AGP Executive Report

U.S. Midterms: American Bridge 21st Century is launching a $50 million ad push to flip control of Congress, targeting more than a dozen House and Senate races on Republican turf. U.S. Senate Primary: Incumbent Sen. Ed Markey is pressing for a third debate with Rep. Seth Moulton, adding another stop in western Massachusetts. Election Integrity Fight (U.S.): California is again under national scrutiny as Trump and GOP leaders attack the state’s slower vote-counting; meanwhile, DOJ action is tied to claims California blocked a federal audit of voter rolls. Armenia: PM Nikol Pashinyan claims victory in parliamentary elections, with Civil Contract leading in preliminary results; observers and opposition dispute fairness, with multiple blocs vowing legal challenges or recounts. Local Elections (Korea): President Lee Jae Myung called last week’s local vote a “warning from the nation,” blaming ballot shortages for undermining Seoul’s results. Maine Primaries: Maine’s semi-open primaries are underway, with ranked-choice voting complicating results as statewide races narrow down candidates for November. Campaign Rules (Zambia): Zambia’s electoral commission suspended campaigns in Mazabuka Central after violence concerns, including tear gas during an independent candidate’s activity.

Armenia Parliamentary Vote: Exit polls and early counts show Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract leading, with the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc close behind; turnout is reported near 59%, and the CEC is set to finalize seat distribution as opposition leaders dispute legitimacy amid allegations of irregularities and arrests. Election Integrity Fight in the U.S.: House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s “rigged” California claims while admitting there’s “no” proof—then DOJ actions drew fresh scrutiny as Senate Democrats warned about a pullback on federal voter protections. California Vote-Counting Backlash: Trump and allies seized on slow, unfinished LA mayoral primary results as Spencer Pratt slipped to third while Nithya Raman moved into runoff position; officials say the delays reflect standard verification and canvassing. State Courts on Ballot Challenges: An Arkansas judge dismissed a recount challenge over the GOP secretary of state runoff, while Wisconsin election officials saw a dropped challenge to a Green Party ballot bid after the challenger failed to show issues. Other Major Races: Peru’s presidential runoff remains too close to call as officials warn final results could take weeks. Local Election Watch: Maine, Nevada, South Carolina, and North Dakota hold key primaries Tuesday, setting up November contests.

Armenia Election: Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan claimed victory after parliamentary results put his Civil Contract party on track for a majority, with four parties clearing the threshold (Civil Contract 61 seats; Strong Armenia 28; Armenia Alliance 11; Prosperous Armenia 5). He also vowed opposition leaders would face criminal responsibility. EU/Geopolitics: EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas praised the win as a “European future,” while Armenia’s vote is widely seen as a referendum on Russia’s influence and the peace track with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Peru Runoff: Peru’s presidential race remains a technical tie as ONPE counting passes 84%: Keiko Fujimori leads in the official tally, while Ipsos quick counts show Roberto Sánchez slightly ahead (50.3%–49.7%), with a final result possibly taking weeks. Kosovo Politics: After a third election in 18 months, Albin Kurti’s Vetëvendosje won the most votes but fell short of governing alone, pushing coalition talks. California Election Integrity Fight: Trump escalated his election fraud claims after a clash with NBC, while California resists a federal audit of voter rolls amid a broader legal fight. Local Ballot Measure: Contra Costa voters rejected Measure B, a proposed sales tax increase, with all precincts reporting.

Armenia’s Parliamentary Vote: Armenia’s Central Election Commission says polls closed with 58.97% turnout (1,476,597 of 2,503,976 voters) and insists power outages and late voting by military personnel didn’t affect results; the CEC also says electronic voting was dominated by Civil Contract (330 of 410 participants). Election Integrity Fight: Armenia’s Investigative Committee opened 59 criminal cases over alleged violations, while opposition figures and observers point to alleged irregularities as counting continues. Kosovo Snap Election: Early results show Albin Kurti’s Vetevendosje leading with about 43% (with turnout around 37%), but the lower margin raises questions about whether he can form government amid a prolonged political stalemate. Real Madrid Leadership Election: Counting began after 400 mail-in votes were challenged for formal defects, adding tension to a race polls favoring Florentino Pérez. U.S. Election Claims Backlash: Trump stormed out of NBC’s “Meet the Press” after being pressed on election-rigging claims and his “no new wars” message tied to Iran. Local/State Politics: Ohio Republicans push to enshrine voter ID in the state constitution, while Iowa’s GOP primaries saw Lynn Evans and Keith Glienke win big. Campaign Culture Clash: In Melbourne, leaders condemned a sexist “Ditch the Witch” billboard campaign targeting Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan.

Election Integrity & Power Struggles (US): A new USA TODAY report spotlights Republicans running for governor who rejected the 2020 election results, arguing that if elected they could shape how election problems are handled and push “SAVE Act” style security changes. Armenia Parliamentary Vote (Geopolitics): Armenia’s National Assembly elections are underway with 2,005 polling stations and 2.48M registered voters; turnout at 11 a.m. hit 14.48%. The vote is framed as a test of PM Nikol Pashinyan’s Westward course amid claims of foreign interference and opposition detentions. Armenia Polling Disruptions: The election commission says two chairpersons and a secretary were detained overnight, and some technical issues required voters to sign near register entries. Kosovo Snap Election (EU/NATO gridlock): Kosovo holds its third election in 18 months after parliament failed to elect a president; opposition boycotts and EU aspirations are central to the crisis. Gilgit-Baltistan Voting (Pakistan): Polls open for 24 assembly seats with tight security; 958,000+ voters and 396 candidates are contesting, with PPP and PML-N seen as the main rivals. Kenya 2027 Campaign (Kalonzo): Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka launches “Komboa Kenya,” positioning it as a national liberation movement and signaling a 2027 State House bid. South Africa Youth & Democracy: SALGA warns youth apathy is rising, citing IEC data that over 70% of 18–19-year-olds are unregistered, and urges voter registration ahead of local elections.

California Elections: Xavier Becerra has advanced to California’s governor general election, but the state’s top-two races remain a slow-motion saga as vote counts drag on and Trump escalates claims of “cheating” while federal prosecutors open investigations tied to delays and mail-in ballots. Los Angeles Politics: In the LA mayor race, Karen Bass leads but a November matchup is still being shaped as results trickle in and campaigns sharpen attacks over the counting process. Election Integrity & Security: Delaware lawmakers introduced a bill allowing candidates and officeholders to use campaign funds for personal security measures, while Kalshi moved to remove some influencer-sponsored conspiracy posts tied to LA election chatter. International Spotlight: Armenia heads into parliamentary voting framed as a geopolitical choice between the EU/US pivot and closer ties to Russia, with campaigning capped by a “day of silence.” South Korea: Thousands protested ballot shortages in local elections, demanding a rerun after disruptions at polling sites. Other Contests: A Freestone County runoff produced statewide Democratic and Republican winners, while Oklahoma’s June 16 ballot includes a minimum wage increase and multiple statewide races.

Armenia Parliamentary Vote: Armenia’s June 7 election is entering its final stretch with the “Day of Silence” starting June 6, while the CEC rejects a bid to deregister the “Armenia Fuerte” alliance and arrests linked to the Strong Armenia bloc fuel fresh tensions. Campaign & Oversight: Civil Contract kicked off its final Yerevan rally as Republic Party leaders ask the CEC to annul “Strong Armenia” registration, and observers say international attention is key. California Election Fallout: In the U.S., federal prosecutors say they’ve opened multiple election fraud investigations in California, as vote counting drags on and Trump renews claims of cheating. California Governor Race: Xavier Becerra advanced to November, setting up a likely matchup with Steve Hilton or Tom Steyer. South Korea Ballot Crisis: The election chief resigned after ballot shortages sparked protests and criticism of how ballots were allocated. Peru Runoff: Roberto Sanchez and Keiko Fujimori wrapped campaigns for Sunday’s presidential runoff, with Sanchez facing criminal charges over party finance reporting. India-Pakistan: India protested Pakistan’s planned Gilgit-Baltistan elections, calling the territory illegally occupied.

Election Security & Campaign Finance: Delaware lawmakers advanced HB 448 to let officeholders use campaign funds for security after rising threats and harassment. Voter Registration & Integrity: The Gambia’s IEC chairman said 212,095 people were registered in a 2026 voter drive, with thousands transferring between polling stations. California Vote-Counting Fallout: Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles announced multiple election fraud investigations and a voter-roll audit as California’s June 2 primary count drags on, while critics keep pressuring Gov. Newsom to speed results. Local Election Costs: Vancouver’s Oct. 17 municipal election is projected at $9.4 million, driven by expanded advance voting and added staffing and equipment. South Dakota Runoff Math: After Tuesday’s GOP primary, turnout and shifting support from eliminated candidates could decide the July 28 governor runoff. South Korea Local Politics: Seoul’s mayoral race stayed tight amid ballot shortages and exit-poll concerns, with protests disrupting voting at some stations. Florida Candidate Health Update: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings suspended his Florida governor bid after a prostate cancer diagnosis. AI in Politics: Oklahoma’s ethics board began rulemaking on AI use in campaign ads after controversy over a misleading AI-generated image. LA Mayoral Race Tracking: Los Angeles ballots are still being counted, with Bass projected to advance and the fight for the second spot between Spencer Pratt and Nithya Raman ongoing.

South Dakota GOP Shakeup: Sixteen incumbent Republican lawmakers lost their seats in the 2026 primary, a sharp reversal after the 2024 “earthquake” that brought in newcomers—now PAC and business spending is trying to claw back control. California Vote-Counting Backlash: As ballots are still being counted in key primaries, Trump escalated attacks on “cheating” and slow results, while local campaigns keep pushing for November spots. South Korea Election Tensions: Local elections in Seoul were disrupted by ballot shortages, with protesters blocking ballot boxes and conspiracy claims spreading—while the ruling party’s local wins set up fresh leadership pressure inside the opposition. Gilgit-Baltistan Campaign Sprint: Parties are in the final stretch ahead of June 7 voting, with the election commission urging voters to ignore rumors and rely on official channels. Peru Blank-Vote Fight: Social groups in Lima urged voters to reject campaigns promoting blank or spoiled ballots, arguing it would help Keiko Fujimori. Somalia Violence Over Delayed Polls: Heavy gunfire in Mogadishu followed opposition protests over election delays, as the row over extending the president’s term escalates. U.S. Election Law: Senate Republicans failed to advance Trump’s SAVE America Act, a major setback for a voter-registration overhaul.

California Election Process: As California’s primary vote counting drags on, experts say the delay is mostly signature verification on mail ballots—not a stalled count—while Gov. Newsom urges faster processing to shut down conspiracy claims. Trump vs. California: President Trump again alleges “cheating” and “stealing” in the governor and L.A. mayor races, pointing to late mail-ballot numbers and claiming a U.S. Attorney probe, without evidence. AZ Election Litigation: Arizona AG Kris Mayes moves to revive her 2020 election case against Trump allies after the state Supreme Court declined review, setting up another legal fight. Ohio Voting Rules: Ohio’s Senate advances a constitutional amendment that would put voter photo ID on the November ballot, codifying existing in-person requirements. South Korea Local Elections: Ballot shortages and protests continue after local election disruptions, adding pressure on election watchdogs. UK By-Election Drama: Labour’s Andy Burnham confirms he’d seek the Labour leadership and PM role if he wins the Makerfield by-election, turning the race into a bigger national story. Mississippi Special Election: A judge orders a Hinds County District 2 special election after throwing out 2023 primary results, a costly rematch for the candidates.

South Korea Election Integrity: Ballot paper shortages triggered protests in Seoul during local elections, with voters blocked from casting ballots and the National Election Commission launching an investigation after President Lee ordered accountability. South Korea Local Power Shift: The ruling Democratic Party swept most mayoral and provincial races but failed to flip Seoul, where conservative incumbent Oh Se-hoon narrowly won—an early check on President Lee’s first year. U.S. Voting Rules Fight: A federal judge weighed whether to pause Trump’s order to build a national voter ID list, while Arizona’s DOJ renewed its bid to access voter registration records after losing in court. Nigeria Election Security & Data Privacy: Police questioned and detained an INEC official and a Wike aide over an alleged voter data leak involving Emeka Ike’s registration transfer. Party Unity Pressure (Nigeria): Peter Obi urged NDC primary losers to accept results in good faith, while Oyo ADC stakeholders rejected a primary outcome and demanded a specific candidate be declared. Tech, Politics, and Regulation: U.S. House Democrats asked the FTC to probe prediction markets over how they market themselves to consumers versus regulators. Real Madrid Election Showmanship: Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme promised to bring Rodri and Haaland if elected, prompting Manchester City to deny any deal and threaten legal action over use of player image.

Montana Primaries: In the Western U.S. House GOP race, Trump-endorsed Aaron Flint won the nomination, while Democrat Sam Forstag was called in the Democratic primary after a tight count. Colombia Election Integrity: Colombia’s top courts backed the National Registry and scrutiny commissions after President Gustavo Petro renewed fraud claims, despite Carter Center and EU observers saying no fraud occurred. Abortion Policy: Andorra’s minister says abortion decriminalization is finished but could hinge on negotiations with the Catholic Church before next year’s parliamentary vote. California Primary Countdown: Early results across California show a governor race with shifting leads and many races still too close to call as mail and provisional ballots keep rolling in; officials warn final results could take weeks. Los Angeles Mayoral Runoff: LA’s primary is headed to a November runoff, with Karen Bass advancing and Spencer Pratt pushing into the second spot. Voter Data Fight (Arizona): DOJ says it will appeal a judge’s ruling blocking access to Arizona’s voter registration database. Local Election Watch: South Korea’s local elections are framed as a key test for President Lee Jae Myung, with exit polls favoring the ruling Democratic Party. Nigeria Party Turmoil: Peter Obi urged NDC aspirants to accept primary results and unite, while other parties and candidates continue to dispute outcomes and demand releases.

California Primaries: Incumbent Rep. David Valadao advanced in CA-22, while the race for second place between Democrats Jasmeet Bains and Randy Villegas stayed tight as ballots continued to be counted. Los Angeles Politics: Mayor Karen Bass cleared the primary hurdle and will face a November runoff; Spencer Pratt surged into second place, setting up a high-profile rematch. San Francisco: Progressives largely lost in the June primary, with major ballot and supervisor contests going to moderates backed by big institutional support. South Dakota: The primary season heads into runoffs and recounts, with SDPB highlighting what comes next after Tuesday’s results. Federal Voting Fight: A federal judge heard arguments over President Trump’s voter-list and mail-voting limits, with states and voting-rights groups warning of disruption and burdens on election officials. Nigeria Election Integrity: Lagos NDC leaders accused the state chairman of tampering with primary outcomes and secrecy around a parallel committee; separate coverage also pushed for action on the Oyo school kidnapping. Turnout Watch: South Korea’s local elections saw turnout rise above last cycle’s final tally, while San Francisco’s turnout was described as “abysmally low.”

California Primary Results Watch: Voters are casting ballots in a high-stakes June 2 top-two primary, including the governor’s race and multiple redrawn congressional districts, but results may take days or weeks as counties keep counting and certifying. Local Vote Counting Timelines: Calaveras County starts unofficial updates around 8:15 p.m., Yuba County at 8 p.m., with further scheduled updates through the week. L.A. Mayoral Race: Spencer Pratt is trying to upset Mayor Karen Bass, with Nithya Raman also in the mix; if no one tops 50%, the top two head to a November runoff. Congressional District Focus: Proposition 50 redistricting sets up competitive primaries in districts like CA-3, CA-6, and CA-13, where incumbents and challengers are fighting to advance. Election Integrity & Cyber Threats: A major voter-data leak probe is underway after alleged unauthorized access to Nigeria’s voter registration database, while researchers warn thousands of election-themed malicious domains are targeting U.S. midterms. International Election Developments: Colombia’s EU observers say the first presidential round was transparent and competitive, even as Petro renews fraud allegations ahead of the runoff.

Iowa Primary Results Watch: The Des Moines Register is set to post live results Tuesday night for Iowa governor and key federal races, with polls closing at 8 p.m. California Primary Logistics: LA and statewide voters head to the polls Tuesday, with vote centers open 7 a.m.–8 p.m., and ballots returnable by mail, drop box, or in person. California Governor Race Tightening: Ballot-tracking suggests a late “blue surge” could flip the outcome as Democrats vote more slowly than Republicans. New Mexico Governor Money: New Mexico’s governor primaries are drawing nearly $20M, led by Deb Haaland’s campaign spending and fundraising surge. Local Election Turnout & Access: San Mateo County faced a voter center mix-up when a voter arrived after hours; officials say ballots and equipment were secured. South Korea Local Elections: Parties make final appeals ahead of Wednesday’s local vote, with a joint broadcaster exit poll planned. Colombia Runoff Politics: Colombia’s first-round presidential vote sends Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda to a June 21 runoff amid Petro’s rejection of results. Election Integrity Debate: A judge declined to immediately block Trump’s mail-voting crackdown order, keeping the legal fight alive.

Georgia Courts: Democrats poured millions into trying to flip Georgia Supreme Court seats, but the primaries delivered a stunner—Justice Sarah Hawkins Warren beat Jen Jordan, and Justice Charlie Bethel narrowly held off Miracle Rankin. California Primary Prep: With June 2 underway, voters are being urged to turn out in low-turnout primaries, while Judicial Watch pushes a federal lawsuit over California’s large pool of “inactive” voter registrations. Wisconsin Ballot Access: The June 1 nomination paper deadline is here, with filing steps and dates laid out for candidates seeking the August primary and November general. Colorado Election Fallout: Tina Peters—convicted in a 2020 election-tampering scheme—was released early after a commuted sentence, renewing debate over election conspiracies and accountability. Kansas Voter Registration: Kansas’ online voter registration system is back online after a weekend outage. Global Campaign Rules: Pakistan’s election commission cleared Nawaz Sharif for a Gilgit-Baltistan campaign visit, and Armenia’s election watchdogs warn of arrests, intimidation, and foreign meddling ahead of June 7. Colombia Runoff: Colombia’s presidential race heads to a June 21 runoff after no winner in round one, with Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda set to battle amid disputed results.