Democratic Gov. Josh Green of Hawaii predicts Americans will want a peacemaking leader by 2028. He says the "hand to hand combat" of partisan politics will struggle after President Donald Trump's second term. Green, a moderate, worries Gov. Gavin Newsom, an early frontrunner, may be seen as "a radical from California." He believes Newsom needs to adopt more conciliatory rhetoric. Green hopes both parties nominate candidates committed to healing the partisan divide. He mentions Democratic Govs. Wes Moore and Josh Shapiro, and Republican Gov. Spencer Cox as potential leaders. Green is open to running himself but prefers supporting someone else.
A panel of three federal judges has blocked Texas from using a new congressional map that Republicans drew in hopes of picking up five U.S. House seats. That map had touched off a nationwide redistricting battle and is a major piece of President Donald Trump's efforts to preserve a slim Republican majority ahead of the 2026 elections. In a 2-1 ruling Tuesday, a panel of federal judges in El Paso sided with opponents who argued that Texas' unusual summer redrawing of congressional districts would harm Black and Hispanic residents. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed a swift appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and defended the map.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to step aside after nearly four decades in Congress kicks off a wide-open contest to replace her at a time when her home city of San Francisco is roiled in debate about what its future should look like. Pelosi announced Thursday she will not seek reelection next year. The race to replace her is unfolding as her deeply Democratic and famously liberal district — which encompasses virtually all of San Francisco — is contending with soaring housing costs and conflict over whether denser development is the answer to them.
