Democrats will hold their 2028 presidential primary elections beginning on January 22, 2028, with South Carolina as the first state, followed by Nevada on February 1, New Mexico on February 8, Michigan on February 15 and Virginia on February 22, after the Democratic National Committee approved the new calendar at its meeting in Texas. The revised schedule replaces Iowa with South Carolina as the leadoff state, aiming to give Black and Latino voters and union members greater influence early in the process. DNC Chairman Ken Martin said that winning the general election requires candidates to be battle‑tested across diverse communities, a point he made in an interview after the vote. Several potential candidates have already visited South Carolina, and the new order obliges campaigns to build support in states where Black voters comprise a large portion of the electorate, where Latino voters are a key demographic, and where union households are influential. The six early states together represent 43 electoral college votes, a meaningful portion of the 270 needed for a presidential victory. While South Carolina has not been a swing state in recent general elections, the other five states have been competitive in the past, meaning candidates will need to invest time and money early. Campaigns are also looking to organized labor for voter outreach and turnout efforts.

Former U.S. Representative Dan Webster's retirement has attracted a large Republican primary field in Florida's 11th congressional district, with businessman Joe Strada spending $5.24 million in candidate loans and contributions. State Representative Carey Baker, former state Senator Nizam Razack, and business owner Tim Wilkins also entered the race, each self‑funding portions of their campaigns. The pre‑primary financial reports, filed by July 29, show Strada with $2.2 million remaining in cash and $3 million spent, while Razack had $164,000 on hand and Wilkins $236,000 in loans after spending $205,000. Baker reported $21,506 remaining after spending $282,000. Strada secured endorsements from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Attorney General James Uthmeier, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan. He said that Washington is full of career politicians seeking government jobs and that the people of District 11 deserve someone with real‑world experience to provide solutions. Razack, a Muslim physician and law professor, reported receiving death threats and emphasized his small‑business employment and high operating costs. Wilkins, a former Marine and comedian, highlighted his management experience and service in the armed forces. The Democratic primary features candidate James Pericola, who has raised $120,000 mainly from loans and spent $88,000, and engineer Dan Williams, who has not filed financial reports. Polymarket prediction markets list Strada as the favorite and Baker as second. The Republican primary winner will advance to the general election, where Pericola has indicated a close race with Strada, though national Democrats have not targeted the contest.

Four candidates—two Democrats and two Republicans—are competing in the primary election on August 18 for the House District 102 seat in Florida, which was held by Democratic Rep. Michael Gottlieb, who won 53.6% of the vote in 2024. The district includes parts of Broward County such as Davie, Plantation and Sunrise. Democratic candidate Jayden D’Onofrio, 21, founded and chairs the Florida Future Leaders PAC, which raised over $1 million for Democratic candidates during the 2024 cycle. His campaign focuses on affordability, education rankings and concerns about corruption in state government. Mike Friend, 50, a dentist from Davie, has highlighted his healthcare experience and involvement with the Florida Dental Association, reporting $109,000 in contributions and $50,000 in loans through July 31, with $75,000 spent. D’Onofrio’s campaign reported $68,000 raised, $25,000 in loans and $73,000 spent, with $45,000 cash on hand from his PAC at the end of July. Republican candidate Mery Lopez‑Palma, 56, a Cuban‑born lawyer who built a law firm and other businesses, reported $48,700 in contributions and $59,000 in loans, with $95,000 spent, and has secured endorsements from several local mayors. Republican candidate Jason Smith, 45, a former Cooper City commissioner and EMT, emphasized public safety, affordability and quality‑of‑life issues; his campaign raised $45,000 and spent $40,000. Friend has obtained the incumbent’s endorsement and support from numerous elected officials, the South Florida Sun‑Sentinel, and industry groups representing bankers, homebuilders, realtors, dentists and medical professionals. D’Onofrio has received endorsements from progressive organizations such as the Latino Victory Fund, Run for Something and the SAVE Action PAC. Smith has earned the Sun‑Sentinel’s endorsement, while Lopez‑Palma has gathered support from local mayors. Primary Election Day is August 18. The primary winner will advance to the general election in November to compete for the seat.

ICE plans to purchase $20 million of electric shock gloves from Compliant Technologies, with delivery expected by the end of March 2027, and the devices will be issued to Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations officers.

The gloves, called the GLOVE (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter), are padded utility gloves that deliver an electric shock when a button on the wrist is pressed. They have been used by police departments, sheriffs, jail wardens, and school resource officers, and human rights organizations such as Amnesty International have said the devices can be misused for torture.

The Cape Girardeau Police Department in Missouri bought the gloves in 2022 after a trade show; officials said the gloves reduce visible marks and potential lawsuits. The manufacturer initially described the product as a weapon on social media but later rebranded it as a “Conductive Distraction and De‑escalation device” and marketed it as humane. A user manual warns that the shocks can raise blood pressure and alter heart rhythm and advises avoiding use on people with certain health conditions. Some departments have issued guidance limiting use on pregnant women, the elderly, or individuals in shackles.

A pending wrongful death lawsuit alleges that a 43‑year‑old man died after corrections officers shocked him 27 times with the gloves and 13 times with a Taser, with two shocks lasting 45 and 99 seconds, exceeding the manufacturer’s 15‑second recommendation. Additional lawsuits have been filed by individuals who say they were shocked at trade shows or in jails.

An ICE spokesperson said officers receive de‑escalation training and that the gloves will be provided to HSI and ERO personnel. Compliant Technologies did not respond to a request for comment. Jeff Niklaus, the company’s founder, has described his motivation in terms that reference personal military experience and political beliefs, but the article notes those statements without independent verification.

The procurement is slated for completion by March 2027, and the effect of the gloves on law enforcement practices remains to be seen.

Skidaway Island, Georgia, now hosts a high‑value residential community; the land was originally part of a 40‑acre tract granted to freedmen in 1865, later reclaimed by the federal government and returned to former slaveholders, and recent research shows dozens of freed individuals lost title to parcels now valued at millions. In 1865, the federal government allocated 40 acres on the island to freedmen, who established farms, created local governance, and cultivated former cotton plantations, producing a rare Black agricultural community during Reconstruction. A two‑and‑a‑half‑year investigation by the Center for Public Integrity uncovered records indicating that dozens of freed people held titles to land now included in The Landings development, valued at approximately $20 million per acre. Linda Brown, a Black resident of The Landings, said the loss of those titles “you could feel chills to know that they had it and then they just pulled the rug from under them.” The investigation also examined a descendant’s title for a plot now part of the residential community and noted that such Reconstruction‑era documents are part of ongoing reparations discussions. The original podcast episode aired in June 2024; this update expands on those findings. The findings highlight the persistence of historic land claims in contemporary property disputes and underscore the relevance of Reconstruction‑era titles to current reparations debates.

Two nonpartisan Clearwater City Council races will appear on the ballot Tuesday, open to all voters regardless of party registration. The contest for Seat 4 replaces term‑limited Council Member David Allbritton, while Seat 5 replaces outgoing Member Lina Teixeira.

In the Seat 4 race, Bianca Latvala, a Republican political strategist and spouse of Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala, competes against freelance journalist Jared Leone, who previously ran for council in 2022. Latvala has raised nearly $60,000 for her campaign and received GOP establishment support. Leone has raised about $70,000 for his political committee and just under $13,000 for his campaign, giving him roughly $83,000 total, compared with Latvala’s $79,000. Leone’s political committee received support from Christian Ulvert, a Democratic strategist, and drew contributions from Citizens for Law Order and Ethics, a committee chaired by Rick Asnani, and from Floridians for Economic Leadership.

Latvala has also served on boards for the Rotary Club of Clearwater, the PACE Center for Girls, and the Lyla Goode Foundation, and she chairs the City of Clearwater’s Community Resiliency and Leisure Services Advisory Board.

In the Seat 5 race, Mark Bunker, who was previously unseated from the council, runs against Kevin Laughlin and Sam Wilson. Bunker has raised just over $9,000, while Laughlin has raised more than $12,000 and Wilson has accumulated about $63,000 through his campaign and an affiliated political committee. Wilson, a Republican who previously worked for U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna, has received contributions from Joseph C. White and Teresa Lee, each $5,000, as well as $2,500 from the Building a Better Florida Political Committee and $1,000 from Friends of Nick DiCeglie. Laughlin, who owns Breezeworks Services and chairs the Clearwater Marine Advisory Board, has received endorsements from the Florida NOW PAC and the Sierra Club.

Bunker has also been a vocal critic of the Church of Scientology and was supported by actress Leah Remini in 2020. He is currently facing a small‑claims lawsuit filed by Capital One alleging unpaid credit‑card debt of more than $6,000, and he filed for personal bankruptcy in 2018 after a heart surgery.

Early voting in Pinellas County is underway and will continue through Sunday, with polls open on election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.