Vaughn Wicker

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3273   “Claim your child’s Trump account today.“ With the midterm elections days away, President Trump‘s IRS and the Social Security Administration have been emailing taxpayers urging them to sign their children up for new investment accounts. Republicans have decided on the title “President Donald J Trump‘s landmark Working Families Tax Cuts Law.“ It’s the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in actuality, the tax and spending law Trump signed in 2025. The Social Security Administration stated, “Nearly 70 million Trump accounts are open for all American children.”
 Both the Social Security administration and the IRS are run by Frank Bisignano. He was appointed head of IRS without being confirmed by Scott Bessent, the Secretary of Treasury. Democrats criticize Bisignano’s blatant partisan emails, full of praise for President Trump. The most recent email stated: “Your child’s Trump account may already have money invested in it through contributions from donors…however you must claim your child’s account to manage investments and receive contributions from family, friends and employers.” As of October 7, about $1.3 billion in $1000 deposits have been made, according to the White House. Just another vote-buying tactic right before voters go to the polls.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3272 “The White House cannot decide what information Americans receive by punishing critical reporting… the public loses access and gets something closer to government propaganda,” said Katie Fallow of Knight First Amendment Institute. Six named plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit in federal district court over Trump‘s continuing decisions to limit press access. The White House still bans CNN from Air Force One. Further legal actions have been threatened about that. In ever more unhinged rants during press questions, Trump recently verbally attacked a British reporter and prevented him from being the designated print pool representative, an act of “retaliation,“ the president of the White House Correspondents Association said. The White House is still threatening Politico.
 Just recently Trump mused on social media that he’s considering moving the press corp out of the White House altogether. Can anyone get through to Trump? He wrote his longest-ever social media post recently because he was upset over comments made by Bill Maher on his HBO show. This is what the president chooses to focus on with prices going ever upward and people getting ready to vote.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE   WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3271   In President Trump‘s first administration, his DC Hotel was the center for those trying to win favor with him by spending money there. All that’s changed this time is the location. Nearly $3 million has been spent at Trump‘s businesses, mostly in Palm Beach Florida, the center of spending.
 The Washington Post recently examined federal finance records, and found Republican campaigns and political action committees have poured money directly into the president’s pockets. Spending at Mar-a-Lago has more than tripled. Fundraisers, rooms, meals, and other expenses constitute the link between the Republican Party and the private businesses of this president. Lawmakers fly hundreds of miles from their own districts and Washington DC to spend money at properties Trump owns. It’s nearly the same amount that was spent at his hotel in his first term. This total doesn’t include any spending by dark-money groups.
 The largest spender is the RNC, then Trump‘s own super PAC MAGA, Inc., and the Republican Congressional Committee. Natalie Baldassarre, spokesperson for the RNC stated, “Our stakeholders love these venues.” Ever bigger scandals continue to compete for news headlines as the grifting continues, including his cryptocurrency schemes. Trump‘s income in 2025 was over $2.2 billion, according to OpenSecrets. It’s time for accountability.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3270   “The US will take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran.“ President Trump and Marco Rubio have made recent comments trying to drive turnout in Florida among Cuban-Americans. “Then we’re going to send Mark Rubio in to finish up the deal.“ The CIA has made social media posts too, “This is the moment to seize the opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA,” was the reply to one of Marco Rubio‘s tweets.    This administration has isolated the island by blockades and by indictments of the former president, Raúl Castro, and five others last May. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said recently, “We reject all threats regarding US ambitions towards Cuba.” Trump is only seeking to solidify his support among the powerful Cuban-American voting block in Florida days before the midterms, even as the cost of living is the number one concern for voters. At least 68% of Florida’s Cuban-Americans oppose Trump‘s mass deportation actions.
 If the current administration cared about Cuba, shouldn’t they be supporting economic assistance there? Will Florida voters see through the last-minute pleas by this president?

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    NOSOTROS, EL PUEBLO   Es la mayor vuelta por la derecha al Clean Air Act hecha por cualquier presidente. En el segundo mandato de Trump, ha dado un total de 202 de los peores contaminadores en 39 estados y Puerto Rico una exención para seguir envenenándonos. Algunos de sus favoritos son fabricantes de químicos, fundiciones de cobre y plantas eléctricas que queman carbón. Aproximadamente 3.3 millones de personas viven a menos de 3 millas de estas instalaciones.   Antes del regreso de Trump a la presidencia, las compañías químicas estaban perdiendo su pelea contra la EPA, pero a Trump le importa más las corporaciones y hacer dinero que la salud de los estadounidenses o del planeta. Trump nombró en la EPA a quienes actúan como el zorro en el gallinero, junto con todas las agencias que se supone nos deben proteger. Hacen lobby para las industrias que deberían regular. Recientemente se informó que ejecutivos de la industria proporcionaron la agenda para una reunión con el personal de la EPA y luego presidieron la reunión. Trump nominó a Aaron Czabo, un cabildero del poderoso grupo comercial AdvaMed, para dirigir la oficina de regulación del aire de la EPA.   The New York Times ha revisado más de 10,000 páginas de documentos del gobierno y habló con más de 70 personas, incluidos ex ejecutivos de la industria de la EPA. Los seguidores de Trump siguen citando amenazas a la seguridad nacional, lo cual es una falacia. Un ejemplo de un contaminante que causa cáncer es el óxido de etileno, un gas incoloro usado para fabricar botellas de plástico para refrescos y para esterilizar marcapasos, que según funcionarios de la administración Biden es de 30 a 60 veces más carcinógeno de lo que se pensaba. La administración Trump no pidió a las empresas que presentaran algún caso para los permisos que buscaban, todo lo que tenían que hacer era enviar un correo electrónico. No es coincidencia que estas industrias apoyaran la reelección de Trump y hayan donado a sus causas favoritas. Hasta que elijamos a quienes creen en la ciencia ética, nuestro gobierno seguirá fallándonos, debilitando cualquier protección basada en hechos. Por favor, #VoteBlue

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   It’s the biggest end run around the Clean Air Act by any president. In Trump‘s second term, he has given a total of 202 of the worst polluters in 39 states and Puerto Rico an exemption to continue to poison us. Chemical manufacturers, copper smelters, and coal burning power plants are some of his favorites. About 3.3 million people live within 3 miles of these facilities. 
Before Trump‘s return to office, chemical companies were losing their fight against the EPA— but Trump cares more for corporations and making money than the health of Americans or the planet. Trump appointed those to the EPA who are acting as the fox in the henhouse, along with every agency meant to protect us. They lobby for the industries they are meant to regulate. Most recently it was reported  industry executives provided the agenda for a meeting with EPA staff and then presided over the meeting. Trump nominated Aaron Czabo, a lobbyist for the powerful trade group AdvaMed to lead the EPA‘s air regulation office.
 The New York Times has reviewed over 10,000 pages of government documents and spoke to over 70 people, including former EPA industry executives. Trump enablers continue to cite threats to national security, a fallacy. One example of a cancer causing pollutant is ethylene oxide, a colorless gas used to make plastic soda bottles and to sterilize pacemakers—found by Biden administration officials to be 30 to 60 times as carcinogenic as previously thought. The Trump administration has not asked companies to present any case for the waivers they seek, all they had to do was send an email. It’s no coincidence that these industries backed Trump‘s reelection, and have donated to his pet causes. Until we elect those who believe in ethical science, our government will continue to fail us, weakening any protections based in fact. Please #VoteBlue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3265   “We will not allow disputed incidents to be exploited to demonize the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Jewish residents of Judea and Samara,” Prime Minister Netanyahu recently said. In his statement, he said the facts of the incident “remain unclear and are under investigation.“ What’s not in dispute are the injuries suffered by Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist who was severely beaten with rocks and sticks by Israeli settlers. The IDF stood by and fired teargas, refusing to intervene. She suffered lacerations across her body, a broken rib and four broken vertebrae. She will need surgery on one hand after a finger was ripped open exposing bone.
These Israeli settlers coordinated a massive attack—dozens of men attacked Palestinian villagers trying to gather olives from their trees. The settlers set the trees on fire and were slinging rocks at them.
 If the incident is as disputed as Netanyahu claims, where are reports or photos of Israeli injuries? The occupied West Bank has seen escalating violence, just ahead of the October elections there. Israeli settlers are reshaping the map, seizing more territory. It’s a coordinated effort between settlers and the highest levels of government, according to the Washington Post, while attention is diverted by the US-Israeli war against Iran. Between January and August there were 1600 settler attacks documented by the United Nations, an average of more than six a day since February 28 and the start of the Iran war. At least 76 Palestinians have been killed by gunfire from Israeli forces or settlers. It’s not only Netanyahu. It is the far right cabinet such as finance minister Smotrich and National Security minister Ben-Gvir. Israel wants to reestablish territory it occupied in the 1967 war. Many in the world see that land as illegally settled Palestinian land. Israel has increased settlements even in violation of Israeli law.
 At least 4300 Palestinians have been displaced this year. Israel wants to “bury the idea“ of Palestinian statehood. Groups of Palestinian militias are working alongside Israel, receiving weapons and funding, and attacking fellow Palestinians in their homes. These militias are made up of criminal gangs and want to decrease the ability of Hamas to stay in power, but are unlikely to ever replace Hamas. Israel’s motive is to destabilize them so the rest of the world blames Hamas. So much for any cease-fire agreement. Israel has never kept one.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3264   Missouri Republicans aren’t going to let 86 years of their nonpartisan system for electing judges get in the way of gerrymandering desires. Their own state Supreme Court overruled their recent attempts they want to give additional seats to Republicans. Some state lawmakers are calling to overturn their own system to choose top judges under what is known as the Missouri Plan. Missouri lawyers help choose a slate of three candidates—then the governor makes an appointment for the state Supreme Court, appeals court, and in some areas, the circuit courts. This became a model for many states around the country.    Conservative judge-maker Leonard Leo sees Missouri as a crucial battleground—he attempted to convince Governor Matt Blunt in 2007 to reject some Supreme Court candidates in an attempt to weaken the selection system. In 2012, the GOP put a proposed issue before the voters to give the governor more control. Voters rejected that idea. State Republican legislators have tried many things to wrench power of referendums away from the voters— redrawing a gerrymander mid-decade, then Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins attempted to ignore it when the Supreme Court ordered an older map restored, resulting in 14 Republican lawmakers calling to impeach the members of the court if they held Hoskins in contempt. Hoskins finally backed down.   Republicans have tried to weaken all the guardrails that could limit their power nationwide. North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York all have tried to enforce gerrymanders or take power away from Democrats. Republicans hold every statewide elective office, have supermajorities in both chambers, and six of the state’s congressional seats—but they still want more power. The voters keep rejecting their proposals at the ballot box, especially over use of the ballot initiative. Five of seven Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republican governors, even though some Republicans have called them liberal activists. Any changes to the Missouri plan ultimately will have to be approved by the voters.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE   WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3263   The Wesleyan Media Project has found over 220 videos full of “generated fakery,” videos often without any disclaimer that they were made with AI. Any election will result in a flood of ads but this time around, they are full of fakes— mostly tied to Republicans or Republican aligned Political Action Committees. Using AI has allowed some candidates to be placed alongside the most polarizing figures in politics, such as Hillary Clinton or AOC. One ad even showed Abdul El-Sayed laughing at cards that read ”Death to America,” and “celebrate 9/11.”
 The media group stated there is more reluctance for Democrats to use ads with AI since their voters are generally in favor of some kind of regulation. 30 states require disclosure that AI is used for these deepfakes in political ads. An ad that normally cost $2 million to produce traditionally only will cost $200,000 with AI. The overall problem with political advertising is the use of deception. Voters should carefully study what issues a candidate supports directly from their websites and take ads with a grain of salt.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3262   “My thought was they could keep it in their back pocket to invalidate any [election] results they don’t like,” one of the former officials said. “This goes against everything CISA represents.” First they cut the budget of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), then the Trump administration wants the results of hacking a voting machine sent to the White House? Why would the Trump administration do this?
 The Trump administration has undermined CISA, election officials across the country say. The Trump administration’s attacks have left them to solve security issues themselves with the midterms almost here. The employees of CISA have told administration officials that the task of hacking a machine wasn’t possible since Elon Musk‘s DOGE laid off the agency’s personnel who could’ve pulled that off. Isn’t this a very Russian technique? Create instability, then blame a problem on that instability? One third of CISA’s employees were laid off—over 1000 of them. The president’s 2027 budget proposal would reduce funding for another $700 million—that would result in 900 more layoffs. Trump himself signed the act in 2018.
 In 2025 through mid-September 2026, the preparations for this election have been nonexistent. Some state authorities said they no longer trusted the administration enough to share information with CISA. “They violated the entire premise of that information-sharing relationship,“ said one official. Machine vendors are coming up with contingency plans if the federal government seizes their machines or declares them unusable. Donald Trump losing the election in 2020 has been too much for his fragile ego to take. It was CISA and the FBI that convinced former Attorney General Bill Barr that there wasn’t any systemic fraud in 2020. By the way, what happened to the ballots Tulsi Gabbard seized from Fulton County, Georgia? Make sure you get out and vote. We need to restore integrity.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    NOSOTROS, EL PUEBLO   La frustración por la economía es el tema principal en las elecciones de mitad de mandato. Muchos estadounidenses, especialmente los de bajos ingresos, están muy ansiosos ya que la inflación y el aumento de los precios de la gasolina se ven influenciados por la guerra en curso en Irán. El 61 por ciento de los encuestados dijo que hay demasiada desigualdad de ingresos y el 24 por ciento siente que la economía necesita una revisión completa. 4 de cada 10 demócratas ahora dicen que ningún nivel de desigualdad es aceptable. La confianza en que el sistema económico pueda cambiarse eficazmente para abordar la desigualdad es baja. Republicanos y demócratas no están de acuerdo sobre las causas. Los republicanos atribuyen las causas a las elecciones personales, mientras que los demócratas más a menudo citan nuestro sistema tributario y la regulación insuficiente de las grandes corporaciones.   La mayoría de los estadounidenses piensa que el gobierno federal debería tener un papel importante en reducir la desigualdad económica, y que las personas ricas deberían tener mucha responsabilidad en disminuirla. Investigaciones de PEW han dicho que la economía es el tema principal en las elecciones intermedias para todos los votantes. #VoteBlue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   The frustration over the economy is the defining issue for the midterm elections. So many Americans, especially lower income individuals are very anxious as inflation and higher gasoline prices are influenced by the ongoing war in Iran. 61 percent of those surveyed have said there is too much income inequality and 24 percent feel the economy needs a complete overhaul. 4 of 10 Democrats now say no amount of inequality is acceptable. Confidence that the economic system can be effectively changed to address inequality is low. Republicans and Democrats disagree on the causes. Republicans will attribute the causes to personal choices, but Democrats most often will cite our tax system and insufficient regulation of major corporations.
 Most Americans think the federal government should play a large role in reducing economic inequality, and says wealthy people should have a lot of responsibility in reducing it. PEW research has said the economy is the top issue in the midterms for all voters. #VoteBlue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3257   Russia expects us all to believe it doesn’t deliberately target civilians when it bombs buses and apartment buildings in Ukraine. So are they saying they just have terrible aim then? President Trump says Russia wants peace. No, no they do not. President Putin just convinced Trump to fall for that fallacy.
 Recently in the city of Kramatorsk, 30 civilians were killed by bombs and just one day after that, 22 were killed at a residential apartment building in the north. President Zelenskyy is urging Trump to step up pressure on Russia, but Trump has clearly chosen a preference to align with the Russian dictator. How likely is a diesel deal going to happen by the way? Experts say there’s currently an export ban in place by Russia as they have no extra to spare. There’s no actual ceasefire by either side, either. While Ukraine is our ally, they’re increasingly asking for support from Europe since President Trump hasn’t renewed any military aid. The only shipments they are receiving were approved during Biden‘s time in office.
 If Democrats win the midterms, the pace of military aid to our true ally will once again resume. General Alexus Grynkewich, the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe, offered a warning during the most recent Warsaw Security Forum. NATO will be implementing its “theory of victory“ planned about three months ago, saying “any attack against an ally will end up utterly futile.“
 Let’s rejoin NATO officially by Voting Blue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3256   Do you remember when President Trump told the progressive caucus “Squad” to “go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came“? The Department of Justice used to avoid investigations of Congress members so close to an election, but this Department of Justice is full of personal lawyers for Donald Trump. The rule was 60 days, especially if the investigation could occur after an election with no harm done. The DHS claims they are investigating Representative Ilan Omar of Minnesota. Just 22 days or so before Election Day, a search warrant was executed for a long list of reported potential crimes. These include false statements, fraud, immigration paperwork, and a general conspiracy charge. Representative Omar made a statement calling the raid “an attempt to target political enemies, and weaponize federal law-enforcement…this is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” adding “I will not be silenced.”
Trump recently said, “she comes from a country that is a non-country,“ and “I think she’s a terrible person.“ 
MarkWayne Mullen, Secretary of Homeland Security says the end result could be deportation. Representative Omar was born in Mogadishu and after the civil war, her family came to the United States. They were admitted as refugees. She was vetted before she ran for Congress. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali diaspora in this country. In the last presidential election, Trump decried the 60-day rule when he accused the DOJ of acting improperly during his campaign. In that case it was in response to a court order, not subject to DOJ policy at all. The investigation against Rep Omar is based on an accusation that her late father either lied or omitted information as he sought legal status. Omar has had basic disagreements with Trump over foreign policy, national security, and immigration. She states Trump has tried to distract from his own legal challenges by attacking her.
 All Americans have a duty to call out President Trump’s bigoted attacks that have villainized an entire community of Muslims.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE   WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3255   The publication KFF and the AP conducted a poll of rural voters in August. The price of groceries, gasoline, and healthcare are the biggest areas of negative responses among those surveyed, including many Republicans. Rural voters, largely Republican, still support and approve of Donald Trump‘s job performance more than among the rest of US adults overall in separate polling. The results show that rural voters haven’t yet turned on Trump, while still believing he hasn’t delivered on his promises fully. Some are unsure whether they will even cast a vote for the midterms, which would benefit Democrats. Only about 4 in 10 rural voters approved of Trump‘s performance on the economy. These voters usually have lower wages than those who live in suburban and metro areas, and they’ve been hurting for decades. Only about 45 percent of these Republicans say Trump has made their local economies better off. Only 17 percent of voters said Trump‘s healthcare policies have had a positive impact, 41 percent say they’ve had no impact, and another 41 percent say they’ve had a negative impact.
 A year after Trump passed the “Rural Health Transformation Program” 8 in 10 voters in rural areas said they’d heard either a little or nothing at all about the health fund. One woman in Maine stated that hospitals are consolidating making it harder for her to see a specialist, now an hour away. Some hospitals there are closing their labor and delivery centers. About 8 in 10 Democratic voters trust the Democrats to address healthcare costs, while Republicans are more ambivalent. Republicans in rural areas are more likely to blame an imaginary “economic mess“ left behind by Democrats. Democrats have a chance to “show up and give a message that rural people might find appealing,” said Nicholas Jacobs, a political scientist at Colby College and a co-author of the book ‘The Rural Voter’. Democrats need to stay on this message.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3254   President Trump’s latest campaign promise is to claim there will be a big Iowa steel mill built, saying it is the “largest steel plant in American history“ and it’s a “done deal” about three weeks before the midterms, where Republicans are facing competitive races.
 But actually the deal is far from done. According to the Washington Sun, the company behind the project, Mesabi Metallics and its Indian parent company the Essar Group, did not own property in Lee County Iowa where the plant is proposed or even in the state anywhere. The Des Moines Register reported that residents were approached by the company in September about purchasing land. Mesabi Metallics is reporting however that it has “secured land in Iowa for the project“ but declined to disclose details. The Washington Sun was unable to find any property records.
 The timing of the announcement has raised eyebrows of both Republican and Democrat state lawmakers. The lawmakers were only told they were in competition with several other states, including Arkansas. The president told reporters September 28 that the investment would be $15 billion, create 6000 construction jobs and 1750 permanent jobs. Secretary of Commerce Lutnick says the president doesn’t bring people together unless it’s a done deal. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds republican after that called the state legislators back to the capital to consider major tax incentives for the company. Democrats were not able to get the company to guarantee the 6000 construction jobs would go to Iowa workers. The governor’s office did not respond with a comment. In 2016 the same company declared bankruptcy in Minnesota while trying to build an iron ore complex. The ore complex finally opened last week. 
 Iowa is ground zero for backlash over Trump’s tariff policies. The White House was quoted as saying the president has “a proven record of securing historic investments creating high-paying jobs and bringing manufacturing back to the United States.” According to Fortune and PBS NewsHour, total US manufacturing is still lower than it was in January 2025.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    NOSOTROS, EL PUEBLO   Los incendios, huracanes y tornados se han visto empeorados por el cambio climático. El cambio climático está añadiendo un gasto más al presupuesto de los propietarios de viviendas: el seguro de hogar. Los huracanes en Florida, las inundaciones en Carolina del Norte y las tormentas en Kansas se han sumado al debate sobre los costos antes de las elecciones intermedias. Florida tiene las tarifas de seguro de hogar más altas del país. Carolina del Norte está considerando una enmienda constitucional sobre los impuestos a la propiedad, y en Kansas la carrera por el Comisionado de Seguros se está calentando. Esto ha ayudado a convertir estados confiablemente republicanos en campos de batalla. También ha afectado la política en California. Desde 2021, las tarifas de los propietarios de viviendas han subido un 46 por ciento, casi el triple de la tasa de inflación. El 58 por ciento de los estadounidenses dijo que el aumento de los costos de seguros los haría más propensos a votar.   En otra encuesta, la gran mayoría de los encuestados quería que los funcionarios electos hicieran más para reducir las primas y responsabilizar más a las compañías. Muchos dijeron que tuvieron que posponer compras importantes o decisiones de vida debido a los aumentos de los seguros. Los 10 estados más caros para el seguro de hogar están en el centro del país, en corredores conocidos como el pasillo de tornados y el pasillo del granizo. La prima anual para una casa de $300,000 con un deducible de $1000 ahora es de $5289 en Kansas, un 84 por ciento más que el promedio nacional. California y Oklahoma están eligiendo nuevos comisionados de seguros. California elegirá entre dos demócratas: uno representa el área de los incendios del año pasado, mientras que el otro ha propuesto un plan estatal de desastre de pagador único inspirado en Nueva Zelanda. 1 de cada 7 propietarios de viviendas está optando por no tener seguro para poder pagar otras facturas.   Nuestra primera prioridad debe ser elegir personas que crean que el clima se ve afectado por nuestras acciones. Por favor, #VoteAzul.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   Fires, hurricanes and tornadoes have all been worsened by climate change. Climate change is adding another expense to homeowners’ budgets - homeowners’ insurance. Hurricanes in Florida, flooding in North Carolina and storms in Kansas have all become added to the debate over costs before the midterms. Florida has the highest home insurance rates in the country. North Carolina is weighing a constitutional amendment to property taxes, and in Kansas the race for Insurance Commissioner is heating up. This has helped to put reliably Republican states into the battlefield. It has affected politics in California as well. Since 2021 homeowner rates have risen 46 percent, nearly triple the rate of inflation. 58 percent of Americans said rising insurance costs would make them more likely to vote.
 In another poll, respondents overwhelmingly wanted elected officials to do more to reduce premiums and hold companies more accountable. Many stated they had to postpone major purchases or life decisions because of insurance spikes. The 10 most expensive states for home insurance are in the middle of the country, in corridors known as tornado alley and hail alley. The annual premium for a $300,000 house with a $1000 deductible is now $5289 in Kansas, 84 percent higher than the national average. California and Oklahoma are electing new insurance commissioners. California will choose between two Democrats - one representing the area of last year’s fires, while the other has proposed a single payer state-run disaster plan modeled after New Zealand. 1 in 7 homeowners are opting to go without insurance to pay other bills.
 Our first priority must be to elect people who believe the climate is affected by our actions. Please #VoteBlue.