The California primaries were supposed to be the first major triumph of younger Democrats' campaign to oust aging House incumbents . That's not how it's shaking out. Why it matters: The old guard is proving they still have some fight, defying a "generational change" year for the party grassroots. - Rep. Brad Sherman's (D-Calif.) campaign crowed that the results in his district were a "direct repudiation of Sherman's opponents' claims that voters ... value 'generational change' over experience and results." - "We always know that primarying incumbents is really, really hard," said Amanda Litman, founder of Run for Something. "The incumbents are almost always going to win." Driving the news: Sherman, 71, and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.),…
House Democrats are looking to Tuesday's primaries in California as a major test of the anti-incumbency sentiment among their voters. Why it matters: This will be the first time in the 2026 election when multiple House Democrats in their 70s and 80s face off against primary insurgents who have hammered them for their lengthy tenures. - California Democratic Reps. Mike Thompson, Doris Matsui and Brad Sherman — all 70 or older — are among those facing tough primary fights with younger Democratic challengers. - Their Democratic colleagues are watching "all of them closely," one senior House Democrat said, as well as the LA mayor's race and the state's gubernatorial election. - "Just to see the anti-incumbent sentiment," another senior…
Congressional Democrats in their 70s and 80s who are seeking reelection are tired of hearing that they are incapable of doing their jobs due to age — and they're gearing up to push back. Why it matters: More than half a dozen House Democrats who are 70 or older are trailing at least one younger primary insurgent in fundraising, and those elections are fast approaching. - But to hear some veteran House Democrats tell it, this is nothing out of the ordinary. "There has never been an election where you have not had challenges to incumbents and a few incumbents losing," Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) told reporters Wednesday. - "I have no idea why this is the year to write this story, except that Joe Biden was old. I think voters will just…
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., a repeat “designated survivor” for the Democratic Party, tells “Morning in America” that “fortunately, there were no disasters, there were no attacks, everything was fine” at the 2026 State of the Union address — “with the exception of what the president had to say.” #Politics #Trump #Democrats Start your day with "Morning in America," NewsNation's live three-hour national morning newscast hosted by Markie Martin. Weekdays starting at 6a/5C. #MorningInAmerica NewsNation is your source for fact-based, unbiased news for all Americans.
One of President Trump 's Cabinet members will skip Tuesday's State of the Union address, sitting out as the designated survivor who would become president if a catastrophic attack hit. Why it matters: The designated survivor isn't just an invention of dime-store thrillers and Kiefer Sutherland shows — it's one of the country's most dramatic precautions, born from Cold War fears that gathering the nation's leaders in one place requires planning for the unthinkable. What we're watching: The White House hasn't announced this year's designated survivor, but their absence during Trump's speech should make the choice clear. Here's what to know: History of the phenomenon Zoom out: The practice dates back to the Cold War when fears that a…
It is customary for the legislature to designate someone to remain in a secure location during major legislative events, in the event of a disaster, despite only the speaker of the House being in line for the presidency.
