The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll: Fifty-five percent of voters say they are concerned about democratic socialists winning office, a view that extends beyond Republicans.
Georgia surveillance purchase: Georgia’s human services department spent more than $950,000 on a Chevrolet Traverse, and $890,500 of that went to equipment it will not identify.
Bears stadium talks: A lawmaker says the Chicago Bears can help shape a new stadium bill, two months after the team said it was moving ahead with plans in Indiana.
Virginia license plate cameras: Richmond is cutting ties with Flock cameras, and a police audit shows one image already went somewhere it shouldn’t have.
Supreme Court privacy case: A 1988 law written in the video rental era reached the U.S. Supreme Court this week, and Paramount’s lawyer says $250 million rides on it.
What voters think about democratic socialists winning office
Photo: Gage Skidmore / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Edited in Canva
What we found: The Center Squares Voters’ Voice Poll found that 55% of registered voters are concerned about democratic socialist candidates running for and winning elected office. Thirty-five percent said they are very concerned and 20% said they are somewhat concerned, while 37% said they are not concerned. Noble Predictive Insights surveyed 2,527 registered voters from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7, including 1,136 Republicans, 1,171 Democrats, and 220 voters who lean toward neither major party.
The stakes: Democratic voters have advanced democratic socialist candidates to the November ballot in New York, Colorado, Michigan, California, and Florida.
The backstory: A separate August Voters’ Voice Poll found 63% of Americans were concerned about the growth of socialism or communism in American politics, while 29% were not. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania wrote on social media that his party “is becoming the party of socialism” and called that “lunacy,” and Democratic strategist James Carville has asked the Democratic Socialists of America to drop “Democratic” from its name.
Where it stands: The poll carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points. Candidates face general election voters on Nov. 3.
3 States
Georgia: The state Department of Human Services spent $954,578 on a Chevrolet Traverse, equipment and installation. The SUV itself cost about $38,700. Records obtained by The Center Square point to a cell-site simulator, a device that mimics a cell tower to locate phones, though the department would not confirm the equipment’s identity. Officials said it’s for a unit that works with law enforcement to recover missing foster children at risk of sex trafficking. State Rep. Beth Camp, R-Concord, called the purchase “spy surveillance” and questioned the department’s authority to use it. Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money helps fund the unit.
Illinois: State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, says the Chicago Bears can help shape a new stadium bill, as long as the bill protects taxpayers. He said lawmakers are not far from reconciling bills that stalled in the spring. Gov. J.B. Pritzker opposes having the state buy or build a stadium for a team valued at $9 billion, but supports infrastructure spending that officials said could top $800 million in Arlington Heights. The Bears said in August they would move forward with stadium plans in Hammond, Indiana, though they have not announced a specific site.
Virginia: Richmond will not renew its contract for Flock Safety license plate cameras, Mayor Danny Avula announced Saturday. The city’s 99 cameras collect information on vehicles using public roads, which police say helps them solve violent crimes and recover stolen cars. The decision follows Henrico County’s exit over privacy concerns. A police audit found a sergeant shared a vehicle image with a federal agent in violation of policy. A Virginia State Crime Commission survey found some agencies gave federal or out-of-state agencies continuous access, which the commission said is prohibited by state law.
2 Issues
Gun policy: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced Friday that it will stop enforcing certain federal registration and approval requirements for suppressors and short-barreled rifles and shotguns. The change follows an August ruling by a federal judge in Texas that the Justice Department chose not to appeal. ATF extended its enforcement policy nationwide, but state restrictions and other federal requirements remain in effect. Washington generally restricts possession of short-barreled rifles and shotguns, subject to exceptions. Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond supports the ruling but cautioned that state laws remain more restrictive.
The courts: The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday over whether a subscriber to Paramount’s 247Sports newsletter qualifies for protection under a 1988 video privacy law. Michael Salazar’s lawyers say Paramount shared his Facebook ID and video-viewing history with Meta without his consent. Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett questioned how broadly the law should apply to modern businesses, while Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson emphasized Congress’ intent to protect privacy. Paramount’s lawyer said the company could face $250 million in damages. A ruling is expected by July 2027.
1 Number
$150.7 billion
The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates that birthright citizenship for immigrants’ children costs federal, state, and local taxpayers $150.7 billion annually. According to FAIR, half goes to education and the rest to health care and nutritional assistance. Mateo Forero, the group’s director of investigations, urged Congress and states to review rules governing surrogacy and cross-border surrogacy.
The Illinois ballot measure that puts a new state up for discussion
Voters in 12 Illinois counties will see a nonbinding question Nov. 3 asking whether county boards should discuss forming a new state separate from Cook County. Thirty-three counties have already approved similar resolutions. Loret Newlin of the Illinois Separation Group explains what a “yes” vote would, and wouldn’t, do.
Roy Cooper, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina
Cooper leads Republican Michael Whatley 48.8% to 40.9% in a Trafalgar Group poll of 1,091 likely voters released Monday. He has led in polling and Federal Election Commission filings since both men declared candidacy in July 2025. A win would break a streak: Republicans have taken the last five North Carolina Senate races, and no Democrat has won one there in a midterm since 1998.
How concerned are you about noncitizens voting in the 2026 midterms?
The Center Square’s Voters’ Voice Poll found 54% of registered voters are at least somewhat concerned about noncitizens voting in November. The same poll found 80% of Republicans concerned, compared with 33% of Democrats.
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