Rep. Jared Golden
(D-Maine) said Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to Congress
in 2026, citing "frequent threats" against him and the "grim milestone"
of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Why it matters: Golden
represents the most Republican-leaning district of any House Democrat.
His retirement is a major blow to his party's efforts to retake the
House in 2026.
California
Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrates voters' approval Tuesday of Proposition
50, the Newsom-back redistricting plan aimed at giving Democrats more
U.S. House seats. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Potential Democratic presidential candidates
already are using the party's election victories to position themselves
for the 2028 primary — throwing elbows at possible primary opponents
and basking in Tuesday's results.
Why it matters: No one admits it, but the next presidential primary is already in motion for Democrats.
Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene speaks at a press
conference at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 8. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll
Call, Inc via Getty Images
The chair of House Democrats' campaign arm on Wednesday didn't rule out putting her finger on the scale in key battleground district primaries next year.
Why it matters: Such primary meddling has been the source of public tension in past election cycles, but Democratic leaders maintain their right to try to elevate their preferred candidates.
President Trump boards Air Force One on Nov. 5 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Photo: Kevin Dietsch
President Trump has not publicly remarked on the death of former Vice President Dick Cheney more than 24 hours after it was announced.
Why it matters: His
lack of comment furthers Trump's departure from presidential
conventions. Traditionally, sitting presidents, including Trump, quickly
offer condolences to the family after a former president or vice
president dies.
Google security researchers have identified what they say is the first known case of hackers using AI-powered malware in a real-world cyberattack, according to findings published Wednesday.
Why it matters: The discovery suggests adversarial hackers are moving closer to operationalizing generative AI to supercharge their attacks.
Google
is adding its Gemini chatbot to Maps, letting users get chatty with
their navigation app across Android, iOS and their cars.
Why it matters: Nearly three years since ChatGPT's explosive launch, the tech giants are now banking on the idea that everyone wants a chatbot everywhere.
Mesa City Councilmember Julie Spilsbury conceded defeat in a recall election that pitted the Kamala Harris-endorsing Republican against an opponent backed by the conservative activist group Turning Point.
Mesa councilwoman concedes defeat in a recall election triggered by Turning Point USA
Republican Dorean
Taylor on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. Mesa City Councilmember Julie Spilsbury
conceded defeat in a recall election to Taylor on Wednesday.
Mesa Councilwoman Julie
Spilsbury was defeated Tuesday night in a recall election sparked by
conservative activists with Turning Point USA.
Spilsbury conceded
defeat in her head-to-head race to challenger Dorean Taylor, a fellow
Republican backed by Turning Point activists who accused Spilsbury of
not being conservative enough.
The loss marks an early end to
Spilsbury’s second term on the nonpartisan Mesa City Council — she
overwhelmingly won reelection in 2024.
But Turning Point swiftly
gathered signatures to trigger the recall election, citing her
endorsement of Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential race.
Camryn Sanchez
Mesa City Councilmember Julie Spilsbury on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
Spilsbury has defended her endorsement.
“We do not serve a party; we serve the people of Mesa,” she said at a summer council meeting.
“That's how I've approached every vote, every decision and every
congregation: with the goal of doing what’s right for our entire
community regardless of political affiliation.”
Spilsbury’s
opponents have also criticized several of her votes on the council —
including decisions to raise utility rates, increase council members’
salaries and use a hotel for homeless housing.
But Spilsbury is the only council member that critics sought to recall — even though two of those votes were unanimous.
Spilsbury’s
defeat is a flex by Turning Point in Arizona politics, as the movement
spearheaded by the organization’s late founder, Charlie Kirk, has sought
to expand its influence on local and national races.
“I didn't lose to Dorean Taylor. I lost to Turning Point,” Spilsbury told 12 News after initial Election Night results were posted.
“And I think a lot of people in Mesa are going to be mad that an
outside group came in and told us how to deal with our city, and that's
not OK.”
“The recall would never have been successful without
Turning Point’s employees, over 30 of them, out knocking (on) doors,
that are not from Mesa,” she added.
Going forward, Spilsbury told 12 News she’s “politically homeless” as a Republican who doesn't support President DonaldTrump.
As
for Taylor, the political newcomer said Tuesday afternoon she was
grateful for Turning Point’s involvement, and that partisanship does
matter in local races.
“I think party affiliation is important
when you're running for anything, because everyone will have a bias no
matter which party they’re in,” she said. “I think it’s important to
tell that to your voters so that if they don't talk to you, they kind of
have an idea of which way you're going to vote.”
Taylor added
that partisanship shouldn’t be the way to determine votes on certain
issues like maintaining roads, but it should be a big factor in matters
like tax decisions.
