120th Congress (2027-2029)

Congress Is On Way To Most Turnover In Any Cycle In American History, For The Upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029)

Ronald 19 Comments

The 119th Congress (2025-2027) is setting a record for turnover, leading to the most massive number of members who will no longer be members in the 120th Congress (2027-2029).

Based on the latest information, but certain to be added to over the next few months, the statistics as of now show the following:

At least, 83 Incumbents will NOT be returning:

70 members of the House of Representatives, including 30 Democrats and 40 Republicans

13 US Senators, including 9 Republicans and 4 Democrats

Retirements, Resignations, Deaths, Seeking Other Offices, and Reelection Primary Losses are the factors that are causing massive turnover, and with more to come after more primaries and Election Day results.

Seven sitting Democrats and three Republicans in the House have lost primaries, and two Republican Senators also lost their primaries, John Cornyn and Bill Cassidy.

Also, 27 House members have given up their seats to run for another office, with 13 losing their bids for another office. Additionally, Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama is not running for reelection, but is the Republican nominee for Governor.

Five House members have died during this Congress, as well as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Additionally, there have been seven resignations, mostly due to ethics related charges, but also appointment or election to other offices, as well as the resignation of Marjorie Taylor Greene in opposition to Donald Trump on the Epstein Scandals matter and other breaks with Trump.

It is good that the next Congress will be, assuredly, much younger, with the move against endless service of long term members being a positive development.

One more major moment of challenge of age against youth will be the September 1 Massachusetts primary for the Senate, where Senator Ed Markey, age 80, with 37 years in the House of Representatives and 13 plus years in the US Senate, faces the challenge of Congressman Seth Moulton, who is 47 years old and has served 12 years in the lower chamber.

Markey is a strong progressive with an outstanding record, but it seems to most observers that it is time for a younger generation to take over.

Amazingly, Markey held off former Congressman Joseph Kennedy III six years ago, despite the Kennedy name, and it will be a close watched primary coming up two weeks from now.

“Democratic Socialism” Could Be A Threat To Democratic Control Of 120th Congress (2027-2029) And State Governments!

Ronald 20 Comments

There is growing concern that so called “Democratic Socialism” could be a threat to Democratic Party control of the 120th Congress (2027-2029) and State Governorships.

The Republican Party is using the term “Communism”, promoting the old tactic of the “Red Scare”, that was utilized by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s against extremists in the Democratic Party, who while not “Communists”, sound as extreme in their political, economic, and social views.

The upcoming Senate primary in Michigan, with candidate Abdul El Sayed on August 4, and the upcoming Gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin on August 11, with candidate Francesca Hong, are ringing alarm bells that concern reasonable progressives and liberals, including this author and blogger.

As a followup on the blog entry of three days ago, it would be beyond tragic if their extremist rhetoric were to throw the Michigan Senate seat to the Republicans, and the Wisconsin Governorship to the Republicans.

It likely would make it impossible for Democrats to gain the majority of the Senate, and would move the state of Wisconsin backward in its state government.

The fact that some “Democratic Socialists”, particularly those in the New York Congressional primaries in New York City, were speaking of ending the police; ending any concept of “borders” for the nation; and had elements of antisemitism against Jews, due to the Israel-Gaza War—make the thought of higher level success in the upper Midwest, totally horrifying.

And the earlier advocacy of ending the whole American government structure as we know it, as outlined earlier three days ago, is beyond the pale.

And the fact that comedian Bill Maher just discussed the crazy extremism of “Democratic Socialism” as an alarm bell that he saw as a danger, is also very troubling.

While this author and blogger is not a fan of Bill Maher, what he had to say on Friday evening rings true, and is alarming for the political future, in the effort to end the nightmare of Donald Trump and his right wing extremist policies.

Right now, polls indicate Democrats have an 8 point lead in the upcoming elections, and therefore, victory for the party depends on avoiding massive controversy over candidates such as El Sayed and Hong.

Democratic Party Division In Michigan Could Affect Senate Race And Majority In The 120th Congress (2027-2029)

Ronald 26 Comments

In the first two weeks of August, the upper Midwest states of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota will hold primaries for Governor and US Senate, along with House races and state legislative races.

The Democratic Party is facing splits, whereby “Democratic Socialists” are challenging establishment Democrats, which might lead to future problems against Republican opponents.

Today, the situation in Michigan will be discussed, followed by Wisconsin and Minnesota over the next two days.

In Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for Governor, while the likely Republican nominee is African American Congressman John James, who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2018 and 2020, after graduating West Point and serving for eight years in the military.

More controversial is the battle for the Democratic Senate nomination between Congresswoman Haley Stevens and physician Abdul El Sayed, who was Health Director for Detroit and for Wayne County, and was a competitor in 2018 for the Michigan Gubernatorial race.

Abdul El Sayed is backed by Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Chris Van Hollen, and Elizabeth Warren, and is vehemently opposed by the pressure group AIPAC, since he is a major critic of Israel and its war in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank against Palestinians.

Stevens is supported by mainstream Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, among others.

The concern of many is that Abdul El Sayed, who would be the first Muslim Senator if he won the Senate race, would have major problems against Republican Congressman Mike Rogers in the election, when Democrats need to gain four seats in the Senate to win the majority of the chamber, and with Democratic Senator Gary Peters presently holding that seat.

The strong belief of many is that IF Michigan is lost to the Republicans, there is no way for Democrats to gain the four seats needed to be the majority in the US Senate in the 120th Congress (2027-2029).

“Democratic Socialists” Vs Democratic Party

Ronald 23 Comments

The Democratic Party has brought about in the past century, since Franklin D. Roosevelt onward through Joe Biden, a massive number of major reforms.

The vast number of them came under FDR and the New Deal in the 1930s, and Lyndon B. Johnson and the Great Society in the 1960s, both periods where the Democratic Party had massive majorities in both houses of Congress.

Under other Democratic Presidents, fewer reforms were possible, but there were domestic accomplishments and advancements under Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden.

Now, however, so called “Democratic Socialists” are trying to turn the Democratic Party further to the left, and have succeeded in electing Zohran Mamdani as NYC Mayor and likely will elect Janeese Lewis George as Washington DC Mayor in November.

The best known “Democratic Socialist” is Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democratic Party, and is seen by others as a “model”, but is not technically seen as part of this updated “Democratic Socialists”.

Also, there are three members, presently, in the House of Representatives;

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
Greg Casar of Texas

In the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029), the following additions are to be added to the House of Representatives:

Dairaliza Avila Chavalier of New York
Claire Valdez of New York
Melat Kiros of Colorado
Chris Rabb of Pennsylvania

There are others who are termed as “The Squad”, but do not call themselves “Democratic Socialists”, including

Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts
Delia Ramirez of Illinois
Summer Lee of Pennsylvania

The “Democratic Socialists” and “The Squad” membership could be a problem if the Democrats gain the majority in the House of Representatives by only a small margin, as that could interfere with the ability of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York to become the first Black Speaker of the House.

“Democratic Socialists” promote the following:

32 Hour Work Week
Minimum Wage of $30
Medicare For All
High Taxation of the Rich
Housing Reform And Universal Rent Control
Cuts In Military Spending
Opposition to NATO and Aid to Ukraine
Replacement of Capitalism
Hostility To Israel Since Israel-Gaza War

This author and blogger, proud to be a “Progressive”, sees these goals as unrealistic or objectionable.

Lowering the work week to less than 40 hours is possible, and a minimum wage goal over time of $25 seem reasonable.

Movement toward Medicare to cover Americans over 50, and some taxation of the rich is also reasonable.

Housing Reforms including for renters in a moderate way is also reasonable.

Some Cuts in Military Spending, but support of NATO and of Aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia is the proper way for the future.

Capitalism will not be replaced, but could come under greater regulation and controls.

Criticism of Israel, and ending military support of the government due to its actions in Gaza and the West Bank, can occur, but not total hostility to the right of Israel to its own nationhood.

So there is potential for reforms and change, but not to the extreme promoted by the “Democratic Socialists” and “The Squad”.

They will continue to “make noise” as their small number in Congress grows, but the Democratic Party is not going to go as far left as these groups promote, as they are totally unrealistic.

Graham Platner Finally Withdraws, But Leaves Major Problem For Democrats To Overcome Susan Collins!

Ronald 15 Comments

This author and blogger from “Day One” felt uncomfortable and doubtful about Maine Democratic Senate nominee Graham Platner.

The gut feeling was that there was something suspicious and disconcerting about him, hard to pinpoint, but the feeling one gets when one meets someone and has a bad vibe about such person, something everyone has with some people they encounter in life.

The revelation of his past shortcomings and disgraceful behavior did not stop Maine Democratic voters from supporting him over Maine Governor Janet Mills, but the new revelations accusing Platner of rape was the turning point, forcing him out of the race.

A key issue was clearly the fact that Janet Mills is 78, and would be the oldest first term elected Senator in history, leaving office after one term in her mid 80s.

The fact that Republican Senator Susan Collins would be 80 years of age herself in six years, made for an unusual situation, as Maine already has the oldest age population of any state, with average age of 45.1, and 23 percent of the population being over the age of 65.

Of course, already, Maine’s other Senator, Independent Angus King is age 82, so would be 86 at the end of his present term in 2030.

Susan Collins has managed to win five terms, more than any Maine Senator in history, and win in a state that is very “Blue” in Presidential elections, and she has always gained the majority of women in Maine.

So the tragic situation with Graham Platner is a major negative for Democrats, as it seems clear that if the Democrats do not win Maine, the chance of them controlling the US Senate in the 120th Congress (2027-2029) will go by the wayside.

With Platner’s announced withdrawal last night, a state convention of 500 delegates will be arranged before the state deadline of July 27.

It is urgent for unity to occur in the aftermath of the Platner disaster, as winning Maine for the Democrats is a priority.

Trump’s Phony Attack On “Communism”, When He Consorts With Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, And Kim Jong Un!

Ronald 64 Comments

Donald Trump is now promoting a new tactic, attacking “Communism”, which to him is being critical of progressives, liberals, and “democratic socialists”, who have won some Congressional seats for the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029).

Trump, meanwhile, consorts with “true” Communists, such as Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China, and Kim Jong Un of North Korea, idealizing their totalitarian bent, and working to model himself after their strategy and tactics.

Trump is preparing to use the old, worn out tactic of promoting a “Red Scare”, as was conducted by Woodrow Wilson Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer from 1919-1921 after World War I, and by Wisconsin Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, and a whole slew of Republicans and Southern Democrats in Congress from 1950-1954, including Richard Nixon.

These attacks on the Left were designed to scare people into promoting violations of the Bill of Rights, and to promote white supremacist Christianity, by utilizing ignorance and fear of “Communism”, to promote a right wing abuse and violation of the Bill of Rights.

So Trump is using the tactics that his close associate Roy Cohn utilized first with Joseph McCarthy, and now, three quarters of a century later, and nearly fifty years after Roy Cohn’s death, again his ghost is being revived.

Israel And Iran Will Cause Massive Political Turmoil In Midterm Elections Of 2026 And Presidential Election Of 2028!

Ronald 19 Comments

Foreign policy will take front stage in the Midterm Elections of 2026 and the Presidential Election of 2028, due to the heightened controversies involving Israel and Iran, with Israel having a controversial effect on the Democratic Party in particular, and Iran having a clearcut effect on the Republican Party in particular.

The decision of the United States and Israel to go to war against Iran, along with the continuing massive loss of life in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian West Bank caused by Israeli policies, will reverberate over the next two years. It likely will have a dramatic impact on not just the 120th Congress (2027-2029), but also on the likely prospects of a multitude of Democratic and Republican Presidential contenders.

Division and tumult regarding the appropriate policies toward both Israel and Iran will provoke major political splits in ways not yet possible to perceive.

The Growing Optimism About A Democratic Controlled US Senate In The 120th Congress (2027-2029)!

Ronald 5 Comments

We are still a bit more than four months until the Midterm Elections of 2026 take place in the first week of November.

But based on trends and public opinion polls, it is looking more likely that the Democratic Party will gain control of the majority of the US Senate for the 120th Congress (2027-2029).

These estimates are based on the collapsing public opinion polls for Donald Trump, due to the disastrous Iran War and the economic fallout that has occurred as a result.

It is also based on the irrational, unpredictable, and dangerous behavior and utterances of Donald Trump.

The Democrats need to keep their own Senate seats in Georgia, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Minnesota, and all of those seats seem safe, although as of this writing, Michigan and Minnesota have not yet settled contested party primaries, which will take place on August 4 and August 11 respectively.

Beyond defending their own seats, which seems likely, the Democrats now seem clearly ahead in:

North Carolina with former Governor Roy Cooper

Ohio with former Senator Sherrod Brown

Maine with Graham Platner

Alaska with Mary Peltola

Additionally, prospects look good in

Texas with James Talarico

Iowa with Josh Turek

Florida with Alex Vindman

Nebraska with Independent Dan Osborn

Just winning four of these eight races, and retaining the four seats they have, would insure a Democratic majority in the US Senate, and guarantee a changed situation politically for Donald Trump in his last two years in the White House.

Democratic Party In Danger Of Destroying Their Chances Against Republicans!

Ronald 8 Comments

The Democratic Party has the opportunity to advance to a potential majority in both the House of Representatives and the US Senate in the Midterm Elections occurring in a little more than four months from now.

But the victories of “Democratic Socialists” in a number of New York City races for the House of Representatives and the state legislature endangers the ability of New York Governor Kathy Hochul in her Gubernatorial race against right wing Trump supporter Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County Executive, and also endangers the possibility of Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to become Speaker of the House if the party wins the majority in November.

Two newly nominated and certain to be elected women for New York City Congressional seats—Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez– will be a danger to political stability as the upcoming Presidential race begins after the Midterm Elections, and it also undermines Mayor Zohran Mamdani, due to his strong anti Israel stand, which is shared by the two new women who will be in the 120th Congress.

“Democratic Socialists” sounds fine, until one looks at what they propose that is “pie in the sky” and also will only help MAGA Republicans.

They want:

Defund Or Abolish Prisons and the Police

Tax the Rich

Guarantee Free Health Care

End Military Aid to Israel

Expand the Social Safety Net

Raise the Minimum Wage, Shorten Work Week

For this author and blogger, ONLY Expanding the Social Safety Net is reasonable, along with “some” minimum wage increase and “some” taxing the rich.

To suggest Defund or Abolish Prisons and the Police; Guarantee Free Health Care; and End Military Aid to Israel–are all non starters.

These two new Congresswomen will get lots of attention, and become regarded as more extreme than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been perceived, but it will only undermine the Democratic Party as it looks to the long term future beyond Donald Trump.

Major US Senate Turnover Coming In 120th Congress (2027-2029)

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The nation will witness a major US Senate turnover in the upcoming 120th Congress (2027-2029).

This would be due to retirements, primary defeats, potential election defeats, and 4 Senators running for Governor.

For now, the following is certain:

The following 11 US Senators are retiring:

Republican Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, running for Governor
Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois
Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa
Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky
Democrat Gary Peters of Michigan
Democrat Tina Smith of Minnesota
Republican Steve Daines of Montana
Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Republican Thom Tillis of North Carolina
Republican Alan Armstrong of Oklahoma, appointed temprarily to replace Markwayne Mullin
Republican Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming

The following two US Senators were defeated in primaries:

Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Republican John Cornyn of Texas

The following seven US Senators are endangered for reelection:

Republican Dan Sullivan of Alaska, challenged by Mary Peltola
Republican Ashley Moody of Florida, challenged by Alex Vindman
Democrat Jon Ossoff of Georgia, challenged by Republican nominee
Republican Susan Collins of Maine, challenged by Graham Platner
Democrat Ed Markey of Massachusetts, challenged by Seth Moulton in primary
Republican Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, challenged by Independent Dan Osborn
Republican Jon Husted of Ohio, challenged by former Senator Sherrod Brown

Likely gains for Democrats seem possible or likely in

Alaska, North Carolina (open seat), Maine, Ohio, and with outside chances in Texas (open seat), Iowa (open seat), Montana (open seat), and Florida.

But Republicans have possibilities in Georgia, Michigan (open seat), and New Hampshire (open seat).

Also, the following US Senators are running for Governors of their states, and if elected, would resign from the Senate, and a replacement would be appointed or elected:

Democrat Michael Bennet of Colorado
Democrat Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota
Republican Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee

IF all of the above were to occur, the maximum number of new US Senators, either by election or appointment for replacements, could reach the mid 20s in number.

Imagining about 20 new Senators as a minimum, is very likely to occur!