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Democrats

Abigail Spanberger

The Mysteries of Spanberger

Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s mansion on a positive wave of bipartisanship that only an ex-C.I.A. Democratic representative could muster in a purple state. Now, just two months into her term, she finds herself waging a redistricting war and gambling her political capital on flipping congressional seats.
Abby Livingston • March 30, 2026
Peter Hamby • March 24, 2026
The Democrats’ Trans Trap
James Talarico
Republicans are gleefully seizing on James Talarico’s “six sexes” comments while Trump warns darkly that Democrats want “transgender for everybody.” New polling suggests how the party can defuse the G.O.P.’s “they/them” playbook before it trips them up again in November.
Leigh Ann Caldwell • March 22, 2026
The Other Sam in the Valley
Sam Liccardo
Rep. Sam Liccardo, whose tech mogul district includes Palo Alto and Atherton, believes Democrats should embrace A.I.—within reason. Between the White House’s tech right bromance and Congress’s comical tech illiteracy, is there space for the party to address the anxiety and opportunity of the platform shift before the world moves on without them?
Mark Warner
Leigh Ann Caldwell • March 8, 2026
The Dems Prepare to Stop the ’26 Steal
With Trump allies floating ideas ranging from strict voter ID mandates to declaring a national emergency to seize control of elections, Democrats are preparing for what they fear could be unprecedented federal intervention in the midterms.
Al Green
Abby Livingston • February 23, 2026
Fairshake 451
The crypto-backed super PAC Fairshake is on a bipartisan search-and-destroy mission to take out congressional critics this cycle, starting in the Democratic primaries. “They are becoming really, really organized,” one strategist said. And they’ve got nearly $200 million in cash on hand.
Josh Shapiro
Leigh Ann Caldwell • February 22, 2026
Shapiro & Moore Take D.C.
Frustrations with ICE boiled over in a private meeting of the National Governors Association, where even Republican members were concerned with Trump’s push to nationalize elections. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, one question dominated all others: Who’s running for president?
Beto O’Rourke
Peter Hamby • February 17, 2026
Dems’ Fightin’ Words
Democrats still can’t do much of anything until they reclaim at least one chamber of Congress, but they’re finally figuring out how to speak about Trump without losing the plot. Fresh polling from Blueprint Research measures which messaging is actually landing with voters.
Catherine Cortez Masto
Leigh Ann Caldwell • February 11, 2026
ICE, Interrupted
With D.H.S. funding set to expire, Democrats—newly unified, and with a favorable polling wind at their backs—are prepared to risk a shutdown over reforming ICE, betting that Republicans and a politically weakened Trump will absorb the blame.
Gavin Newsom
Peter Hamby • February 10, 2026
California Love
California is the epicenter of Democrats’ nationwide intraparty reckoning. Races up and down the ballot—including to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom—will reveal whether voters want a fixer or a fighter headed into 2028.
Haley Stevens
Abby Livingston • February 9, 2026
Inside Democrats’ Primary From Hell
Michigan’s three-way Democratic Senate primary is attracting historic gobs of money, drawing national talent, and providing an early preview of the sort of swing-state chaos the party can expect in 2028. It might also end up costing Democrats the seat.