4 days after storm, large swath of Panhandle suffering

Crews with backhoes and other heavy equipment scooped up splintered boards, broken glass, chunks of asphalt and other debris in hurricane-flattened Mexico Beach on Sunday as the mayor held out hope for the 250 or so residents who may have tried to ride out the storm. The death toll from Michael's destructive march from Florida to Virginia stood at 17, with just one confirmed death so far in this Florida Panhandle town of about 1,000 people that took a direct hit from the hurricane and its 155 mph winds last week.

Gubernatorial candidates focus on investigations in latest debate

Democratic gubernatorial challenger JB Pritzker said that his Republican opponent is accountable for health problems that occurred in the Quincy Veterans' Home. In their last televised debate, held Oct. 11 in Quincy, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic challenger JB Pritzker both said their opponent is unfit for office and that a criminal investigation hangs over the other's campaign.

Elizabeth Warren builds expansive Democratic campaign effort…

Hamza Abdelgany, a Warren campaign staff member on the Democratic Outreach Team, works at his laptop at the campaign headquarters. Hamza Abdelgany, a Warren campaign staff member on the Democratic Outreach Team, works at his laptop at the campaign headquarters.

The Congressional Progressive Caucus is (still) awash in corporate money

The 78-member Congressional Progressive Caucus is meant to be the democracy-friendly, corporate-hostile wing of the Democratic Party, which is why the caucus announced a year ago that it would stop accepting corporate money -- but a year later, nearly every member is still accepting corporate money in their individual capacity. The CPC co-chair is Mark Pocan [D-WI], and it was he who announced the no-corporate-money policy, saying, ""If we are going to end the influence of corporations and special interests in government, we have to start by not relying on their support.

Voting access becomes flashpoint in midterms just weeks away from Election Day

Clashes over voting rights in two states this past week have renewed focus on the issue less than four weeks from the midterm elections. In Georgia, a coalition of civil rights groups is suing Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp after an Associated Press report found 53,000 people - nearly 70% of them black - had their registrations put on hold because minor mismatches on documents like their driver's licenses violate the state's new "exact match" requirement.

Health Care Budget Woes Await Minnesota’s Next Governor

In this Aug. 17, 2018 file photo, candidates for Minnesota governor, Democrat Tim Walz and Republican Jeff Johnson shake hands at the beginning of their first debate at Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minn. While Democrat Tim Walz pushes for a public health care option and Republican Jeff Johnson aims to pare back parts of the Affordable Care Act, Minnesota's next governor will face a basic math question next year: How will the state keep paying for its programs? On the first year of the job, Walz or Johnson and a new Legislature will consider the fate of a 2 percent tax on medical providers that expires at the end of the year.

Here are the special interests that have given the most to Robert Menendez

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez first ran for the U.S. House in 1992 and has been raising money for his campaigns ever since. He has brought in more than $50 million during that time, according to the Center for Responsive Politics , a Washington research group.

Groom’s body found after being swept away by floodwaters on Costa Rica honeymoon

The body of a newlywed was discovered in Costa Rica on Saturday, bringing to an end a short search for the groom after he was swept away by floodwaters on his honeymoon in Costa Rica earlier this week. Josh Byrne, a native of Hudson, Massachusetts, was married just last weekend to wife Bianca on a farm in New Hampshire, according to Boston ABC affiliate WCVB.

Border reforms a big issue in congressional races

President Donald Trump favors building a wall on the Mexican border and has cracked down severely on illegal immigration, but has yet to propose his own comprehensive plan. A one-page memo his administration sent to congressional Republicans in January proposes a wall, a 10- to 12-year path to citizenship for about 1.8 million illegal immigrants, allowing immigrants to bring with them only spouses and minor children and replacing the visa lottery system with one that chooses immigrants whose arrival suits the national interest.

How gender dynamics are playing a role in an all-female Senate race

Calls for politicians to "grow a pair of ovaries" and digs about how many shoes a candidate have might sound like lines out of "Mean Girls," but instead they're attack lines being used in one of the most hotly contested midterm Senate races. The gender dynamics at play in the Arizona Senate race may be surprising to some since the race is one of six this cycle that involve two female candidates, but it's the only one where the two women are facing off for an open seat rather than an incumbent fighting against a threat.

PHOTO: This July 16, 2014, file photo shows the U.S. Senate on Capitol Hill in Washington.

With just over three weeks remaining until November's midterm election s, it is becoming increasingly clear that both Washington and statehouses around the country could be in for major changes. No one race can tell the tale of this year's elections, but some common themes have emerged, including the backlash against President Donald Trump , the "pink wave" of female candidates running for office, a upswing in youth activism and engagement on key issues that could swing the balance of power, and an influx of veterans attempting to parlay their military experience into legislative roles.

Immigration ads spike as midterms loom

In one ad, a smiling toddler stacks toy blocks as an aspiring governor hovers behind her, shouting "Build the wall!" The Trump administration's sweeping efforts to crack down on immigration aren't on the ballot November 6. But in the leadup to a key election that will either reinforce the President's agenda or hinder it, the issue is playing a defining role. Candidates and committees have shelled out more than $150 million on campaign ads dealing with immigration so far this year, a major increase over recent election cycles.

Antifa, Patriot Prayer brawl leads to Portland assaults

Anger over a recent left-wing demonstration boiled over in Portland - propelling conservatives into downtown streets for a counter-protest march that soon devolved into scuffles, shouting and attacks. Yelling resounded off buildings, flash bangs blasted, the police loudspeaker crackled and the smell of pepper spray wafted through the air as the twilight march broke down into random street skirmishes by 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. Portland Police said they observed "assaultive" behavior and began clearing streets, at times putting their hands on journalists and bystanders in order to encourage compliance.

Tester goes on the attack in Montana US Senate race debate

In this Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018 file photo, Ranking Member Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. Political observers say a key factor in deciding the outcome of Montana's high-profile Senate race will be whether independent women who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 stick with the president and support Republican Senate candidate Matt Rosendale this year.

Tester goes on the attack in Montana US Senate race debate Source: AP

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester went on the attack Saturday against Republican candidate Matt Rosendale as the Montana Democrat fights to keep his seat in a tightening Senate race. He got personal during Saturday's debate in Bozeman by contrasting his own Montana roots with Rosendale: "Somebody who was born in Maryland, made millions of dollars developing property, bought a ranch in Montana, claims to be a rancher but has no cows," Tester said.

Beto O’Rourke sharpens Cruz critiques at McAllen rally

U.S. Rep.Joe Kennedy III embraces Democratic Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke during a campaign rally at the McAllen Convention Center on Saturday ,Oct. 13, 2018, in McAllen. McALLEN - Before Beto O'Rourke sharpened his critique of Ted Cruz at the least-intimate rally he has held in the Rio Grande Valley, a nurse handed the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate a light saber.

Trump targets three close Senate races in Western states swing

Donald Trump will campaign in three western states over the next week, going to the mat in a bid to maintain or possibly increase the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate in the Nov. 6 midterm elections. Trump's western swing will take him to Missoula, Mont., on Oct. 18; Mesa, Ariz., on Oct. 19; and Elko, Nev., on Oct. 20, White House officials said.