Calls for Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to withdraw intensified Monday after a woman accused him of sexual assault in a Politico report. The allegations could affect the Democratic Party’s ability to field a candidate in the November election. Platner, an oyster farmer and former marine veteran, won the Democratic nomination in June and is scheduled to face Senator Susan Collins in the general election. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senatorial Campaign Committee chair Kirsten Gillibrand issued a joint statement urging immediate withdrawal. They said the allegations were disturbing and that the DSCC would not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remained on the ballot. Maine Democratic Party officials also called for his withdrawal, and Representative Ro Khanna announced he was rescinding his endorsement. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ruben Gallego, Martin Heinrich and others similarly said the accusations were serious and that they could no longer support Platner. Platner denied the claims, saying they were false and part of coordinated attacks by out‑of‑state operatives. The woman, identified as Jenny Racicot, said she and Platner had dated for more than two years and that in late 2021 he entered her home uninvited and forced sexual activity despite her objections. Racicot said she ended contact after the incident and did not file a police report. Her account was supported by messages she sent in 2023 and by statements from a man she later confided in, as well as therapist emails. The campaign said Platner vigorously denies the allegations. State law requires a candidate to withdraw by 5 p.m. ET on July 13 for the party to select a replacement within two weeks, ending on July 27. Collins said the allegations were appalling but that she would not choose the Democratic nominee. Racicot said she hesitated to go public because of a moral conflict between supporting Platner’s political platform and personal beliefs. The New York Times previously reported that several women had described Platner’s behavior with women he dated as unsettling. Platner has faced earlier controversies, including social media comments and a previously concealed tattoo. Platner’s campaign said it will use every tool to defeat Collins and that the movement will continue. The Democratic Party now has a two‑week window to choose a new nominee, and the outcome remains unresolved as the allegations are still under review.
Congress, the White House, elections, and the policies shaping the country.
Marco Island City Council Chair Darrin Palumbo endorsed U.S. Marine veteran Casey Askar in the Republican primary for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.
A real estate professional and small‑business owner, Palumbo said Askar is positioned to bring economic stability and transparency to the district.
Askar, who has lived in Collier County for more than 25 years, said he is honored by Palumbo’s support and described Palumbo as a local leader.
Earlier, Askar received endorsements from U.S. Representative Gus Bilirakis, State Senator Kathleen Passidomo and Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
Other Republican candidates in the primary include Michael Carbonara, Michael Thompson, Herbert Wertheim and former state legislator Belinda Keiser.
On the Democratic side, Kaysia Earley and Pia Dandiya, a former high school principal and White House fellow, are running for the same seat after redistricting was approved by state lawmakers and signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The primary election will be held on August 18, with the general election scheduled for November 3.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s “Duval for All” campaign received a $150,000 contribution from Jaguars owner Shad Khan on June 23, one of the three largest donations to the committee. Khan has previously supported former Mayors Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry and hosted a fundraiser for Brown’s 2018 congressional bid. The stadium renovation deal that Deegan’s administration helped pass allocates the city’s share to a half‑cent sales tax extending through 2060. The campaign announced on Monday that it has $188,000 in hard money and a total of $2.6 million raised, with $2.4 million inclusive. Since filing for re‑election, the committee has raised $1 million. Deegan said the quick influx of funds shows resident support for maintaining momentum. The nine opponents have raised a total of $30,000, most of which has already been spent. Ronald Armstrong, a Republican candidate, has raised more than $26,000 but has $6,000 remaining. Independent candidate Brandon Enamorado has raised less than $4,000, with only $80 left. Qualifying takes place in January, and the primary election is scheduled for two months later, with a potential runoff in May if no candidate obtains a majority.
Donald Trump delivered a speech on Saturday night that referenced the astronomer Carl Sagan’s description of Earth as a small stage in a vast cosmos. He said he imagined himself the master of the universe rather than a temporary caretaker of the United States, which he noted was founded around the time of the first hot‑air balloon. Senior adviser Stephen Miller posted on social media that Trump’s presidency resulted from divine providence tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence. Trump addressed his ongoing legal matters, mentioned Iran, and cited the song “YMCA” while questioning the relevance of historic speeches such as the Gettysburg Address. The audience responded with mixed applause and silence, and commentators observed the combination of grand rhetoric with routine political grievances. The address concluded without a clear policy statement and left uncertainty about Trump’s future political direction.
St. Johns County Commissioners Sarah Arnold and Christian Whitehurst, political consultant Briana Jordan, and St. Augustine Beach Commissioner Dylan Rumrell have been charged in a criminal indictment alleging a conspiracy to distribute a fake voter guide that misrepresented the St. Johns Republican Executive Committee’s endorsement, according to the indictment filed in 2026. The alleged guide, which used the party’s branding without required disclosure, listed multiple candidates while omitting the name of the group that paid for it, the indictment says. The charges include conspiracy to create an unauthorized voter guide in violation of Florida Statutes 106.1436 and 777.04, a misdemeanor of the first degree punishable by a fine of up to $2,500 per month, and a conspiracy charge classified as a second-degree misdemeanor. Jordan also faces a count of tampering with evidence under Florida Statute 918.13, a third-degree felony if convicted. Arnold, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2021, was not on the ballot and is not seeking re‑election. Whitehurst defeated a party‑endorsed opponent in 2024 and will remain in office until 2028. Rumrell ran unopposed in 2024 and will serve until 2028. The legal team representing the accused officials declined to comment, stating they would have no further remarks at this time, according to Bachman Galnor Communications. Ann‑Marie Evans, who lost to Whitehurst in 2024, said she was “appalled and shocked” about the mailer, remarks made to First Coast News in 2022, and the party’s chair, Evan Power, said the state election crimes unit has handled the case and that the party takes its branding seriously. St. Johns County GOP Chair Denver Cook, traveling with his family, said he will comment when able, referencing remarks made to ABC News in 2024 that described the scheme as a “flagrant fraud on voters” the day before early voting. The case is being prosecuted in the 8th Circuit; the 7th and 4th circuits have recused themselves. Politicians facing criminal charges may be suspended at the Governor’s discretion, though no suspension has been announced. The matter remains unresolved.
Paul Renner, a former Florida House Speaker, faces a steep uphill battle in the August 18 Republican primary against Donalds, with polls showing Donalds leading by a large margin and Renner’s support at single‑digit percentages. Renner previously won a 2014 primary by two votes, later became Speaker and championed school‑choice expansion, tort reform and HB 3’s online‑safety provisions, and currently serves on the State University System board. The AIF Center for Political Strategy poll conducted in early June placed Donalds at 54 % and Renner at 2 %, while a January survey by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates showed Renner at 4 % and dropping to 1 % when voters were told of Donald Trump’s endorsement of Donalds. Campaign finance reports indicate Renner raised roughly $105,000 in April and May, compared with Donalds’s $81 million. Renner dismissed the AIF poll as “junk” and argued that internal numbers and a straw poll reflect genuine support, but fundraising and poll gaps suggest a disadvantaged position. Former Speaker Richard Corcoran, who opposed then‑Governor Ron DeSantis in 2018 before later endorsing him and securing a $1.3 million‑a‑year position at New College of Florida, is being urged to leverage his relationship with DeSantis to aid Renner. Corcoran’s experience demonstrates that an endorsement from a former rival can lead to state appointments and institutional influence; Renner could receive commitments that a Donalds administration defend HB 3 and preserve school‑choice policies, and secure a senior state role matching his record. The outcome of Renner’s primary bid will depend on whether he can convert his limited endorsement into tangible political capital before the August 18 primary, as the window for such influence is narrowing.
James Uthmeier and José Javier Rodríguez filed financial disclosures for the Florida Attorney General race covering the period ending June 26. Uthmeier’s campaign and political committees reported receipts of more than $10 million, while Rodríguez reported combined contributions of nearly $1.5 million. Uthmeier was appointed Attorney General by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024 after Ashley Moody was appointed to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat, which Rubio vacated before becoming Secretary of State under President Donald Trump. He previously served as DeSantis’s chief of staff before assuming the attorney general post and is seeking his first elected term. Rodríguez has served in the Florida Senate and House representing South Florida and was the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training in the Biden administration from 2024 to 2025. Financial records indicate that Uthmeier’s campaign committee, Friends of James Uthmeier, raised more than $8.85 million and his political committee added more than $1.32 million. Rodríguez’s campaign account received $694,000 directly, and his political committee, Floridians for JJR, collected nearly $776,000. A $28,000 contribution from the Southern Group of Florida lobbying firm was made to Uthmeier’s committee on June 16, and a $25,000 contribution from The Yerrid Law Firm of Tampa was made to Rodríguez’s committee on June 19. Both candidates submitted their latest disclosures covering the week of June 20‑26. Earlier in June, Republican Steven Leskovich and Democrat Jim Lewis missed the state qualification deadline of June 12, resulting in no primary election. The two candidates are scheduled to face each other in the November 3 general election.
E. Jean Carroll was awarded $5.8 million in damages after a New York jury concluded that Donald Trump sexually abused her in 1996 and defamed her in 2019 when she described the alleged assault. On July 4, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan denied Trump's request to postpone payment of the judgment, according to the court order. The judge ruled that the request was not appropriate.
President Donald Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange from the White House on Monday, marking the first trading day for the Trump children's investment accounts program.
The program, launched earlier this year, gives each child a $1,000 investment account.
Trump met with NYSE and Nasdaq executives in the Oval Office for a press conference, the first joint opening of the two exchanges and the first time the exchange bell has been rung at the White House.
The initiative provides each child a $1,000 investment account, and the administration said it supports early financial education; the ceremony ended without additional remarks.
An appeals court on Monday rejected Florida's constitutional challenge to the federal university accreditation system, upholding a 2024 lower‑court dismissal. The case, filed in 2023 by then‑U.S. Senator Ashley Moody on behalf of the DeSantis administration, argued that federal accreditation standards improperly delegate governmental authority. The 11th Circuit found that accreditors make private decisions and that the federal government separately determines eligibility for Title IV funding. The lawsuit stemmed from a long‑standing tension between the state and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges over political influence on public university governance. In 2021 the accreditor warned that then‑Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran’s dual role on the Board of Governors could conflict with accreditation standards. Florida responded in 2022 by enacting legislation requiring public universities to change accreditors each cycle and to conduct post‑tenure reviews of faculty. Federal officials later contested aspects of the law, leading to Moody’s suit. The decision leaves the accreditation framework unchanged and does not affect Title IV funding eligibility, while the state may pursue further legal options.
Danielle Cohen Higgins, a Miami‑Dade County Commissioner, launched a $5‑figure television and digital ad campaign this week to promote her bid for a second full term on the County Commission.
Higgins was appointed to the commission in December 2020 after the departure of former Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and won a full term in 2022 with 57 percent of the vote. The district she represents, District 8, includes Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Homestead and unincorporated areas such as Redlands, Naranja and Leisure City, and is characterized by a Democratic electorate and demographic diversity.
Higgins said the 30‑second spot features her speaking directly to voters about her record, stating that motherhood has shaped her commitment to fiscal accountability and community protection. She said, “Being a mother has taught me that you don’t get to cut corners with people’s futures. And that’s exactly how I’ve led,” adding that she has overseen tax‑dollar spending, opposed development on protected lands, and worked to hold accountable those who promised job creation. The campaign said the advertisement also received endorsements from labor groups including SEIU Florida, the South Florida AFCIO (which includes UNITE HERE! Local 355 and 32BJ SEIU) and AFSCME Florida, as well as public safety unions such as the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, Metro‑Dade Firefighters and the South Florida Council of Firefighters, and from Ruth’s List Florida, which supports Democratic women who back abortion rights. Higgins faces two Republican opponents, former Palmetto Bay Vice Mayor John DuBois and Martha “Vega” Hero, chief executive of National Community Services. Because County Commission races are technically nonpartisan, all candidates appear on the August 18 primary ballot, and a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote to win outright; otherwise, the top two advance to a runoff before the November 3 general election.
The ad buy reflects an intensified effort by Higgins to secure a second full term on the County Commission.
Marco Island City Council Vice Chair Rene Champagne endorsed Belinda Keiser in the Republican primary for Florida’s 22nd Congressional District. Keiser, a self-described America First conservative, is among seven Republicans seeking the open seat. Champagne, a retired Naval officer and former CEO of ITT Educational Services, previously led Colgate Palmolive’s respiratory care subsidiary and served as CEO of Respiratory Care Inc. He has also chaired the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation and the Marco Island Community Parks Foundation. “Belinda has dedicated her life to helping Floridians build successful careers, while creating jobs and strengthening communities across our state,” Champagne said. “She will no doubt bring that same tenacity to Washington representing our community of Marco Island.” Keiser responded, “I have great respect for his extensive, active involvement in his community and his military service. Just as he has become an important voice for residents, businesses and organizations on the island through the city council, I am committed to advocating for Marco Island’s interests in Washington as their next representative in Congress.” The district stretches from Marco Island in Southwest Florida to the Atlantic coast. The endorsement follows previous support from the Palm Beach Police Benevolent Association and U.S. Representatives Vern Buchanan, Aaron Bean, Neal Dunn, Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis. Democratic U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who had been mentioned as a potential candidate, chose to run in Florida’s 20th District instead, making the 22nd District an open race. Keiser has pledged to invest $1 million of her own money into the campaign. She currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Keiser University, a not‑for‑profit institution she helped expand to 18 campuses and more than 20,000 students, employing over 4,000 staff. The university reports an annual economic impact of $5.9 billion and 44,700 jobs in Florida. The new district voted for President Donald Trump with just under 55 percent in 2024 and for President Joe Biden with 51 percent in 2020. Keiser is also a Florida Presidential Elector for 2024 and a delegate to the 2024 Republican National Convention. Other Republican candidates include Casey Askar, David Burck, Michael Carbonara, Richard Evans, Terri Hasdorff and Michael Thompson. Democratic primary contenders are Pia Dandiya and Kaysia Earley.
The party colors red for Republicans and blue for Democrats are a relatively recent convention. In 1867 suffragists Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton used yellow, the color of the Kansas state flower, in their campaign for women’s voting rights. By the early 20th century, suffragists added white and purple, with white symbolizing purity, to their uniforms. The current color scheme did not become widespread until the 20th century and does not inherently reflect the ideological diversity of the parties’ supporters.