What You Need To Know

1. The only handwritten manuscript of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech will be exhibited and offered by Christie's New York, benefiting several charities. King wrote the final draft in blue ink on seven yellow legal pages before the 1963 March on Washington. The sale is set for January 22, 2027. 2. The Republican-led House has rejected a push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete H...

1. Congressional Delegate Stacey Plaskett has won the governorship of the U.S. Virgin Islands, becoming the first woman to lead the territory and the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state or territory. Plaskett and running mate Milton Potter won 62.8 percent. They take office January 4, before Georgia's Keisha Lance Bottoms. 2. Denver voters have elected Melat Kiros, 29, to Congress...

1. Mississippi's Senate race remains too close to call, with Democrat Scott Colom leading Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by 2,574 votes, 467,930 to 465,356, about 97 percent counted. Black Delta organizers helped drive turnout, including in Holmes County, where late votes put Colom ahead by 28. Absentee and affidavit ballots arriving through Tuesday could decide it. 2. Three Winston-Salem shootings over...

1. Mississippi's U.S. Senate race remains too close to call, with Democrat Scott Colom leading Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith by just 1,764 votes out of nearly 1 million cast. Officials Thursday continued counting thousands of absentee and affidavit ballots. Both campaigns are preparing for a likely legal fight over the final count. 2. Los Angeles has a new mayor-elect. Councilmember Nithya R...

1. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton has made history, becoming the fifth Black woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Her win makes Illinois the first state with two women of color in the Senate at once, alongside Tammy Duckworth. It also guarantees three Black women will serve in the Senate simultaneously for the first time. 2. The 2026 midterms made history nationwide, with first Black governo...

1. Keisha Lance Bottoms made history Tuesday night, becoming the nation's first Black female governor. The former Atlanta mayor defeated Republican Rick Jackson to become Georgia's 84th chief executive and the state's first Black woman elected to statewide constitutional office. Her platform centered on expanding Medicaid, lowering housing costs, and fully funding Georgia's schools. 2. Hakeem Jeff...

Millions of Americans have already voted in the midterms that will decide control of Congress. By Saturday night, more than 52.7 million early ballots had been cast nationally, including about 29.1 million in person. Georgia set a midterm record, with more than 2.8 million early votes. History is on the midterm ballot, and Black women candidates are writing it. No state has ever elected a Black wo...

More than half of U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens' staff quit Sunday, protesting her endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers for U.S. Senate over Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Former chief of staff Justin German said the team was shocked and heartbroken, and urged voters to back El-Sayed and Democrats. The move came days before Tuesday's election. One person was killed and eight injured in a shooting S...

Former President Obama knocked the White House response to his Cheesecake Factory jab at President Trump, calling the administration "not serious people." Campaigning in Georgia for Senator Jon Ossoff and Keisha Lance Bottoms, Obama said officials mounted a government-wide response to a joke, not to inflation, though many families can barely afford to eat out. He had joked Trump's $900 million ren...

1. History is on the line in this year's Senate races: since 1789, only one of every 400 U.S. senators has been a Black woman. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware recently became the first two Black women to serve at the same time. Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is set to join them, and if Florida's Angie Nixon wins, four Black women would serve togeth...

1. Angie Nixon Urges National Investment in Southern Black Voters Florida Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon is calling on national party leadership to increase investments in Southern races and stop taking Black voters for granted as a guaranteed constituency. Nixon expressed frustration among grassroots organizers and community members who feel the political establishment often seeks Black la...

1. Abdul El-Sayed Mobilizes Black Voter Support in Detroit Campaign Stop Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed campaigned alongside Detroit civic officials, labor leaders, and community organizers to solidify support among Black voters ahead of the midterm election. Facing Republican nominee Mike Rogers in a high-stakes contest that could determine the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, El-Sa...

1. Barack Obama Rallies Midwest Democrats, Criticizes Campaign Rhetoric Former President Barack Obama campaigned across Ohio and Michigan, urging voters to reject divisive rhetoric and mobilize for the midterm elections. Speaking in Cleveland, Obama denounced personal attacks leveled against Ohio gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton before traveling to Detroit to rally support behind Senate candida...

1. Hakeem Jeffries Rallies Support as Midterm Elections Approach House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is campaigning across more than 50 cities as Democrats work to win back majority control of the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections. Speaking at a community church gathering in Ohio, Jeffries expressed strong confidence in the party's momentum and the broader mission to b...

1. Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts Sidelined by Pulmonary Blood Clots Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is facing a serious health challenge after being diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis and blood clots in both lungs. Medical personnel confirmed that Hurts remains in stable condition and is expected to make a complete recovery, though treatment protocols will sideline him from contact s...

1. Black Conservative Influencer Removed from Texas Campaign Event A Black conservative social media influencer reported being removed without explanation from a Texas campaign event for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Thelma Louise, who produces political commentary on TikTok, stated she was escorted off the premises after being informed the campaign manager requested her departure. The r...

1. Angie Nixon Builds Momentum in Florida U.S. Senate Campaign Florida state representative Angie Nixon’s campaign for the U.S. Senate marks the culmination of more than a decade of grassroots organizing and legislative experience. Nixon rose to national prominence following high-profile floor protests against state redistricting and a decisive primary victory in August. As the Democratic no...

1. No Kings Coalition Mobilizes Thousands for Early Voting Nationwide Grassroots organizers, civil rights advocates, and community members gathered across the country for the "No Kings: Vote Early" day of action to drive early turnout for the midterm elections. Events in major cities, including a large demonstration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., marked a transition from public prote...

1. Juliana Stratton Aims to Make History in U.S. Senate Bid Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is campaigning for the U.S. Senate, representing a poignant full-circle milestone following her father’s exclusion from a high school Capitol visit during segregation. If elected, Stratton is positioned to become one of three Black women serving concurrently in the upper chamber. Her bid...

1. Federal Scrutiny of Voter Data Sparks Disenfranchisement Concerns Federal agencies have significantly expanded investigations into alleged election fraud ahead of the midterm elections, amassing approximately 100 million records, including at least 50 million voter files. The effort has prioritized specific states and placed hundreds of civic engagement nonprofit organizations under heightened...

1. Phone Records Reveal Private Conversations Among Friends of Nolan Wells A newly released 292-page forensic analysis of Nolan Wells’ cellphone detailed private messages across 29 group chats following his death. The records show how friends reacted to public speculation and navigated police inquiries after the Fourth of July gathering on Horn Island. Wells' family continues to scrutinize t...

1. Eight Black Candidates Compete in Historic Gubernatorial Races Eight Black major-party candidates have advanced to gubernatorial general elections across eight states, representing both Democratic and Republican tickets. The field includes two Black women seeking to become the first Black female governor in U.S. history. Maryland Governor Wes Moore is also seeking reelection as the nation's sol...

1. Note of Gratitude to the 'What You Need To Know' Family The What You Need To Know team extends its deepest gratitude to readers for nearly seven years of loyal support and readership. Following an unexpected service interruption caused by a systems transition last week, the daily newsletter is fully restored. The platform remains firmly dedicated to informing, empowering, and uplifting the comm...

1. NAACP Sues DOJ Over Midterm Election Monitor Plan The NAACP filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice regarding plans to deploy 1,000 election monitors to polling sites. The legal action claims federal officials failed to comply with Freedom of Information Act requests for monitor training and site details. Civil rights advocates argue that unnecessary federal presence at polling places...

1. Aaron Ford Campaigns for Nevada Governor Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford secured the Democratic nomination for governor, setting up a general election matchup against Republican incumbent Joe Lombardo. Ford, who became Nevada's first Black statewide officer in 2019, hopes to achieve another historic milestone this November. He emphasized that his campaign and leadership approach are rooted i...