Special and off-year elections can offer a particular kind of comfort for those anxious to spot political shifts. Instead of having to rely on polls — or vibes — to tell us how Americans are processing the first few weeks of President Donald Trump’s term, real voters weigh in with their verdicts. While we shouldn’t read too much into elections taking place more than a year and half before the 2026 midterms, today’s trio of contests – especially in Wisconsin – are important early tests of Elon Musk’s political upside/downside, as well as the ability of Republicans to get Trump coalition voters to show up when the president isn’t on the ticket.
Today, voters go to the polls in two special congressional races in Florida and in a regularly-scheduled state Supreme Court election in the Badger State. Democrats are buoyed by the fact that in special legislative elections held since Trump’s second inauguration, Democratic candidates have outperformed the lean of their districts by an average of 10 points, according to analysis by The Downballot. In another sign of increased enthusiasm
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The Cook Political Report is an independent, non-partisan newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns for the US House of Representatives, US Senate, Governors and President as well as American political trends.
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