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Friday, July 31, 2026

Category: Politics
11 hours ago
Data
News
Politics

DATA: One-Third of Democrats Now Identify as Socialists.

A new poll has revealed that a significant portion of Democrat and Democrat-leaning voters identify as democratic socialists, underscoring the ideological divide within the party ahead of the midterms.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Approximately one-third of Democrats and Democrat-leaning adults identify as democratic socialists, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS.
📺 DETAIL: The poll revealed that 59 percent of democratic socialists within the Democrat Party are under the age of 45. The poll also revealed that 57 percent of self-identified democratic socialists are white. Self-described democratic socialist Democrat voters are also less likely to hold college degrees or earn over $100,000 annually. Significantly, democratic socialists tend to be more energized about voting in the upcoming midterms. Whereas 57 percent of non-socialist Democrats were “extremely motivated to vote,” 66 percent of democratic socialists said the same. Roughly one-third of Democrat and Democrat-leaning adults identify as democratic socialists. They are more likely to view the Democrat Party favorably than non-socialist Democrats, with 68 percent having a positive view of the party. Democratic socialists are almost twice as likely to support the party moving to the left than non-socialist Democrats, 36 percent of whom would be unhappy with an explicitly socialist candidate.
🎯 IMPACT: This data demonstrates the rise of democratic socialism within the Democrat Party. The increasing prominence of socialist candidates and policies, especially ahead of a tight midterm election, may create problems for the party, particularly in competitive areas. Pursuing radical and often unpopular policies runs the risk of alienating moderate or conservative Democrat-leaning voters. The shift towards democratic socialism within the party indicates that a large portion of Democrats believe that the party’s failure in the 2024 Presidential election was the result of being insufficiently radical and left-wing, despite substantial evidence to the contrary, especially when it comes to social issues such as gender transitions for children.
📺 FLASHBACK: Earlier this month, Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) encouraged her fellow Democrats to embrace the term “socialist.” Zohran Mamdani, the Ugandan immigrant who now serves as Mayor of New York City, is currently the most successful Democrat candidate in recent years to identify explicitly as a socialist. The CNN poll represents the continuation of a trend that has been accelerating for over a year. Back in 2025, it was reported that roughly one quarter of the Democrat Party views democratic socialist Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as the “face” of the party.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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A new poll has revealed that a significant portion of Democrat and Democrat-leaning voters identify as democratic socialists, underscoring the ideological divide within the party ahead of the midterms.

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July 29, 2026
Election Integrity
News
Politics

Ken Paxton Alleges James Talarico Committed Election Fraud.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico of committing election fraud, citing allegations that Talarico improperly registered to vote at his mother’s address.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has accused Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico of breaking election law.
📺 DETAIL: According to voting records, Talarico registered at his mother’s address on December 5, 2021, days before the filing deadline. It is believed that Talarico used his mother’s address as he was not living in the district at the time of his 2022 campaign for the 50th House District in Austin, Texas. Additionally, campaign donation records indicate that his parents contributed $1,437.84 for “moving expenses” on December 12. On October 13, Talarico announced his intention to “move back to HD50” to run for the new seat, which was projected to elect a Democrat. Under Texas state law, candidates must reside in their district one year before election, which was held on November 8, 2022. Talarico later purchased a home in the district in 2022, although records do not state when Talarico began living at this address. “It is absolutely disgusting that James Talarico used his mother’s address to not only commit voter fraud, but also to defraud his entire constituency, all so he could run in a safe Democrat seat,” said Madison Cercy, spokeswoman for State Attorney General Paxton.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “James Talarico has proven he has zero regard for Texans and the rule of law. He’s been lying to voters and shamelessly committing election fraud to hold onto power.” – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: The allegations raise questions about Talarico’s adherence to electoral law and his decision to seek re-election via the 50th House District back in 2022. This adds to a series of scandals and controversial reports that have rocked Talarico’s campaign. Given the tight race between Talarico and State Attorney General Paxton, this revelation could influence undecided voters.
📺 FLASHBACK: Talarico has been caught up in a number of controveries. Earlier this week, it was reported that the Senate hopeful credited “Islamic mystics” for shaping his Christian faith. Last week, it was revealed that Talarico accepted a large donation from Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn billionaire connected to Jeffrey Epstein. Last month, it was reported that Talarico’s church was funding abortions and LGTBQ camps for children.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has accused Democrat Texas Senate candidate James Talarico of committing election fraud, citing allegations that Talarico improperly registered to vote at his mother’s address.

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July 29, 2026
News
Politics

Dem Lawmakers Launch DEI Program Prioritizing Muslims for State Employment.

A new proposal in Massachusetts seeks to establish an all-Muslim commission to prioritize Muslims for state government positions, raising concerns about religious favoritism and equal treatment under the law.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Massachusetts lawmakers are advancing a bill to create a permanent all-Muslim commission that would prioritize the hiring of Muslims for state government jobs.
📺 DETAIL: The commission seeks to recommend Muslims to be appointed to state government positions in order to address a range of supposed issues, ranging from the economy to healthcare. The 11-person all-Muslim panel would be appointed by Democrat Governor Maura Healey. “Massachusetts has always prided itself on being a leader in equality and civil rights, a legacy this bill builds upon,” said Democratic state Senator Jamie Eldridge, the bill’s sponsor. This follows efforts by the Trump administration to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideology. According to the bill, the commission will “Identify and recommend qualified American Muslims for appointive positions at all levels of government, including boards and commissions, as the commission considers necessary and appropriate.” Critics argue that prioritizing a specific religious group for state government positions undermines the principle of equal treatment under the law.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “There is no reason to prioritize Muslims for state offices. They can seek such positions on their own, and under the founding principle of equal treatment under the law, they can be evaluated for such positions by the same objective criteria as anyone, regardless of race, religion, or anything other than their experience and their ability to do the job,” said Ward Clark of RedState.
🎯 IMPACT: The bill has sparked backlash with critics warning it could set a precedent for government hiring based on group identity rather than merit. The bill is likely to create tension between state and federal government, especially since the Trump administration has pushed to end DEI across the United States. Back in February, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit gave the administration the go-ahead to end DEI programs within federal contracting. This shows concern over DEI in the public sector specifically, meaning that a proposal to explicitly grant government jobs to Muslims based on their identity is likely to invite scrutiny from the administration.

Image via King of Hearts.

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A new proposal in Massachusetts seeks to establish an all-Muslim commission to prioritize Muslims for state government positions, raising concerns about religious favoritism and equal treatment under the law.

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July 29, 2026
Bonkers Britain
News
Politics

UK PM Burnham Opens Door to New ‘Death Tax’ to Fund ‘National Care Service.’

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled plans for a new National Care Service to be integrated into the National Health Service (NHS), Britain’s public healthcare system, sparking concerns over tax rises to fund the proposal.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has not ruled out tax rises to fund a new National Care Service, tasked with providing senior and disability care.
📰 DETAIL: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Burnham unveiled plans for a new National Care Service, pay increases for care workers, improved care training, and integrating the care sector with the already socialized National Health Service (NHS). Burnham also announced that an ongoing review into social care would be published next summer, earlier than previously planned under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister has reportedly initiated talks with the Liberal Democrats, a progressive liberal party that supports open borders and re-joining the European Union, and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives, the nominally center-right party responsible for the migrant “Boriswave.” He has not invited Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party or Zack Polanski’s far-left Green Party, despite the former coming ahead of the Lib Dems in the popular vote in the 2024 general election and topping most national polls for months. Burnham first proposed a universal social care system while serving as Secretary of Health in the Labour government of then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown back in 2009. At the time, Burnham proposed a levy on people’s estates after they die to fund the idea, characterized as a “death tax” on top of Britain’s existing inheritance tax. “Some of what we would want to do in the fuller sense will require difficult decisions but we will be honest with people about those, we will put them before the country at the right time, and we will hopefully proceed with people’s consent,” said the Prime Minister in a speech at Westminster on Wednesday.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Make no mistake, today Andy Burnham fired the starting gun on his scheme to raid the little money that hundreds of thousands of regular people have struggled to save over their lifetimes. That’s why he can’t rule out the new universal death tax,” commented Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick.
🎯 IMPACT: The fact that Burnham is only consulting two other parties suggests that the new Prime Minister’s offer of consensus-building only extends to those belonging to the political establishment. The likelihood of tax rises is likely to spark backlash as the country languishes under a rising cost of living. This represents Burnham’s most substantive and significant policy proposal since becoming Prime Minister last week. It was reported earlier this month that Burnham was planning a tax raid worth roughly $51 billion on Britain’s middle class.

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled plans for a new National Care Service to be integrated into the National Health Service (NHS), Britain's public healthcare system, sparking concerns over tax rises to fund the proposal.

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July 28, 2026
News
Politics

Kentucky Governor Pressures McConnell to Show He Can Serve or Step Down.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called on Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, to address his ability to serve amid a prolonged absence from Congress, while McConnell has insisted that he will complete an ongoing rehabilitation program and remain in office.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED:  Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) is calling on Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to publicly demonstrate that he is capable of serving in office or resign from the Senate after the Republican lawmaker’s extended absence from public view.
📺 DETAIL:  In a letter sent Monday to McConnell and his staff, with a copy to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Beshear argued that elected officials owe voters transparency regarding their ability to carry out their duties and said speculation surrounding the 84-year-old McConnell’s condition could be avoided with a minimal amount of public disclosure. McConnell has not appeared publicly for more than 40 days, aside from hospital photographs released by his office, and is expected to remain away from the Senate while undergoing rehabilitation, as he has not yet been medically cleared to resume his duties. Earlier this month, McConnell allies said the senator was alert and recovering in the hospital while denying online rumors claiming he was brain-dead. Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) also called on McConnell to disclose his health status or step down, saying voters deserve greater transparency. Beshear has previously urged Thune to investigate whether McConnell remains fit to serve in the Senate. Significantly, there have previously been multiple incidents in which McConnell has suffered apparent health crises in public, falling silent and freezing in place for extended periods in the middle of speeches to the press. McConnell, who has said he intends to complete his term despite his ongoing rehabilitation, is scheduled to retire when his term ends in January 2027.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “I understand anyone’s desire for privacy, but when you run for office and serve as one of a state’s two U.S. senators, you willingly abdicate much of your personal privacy. That’s the deal, and we all know it when we run.” – Governor Beshear
🎯 IMPACT: Beshear’s demand raises further questions about McConnell’s health and ability to serve, increasing pressure on Republican leadership to address his long absence from Congress publicly.

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has called on Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, 84, to address his ability to serve amid a prolonged absence from Congress, while McConnell has insisted that he will complete an ongoing rehabilitation program and remain in office.

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July 27, 2026
News
Politics
Religion

Talarico Credits ‘Islamic Mystics’ for Influencing His Christian Beliefs.

Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico’s past comments on drawing inspiration from Islamic mysticism have sparked renewed scrutiny of his professed Christian faith as he campaigns against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico credited “Islamic mystics” for shaping his Christian faith.
📺 DETAIL: James Talarico, the Democrat candidate in Texas’ Senate race, said that “Islamic mystics” shaped his Christian faith. In a resurfaced video from April 2024, Talarico asserted that Islamic mystics, such as Rumi, a Muslim scholar and Sufi poet, shaped his faith just as much as Christian writers. “I know personally that I’ve learned as much about my faith from Salman’s tradition, from the Islamic mystics, from poets like Rumi as much as I have from Christian authors and Christian writers,” said Talarico. The comments were made during an appearance on The State of Belief, a religion podcast hosted Paul Brandeis Raushenbush. Talarico further asserted that studying Islamic mystics could bring “new flavors and new colors” to one’s religious identity. “I’m not asking you to join an organized religion. I’m asking you to join something bigger than yourself… Find a spiritual practice that works for you, whether it’s meditation or fasting, gardening, or bird watching, whether it’s in a church, or a temple, or a book club, or a neighborhood group, find a community that can help you touch the ground of your own being,” Talarico said during an address to Paul Quinn College back in May.
🎯 IMPACT: Talarico’s resurfaced comments are likely to create problems for the Democrat candidate. Texas is a Christian, conservative stronghold where Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat in over 30 years. Talarico’s comments continue to spark questions about the authenticity of his Christian faith. This is not the first comment of its kind from Talarico, who previously hailed the virtues of non-Christian “spiritualism.” Talarico will face off against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in November later this year.
📺 FLASHBACK: Last week, it was revealed that Talarico had accepted large donations from Reid Hoffman, a billionaire with connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Hoffman donated $11.5 million to Lone Star Rising, a super PAC supporting Talarico, despite the Democrat candidate’s rhetoric about challenging “the Epstein class.”

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Texas Democrat Senate candidate James Talarico's past comments on drawing inspiration from Islamic mysticism have sparked renewed scrutiny of his professed Christian faith as he campaigns against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

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July 25, 2026
News
Politics
UK

EXCLUSIVE: Burnham’s New Strategy Chief Worked With Convicted Paedophile to Downplay UK Grooming Gangs.

Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate and current Head of Political Strategy for new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, co-wrote a report downplaying the nationwide grooming gang scandal with a pedophile, The National Pulse can exclusively reveal. Support our work here.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Matthew McGregor, Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Head of Political Strategy, co-authored a report with convicted pedophile Liron Velleman, downplaying what they described as “so-called ‘grooming’ gangs.” Velleman, also a sitting Labour Party elected councillor, was convicted this year after sending images of his penis to someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl, as well as asking if she was “at home alone” and demanding to know whether she was a virgin, as well as asking: “Show me your bra.”
📺 DETAIL: The 2021 Hope Not Hate report, titled ‘Backlash, Conspiracies & Confrontation,’ focused on “the rise in awareness and popularity of conspiracy theories” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Matthew McGregor and Liron Velleman are listed as “contributors.”
On Page 87, in ‘Section 6 – Mainstream Hate,’ a report titled ‘Denialism Must End,’ opens by stating: “LIRON VELLEMAN and MATTHEW MCGREGOR review another year in which poison infected the mainstream.”
On Page 35, in ‘Section 2 – Racism,’ in a sub-section called ‘Truth Under Siege,’ the report describes “trumped-up grooming allegations” in England, and supporters of anti-grooming gangs activists of “accusing police and the media of a ‘cover up’ when police found no evidence of grooming.“
The segment refers to the case of Eleanor Williams, who claimed she had been abused by a grooming gang. However, in 2023, three brothers, Joman, Amran, and Alman Miah, were prosecuted for historic sexual abuse of multiple white working-class girls between 1996 and 2010. The offenses spanned rape, indecent assault, kidnapping, and child sex abuse.
While different from the Williams investigation, the case demonstrated that organized child sexual exploitation had, in fact, occurred. On Page 115, under a sub-section titled “Far Right Alternative Media And ‘Citizen Journalists,'” the report predicted: “If the lockdown measures ease and the pandemic becomes less all consuming, he is likely to return to his longstanding preoccupation with so-called ‘grooming’ gangs.“
On Page 127, under a sub-section titled “Populist/Radical Right,” the report provided a brief overview of Hearts of Oak, a British political commentary channel on YouTube, referencing a Westminster protest organized by the channel’s founders demanding “the deportation of ‘grooming’ gang members.”
🎯 IMPACT: In 2023, in his capacity as Political Organizer for Hope Not Hate, Velleman was invited to the UK Parliament to provide oral evidence regarding the Online Safety Bill, a piece of legislation that has since been passed into law, pitched as aiming to protect children from online pornography, but heavily criticized for its censorious and anti-privacy provisions. Velleman gave evidence regarding protecting “children and adults alike” from “terrorist, illegal, abusive and harmful content.”
Earlier this year, Velleman was sentenced to an eight-month suspended prison sentence for sending a video of his penis to someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl in 2024. Velleman was also serving as a Labour Party elected councillor at the time.
Prior to assuming his duties as Head of Political Strategy at Number 10, the Prime Minister’s official residence, McGregor deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account following an expose by The National Pulse revealing his previous posts attacking and smearing President Donald J. Trump and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
McGregor served as Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate from January 2018 to October 2021. McGregor’s involvement in the report is likely to increase scrutiny of Prime Minister Burnham, who has already been accused of helping to cover up the crimes of grooming gangs while serving as Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester.

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Matthew McGregor, former Director of Campaigns and Communications for Hope Not Hate and current Head of Political Strategy for new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, co-wrote a report downplaying the nationwide grooming gang scandal with a pedophile, The National Pulse can exclusively reveal. Support our work here.

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July 24, 2026
Data
News
Politics

Republicans Slip Behind Democrats in Three Key Senate Races.

New polling averages have revealed that the Democrats have gained a slight lead in pivotal Senate and gubernatorial races.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: New polling has revealed that support for Republicans has slipped in four key races ahead of the midterm elections, including three Senate races.
📺 DETAIL: According to fresh data from VoteHub, an election media organization, the Democrats have overtaken the Republicans in three critical Senate races, namely Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio, as well as the Ohio gubernatorial race. Specifically, in Iowa, the GOP trails the Democrats by 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, in Michigan, the GOP trails the Democrats by 1.8 percent. In Ohio’s Senate race and race for Governor, Democrats have gained a 0.9 percent lead. Despite these polling shifts, prediction markets still favor GOP candidates in most races, albeit with reduced margins. Specifically, according to Kalshi, the GOP has a 62 percent chance of winning in Iowa and a 56 percent chance of winning the Ohio governorship, while the Ohio Senate race is roughly 50-50.
🎯 IMPACT: This data indicates a tightening race ahead of the midterms in November, with Democrats gaining momentum in battleground states. However, as prediction markets suggest that the GOP still retains a slight edge, it remains unclear whether these polling shifts will translate to actual victories later this year. This data reflects similar findings from April, in which a Harvard Harris poll showed a perfect toss-up between the GOP and the Democrats. The poll revealed that 71 percent of voters plan to participate in the midterms, with both parties successfully consolidating their bases. As such, this data suggests that while Democrats have gained some ground, the races are still highly contested. Back in January, President Donald J. Trump gave a warning to Republicans that failing to retain Congress will likely lead to another impeachment attempt by the Democrats. “You got to win the midterms, because if we don’t win the midterms, it’s just going to be—I mean, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” said the President at the time, pushing GOP lawmakers to prioritize voter ID and other election integrity measures.

Image by Ron Cogswell.

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New polling averages have revealed that the Democrats have gained a slight lead in pivotal Senate and gubernatorial races.

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July 24, 2026
News
Politics

AOC Joins Calls for Mitch McConnell to Disclose Health Status or Step Down.

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has called on Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to provide a health update or step down amid growing concerns about the Senator’s ability to fulfill his duties.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has called on Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to resign if he is unable to fulfill his duties due to health issues.
📺 DETAIL: The 84-year-old McConnell was hospitalized back in June after he was found unconscious at his home. It was later claimed that he had suffered “a mild case of pneumonia.” He subsequently issued a statement on July 12 claiming to be recovering, but information regarding his condition has been limited. “As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won’t be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet. But rest assured that, in the meantime, I’m not taking a break from the Senate business that matters to you,” wrote the Senator earlier this month. Democrat Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear had previously written to Sen. McConnell requesting an update, but received no immediate reply. On Thursday, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez called for Sen. McConnell to resign. “I understand that people have a right to medical privacy to deal with their issues, but we do not have the right to disappear from our jobs without explanation,” said the Representative. “If he can’t give us an update, he should resign, absolutely… I think it’s been very clear to people across Kentucky that his ‘update’ was not sufficient,” she said earlier this week.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “If Senator McConnell is not capable of as basic a task as answering a letter to Governor Beshear, I think that that conveys a very disturbing inability to fulfill his duties.” – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
🎯 IMPACT: Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s demand for Sen. McConnell’s resignation is likely to garner support. Earlier this week, it was revealed that the New York Representative had topped a Democrat primary poll in New Hampshire. As one of the earliest states in the primary process, it is a vital state for a candidate seeking the Presidency to secure in order to gain momentum. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez secured 22 percent in the poll, followed closely by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on 21 percent. McConnell’s resignation would end the Senator’s lengthy congressional career, which started back in 1985.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has called on Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to provide a health update or step down amid growing concerns about the Senator's ability to fulfill his duties.

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July 23, 2026
Data
News
Politics

AOC, Buttigieg Lead Democrat Poll — Newsom a Distant Fourth.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-NY) early lead in New Hampshire over more moderate rivals signals the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has topped a New Hampshire Democrat primary poll, narrowly leading former Biden government Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
📺 DETAIL: On Wednesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, emerged as the favored Democrat candidate for President, with 22 percent support. Pete Buttigieg came in a close second with 21 percent. Meanwhile, Democrat Governor of California Gavin Newsom polled in a distant fourth, on eight percent, one point behind Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) on nine percent. Failed 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris is polling in sixth place, on five percent, behind Bernie Sanders, who will be 87 years old during the November 2028 presidential election, on six percent. Significantly, a separate Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows that Vice President J.D. Vance is more popular than AOC. The poll similarly revealed that Governor Newsom was trailing other candidates.
🎯 IMPACT: New Hampshire holds significant weight in the presidential primaries. As one of the earliest states in the primary process, candidates who do well in New Hampshire gain early-race momentum. AOC’s lead underscores the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party. This follows a comment from Representative Gwen Moore (D-WI) encouraging the Democrats to embrace the term “socialist.” The minimum age to run for President is 35-years-old. Having previously been ineligible to run for President, come 2028, AOC will be old enough to stand as a candidate. Given the sizeable support the New York Representative has garnered, it is possible that polls such as these encourage her to pursue the nomination. However, given that AOC only has a narrow lead, closely followed by Buttigieg, who is viewed as more moderate, such findings could also indicate a growing rift within the Democrats over whether to turn leftward following their crushing defeat to President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 Presidential election.

Image by Matt Johnson.

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-NY) early lead in New Hampshire over more moderate rivals signals the growing influence of far-left socialism within the Democratic Party.

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