For the first time this year in my extensive polling, the newest survey out of Georgia shows a material rebound for President Donald Trump and for other Republicans as we head into the heart of election season. To be sure, serious hurdles remain, and the economic mood remains problematic. But after a drumbeat of steadily worsening polls for Trump and the GOP, this poll provides a glimmer of optimism and perhaps a roadmap, as well, for the way forward toward victory in the midterms. Trump’s job approval improves to a deficit of -8% net, with 45% approval and 53% disapproval, in a Georgia poll by Wick. While still underwater, that ratio is actually quite good compared to recent presidential job approval ratings. More importantly, it signals a materially positive move for Trump compared to my own recent polling. For context, my most recent polling of swing states showed Trump at -15% in Wisconsin in March, -16% in Arizona in April, and -22% in Michigan in May. For Georgia, neighboring North Carolina provides the best comparison state, which showed -14% approval for Trump in my last poll there. In addition to Trump’s improvement, the key statewide races in Georgia are tight and very winnable for the superb Republican nominees. Right now, outsider businessman and GOP nominee Rick Jackson holds a slight lead over Keisha Lance Bottoms for governor, 43.2% to 42.7%. Jackson ran a superb primary campaign and has the personal wealth to finance an equally impressive general election race. His Horatio Alger-like life story clearly inspires Georgians. Plus, once he exposes the soft-on-crime failures Bottoms made as mayor of Atlanta, this race should move into the GOP column. For the U.S. Senate, this poll should debunk the ridiculous Fox News outlier that claimed Democrat Jon Ossoff holds a commanding +13% lead over current Republican Rep. Mike Collins. Instead, my polling shows a tight race, just outside the margin of error, with Collins trailing by only 3.8%, 42.9% to 46.7%. Given the incumbency advantages for Ossoff and a massive campaign war chest, that closeness should indeed worry Democrats that this seat can be flipped to red. Ossoff has never been an ideological or stylistic fit to represent a swing state like Georgia, which still leans slightly to the right politically and culturally. For example, radical advocacy group ProgressivePunch grades Ossoff’s votes as more liberal than even Adam Schiff, the leftist senator from deeply blue California. So what explains this shift, this new possible reversal of fortune for Team Trump and the broader movement heading into November? It appears three factors are at work here: The Iran War (Mostly) Ends: This conflict has been very unpopular. In fact, dismay over the Middle East intervention has been steadily growing on the political Right across my polling. Concurrently, support for Israel drops like a rock. But with a tenuous peace now apparently at hand, oil markets careen lower in price. With gasoline prices at the pump well below the highs of just weeks ago, stressed consumers start to see better days ahead. The message to the White House and all GOP leaders: Get out of this war and focus at home! Patriotism Rebound: America 250 celebrations clearly lifted the national mood. Far away from the cynical coastal metropolises, Americans embraced this big birthday with gusto. Even in a divided political era, goodwill resonated and patriotism pervaded, at least among Republican and independent voters. The entire world coming to America for the World Cup and thoroughly marveling at the beauty and hospitality of this land also provided a big morale boost. Democrat Radicalism: Even though voters remain frustrated with the economy and largely blame Trump and the GOP, the alternative is worse in the minds of sensible citizens. The Democrat brand remains in collapse across my polling, and this was true even when Trump’s levels reached second-term lows. So, the Democrats remain unable to seize on political potential because their party is simply too beholden to extremists who openly embrace Marxism and blatantly hate America, white people, men, and Christians. The GOP is blessed with super-unlikable and unattractive opponents. So let this Georgia poll serve as a rallying point. The battle is still uphill to maintain the House of Representatives, but it is not out of reach for the patriotic populists. If peace persists and the focus returns to the pre-war trajectory of improving real wages and kitchen-table issues, then opportunity beckons. Let’s win. We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of the Daily Signal.

Democrat Senate candidate Graham Platner of Maine on Wednesday promised to formally withdraw from the race, after a string of controversies including an accusation of sexual assault plunged one of the most competitive races in the 2026 midterm elections into turmoil. The suspension by the former U.S. Marine, announced in a video posted on social media, is likely to complicate Democrats’ efforts to win control of the Senate in the Nov. 3 elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority. In the recorded video, Platner repeated his denial of the sexual assault accusation and said the effort to remove him from the ballot was fueled by his effectiveness in taking on the political establishment. “For the movement to continue, it can’t be me, and for that reason we are suspending campaign operations,” Platner said. “This is incredibly difficult, because I know that some will think it’s an admission of guilt, and it most certainly is not.” “I want to make clear, though, I intend to file my paperwork to withdraw,” he said. Platner has until July 13 to formally withdraw from the race, at which point the state party would have until July 27 to select another nominee to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican who has held the seat since 1997. Shortly before Platner posted his video, the Maine Democratic Party issued a statement confirming it would hold a nominating convention should he drop out. More than 100 state committee members of the Maine Democratic Party met on Wednesday and approved the proposal for a convention, party leaders said in a statement. Media reports said some 600 party members would participate. “Transparency is of the utmost importance,” they said. When Platner’s campaign was ascendant, the race in Maine had been widely considered one of the Democrats’ best opportunities to pick up a seat in Senate, highlighting the stakes in selecting his replacement. ‘McDreamy’ Says He Won’t Run Several potential replacement candidates are already drawing attention, although actor Patrick Dempsey said he would not seek the nomination. Dempsey, best known as Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on the television show “Grey’s Anatomy,” said in an op-ed published in the Portland Press Herald that he had considered seeking the job, but opted against it because “I believe I can contribute more effectively through the life I’ve already built.” Many Democrats had already questioned Platner’s fitness for office before Politico reported on Monday that a woman accused him of forcing her to have sex with him nearly ⁠five years ago. CNN followed with a report that the woman accused him of entering her home without permission and raping her while he was intoxicated. Platner flatly denied the allegations. On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that a former girlfriend of Platner’s said he repeatedly removed condoms during sex without her consent, an allegation that Platner’s campaign called “categorically false and politically motivated.” Democrat leaders and Sen. Bernie Sanders had called on Platner to withdraw from the race. Prominent members of Congress rescinded their endorsements of him and leaders of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said they would withhold funding from the race if Platner remained on the ballot. The departure may signal the end of Platner’s rapid political rise, as he tapped into a current of progressive politics by promoting a universal national healthcare system and working-class themes while directing criticism at billionaires and concentrated wealth. Platner has faced a series of other controversies, including offensive Reddit posts he apologized for and a now-covered tattoo that resembled a Nazi symbol. The Wall Street Journal reported that Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, had told the campaign her husband sent sexually explicit texts to several women early in their marriage. In a video message, Gertner said the two had a “great marriage.” Platner has acknowledged poor behavior in the past and asked for forgiveness, saying he struggled with alcohol abuse and mental health issues after military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Battle Over Replacment In the lead-up to Platner’s announcement on Wednesday, his campaign and Democratic Party leaders feuded publicly over the process to replace him. “Both the state and national parties cut our team, our volunteers and our vast networks of supporters out of the conversation completely,” Ben Chin, Platner’s campaign manager, said in a message to supporters. Maine Democratic Party Executive Director Devon Murphy-Anderson said the Platner campaign’s “false accusations” were a distraction from defeating Collins. “While we may be frustrated with Graham Platner’s continued efforts to manipulate this process, we are so thankful for his supporters and all of their efforts to defeat Susan Collins,” she said, calling them “a vital part of our party” who “deserve to participate in an open process to select Platner’s replacement.”  Reporting by Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan in Washington and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Will Duham and Edmund Klamann

Earlier this year, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the 2026 interim legislative charges, directing lawmakers to examine the exploitation of surrogacy and review the unethical and foreign interests operating within Texas’ surrogacy and fertility industries. On Wednesday, the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services heard testimony on foreign nationals contracting with Texas surrogates to have children.  The hearing comes as birth tourism has become a serious issue within the state, with some hospitals facing criticism for advertising birth services to foreign nationals seeking to give birth in the state. Mission Regional Medical Center, which was accused of advertising birth tourism services, is currently under investigation by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. During the hearing, Jennifer Lahl, founder of The Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, recommended lawmakers take action to halt international surrogacy arrangements. “My recommendations would be, close your borders, close all secure international surrogacy arrangements, whether they be commercial or altruistic,” Lahl said. The committee also heard testimony from Vanessa Sivadge, a pediatric nurse and president of Protecting Texas Children, who urged lawmakers to protect Texas women and children. “Today, many are becoming aware that our laws can be exploited by foreign nationals seeking to secure the rights and privileges of American citizenship through children in the United States,” Sivadge said. “While much attention has been given to birthright tourism, we cannot ignore the role that commercial surrogacy now plays in this growing industry.” Sivadge said the industry relies on recruiting vulnerable women to carry pregnancies for others by offering financial compensation that many find difficult to refuse. In Texas, a first-time surrogate can earn $50,000 to $65,000, with experienced surrogates earning between $70,000 to $90,000 or more. “In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Texas has an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that our laws protect vulnerable women from exploitation, safeguard the welfare of children, and prevent our state from becoming a destination for those seeking to exploit loopholes in our citizenship laws,” Sivadge said. Todd Bensman, a senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, told the Daily Signal the issue ultimately belongs before Congress, but said he supports Texas taking action as Congress likely won’t. “I would applaud Texas for blazing a path at this particular problem. It’s a unique grey area in the law,” Bensman said. Bensman said that if Congress won’t take it up, Texas should lead the way and prosecute birth tourism fraud. “I think that birth tourism, that’s fraud, that’s going to be criminal,” he said. “If they can find a criminal nexus to foreign nationals coming in and having babies in the state, filing state paperwork of different kinds to regularize the kid, making under-oath statements to police and hospitals and the state agencies, maybe there’s something there for the attorney general to investigate as a way forward,” he said. Ammon Blair, a senior fellow for the Secure and Sovereign Nation initiative at Texas Public Policy Foundation, also told the Daily Signal that lawmakers have several options to combat the issue. “I think there are several meaningful actions Texas lawmakers can take, but the first step is separating three issues that are often conflated: birthright citizenship, federal immigration admission and enforcement, and the commercial or organized infrastructure operating inside Texas that facilitates birth-tourism or foreign surrogacy schemes,” Blair said. The 90th Texas Legislative Session is scheduled to convene on Jan. 12, 2027.

The Maine Democratic Party is working “around the clock” to replace Graham Platner, but as the Democrat Senate nominee, he has leverage—and he’s using it. A civil war is brewing in Maine. As calls continue for Platner to step down, he has stayed silent and continues to deny multiple allegations of sexual assault. According to the state’s election law, if he withdraws from the race by Friday, the Maine Democratic Party can replace him with a candidate of its choice. On a private call with his staff Monday evening, after the most recent allegations were made public, Platner said he still has leverage to influence their decision. Democrat Senate Candidates across the country jumped ship last night after their leadership and Super PAC announced they were condemning Platner and “redirecting resources away from the Maine Senate race."The same party and PAC stood by him through countless allegations of… pic.twitter.com/1um5T9t1uy— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) July 7, 2026 A spokesperson for the local party says the process will be “open, inclusive, transparent, and fair,” and will ensure “the integrity of this process is just as inclusive as the outcome.” The state Democratic Party claims Platner is attempting to put his “thumb on the scale” of who will represent Democrats in November. However, voters chose Platner less than a month ago. The progressive candidate won more than 72% of the vote in the Democrat primary, forcing Gov. Janet Mills out of the race. In 2024, a different thumb was on the scale when the Democrat establishment removed President Joe Biden from the ticket and crowned Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee without a single primary vote. In a text blast to campaign volunteers, Platner’s campaign manager, Ben Chin, slammed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for planning a “potential nominating process behind closed doors.” NEW: Ben Chin, campaign manager for Graham Platner in #MESEN, blasted out a mass text Chin slams the Maine Dem Party for allowing the DSCC to send staffers to plan "a nominating process behind closed doors" It also includes a Survey Monkey link for feedback? pic.twitter.com/uFY0MgtSQ4— Ally Mutnick (@allymutnick) July 8, 2026 “Both the state and national parties cut our team, our volunteers, and our vast networks of supporters out of the conversation completely. We firmly believe that the supporters and volunteers who built this movement deserve to have a real role in any nomination process,” Chin wrote. It is now a fight between the Democrat establishment—the committee, which controls the nomination process—and Platner’s campaign, which gets to decide if he will exit the race. Potential Replacements Progressive Troy Jackson Former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, a friend and former supporter of Platner, is the most likely replacement. Following Platner’s most recent sexual assault allegation, Jackson called for Platner to step down. He said he is “very interested” in replacing Platner and would be “the best person” to do so. On Tuesday, Jackson filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to begin fundraising for a possible bid. However, he has not made a formal announcement. Last month, he finished last in the gubernatorial campaign. Unlike Platner, Jackson has an extensive career in politics, including nearly 20 years in Maine. Like Platner, he is among the more progressive options. Maine Democratic Party calls for Platner to drop out of the race so they can nominate a new candidate. Spox says Platner’s team is attempting to put their“thumb on the scale” of the new nomination. The party has reiterated Platner will have “no role” in determining the new…— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) July 8, 2026 Gov. Janet Mills Mills, 77, withdrew her nomination before the primary election last month. She represents the Democrat establishment but was pushed out by Platner’s success. This may be a chance for the committee to put her back in the race. Brewery Owner Dan Kleban Maine Beer Company co-founder Dan Kleban has thrown his hat back in the race, announcing his interest in the nomination if Platner drops out. He originally ran against Mills and Platner but quickly withdrew to support the governor in the primary. However, his statement announcing renewed interest sounded more like Platner’s than Mills’. “We’re all sick and tired of a system that’s been rigged by corporate interests, and we’ve had enough meddling from Washington establishment insiders and New York City consultants trying to dictate who represents us. It’s time for a new generation of leadership in Washington, one that’s not beholden to the establishment that has failed us time and time again,” he wrote. Nirav Shah Nirav Shah, a former Maine health official who led the state’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic, is well known and liked in the state and placed second in the gubernatorial campaign. In a statement released Tuesday, Shah laid out suggestions for Democrat candidates vying for the nomination. He suggested anyone running should agree to at least one televised debate and multiple town halls, which he plans to do. The Democratic Party has not responded to this suggestion. Secretary of State Shenna Bellows Shenna Bellows, the secretary of state, might have another chance to go up against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. In 2014, she lost decisively to Collins. Bellows also ran for governor but did not place well.

A conservative watchdog group has sued the Department of Homeland Security seeking data on the “actual” number of deportations of illegal immigrants. The Oversight Project filed two lawsuits this week in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia under the Freedom of Information Act, claiming that “inflated” deportation counts have enabled some Republicans to push softer immigration policies. “In order for deportation public policy choices to be appropriately informed, we need ACTUAL DEPORTATION DATA,” Jeff Clark, the vice president of litigation for the Oversight Project, posted on X Wednesday. In order for deportation public policy choices to be appropriately informed, we need ACTUAL DEPORTATION DATA.This why we brought two suits yesterday in order to get that information for the American people. https://t.co/w3c9MPPbPl pic.twitter.com/DiJwCjUIIn— Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) July 8, 2026 “This why [sic] we brought two suits yesterday in order to get that information for the American people,” added Clark, a former assistant attorney general and the former acting administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs during President Donald Trump’s first term. The Department of Homeland Security did not respond to an inquiry for this story by publication time. The Oversight Project notes that the Mass Deportation Coalition, of which it is a member organization, has also called for transparency. “Deportation numbers should be publicly available and accompanied with meaningful metrics and data to support them. It used to be this way and restoring transparency would build trust and excitement in the progress along the way,” Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, said in a public statement. It’s possible to surpass the deportations of President Dwight Eisenhower, Howell said. “With strong data, the public will be able to both understand what is happening and also what could be happening,” Howell added. “This is particularly important as we measure activity related to worksite enforcement, which is the key pillar of a mass deportation program and largely how President Eisenhower did it and why he still holds the record that I hope President Trump beats.” The Oversight Project is calling for the deportation numbers to be released with the same transparency and regularity that the government releases other numbers, such as the monthly jobs report. In May, the Oversight Project sent eight targeted public records requests to the agency and announced its “Two Commas Compliance Tracker,” aiming to update the tracker with accurate deportation numbers. The DHS did not respond to the requests, so the Oversight Project then filed two separate lawsuits to compel the department to produce the documents.  One of the lawsuits sought records to justify the Department of Homeland Security’s claim from January that more than 3 million illegal immigrants had left the United States—675,000 of them removed by DHS, and an estimated 2.2 million self-deporting. The Oversight Project contends its actions are backing up one of Trump’s core campaign promises to “carry out the largest deportation operation in American history.” The group also points to White House border czar Tom Homan telling the Washington Examiner in May 2026, “we need to be transparent, because my concern was if we’re not transparent, show the American people what we’re doing, who we’re arresting, then we’ll lose faith of the American people on immigration enforcement and historic level.” The Oversight Project contends the information should already be available, noting that Immigration and Customs Enforcement published a report covering deportations from fiscal years 2020 through 2024. Further, in the DHS budget request to Congress, the agency asserted it removed and returned 442,637 aliens in fiscal year 2025.