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Friday, August 14, 2026

Category: Politics
18 hours ago
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Politics

DATA: MAGA Paxton Leads Woke Talarico in Tight Texas Senate Race.

A new poll has revealed that Texas State Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton has a slight lead over his Democrat rival, James Talarico.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) is ahead of state Representative James Talarico (D) in the Texas Senate race, according to a new poll.
📺 DETAIL: According to an Emerson College Polling/Nexstar Media poll published this week, Ken Paxton is polling at 47 percent. This gives him a one percent lead over Democrat candidate James Talarico, on 46 percent. The same poll also revealed that five percent of Texans are undecided and that two percent are backing a third party candidate. The poll used 1,000 likely Texas voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. The poll also revealed that support for the GOP was concentrated among white and older voters, while support for the Democrats was concentrated among non-white and younger voters.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “This polling shows Ken Paxton has consolidated Republican support, moving the race closer to even after several months of polls showing him behind. This race is close because there are significant numbers of independent voters breaking for Talarico,” commented Brandon Rottinghaus, Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston.
🎯 IMPACT: The poll shows Paxton with a slight lead over Talarico in the race for the Senate. However, due to Paxton’s lead falling within the margin of error, the race remains tight and fiercely contested. The race may be determined by Independent voters, with both Paxton and Talarico having to appeal to voters outside their traditional party base. The fact that the race is practically neck-and-neck places raises the stakes, especially since the state has been a Republican stronghold since 1994. The poll also shows how demographic changes driven by mass migration have helped the Democrats’ odds in the Lone Star State.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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A new poll has revealed that Texas State Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton has a slight lead over his Democrat rival, James Talarico.

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August 13, 2026
News
Politics

Abdul El-Sayed Attacked Thanksgiving, Demanded Reparations.

Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s resurfaced 2019 anti-Thanksgiving remarks and calls for reparations have drawn sharp criticism, potentially jeopardizing his odds in the swing state.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed criticized Thanksgiving and called for reparations in unearthed social media posts.
📺 DETAIL: In 2019, on Thanksgiving, El-Sayed posted that it was “Time for Reparations” and criticized the holiday as being built on the “systematic annihilation” of Indigenous Peoples. This follows similar past comments by El-Sayed, such as calling to cancel July 4 celebrations and his hatred for Michigan’s Mackinac Island, among other things. “Just a reminder this #Thanksgiving. This country was built on the systematic annihilation of Indigenous Peoples, whose ancestors [sic] suffer some of the highest rates of homelessness, joblessness, and mortality today,” El-Sayed posted. The post was deleted but archived online. Other past comments from El-Sayed include calling to defund the police and abolishing Americans’ right to bear arms. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “We owe so much more than ‘thanks.’ Time for Reparations.” – Abdul El-Sayed in his 2019 Thanksgiving post on X (formerly Twitter)
🎯 IMPACT: The unearthed posts have increased scrutiny of El-Sayed’s Senate candidacy. El-Sayed’s far-left position on cultural and social matters could alienate many moderate, conservative, and independent voters in Michigan, a swing state. El-Sayed’s comments also underscore the extent to which anti-American and far-left beliefs have become part of the Democrat mainstream. El-Sayed’s past comments are likely to feature heavily in the campaign between now and November 3, when the state goes to the polls.
📺 FLASHBACK: El-Sayed’s comments echo other progressive candidates seeking the Democrat nomination for various positions across multiple states. Francesca Hong, who recently failed to secure the Democrat nomination for Wisconsin’s governor race, faced criticism for previous posts calling to end Thanksgiving. “Cancel Thanksgiving. Should have done this in 1621. If it takes a worldwide pandemic for us to realize we should stop celebrating colonialism and the original superspreader event that killed indigenous folx [sic] and women, so be it,” posted Hong.

Image by Conlan Houston.

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Democrat Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s resurfaced 2019 anti-Thanksgiving remarks and calls for reparations have drawn sharp criticism, potentially jeopardizing his odds in the swing state.

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August 12, 2026
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Politics

Only 30% of New Yorkers Support Mamdani’s Democratic Socialists.

A new poll has revealed the significant opposition to the far-left Democratic Socialists of America in New York State, with support for the organization largely concentrated among young, low-income voters in New York City.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Roughly half of New Yorkers are opposed to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), according to a new poll, while less than a third positively support it.
📰 DETAIL: A Siena University poll released on Wednesday revealed that 47 percent of New Yorkers hold an unfavorable view of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left political organization taking over the Democrats from within. The poll also revealed that only 30 percent of New Yorkers view the DSA favorably, and 23 percent are unsure. Support for the DSA in New York is concentrated in New York City, where 49 percent have a favorable view of the organization. The uptick in support coincides with the rise to prominence and subsequent election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is a DSA member. In contrast, only 16 percent of suburban voters have a favorable view of the DSA. Similarly, only 27 percent of voters in upstate New York support the organization. The poll also revealed that 71 percent of Jewish New Yorkers have a negative view of the DSA. Support for the DSA skews towards younger voters on lower incomes. However, among Democrats in the state, roughly half view the DSA favorably, compared to 21 percent who oppose the organization and 29 percent who are unsure. Independents have a broadly negative view of the DSA, with 57 percent opposed and only around one-quarter expressing a positive view.
🎯 IMPACT: The polls show that while the DSA has support among young voters in urban areas, it is viewed negatively by other demographics. As such, it will prove much harder for the DSA to make electoral breakthroughs outside of urban areas with younger populations. The negative reception of the DSA among Independents further raises questions about its viability as a state-wide organization. This poll reflects similar data reported last month which showed that one in three Democrats regard themselves as Democratic Socialists and that support for Democratic Socialism skews towards younger voters without college degrees on lower incomes.

Image by TonyNorthrup.

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A new poll has revealed the significant opposition to the far-left Democratic Socialists of America in New York State, with support for the organization largely concentrated among young, low-income voters in New York City.

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August 12, 2026
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Politics
UK

Nigel Farage Honors ‘Extraordinary’ Ann Widdecombe.

A memorial for Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative lawmaker and Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman, is being held in Devon, England, on Wednesday, with Nigel Farage and other Reform leaders paying their respects to the legendary politician.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage honored former Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) and government minister turned Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe ahead of her funeral service on Wednesday. She is believed to have been murdered in a politically motivated terror attack.
📺 DETAIL: The Reform leader paid tribute to Widdecombe as an “extraordinary woman.” The requiem Mass took place at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England. As a committed Roman Catholic, Widdecombe regularly worshipped at the abbey. A public memorial for Widdecombe is planned for later this year. Other Reform politicians also paid tribute to their party’s former justice spokeswoman. Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: “We will treasure our memories with you and never forget your life and legacy.” Reform Shadow Education Secretary Suella Braverman said: “A warrior. A patriot. An inspiration. May her memory be a blessing.” Sarah Pochin, Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, said: “Her warmth, kindness and friendship meant so much to so many, and she will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace.” “Ann was a woman of profound faith, a faith which found expression in the public forum of politics. Ann was unafraid to express her unwavering convictions, formed through her Roman Catholic faith. She had a sharp intellect and was a dedicated public servant,” read a statement from the abbey. Widdecombe served as a Conservative MP and later as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Brexit Party, now Reform UK. She was most recently Reform’s immigration and justice spokeswoman, before her apparent murder at her home in Haytor, Devon, in July.
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Today is the day we remember Ann Widdecombe. Ann was an extraordinary woman who left a serious mark on British politics. She will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, Ann.” – Nigel Farage on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: Widdecombe’s funeral takes place as the investigation into her death continues. Joshua Kerry, a 28-year-old man from Rotherham, northern England, has been charged with her murder. Kerry is alleged to have far-left, anti-Reform beliefs. Kerry allegedly struck Widdecombe 21 times in the head with a hammer as she was having lunch. Counter Terror Police are also examining a potential link between the murder of Widdecombe and an attempted firebomb attack against Farage’s home, as per reporting earlier this week.

Image: European Union 2019.

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A memorial for Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative lawmaker and Reform UK immigration and justice spokeswoman, is being held in Devon, England, on Wednesday, with Nigel Farage and other Reform leaders paying their respects to the legendary politician.

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August 12, 2026
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Politics

Far-Left Francesca Hong Suffers Shock Defeat in Dem Primary.

David Crowley’s projected primary win over Francesca Hong marks a significant shift in Wisconsin’s Democratic race, setting up a key November battle with Republican Tom Tiffany.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: David Crowley is projected to have won Wisconsin’s Democrat gubernatorial primary, defeating Assemblywoman Francesca Hong in a closely contested race and ending a string of recent victories by the party’s far left. Crowley, a Milwaukee County executive, will face Republican Representative Tom Tiffany, who easily won his party’s nomination and has the backing of President Donald J. Trump, in November’s general election.
📺 DETAIL: Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), had sought to become Wisconsin’s first DSA governor, and was given a 95.5 percent chance of victory by Kalshi. However, she faced scrutiny over past social-media posts attacking traditional American holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Independence Day. She previously called to “Cancel Thanksgiving,” describing it as celebrating colonialism, and objected to Christmas-themed imagery in the workplace. Hong’s campaign manager said she was “proud of the race we ran.” The result came as progressives scored a major victory in neighboring Minnesota, where Peggy Flanagan won the Democratic Senate nomination over more centrist Rep. Angie Craig. Crowley’s victory follows far-left Abdul El-Sayed’s Democratic Senate primary win in Michigan last week, and comes as progressive candidates have been supplanting the Democrat establishment in primaries across the country.
🎯 IMPACT: Crowley’s win sets up a significant general election against Tom Tiffany, in what is expected to be a closely watched and competitive race. Crowley had briefly suspended his campaign before re-entering with Governor Tony Evers’s support. He has said that his priorities include making life more affordable, strengthening schools, creating jobs, and expanding opportunity.

Image by LaShawnda Jones.

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David Crowley's projected primary win over Francesca Hong marks a significant shift in Wisconsin's Democratic race, setting up a key November battle with Republican Tom Tiffany.

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August 11, 2026
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Politics

Dem Candidate El-Sayed Blamed Transgender’s Mass Shooting at Christian School on Anti-Trans Legislation.

Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, running for Senate, sparked controversy after blaming gun laws and “anti-trans” legislation for a school shooting carried out by a transgender.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing scrutiny over comments he made in 2023 that downplayed the role of transgender ideology in motivating a trans mass shooter who targeted a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. The far leftist instead blamed American gun rights and laws protecting women and children.
📺 DETAIL: In a 2023 episode of the podcast America Dissected, El-Sayed complained, “[R]ight-wing media have chosen to concentrate on the shooter, a former student at the school who identified as trans, arguing that the attack was some kind of broader attack in an escalating battle between trans people and Christians.” He also invoked his Muslim background, stating, “Look, y’all, I’m Muslim. I know what happens when people essentialize everyone with a particular identity based on the actions of one individual who happens to identify that way. And that’s a dangerous brew. Because the other thing that happened this week is that the Republicans in the legislature of the state of Kentucky forced through a draconian set of anti-trans laws overriding the veto of their Democratic governor.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “School shootings are not a trans problem, school shootings are a gun problem.” – Abdul El-Sayed
🎯 IMPACT: El-Sayed’s comments have seen him criticized for deflecting from the deliberate targeting of Christians in the Nashville attack. Reports indicate El-Sayed has hidden as many as 100 videos, including material in which he discussed abolishing the Second Amendment and scrapping Independence Day fireworks.

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Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, running for Senate, sparked controversy after blaming gun laws and "anti-trans" legislation for a school shooting carried out by a transgender.

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August 11, 2026
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Politics

Senate Stalls $833 Monthly Boost for Disabled Veterans.

New legislation to provide severely disabled veterans and surviving military families with increased financial support has stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over funding mechanisms, raising concerns about legislative gridlock.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047) has been delayed by the Senate. Sharri Briley is a Gold Star widow, while Eric Edmundson is an Iraq War veteran.
📺 DETAIL: The legislation offers the first major increase in Special Monthly Compensation for disabled veterans in over 20 years. The legislation would also raise Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments for nearly 600,000 surviving spouses and family members. Specifically, payments to severely disabled veterans would rise by an additional $833 per month. However, despite bipartisan support and backing from over 20 veterans organizations, the legislation’s funding mechanism relies on shifting funds from other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs, which critics have characterized as benefitting certain groups of veterans at the expense of others. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, but has stalled in the Senate. 
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to the heroes and families who have served and sacrificed for our freedom, but passing my bipartisan legislation today is further proof that we will never stop trying.” – Representative Tom Barrett (R-MI), an Iraq War veteran and a sponsor of the legislation
🎯 IMPACT: While the legislation is not dead, the Senate delay represents a disappointing setback to supporters. It also raises questions about how best to allocate VA resources and avoid dividing the veterans’ community. The delay leaves thousands of disabled veterans and their families in financial uncertainty, especially since many rely on the VA to cover the high costs of caregiving and medical equipment. There is no obvious plan for progression, although given the fact that the bill has already passed the House, and the amount of support behind it, a plan is likely to be unveiled at some point in the future.

Image by Ron Cogswell.

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New legislation to provide severely disabled veterans and surviving military families with increased financial support has stalled in the Senate due to disagreements over funding mechanisms, raising concerns about legislative gridlock.

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August 11, 2026
News
Politics

Dem Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Deletes Podcast Where He Called to Scrap July 4th Fireworks and the Second Amendment.

Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is under fire for past remarks, including criticism of July 4 traditions and calls to abolish Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed criticized July 4 fireworks and proposed abolishing Americans’ right to bear arms in a podcast episode.
📺 DETAIL: In a podcast episode from July 2024 that has since been made private, El-Sayed criticized July 4 fireworks. “Fireworks suck,” declared El-Sayed in a sub-section titled “Fireworks just aren’t worth it: hear us out.” Specifically, he took aim at the environmental impact of July 4 fireworks, among other things. El-Sayed also suggested removing the right to bear arms in favor of a right to healthcare. “What if we tweaked the Constitution, amended the amendment, and instead of the right to bear arms, we change it to the right to have health care?” said El-Sayed. He also dismissed the southern border as a priority, claiming that Republicans “love to flog” the issue and suggesting that illegal immigration was not an important issue to voters. This follows the uncovering of a recording of El-Sayed calling to “defund the police” in 2020. El-Sayed’s criticism of July 4 traditions was endorsed by The Marguerite Casey Foundation, a progressive grantmaking organization. El-Sayed’s campaign claims these remarks do not reflect his current views, although over 100 videos have been removed from his platforms since his Senate run began.
🎯 IMPACT: El-Sayed’s past remarks could become a focal point in the state’s general election. As Michigan is a swing state, many voters are likely to find El-Sayed’s extreme-left views off-putting. Republicans have sought to leverage El-Sayed’s past comments as a means to mobilize moderate voters against him. His nomination demonstrates the ongoing shift to the left within the Democrat Party and the mainstreaming of anti-American sentiment.
📺 FLASHBACK: El-Sayed’s comments reflect a similar sentiment expressed by Francesca Hong, a Democrat state representative in Wisconsin and member of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America. Hong called to “Cancel Thanksgiving” and said she felt “attacked” by a Christmas-themed computer background display in previous posts on X (formerly Twitter).

Image by Conlan Houston.

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Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is under fire for past remarks, including criticism of July 4 traditions and calls to abolish Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms.

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August 11, 2026
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Politics
UK

WATCH: Far-Left Activists Caught Tearing Down Posters for Nigel Farage’s Reform Party Ahead of Election.

Far-left activists in Clacton-on-Sea, England, were caught on CCTV taking down boards showing support for Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, as he prepares to fight a parliamentary by-election (special election) on Thursday.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Far-left activists have been caught taking down signs showing support for Reform UK party Nigel Farage in the Clacton-on-Sea constituency (electoral district) in England.
📺 DETAIL: Revealed exclusively by The National Pulse on Tuesday, the CCTV footage shows far-left activists taking down signs expressing support for Farage ahead of the Clacton-on-Sea by-election (special election) on Thursday. The activists were caught in the act early Friday morning. One of the activists can be heard saying, “I’m only taking down Reform signs.”
💬 KEY QUOTE: “Far left activists have been caught ripping down Reform UK/Nigel Farage boards in Clacton-on-Sea in the dead of night. They were caught on CCTV early Friday morning. Local police have been notified and the incident underscores the dirty tricks the left get up to in places they know they can’t win.” – Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse, on X (formerly Twitter).
🎯 IMPACT: Local police have been notified of the incident. The Clacton-on-Sea by-election was triggered after Nigel Farage, then-Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton, resigned to protest to a weaponized parliamentary probe against him. After announcing his resignation, Farage put his name forward for the resulting by-election, declaring that the people of Clacton, not the political establishment, should determine whether he is fit to represent the area. As Farage is on course to win the by-election by a comfortable margin, this story shows how the establishment-backed opposition has resorted to dirty tactics in a last-ditch attempt to hurt the Reform leader.
📺 FLASHBACK: The National Pulse previously revealed that Afghan migrants were distributing anti-Nigel Farage material around the Clacton-on-Sea constituency. “On the campaign trail today in Clacton, we encountered a group of recent Afghan migrants delivering leaflets on behalf of Dale Vince’s anti-Reform Babelfish newspaper. Vince, a Labour and Green Party donor, recently announced he intended to spend money campaigning against Farage, though hasn’t registered as a campaigner in the constituency. Not only is this legally murky, but ethically an obviously huge issue,” noted Raheem Kassam, Editor-in-Chief of The National Pulse.

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Far-left activists in Clacton-on-Sea, England, were caught on CCTV taking down boards showing support for Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, as he prepares to fight a parliamentary by-election (special election) on Thursday.

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August 11, 2026
Data
News
Politics

DATA: Harris Far Ahead of Newsom, AOC in New Poll.

A new poll shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among Democrat primary voters, suggesting the defeated 2024 presidential candidate is still seen as viable by the party grassroots.

PULSE POINTS
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has topped a poll for the 2028 Democrat presidential primary.
📺 DETAIL: In a new poll from Rasmussen Reports, former Vice President Harris secured 37 percent, significantly outpacing Governor of California Gavin Newsom at 14 percent and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at nine percent. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) also polled at nine percent, while former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg secured ten percent. The poll revealed that Harris’s strongest support exists among black voters. The poll also showed that 53 percent of voters under 40 said they favored Harris, with support for the failed 2024 candidate dropping significantly with voters over 65. The poll was carried out between August 2 and August 4, 2026, on 504 likely Democrat primary voters.
🎯 IMPACT: Harris’s early lead suggests she remains a dominant figure among Democrats and Democrat-aligned voters, despite losing to President Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Harris lost both the Electoral College and the popular vote. While Harris has topped this poll, other surveys show the former Vice President polling in the single digits. The new poll could suggest that Democrat voters view Harris as a unifying figure amid the party’s descent into civil war over whether to embrace the far-left politics of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
💬 KEY QUOTE: “It is interesting that AOC has fallen, given the rising star of democratic socialism in Democratic primaries. Maybe there is some buyer’s remorse that’s being reflected in that poll. It’s still very early, and my hunch remains that Kamala Harris’s support is soft (although she has a core of staunch supporters). I would expect to see some more formal or more serious declarations of interest after the mid-terms.” – Professor Grant Davis Reeher.
📺 FLASHBACK: Back in July, it was reported that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had topped a New Hampshire Democrat primary poll, leading former Transportation Secretary Buttigieg by one percent. Harris polled at five percent.

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A new poll shows former Vice President Kamala Harris leading California Governor Gavin Newsom and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez among Democrat primary voters, suggesting the defeated 2024 presidential candidate is still seen as viable by the party grassroots.

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