The Daily Politics Drip — Graham-Andrews Tied, El-Sayed Leads Rogers — Thu, Oct 29, 2026
Trump Enters South Carolina Race as Graham Poll Worsens
https://dripcast.ai/story/304749-trump-enters-south-carolina-race-as-graham-poll-worsens
A new poll has Republican Senator Darline Graham and Democratic challenger Annie Andrews tied at 48 percent, pushing South Carolina’s Senate race into toss-up territory. President Trump is campaigning for Graham in Rock Hill, but Republican Representative Nancy Mace says the race is “a fucking train wreck” and warns Graham needs MAGA voters to turn out, while critics say Trump’s role in elevating her has alienated voters. Andrews has won endorsements from two former South Carolina governors, and the state has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1998.
Stevens Stops Short of Backing El-sayed After Senate Primary
https://dripcast.ai/story/304413-stevens-stops-short-of-backing-el-sayed-after-senate-primary
Abdul El-Sayed is leading Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race, with a poll showing El-Sayed ahead 51% to 44%, as Democrats try to unite after his narrow primary victory over Haley Stevens. Stevens says she is “on the team” but has stopped short of saying she fully backs El-Sayed, and some of her supporters say they have not heard from his campaign; El-Sayed has also faced attacks over his past remarks, which he has denied were antisemitic. Oakland County is a key battleground, where Stevens won the primary and El-Sayed has since received the endorsement of county executive Dave Coulter, while Rogers is seeking support from Stevens’ voters, including Black and Jewish voters.
Hochul Widens New York Governor’s Race Lead Over Blakeman to 14 Points
https://dripcast.ai/story/304178-hochul-widens-new-york-governors-race-lead-over-blakeman-to-14-points
A Siena poll shows New York Governor Kathy Hochul leading Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman, 54% to 40%, widening her advantage from 9 points in September to 14. The survey found Hochul ahead in New York City, the downstate suburbs and upstate, while her campaign is tying Blakeman to President Trump and Blakeman is linking her to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said Hochul’s lead was growing and Blakeman was running short on time to close the gap, while Blakeman accused pollsters of trying to discourage Republican turnout.
Nicki Minaj Denounces Hochul, Urges Voters to Back Blakeman
https://dripcast.ai/story/304850-nicki-minaj-denounces-hochul-urges-voters-to-back-blakeman
Rapper Nicki Minaj sharply criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul, calling her an “evil woman” and saying she “will not escape God’s wrath.” Minaj urged voters to support Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman and said the Democratic Party should dump Hochul. Hochul blamed Minaj’s attacks on the rapper’s appearances at Trump rallies.
Canada and EU Seek Stronger Partnership Amid Trump Threats
https://dripcast.ai/story/304709-canada-and-eu-seek-stronger-partnership-amid-trump-threats
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is pushing for closer ties with the European Union at a summit in Montreal, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are joining him. The draft partnership would deepen cooperation on trade, defence, energy and international engagement, with plans for subsea cables, a study of Canadian liquefied natural gas exports and cross-Atlantic work opportunities; the phrase “associate member” has been dropped after objections from some EU leaders. Carney says the summit will launch formal negotiations expected to take another year, as Canada seeks to reduce its reliance on the United States amid President Trump’s tariff threats.
Why 2026 Polls Could Underestimate Republicans
https://dripcast.ai/story/304707-why-2026-polls-could-underestimate-republicans
A Pew Research article featuring center president Michael Dimock says polling the 2026 midterms will be uniquely difficult, not because polls have worsened, but because several factors are creating unprecedented challenges. A Vox newsletter plans to cover a major trend in the 2026 primaries and a perspective from someone on the ground, with a special post-midterms edition coming “this coming Wednesday.” Yale School of Management researchers are inviting adults who use AI chatbots and live in a state with a 2026 Senate election to spend about 10 minutes discussing their race with ChatGPT and answering questions; responses are confidential, and the study’s results will be shared on Reddit.
Obama Ally Urges Jewish Support for El-sayed as Vance Faces Trump Remark
https://dripcast.ai/story/304318-obama-ally-urges-jewish-support-for-el-sayed-as-vance-faces-trump-remark
Jon Lovett urged Jewish voters in Michigan to support Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, arguing that a Democratic Senate would check President Trump and that politics built on hatred could put Jews at risk. Manhattan Institute vice president Jesse Arm denounced Lovett’s appeal and accused El-Sayed of rationalizing the attack on Temple Israel, a synagogue in suburban Detroit. Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member,” while Vice President JD Vance said El-Sayed had “weird friends” and had “said a lot of crazy stuff,” but added, “I don’t know what’s in the guy’s heart.”
Trump Scraps Kansas Rally Amid Protests and Sparse Crowds
https://dripcast.ai/story/305078-trump-scraps-kansas-rally-amid-protests-and-sparse-crowds
President Trump canceled his planned rally in Salina, Kansas, which was meant to support Republican Senator Roger Marshall in his close reelection race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. The Salina Regional Airport Authority said all Trump administration events planned in Kansas for Saturday were canceled, but gave no reason, and it remains unclear whether the rally will be rescheduled. Trump was instead expected to take part in virtual rallies as Republicans made a final push to keep the Senate seat.
Ohio Counties Could Decide Husted’s Race Despite Trump Visits
https://dripcast.ai/story/304815-ohio-counties-could-decide-husteds-race-despite-trump-visits
Ohio’s Senate special election remains tight, with prediction markets favoring Democrat Sherrod Brown even after President Trump made repeated trips to support Republican Jon Husted. NBC analyst Steve Kornacki examined which counties each candidate needs to win, while reporters covered battleground states and Michigan’s Senate race. The contests are testing whether Trump’s influence still holds in the Midwest, as Democrats challenge his sway in the region.
Alaska Officials Push Back on DOJ Role in Peltola Race
https://dripcast.ai/story/304405-alaska-officials-push-back-on-doj-role-in-peltola-race
The Justice Department is asking a federal judge to block certification of Alaska’s Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses because voters were confused by another candidate with the same name. The New York Times reported that a Democratic operative connected to Mary Peltola’s campaign helped encourage retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan to run, but Peltola’s campaign denied involvement, and Daniel Sullivan said he genuinely wanted to run. Alaska officials say the report does not change their opposition to the lawsuit, arguing state law governs ballot access and the Alaska Supreme Court ordered Daniel Sullivan onto the ballot; President Trump has accused Democrats of election fraud and called for Peltola to be removed from the ballot.
Trump Rallygoer Compares South Carolina Event to Jonestown on Fox News
https://dripcast.ai/story/305040-trump-rallygoer-compares-south-carolina-event-to-jonestown-on-fox-news
At a President Trump rally in South Carolina, a man told Fox News he had come to see what he called a “cult” in person. Asked why he was there, he compared the MAGA gathering to the Jonestown massacre. Fox News had sought out a Trump supporter, but the man interviewed said he had a different reason for attending.
Musk Leads Billionaire Donors Pouring $4.2B Into 2026 Races
https://dripcast.ai/story/304989-musk-leads-billionaire-donors-pouring-42b-into-2026-races
The 40 biggest donors poured more than $2.5 billion into the 2026 U.S. midterm elections by mid-October, and Elon Musk set a record as the largest individual political donor in U.S. history, giving $446 million to three political groups. Shipping magnates Elizabeth and Richard Uihlein gave $150 million, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife contributed $50 million, while George Soros gave $102 million to a liberal super PAC and Mike Bloomberg donated $84.2 million to Democratic campaigns. Eight of the top 10 donors backed efforts to secure Republican control of Congress, and a law firm that helped establish Musk’s America PAC is behind a new election-integrity group that will work with officials on policies aligned with Trump’s false election-fraud claims.
Networks Roll Out Live Election Hubs for 2026 Midterm Results and Analysis
https://dripcast.ai/story/304863-networks-roll-out-live-election-hubs-for-2026-midterm-results-and-analysis
FOX One is launching an interactive midterm-election experience that brings live results, polling, race analysis and local coverage together, with real-time answers available through its Ask FOX app companion. CBS plans coverage across TV, streaming and local stations, led by Tony Dokoupil and Norah O’Donnell, while NewsNation is planning five hours of data-focused reporting; the elections will decide control of Congress and affect President Trump’s agenda. CBS’s “The Nerd Show” starts at 5 p.m. ET and “America Decides: Election 2026” at 7 p.m. ET, with results coverage continuing across its platforms as races are called.
Trump’s Rallies Make History With an Unusually Small Venue
https://dripcast.ai/story/304712-trumps-rallies-make-history-with-an-unusually-small-venue
President Trump campaigned for Republican candidates ahead of the midterms, drawing attention for comments about singer Nicki Minaj’s physique and calling a heckler who was punched “unattractive.” In Ohio, he was set to rally for Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, whose campaign faced scrutiny over an ad about his opponent’s mother, while Trump defended him and criticized reporters’ questions. At a Turning Point USA event outside Harrisburg, speakers urged support for MAGA causes, but anthropologist Alex Hinton described the crowd’s response as subdued and said loyal supporters cited Trump’s immigration crackdown, economic policies and claimed achievements.
Sullivan Accuses Peltola of Ballot Scheme as Democrats Face Backlash
https://dripcast.ai/story/304617-sullivan-accuses-peltola-of-ballot-scheme-as-democrats-face-backlash
Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan accused Democratic rival Mary Peltola of trying to confuse voters by recruiting another candidate with the same name, while Peltola’s campaign denied wrongdoing. The second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, remains on the ballot after the state Supreme Court declined to remove him; election officials say ballot rules are governed by state law, and a lawyer said the episode was not illegal. President Trump called the allegations voter fraud and demanded Peltola be removed and prosecuted, while a poll showed her leading Sullivan 51% to 45% in the state’s ranked-choice Senate race.
Veterans Group Rejects Support for Trump’s Contested Arch
https://dripcast.ai/story/304414-veterans-group-rejects-support-for-trumps-contested-arch
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told a federal judge that President Trump’s proposed arch near Arlington National Cemetery could help protect Washington from drones and other threats, with elevated positions supporting surveillance and security coordination. Three Vietnam War veterans are challenging the project, arguing it would disrupt the experience at Arlington, block important sight-lines and diminish the significance of nearby memorials; the judge is reviewing their lawsuit. The 250-foot arch still needs approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is scheduled to review the proposal on November 5th, and veterans’ groups say they are neutral on its design while calling for a separate monument honoring veterans.