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Elizabeth Beretta-Perik has resigned as chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, effective immediately, following the federal indictment of her husband, Michael Perik, on fraud and racketeering charges. Beretta-Perik, who had led the party since 2023, notified the executive committee by email.

Prosecutors allege Perik, through four for-profit entities, diverted roughly $20 million in federal financial aid and state subsidies from Eastern Gateway Community College in Ohio between 2017 and early 2022, including disbursing aid to ineligible students and falsifying records, contributing to the school's 2024 closure. Perik's attorney denies wrongdoing, calling the case "purely political payback" and citing prior reviews by Ohio and federal authorities that found no issues.

Michael Perik, husband of Rhode Island Democratic Party Chair Liz Beretta-Perik, has been indicted on 12 felony counts tied to a racketeering scheme that allegedly siphoned $20 million in federal financial aid and state subsidies from the now-closed Eastern Gateway Community College in Ohio. Prosecutors say Perik and two co-defendants used for-profit companies to control enrollment and financial aid, disbursing funds to ineligible students and bribing officials between 2017 and 2022, a period when enrollment ballooned from roughly 8,500 to over 60,000 students, mostly online and out-of-state. Perik's attorney calls the case political retribution. Beretta-Perik has not been charged; Democratic gubernatorial candidate Helena Foulkes has called for her to step aside.

A group of Oregon good-government advocates has filed an initiative petition aiming to amend the state constitution and bar corporations, unions, and nonprofits from using treasury funds to influence elections. The chief petitioners, tied to the League of Women Voters of Oregon, Honest Elections Oregon, and Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network, say the measure would require political spending to be traceable to individual donors, with corporate entities limited to raising money through disclosed political committees or encouraging volunteer efforts.

The proposal is modeled on similar measures in Montana and Hawaii and responds to frustration with the Oregon Legislature, which passed contribution-limit reforms in 2024 only to weaken them this year with what critics call loophole-ridden replacements. Backers cite record-breaking campaign spending in state races and note Oregon leads the nation in per-capita corporate contributions to legislators. The measure, targeting the 2028 ballot, would also indirectly counter effects of the Citizens United ruling by restricting corporate-funded independent expenditures. Organizers now need to gather signatures statewide to qualify for the ballot.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., made an unannounced visit to the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, a GEO Group-run ICE facility, after reports of a hunger strike, poor food and troubling living conditions. Accompanied by Rep. Emily Randall, D-Wash., Dexter said facility staff initially denied any hunger strike was underway, showing records for two units with no refused meals. But a detainee from a different unit told the lawmakers that units G3 and G4, housing roughly 140 people, were participating, with nearly all detainees in G4 refusing meals for four days.

Dexter and Randall were barred from touring the medical unit, and all visitations were halted during their visit. They also heard an unverified report of two deaths at the facility this week, along with concerns about inadequate medical care for detainees with diabetes and chronic illness. Dexter called the contradictory information "incredibly frustrating" and plans to send a formal follow-up letter seeking answers from federal officials.

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.

Tennessee lawmakers from both parties say they intend to honor Dolly Parton during the legislative session beginning next January, though no formal plan has been agreed upon. House Deputy Speaker Jason Zachary and Rep. John Ray Clemmons said leadership will consult Parton's family and friends before advancing any proposal, describing her as a unifying figure even in death.

The legislature has weighed tributes before: a 2021 bill to erect a Parton statue at the Capitol won rare bipartisan backing but was withdrawn after Parton herself asked lawmakers to hold off, citing pandemic-era timing, while suggesting she might welcome the honor "down the road." Individual lawmakers have since floated ideas, including designating September 25 as "9 to 5 Day" and renaming Nashville International Airport after Parton, a proposal from Rep. Todd Warner, who previously pushed to name the airport after President Trump. Leadership says a unified proposal is still being developed.

Parton died at age 80, prompting national tributes, including President Trump's order to lower U.S. flags to half-staff and Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's matching proclamation honoring her career and philanthropy, including her Imagination Library literacy program.