Morning all. Had my monthly get together with Stuart Stevens of Lincoln Square yesterday and like they usually are this one was a lively conversation. It turned out to be a really good recap of where things stand as we head into a quiet August period.
During our conversation we touch on the topics I’ve been focusing on in my writing this past week:
How Trump’s failed war and his “more for me and less for all of you” economic strategy has caused the American people to turn on him/the Republicans and to put their faith in us to lead again
How with election slipping away from them we must be prepared for Trump, Blanche and Congressional Rs to do whatever it takes to keep themselves in power next January
Get to it when you can. I always learn when I spend time with Stuart and promise you will too….
Incredibly, we hit our $100,000 by August 10th fundraising goal for Troy Jackson last night! Thank you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Be sure to catch my new interview with Maine Democratic Party Chair Charlie Dingman who recaps their dramatic, successful effort to pick a new Senate nominee and offers an overview of the political landscape in Maine as we head into the general. This community has really rallied for Maine Democrats - thank you all. It has been some of our most important work this cycle.
Yes, they somehow squeezed the big blubbery baby man into a food cart in Turkey:
The just released Economist/YouGov weekly tracking poll has Trump all the way down to 33% and 18%-71% with independents!
Today’s FiftyPlusOne’s Senate forecast has us with a 55% chance of taking back the Senate:
And an 89% chance of winning the House:
In his latest podcast Greg Sargent sits down with Shirpal Shaw who overseas ad expenditures for the House Dem SuperPAC, The House Majority PAC. It’s a good overview of how House Dems see the current battlefield. Encouragingly, Shirpal tells Greg that in there polling they lead in enough seats for the House to flip.
I am traveling today to Austin, Texas where I will be attending and speaking to the last gathering of the State Democratic Party Chairs of the 2026 election cycle. I'll be reporting in from the meeting in the coming days but as I’m traveling today a slightly skinnier than usual morning Hopium post…….
Let’s close out by checking with our new, daily Hopium mantra:
There is nothing Trump and MAGA wants more than for us to be fighting with each other and not with him. We have one job now - elect as many of these wonderful candidates running for the House and Senate as we can. It’s where our focus must be. It’s a year of opportunity for us across the country. We must seize it, together.
and yes, friends, it is that time again…..
Time To Go Win These Midterms People!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Winning The House and Senate In 2026
Our Winning The House Campaign - $1,067,100 raised, $1,250,000 goal (new stretch goal) - Donate | Donate to all twelve of our initial wave of House challengers with a single contribution split twelve ways | Get to know Jamie Ager (NC-11), Christina Bohannan (IA-01), Paige Cognetti (PA-08), Rebecca Cooke (WI-03), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Sean McCann (MI-04), Jo Mendoza (AZ-06), Chaz Molder (TN-05), Jonathan Nez (AZ-02), Janelle Stelson (PA-10), Shannon Taylor (VA-01), and Sarah Trone Garriott (IA-03) by watching our recently recorded Hopium interviews.
Friends, if these twelve courageous candidates win, the House will flip, even with Callais and their rancid mid-decade redistricting. So eyes on the prize here everyone!
Winning The House - The Second Wave Fund - $274,700 raised, $500,000 goal - Donate | We’ve launched a second House fund, one supporting candidates who’ve emerged from late, recent primaries and need a bit more help.
Our newly expanded list now features Rebecca Bennett (NJ-07), Bob Brooks (PA-07), Cait Conley (NY-17), Johnny Garcia (TX-35), Bob Harvie (PA-01), Dr. Richard Pan (CA-06), Denise Powell (NE-02), Bobby Pulido (TX-15), Manny Rutinel (CO-8), Dr. Amish Shah (AZ-01), Randy Villegas (CA-22), and Marni von Wilpert (CA-48).
A donation to the Second Wave Fund is split evenly among these twelve, and more as other worthy candidates emerge from their primaries. Our total above includes money we’ve raised for directly for each candidate. You can watch interviews with those who’ve interviewed so far here.
Winning The Senate - $676,100 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a single donation to our six candidates must likely to flip a Senate seat this November - Sherrod Brown (OH), Roy Cooper (NC), Troy Jackson (ME), Mary Peltola (AK), James Talarico (TX), and Josh Turek (IA).
Our working total includes what we’ve raised for these six so far through direct donations to their campaigns. You can watch our interviews with each of these great candidates and/or contribute directly to any of them directly here.
Expanding The Map - Investing And Winning In Key Battleground And Expansion States
Winning Georgia - $30,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | This new fund splits a contribution three ways among Senator Jon Ossoff, gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms, and the Georgia Democratic Party
Winning Iowa - $32,300 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our Winning Iowa fund splits a contribution three ways - to Josh Turek for Senate, to our gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand, and to the Iowa Democratic Party
Winning Maine - $80,3500 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our Winning Maine fund splits a contribution evenly among Troy Jackson for Senate, Hannah Pingree for Governor, and the Maine Democratic Party and its Chair Charlie Dingman
Winning Ohio - $188,100 raised, $250,000 goal - Donate | Our campaign splits contributions evenly among Sherrod Brown, the Acton-Pepper ticket, and the Ohio Democratic Party and its terrific Chair, Kathleen Clyde
Hopium’s Audacious Expansion Fund - $647,600 raised, $1,000,000 goal - Donate | Join our campaign that has helped expand our map by investing in the Democratic Parties of Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Maine, and Texas, all now central battlegrounds in the 2026 election | Contribute to all five state parties with one contribution split evenly among these five critical battlegrounds | Catch interviews with the five intrepid state chairs leading their troops into battle this year - will get you fired up!
A Few More Things To Do
Let’s work to make sure everyone you know is Voting Early this year. Learn more about how our political battlefield is changing and how we can best protect our elections this November and ensure a peaceful transfer of power in January. Bring our Resolutions Project to your community. Fight for Hopium’s Agenda and let’s also embrace Leader Jeffries’ new agenda, “Fighting For An Affordable America.” Become a paid subscriber to Hopium to help us grow this community of proud, plucky patriots.
In the spirit if informing and not inflaming I’ve set up a new page to help us learn more about the Democratic Socialists Of America (DSA). Additionally, my friend Halie Soifer, the very capable CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, has written a very thoughtful piece with recommendations for how Abdul El-Sayed can address the very real concerns about his candidacy in the Jewish community.
Please use the paid subscriber chat to self-report the good trouble you make each day.
Keep working hard everyone. We have a country to save, and elections to win, together! - Simon
