Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
Schumer’s nightmare scenario: Mamdani’s win rekindles rumblings of AOC primary showdown
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's resounding election win is giving Senate Democratic leader Charles E. Schumer plenty to worry about. Published November 5, 2025
Abigail Spanberger wins, makes history as Virginia’s first female governor
Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia's gubernatorial race Tuesday, becoming the state's first female governor and delivering a major win for Democrats ahead of next year's midterm elections. Published November 4, 2025
Off-year elections to tap voter mood from coast to coast
After months of mudslinging, feisty debates and relentless door-knocking, voters in Virginia and New Jersey head to the polls Tuesday to decide high-stakes races that could offer early clues about the national political mood 10 months into President Trump's second term and one year out from the 2026 midterm elections. Published November 3, 2025
Jeffries backs socialist Mamdani for mayor of New York, but says he’s not the party’s future
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is pumping the brakes on the notion that Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist leading New York City's mayoral race, represents the future of the Democratic Party. Published November 3, 2025
SNAP benefits in jeopardy as government shutdown drags into fifth week
The government shutdown, entering its fifth week, has begun to threaten vital food assistance programs used by tens of millions of Americans, prompting a surge in demand and long lines at food banks nationwide. Published November 2, 2025
Newsom: Tuesday’s elections will mark turning point in Trump presidency
Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said Sunday that he is "deeply confident" that voters this week will sign off on new congressional maps that favor Democrats, framing it as part of a broader rejection of President Trump's failed leadership. Published November 2, 2025
Spanberger holds double-digit edge over Earle-Sears in Virginia gubernatorial race, poll shows
Democrat Abigail Spanberger has the upper hand against Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in polling for Virginia's gubernatorial race. Published November 2, 2025
Democrats accuse Trump admin, GOP of weaponizing hunger amid legal battle over SNAP benefits
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday accused the Trump administration of choosing to "weaponize hunger" during the ongoing government shutdown, citing the dispute over payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which serves tens of millions of low-income Americans. Published November 2, 2025
Speaker defends Trump’s Caribbean strikes amid bipartisan criticism
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson defended the Trump administration's recent military strikes in the Caribbean, citing "exquisite intelligence" as justification for targeting alleged drug traffickers. Published November 2, 2025
Earle-Sears’ Virginia campaign bus catches fire
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' campaign for governor is catching fire -- literally. Published October 30, 2025
AG Jason Miyares’ surge in polls offers GOP hope in Virginia
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares' reelection campaign is closing strong. Published October 30, 2025
Obama steps in, Biden sidelined in high-stakes Democratic campaigns
As a Democratic congresswoman less than two years ago, Abigail Spanberger delivered votes for then-President Joseph R. Biden's agenda on everything from spending to gun control to immigration. But now, with Ms. Spanberger running for governor in Virginia -- one of the country's marquee political races this year -- Mr. Biden is nowhere to be seen. Published October 29, 2025
Doug Wilder, America’s first Black governor, backs scrapping Virginia’s redistricting commission
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said the redistricting fight in Richmond has stripped away the moral facade of the bipartisan commission once touted as a tool for fairer politics. Published October 29, 2025
Redistricting reversal: Virginia Democrats move to ditch bipartisan map, joining nationwide drive
It wasn't long ago that Democrats were hailing Virginia's move to use a bipartisan commission to draw its congressional boundaries as a win for fair elections. Published October 28, 2025
Indiana governor calls special session of GOP-led Legislature to redraw congressional maps
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced Monday that he is calling the Republican-led state Legislature into a special session to consider changes to the state's congressional maps. Published October 27, 2025
Transportation Secretary Duffy warns of strain of government shutdown on air traffic controllers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that air traffic controllers are "wearing thin" after weeks of working without pay during the government shutdown. Published October 26, 2025
Ex-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticizes nationwide surge in gerrymandering: ‘It saddens me’
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed deep concern over the growing trend of partisan redistricting across the United States. Published October 26, 2025
‘Extrajudicial killings’: Senators demand answers as Trump expands campaign against drug cartels
President Trump's military campaign against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean is drawing bipartisan criticism in the Senate. Published October 26, 2025
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says U.S., China reach ‘substantial’ trade framework before summit
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Sunday that he has reached a "very substantial framework" with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on a deal aimed at easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies. Published October 26, 2025
‘California East’: Virginia Republicans warn of Democrat takeover of Richmond
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has vetoed more than 350 bills approved by the Democrat-led General Assembly, exercising conservative restraint over the commonwealth's legislative activity. Published October 26, 2025
