New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has met with nonprofits in Puerto Rico as officials announced a $280,000 partnership to help the U.S. territory confront emergencies
Mayor John Whitmire has instructed Houston police to stop notifying immigration agents when they encounter someone without legal status during routine street stops.
Buffalo Thunderbolts would enter league in 2028 League could expand in time for 2031 World Cup Major League Rugby will play with just five teams in 2027 but has signed a letter of intent with the Buffalo Thunderbolts regarding a bid for entry in 2028 and is in discussions with 17 groups regarding future expansion. MLR was formed in 2018, and by 2022 the competition supported 13 teams. In 2025, teams in Utah, Miami, Los Angeles, Houston and New Orleans dropped out. Continue reading...
Talk of subpoenas and warnings to "lawyer up" hint at the extent of the health care investigations and oversight hearings that Democrats are expected to launch once they take control of Congress. Why it matters: Democrats have been building a paper trail for months to probe instances of political interference in vaccine policies, whether Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. benefited financially from vaccine litigation and more. But the early efforts will more likely be directed at making a case for changes to federal Medicaid cuts, showcasing health affordability problems and examining whether federal health agencies are sufficiently funded and staffed. "You don't just do oversight to raise hell," said Tim Stretton, director of the Congressional Oversight Initiative at the Project On Government Oversight. "Trying to create some systematic change is arguably more important." What we're hearing: The House Oversight, Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees will be focal points of early activity, along with the Senate health and Finance committees. Some law firms already are advising their corporate clients to cooperate with committee staffs and minimize their exposure to possible negative headlines from hearings. One prominent player will be the likely new House Oversight chair, Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) — the one who publicly warned Republicans to "lawyer up" on Tuesday after Democrats flipped control of the House. The former Long Beach mayor lost his mother, a frontline health worker, and stepfather to COVID and has publicly assailed Kennedy for undermining public health and preventing or delaying needed cures. Bernie Sanders' expected return to chair the Senate health committee will give the Vermont independent another chance to harness public outrage on drug prices and spar with Kennedy over his tenure as health secretary. Zoom in: The power shift in Congress gives Democrats the ability to subpoena witnesses, demand records and hold officials and indivi
Democrats widen gap in House chamber by flipping more seats, including in Ohio, Arizona and North Carolina; Ted Cruz calls election a ‘Watergate-level repudiation’ Live results | Q&A: Ask your questions about Democrats’ win Sign up for Breaking News US email Welcome to our live coverage of the US midterm elections – here are some of the latest key developments. A number of closely watched contests in the midterms are still to be called, including the final two US Senate races – in Mississippi and Alaska. The Democratic candidates are hoping to oust Republican incumbents to bolster their new majority in Congress. Right now, Democrats have a 106-seat majority as we await final results. Democrats flipped another eight House seats , strengthening their majority in the lower chamber. Democrats are now leading Republicans 253 to 157, with 25 races left to call, as a number of GOP representatives felt the weight of the blue wave that has swept their party out of power. Republicans held on to two House seats in the west as congressman Mike Kennedy won re-election in Utah and Amanda McKinney won in Washington. Democratic socialist Nithya Raman was elected to serve as the mayor of Los Angeles , eking out a narrow win over incumbent Karen Bass, in a major shake-up in local politics that reflects the growing dissatisfaction with the direction of the city. The progressive urban planner had served on LA’s city council since 2020. Continue reading...
Democratic socialist Nithya Raman toppled embattled Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in a stunning upset, putting South Asian immigrants on course to lead America's two largest cities. Why it matters: With New York's Zohran Mamdani already in office, Raman's win puts democratic socialists on track to run two of America's most powerful city halls — testing whether their promises on affordable housing and better government can survive the pressures of governing. The big picture: Raman's victory marks a historic shift in urban American politics as voters embrace a new generation of immigrant leaders challenging the Democratic establishment. Raman, 45, immigrated from India as a child. Mamdani, New York's mayor, also has South Asian roots and immigrated to the U.S. Both built their political careers around affordability and inequality, giving democratic socialism a powerful foothold in America's largest cities. State of play: The Associated Press called the race for Raman Thursday, making Bass the first Los Angeles mayor in two decades to lose reelection. Raman led Bass 52.1% to 47.9% in unofficial results released Thursday. Ballot counting continues. Bass, who won in 2022, conceded and pledged a smooth transition. Raman takes office Dec. 14. Raman defeated a political heavyweight backed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and much of the City Council. Zoom in: Raman capitalized on growing frustration over homelessness, housing costs and Bass' handling of the deadly 2025 Palisades Fire. A September Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll showed Raman leading Bass 66%-4% among likely voters under 30 and 45%-21% among Latino likely voters. Bass narrowed the gap. The final Berkeley poll showed the candidates tied at 40%, with 19% undecided. Among Latino likely voters, Raman's lead shrank to 43%-40%. Raman launched her challenge in February after previously endorsing Bass, turning former allies into political rivals. Zoom
The 45-year-old City Council member defeated the incumbent mayor, Karen Bass, 73, a sweeping success for a new generation of far-left leaders.
Major shake-up as LA councilmember, once considered long shot, ousts Democratic rival she had once endorsed Nithya Raman was elected to serve as the mayor of Los Angeles, eking out a narrow win over incumbent Karen Bass, in a major shake-up in local politics that reflects the growing dissatisfaction with the direction of the city. The progressive urban planner had served on LA’s city council since 2020. She caused a stir when she entered the race earlier this year hours before the filing deadline – and shortly after endorsing Bass for re-election – and her campaign was once viewed as a long shot. Continue reading...
President Trump won historic levels of support from Black men in 2024. Two years later, those gains appeared to evaporate as Republicans suffered their worst midterm defeat in 50 years. Why it matters: Democrats feared the Supreme Court's decision weakening the Voting Rights Act would threaten their political future in the South. Instead, Black voters helped deliver historic Democratic victories in Texas and Georgia, with a potential upset brewing in Mississippi. By the numbers: Roughly nine in 10 Black voters backed Democratic House candidates Tuesday, according to the AP Voter Poll . Only about one in 10 Black men backed Republicans. Roughly one-quarter supported Trump in the 2024 presidential election, according to AP's analysis. For context, a separate 2024 national House exit poll found Black voters favored Democrats 84%–14%. Black men split 75%–24%, while Black women backed Democrats 90%–8%. State of play: Two Democrats who faced questions about their support among Black voters won crucial Senate races. Michigan: Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers , becoming the nation's first Muslim senator. A late-October poll showed El-Sayed drawing 87% support among likely Black voters. Texas: Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton after courting Black voters who overwhelmingly backed Rep. Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary. An August Texas Southern University poll showed Talarico leading Paxton 79%–12% among likely Black voters. Zoom in: Talarico built commanding margins in Harris County, home to Houston, and Dallas County, both home to large Black electorates, according to AP county-level returns . Zoom out: Black voters helped elect former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as the first Black woman governor in U.S. history . About nine in 10 Black men voted for Bottoms, compared with roughly three-quarters who supported Kamala Harris in Georgia in 2024, according to the AP Voter Poll . Black women's support remain
City Council member Nithya Raman has defeated incumbent Karen Bass in the Los Angeles mayoral race, NBC News projects, capping off a rapid political ascent for a progressive challenger who railed against the “broken status quo” in the country’s second-largest metropolis.
Billionaire Rick Jackson was favored to win until ex-Atlanta mayor campaigned with Barack Obama and Jon Ossoff US midterm elections – live updates Track live results from all 50 states Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Atlanta mayor and Democrat, won the race for Georgia governor on Tuesday in an upset for Republicans. Bottoms will become the first Black, female governor in the US. Georgia is historically a swing state offering tight margins to the winners of statewide contests, and billionaire businessman Rick Jackson had been favored to win the race until recent days. Lance Bottoms campaigned with Democratic senator Jon Ossoff, who also won re-election on Tuesday, as well as former president Barack Obama days before the election. Continue reading...
Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former mayor of Atlanta, is the first Black woman elected governor of a U.S. state and the first Democrat to win the office in Georgia in decades.
Voters in Minneapolis and Houston are among those leaving "I Voted" stickers at memorials for people killed by federal immigration agents. Why it matters: The tributes highlight how the Trump administration's unpopular immigration crackdown is motivating voters this election cycle. Zoom in: In Minneapolis , people are placing stickers on memorials for Alex Pretti , an ICU nurse, and Renee Good , a writer and mother, who were killed by federal agents in January. In Houston , voters have covered a memorial for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo , a construction worker and father who was fatally shot by ICE agents in July, with stickers and handwritten messages like "I voted for you" and "Por usted" — "for you" in Spanish. A voter places an "I Voted" sticker on a memorial for Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. Photo: Mark Felix/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ronaldo Salgado, Araujo's oldest son, placed his sticker on his father's memorial in the first week of early voting and hundreds followed him, the Houston Chronicle reports . "I am beyond touched that this community and that the entire city is voting with my dad in mind ... I didn't realize it would grow this big," he told the Washington Post. The big picture: These midterms are testing whether President Trump's 2024 gains with Latino voters have lasted. National polls in the lead-up to Election Day showed Latino voters swinging back toward Democrats , with immigration as a key area of disagreement with the administration. In an October NBC News/Telemundo poll , 67% of Latino voters said Trump's enforcement has gone too far, 31% said they or someone close now carries ID because of ICE concerns, and 27% know someone detained or deported. More from Axios: Voting machine chaos hits key House battleground Inside the White House's Election Day messaging strategy Democrats could learn wrong message from a blowout victory
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other critics are accusing Google of trying to pressure U.S. schools to use AI.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer has been charged in Houston with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly hitting a man with his car. Jason Allen reports.
Two brutal attacks on women in New York City public spaces have leaders under fire, with neither the mayor nor City Council proposing more patrols.
Two brutal attacks on women in New York City public spaces have leaders under fire, with neither the mayor nor City Council proposing more patrols.
Two brutal attacks on women in New York City public spaces have leaders under fire, with neither the mayor nor City Council proposing more patrols.
Letter from mayor tells federal agents to stay out of city-owned facilities for immigration operations Mayor Zohran Mamdani has threatened to take legal action against Immigration and Customs Enforcement over allegations the agency’s officers at the agency are using parking lots owned by New York City for operations in the area. In a letter to the Trump administration, Mamdani noted the agency’s use of property owned by the city was “unauthorized and is therefore illegal, endangers City residents, and sows fear among those who seek to access City property”. Continue reading...
Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two leading figures of the left, criticized Representative Haley Stevens for backing a Republican in Michigan.
On the eve of midterms, President Trump is facing setbacks left and right in his push to investigate alleged election fraud . But in Georgia, he has an opening. Why it matters: Six years ago, Georgia was at the epicenter of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Now the state's own election board has invited his administration to investigate its voting system. Georgia features two high-stakes statewide campaigns: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) against Rep. Mike Collins (R) for Senate, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) against businessman Rick Jackson (R) for governor. The big picture: The Justice Department disclosed in court on Friday that the administration has sent letters to officials in California, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada, asking some states to segregate mail-in ballots from suspected noncitizen voters. A federal judge on Friday issued an emergency order that blocks federal officials from threatening to charge election officials who count ballots from voters the DOJ claims are ineligible. In October, a federal judge restricted the Department of Homeland Security's investigations into suspected noncitizen voters. But Georgia is different . "We've managed with duct tape and bubble gum to be able to bootstrap our way through one last round, but that's not a way of running elections," a Georgia election official told Axios. Georgia's State Election Board asked the Justice and Homeland Security departments to review and potentially investigate the state's voting system and handling of election data. The Sept. 30 letter cited outdated software, threats to ballot secrecy and QR-code ballots it says may violate the Help America Vote Act. A DOJ spokesperson said in response to the letter: "We take seriously allegations that election officials have failed to adequately maintain election equipment and otherwise comply with federal law. We are evaluating the request and will investigate and, if appropriate, bring an enforce
With affordability a major election issue, the incumbent is trying to ward off her democratic socialist challenger At the end of 2022, the four largest US cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston – all had Black mayors. It was a historic alignment made possible by the aftereffects of the Black Lives Matter civil rights movement and the unprecedented wave of protests following the killing of George Floyd in 2020. Six years on, only one of those mayors remains: the embattled Karen Bass of Los Angeles , who is facing a strong challenge from a younger, even more progressive challenger. Bass’s opponent is Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, although the group is considering rescinding its endorsement over her refusal to explicitly embrace the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. Continue reading...
The unprecedented measure has enormous potential nationwide. The clash exposes the party’s corporate-progressive divide Midway through this summer, a high-quality poll found that Democrats in California were overwhelmingly in favor of the upcoming ballot measure for a one-time 5% tax on billionaire wealth. The ratio was more than 4 to 1. But the state’s most powerful Democrats – including the governor Gavin Newsom, his near-certain successor Xavier Becerra and the Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass – have lined up with Silicon Valley billionaires who’ve raised upward of $340m to defeat the initiative. Continue reading...
Dr. Letitia Plummer has been polling ahead in the race to lead Harris County, where turnout could decide statewide races.
The agent is facing charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The immigrant who was struck is recovering from severe leg injuries.
A Texas grand jury indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales with a charge of second-degree aggravated assault Friday after prosecutors said he deliberately drove his SUV into a fleeing immigrant in early October. Why it matters: This may be the first time an ICE agent has ever been indicted in Texas, making it a rare case of a federal immigration officer facing state charges. What they're saying: Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced the grand jury's charge of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, namely a motor vehicle. Morales faces two to 20 years if convicted, Teare said. "Just because you have an ICE badge or any badge, if you are in Harris County and you are violating our community members' constitutional rights, there will be repercussions," he said. Catch up quick: Morales struck Miguel Parra Hernandez on Oct. 10 as Parra Hernandez fled on foot. Parra Hernandez, a Mexican national who has lived in Harris County for more than 30 years, had no criminal record and no pending immigration proceedings against him before the incident, Teare said. ICE has said Morales and other agents were looking for a different man identified as a deportation target, but that man's relatives say he died nearly a decade ago. Teare said Parra Hernandez is still rehabilitating from his injuries but is in ICE custody. The other side: An ICE spokesperson called the indictment "nothing more than a political stunt by Houston sanctuary politicians" in a statement to Axios. "Federal officers acting in the course of their duties can only be investigated by other Federal agencies. Local governments do not have the authority to run such an investigation." "Allegations that ICE struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez intentionally are RECKLESS and FALSE. The men and women of ICE are entrusted with upholding the rule of law and are held to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct." Zoom out: Teare said Morales was among the "surge hires" a
As Ms. Raman runs for mayor of Los Angeles, the work of her husband, Vali Chandrasekaran, has brought her closer to the city’s signature industry.
At 77, Houston grandmother Sistafabu Modupe still needs a day job. Her monthly Social Security check alone doesn't cover her bills, leaving her unable to retire. Like millions of older Americans facing financial hardship, she has come to terms with the possibility that she may have to work for the rest of her life.
A fight over Israel is fracturing the socialist movement just as it stands within reach of capturing the Los Angeles mayor's office . Why it matters: The same socialist movement celebrating its ascendancy through New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is now debating whether to disown Nithya Raman before Los Angeles voters can even weigh in. National Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) leaders face demands to overturn the local chapter's endorsement of Raman over her position on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. The Los Angeles chapter of DSA still enthusiastically endorses Raman , arguing Angelenos deserve a functioning city government. The mayoral race has been defined by homelessness, affordability and public safety. By the numbers: Raman leads incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in recent polls ahead of the Nov. 3 election, though many voters remain undecided. Overall : A September Berkeley IGS/L.A. Times poll put Raman ahead 39%-28%, with 33% undecided. A more recent Manhattan Institute poll showed Raman leading 38%-32%, with 30% undecided. Among likely Latino voters: Raman led 45%-21%, with 34% undecided in the Berkeley poll. Among socialists: DSA's Los Angeles chapter endorsed Raman in a 937-484 vote, with 52 abstentions. State of play: On Oct. 4, DSA's National Political Committee found that the chapter violated endorsement rules by failing to ask Raman about BDS, but stopped short of invalidating its support. National leaders have considered proposals to revoke the endorsement and bar the chapter from using resources to campaign for her, per Vanity Fair . A DSA faction has called for questioning Raman about her views on Palestine, with possible expulsion if national leaders find her positions incompatible with the group's principles. Sticking point: The Democratic Socialists of America's published endorsement requirements say candidates must actively support BDS and avoid affiliations with the Israeli government or "Zionist lobbying
Top Democrats poised for powerful roles next year are demanding that major banks and ports preserve any records they have tied to potential imports or other deals involving Russian diesel . Why it matters: Probing President Trump's agreement with Moscow will be a priority if Democrats regain control of either or both chambers of Congress. The new demand shows that inquiries will extend beyond the White House and into C-suites. Driving the news: "[A]ny importation of Russian diesel into the U.S. raises significant legal questions and may be subject to legal action, as well as congressional investigations," a new letter obtained by Axios states. It's signed by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). They're in line to lead the powerful Foreign Relations, Banking, Finance and Judiciary Committees, respectively, if Democrats regain the Senate. Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.), who's in line for the Foreign Affairs Committee gavel if House control changes, also signed. It's led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the top Foreign Relations Democrat who is not seeking reelection. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who is also retiring, signed as well. State of play: The Wall Street recipients of Saturday's letter are J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, Citi, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The same letter went to port authorities for the ports of Houston, Beaumont, and Corpus Christi, Texas, and New York/New Jersey. Catch up quick: Earlier this month Trump claimed an agreement to bring escalating Russian exports to global and U.S. markets, and the Treasury Department waived sanctions to help enable it. Friction point: The lawmakers and other critics say it runs afoul of a bipartisan 2022 law barring imports of Russian oil, gas, and petroleum products. "The potential arrangement to import Russian diesel also raises significant national security concerns, given that it would finance Russia's brutal and illegal war ag
The 2026 midterms have taken a deeply personal turn as campaigns use other people's family tragedies as political ammunition — sometimes over the objections of the families themselves. Why it matters: Some attack ads feature photographs of murdered children and anguished 911 calls, forcing grieving families to relive their worst moments. Georgia governor race: Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson used images of murdered 8-year-old Secoriea Turner and her mother's anguished 911 call to attack Democratic rival Keisha Lance Bottoms, Atlanta's former mayor. Turner's family demanded the ads come down, accusing the campaign of exploiting their grief without permission. Jackson said he would keep airing them . Ohio governor race: Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign is spending $4 million on an ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton. In the ad, Donna Arthur calls her daughter a liar and disputes her account of childhood homelessness. Acton says her late stepfather — who was married to her mother until his death — sexually abused her as a child, and she hasn't spoken to her mother in decades. Acton's brother corroborated her account , while court records and contemporary news reports support key details. President Trump urged Ramaswamy to keep running his attack on Acton, despite objections from some fellow Republicans. Between the lines: Ramaswamy's campaign said the ad tested well with persuadable voters , even as critics warned it could backfire. Ohio Senate race: A Republican attack ad against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown featured images of a couple and their 1-year-old son killed in a highway crash to blame Brown's immigration policies. The victims' family demanded its removal , saying nobody sought permission to use their relatives' images or tragedy. North Carolina Senate race: A Republican super PAC featured a grieving father in an attack ad linking the murder of his 23-year-old son to for
Democrats in a pair of deep-red states are testing the religious right's dominance by putting their Christian faith at the center of their campaigns — potentially creating a template for the party to compete in similarly forbidding terrain. Why it matters: Upsets by Texas' James Talarico and Kansas' Adam Hamilton would all but ensure that Democrats take the Senate. A recent poll from Pew shows both an opening and an obstacle: White evangelicals still strongly favor Republicans, while many other Christian groups lean Democratic or are more narrowly split. The big picture: Talarico , a Presbyterian seminary student, and Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor, are challenging conservatives' claim to speak for faith. Their bids come after Democrat Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, was elected to the Senate in 2021. President Trump won both Texas and Kansas by double digits in 2024. Neither state has sent a Democrat to the Senate in the 21st century — the last time Kansas did was in 1932. Both races this year are considered toss-ups . Zoom in: Talarico's "religiosity is a way to soften his liberalism" and potentially win over Christians turned off by his scandal-plagued opponent , says Brandon Rottinghaus, who co-hosts Houston Public Media's "Party Politics." Talarico has also made several visits to Black Baptist churches . Trump made inroads with minority communities in Texas, and Talarico looks to do the same after besting Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who is Black, in a brutal primary. He's harnessed scripture in his pitch against Christian nationalism and for protecting the vulnerable, invoking the biblical campaign slogan, "It's time to start flipping tables." "We're in a populist political moment, and many of the teachings of the social gospel give him an opportunity to link the politics and his faith together," Rottinghaus adds. By the numbers: A September Marist survey of 1,139 Texas registered voters showed Paxton with a 75% to 22% lead
