The latest campaign roundup highlights a string of political moves: Sen. Cynthia Lummis announced she will not seek re-election, joining nine other senators who are retiring. Donald Trump endorsed Bruce Blakeman in New York and Mike Lindell in Minnesota’s GOP governor’s primary. Other developments include a contested endorsement list in a GOP Senate primary, a decisive Democratic win in a Kentucky special election, the DNC shelving its 2024 postmortem, George Conway filing to run for Congress, and the House Freedom Caucus re-electing Andy Harris as chair.
Campaign Round-Up — Dec. 22, 2025: Cynthia Lummis’ Exit, Trump Picks, and a Flurry of Primary Moves
Here’s the latest roundup of campaign and political developments from around the United States.
Senate Shake-Up: Lummis Joins Growing List Of Retirements
Sen. Cynthia Lummis announced she will not seek re-election in Wyoming next year, ending her congressional service after a single term. Her decision adds to a wave of departures: she is one of 10 incumbent senators who have said they will step down.
Trump Endorsements Reshape GOP Contests
After Rep. Elise Stefanik withdrew from New York's governor's race, former President Donald Trump swiftly endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who immediately became the leading Republican contender. In Minnesota, Trump also announced his backing of Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO, in that state's crowded GOP gubernatorial field.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis on Oct. 16, 2025 in the U.S. Capitol.(Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Primary Challenges And Endorsement Controversies
In North Carolina, many expected former RNC chair Michael Whatley to face no primary opposition in the U.S. Senate race. That changed when Michele Morrow, who ran last year for state superintendent, launched a primary challenge to Whatley. Meanwhile, Rep. Andy Barr publicized endorsements from more than 100 House colleagues for his Senate bid, but the list drew scrutiny after reports showed several names did not actually endorse him.
State-Level Upsets And Party Decisions
In Kentucky, Democrat Gary Clemons won a special state Senate election by about 47 percentage points in a district that Vice President Kamala Harris carried by roughly five points last year — a notably large margin. On the national party side, the Democratic National Committee announced it is shelving a planned post-2024 "autopsy" review, citing concerns the effort could become a distraction ahead of the 2026 cycle.
Notable Campaign Filings And Organizational Moves
Confirming weeks of speculation, attorney and prominent Trump critic George Conway filed Federal Election Commission paperwork to run as a Democrat for Congress in New York, joining a crowded field seeking to replace retiring Rep. Jerry Nadler. And on Capitol Hill, the House Freedom Caucus — which survived a turbulent year — re-elected Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland as its chairman.
Bottom line: The political landscape is shifting as incumbents exit, high-profile endorsements reshape primaries, and both national and local races show unexpected turns heading into the 2026 cycle.
