On Politics

Mon Oct 21 2024

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Hello! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY. On Politics editor Marina Pitofsky is assisting me with today's edition. Everyone say: "Thank you, Marina!"

We're 15 days out from Election Day. Republican Donald Trump is making several stops in North Carolina today, including dropping by the Asheville area to visit damage from Hurricane Helene. Democrat Kamala Harris kicks off a three-state swing in key suburban counties in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Follow along here for today's updates on the election.

Will lawmakers and congressional candidates commit to upholding the 2024 results? We asked

Four years ago, Donald Trump sowed (unfounded) doubt in the 2020 election results. Now in this election cycle, nearly half of the country's Republicans and a quarter of Democrats are questioning whether next month's presidential election will be fair. My colleague (and former On Politics writer!) Sudiksha Kochi surveyed 382 members of the House and 91 Senators who are either running for re-election or would still be in office in January, asking whether they would uphold the 2024 presidential election results, regardless of the winner. Read more.

Sudiksha, and our graphics team, also broke down the survey question and responses here from all the lawmakers and congressional candidates. USA TODAY also polled 747 candidates running for the House and Senate whose names are on the ballot this year.

A politics pit stop

•	Donald Trump visits Pennsylvania McDonald's, alleges without evidence Kamala Harris lied about college work
•	Is Election Day a federal holiday? What to know before decision day 2024.
•	Trump extends betting lead amid interview cancellations and Democrats questioning his age
•	The quiet power of third-party candidates. Here's the role they play in the pivotal 2024 election.
•	Elon Musk's pledge for daily $1 million giveaways draw legal questions

The role Black women play in politics

It's no secret: Black women have played a critical role in protecting voting rights and getting their communities to hit the polls. Black women helped catapult President Joe Biden to the White House. And they will play a critical role again this election cycle, especially with a Black woman – Kamala Harris – at the top of the ticket. My colleague, Deborah Berry, has a three-part series showcasing the impact of Black women on the elections. Two of the three stories have been published.

•	Reporting from Atlanta: Inside three generations of women's quest to protect the vote
•	There have only been three Black women to serve in the Senate. These two candidates hope they can make it five

Poll: Harris and Trump are tied

With roughly two weeks left until Election Day, Harris and Trump are basically tied, 45% to 44%, according to a new USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll. And the two candidates are scrambling to win over two coveted voting blocs: Latino and Black voters. Read more.