AGP Executive Report

Election Disputes: The Justice Department asked Washington to set aside more than 400 ballots from voters it says may be noncitizens, and plans monitors in two Democratic-leaning counties. Trump also said he ordered a lawsuit to block Alaska’s Senate certification if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. State officials have called federal election actions a distraction. Courts and Executive Power: A federal judge ruled the Trump administration unlawfully fired former prosecutor Maurene Comey and ordered her reinstated. The Ninth Circuit also upheld a block on Trump’s federalization of California National Guard troops. Midterm Stakes: Trump is campaigning on the economy, but the Iran war and higher fuel costs are weighing on Republicans as tight races could decide control of Congress.

Election Challenges: President Donald Trump suggested, without evidence, that Brazil’s election was rigged after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection; challenger Flávio Bolsonaro is also contesting the result. Midterm Battlegrounds: Corruption is emerging as a major issue in Texas, where Democrat James Talarico is targeting Republican Ken Paxton. Democrats are also gaining ground in Arizona, while former President Barack Obama endorsed Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon. Federal Oversight: A judge ruled the Trump administration unlawfully fired former prosecutor Maurene Comey. Attorney General Todd Blanche defended a lawsuit seeking to block Alaska’s Senate results from being certified if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. Voting: The U.S. Postal Service says ballots are being delivered securely and on time for the midterms.

House Battlegrounds: New Pennsylvania polls put Democrats ahead of Republican incumbents in two swing districts and show a dead heat in a third, while Bob Harvie narrowly leads Brian Fitzpatrick. The races could help decide House control. Election-Law Fight: A federal appeals court appeared skeptical of the Justice Department’s bid to set aside roughly 20,000 California ballots cast by voters flagged as likely noncitizens; state officials dispute the administration’s demands. Separately, reports say Trump directed DOJ to sue over Alaska’s Senate results if the Republican loses. Senate Campaigns: JD Vance is returning to Kansas to rally for Sen. Roger Marshall, whose race against Democrat Adam Hamilton is unexpectedly close. Texas’s Paxton-Talarico contest is also drawing national attention. Voter Concerns: Polling finds 72% of Americans oppose new data centers in their communities, putting AI, utility costs and local development on the midterm agenda.

Midterm Economy: Democrats hold a narrow edge on economic trust, 43% to 40%, in a new poll. Most independents say neither party has the advantage. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the GOP’s record as affordability worries threaten its majority. Alaska Election Fight: Attorney General Todd Blanche defended a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate race if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. The dispute centers on a second candidate with a similar name, while Democrats and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski have criticized the suit. Campaign Trail: Trump and other Republicans are stepping up rallies as Democrats, including Barack Obama, campaign for their candidates in closely contested races. Venezuela: Opposition leader María Corina Machado returned after months in exile, a move that could test the country’s political opening and complicate the Trump administration’s approach to Caracas.

Iran Tensions: Trump says the U.S. could strike Iran as soon as Sunday, while intelligence officials warn Iranian plots against Americans have reached advanced stages. The State Department is reducing staffing at several Middle East embassies. Election Fight: Trump says he ordered the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block Alaska’s Senate election results if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. Democrats are asking a judge to dismiss the case, calling it an attack on voters’ choice. Midterm Campaigns: Barack Obama is rallying Democrats in Ohio and Michigan as Trump campaigns for Republicans, with control of Congress at stake. Federal Power: An appeals court ruled Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles was unlawful. Meanwhile, a new analysis finds competitive House districts are shrinking as partisan redistricting reshapes races.

Election Fight: President Donald Trump said he ordered a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate results if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. Separately, DOJ gave California counties 48 hours to review voters it suspects are noncitizens and set aside their ballots, prompting pushback from state officials. Midterm Campaigns: Barack Obama is campaigning with Democrats in Ohio and Michigan, while early voting in Harris County, Texas, has set records. Polling points to a more competitive Senate map than Republicans expected. Voter Concerns: High prices remain a central campaign issue, with voters worried that the Iran conflict and trade policies are driving up household costs. National Security: The intelligence chief warned that Iranian plots against U.S. personnel abroad have reached advanced stages; the State Department is reducing staffing at some Middle East embassies.

Election Fight: The Justice Department sued Alaska to block certification of the Senate race if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, arguing a same-name candidate could confuse voters. President Trump said he ordered the suit; legal experts questioned its basis. Executive Power: A federal appeals court ruled Trump’s deployment of California National Guard troops to Los Angeles was unlawful, rejecting his claim that unrest justified taking control from the governor. National Security: Intelligence chief Jay Clayton warned that Iranian plots against U.S. personnel have reached advanced stages. The State Department is adjusting staffing at four Middle East embassies. Midterm Campaigns: Barack Obama is campaigning with Democrats in Ohio and Michigan, while Maryland Democrats are urging voters to approve a redistricting amendment that could put the state’s lone Republican-held House seat at risk.

Election Showdown: Trump acknowledged ordering a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block Alaska from certifying a Senate result if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, arguing a same-name challenger could confuse voters. Democrats separately asked a judge to fast-track their suit over administration threats to election officials and demands to remove voters from registration rolls. Trade and Midterms: Maine Sen. Susan Collins says nine categories of Canadian goods, including products used by farmers, will receive tariff exemptions as trade becomes an issue in her reelection race. China Policy: Treasury proposed expanding limits on U.S. high-tech investment in China, Russia, North Korea and other countries of concern, covering areas such as supercomputing and AI. Federal Oversight: A congressional watchdog says some Pentagon AI weapons and tools do not consistently follow the department’s guidelines. Legal Accountability: Two former FBI officials were indicted for allegedly lying to Congress about their roles in the Hunter Biden investigations. Campaign Climate: Polls and forecasts point to stronger Democratic prospects in House and Senate races, while Trump’s approval remains below 40%.

Voting Rights: Federal judges have blocked Trump administration investigations into alleged noncitizen voting in nine states and Washington, as the Justice Department weighs more election lawsuits. The crackdown has also ensnared immigrants seeking citizenship, including people accused of making false claims on voter or immigration forms. Midterm Races: Early voting is surging, and control of Congress is up for grabs. Texas’ Senate race is tight, while Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers clashed in their final debate. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats are close to retaking the chamber. Campaign Pressure: Trump threatened legal action to remove a same-named challenger from Alaska’s Senate ballot, calling the candidacy election interference. State Politics: Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas was indicted in an alleged marijuana trafficking and money-laundering scheme; she denies wrongdoing. Democratic Direction: Rep. Ro Khanna joined progressive leaders at UC Berkeley to call for a rebuilt Democratic Party and challenge corporate influence.

Federal Election Fight: The Justice Department is weighing lawsuits against more states over voter-registration lists, as Washington and 20 other states back California in fighting a federal challenge they say could disenfranchise voters. Virginia Indictment: Democratic state Senate leader L. Louise Lucas was charged in an alleged marijuana-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracy; she says she will not be bullied. Midterm Stakes: Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and challenger Adam Hamilton clashed over Trump, immigration and the economy in a debate ahead of a race that could affect Senate control. Rising prices are also testing Republicans’ economic message as Election Day nears. Supreme Court: The justices will hear a challenge to Congress’ authority to prohibit home distilling, a case centered on federal taxing power. Congressional Security: A 17-year-old has been charged with allegedly plotting to assassinate Texas Rep. Keith Self and carry out an ISIS-inspired attack.

Senate Battlegrounds: Democrat Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican Mike Rogers 50% to 48% in a new Michigan poll, a sharp narrowing ahead of their final debate. The race could help decide Senate control. Election Confidence: A new poll finds Democratic confidence that votes will be counted accurately fell from 66% in 2022 to 55% this year, as concerns about election interference grow. Great Lakes: The Senate unanimously passed legislation from Michigan Sens. Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin to extend restoration funding at $475 million a year through 2030. Ukraine and the Middle East: Russia struck Kyiv, killing one and wounding 22, hours after agreeing in principle to resume U.S.-brokered talks after Nov. 10. Separately, Washington ordered some U.S. diplomats and families out of Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks, amid rising regional tensions. New Mexico Court: A judge ordered Meta to pay $25 billion in penalties over claims it misled users about data privacy in the Cambridge Analytica scandal; the company is expected to appeal.

Midterm Stakes: Early voting is underway in Texas, with control of Congress and state governments at stake on Nov. 3. Thirty-six governor’s offices are up for election, though only a handful of races appear closely contested. Senate Battlegrounds: Ohio’s Sherrod Brown is set to challenge Republican Jon Husted, while Alaska’s Mary Peltola faces incumbent Dan Sullivan in a race that could shape Senate control. Texas’s James Talarico and Ken Paxton are locked in a tight contest, with early voting and affordability among the central issues. Campaign Integrity: Researchers say an AI-generated sexual-abuse accusation against Talarico was part of a Russian disinformation effort, underscoring growing concerns about manipulated content before Election Day. Suspicious letters targeting congressional and election offices have also prompted heightened scrutiny. Voter Outreach: Republican canvassers are making a stronger pitch to Latino voters, focusing on crime, taxes and family values, while candidates across the country face pressure to address costs such as childcare.

Michigan Senate Race: Republican nominee Mike Rogers is taking his bus tour to the Upper Peninsula as polls show a statistical dead heat with Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. Midterm Outlook: A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found 70% of voters doubt President Trump would accept GOP losses; respondents were divided over which party will win the House, while majorities of both parties expressed confidence in election fairness. Campaign Spending: Political groups have spent more than $137 million on AI-assisted ads this cycle, up from less than $50,000 in 2024; more than 70% of the ads lacked an AI disclosure, researchers found. Federal Investigation: Investigators questioned Rep. Ilhan Omar’s sister voluntarily as part of an immigration-fraud probe. Omar called the investigation political intimidation; no charges were reported. Ukraine Talks: U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Russia for talks with Vladimir Putin after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Oslo, as Washington pursues a path to end the war.

Ukraine Policy: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says U.S. intelligence sharing, including missile warnings, is working as he presses Washington on military support. Republican Sen. John Curtis says the U.S. is not doing enough, while lawmakers from both parties have renewed support for Ukraine. Election Integrity: Los Angeles County says a review found 25.8% of a sample on the Justice Department’s list of suspected noncitizen voters had U.S. birthplaces, challenging the list’s reliability as Election Day nears. Campaign 2026: Senate Democrats are putting $1.2 million behind Scott Colom’s challenge to Mississippi Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith; in Ohio, a new ad featuring gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton’s mother attacks her, and Acton’s brother has disputed the claims. Federal Power: The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner’s office over a post-conviction case. CNN is also threatening more legal action, saying the White House continues to block its reporters from Air Force One coverage despite a court order restoring access to White House grounds. Government Technology: DHS has ordered civilian federal agencies to remove DeepSeek products, citing potential risks to sensitive data.

Federal AI Policy: DHS ordered DeepSeek and services using its models off civilian agency systems, warning they could expose sensitive data to China; defense agencies are exempt. Midterm Campaigns: Trump rallied for Sen. Roger Marshall in Kansas, warning the country would “burn” if Democrats win. Texas’ costly Senate race is tightening, with Ken Paxton receiving a $1.3 million boost from MAHA Action. Election Security: The FBI is investigating suspicious letters sent to Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, amid a wider wave of election-related threats. A federal judge also declined to block North Carolina’s new mail ballot rules. Ukraine Policy: Zelenskyy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed missile interceptors, early warning systems and Starlink access as Ukraine presses Washington for support. Federal Courts: A judge blocked the Trump administration’s effort to dismantle the USDA, potentially preserving SNAP and WIC programs.

Ukraine Policy: President Trump condemned Volodymyr Zelensky after Ukraine struck a Russian oil terminal, deepening tensions over Washington’s approach to Moscow. Zelensky warned that siding with Russia would be a “historic mistake,” while Republicans threatened to block a $350 billion Pentagon package unless Trump takes a tougher line. Midterm Stakes: With affordability a major campaign issue and Trump’s approval rating reported at 33%, candidates are making final appeals as voters prepare for November. California’s online and mail voter-registration deadline is Monday. Election Security: A suspicious envelope forced the evacuation of Rep. Suhas Subramanyam’s Virginia office, while a separate powder-filled letter was intercepted before reaching South Dakota’s secretary of state. Federal authorities are investigating similar mailings to election offices nationwide. Executive Power: The Supreme Court declined to review Trump’s firing of former labor board member Gwynne Wilcox, leaving in place a ruling that backed the president’s authority to remove her.