This round-up highlights key campaign developments from Jan. 21, 2026: Rep. Julia Letlow, backed by Donald Trump, entered the Louisiana Senate race to challenge Sen. Bill Cassidy. Elon Musk donated $10 million to a super PAC supporting Nate Morris in Kentucky’s Senate primary. The Senate Leadership Fund plans to spend $42 million to bolster Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, while Michele Tafoya launched a GOP Senate bid in Minnesota. Maryland’s proposed map would give Democrats all eight districts, and Larry Hogan said he won’t run in 2026.
Campaign Round-Up — Jan. 21, 2026: Letlow Enters Louisiana Senate Race as Musk Backs Morris
Today's campaign round-up highlights the biggest moves and money flows shaping U.S. Senate and congressional contests across the country.
Louisiana
Rep. Julia Letlow, with public encouragement from former President Donald Trump, announced a bid for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana, setting up a high-profile Republican primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy. Cassidy responded that he intends to remain in the race and expects to “win re-election,” though several GOP colleagues have expressed a more cautious view of his prospects.
Kentucky
In Kentucky's Republican U.S. Senate primary, entrepreneur Nate Morris received a major infusion when Elon Musk donated $10 million to a super PAC supporting his campaign. Morris is competing for the GOP nomination against Rep. Andy Barr and former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
Rep. Julia Letlow on Jan. 20, 2022 in the Capitol Visitor Center.(Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Maine
The size of GOP spending around Sen. Susan Collins is drawing attention: the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with Senate Republican leadership, announced plans to spend roughly $42 million to support her re-election bid — a level of investment that signals concern among party strategists about the competitiveness of her race.
Minnesota
Retired sportscaster Michele Tafoya launched a Republican U.S. Senate campaign in Minnesota this week. Tafoya has no prior government experience; she served as co-chair of Kendall Qualls' unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial campaign in 2022.
Maryland
The Maryland Redistricting Commission released a proposed congressional map that would give Democrats control of all eight of the state's districts. The plan faces pushback from state Senate President Bill Ferguson and remains politically contested.
Other Developments
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who ran an unsuccessful Senate campaign in 2024, announced he will not seek any office in 2026. In Virginia, Democrats scored another special-election win: Garrett McGuire is set to replace Del. Mark Sickles, who is departing to serve as Governor Abigail Spanberger’s finance secretary.
These developments underscore how endorsements, major donations and redistricting are already shaping the 2026 map and the GOP primary landscape.
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