Political Optimism

Fifty-one House members and 12 senators have opted not to run for reelection — on track for the most departures from Congress this century, according to an NBC News analysis. Most of the House members leaving are Republican, 30, and most of the departing senators, too, six.

Fox ominously reports that voters most motivated to vote in the upcoming elections prefer Democrats. In fact, their 52 percent support “is the highest recorded for either party. In 2017, the last time it was even close (50 percent), House Republicans lost their majority later in that cycle.

In a big middle finger to trump, the NY community, and local officials have raised the rainbow flag after Trump took it down.

Some quotes

New York politicians defiantly raised a rainbow flag Thursday at the Stonewall National Monument amid a boisterous, cheering crowd, rebuking the Trump administration for removing the well-known symbol of pride from the LGBTQ+ landmark.

“We will keep doing this,” he said, adding: “Our community is not going to stand for our park, our flagpole, to be disrespected by the Trump administration.”

A rainbow flag still appears on a city-owned pole just outside the park, and smaller ones wave along its fence, where a local volunteer maintains them.

The conservative Washington Examiner reported Thursday that no GOP candidate will appear on the ballot for the U.S. Senate race because they failed to meet all requirements.

Of the three republicans who ran, NONE qualified to appear on the ballot for the New Mexico senate.

The Albuquerque Journal reported it is the first time in modern history that a Republican won't even appear on the ballot

and for a candidate to qualify:

Candidates must submit a nominating petition signed by a number of voters equal to at least two percent (2%) of the total vote of the candidate’s party in the state or congressional district

...and for context:

Lujan won his first Senate election in 2020 with 51.72% of the vote, compared to his Republican rival’s 45.62%.