Lieutenant governor

Texas's THC industry is watching closely as Democrats prepare to take several top statewide offices in January, following a cycle in which Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's hardline anti-marijuana stance was seen as a factor in the election results. Incoming leaders have signaled a markedly different approach: Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has called for letting voters decide THC's future, incoming Attorney General Nathan Johnson has floated regulating rather than banning THC products, and incoming Lt. Governor Vikki Goodwin has proposed legalizing marijuana and directing sales tax revenue toward health insurance funding.

Any legalization push still faces a Republican-controlled state Senate and a potential federal ban, meaning the political path remains uncertain despite the leadership change.

Republican Greg Dolezal and Democrat Josh McLaurin, both Georgia state senators, met in an Atlanta televised debate ahead of the lieutenant governor race. Dolezal called property taxes an unfair burden and criticized state subsidies for data centers, while touting the Georgia Promise Scholarship Program's reach among lower-income and Black families. McLaurin defended his bipartisan record, warned that eliminating property taxes would gut local services, and said communities need more control over data center growth given its strain on power and water. The two also traded accusations over public safety votes, with McLaurin framing his positions as constitutional pushback. Early voting runs through Oct. 30, with Election Day set for Nov. 3.

An investigation commissioned by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill found that Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment and violated state ethics rules. The 61-page report, released Thursday, concluded Caldwell told a female staffer that "you young women are looking for young sperm" after she said a younger friend was not interested in him — a remark investigators deemed harassment and found his denial not credible. The staffer said she later tried to distance herself from him at work. The report also substantiated ethics violations: Caldwell twice sought a promotion for his girlfriend without disclosing the relationship, continuing even after being notified of the investigation, and brought nonpaying guests to seven official events despite repeated warnings and training.

The inquiry began in May after an anonymous complaint to the state's ethics officer. Attorney Christopher Porrino and former prosecutor Shontae Gray led the investigation, interviewing at least 17 people. Caldwell has denied wrongdoing, calling the allegations false and politically motivated. Sherrill gave him until Friday to resign, calling the findings "extremely troubling" and citing a pattern of behavior. Caldwell oversees the Department of State and elections, including the upcoming November midterms.

Republicans in Florida's Naples-area congressional district are heading into a crowded primary to succeed Representative Byron Donalds, who is running for governor. The race to fill his seat has drawn a notably unusual field, including several candidates who previously ran for or served in Congress representing other states before relocating to Florida.

Much of the contest has centered on candidates competing to demonstrate loyalty to President Trump and establish credibility as genuine Floridians, producing what commentators have described as an unusually chaotic and closely watched down-ballot primary. Donalds enters Tuesday's primary as the GOP gubernatorial frontrunner with Trump's endorsement, facing Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner, and businessman James Fishback, each arguing he needs to be challenged or replaced as the party's standard-bearer; Governor DeSantis has declined to endorse a successor. The winner will face Democrat David Jolly, a former Republican, in November. The outcome matters for prediction markets tracking control of a safely Republican House seat, as well as broader signals about Trump-aligned candidate strength heading into the 2026 midterms and Florida's leadership transition.

Illinois Democrats gathered at the state fair in Springfield for their annual Democrats' Day, with Gov. JB Pritzker, Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren delivering anti-Trump speeches while downplaying ideological rifts roiling the national party. Warren praised Senate candidate Juliana Stratton for standing up to AIPAC and corporate PACs, touching on divisions over Israel-Gaza policy and campaign finance that have proven more combustible elsewhere. But the celebratory tone was clouded by House Speaker Chris Welch's handling of a sexual harassment scandal involving former Rep. Harry Benton, and the recent indictment of Rep. Carol Ammons and her husband on fraud charges. Welch skipped the main event; three House Democrats have refused to join his working group on the harassment issue, calling its formation flawed.

A day later, Republicans held their own fairground rally, with Gov. candidate Darren Bailey and running mate Aaron Del Mar attacking Pritzker over cost of living, public safety and schools while avoiding mention of Trump. Senate candidate Don Tracy branded Stratton and Democratic Socialist allies as extreme, and House GOP leader Tony McCombie renewed criticism of Welch. Separately, the DNC narrowed its 2028 convention host shortlist to Boston, Denver and Philadelphia, excluding Chicago, which hosted in 2024 and remains in contention for 2032. Pritzker's campaign also launched a TV ad branding Bailey as extreme ahead of November.