Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.

* The 2026 midterm election cycle kicks off in earnest today with closely watched primary races in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas. MS NOW will have live coverage of the contests and the results starting at 7 p.m. ET.

* To the relief of Republicans, the U.S. Supreme Court left New York’s current district map in place, rejecting lower courts’ rulings and putting Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis in a better position to win re-election.

* In a surprise move, Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke of Montana announced Monday that he’ll retire at the end of his current term. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee wasted little time in announcing plans to target the race in the fall.

* Rep. Nancy Mace’s Republican gubernatorial campaign in South Carolina suffered another setback this week as the House Ethics Committee announced that it’s moving forward with an investigation into the congresswoman.

* In Maine, Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner has been dogged by a series of controversies in recent months, but he continues to pick up support anyway: Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona endorsed Platner’s candidacy this week.

* In Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, the latest Quinnipiac University poll suggested Republicans face an uphill climb: Incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro led likely GOP nominee Stacy Garrity by 18 points in the survey.

* And in Nebraska, Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts’ wife, Susanne Shore, recently launched a Democratic campaign, running for the University of Nebraska board of regents. The incumbent GOP senator is wisely putting partisanship aside and supporting his wife’s candidacy.