Half of Young People Are Anxious About the Midterms

49%

A new Associated Press-NORC poll finds that more young people now say they are feeling anxious about the midterm elections, compared to July. Nearly half of young Americans ages 15 to 34 now say that they are anxious about the midterms, up from 36% in the earlier poll. The increase is most pronounced among young Democrats: 61% expressed anxiety compared with 39% in July.

Steyer to Back Gillum in Florida with $5 Million

$5 million

“Tom Steyer, the billionaire investor and Democratic activist, has directed his political operation to spend more than $5 million aiding Andrew Gillum’s campaign for governor of Florida, an enormous investment that will test whether fired-up Democratic voters can flip control of a state long dominated by Republicans,” the New York Times reports. “Mr. Steyer said in an interview that he would spend more money in Florida this fall than any other state. He endorsed Mr. Gillum in the Democratic primary, and hailed him as a model for the national Democratic Party.”

Democrats Have Narrow Leads in Florida

48% to 45%

A new NBC News/Marist poll in Florida finds Sen. Bill Nelson (D) just ahead of Gov. Rick Scott (R) in the U.S. Senate race, 48% to 45% among likely voters. In the race for governor, Andrew Gillum (D) is ahead of Ron DeSantis (R), 48% to 43%. Said pollster Lee Miringoff: “The political environment in Florida, overall, is tipping in the Democrats’ favor.”

Murkowski Warns GOP Ahead of Kananaugh Hearings

“We are now in a place where it’s not about whether or not Judge Kavanaugh is qualified. It is about whether or not a woman who has been a victim at some point in her life is to be believed.”

— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), offering a blunt warning: “Do not prejudge sexual assault allegations against the nominee that will be aired at an extraordinary public hearing on Thursday,” the New York Times reports.