With the last House race of the 2024 election cycle finally being called in California, politicos are already beginning to turn their attention to the 2025-26 election cycle, and the Governor’s races look particularly interesting.

With more 2024 election numbers becoming final and certified, we can begin to see that interesting patterns are developing, some of which were pervasive.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) did not close the door on a 2026 challenge to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) when asked about the possibility late last week, but other comments and circumstances suggest that she is unlikely to launch such a campaign.

Check out these political snippets on congressional and gubernatorial races from around the country. 

Rumors abound in California that key Kamala Harris supporters will attempt to convince her to run for Governor in 2026 when the seat next comes open. Incumbent Gavin Newsom (D), a Harris political ally, is ineligible to seek a third term.

Though several media outlets have called the Pennsylvania Senate race for Republican David McCormick (R) over three-term Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. (D), the Secretary of the Commonwealth made an announcement yesterday that will continue political overtime until possibly the end of November.

The projected US House victories of Arizona Rep. Juan Ciscomani* (R-Tucson) and California Rep. Ken Calvert* (R-Corona), along with GOP challenger Gabe Evans* defeating Colorado Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-Thurston) has clinched 219 Republican seats in the new House of Representatives, one more than the bare majority.

Check out these political snippets on the presidential and congressional races from around the country. 

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Protect Construction from OSHA’s One-Size-Fits-All Heat Rule 

THE LATEST: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is trying to arbitrarily adopt a one-size-fits-all national heat standard that’s triggered when the heat index exceeds 80°F as part of its new Heat Safety Rule.

Using a one-size-fits-all heat standard creates impractical requirements and leaves employers vulnerable to citations and penalties. 

AGC has been advocating on this issue for years and was successful in keeping out of the proposed rule a rigid acclimatization scheduling requirement for new and returning workers after being away from the job for a period of time, to get acclimated to the work environment. However, there is more work to be done, and we need your help. Tell OSHA its final rule must recognize regional differences in climate and account for workers’ behavior and individual health conditions that could put construction employers at increased risk. 

WHAT TO DO: It takes less than 45 seconds to send our prewritten message telling the White House, OSHA, and Congress to ensure flexibility with the final rule! You can also add your own personal comments about what your company is already doing to ensure the safety of your workers in warm temperatures. 

WHY IT MATTERS: In August, OSHA released a proposed rule that would require employers to evaluate their workplaces and implement new controls to mitigate exposure to heat through engineering and administrative controls, training, effective communication, and other measures. The proposed rule includes an initial heat trigger of 80°F and then a high heat trigger of 90°F. 

This OSHA one-size-fits-all national heat standard: 

• Ignores critical regional climate differences and individual factors like medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle behaviors; 

• Fails to outline clear enforcement guidelines which heightens the risk of inconsistent application and increased liability for employers; and 

• Does not account for certain types of construction or for certain situations – like concrete pours or critical lifts with cranes or emergency road repairs after a hurricane. 

The bottom line is that the construction industry already employs proven heat safety practices like water, rest, shade, and training, which this rule threatens to overcomplicate. 

THE DETAILS: Provisions included in the proposed rule simply codify heat safety practices the construction industry already uses – water, rest, shade, and training. But it goes much further: The proposed rule includes an initial heat trigger of 80°F and then a high heat trigger of 90°F. Each threshold imposes additional requirements. 

The current proposal is a nationwide standard, and OSHA has not addressed the disparate impacts of heat in various parts of the country. A 90°F day in Mississippi affects worker safety differently than in Alaska. 

The rule also overlooks individual factors like medical conditions, medications, and lifestyle behaviors that can make some workers more vulnerable to heat illness—risks employers may be unaware of but could still be held liable for under this rule.

Republicans secure White House, Senate, likely retain slim House majority, reshaping the U.S. political landscape.

California hosts at least eight competitive Democrat vs. Republican US House races on Tuesday night, the final results of which stand a good chance of determining the next House majority.

With early voting churning forward and the election just under a week away, several Senate races previously thought to be heading the way of the Democratic incumbent are now very much in play.

Check out these political snippets on early voting, congressional and gubernatorial races from around the country. 

A pair of campaigns that have not attracted much political attention could come into play according to the most recent information.

As we get closer to early votes being cast and election day itself, several of the key Senate races are a focal point of attention. 

A race that has confounded most political observers from outside Nebraska is how the state’s featured Senate race with two-term incumbent Deb Fischer (R) is unfolding. 

Check out these political snippets on the presidential and congressional races from around the country. 

On Monday, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Jason Smith (R-Mo.) hosted a roundtable in Kansas City, Missouri, along with Reps. Ron Estes (R-Kan.), and Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.).

Workforce development and policy solutions highlighted during project tour

Register to attend, submit comments by Oct. 23