Special Elections: The Big Test for Trump and Musk

Tuesday's elections are a big deal. They will show how popular Trump's first few months in his second term really are. Plus, they'll test the power of his buddy, Elon Musk. Musk is the richest person in the world and is trying to shake up the US government. Two big races are happening in Florida. There are open seats in the sixth and first congressional districts. Mike Waltz left his seat for a job in Trump's cabinet, and Matt Gaetz stepped down to try for attorney general. Neither succeeded in their new roles. Right now, Republicans have a tiny lead in the House, 218 to 213. Four seats are empty, and Republicans are nervous. Last week, Trump pulled the nomination of Elise Stefanik for UN ambassador. This move shows that even marginal Republican districts might be in trouble. The sixth district, once held by Waltz, is in real danger. State senator Randy Fine is behind in fundraising compared to his Democratic opponent, Josh Weil. Trump held a phone rally for Fine, trying to boost his chances. But will it be enough? In the first district, Jimmy Patronis is running for Gaetz's old seat. Trump also held a rally for him. Patronis's opponent is Gay Valimont, who advocates for gun violence prevention.

There are two more open seats, one in Texas and one in Arizona. But the governors there aren't in a hurry to call special elections. In Texas, Republican governor Greg Abbott is slow to replace the late Democrat Sylvester Turner. In Arizona, Democrat Raul Grijalva died recently, and the seat remains vacant. Democrats are feeling good after a big win in Pennsylvania. James Malone won a state senate seat in a district that voted for Trump over Kamala Harris by a lot. This win shows that Democrats might be making a comeback. In Wisconsin, Musk's political influence is on the line. He's backing Republican Brad Schimel for the state supreme court. Schimel also has Trump's support. The court's balance is important for big cases on abortion, union rights, and election law. Crawford, Schimel's opponent, has a slight lead in the polls. She says Musk is trying to buy a seat on the court. Both parties are spending big money on this race. Democrats have spent about 32 million dollars, while Schimel has spent around 41 million dollars. Nationally, Democrats are still struggling. A recent poll shows only 29% of people view the party favorably. This is the lowest rating in over three decades. Most people want Democrats to oppose the Republican agenda instead of working together.

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