The biggest political stories of 2025

OPINION:

The political landscape of 2025 was one of generational change, from old-guard retirements to the rise of the young socialists and the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Next year will be one of realignment within the Democratic and Republican parties.

Here are the biggest political stories of 2025:

Charlie Kirk’s assassination: At 31 years old, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in September during a public debate at a college campus in Utah. His death reverberated and perhaps upended the conservative movement. Mr. Kirk’s Turning Point USA, which he founded and built from the ground up, provided a voice for young Republicans interested in political activism. His organization provided a big tent to other leading conservative leaders and influencers, including Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly.

Since Kirk’s death, the future of the Republican Party has been called into question. Fractures have formed among members looking to claim the platform he left behind and ideological differences regarding Israel and the very definition of what it means to be “America First.”

Yet, there is promise as well. Turning Point USA stated that it has received more than 50,000 applications from colleges and high schools seeking to establish chapters. Faith leaders have reported a 15% increase in church attendance, dubbing the phenomenon the “Charlie Kirk Effect,” which has drawn young people to Christianity.

The rise of young socialists: Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old self-described socialist, was elected mayor of the world’s leading capitalist hub, New York City. More than 24 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, New Yorkers put their faith behind a Muslim, South Asian immigrant who has repeatedly failed to condemn the slogan “Globalize the Intifada.”

It was Mr. Mamdani’s focus on affordability and his telegenic social media messaging that carried him to victory over Democratic establishment candidates, such as Andrew Cuomo, political pundits explained. Still, the socialist rise within the Democratic Party was larger than Mr. Mamdani this year. Katie Wilson was elected Seattle’s mayor, promising free busing, affordable and abundant housing and defunding the police.

Sen. Bernard Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Fight the Oligarchy” tour drew thousands of attendees across the country this spring and summer, rallying on behalf of socialist candidates. Perhaps most alarmingly, a poll conducted this month regarding 2028 presidential contenders showed that 51% backed AOC while only 49% backed Vice President J.D. Vance.

Old guard retiring: In February, Mitch McConnell, the long-serving U.S. senator from Kentucky and former Republican Senate leader, announced he wouldn’t seek reelection in the new year. In November, Nancy Pelosi said she would conclude her nearly 40-year career representing San Francisco and her historic role as the first female speaker of the House by not seeking reelection when her term expires in January 2027. Both retirements signify a generational shift in power in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Kamala Harris’ book tour: Although she had only 107 days on the 2024 presidential campaign trail, Ms. Harris’ subsequent book tour has felt like two years. The bottom line: Even though many Democrats would like to put the Biden-Harris administration in the rearview mirror, Ms. Harris very much wants to be at the political forefront. In October, she told the BBC that she may run for president again, saying, “I am not done.” This month, she expanded her book tour into 2026, including stops in the critical primary state of South Carolina.

Minnesota welfare fraud: In November, The New York Times exposed massive welfare fraud in Minnesota, all of which occurred under Gov. Tim Walz’s watch. FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday that the bureau is moving resources into the state after a “Feeding Our Future” investigation uncovered a $250 million scheme that laundered federal COVID-19 funds into Somali residents’ pockets. That case has already resulted in 78 indictments and 57 convictions.

“The FBI believes this is just the tip of a very large iceberg. We will continue to follow the money and protect children, and this investigation very much remains ongoing,” Mr. Patel wrote on X. “Furthermore, many are also being referred to immigration officials for possible further denaturalization and deportation proceedings where eligible.”

Mr. Patel’s announcement followed independent journalist Nick Shirley’s video reports highlighting fraud involving Minnesota child care and learning centers over the weekend, a group of Minnesota state staff members who accused Mr. Walz of failing to act on widespread fraud warnings and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s allegations that some of these funds were siphoned to al-Shabab, an al Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia.

Moving into 2026, it will be interesting to track Mr. Walz’s political ambitions and how this massive fraud case impacts them, if at all, with Democrats.

• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at The Washington Times.