Live Election

First Muslim woman and Afghan American elected to California legislature held lead throughout race over main opponent Melissa HernandezSign up for the US Breaking News emailHello and welcome to our live coverage of US politics.Following a bitter intra-party battle, progressive Aisha Wahab has been elected to Congress in a special election to fill the seat formerly held by Eric Swalwell, who resigned in April after facing sexual misconduct allegations (he has denied the allegations).Trump’s former fixer, Michael Cohen, who turned on the president in 2019, when he compared him to a mobster during congressional testimony, executed another 180-degree turn, showering the president with praise during a friendly conversation between the two men on Cohen’s New York City radio show.The White House faced fresh questions over whether Donald Trump’s closest aide, Natalie Harp, had access to US government secrets without security clearance.At a Rose Garden event to promote Melania Trump’s advocacy for foster children, the first lady opened with a joked about her lack of recent public appearances, as her husband looked on with something less than rapt attention.One week after Trump ordered his navy secretary to redesign a new aircraft carrier, the USS Doris Miller - to scrap the modern electromagnetic system used to launch fighter jets, and install old-fashioned steam-powered catapults instead - CNN reports that the navy is considering another change to the same ship: removing the name of Miller, a Black sailor known for his heroism during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, and naming it instead the USS Donald Trump.The non-partisan Cook Political Report updated its midterm election forecast to rate the US Senate races in both Texas and Iowa, which had leaned in favor of Republicans, as toss ups that could break for Democrats. Continue reading...

• Byron Donalds and Jolly have secured victories in the 2026 Florida primary elections, advancing to the next stage of the race. • The primary featured high-stakes contests for governor, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, and various state legislature seats. • Critics argue that Donalds' political platform prioritizes the interests of President Trump and corporate donors, specifically the data center industry, over working families.

• Alaska is conducting its 2026 Senate primary election to determine which candidates will advance to the general election. • Live results are being tracked and updated as votes are counted across various counties for both Republican and Democratic candidates. • This primary is a critical step in deciding who will represent the state in the U.S. Senate, influencing federal policy and regional interests.

• Voters in Alaska, Florida, Wyoming, and California’s 14th District are heading to the polls for various election contests. • In Florida, voters are determining which candidates will appear on the November ballot to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis. • In Texas, Democratic candidate James Talarico has hired Jacob Smith, a former deputy legislative director for Senator John Cornyn, to aid his tight race against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

• Voters in Alaska, Florida, Wyoming, and California’s 14th District are heading to the polls for various election contests. • In Florida, voters are determining which candidates will appear on the November ballot to succeed Governor Ron DeSantis. • In a separate development, Democratic candidate James Talarico hired Jacob Smith, a former deputy legislative director for Republican Senator Cornyn, to aid his campaign against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

• Comic candidate Count Binface, known for wearing a bin on his head, has claimed a "moral victory" following the UK's Clacton by-election on August 14, 2026. • The satirical campaign served as a direct challenge to political figure Nigel Farage during the local electoral contest. • This event highlights the role of protest candidates and political satire in challenging mainstream political narratives within the UK.

The Reform UK leader will not be present at vote count in byelection he has tried to frame as the ‘people versus the establishment’Nigel Farage set for decisive but arguably empty victory in ClactonHello and welcome to this special UK politics live blog, where we will be bringing you the result from Nigel Farage’s latest vanity parade. Sorry, I mean the 2026 Clacton byelection.Thousands of residents in the Essex seat voted on Thursday in a ballot featuring Nigel Farage and a range of novelty and fringe candidates led by Count Binface, after all the main political parties (and Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain) decided against fielding candidates. Continue reading...

The Reform UK leader resigned as the MP for Clacton at the start of July and forced a byelectionGood morning. In the media, August is known as the “silly season”. With parliament not sitting and many people on holiday, there is less proper news than normal, which means the nonsense stories get (even) more attention than usual. We are almost slap bang in the middle of the month, and today we’ve got a silly season classic in Clacton, where Nigel Farage, the Reform UK candidate, is fighting a byelection in which his main opponent is a joke candidate who dresses up as a dustbin.Farage is not inherently silly. Few politicians have been more consequential over the past quarter of a century (because he did more than any other single individual to make the Brexit referendum happen); for most of the past 16 months his party has had a big poll lead and he has a very realistic chance of being the next PM; and even if he doesn’t become PM, his hard-right, anti-migrant, crass, crypto-friendly populism will have changed British politics significantly.POLITICO analysis of the Reform UK leader’s digital campaign messages shows that Farage has run a twin-track strategy in the seaside seat as polls open Thursday. The two key themes of the digital air war have been painting Farage as a champion for local residents — as well as an insurgent leader harried by the “establishment” machine.Farage and his party have spent more than £10,000 pushing those messages via ads on Meta’s platforms — which include Facebook and Instagram — in the campaign so far.Almost £1,000 has been spent on videos of Farage urging local supporters to request the party deliver and install an “I’m with Nigel” garden sign. Meanwhile, around £500 went to ads asking voters to return their postal votes and “send a message to the establishment.”The largest single sum — between £4,000-£4,500 — was spent on an almost five-minute campaign video in which Farage waxes lyrical about the connection he’s made with local constituents, while claiming his party’s surging success has resulted in the powers-that-be using “foul means” to hamper him. Continue reading...

• Primary elections in Wisconsin and Minnesota saw unexpected upsets in governor races, while the South Carolina GOP Senate primary is heading toward a runoff. • Simultaneously, Democracy Forward, led by CEO Skye Perryman, announced the hiring of J.P. Cooney and Molly Gaston to strengthen its legal efforts. • The organization aims to hold the Trump administration accountable for alleged corruption and the "weaponization" of the Department of Justice.

• Moderate Democrat David Crowley defeated Francesca Hong in the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary, despite Hong previously leading in opinion polls. • In Minnesota, progressive Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan secured a victory in the Democratic Senate primary. • Senator Amy Klobuchar criticized opponent Lindell, arguing he is ill-suited for office and questioning his "baffling" proposal to grant legal visas to millions of undocumented immigrants.

• The 2026 Minnesota primary election is underway, with live results and maps being tracked for the Secretary of State race. • In a separate Wisconsin Democratic primary for governor, candidates David Crowley and Francesca Hong are separated by a tiny, fluctuating margin. • The close race in Wisconsin may trigger strict recount rules established by a previous Republican-controlled legislature.

• Primary elections are taking place tonight in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Carolina, featuring several high-stakes races. • In Minnesota, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan is competing for a Senate seat that Democrats aim to retain in the November general election. • Wisconsin's Democratic primary for governor is seeing an unexpectedly close battle between democratic socialist Francesca Hong and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.

• Minnesota voters are casting ballots in the 2026 primary elections, featuring critical races for governor and the U.S. Senate. • Democratic candidates are competing for a potential "trifecta," which would grant the party control over the governor's seat and both chambers of the state legislature. • In a notable development, Governor Evers has publicly endorsed Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who recently rejoined the race after a brief withdrawal.

• Six Democrats and nine Republicans are competing in the August 11 primary election for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat. • The race features candidates with diverse backgrounds, including a prominent figure who served on the Minneapolis School Board and as director of the Children's Defense Fund—Minnesota. • This election is critical as it determines which party's nominee will represent the state in the U.S. Senate.

• Minnesota is conducting its 2026 primary election to determine the Republican and Democratic nominees for Secretary of State. • Live results are being tracked and reported as votes are counted by both candidate and county across the state. • This primary is a critical step in deciding who will oversee the state's elections and business filings for the next term.

• The U.S. Justice Department has deployed approximately 20 staff members from the Civil Rights Division and Minnesota’s US attorney’s office to monitor polling sites in Hennepin and Ramsey counties for the 2026 midterms. • County officials have refused federal staff entry, forcing monitors to remain at least 100 feet outside polling locations. • This move occurs amid heightened tensions, as the Trump administration has previously targeted Minnesota with a deadly immigration crackdown and the pausing of over $500 million in Medicaid payments.

• Kansas held its U.S. Senate primary elections on August 4, 2026, to determine the party nominees for the general election. • Real-time vote counts and county-level maps are being provided via the Associated Press to track the progress of the race. • These results are critical as they narrow the field of candidates vying for a seat in the United States Senate.

• Missouri held its U.S. House primary elections on August 4, 2026, to determine candidates for the general election. • The Associated Press is providing real-time coverage, including live vote counts, county-level maps, and official race calls. • These results are critical as they narrow the field of candidates vying for congressional seats in the state.

• Voters in Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, and Washington state participated in primary elections to determine candidates for upcoming congressional races. • Polls have officially closed in Michigan, Missouri, Kansas, and Virginia, marking the conclusion of the voting process in those specific states. • These contests are critical as they shape the party nominations and the overall battle for control of Congress in the next general election.

• Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected Amendment 4, a proposal backed by the Republican-led legislature that would have restricted the process for passing citizen-led ballot initiatives. • The defeated measure would have required citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to win in each of Missouri's eight congressional districts instead of a simple statewide majority. • This outcome preserves the current, more accessible path for citizens to propose constitutional changes, marking a significant legislative defeat for Missouri Republicans.

• Michigan Democrats will hold primary elections on August 4 to select a candidate for a key US Senate seat. • The contest features a clash between progressive former public health official Abdul El-Sayed and centrist representative Haley Stevens, who is backed by party leadership. • The race highlights a strategic divide within the Democratic party between progressive policy goals, such as Medicare for All, and centrist political approaches.

• CBS News Detroit is providing live coverage of Michigan's primary elections scheduled for August 2026. • The reporting focuses on critical local, state, and federal contests, specifically highlighting races for the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, and the governorship. • These elections are significant as Michigan will be selecting a new governor to lead the state.

• Primary voting is currently underway in five states, including Michigan, Virginia, and Kansas. • The Senate Judiciary Committee has begun hearings on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general. • Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis expressed concerns regarding Donald Trump's IRS settlement and the creation of an "anti-weaponization" fund for victims of political prosecutions.

• Primary elections are taking place across five states, including Missouri, Kansas, Virginia, Washington, and Michigan. • In Michigan, the Democratic Senate primary features a key contest between Representative Haley Stevens and public health official Abdul El-Sayed. • Kansas voters are deciding on a conservative-led proposal to elect state Supreme Court justices instead of having them appointed by the governor.

• Arizona is conducting its 2026 Governor Primary elections to determine the nominees for the general election. • Republican candidates Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are competing for the GOP nomination to challenge the incumbent. • Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs is seeking a second term in office and is running for re-election.

• Kalshi has launched a "Midterms Hub" providing live US midterm election forecasts, prediction market odds, and comprehensive race analysis. • The platform integrates polling averages from VoteHub, fundraising data from the Federal Election Commission, and historical election results for comparative study. • Designed for voters, journalists, policymakers, and researchers, the hub offers a centralized resource to track real-time political developments and campaign news.

• Arizona is conducting its 2026 House Primary Elections, with live vote counting currently underway for both Republican and Democratic candidates across various counties. • The 1st and 6th Districts have emerged as critical national battleground seats, playing a pivotal role in the struggle for House majority control in 2027. • A deep-red seat has become available for new Republican contenders following Representative Andy Biggs' decision to run for governor.

• Arizona is holding primary elections today to determine candidates for governor, secretary of state, and several competitive House battleground districts. • Separately, President Trump is meeting with the Lebanese president to discuss military aid and the ongoing conflict involving Israel. • Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, has criticized the Trump administration for removing senior generals and admirals from the Defense Department since January 2025.