Democrats successfully defended a conservative seat in rural Louisiana on Saturday night, as Chasity Martinez defeated Republican Brad Daigle by a dominant 62-38 margin—a massive 37-point overperformance compared to the 2024 presidential result.
Republicans had hoped to score their first legislative pickup of any kind during Donald Trump’s second term, and they had good reason to think they might succeed in the 60th House District.
Voters in the district, which includes part of Assumption and Iberville parishes (Louisiana’s equivalent of counties), had long backed state and local Democrats but had moved decidedly toward Republicans on the federal level in recent years.
According to calculations by The Downballot, Donald Trump carried the 60th by a 56-43 margin in 2024, giving the GOP a real opening. Daigle, an insurance agent, further argued that the district would be better served by electing a member who would join the Republican supermajority in the legislature.
But Martinez, a member of the Iberville Parish Council, emphasized issues that have resonated for Democrats running on similarly difficult turf: affordability and public education. She also criticized a lack of responsiveness from state officials to the difficult conditions faced by many residents. [snip]
Since Trump returned to the White House, Democrats have picked up eight Republican-controlled districts through special elections, as well as 18 seats in New Jersey and Virginia during those states’ regularly scheduled contests last November. Republicans have flipped none. (our emphasis)
That's 26 Democratic flips to 0 for the MAGAts since January 2025. In this race, the overperformance number is the one to look at -- 37% + for Democrat compared to the national 2024 election. That giant sucking sound you hear is the fascist Republican party/ cult imploding.
A federal judge refused Sunday to help in attempts to open early voting sites at three public North Carolina universities, declining requests to overrule decisions by Republican-controlled elections boards leading up to the state’s upcoming primary.
U.S. District Judge William Osteen rejected arguments by the College Democrats of North Carolina and some students that they were likely to win a recent lawsuit because decisions by GOP board members placed undue burdens on the right to vote.
The decision by Osteen — nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush — to deny a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order can be appealed.
Early in-person voting for the March 3 primary begins this coming Thursday. It features nomination races for U.S. Senate and House, the legislature and local elections.
Osteen also wrote that formally backing efforts to open the sites so close to voting could risk confusion.
Osteen’s ruling marks a key decision on policy preferences by the State Board of Elections and elections boards in all 100 counties since a state lawrecently shifted them from having Democratic majorities to Republican majorities.
The College Democrats of North Carolina — an arm of the state party — and four voters sued in late January accusing the state board and boards in Jackson and Guilford counties of violating the U.S. Constitution.
The lawsuit involves votes by the state board and the two county boards to not include early voting sites at Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University, also in Greensboro. A&T is the largest historically Black university in the country.
An early voting site at Western Carolina has operated regularly since 2016. Sites at the Greensboro campuses have not been offered in midterm elections. Voting sites are offered at college campuses elsewhere in the state. Same-day registration is available at early voting sites.
Without the sites, the lawsuit says, students will be forced to travel off-campus to vote, imposing time and money upon those least familiar with voting... (our emphasis)
"Desperate times call for desperate measures" -- the MAGAt Republican party/ cult creed for the 2026 midterms. Restricting early voting in Democratic strongholds, other voter suppression and intimidation tactics, gerrymandering, etc.: whatever it takes to maintain power. This decision will be appealed. But, regardless of the ultimate outcome, the duty of the Democratic Party and every American who values our endangered democracy is to fight back with everything we have and in every way we can for as long as it takes to defeat these lawless fascists.
“Wear the mission. Text merch to 71776 for official TPUSA merch.”
Those were the first words greeting thousands of viewers as they joined Turning Point’s YouTube channel for the 15-minute countdown before their alternate All-American Halftime Show, as a chyron ran nonstop at the bottom of the screen, hawking merchandise and begging for text signups.
It was a fitting start for a slapdash night of music that seemed half-hearted from the start. The whole event was predicated on outrage from the MAGA faithful over Bad Bunny, a proud Puerto Rican who performs in Spanish, being selected to perform the Super Bowl halftime show. Because those angry about Bad Bunny couldn’t say the quiet part out loud — outside of Turning Point conspicuously surveying fans about what kinds of music they would want, and one of the choices was “Anything in English” — vague language was instead used to invoke patriotism.
Unfortunately, the All-American Halftime Show was unable to evoke much more than a shrug, with halfhearted pop-country performances that showed the limitations of booking a big show with minimal talent. [snip]
Meanwhile, while the Turning Point show screamed about patriotism, Bad Bunny’s official show was filled with highlight after highlight of things that are exciting about America: A nation full of people who came here with talent and differences worth embracing. Even if you don’t speak Spanish, the visual storytelling evoked so many people living the American dream, from the workers in the opening segment, to elderly folks, female friendships, dancing, drinks and unabashed jubilation and unity.
Ignore the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot of a few guys grinding on each other, and there was even plenty that the MAGA crowd would enjoy if they bothered to watch it: A real-life wedding! Beautiful women dancing! A great, big declaration of “God Bless America”!
But there was never going to be a good-faith effort to meet Bad Bunny’s show halfway. Like clockwork, Trump sent out a long message on Truth Social minutes after it ended, slamming it as quickly as possible. (Note to Trump: “Nobody understands a word this guy is saying” … he sings in Spanish, dude! Better take that cognitive test again.)
In the end, the final words shown during Bad Bunny’s performance were seen on a massive video screen: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
The final words on the Turning Point broadcast? “Get involved,” next to a QR code begging for more money. (our emphasis)
"A big show with minimal talent." Kind of like the MF's regime.
Grifters will always grift (see also, "Melania"). Two culture war stinkers in a row. Better dig up Leni Riefenstahl! On the other hand, a real American story was being told by Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show, full of "unabashed jubilation and unity," in contrast with TPUSA/ Kid Rock(head)'s mean-spirited, money-grubbing grift (perfectly representing the MF's presidency).
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