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election 2025
'This Is How It's Done': Dems Flip a PA State Senate District Trump Carried by 15 Points
"Republicans everywhere should be afraid," wrote Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin.
Mar 26, 2025
Democrats are cheering the Pennsylvania special election victory of state Senate candidate James Malone, who on Tuesday narrowly beat his Republican opponent and flipped a district that voted for U.S. President Trump over presidential candidate Kamala Harris by more than 15 points last November.
U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Penn.) congratulated Malone on winning the race for the state's 36th Senatorial District on social media on Tuesday, writing that he was proud to stump with Malone in the borough of East Petersburg, where Malone serves as mayor. "This is a huge upset and an historic win for a Democrat in a Trump-won district, and we are leading the way in PA!" he wrote.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also touted the win on social media. "This is how it's done. Run everywhere. Run down ballot. Focus on local elections ASAP—from school board to councils to state legislatures. We build from there," she wrote on Tuesday.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin also congratulated Malone, and cast the victory as a repudiation of how Republicans have governed in Washington, D.C. since Trump returned to the White House.
"Republicans everywhere should be afraid," wrote Martin. "The best barometer we have of voters' feelings of the Trump-Musk administration is how they actually vote," referencing billionaire and GOP megadonor Elon Musk—who has been core to Trump's efforts to slash federal spending and personnel.
Malone told one local outlet that he's "very excited and really, really happy that all the work we put in has paid off."
Malone's win was the second electoral victory for Democrats in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Democrat Dan Goughnour won a state House seat in western Pennsylvania, securing Democratic majority control of the chamber by a single seat.
Democrats have struggled to find their footing since Trump returned to the White House in January. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has suffered scrutiny from members of his own caucus and liberal groups after he threw his weight behind a Republican-backed spending bill, breaking with House Democrats who had voted nearly unanimously to oppose it when the bill cleared that chamber. Democrats have also heard from constituents at town halls across the country, where some voters have turned out to demand lawmakers do more to counter the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, a "Fight Oligarchy" town hall tour organized by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and featuring Ocasio-Cortez at a number of stops has brought out huge crowds.
With the news of Malone's win, Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, struck an optimistic tone in a statement on Tuesday.
"Democrats are on a roll in state legislative races in 2025, from flipping red seats to defending one-seat majorities, which should put Republicans on edge," she wrote. "Both wins affirm Democratic leadership in a moment when GOP power is synonymous with chaos."
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Elon Musk Dropping Millions on Wisconsin Supreme Court Race to Rig Political Maps for GOP
"Wisconsin voters should get to decide this election, not the richest billionaire in the world," said the Working Families Party.
Mar 25, 2025
Early voting is underway for the April 1 election to determine ideological control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and right-wing billionaire Elon Musk recently admitted why he is pouring millions of dollars into the close contest: It "will decide how congressional districts are drawn" in the state.
As Mother Jones' Ari Berman reported Tuesday, Musk—the richest person in the world and a key figure in Republican President Donald Trump's administration—made that comment Saturday, while hosting the right-wing candidate, Judge Brad Schimel of Waukesha County, and U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), for a discussion on X, the billionaire's social media platform.
Musk said that if Judge Susan Crawford of Dane County wins, "then the Democrats will attempt to redraw the districts and cause Wisconsin to lose two Republican seats. In my opinion that's the most important thing, which is a big deal given that the congressional majority is so razor-thin. It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place."
Liberals have had a 4-3 majority on the swing state's highest court since the 2023 election of Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Crawford and Schimel are fighting for a 10-year term filling the seat now occupied by 74-year-old left-leaning Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who decided not to seek reelection. In addition to determining the future of Republicans' 6-2 advantage for congressional districts, next week's election is expected to impact abortion care, labor rights, and voter suppression efforts in Wisconsin.
From @ariberman.bsky.social: Elon Musk revealed why he's spending millions to flip the Wisconsin Supreme Court It’s all about preserving gerrymandered districts that lock in Republican power. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
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— Joe Sudbay (@joesudbay.bsky.social) March 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Berman noted that if Crawford won and Wisconsin's maps changed before the 2026 midterm elections, a Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Represntatives could "scrutinize the unprecedented role Musk is playing in shredding the federal government, accessing sensitive personal information on millions of Americans, and the $38 billion in federal funding his businesses receive."
The billionaire also has a personal stake in the race related to one of his businesses. As The New York Timesnoted Saturday: "A conservative-controlled court could be in a position to issue a Musk-friendly decision in a lawsuit from his electric car company, Tesla, challenging Wisconsin's law prohibiting vehicle manufacturers from owning dealerships. On social media, Mr. Musk began to show interest in the Wisconsin court election eight days after Tesla filed the lawsuit in January."
Crawford campaign spokesperson Derrick Honeyman toldThe Associated Press on Monday that "this race is the first real test point in the country on Elon Musk and his influence on our politics, and voters want an opportunity to push back on that and the influence he is trying to make on Wisconsin and the rest of country."
As of Tuesday, Musk has recently given at least $3 million to the state's Republican Party, according toWisPolitics—which has also "tracked nearly $19.5 million in spending" on the race by two political action committees (PACs) affiliated with the billionaire.
GOP paid canvasser shows depth of support for Schimel. None. www.jsonline.com/story/news/p...
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— Mark Pocan (@markpocan.bsky.social) March 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
As Common Dreamsreported last week, Musk's America PAC is also offering registered Wisconsin voters $100 if they sign a petition opposing "activist judges," which led critics to accuse the billionaire of trying to buy the state Supreme Court seat.
Those critics include the Working Families Party, which has sent a pair of emails in recent days highlighting how much Musk has spent "to install MAGA extremist Brad Schimel" on the court, and arguing that "Wisconsin voters should get to decide this election, not the richest billionaire in the world."
Forbesreported Tuesday that "Musk is far from the only billionaire who is financially backing the Wisconsin Supreme Court race. Among the other billionaires listed in public filings as spending thousands to support Schimel—either directly or through the Wisconsin Republican Party—are ABC Supply co-founder Diane Hendricks, Uline president Elizabeth Uihlein, Uline CEO Richard Uihlein, and Joe Ricketts, the founder of TD Ameritrade and owner of the Chicago Cubs. Crawford has also drawn significant billionaire support from the likes of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and Democratic megadonor George Soros, who gave the Wisconsin Democratic Party $1 million in January."
WisPolitics noted Tuesday that "Crawford has now reported $26.5 million raised, a record for any judicial candidate in U.S. history," while Schimel "has now raised $14.3 million." However, according to Michael Waldman, president and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice, dark money on the race is favoring the right-wing candidate.
"It's already the most expensive judicial race in American history," Waldman said in a Tuesday newsletter. "According to data collected by the Brennan Center and analyzed by my colleagues Ian Vandewalker and Douglas Keith, campaigns and committees have spent $81 million so far, with a week to go."
"Much of the money being spent is untraceable," he stressed. "As the latest data shows, Crawford's campaign spending of $22 million is more than double that of Schimel's $10.4 million. But independent groups like super PACs and nonprofits spending untraceable dark money favor Schimel by a much larger margin: $13.5 million benefiting Crawford compared with almost $35.5 million boosting Schimel."
Schimel also got a boost on Friday from Trump, who endorsed him on social media, writing in part that "Radical Left Liberal Susan Crawford... is the handpicked voice of the Leftists who are out to destroy your State, and our Country." The president added Saturday: "It's a really big and important race, and could have much to do with the future of our Country. Get out and VOTE, NOW, for the Republican Candidate—BRAD!!!"
Meanwhile, Crawford is backed by groups like Wisconsin Conservation Voters IEC, which has invested more than $1.13 million to turn voters out in support of her.
"The stakes in this election could not be higher," the group's deputy director, Seth Hoffmeister, said in a Tuesday statement. "Judge Susan Crawford will defend our democracy and protect Wisconsin's natural resources. She is a strong advocate for the values that make Wisconsin great—fairness, accountability, and a commitment to serving the people, not polluters. Judge Crawford will ensure that our State Supreme Court remains independent and dedicated to upholding the rights and freedoms of all Wisconsinites."
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'Biiiiiig Fundraising Numbers' for Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani in First 80 Days
"We knew there was a hunger for a different kind of politics but this is beyond even our highest expectations," said Mamdani.
Jan 14, 2025
Zohran Mamdani, the Queens state assemblymember and democratic socialist who is running for New York City mayor, announced the results of his latest fundraising haul Tuesday, reporting that he brought in more money than any other campaign has so far and from the largest pool of unique donors.
Mamdani (D-36) netted $642,339 from 6,502 unique donors in the 80 days since his bid launched, according to a statement released Tuesday.
"Biiiiiig fundraising numbers for Zohran Mamdani in his first 80 days," wrote New York City journalist Christopher Robbins, who also reported on Mamdani's fundraising totals.
Those running for mayor—a crowded field that includes a number of progressive candidates—face a January 15 fundraising deadline for the filing period from October 8, 2024 through January 11.
Of Mamdani's total haul, the campaign estimates that at least $300,000 will be matched by the city's 8-to-1 public financing program, meaning an additional $2.4 million to the campaign next month, for a total of more than $3 million, according to the statement.
"We knew there was a hunger for a different kind of politics but this is beyond even our highest expectations," said Mamdani in the statement. "Our thousands of donors have launched us and our vision for a more affordable city into the top tier of this race."
Other Democrats running to be elected mayor include current City Comptroller Brad Lander, former City Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-13)—all of whom are to the left of current Mayor Eric Adams, who is running for re-election while facing five federal charges of bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. Adams has pleaded not guilty.Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has also hinted that he will enter the race.
The candidates will face off in June primary in a ranked choice voting election.
Mamdani, who was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2021, has distinguished himself as a vocal figure on the left. The Ugandan-born, Manhattan-raised Mamdani was active in a successful effort to win New York City taxi drivers hundreds of millions in debt relief, including by participating in a hunger strike. He also helped spearhead the city's first free bus pilot.
Mamdani's campaign is focused on the city's affordability crisis. He has pledged to freeze rents for tenants who live in rent stabilized apartments; make city buses free; implement free childcare for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years; and create a network of city-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low.
Speaking on WNYC last week, Mamdani said that one of the ways he intends to pay for these programs is by raising the corporate tax rate and increasing income taxes on people who make more than $5 million a year.
Mamdani was not considered a serious candidate when it was first reported that he was running, wroteCity & State publisher Tom Allon in an opinion piece last week, but he's since distinguished himself as a consistent and clear communicator and "captured the left's imagination with a number of simple ideas that he's clearly articulated."
Recent polling indicates that Mamdani's bid is still a long shot, though he's currently neck and neck with the incumbent mayor. Politico, citing numbers from a survey commissioned by the 501(c)4 Progressives for Democracy in America that was conducted December 16-22, reported that Cuomo led with 32% when likely Democratic voters were asked to pick a favorite candidate. Stringer came in second at 10%; Lander came in third with 8%; Ramos was at 7%; and Adams and Mamdani both earned 6%. Two other candidates, Michael Blake and state sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-20), earned 2% and 1%, respectively.
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