US Senate

Three Native American Women Running For Governor In New Mexico, And US Senate In Minnesota And Alaska!

In this election year 2026, America is seeing three native American women Democrats running for higher office, and the likelihood that all three might triumph, and add to the accomplishments of native Americans.

In New Mexico, former Congresswoman Deb Haaland, also the former Secretary of the Interior under President Joe Biden, is campaigning for Governor.

In Minnesota, two term Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is campaigning for the US Senate seat of retiring Senator Tina Smith.

And in Alaska, former Congresswoman Mary Peltola is also campaigning for the US Senate seat now held by Republican Dan Sullivan. She was able to defeat former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin twice in Congressional races.

Haaland is a member of the Laguna Pueblo tribe, and Flanagan is a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (also known as the White Earth Nation), while Peltola is from the Yup’ik (Alaska Native) tribe.

If these three Native American women win, they will be the first of their gender to have accomplished such high office!

The Upcoming Alabama Gubernatorial Race In 2026

The first in a series of articles analyzing 2026 races for Governor and the US Senate will be on the Alabama Gubernatorial Race.

With Republican Governor Kay Ivey ineligible to run for a third term, the Republican nominee will be present US Senator Tommy Tuberville, with his Democratic opponent being former three year Senator Doug Jones.

Tuberville, a former renowned football coach, most notably at Auburn University, but also at three other institutions, ran for the Senate in 2020, and defeated Doug Jones, who had won the seat to finish the term of former Senator Jeff Sessions, who had become Attorney General under Donald Trump in 2017.

Jones had a distinguished background as a federal prosecutor, who became most noted for successful prosecution of two Ku Klux Klan members for the infamous Birmingham Church Bombing in 1963, which caused the death of four African American girls, accomplishing this nearly four decades later. He was the only recent Democrat to hold office in recent times, as Alabama had become highly Republican, and remains so.

So this is a second time of these two men opposing each other, with Tuberville gaining a reputation of being an extreme MAGA Republican, supportive of everything Donald Trump espouses. He has often uttered outrageous statements and beliefs, and shocked many by his persona.

It will be difficult for Jones to triumph in this Senate race, but if anyone can be perceived as having the potential to do so, it is Doug Jones, who this author and blogger highly respects!

The US Senate: Highly Undemocratic, And More So In Future With 15 States Having 70 Percent Of Population, But Only 30 Seats In Senate

The future of American democracy is in danger from more than Donald Trump and an extremist right wing majority on the US Supreme Court.

The US Senate, considered the greatest legislative institution in the world, has, from its inception, been highly undemocratic in nature, with its idea of states rights, and every state having the same amount of representation.

So in a nation that now has 340 million people, we have the 15 smallest states in population, all tending to be Republican for a long term, have about 41 million people combined, and have 30 seats in the Senate.

At the same time, California, the largest populated state with about 39 million people, has 2 seats in the Senate.

So the estimate is that by 2040, only 15 years from now, 70 percent of the United States will be represented by just 30 US Senators, while the remaining Americans, disproportionately whiter, older, and more rural, will have 70 US Senators.

This will make progress and revival of policies and programs, that are now rapidly being demolished, ever the harder to achieve.

This means the great advances of American democracy from the time of Democratic and Republican Presidents, including Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, George H W Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden will, in many cases, be permanently impossible to revive, due to the deleterious effect of Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump on American democracy and the rule of law.

One Year Into Second Trump Term, And Speculation About 2028 For Republicans Begins

The most controversial first year of any Presidency is coming to an end, and already, speculation is rampant about who will be the Republican nominee in 2028.

While Donald Trump has talked at times about defying the 22nd Amendment, which limits Presidents to two elected terms, reality is he is NOT going to run in 2018, and might not even be in office, with the clear signs of his declining mental and physical health.

Already, Erica Kirk, the widow of the assassinated Charlie Kirk of the conservative organization, Turning Point USA, has openly endorsed Vice President JD Vance for the Republican nomination, even though Vance says he is not thinking about the future at this point.

Of course, the odds that JD Vance will succeed to the Presidency before the election seems quite likely. But even if he does, it is not clear that the field of potential Republican Presidential contenders would disappear.

So other than Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be considered the next most likely nominee, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

But there are others as well, including Texas Senator Ted Cruz, outgoing Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, and Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton.

Likely Republican Governor Nominees In 2026 State Elections

As attention starts to be paid to the upcoming midterm Gubernatorial elections, the prospect of many states having new Republican governors brings a sense of foreboding.

Many likely Republican nominees, and in most cases, likely winners over Democrats, is enough to cause sadness.

These cases of what this blogger and author considers “disasters” includes:

Alabama–Tommy Tuberville, presently Senator, and former football coach

Arizona—Congressman Andy Biggs

Florida–Congressman Byron Donalds

Michigan—Congressman John James

Minnesota—lunatic and conspiracy theorist businessman Mike Lindell

New York–Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Ohio—Corporate leader and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy

South Carolina—Congresswoman Nancy Mace

Tennessee—Senator Marsha Blackburn

Additionally, there are incumbent Governors who are horrendous, including:

Arkansas—Sarah Huckabee Sanders

Texas—Greg Abbott

At this point, Republicans would be favored in 7 of these 11 states, with Democrats having the advantage in Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York.

Additionally, polls in Ohio indicate Amy Acton is gaining women’s support and those who believe in science, against Ramaswamy, so there is growing hope for Democrats to win the Governorship in that state.

And in Florida, former Republican Congressman turned Democrat David Jolly is also polling well, and has a decent chance to win over Donalds or any other potential Republican nominee, although it will be a difficult battle in the Sunshine State.

IF Democrats can indeed keep the Governorship in states that now have Democrats—Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, and New York—and somehow gain Ohio and Florida, it would be a great midterm gubernatorial election triumph!

One can assume at this point, that the other five states–Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas–are lost causes for Democrats!

Texas Democratic Senate Race Gets Interesting!

Texas has been heavily “Red” since the early 1990s, and yet, there is a growing feeling that for the first time in all those years, a Democrat might be able to win the Senate seat of Senator John Cornyn, who has two opponents, corrupt state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and African American Congressman Wesley Hunt.

The Democrats had former African American Congressman Colin Allred, the Senate losing candidate to Ted Cruz in 2024, planning to run again, but now, at the last minute, he has decided to run for a House seat instead.

So it now seems that the battle for the Democrats is with two exciting and dynamic candidates, 36 year old state House member James Talarico, and 44 year old African American Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

Crockett is a late comer to the race, and apparently, convinced Allred to leave the race, but Crockett should not think that Talarico will be a slouch, as he is very dynamic, charismatic, and preaches religion in a different way, arguing against extremist Christian propaganda, and seeing Christianity as liberal, as he contends, and the record shows, Jesus Christ preached two thousand years ago.

Talarico is an example of an inspiring young man who is representative of the future, and this blogger and author is very impressed with him.

Crockett is highly controversial in her rhetoric, so it will be an interesting race against Talarico, and the winner will have a better shot if Paxton, who seems to be favored in polls right now, ends up defeating John Cornyn for the nomination.

Texas Politics will be the center of attention, and could decide the balance of power in the US Senate for the 120th Congress (2027-2029)!

For 15 Years, No Republican Plan For Health Insurance, And Still None!

With five weeks to go until 2026 arrives, the Republican Party, once again, has no plan or ideas about health insurance for millions of Americans, who have relied on the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) since its passage in 2010, to provide health care coverage.

The truth is that Republicans have been, as a party, vehemently opposed to Obama Care, to a great extent, because it is the accomplishment of former President Barack Obama, so the reality is that Racism is a major factor in their rejection.

For 15 years, Republicans have shown a lack of concern about this premier issue, and if it was not for Chief Justice John Roberts in 2013, and Arizona Senator John McCain in 2017, the Affordable Care Act would have been obliterated years ago.

This is nothing new for the Republican Party, which has been opposed to Medicare and Medicaid, enacted into law under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 and 1966 respectively.

It is also the reality that the Republican Party has been opposed to Social Security since it became law under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935.

Had the Democratic Party not controlled the House of Representatives for 58 of 62 years from 1932-1994, and controlled the US Senate for 52 of 62 years from 1932-1994, America would not have had these premier examples of social justice.

The fact that Congress has been so evenly divided since 1994 has complicated the ability of the federal government to deal with health care and so much else in a statesmanlike manner, and endangers the lives and health of millions of Americans, moving forward!

Republican Party Splintering As Doubts About Keeping Majority In Congress Escalates!

The sudden resignation of Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greeene of Georgia from the House of Representatives, and her denunciation of Donald Trump, and the threats from MAGA supporters after Trump denounced her, is causing a split in the Republican Party.

It is leading to strong rumors that other Republicans in the House of Representatives are planning to announce their retirement, as it seems clear that Donald Trump has no regard for them and their needs.

So many have bowed down to Trump consistently, while economic problems multiply, and foreign policy issues cause a massive split among many officeholders in the party.

Midterm elections ordinarily see a major swing to the party NOT in the White House, and Democrats, despite their own internal turmoil, are more likely now than ever after the recent elections in Virginia, New Jersey, California, and local races in several states, including Pennsylvania, to regain control of the House of Representatives in the Midterm Elections of 2026.

Additionally, the possibility of the US Senate switching to Democratic control is growing, although it will be a tough battle.

Speculation Begins About Successor To Donald Trump Among MAGA Republicans, As His “Lame Duck” Status Has Begun!

One year since the Presidential Election of 2024, and Donald Trump is facing defeats, challenges, losses, and is no longer seen as invulnerable.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a “true believer”, has denounced Trump for abandoning many of the ideas that he promoted in the campaign, and she is not the only one who is starting to rebel against the concept that Donald Trump is invulnerable.

And rumors and gossip is spreading about who will succeed Trump, as the term “lame duck” has started to permeate political discussions.

Of course, Vice President JD Vance is the theoretical successor, and might end up in the White House, as Donald Trump continues to deteriorate mentally, and as his unpredictable behavior multiplies.

But even if that happens, it is not a guarantee that Vance would be the heir of MAGA Republicans, as there are too many ambitious people to claim that Vance is a shoo in for 2028.

Among those who seem likely to compete are:

Eric Trump, the President’s younger son from his first marriage

Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas

Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky

But there are others as well, including

Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri

Trump Threats To Execute Political Opponents Escalating The Constitutional Crisis That Trump Represents!

Donald Trump, crazily, has accused Democratic political opponents in Congress of sedition, punishable by death, because of them stating that soldiers in the military do not have to obey illegal orders against the Constitution of the United States. They swear allegiance to the Constitution, not to a particular President or administration.

Six lawmakers, Senators Mark Kelly of Arizona Navy) and Elissa Slotkin of Michigan (CIA and Department Of Defense analyst), and House members Jason Crow of Colorado (Army), Chris DeLuzio of Pennsylvania (Navy), Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire (Navy), and Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania (Air Force) reacted in condemnation, and now face death threats perpetrated by Trump’s denunciation of them.

This threat by Trump is “an alarm bell in the night”, a danger sign that the nation is moving ever closer to an authoritarian Fascist dictatorship, if the Republican Party in Congress, and the Supreme Court majority do not react in fierce opposition!

It is clear that Donald Trump is “running scared”, as he suffers defeats in federal courts, and has his own MAGA Republicans backing away from him regarding the Epstein Scandal, where he was forced to give in, as a few courageous Republicans defied him in wanting to release the records.

The entire Congress has gone along on wanting the revelation of who was involved in the abuse of young women and girls by wealthy and powerful individuals, including Donald Trump himself!