White House Communications Director

Florida's Latino voters, roughly a quarter of the state's electorate, are emerging as a key constituency heading into the 2026 midterms, after many shifted toward Republicans in 2024. Republican and Democratic strategists interviewed by News 6 disagree sharply on which issues will determine whether that shift holds.

Republicans, represented by RNC Hispanic communications director Jaime Florez, credit President Trump's economic record — citing lower inflation, prescription drug costs and job growth — for the party's gains. Democrats, through Puerto Rico Democratic Party chair Luis Dávila Pernas, counter that cost of living remains a burden and claim some Latino Trump voters now feel "buyer's remorse." Immigration enforcement is another flashpoint: the administration has reported more than 985,000 deportations and moved to end Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans and Haitians, actions Republicans defend as lawful enforcement while Democrats argue they have alarmed immigrant communities amid aggressive ICE arrests. Both sides agree voters increasingly want results over partisan conflict as Florida heads toward November's vote.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson is facing criticism for delaying a decision on whether to opt the state into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, a school-choice initiative set to take effect January 1. The program lets taxpayers claim federal tax credits of up to $1,700 (or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly) for donations to organizations providing K-12 scholarships, including for families already enrolled in private schools. Participation requires governors to formally opt in.

Ferguson's office says it is reviewing newly issued Treasury Department rules before deciding, with no timeline given. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently opted her state into the program, intensifying calls for Ferguson to follow suit. Jewish community groups, including the Samis Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, are lobbying for participation, citing the importance of Jewish day schools. Washington's state superintendent has urged rejection, citing cost and civil-rights oversight concerns, while state Republican leaders accuse Ferguson of stalling and using the superintendent as a proxy to avoid taking a public stance.

With Ohio's gubernatorial election weeks away, state lawmakers from both parties are anticipating a contentious "lame duck" legislative session afterward, particularly if Democrat Amy Acton defeats Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. Recent polling shows Acton with a slight edge. Some Republican legislators, including Rep. Jennifer Gross and Rep. David Thomas, say they expect additional sessions to pass policy before a potential change in administration, while Democratic Sen. Bill DeMora predicts GOP efforts to strip powers from Acton specifically during the lame-duck period. House and Senate leadership offices say there are no official plans.

Political scientists note precedent for such moves, pointing to North Carolina Republicans limiting an incoming Democratic governor's authority in 2024 and Ohio's own 2006 lame-duck maneuvering against Governor-elect Ted Strickland. Analysts suggest gubernatorial appointment powers could be a target since such changes draw little public backlash. Any legislation would still require sitting Gov. Mike DeWine's signature before taking effect.

President Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, said higher gas prices from the Iran conflict were "a small price to pay for keeping the world safe," adding that Iran could "take out" Los Angeles or San Diego and calling it "a very small price to pay" that would be "over with very soon." The crowd cheered. The remark came roughly a month before the midterm elections.

California officials responded swiftly. Governor Gavin Newsom called the comment "dangerous -- if not treasonous," directed the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor for threats against California, and later escalated by calling Trump "mentally ill" and demanding invocation of the 25th Amendment. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told Trump to "keep LA out of your damn mouth," and gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra accused him of treating Californians' lives as "a punchline." San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and other mayors, along with Rep. Derek Tran, condemned the remarks. The White House and allies countered that Trump's full remarks were being taken out of context, arguing he meant Iran could strike those cities only if it obtained nuclear weapons, not that the U.S. should allow such an attack.

Brianne Bagby, former public records officer for the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, says executive staff cut off her access to the email system and had the CEO's chief of staff and communications director screen messages before she could review them — in at least one case allegedly pulling CEO Kelly Kinnison's emails from search results entirely. Bagby has since resigned. Emails reportedly show Kinnison approved labeling messages "deliberative" to shield them from public records requests. The agency spokesperson denies any effort to limit disclosure.

The allegations follow a forensic audit this spring that found the authority could not account for $13 million and faced a roughly $45 million deficit, with auditors unable to rule out fraud. Purchase cards racked up $1.1 million over four years, and every sampled high-dollar transaction raised concerns. Some county and city officials called for shutting the agency down, but Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and County Executive Girmay Zahilay instead opted to pull back contracts while keeping the agency running under the same leadership. This year's count found 18,365 homeless people in King County, up 9% from two years ago.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that the state printed 5 million copies of a new "I Voted" sticker design for the general election, created by Atlanta artist Jon Penley. The sticker will be distributed to all 159 counties, though officials say counties can choose whether to hand out the new design, the traditional peach sticker, or both.

Raffensperger's office said Penley created the design as a favor, without payment, and the artist has a personal relationship with the secretary, who is leaving office next January. Penley is known for strongly conservative political views and has hosted campaign events for Gov. Brian Kemp and former Senate candidate Herschel Walker at his studio. He has also depicted Donald Trump in his artwork, including a piece commemorating the 2024 assassination attempt.

Supporters note Penley's broader body of work includes portraits of Democratic figures like John F. Kennedy and Michelle Obama, the latter held in the Barack Obama Presidential Library's collection. The design choice has nonetheless drawn criticism over the artist's political associations ahead of the election.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan is drawing criticism after it emerged she is set to attend a fundraiser hosted by Dr. Nathan Chomilo, the state's Medicaid medical director since January 2020. His tenure has coincided with a massive Medicaid fraud scandal in Minnesota, much of it centered on programs like autism services and Housing Stabilization Services, with an estimated billions in fraudulent payments.

Republicans, including state Rep. Kristin Robbins and the National Republican Senatorial Committee, seized on the connection, arguing it undermines Flanagan's stated commitment to addressing fraud and reflects alignment with the party's progressive wing. Chomilo was not directly responsible for fraud oversight or payment processing, but critics note his senior role should have made him aware of the problems. Flanagan has previously said she is "appalled" by the fraud and pointed to new oversight measures, including an inspector general's office.

The controversy adds pressure to Flanagan's Senate bid against Republican Michele Tafoya, with fraud emerging as a top issue for Minnesota voters ahead of the November election.

Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell has criticized what he calls "complete silence" from Wisconsin's election commission and attorney general's office over how local officials should respond if federal agents appear at polling places on election day. The concerns follow FBI Director Kash Patel's refusal to rule out deploying federal agents to polls, part of a broader pattern of Trump administration officials raising the possibility of sending ICE or National Guard personnel to voting locations.

In response, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin introduced legislation aimed at blocking the president from deploying ICE or the National Guard to polling sites this November. The threats have also spurred lawsuits against the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Justice Department, citing federal law that bars armed agents from polling places except to "repel armed enemies of the United States." Wisconsin's elections commission says it hopes to issue guidance before election day. McDonell warned the uncertainty alone could deter eligible voters from turning out.