White House Press Secretary

Polling and interviews across Texas point to a significant erosion of Latino support for President Trump since his 2024 gains, driven by frustration over high prices, gas costs, and aggressive ICE enforcement that has rattled South Texas communities and economies. Strategists describe the shift as a rebuke of Republicans rather than genuine enthusiasm for Democrats, who still carry a damaged brand with many Latino voters. The trend could shape Texas's competitive U.S. Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico, as well as newly redrawn majority-Hispanic congressional districts. Analysts expect Latino support for Democrats to partially rebound toward 2018 levels, but caution that voters remain persuadable and increasingly judge candidates individually rather than by party.

Texas state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, filed suit Monday against Gov. Greg Abbott seeking unredacted copies of emails exchanged with Elon Musk. Hinojosa says Abbott's office has withheld records she requested under Texas public information law, alleging prior disclosures to media left most pages redacted or blacked out. Her suit cites extensive ties between Abbott and Musk, including political contributions, joint appearances, and economic-development incentives tied to SpaceX's Texas operations. Abbott's office called the lawsuit a politically motivated "stunt" from an outgoing lawmaker. The dispute surfaces as early voting begins in Texas's closely watched governor's race between Hinojosa and Abbott.

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.

Two Tennessee organizations, Abortion Care Tennessee and Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi, have filed lawsuits in Davidson County Chancery Court seeking to block sweeping records demands from the state attorney general's office. Neither group provides abortions or sells abortion pills; both offer information on legal options, including out-of-state care, which courts have found protected by the First Amendment.

The attorney general's office sent both groups requests on Sept. 3, alleging possible violations of consumer protection and other laws without specifying the alleged conduct. The demands sought communications on abortion pill providers, mail-order abortion assistance, and, in Planned Parenthood's case, identities of minors who received gender-affirming care since July 2023—a claim the group denies applies to it. The groups argue the requests are retaliatory, following a recent federal appeals court ruling striking down a state law criminalizing "recruiting" minors for out-of-state abortions, and call the demands unconstitutional intrusions on protected speech and patient privacy. The attorney general's office says it routinely requests information when possible law violations arise and will respond in court.

Denver has joined the League of United Latin American Citizens, Common Cause and UnidosUS in a federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, Secretary Markwayne Mullin, ICE and Acting ICE Director David Venturella, seeking to block armed immigration agents from being stationed at polling sites during the midterms. The suit argues such deployments would violate a Civil War-era law barring armed federal forces at election sites except to repel armed enemies, and cites past ICE activity near polling locations in Texas, California and New York as evidence of a broader "Polling Place Policy."

DHS disputes that any such policy exists, saying enforcement is intelligence-driven and tied to specific threats or active warrants, a point Mullin has echoed. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Clerk and Recorder Paul López say the city has trained election workers to identify and respond to federal agents, and vowed to remove and prosecute any agents unlawfully present. The case adds to Denver's ongoing legal clashes with the administration over immigration enforcement.

An administrative law judge has recommended that the Florida Department of Health reprimand and fine Lexie Lawler, a Boca Raton labor and delivery nurse who lost her license after posting a TikTok wishing former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who was pregnant, a painful and traumatic childbirth. The video went viral in January 2026 after being amplified by right-wing commentator Chaya Raichik ("Libs of TikTok"), drawing condemnation from Republican officials including Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who called for her license to be revoked. The Department of Health had suspended Lawler's license under an emergency order citing unprofessional conduct, and she subsequently lost her job at Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

In a Sept. 1 recommended order, Judge Robert Cohen proposed a reprimand, a $250 fine, continuing education on social media use, and repayment of investigation costs, calling it a low-end penalty given Lawler's clean 12-year record and the loss of her job. Lawler's attorney says she will file exceptions, arguing the misconduct rule requires language directed at or in front of a patient, which did not occur.

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.