Maddow Blog | Wednesday’s Campaign Round-Up, 2.26.25: Minnesota’s Tim Walz passes on Senate race

Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* In a bit of a surprise, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has decided not to launch a U.S. Senate campaign. The Democratic governor is still open, however, to running for a third term in 2026.

* In Florida, Rep. Byron Donalds made official what many already assumed: The Republican congressman is running for governor next year. Donalds formally announced his electoral plans during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity.

* In Maine, Democrat Sean Faircloth won a state Senate special election by more than 43 points. The Democratic presidential ticket carried the same district last fall by 23 points. There were similar results last week in Delaware into two special elections for the state Senate.

* As Republicans in the U.S. House move forward with a budget plan that would lead to Medicaid cuts, the House Majority PAC, a super PAC affiliated with the House Democratic leadership, is moving forward with an ad campaign targeting GOP lawmakers about the issue.

* In Kentucky, former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron used to work for Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell and has long seen the senator as a mentor. But now that Cameron is eyeing a Senate campaign of his own, he’s publicly criticizing McConnell and lavishing praise on Donald Trump.

* Speaking of the president, a group of conservative Trump critics wrapped up a three-day “Principles First Summit” over the weekend. The Associated Press reported that the event drew 1,200 attendees, though they left “without a clear roadmap to loosen Trump’s grip on the conservative movement and America’s national identity.”

* And to the extent that people might be interested in Mark Cuban’s possible electoral plans, the billionaire — who campaigned in support of the Democratic ticket last year — said late last week that he would not be a 2028 candidate. “Hell no. It’s not going to happen,” Cuban said.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com