Elaine Luria is a retired Navy Commander with a prominent voice on national security issues. She won and then lost a seat in Congress, representing the Norfolk, Virginia area. Now, she’s running again. She’s definitely not a quitter.
The Supreme Court has been deciding the last cases on its docket this week. While attention has been focused on that, Trump’s rejected nominee to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte, has been in place as the acting director. He is reportedly firing people–shades of DOGE. He has also brought on, as his deputy, a woman named Christina Norton, who appears to have no national intelligence experience, but who has worked in the past with election deniers. There is no one I’d rather ask what we should make of this than Elaine.
She joins us Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. ET. We’ll also discuss issues including gerrymandering, affordability, and the war in Iran. If you’ve got questions you’d like us to take up, please leave them in the chat.
These intrepid leaders are leaving it all out there on the playing field for us this cycle. Now we need to be there for them on this critical day......we can do this people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Morning all. Got an early start today. Will report back in if the Supreme Court decisions we expect later this morning warrant it. But this morning we will stay focused on our two big initiatives this week - reflecting on America at 250, and closing strong for the second quarter filing deadline.
We began our deep dive into America at 250 yesterday with a wonderful, lively conversation with Heather Cox Richardson, which you can find here.
Tomorrow Marc Elias will be joining us for an in-depth look at the Supreme Court’s ongoing assault on our Constitutional order, his many critical victories in the courts, and what to expect from Trump and his allies this November and beyond. This one will be recorded - look for it early tomorrow afternoon. On Monday Stuart Stevens joins us live for the third in our mini-series of America at 250 discussions.
Yesterday I set a goal of raising $50,000 before midnight tonight for our candidates and party committees and man oh man did this community rally - we raised $69,000 yesterday! Can we match that today? Amazing, inspiring work everyone!!!!!!!!!
To keep our momentum throughout the day I will be releasing new interviews with two our very best candidates this cycle - Jamie Ager in NC-11, and Sarah Trone Garriott in IA-3.
These remarkable leaders are leaving it all out there on the playing field for us this cycle. Now, today, we need to rally for them!
So it appears the New York Times has decided to start polling the big battleground states, which is a welcome development as we’ve had very little independent public polling of late. Yesterday the Times released a poll of Maine showing Platner ahead, 49%-47%. Today they released two more polls. First, Texas - Talarico and Paxton tied in a state Trump won by 15 points:
This polling is consistent with other recent public polls in Texas, as were the Maine results yesterday. This remarkable showing from Talarico is consistent with the overperformances we’ve seen from Democrats in elections of all kinds throughout this cycle, and consistent with the overperformance we are seeing from our almost all of our Senate and gubernatorial candidates in battleground states right now. Here’s our updated summary of recent Senate polling:
James Talarico’s speech Sunday at the Texas Democratic Party convention has been getting a lot of buzz. Here it is. Let’s watch it together…..
The second poll the NYT released was of the Governor’s race in Maine, and the results here are encouraging. In an initial ballot test our nominee, Hannah Pingree has a substantial lead in a three way contest, 50% Pingree-36% Charles (R)-Bennett 8% (Ind). When voters are only given the choice of Pingree and the Republican nominee Charles her lead grows to 15 points, 55%-40%.
With Pingree performing so well, and the generic ballot in Maine an encouraging +11 Dem (53%-42%), it suggests that Platner has room to grow, break 50, and win his race if he runs towards the rest of the ticket and the Democratic brand, which is currently outperforming him in Maine by 9 points.
Hannah Pingree, The Democratic Nominee For Governor In Maine
So, $69,000 yesterday. What can we do today everyone????????
Yes, My Friends, It’s Time To Rally For Our Courageous Candidates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Winning The Midterms, Competing In Red States and Red Places, Expanding The Map
(Please be patient as we overhaul and update this section. Note that we have now changed our ActBlue default settings so that your contact information is only shared with a campaign if you give your affirmative permission. Many of you have asked for this and it is now our standard operating procedure.)
Winning The House
Hopium’s Winning The House Campaign - $850,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new ambitious, audacious even, q2 goal) - Donate to all twelve of our endorsed House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.
Friends if these twelve win, the House will flip, no matter redistricting madness the Rs execute in the coming days. So eyes on the prize here everyone!
Winning The House - The Second Wave Fund - $129,500 raised, $250,000 goal - We’ve launched a second House fund, one targeting candidates who’ve recently emerged from primaries or running in new districts. Our initial crew is Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Bob Brooks (PA-07), Cait Conley (NY-17), Johnny Garcia (TX-35), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Denise Powell (NE-02), and Bobby Pulido (TX-15).
A donation to the Second Wave Fund is split evenly among these seven, and more as other worthy candidates emerge from their primaries. Our total above includes money we’ve raised for directly for each candidate. You can watch interviews with all of seven of these intrepid leaders here. We are off to a great start here everyone!
Winning The Senate
Our New Winning The Senate Fund - $380,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a single donation to our six candidates must likely to flip a Senate seat this November - Sherrod Brown (OH), Roy Cooper (NC), Mary Peltola (AK), Graham Platner (ME), James Talarico (TX), and Josh Turek (IA). The $380,000 figure is what we’ve raised for these six so far, as you see will below.
You can also continue to contributions to their individual campaigns here:
Roy Cooper For NC Senate - $126,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my new discussion with Gov. Cooper
Mary Peltola For Alaska Senate - $110,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Mary Peltola as she fights to turn Alaska blue
James Talarico For Texas - $96,100 raised, $250,000 - Donate | Learn more from my inspiring interview with Rep. Talarico as he fights to turn Texas blue
Jon Ossoff For GA Senate - $196,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Learn more through my uplifting conversation with Senator Ossoff
Expanding The Map - Investing And Winning In Key Expansion States
Winning Iowa - $10,600 raised, $100,000 goal - We’ve also set up a new Winning Iowa campaign that splits a contribution three ways - to Turek, to gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, and to the Iowa Democratic Party and its great chair, Rita Hart | Watch our recent interviews with my new interview with our great gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand and Iowa Dem Party Chair Rita Hart
Winning Ohio - $166,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Our new campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton/Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party | Donate today and help us turn this critical 2026 battleground blue
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $606,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal (new stretch goal) - Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up! and use the link to make contributions to any of the state parties directly | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five critical battlegrounds.
Some Things To Call Congress About This Week
Yes to making American oligarchs pay for Trump’s failed Iran war - not every day Americans
Yes to the Ukraine Support Act, get it passed through the Senate and to the President’s desk
No to the ballroom, the Arch, the gilded statues, the slush fund, the corruption, self-enrichment……
Hell no to Todd Blanche as Attorney General, and yes to very tough questioning of the new DNI nominee, Jay Clayton
Hell hell no to the new OMB regs that will destroy government-funded science in America. Join the new Stand Up For Science campaign to Stop Vought. Save Science today.
A big thank you to everyone who has become a paid subscriber in recent days. We’ve signed up 205 new people, strong progress towards our goal of 500 by July 4th. Take 10% off a paid annual Hopium subscription today and help make our Independence Day membership sale and drive a success. Follow the link for group and gift subscriptions too!
