Thursday’s Campaign Round-Up, 4.30.26: Louisiana suspends primaries to draw new map

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* In response to Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices gutting the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has suspended next month’s primary elections so the legislature can approve a new district map.

* Though this would have been tough to predict a few months ago, Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday morning she’s ending her U.S. Senate campaign, despite the support of the Democratic establishment. The governor’s move clears the way for newcomer Graham Platner to take on longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins in the fall.

* In Tennessee, there’s only one Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation, but in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn wants her party to approve a new gerrymandered map to ensure total GOP domination. The incumbent senator is generally seen as the front-runner in this year’s gubernatorial race.

* In Georgia, Republicans are also preparing to take advantage of the gutted Voting Rights Act, but any partisan changes almost certainly won’t be implemented before the 2028 election cycle.

* In Texas’ closely watched U.S. Senate race, a new University of Texas poll found that Democratic state Rep. James Talarico has a 7-point lead over incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn in a hypothetical general election matchup. The same survey found Talarico with an 8-point advantage over Cornyn’s GOP primary rival, state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

* In Ohio, which is generally seen as a solidly red state, appointed Republican Sen. Jon Husted is running for a full term of his own, and his first television ad is notable in large part because it makes no reference to Donald Trump or Husted’s party affiliation.

* Remember Mark Sanford? Earlier this month, the former two-term South Carolina governor, former congressman and failed presidential candidate launched a comeback bid, filing to run for his old House seat. This week, the Republican gave up and announced he’s permanently stepping away from electoral politics.

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