police notified the board earlier in the week after the CRB requested the materials last month.

Police Chief Mark Rusin said the department is following guidance from the city's Corporation Counsel and a court ruling in a similar case involving Rochester's Police Accountability Board, which found that officer misconduct investigations are a mandatory subject of union negotiation. Mayor Sharon Owens had previously urged the CRB to pause investigations following that ruling, though the Common Council later voted to urge the board to resume its work. The CRB restarted investigations in September after securing liability insurance for its members amid threats of a lawsuit from the police union. Without access to records, the board says investigations are effectively impossible, and it is now considering hiring independent legal counsel.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., campaigned in New Hampshire on behalf of Democrats ahead of the midterm elections, urging the party to pair ambitious policy proposals with disciplined messaging. Speaking at a Rochester barbecue restaurant whose owner described rising input costs squeezing small businesses, Khanna argued Democrats haven't yet articulated a "bold, transformational agenda" and are currently benefiting mainly from backlash against President Trump's foreign policy decisions.

Khanna touted his proposal for a 5% billionaire tax that he says could raise $4 trillion to fund free college, free trade schools, and $60,000 minimum pay for public school teachers. His visit also fueled speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run, given New Hampshire's early-primary status, though Khanna said his immediate focus after the midterms will be legislative work in Congress. The trip underscores how Democrats are positioning both policy and personnel for November while early 2028 maneuvering quietly continues.

Springfield, Massachusetts, school officials approved more than $68 million in contracts and expenses, including a controversial $30 million busing contract with First Student, the district's longtime transportation provider. The vote came just days after students returned for the school year.

City Councilor Rosa Valentin raised concerns about renewing First Student's contract, citing parent complaints and reports of disrespectful staff conduct. District officials noted the company was fined more than $1 million last year for failing performance standards, largely tied to doubled-up routes when substitute drivers were unavailable. Officials said switching providers midyear was impractical, and First Student has been the only bidder on the busing contract since at least 2009, partly because few companies can supply the roughly 300 buses and drivers needed. The School Committee approved the contract 5-2. Other approved contracts included regional transit busing, transportation for homeless students, and services for students with medical needs and disabilities.

Minnesota, long regarded as one of the healthiest states with strong outcomes and lower health care costs, faces a growing physician shortage. State health officials project that about one in five physicians statewide plan to retire or leave the workforce in the coming years, a figure closer to one in three in rural areas, threatening longer waits and travel for basic care.

An opinion piece in the Star Tribune argues federal Medicare policy is compounding the problem. Nearly 1.1 million Minnesotans, about one in five residents, rely on Medicare, but physician payments under the program have been cut, frozen, or only temporarily patched for years even as practice costs rise; adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician pay has fallen roughly 33% since 2001. Unlike hospitals, which get automatic inflation adjustments, independent physicians do not, forcing clinics to absorb losses, turn away Medicare patients, sell to larger systems, or close. A one-year 2.5% payment bump for 2026 under recent federal legislation expires at year's end, with another cut possible in 2027.

New Hampshire held primary elections Tuesday to pick nominees for Congress, governor and the state Legislature, with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's retirement reshaping the ballot. Rep. Chris Pappas led a five-way Democratic Senate field that included progressive challenger Karishma Manzur, a research scientist and democratic socialist whose late surge, fueled by criticism of Pappas' pro-Israel donor support and his "present" vote on restricting arms sales to Israel, narrowed his once-commanding lead despite his large fundraising advantage and Shaheen's endorsement. On the Republican side, John Sununu, endorsed by President Trump over rival Scott Brown, held a wide edge among eight candidates; both Sununu and Brown are former senators previously defeated by Shaheen. The seat is one of a handful nationally that could help decide Senate control, with Democrats needing a net gain of four seats.

Pappas' departure from the 1st District opened a crowded race, with Stefany Shaheen (Jeanne Shaheen's daughter) and Maura Sullivan leading a nine-person Democratic field; Republicans chose among five candidates including Trump-endorsed businessman Anthony DiLorenzo and repeat candidate Hollie Noveletsky. In the 2nd District, Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander faced a primary challenge from state legislator Paige Beauchemin, while Republicans chose from candidates including repeat nominee Lily Tang Williams. Gov. Kelly Ayotte easily advanced toward a second term against two Republican rivals, favored against unopposed Democrat Cinde Warmington. Winners have eight weeks to campaign before the November 3 general election, as New Hampshire shifts future primaries to June starting in 2026.