Tina Smith

'Let the Democrats be Democrats'

As an organic farmer in southeastern Minnesota and provider of healthy local food for almost three decades to families throughout the country, our food system has come under attack by interest groups trying to dominate agriculture. Farmers like us, raise our crops and animals on our farms without the use of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, commonly referred to as CAFO.

The northeast Minnesota congressman is leveraging the budget reconciliation process in an attempt to gut critical Boundary Waters copper mining protections.

Sens. Thom Tillis, left, and Bill Cassidy are among the most vulnerable senators up for reelection next year, either in a primary or general election. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Craig wants to take on systemic corruption and Trump.

House Democrats are privately grousing about their party's inability to hold down committee leaders — due not just to advanced age, but also ambition.Why it matters: The day after Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) said he would resign as ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, House Agriculture Committee ranking member Angie Craig (D-Minn.) launched a bid for Senate.Both lawmakers are widely admired by colleagues, but their back-to-back announcements — just months after winning hard-fought leadership races — left some raw emotions, particularly towards Craig.Craig, unlike Connolly, plans to serve out the remainder of her term as ranking member through 2026, her office told Axios."I get a little pissed at these people who are running for the Senate who worked hard to become a ranker and now are about to leave," said one House Democrat, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly.Said another: "I think it's irresponsible for someone to run for leadership and then decide three months later they're going to go do something else."State of play: Democrats are now engaged in yet another inter-generational proxy fight as Oversight Committee members past and present position themselves to run for Connolly's role.Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), the 70-year-old senior member serving as "interim" ranking member until Connolly steps down, has said he is running.Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), 44, is expected to mount a bid, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), 35, considering one as well. Unlike the low-profile, moderate Lynch, both are considered progressive icons.What we're hearing: The first House Democrat who spoke to Axios anonymously said that a major factor in Ocasio-Cortez's deliberations is her recent turn from political stardom to superstardom.The New York Democrat failed in her bid to lead the Oversight Committee last year, but has found a second wind headlining massive rallies across the country with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)."The difference from the last time is AOC's profile has significantly increased," the lawmaker who spoke anonymously said.They added: "I don't know if her hopes are on the Senate now or something else."Between the lines: Even some younger lawmakers who want to see older committee leaders step aside expressed concerns that Craig's run could create obstacles for members like Ocasio-Cortez who are even suspected of eyeing higher office.The second House Democrat who spoke anonymously said that, going forward, House leadership candidates should be asked, "Do you see yourself doing this for a long period of time?""I think that'll be used as an excuse by the people who want to prevent mobility by newer members," said a third House Democrat.Ocasio-Cortez, asked about these fears, told Axios: "There is no race right now, so I'm not going to be commenting on any of that."Yes, but: Other lawmakers leapt to Craig's defense, noting that Sen. Tina Smith's (D-Minn.) retirement was unexpected and arguing that having ranking members move on isn't inherently a bad thing.Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), one of the younger lawmakers who wants the party to make way for its next generation, told Axios: "We just need change. If this is more change, then that's fine too.""As long as she continues doing a great job, which I think she is, I don't see a conflict," a House Democrat on the Agriculture Committee told Axios.A fifth House Democrat who spoke anonymously told Axios: "Who among us is not at risk of seeking higher office, right? I feel like that's not an exclusively younger member challenge."Reality check: It is not unheard of for new committee ranking members to jump at opportunities for higher office.One notable example: Tim Walz, who ran successfully for Minnesota governor during his first term as the ranking member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.Far from falling out of his party's good graces, Walz was tapped by Kamala Harris as her running mate last year.What to watch: Some members of the Agriculture Committee already have their eye on replacing Craig in 2027, Axios has learned.Vice ranking member Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) is considering a bid, a source familiar with her thinking told Axios.

Lawmakers apparently are close to a deal to resolve one of Springfield’s most hotly contested issues this session: transit reform.

Mike Waltz is the reportedly first member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet of clowns to bite the dust, after multiple media reports on Thursday said Dear Leader is planning to fire his national security adviser.Waltz is the official who created the unsecure Signal chat in which Trump’s top advisers discussed military strikes in Yemen. The chat inadvertently included Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, whose presence on the chat led to it becoming public that Trump officials were discussing classified material in a non-classified setting.It looked like Waltz would survive the fiasco, after Trump said in March that Waltz was "a good man" who "learned a lesson." However, conspiracy theorist and noted bigot Laura Loomer had met with Trump to try to convince him to fire Waltz—not because of the Signal chats but because Loomer believed Waltz was not loyal to Dear Leader. After that meeting in April, Trump fired “some” National Security Council staff, which Loomer took credit for.Conspiracy theorist and noted bigot Laura Loomer“You know how you know the NSC officials I reported to President Trump are disloyal people who have played a role in sabotaging Donald Trump? Because the fired officials are being defended by Jen Psaki & Andrew McCabe on MSNBC & CNN RIGHT NOW,” Loomer wrote in a post on X on April 3.And on Thursday, Loomer took credit for Waltz’s ouster as well, writing “SCALP” in an all-caps post on X.Waltz—who gave up a safe House seat in Florida to serve in the administration—lasted just 102 days into Trump’s tenure, or 9.3 Scaramuccis for those who count in that method. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—the unqualified dolt who shared classified intelligence on the first reported Signal chat, and also created a separate Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal attorney in which he shared more classified war plans—remains in his post.Democrats were quick to point out that fact after reports broke that Waltz was out.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth“Now do Pete Hegseth,” Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) wrote in a post on X.With Waltz’s dismissal, two of the three House Republicans Trump chose for his administration are now out of a job. Fellow former Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his nomination as Trump’s attorney general and resigned from Congress before his new term even began.And the third Republican Trump chose—Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)—also had her nomination pulled, as Trump worried Republicans would lose her House seat in a special election.Former President Joe Biden did not fire a single Cabinet official in his four years in office—something Trump criticized Biden for. And Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, stuck around for the entirety of Biden’s time in office.Ultimately, Trump proved to us once again that he doesn’t hire the “best people.” He just governs in chaos, and we all lose. Thank you to the Daily Kos community who continues to fight so hard with Daily Kos. Your reader support means everything. We will continue to have you covered and keep you informed, so please donate just $3 to help support the work we do.

Welcome to At the Races! Each week we bring you news and analysis from the CQ Roll Call campaign team. Know someone who’d like to get this newsletter? They can subscribe here. There’s a new Republican-led effort on Capitol Hill this week to put an end to ranked-choice voting. Republican Reps. Abe Hamadeh of Arizona and [...]The post At the Races: Breaking ranks appeared first on Roll Call.

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton was endorsed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth in the primary to succeed the retiring Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin.

Flyers urge consumers to take action beneficial to the pharmaceutical industry. But the campaign completely misses the bigger threat to new drug development: massive research cuts.

Amid Democratic Minnesota U.S. Rep. Angie Craig's town hall stop on Wednesday in St. Cloud, Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer — who represents the area —wants the House to launch an ethics investigation against her.

Under the legislation, taconite mining can remain a central part of local economies.

After Sen. Dick Durbin announced his retirement, the idea of the "Biden effect" came back into focus.

A growing number of Democrats in the Senate are stepping aside and clearing the way for the next generation of leaders as the party debates its path forward in the Trump 2.0 era.

Sen. Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) announcement Wednesday that he is retiring rather than running for reelection in 2026 is likely to set off a fierce Democratic primary for his seat. Why it matters: Durbin himself predicts that "at least a dozen" candidates will jump into the race, with at least three House Democrats and the state's lieutenant governor all eyeing bids.Reps. Lauren Underwood and Raja Krishnamoorthi could start out as the frontrunners, according to polling data released last month.The race could quickly get expensive: Krishnamoorthi has amassed a $19 million war chest, and Underwood has over $1 million in cash on hand. Rep. Robin Kelly also has $2 million in cash.Driving the news: "The decision of whether to run for reelection has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States senator. But in my heart, I know it's time to pass the torch," Durbin, 80, said in a video.The Senate minority whip and Judiciary Committee ranking member said he "will not be seeking reelection at the end of my term."Durbin is not immediately endorsing a potential successor, but he did not rule out throwing his weight behind someone in the future, according to the Chicago Sun Times.What we're hearing: Underwood is widely expected to jump into the race, with one source familiar with the matter telling Axios the writing is on the wall and that it's just a matter of "when" and not "if."A House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Axios: "I think Raja Krishnamoorthi is going to run."Kelly, the former chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, has also been looking at a run, as Axios previously reported. So has Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton.Zoom out: The primary could be an expensive headache for Senate Democrats at a time when they are already dealing with several other possible slugfests.Rep. Haley Stevens on Tuesday jumped into the race for retiring Michigan Sen. Gary Peters' seat and will face off against state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.Rep. Angie Craig is also expected to run against Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for retiring Sen. Tina Smith's seat.Senate Democrats also hope to get former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to run for Senate even as former Rep. Wiley Nickel is already in the race.Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois announced on Wednesday that he will retire when his term expires in January 2027, opening up a safe Democratic seat and paving the way for the next generation of Democratic Party leaders."The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch," the 80-year-old Durbin said in a post on X. "So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term."Democratic voters are pining for new blood in the party to take on the increasingly extreme Republican Party.Durbin, who was first elected to the Senate in 1982 and is now the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber, initially suggested he was going to run for reelection in 2026, saying in a horribly sad statement that his decision would be based on whether he was “still physically able, mentally able to deal with the issues.”“This press conference is an indication that I still have my wits about me. And when it comes to the physical side of it, up and moving around, taking nourishment,” Durbin said in March. Related | The Democratic Party has a big problem on its handsBut as backlash to the Democratic gerontocracy grew, Durbin’s calculus changed and he opted against running for another term.“I have to be honest about this. There are good people in the wings, good people on the bench ready to serve, and they can fight this fight just as effectively as I can,” Durbin told The New York Times. “There comes a point where you have to face reality that this is the time to leave for me.”Durbin follows other Democratic senators who have announced their retirement in order to pass the torch to a new generation of leaders, including 78-year-old Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, 67-year-old Tina Smith of Minnesota, and 66-year-old Gary Peters of Michigan.“It’s important for New Hampshire and the country to have a new generation of leadership,” Shaheen said after announcing that she was not seeking another term. As for Illinois, it’s a solidly Democratic state that Kamala Harris won in 2024 with nearly 55% of the vote. And in next year's midterms, the electorate could be even more blue thanks to backlash to President Donald Trump’s economic and social policies.Whichever Democrat emerges from the state primary will be the odds-on favorite to win the seat in November 2026.What’s more, Durbin’s exit means another member of the Democratic conference can ascend to a leadership role in the Senate, giving the party a fresh leader who can be a new messenger.“This is what leadership looks like!!” Democratic strategist Amanda Litman said in a post on X about Durbin’s decision. “Retiring with dignity and passing the torch to the next generation is how you create sustainable power,” said Litman, whose group Run for Something seeks to recruit candidates to run for office. “Thanks for modeling this and for all you've done, Sen. Durbin.”Thank you to the Daily Kos community who continues to fight so hard with Daily Kos. Your reader support means everything. We will continue to have you covered and keep you informed, so please donate just $3 to help support the work we do.

The Illinois Democrat has announced he will retire at the end of his term next year after nearly three decades in the Senate. His departure creates a key opening in Democratic leadership.

The veteran senator's departure will set off a mad scramble both for his Senate seat and for younger colleagues eager to move up in the chamber.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, announced on Wednesday that he would not be seeking reelection, capping off a decades-long Senate career. “The decision of whether to run for reelection has not been easy. I truly love the job of being United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time [...]

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the Senate Democratic whip, announced his retirement on Wednesday.Why it matters: Durbin's retirement will kick off one of the first open leadership contests in a decade, continuing a generational change in the Senate Democratic caucus.Durbin, 80, was facing reelection next year.Durbin is a longtime member of Senate Democratic leadership and has been in the Senate since 1997. He has served in Congress since 1983.His retirement will also open up what is likely to be a hotly-contested primary in Illinois to fill the Senate seat.The big picture: Durbin joins a growing list of Senate Democrats who are calling it quits ahead of the 2026 election.Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) have all announced their retirements this year. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is also running for governor.Next year's elections could mirror the last, when younger Democrats were elected to replace a number of retiring senior Senate Democrats.Go deeper: Schumer's growing primary headache

Northland communities depend on Lake Superior and benefit enormously from cutting-edge research at the Duluth EPA lab to maintain its purity.

California Rep. Young Kim was among nine Republicans in battleground House races who raised more than $1 million during the first quarter. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

'Politicians often promise things to young voters'

From the editorial: "If the Duluth EPA lab is being indiscriminately targeted, the cutting and slashing (in D.C.) clearly isn’t being done with the care, consideration, or thought such a process demands."

Republicans are hoping Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp runs for Senate next year. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Medicaid is a lifeline for more than 72 million Americans, including people with mental health and substance use conditions. It’s also the largest funder of mental health and substance use care in the U.S. As the executive director at NAMI Southeast Minnesota, part of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, I know firsthand the impact Medicaid coverage can have on people with mental illness and their families.

'Colorado, I’m running for Governor'

Sen. Tina Smith strikes a sensible balance with a historic bill to safeguard northeast Minnesota’s fragile watery wilderness from copper mining pollution.

Colorado Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet plans to run for governor of the state in 2026.

The Colorado senator is the latest Democrat to announce plans to leave the Senate.

Colorado Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet will announce that he’s running for governor of the state in 2026

'It starts to get dicier'

Fifteen Senate Democrats backed a pair of resolutions from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to withhold billions of dollars in offensive weapons sales and other military aid to Israel.Why it matters: The votes split the party, revealing continued internal divisions over Democrats' views on the war in Gaza and support for the Israeli government. The measures failed 15-82 and 15-83.Sanders wants to cancel the Trump administration's proposed sales of $8.8 billion in bombs and other munitions to Israel.In addition to Sanders, Democratic Sens. Richard Durbin (Ill.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Ben Ray Luján (N.M.), Tim Kaine (Va.), and Andy Kim (N.J.) voted in favor.So did Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Chris Murphy (Conn.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii), Tina Smith (Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Peter Welch (Vt.).No Republicans supported the measures.The big picture: Sanders forced similar votes under the Biden administration to call out U.S. support for Israel's war efforts in Gaza."The United States must end our complicity in these atrocities, we cannot be part of this any longer," Sanders said in a video he released on Wednesday.The vote comes as Israel resumed its war in Gaza last month, despite a ceasefire deal between the two sides that was signed earlier this year.Between the lines: Senate Democrats facing reelection next year were split on the resolution. "No" votes could open up incumbents to attacks from their left.Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Col.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I) — all up for reelection next year — voted "no."Go deeper: Israel resumes war in Gaza with a series of massive airstrikes against HamasEditor's note; This story has been updated with additional reporting.

The president of a Minnesota university that saw one of its students detained by federal immigration authorities last week says five other students have had their visas terminated.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced she plans to run for U.S. Senate on the same day Sen. Tina Smith announced she will not be seeking reelection next year.

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced she plans to run for U.S. Senate on the same day Sen. Tina Smith announced she will not be seeking reelection next year.

House Democrats vying to flip control of the lower chamber in next year’s midterm elections may face a new challenge: The exodus of battleground incumbents seeking higher office. A number of vulnerable House Democrats are eyeing runs for the Senate or other offices in a handful of states around the country, including Michigan and Maine. [...]

Hampton Roads isn't alone in its overreliance on ADHD diagnoses and psychotropic drugs to handle troublesome schoolchildren, Dr. Gretchen LeFever Watson writes in a guest column.

For months, Democrats have been struggling to coalesce behind a political strategy.

Instead of caving to Trump’s threats, the U should stand tall and protect free speech.

Democrat Kristen McDonald Rivet is the latest House member to receive Senate buzz in Michigan. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

The Democratic leaders in the Senate and House sought to strike a unified message on potential GOP cuts to Medicaid, even as they defended their government funding strategies.

With EPA, other cuts, however, concerns will persist until Congress acts

On Feb. 26, our federal government announced the termination of 5,800 USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) awards. Many of these awards are administered through Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian funding organization of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is expected to announce later this month whether or not she’ll seek a fourth six-year term representing New Hampshire in the Senate when she’s up for re-election next year.

The firings were part of the sweeping cuts spurred by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott aims to expand the GOP's majority in the chamber in the 2026 midterm elections and thanks President Donald Trump.