A new NPR/PBS/Marist national generic ballot poll shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 42% among registered voters, a 10-point advantage heading into the 2026 midterm cycle. The survey of 1,155 respondents was completed April 30.
Maine Senate: Mills Exits, Platner Becomes Democratic Nominee
Maine Governor Janet Mills (D ME-SEN) has suspended her U.S. Senate campaign, clearing the path for oyster farmer and veteran Graham Platner (D ME-SEN) to become the presumptive Democratic nominee against incumbent Senator Susan Collins (R ME-SEN). Mills' withdrawal followed a lackluster campaign despite early support from Senate Democratic leadership. Platner now faces Collins in what will be a general election matchup.
Maine Senate: Collins Breaks with GOP on Iran War Powers
Senator Susan Collins (R ME-SEN) voted Thursday for a Democratic war powers resolution sponsored by Senator Adam Schiff (D CA-SEN) to limit military action against Iran, becoming the first Republican senator to support curtailing President Trump's military authority on the issue. Collins was joined only by Senator Rand Paul (R KY-SEN) in voting across party lines.
Louisiana: House Primaries Suspended, Senate Primary Proceeds
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry issued an executive order suspending House primary elections until at least July 15 following a Supreme Court redistricting ruling that struck down the state's congressional map as unconstitutional. The decision to proceed with the Senate primary next month drew criticism from Senator Bill Cassidy (R LA-SEN), who called it "disappointing."
Pennsylvania 3rd District: Four Democrats Vie for Open Seat
Four Democratic candidates—Christopher Rabb (D PA-03), Ala Stanford (D PA-03), Sharif Street (D PA-03), and Shaun Griffith (D PA-03)—are competing in the May 19 primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd District following incumbent Dwight Evans' retirement announcement. Rabb, Stanford, and Street have led in fundraising and endorsements. With no Republican candidate entered, the Democratic primary winner is heavily favored in the general election.
Watch tomorrow: Ohio's special Republican Senate primary on May 5 to fill Vice President J.D. Vance's vacancy, and signature validation for California's healthcare union spending initiative.
Polls
| National Generic NPR/PBS/Marist (n=1155 RV) | Democrats 52.00% · Republicans 42.00% |
Follow the Money
Washington House Race: Democratic Cash Advantage
Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D WA-03) leads the field with 4.5 million in total receipts and 3.5 million cash on hand, though she has spent only 1.1 million to date. Kim Schrier (D WA-08) maintains the strongest cash position relative to spending, holding 3.3 million with minimal burn rate. Suzan DelBene (D WA-01) shows aggressive spending patterns, having deployed 2.4 million of 2.7 million raised.
Republican candidates significantly trail in fundraising. Michael Baumgartner (R WA-03) leads GOP efforts with 1.4 million raised but faces a 3-to-1 disadvantage against Gluesenkamp Perez in the same race. John Braun (R WA-05) has raised 1.2 million with minimal spending.
The financial disparity reflects Democratic strength across multiple Washington seats. Democratic candidates collectively raised 15.6 million versus 2.6 million for Republicans, suggesting resource-intensive competitive dynamics favoring the party holding the Lean D rating.
Headlines
- Four candidates are running in the May 19 Democratic primary for Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District (Ballotpedia News)
Four Democratic candidates—Christopher Rabb, Ala Stanford, Sharif Street, and Shaun Griffith—are competing in the May... - Campaign behind a California initiative to require healthcare union members to approve of union political spending files signatures (Ballotpedia News)
The California Hospital Association is backing a ballot initiative requiring healthcare unions to disclose annual pol... - Fetterman on Platner after Mills exits Maine Senate race: ‘Republicans f‑‑‑ing love him’ (The Hill)
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) criticized Democrat Graham Platner's emergence as the presumptive Democratic Senate nomin...
What to Watch
```htmlHouse Competitive Races: Southwest and California Battlegrounds
Four House districts rated as tossups demand close monitoring over the coming weeks. Arizona's 1st and 6th Districts (R AZ-01, R AZ-06) and California's 13th and 22nd Districts (D CA-13, D CA-22) represent the most volatile seats on the map according to Cook Political Report. Performance in these districts will signal whether either party can flip seats in traditionally competitive terrain. Watch for late-stage polling shifts and independent expenditure activity, which often concentrate in races rated this closely.
Senate: Georgia and Florida Watch
Georgia's Senate race (D GA-SEN) carries a Cook Political Report "Lean D" rating, making it the most competitive statewide contest currently tracked. Movement in this race typically reflects broader partisan momentum. Meanwhile, Florida's Senate race (R FL-SEN) is rated "Likely R" by Sabato's Crystal Ball—a likely but not certain Republican hold that warrants monitoring for any unexpected tightening.
California's Orange County Tests
California's 45th and 47th Districts (R CA-45, R CA-47) lean Republican but remain analytically significant for measuring suburban voter sentiment and Democratic retention capacity in historically competitive coastal areas.
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