Failed Tennessee execution renews the debate over death penalty methods

• October 1, 2026

By KIM CHANDLER and KRISTIN M. HALL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials have yet to explain what went wrong during the failed execution of Christa Pike, which was called off after she was given two doses of the drug meant to kill her.

It wasn’t clear if Pike was still alive on Thursday. She could be heard snoring loudly in the execution chamber Wednesday night more than an hour after the execution process began and nearly 30 minutes after a second dose of pentobarbital was administered.

Pike, who was sentenced to death for a gruesome 1995 murder, was taken by ambulance from the prison to a hospital, where she was being treated, her attorneys said.

May Martinez, whose daughter was murdered by Pike and her boyfriend and who traveled to Nashville to see the sentence carried out, told NBC News on Thursday that “it was a mess.”

The failure, which one death penalty expert described as unprecedented, led Gov. Bill Lee to postpone Tennessee’s lone remaining execution this year and to order a review “to determine exactly what occurred.” It also raises questions again about the state’s procedures and its use of single-drug lethal injections.

Pike, 50, had been scheduled for execution Wednesday morning for the killing she committed at age 18 and would have been the first woman executed in Tennessee in more than 200 years. An appeals court stopped the execution an hour before it was to start, but the U.S. Supreme Court overturned that stay hours later.

Officials gave Pike two doses of pentobarbital, her attorneys said in court filings late Wednesday.

The Tennessee Department of Correction said in a statement that it “followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office.”

Tennessee changed its execution method two years ago

The state’s execution protocol calls for a secondary set of drug syringes to be administered “if the inmate is not deceased” after the first set. It does not spell out what happens if the subject is alive after the second set.

Tennessee announced in 2024 it was switching from a three-drug series for lethal injections to the single drug pentobarbital. That came more than two years after the state abruptly halted the execution of Oscar Smith and acknowledged it had failed to ensure its lethal injection drugs were tested properly.

Robin M. Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, said what Pike experienced is “singular and unparalleled.”

Seven other people have survived medical problems due to an execution team’s failure to access a vein to administer lethal injection drugs, but no one has stayed alive after receiving the drugs used in such executions, she said.

Pike would have been the 30th person executed in the U.S. this year after Florida carried out an execution on Tuesday.

Pike was awake in the execution chamber

Strapped to a gurney in the execution chamber, Pike described herself as at peace.

“I’m going to leave this world the way I spent most of my life and that is in love,” she said in her “last” words.

But she remained awake and at one point raised her head, asking prison officials if her arm was supposed to feel that way. An hour after officials first raised the execution chamber’s curtains, witnesses reported that a second dose of pentobarbital was administered.

Pike could still be heard snoring behind a closed curtain until the microphone was cut off almost 30 minutes later.

Lawyers for Pike filed an emergency motion late Wednesday with the Tennessee Supreme Court seeking to immediately halt and stay the execution, saying she was in “unnecessary agony” and the procedure violated her right to be executed free of cruel and unusual punishment. They also filed motions with the Sixth Circuit court and a district court.

It was the second time this year that Tennessee has been unable to complete an execution: In May state officials called off the lethal injection of Tony Carruthers, who was convicted of kidnapping and killing three people in 1994, after executioners tried and failed for over an hour to place an IV to administer pentobarbital.

Pike and her boyfriend were convicted of the fatal stabbing and beating in 1995 of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, a classmate at a job training facility in Knoxville. The killing gained attention because of a pentagram carved on Slemmer’s body, stoking fears of Satan worship during the “satanic panic” of the 1980s and 1990s.

Pike’s boyfriend wasn’t eligible for the death penalty because he was 17 at the time of the killing and received a sentence of life in prison. He was denied parole last year.

Pike’s case renews the debate over the death sentence

Pike did not deny committing the killing, but her supporters argued that the state should consider her age at the time, her mental illness and her allegations of severe sexual abuse.

Assistant Federal Defender Stephen Ferrell said Pike’s death sentence is an outlier because other 18-year-olds in Tennessee have had such sentences vacated.

After the killing, Pike was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. In her clemency petition, she said she only wanted to fight Slemmer but killed her in a frenzied attack when she couldn’t “put the brakes on.”

“It took me numerous years to even realize the gravity of what I’d done,” Pike said in a statement.

Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, Ed White in Detroit, Hallie Golden in Seattle and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed.

​ Orange County Register 

26 free fun things to do in Southern California in October

• October 1, 2026

It’s fall and the weather is getting coooler, so let’s get out and enjoy some free yet fun things to do, and maybe meet new people, too.

Oct. 2 — South Pasadena: Head to the South Pasadena Library to enjoy the Janus Film Club, which features monthly Friday night screenings of art house classics. This month’s selection is the 1960 French horror classic film “Eyes Without A Face.” The movie starts at 7 p.m. in the library’s community room, followed by a brief discussion. No reservations needed. 1115 El Centro St., South Pasadena. southpasadenaca.gov/Events-Director/Janm-yus-FilClub

Oct. 2-4 — Huntington Beach: It’s time for the huge annual Pacific Airshow that brings historic and unique aircraft, acrobatic demonstrations and aviation displays. The best way to see the show is to buy tickets and listen to the commentary, but tickets are pricey. You can watch overhead for free from many areas, even Seal Beach. But make sure to be there by 7-8 a.m. or get stuck in traffic. Good free viewing areas include the beach north or south of the ticketed festival area, near or even under the pier, nearby parks, hilly areas or open space. Bring chairs or a towel, sunscreen, snacks and drinks. The official center is on Pacific Coast Highway between Twin Dolphin Street and Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach. pacificairshowusa.com

Oct. 3 — Montclair: The 2026 Waterwise Garden & Pumpkin Fest, from 9 a.m. to noon, will feature free kids’ activities, including crafts and face painting, a plant sale, a pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating. The event, hosted by the Chino Basin Water Conservation District, is completely free with no tickets required. Waterwise Community Center, 4594 San Bernardino St., Montclair sbcountystormwater.org/event/2026-waterwise-garden-pumpkin-fest

Oct. 4 — Santa Ana: Enjoy the free family Mehregan Festival in the courtyard of the Bowers Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is an ancient fall festival from Iran celebrating love and the harvest. Live performances, arts and crafts, face painting and treats. 2002 North Main St., Santa Ana. bowers.org

Oct. 6 — Cypress: Enjoy learning about and sampling snacks from around the world at the Cypress Library. This month’s unique snacks come from the Netherlands. This monthly program is for adults over 18. Location: 5331 Orange Ave., Cypress  ocpl.libcal.com/event/16398781

Oct. 8 — Burbank: Come and explore the new replacement passenger terminal before it opens to the public at the Hollywood Burbank Airport Community Day. Timed tickets are free but must be registered in advance. Time slots from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 2827 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank. eventbrite.com/e/hollywood-burbank-airport-community-day-thursday-october-8-2026-tickets-1998286635118

Oct. 8 — Costa Mesa: Do you love chocolate? Well, then this is for  you. This “Passport to Flavor: Chocolate” event, from 1 to 2 p.m., will let you sample chocolates from various countries and learn about the traditions and ingredients that make them special. You’ll also learn about the history of chocolate around the world.  This is at the Donald Dungan Branch Library, 1855 Park Ave., Costa Mesa. ocpl.libcal.com/event/17169478

Oct. 9 — Pasadena: Put on your walking shoes for ArtNight Pasadena, which includes free entry to museums, dance, music and theater performances. You can grab free shuttles to the participating venues and there are also accessible buses. This event runs Friday night only, from 6 to 10 p.m. Venues include the Gamble House, the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Pasadena Playhouse and more. Learn more: cityofpasadena.net/artnight/

Oct. 10 — Calabasas: Celebrate National Fossil Day at the King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn about fossils, participate in activities and even earn your Jr. Paleontologist Badge. Location: Santa Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center – King Gillette Ranch, 26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas. Free admission and parking. All ages. eventbrite.com/e/national-fossil-day-tickets-1998927544094

Oct. 10 — San Juan Capistrano: Explore the night sky at Caspers Wilderness Park, which is a designated “Star Park” in California. This outdoor Starr Party includes telescopes and expert guidance, family activities and more. Bring your own binoculars, telescopes or cameras if desired. Held at the nature center from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Event is free, but parking costs $5. 33401 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capistrano. Bad weather cancels. Call 949-923-2210. Register here (or just show up):  letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/10/10/starr-party-9/

Oct. 11 — Downtown Los Angeles: This year’s CicLAvia Heart of LA open streets biking and people-powered event is even bigger than ever.  Get out your bike, skates, walk or jog and find 6.5 miles of car-free streets to cruise around on from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The four hubs will be in Echo Park, Chinatown, Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights. Hubs offer restrooms, water refilling stations, basic bike repair, bike parking and seating. Only people-powered vehicles are allowed. Learn more: ciclavia.org

Oct. 11 — Montebello: It’s a day of fun and community at Montebello’s 2026 Heritage Festival, which goes from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Montebello City Park. It starts with a fun run that’s not free (except for kids 10 and under). Then, the Heritage Festival Parade starts on Whittier Boulevard at 10:30 a.m. with floats, marching bands and more, followed by family activities from noon to 9 p.m. Enjoy family-friendly live music and cultural performances, kids crafts, food vendors and a carnival (not free).  Montebello City Park, 1301 W. Whittier Blvd., Montebello. eventbrite.com/e/montebellos-2026-heritage-festival-tickets-1996511239863

Oct. 11 — Newport Beach: It’s time for the Sunday Musicale at the Newport Beach Library, and this time it’s a solo piano concert by pianist Marina Grozdanovic from 3 to 4 p.m. in the Witte Lecture Hall.  She will be playing “Sounds of France,” exploring different periods of French music history, from the baroque to the impressionist era. Seats are first come, first served. Witte Lecture Hall, 998 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach. newportbeachlibrary.org/calendar/-curm-10/-cury-2026

Oct. 11 — Newport Beach: Head to the outdoor concert at Marina Park and enjoy ’90s tribute band Diego’s Garage from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Marina Park Community Center, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach. Free parking newportbeachlibrary.org

Oct. 14 — Fullerton: Considered by some to be the best movie ever made, Orson Welles‘ “Citizen Kane” (1941) will screen at 4 p.m. indoors on the 184-inch screen with surround sound in the Fullerton Library’s Conference Center. 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton. fullertonlibrary.org/movie-program 

Oct. 16 — Los Angeles: Enjoy hearing and learning about baroque music from 4 to 5 p.m. with members of Los Angeles Baroque ensemble who perform with period instruments. Afterward, people are invited to hold the instruments and talk to the musicians about them. Instruments may include violin, viola, cello, viola da gamba, recorder, and Baroque flute. El Sereno branch library, 5226 Huntington Drive So., Los Angeles. lapl.org/events/9/la-made-los-angeles-baroque-and-huntington-library-presents

Oct. 16-18 — Redlands: Enjoy a three-day art festival on the grounds and gardens of the Redlands United Church of Christ. The festival, held since 1979, supports the arts and local community. It features more than 70 artists and artisans showing their work in ceramics, fiber arts, acrylics, photography, watercolor, oils, stained glass, jewelry, pottery, and metal sculpture.  There’s also live music daily. 168 Bellevue Ave., Redlands.  artforheavenssake.or

Oct. 17 — Ladera Ranch: Do you want to learn to play mahjong but don’t know where to start? Check out this new Beginning Mahjong Program from 2 to 4 p.m. for adults and teens. No prior knowledge is necessary. For more information, call 949-234-5940. Ladera Ranch Library, 29551 Sienna Parkway, Ladera Ranch. ocpl.libcal.com/event/17660324

Oct. 17-18 — Lake Elsinore: It’s time for the Asian Glow Fest, a water lantern and kite festival. General admission is free and there’s lots of family fun from 2 to 10 p.m. at Elm Grove Beach. All ages. Colorful kites are expected to fill the air during the day. Asian food will be available for sale. Live music and entertainment. People do not need to purchase a floating water lantern to enjoy the festival, but they will be available to buy. Then, the illuminated lanterns will be set afloat on the lake, creating a magical environment. (Later, crews will clean them up.) Elm Grove Beach, 500 W. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Elsinore. eventbrite.com/e/asian-glow-fest-water-lanterns-kite-festival-free-event-family-fun-tickets-1999057612131

Oct. 17 — Riverside: If you like motorcycles and dogs, head to Dogtoberfest, billed as “a celebration of community, pups and motorcyles,” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Canine attendees can enjoy free Pup Cups and pose with their humans in a Doggy Photobooth. There also will be a dog costume contest, vendors and rescue groups with adoptable pets, free food and drinks for people and free grooming for dogs. Riverside Harley-Davidson, 7688 Indiana Ave., Riverside. www.facebook.com/events/7688-indiana-ave-riverside-ca-united-states-california-92504/dogtoberfest/1075182125367930/

Oct. 19 — San Bernardino: Make your own Halloween-themed lantern at a fun family craft session from 5 to 6  p.m. at the Feldheym Central Library. 555 W 6th St., San Bernardino. sbpl.org

Oct. 24 — Costa Mesa: Enjoy the 6th Annual All Abilities Celebration at the Segerstrom Center’s Argyros Plaza. This promises to be a fun day for the whole family with live shows, activities, workshops and resources, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and accessible to all. An ASL interpreter will be available. Learn more about the Studio D arts school for all abilities. Parking is paid. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa scfta.org/events/2026/all-abilities-celebration

Oct. 24 — Eastvale: Enjoy a family drive-in movie for free at the Eastvale Sunset Cinema Drive-In movie series. This week it’s a double feature: “Toy Story 5” and “Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black Pearl.” Gates open at 6 p.m. Movies start at sunset. Eastvale residents can get one free ticket per car by signing up online. Visitors pay $10. 13200 Citrus St., Eastvale. Get your free ticket here: eventbrite.com/e/city-of-eastvale-sunset-cinema-2026-1-ticket-per-vehicle-tickets-1989422674774

Oct. 24 — North Hollywood: Why spend money on an afternoon of beginner painting? Join the co-founder of Viridian Art Academy from 2 to 3 p.m. for a free afternoon for adults, learning social-emotional art techniques, how to calm the mind through art, and have fun being creative with their peers. At the Valley Plaza branch library, 12311 Vanowen St., North Hollywood. lapl.org/events/9/la-made-painting-afternoon-viridian-art

Oct. 25 — Silverado: Take a family walk in beautiful Limestone Canyon with a docent and … miniature donkeys! All ages. From 9 to 11:30 a.m. Hear stories about the landscape around the Irvine Ranch and enjoy the donkeys, who walk along (no riding.)  Donkeys provided by the Back Bay Therapeutic Riding Club. Do not bring your own animals. Note that you must register in advance; no walkups. Registration opens Oct. 10 at 8 a.m. and all spots will go quickly. At the Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, Augustine staging area. Directions will be sent upon registration. Sign up here: letsgooutside.org/activities/2026/10/25/hoofprints-and-horizons-donkey-tales-11/

Oct 26 — Costa Mesa: Got a baby? Like art? Want to get out of the house? If so, come to the UCI Orange County Museum of Art for the 11 a.m. Bring Your Own Baby Tour & Tea. This is a half-hour stroller tour for parents of infants ages one year and under to connect with each other and explore exhibitions. Afterward, enjoy a free cup of tea from the onsite cafe. This event is held the first Wednesday of the month. Tickets are free, required, and available online. First come, first served. Paid parking, or plan to walk for awhile. Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa. langson.uci.edu/calendar/bring-your-own-baby-tour-tea-october-26/

related_articles location=”left” show_article_date=”false” article_type=”automatic-primary-tag”]

​ Orange County Register 

Rapper Rick Ross charged with battery after domestic violence accusation

• October 1, 2026

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rapper Rick Ross was arrested early Thursday morning and charged with battery related to a domestic violence accusation, authorities said.

Ross, whose legal name is William Roberts II, faces a felony charge of battery by strangulation, as well as a misdemeanor battery charge, according to online court records.

An attorney for Ross, 50, released a statement saying Ross is being wrongfully accused by an ex-girlfriend whose true motivations are unclear.

“The ex did not even file a police report until a month after the claimed incident allegedly took place,” defense attorney Steve Sadow said in the statement. “Mr. Roberts is innocent and has pled not guilty to the charges. He respectfully requests that his friends, fans and the general public not prejudge the situation and allow the judicial process to run its course.”

Jail records showed that Ross was being held Thursday morning on $5,000 bail. An arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 22.

​ Orange County Register 

The 10 most vulnerable House members just over a month before Election Day

• October 1, 2026

By Mary Ellen McIntire and Daniela Altimari, CQ-Roll Call

WASHINGTON — With less than five weeks to go until the midterm elections, Republicans face historical headwinds as the party in power and must also contend with high gas prices amid the ongoing Iran war.

But Republican groups enjoy a clear cash advantage as the party seeks to hold on to the House, and redistricting in several states has improved GOP chances of flipping a handful of seats across the country.

Even so, Democrats have expanded the House battleground of districts they believe to be competitive, including in territory Donald Trump carried by double digits two years ago.

CQ Roll Call’s latest list of the most vulnerable House members continues to be influenced by the redistricting fights of the past year.

Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, who topped our rankings in May, moves off the list entirely after the Supreme Court last week blocked the use of a GOP-drawn map that had transformed his Kansas City-area seat into a Republican sure shot. Cleaver is now seeking reelection to a safely Democratic district, and Missouri voters will weigh in on the proposed GOP map via a November ballot referendum.

Taking the top spot this time is Republican Rep. James Gallagher, who won a June special election for a California district that was radically reshaped in Democrats’ favor under a new voter-approved map that will be used in November. Kevin Kiley, another California redistricting target who switched from Republican to independent earlier this year, follows behind Gallagher.

Two Democrats, whose districts became more Republican, also feature high on the list. Florida Rep. Darren Soto, now running for a seat that Trump would have carried by double digits, is his party’s most vulnerable incumbent, followed by Alabama’s Shomari Figures.

Others making the list include mainstays for much of the cycle who are in Toss-up races that are likely to decide the House majority. New entrants include Republican Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa, a state that’s been hit hard by high costs tied to the Iran war and Trump’s tariff policies, and GOP Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr. of New Jersey.

To determine the 10 most vulnerable incumbents, CQ Roll Call spoke with party insiders and elections analysts and analyzed candidates’ past results, their campaign finance filings and outside spending in key races. We looked only at races that feature incumbents, and thus did not consider open battleground seats that will be critical to determining House control.

As is generally the case, we also did not include races between two sitting House members. Redistricting left Republican Reps. Ken Calvert and Young Kim competing for the same Southern California seat this November, meaning one of them is set to depart the House at the end of the year.

We continue to monitor a handful of other races in California, where a Democratic incumbent and a fellow Democrat advanced to the general election under the state’s top-two primary system, especially considering the anti-incumbent streak that was notable in some Democratic primaries. Members facing notable challenges include Reps. Doris Matsui, Jimmy Gomez and Mike Thompson.

1. James Gallagher (R)

California´s 1st District

Gallager´s 2024 margin: none (elected 2026)

Trump´s 2024 margin: -12.2 (new lines)

Race Rating: Solid Democratic

Gallagher won a special election in June to fill the Northern California seat of the late GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa, but his time in the House is likely to be short. The 1st District was among several in the state that were dramatically restructured last year to favor Democrats, after voters approved a ballot measure designed to offset a GOP-led redistricting in Texas. The special election was held under the 2024 boundaries, and Gallagher won with 62% of the vote. Democrat Mike McGuire, the former leader of the California State Senate, finished third with just 17%. But under the new lines, the district turned decidedly blue, with red-leaning Yuba City and Redding cast out in favor of the heavily Democratic wine country communities of Santa Rosa and Healdsburg. That makes McGuire the heavy favorite in his November rematch with Gallagher.

2. Kevin Kiley (I)

California´s 6th District

Kiley´s 2024 margin: +11.0 (3rd District)

Trump´s 2024 margin: -8.4 (new 6th District lines)

Race Rating: Lean Democratic

After the boundaries of his current House district were redrawn to secure the seat for Democrats, Kiley, a second-term lawmaker who ran for governor in the 2021 California recall election, pivoted to the revamped 6th District. He also shed his Republican affiliation, though he continues to caucus with his former party. Winning as an independent in the blue-leaning Sacramento-area seat remains a challenge, however. His Democratic opponent, pediatrician and former state Sen. Richard Pan, has portrayed Kiley as a Trump acolyte. The president endorsed Kiley in 2022, but the congressman has since sought to create some distance between himself and the party’s MAGA wing. He’s been openly critical of Speaker Mike Johnson’s leadership and recently pushed back against an ad by a Democrat-aligned group that paints him as “Trump’s MAGA champion.”

3. Darren Soto (D)

Florida´s 9th District

Soto´s 2024 margin: +12.5

Trump´s 2024 margin: +17.8 (new lines)

Race Rating: Likely Republican

Republicans had been targeting Soto all cycle, but his Central Florida seat became a top pickup opportunity this spring after Florida Republicans redrew their congressional map to help the party flip as many as four seats. Democrats concede that the new lines set Soto up for a tough race against Republican Dan Green, a Navy veteran who narrowly won a crowded primary last month. Soto recently voted with Republicans and other vulnerable Democrats on a resolution denouncing “socialism in all its forms” that also included a call for passage of Trump’s voter ID bill. FEC reports at the end of July showed Soto, who didn’t have to contend with a primary, with a cash edge over Green. The race hasn’t yet attracted as much outside spending as other battleground districts, but that may change in the campaign’s final weeks.

4. Shomari Figures (D)

Alabama´s 2nd District

Figures´ 2024 margin: +9.2

Trump´s 2024 margin: +14.3

Race Rating: Likely Republican

Figures was first elected in 2024 under an Alabama map that created a second Democrat-leaning district with a substantial Black population. But he faces a difficult path to reelection against GOP state Rep. Rhett Marques after the Supreme Court approved Alabama’s use this year of a map more favorable to the GOP. Under the new lines, Figures’ hometown of Mobile was drawn out of the 2nd District and the percentage of Black voters dropped to about 40%. Limited polling has shown a close race, but the district fundamentals favor Marques, who succeeded now-Rep. Barry Moore in the state House in 2018. Republican outside groups, including No Going Back PAC, a spinoff of Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC, have sought to shore up Marques on air. Republicans also hope a Trump rally planned for Friday in Mobile will help juice voter turnout across the state.

5. Zach Nunn (R)

Iowa´s 3rd District

Nunn´s 2024 margin: +3.9

Trump´s 2024 margin: +4.4

Race Rating: Toss-up

Currently in his second term representing this Des Moines-centered district, Nunn is battling strong political headwinds that appear to favor Democrats. The ongoing Iran conflict and Trump’s tariffs have sent prices for two essential components of the state’s farm economy – fertilizer and diesel fuel – through the roof. Earlier this month, Nunn broke with GOP leaders and backed a resolution to require congressional approval to continue the war. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth campaigned in Iowa last month with Nunn, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Democratic nominee Sarah Trone Garriott is a Lutheran minister and state senator with a track record of flipping competitive seats: She won an open GOP-held seat in 2020 and then defeated the president of the state Senate two years later following redistricting. Trone Garriott reported raising $5.3 million as of June 30, compared with nearly $5 million for Nunn.

6. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R)

Iowa´s 1st District

Miller-Meeks´ 2024 margin: +0.2

Trump´s 2024 margin: +8.5

Race Rating: Toss-up

Democrats are hopeful that 2026 will be the year they finally dislodge Miller-Meeks from the Eastern Iowa battleground seat she flipped by six votes six years ago. The Republican has beaten her Democratic opponent, former state Rep. Christina Bohannan, twice already, including by a scant 799 votes in 2024. But Democrats are counting on a boost from the top of the ticket, with their gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand and Senate nominee Josh Turek both waging competitive races in the GOP-leaning state. Miller-Meeks and Bohannan have proved to be prodigious fundraisers this cycle: Bohannan ended June with $5.4 million banked while Miller-Meeks had $4.7 million. One potential wild card in the race is the presence of independent candidate Michael Bridgford, a financial adviser who says he’s running to challenge the two-party system.

7. Ryan Mackenzie (R)

Pennsylavania´s 7th District

Mackenzie´s 2024 margin: +1.0

Trump´s 2024 margin: +3.2

Race Rating: Toss-up

A freshman running in a Lehigh Valley swing district, Mackenzie is seeking to outrun a tough political environment to win a second term. He faces Democrat Bob Brooks, a former firefighter and union president who won a contested primary earlier this year with support from both the Blue Dog PAC and progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders. Mackenzie, who was unopposed in his primary, entered July with a nearly 3-to-1 cash-on-hand edge over Brooks. Latino voters could once again play a key role here, as Mackenzie hopes to hold on to voters who helped him flip the seat two years ago. But the governor’s race could complicate things for the incumbent, with Gov. Josh Shapiro expected to do well at the top of the ticket, potentially boosting fellow Democrats down ballot.

8. Thomas H. Kean Jr. (R)

New Jersey´s 7th District

Kean´s 2024 margin: +5.4

Trump´s 2024 margin: +1.2

Race Rating: Tilt Democratic

Kean joins the list as election prognosticators have shifted the race rating for his Central Jersey seat in Democrats’ favor. He earned national attention this spring when he missed several months of votes while receiving treatment for depression. That absence was the focus of a recent digital ad from the pro-Democratic House Majority PAC. Democratic nominee Rebecca Bennett, a Navy veteran, has criticized Kean over stock trades made while in office. Kean maintains that his portfolio is handled without his involvement, and Republicans have questioned Bennett’s own finances. In a recent debate, Kean, the son of a popular former governor, touted his differences with Trump on the Gateway Tunnel Project and plans to build an ICE detention center in the district, while supporting other presidential priorities such as tariffs and the Iran war. Both candidates have been strong fundraisers as they compete in the expensive New York City media market.

9. Juan Ciscomani (R)

Arizona´s 6th District

Ciscomani´s 2024 margin: +2.5

Trump´s 2024 margin: +0.7

Race Rating: Toss-up

First elected in 2022, Ciscomani has built a reputation as a GOP moderate. But his support of Trump’s policy agenda has emerged as a key campaign issue this year in the southern Arizona swing district. Ciscomani’s Democratic opponent, Marine Corps veteran JoAnna Mendoza, says the incumbent has embraced policies that have hurt the district’s rural hospitals and driven up costs. Mendoza is among a coterie of female veterans, including New Jersey’s Bennett, who’ve drawn national attention to their races against Republican incumbents. She reported raising $7.3 million through the beginning of July, compared with $6.2 million for the incumbent. Ciscomani recently campaigned with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Speaker Mike Johnson to highlight Trump’s tax cuts, which he credits with boosting manufacturing and creating jobs in the district.

10. Don Davis (D)

North Carolina´s 1st District

Davis´ 2024 margin: +1.7

Trump´s 2024 margin: +11.6 (new lines)

Race Rating: Tilt Republican

Davis has been a perennial contender on this list since he first won his northeastern North Carolina seat in 2022. Since then, Republican state lawmakers have redrawn the district twice, each time making it more hospitable to the GOP. The most recent redistricting round swept in predominantly white coastal towns and shed communities in the state’s historic Black Belt, including Davis’ hometown of Snow Hill. That would appear to favor Republican nominee Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel who lost to Davis two years ago. But Davis is used to tough races and has burnished a moderate image that sometimes puts him at odds with party leaders. Democrats are encouraged by potential coattail effects from the Senate contest, though Republicans say high spending in that race could benefit Buckhout in a more conservative district. Libertarian Thomas Bailey is running again; in 2024, he took nearly 3% of the vote.

©2026 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Investigators work to determine why a pilot apparently tried to crash a FlyDubai flight to Israel

• October 1, 2026

By MELANIE LIDMAN, SAMY MAGDY and CARA ANNA

JERUSALEM (AP) — Investigators worked Thursday to determine why an Omani pilot stabbed the captain of a flight to Israel, causing the plane to plummet dangerously before others on board landed it in Saudi Arabia.

Passengers on the FlyDubai plane — which was carrying 174 people, mostly Israelis, from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv — have described how the bloodied Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door to let them in before they grappled with the copilot and stabilized a descent so sharp that the plane’s rudder was torn away.

“We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn’t know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive,” Asaf Rajuan, who was among those who intervened, said in a statement shared by Israel’s presidency.

A regional official briefed on the investigation said the suspect, an Omani citizen, was under arrest and confirmed that Saudi authorities were working with countries, including Israel, to try to determine a motive. He said the UAE, the United States and Oman also were involved.

“All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into. Nothing is ruled out for now,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing probe.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, without giving details, claimed the attacker underwent Islamist indoctrination. Asked who helped radicalize him, the prime minister told Fox News channel’s “Fox and Friends” he did not know.

The copilot has not been publicly identified. Video shot inside the plane by Shota Musayev, a dentist who treated the captain, shows the copilot on his knees, with his hands tied behind his back.

Capt. Smit Machchhar, widely praised as one of the heroes of the flight, was reportedly in stable condition, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia said overnight.

Israeli investigators will join the interrogation of the copilot

Israeli intelligence and security officials were in Saudi Arabia to help investigate the copilot, according to another regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Israel has requested that the copilot be sent to Israel for the investigation, though it is unclear if that request will be granted, the official said.

Saudi Arabia does not have formal diplomatic ties with Israel, but the countries have long cooperated on security and intelligence matters through alternative channels.

The UAE government said its own investigation team had begun looking into the attack and “whether it was linked to any terrorist purpose,” noting that Emirati authorities have jurisdiction because the plane is registered there and UAE law applies to crimes committed on board.

Asked if there is any indication of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu told Fox News “it’s too early to say.”

Netanyahu earlier said he also spoke with the UAE’s president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who agreed that Israel would join the interrogation of the suspect.

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that he and Netanyahu discussed the incident “at length” by phone and it seemed as though the copilot “was perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job.”

Oman’s government, which doesn’t have diplomatic relations with Israel, has not commented.

Israel says it received no specific warning of an attack

Netanyahu had warned in recent days of heightened security threats, though he told CNN that Israel had received no specific warning. The country is a week away from the anniversary of the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which has triggered the war in Gaza — and weeks away from an election.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said most of the people on board were from Israel, along with others from India and the UAE. The U.S. State Department said four passengers had American citizenship.

FlyDubai has said its flights to and from Israel would be suspended. Netanyahu told CBS that Israel plans to fly home anyone stranded in Dubai as a result.

School where captain trained calls safe landing ‘miraculous’

In the chaos that began about two and a half hours after takeoff, the flight descended from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet (around 10,000 meters to 5,100 meters) in about a minute, before making an erratic circle close to the Jordanian border and landing in Tabuk, according to Flightradar24. The site identified the aircraft as a Boeing 737 Max 8.

FlyDubai said crew members on board helped secure the plane but released no details about them.

The head of the New Zealand flight school where the Indian captain trained, Philip Kean, called it “miraculous in the way that the airplane was never, ever kind of designed for that sort of dive and survive that, the airplane actually didn’t break up completely.”

During the frantic search for a place to land, a person who heard the flight’s communications with air traffic control described the plane being turned away by Saudi Arabia and Jordan before eventually landing in Tabuk in Saudi Arabia while passengers screamed in the background. The pilot’s voice was trembling as he called “mayday” and said a hijacking was taking place.

The air traffic controllers gave no reason for the refusals. The person who heard the communications spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Anna from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

The most vulnerable senators of 2026, about a month out from Election Day

• October 1, 2026

By Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire, CQ-Roll Call

WASHINGTON — The once unlikely prospect of Democrats scoring a net gain of four seats to win the Senate majority now looks more plausible less than five weeks out from the midterm elections.

Still, that would require the party to win in red states that haven’t elected a Democrat to the Senate in years. But strong recruits, coupled with a favorable political environment, have moved some new races onto the Senate battleground in recent weeks.

New to the top of CQ Roll Call’s list of the most vulnerable senators is Ohio Republican Jon Husted, who’s running for the remaining term of Sen.-turned-Vice President JD Vance. He faces a challenge from former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who lost reelection just two years ago and retains high name ID and fundraising prowess.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, no stranger to tough races, remains at No. 2 as a Republican seeking reelection in a blue-leaning state. Her race was jolted mid-summer as Democrats scrambled to pick a new nominee.

But Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff moves further down the list to No. 5. While the Peach State remains purple, he has proved to be a powerhouse fundraiser and his Republican opponent has been dogged by controversies.

Three senators whose greatest risk to reelection was in the primary — Republicans Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and John Cornyn of Texas and Democrat Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts — fall off the latest list. Cassidy and Cornyn both lost their primaries, while Markey defeated Rep. Seth Moulton and is now heavily favored in November in his deep-blue state.

Taking their place are three Republican senators whose races have become more competitive. Debuting at No. 4 is Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, who’s running for a second term against Democrat Adam Hamilton.

Also joining the list are Nebraska’s Pete Ricketts and South Carolina’s Darline Graham, who was appointed to the Senate this summer after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham. Ricketts’ race against independent Dan Osborn is worth watching after Osborn made a late charge against GOP Sen. Deb Fischer two years ago. But the challenger faces new hurdles this time around. And Graham, with a key endorsement from President Donald Trump, remains favored to win in a Republican-leaning state, but she’s had to ramp up a campaign in a short time frame.

To compile these rankings, CQ Roll Call’s campaign team spoke with party insiders and election prognosticators and analyzed polls, candidates’ past performance, campaign finances and outside spending.

Several states with open Senate seats, which we did not include on this list of vulnerable incumbents, will also be key to determining control of the chamber. Among them is North Carolina, where polls show Democrat Roy Cooper in the driver’s seat against Republican Michael Whatley.

In Iowa, where Sen. Joni Enrst is retiring, GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson is in a tight race with Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek. And without Cornyn on the ballot in Texas, Democrats are cautiously hopeful about state Rep. James Talarico’s chances against scandal-tarred state Attorney General Ken Paxton, although spending by Republican outside groups has surged in recent weeks.

Republicans are also eyeing pickup opportunities in open seats. In Michigan, former Rep. Mike Rogers, who lost a close race in 2024, faces Abdul El-Sayed, and in New Hampshire, GOP former Sen. John E. Sununu is seeking a comeback against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas.

1. Jon Husted, R-Ohio

Husted´s 2020 margin: none (appointed 2025)

Trump´s 2024 margin: +11.2

Race Rating: Toss-up

Appointed last year to fill the rest of Vice President JD Vance’s Senate term, Husted is being squeezed on multiple fronts. His stance on data centers has become a key campaign issue, and there are strong signs of a political realignment in reliably red Ohio. Husted’s Democratic rival, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, is seeking a comeback after losing to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024. A Marist poll released Tuesday found Brown with an 8-point lead over Husted. The race is among the nation’s most expensive — Brown raised nearly $39 million through June 30, while Husted brought in more than $14 million. But outside money could play an outsize role in the race: Cryptocurrency interests spent big to defeat Brown two years ago, and the industry’s leading super PAC told The New York Times it intends to unleash $30 million in attacks targeting the Democrat in the run-up to November.

2. Susan Collins, R-Maine

Collins´ 2020 margin: +8.6

Trump´s 2024 margin: -6.9

Race Rating: Toss-up

A frequent Democratic target, Collins is seeking a sixth term in what has perhaps been the most dramatic Senate race of the year. Since our previous rankings, Democratic nominee Graham Platner dropped out in the face of a rape allegation, which he denied. Former state Senate President Troy Jackson, who ran unsuccessfully for governor, then won a party convention to replace Platner on the ballot and had to rapidly assemble a campaign to face Collins. Third-quarter fundraising reports due in mid-October will be instructive on how Jackson’s campaign has ramped up. Republicans express optimism about Collins, who has won in tough years for her party before, but given Maine’s Democratic lean, the senator remains near the top of this list.

3. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska

Sullivan´s 2020 margin: +12.7

Trump´s 2024 margin: +13.1

Race Rating: Tilt Republican

A high-profile Democratic challenger, a rival with the same name and Alaska’s ranked choice voting system all contribute to Sullivan’s vulnerability. There are four candidates on the November ballot: Sullivan, the GOP incumbent who will be listed as Dan S. Sullivan; Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola; retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, listed with no party affiliation; and Republican Gerald Heikes, a perennial hopeful. Sen. Sullivan is also contending with Democratic criticism that Republican policies are driving up costs, a potentially potent issue in a state where gas and food prices typically exceed the national average. Peltola, a moderate, has campaigned on affordability and “fixing the rigged system.” The race was rocked last week by a New York Times report on allegations that she used slurs and raged at staff members. Her campaign denied any pattern of hostile behavior.

4. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.

Marshall´s 2020 margin: +11.4

Trump´s 2024 margin: +16.1

Race Rating: Likely Republican

The presence on this list of a Republican from Kansas — which last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 1932 — signifies just how arduous the midterm environment has become for the GOP. Marshall faces Democrat Adam Hamilton, the pastor of the nation’s largest United Methodist congregation. Marshall, a physician, came under fire after The New York Times reported that his medical practice sued hundreds of patients for nonpayment of debts, which quickly became the subject of a Hamilton attack ad (drawing legal action from the senator’s team.) Meanwhile, The Kansas Reflector questioned Marshall’s residency, publishing details of his ties to Sarasota, Fla. A Trump ally, Marshall has recently tried to distance himself from the administration’s immigration enforcement policies, and Republicans have cast Hamilton as a “woke megachurch CEO.” Hamilton touts several GOP supporters, including former Gov. Bill Graves and Marshall’s primary opponent, Arch “Pond” Naramore.

5. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.

Ossoff´s 2021 margin: +1.2 (runoff)

Trump´s 2024 margin: +2.2

Race Rating: Tilt Democratic

Ossoff started the cycle as the Senate’s most endangered Democratic incumbent — and he remains the only Democrat on our list. But his seismic fundraising numbers — his campaign reported raising more than $91 million through June 30 — and skill at creating viral clips calibrated to antagonize Trump have fueled growing confidence among his supporters. Ossoff has led Republican nominee Mike Collins in almost every public poll, and some Republicans have expressed concern that the race is slipping away. Collins, a second-term congressman, has Trump’s support, but he’s also been dogged by controversies, including a House Ethics investigation and reports that his son-in-law shared antisemitic and white nationalist social media posts. Still, Georgia is a purple state, and Republicans hold out hope that a strong showing by their billionaire gubernatorial nominee, Rick Jackson, will lift Collins.

6. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb.

Ricketts´ 2024 margin: +25.2

Trump´s 2024 margin: +20.5

Race Rating: Likely Republican

Two years ago, Dan Osborn, an independent union leader from Omaha with no elective experience, came within 7 points of unseating Republican Deb Fischer. Osborn is aiming to better that result this year in his challenge to Ricketts, a former two-term governor with enormous personal wealth and a powerful reach in Nebraska politics. Osborn again has the backing of state Democrats, with the party’s Senate nominee dropping out in August. But unlike 2024, there will be three other candidates on the ballot: Chuck Conboy of the America First Party; Robin Richards of the Nebraska Working People Party; and Mike Marvin of the Legal Marijuana NOW party, who has dropped out and endorsed Osborn though his name remains on the ballot. Earlier this month, Osborn apologized for profanity-laced remarks he made about rural Trump voters after the Republican National Committee posted leaked audio.

7. Darline Graham, R-S.C.

Graham´s 2020 margin: none (appointed 2026)

Trump´s 2024 margin: +17.9

Race Rating: Likely Republican

Following Sen. Lindsey Graham’s unexpected death in July, his sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to fill the rest of his term, and then, at Trump’s urging, announced she would seek a full six-year term. In the special election to replace her brother on the South Carolina ballot, Graham, armed by the president’s support, defeated several prominent Republican lawmakers, including Reps. Ralph Norman and Russell Fry. She next faces pediatrician Annie Andrews, who unsuccessfully ran for the House in 2022 and is hoping to become the first Democrat elected to statewide office in South Carolina in two decades. Graham is an untested candidate who’s had some early stumbles: In a debate before the primary, she acknowledged that she was “not that informed on national security” matters. But Trump is heavily invested in the race, and South Carolina’s strong Republican advantage complicates Andrews’ task.

©2026 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Visit at rollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

US futures mixed with Brent crude bouncing back above $100 a barrel and bond yields soaring

• October 1, 2026

By YURI KAGEYAMA and MICHELLE CHAPMAN, AP Business Writers

U.S. futures are mixed to start October as Brent crude creeps back above $100 a barrel and bond yields soar.

Futures for the S&P 500 gained 0.2% on Thursday. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.2%. Nasdaq futures rose 0.6%.

Brent crude, the international standard, rose 2.1% to $100.10 a barrel. Oil topped $100 a barrel in early September when fighting between the U.S. and Iran escalated. That was the first time Brent crude had passed $100 a barrel since July. Benchmark U.S. crude climbed 1.5% to $91.78 a barrel.

Oil prices have been swinging wildly in recent months amid uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the flow of crude to be fully restored. Iranian officials indicated Wednesday they have received an official U.S. response to Tehran’s latest proposal to end the seven-month war. The officials did not say what the latest response contained and whether it was a rejection.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rejected Iran’s proposal just days earlier to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the U.S. meets certain conditions.

That is part of the reason longer-term yields are rising in the bond market, but there are also worries about the big debt loads that Washington and other governments worldwide are taking on.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit 5.3% on Thursday. The 30-year U.S. Treasury yield is at 5.65%, a level not seen since 2002.

Shares of Alphabet are up more than 2% before the market open after Google’s parent company unveiled its latest artificial intelligence model, Gemini 4 Argon. And Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. announced that it will be spinning off its New York Rangers business from its New York Knicks business. That transaction is expected to be completed on Oct. 26. Its shares are up slightly.

In Europe, France’s CAC 40 declined 1.2% to 7,369.56, while the German DAX fell slightly to 25,064.67. Britain’s FTSE 100 dropped 1.3% to 10,470.72. Some Asian markets were higher. Hong Kong and Shanghai markets were closed for a national holiday.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 158.18 Japanese yen from 157.33 yen. The euro cost $1.1294, down from $1.1334.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

​ Orange County Register 

Three candidates vie for Anaheim mayor as city enters another busy period

• October 1, 2026

Anaheim’s next mayor will lead the City Council through four years poised to be full of progress and big decisions.

Awaiting Anaheim’s elected leaders in the years ahead are a multi-million-dollar windfall that’ll be hitting city coffers, the ramping up of the DisneylandForward expansion, the first new entertainment offerings opening at OCVibe, a new owner to get to know in the Angels’ front office and an inventory of needed repairs that’s bound to affect the direction of the city-owned stadium’s future.

And, of course, there’s meeting the day-to-day needs of some 350,000 residents in Orange County’s most populous city.

Mayor Ashleigh Aitken is facing challengers Alfredo Rodriguez, a general manager at a local environmental services company, and physician Imran Sharief on the Nov. 3 ballot for the four-year term that could see the winner on the dais as the city faces key future decisions.

Whoever wins the term will help decide how the city spends an influx of more than $120 million annually to its general fund by 2028, when Anaheim expects to have paid off bonds taken out in the 1990s to expand the resort area.

All three candidates, who were both interviewed and provided written answers to questions, advocated for a transparent decision-making process for spending those funds.

Rodriguez and Sharief said they’d first like to see the funds strengthen Anaheim’s reserves before bolstering core city services, such as cleaner neighborhoods, streets and infrastructure, parks and public safety.

Rodriguez added he’d “support strategic investments that improve economic opportunity, attract businesses, create local jobs, and strengthen our tax base without creating unnecessary permanent government programs.”

And Sharief said a slice of the funds should go toward further addressing homelessness. “We’re not thinking in the right direction. Being a doctor, I can address this,” he said.

“We need to start by getting them off the road, work to evaluate them and we need to have the right institution, a drug rehab or something like that,” Sharief said. “And once we have them in rehab, then we have to put them through some institution program where we can educate them with some sort of 6-month program where they learn a skill.”

Aitken said she’d like the funds invested into “improving the quality of life of residents,” naming “water mains, park maintenance, waste management, streetlights, trash cans, and street cleaning” as priorities, as well as the city’s homeless outreach programs.

She also called law enforcement and public safety “a priority” in city spending. The Anaheim Police Department is at a record staffing level, with 421 sworn officers.

“I have a plan in my next term to get us to 500,” Aitken said.

“Hiring and training officers year over year. I want people to feel safe walking around their neighborhood at night. I want people to be able to send their kids to school on a safe route,” she said, adding that the expanded capacity could shorten response times for residents’ day-to-day needs, but also help address Anaheim’s diverse regions, including the resort area or “high wildfire zone” hills community.

For the second council meeting in a row, Aitken addressed Tuesday night allegations that she directed a racial slur at her chief of staff and asked questions about her sexual orientation.

TimesOC published a story on Sept. 21 about a mediation letter sent to the city with the allegations, but neither the employee nor her attorney responded to requests for the letter or comment.

“These allegations are extremely serious, and they deserve to be investigated. I did not use the racial slur attributed to me, and I have always been a champion of the LGBTQ community,” Aitken said in a recent statement posted to her Facebook page.

The city is in the early stages of conducting an independent review — results could take months — and Aitken has said she intends to “cooperate truthfully.”

Aitken became Anaheim’s first female mayor when elected to her first term in 2022. In her first four years, she said she’s reached out to communities and businesses across Anaheim to “better understand their needs and interests.”

“To take just one example,” she added. “I worked to advance the revitalization of Brookhurst Street while preserving the historic character and cultural identity of Little Arabia, and brought a ‘Little Arabia Next Exit’ sign to our freeways in recognition of the cultural and economic impact of the community. I have stood by our LGBTQ+ community, women’s rights organizations and stood with our immigrant neighbors during unlawful raids. I was raised to stand up for the voiceless, and I hope that I have lived my communities’ values.”

Rodriguez said his experience building his career and now leading a company “has taught me how to manage budgets, solve problems, make difficult decisions and bring people together around a common goal.”

“My responsibility as mayor,” he said, “would be to hear different perspectives, find common ground where possible and make decisions based on what is best for Anaheim as a whole.”

“Public safety has to come first,” he said of the challenges facing Anaheim.

“That means supporting our police officers and firefighters, addressing homelessness with both compassion and accountability, and making sure residents feel safe in their homes, parks and business districts,” he said, adding he’d promote public trust in the Anaheim Police Department by holding frequent neighborhood visits where officers and residents “have a conversation and see how we can all do better.”

Rodriguez said he’d like to launch a new app that would build upon the existing “My Anaheim” app where residents can request city services and view upcoming city events.

“A resident is able to go on their app and see how the city is functioning based on policies that we created, new changes that we’re doing for the city, new projects that we’re doing, such as, say, street improvement,” Rodriguez said. “Residents could just go on their app and say, ‘Hey, this is their progress, this is where they’re at — 30%, 50%.’”

Being a doctor and a businessman has shaped the way he approaches leadership, Sharief said.

“As a doctor, you learn to listen before you try to solve a problem. You also learn that every person who walks through your door deserves the same care and respect, regardless of their background,” he said. “In business, you learn that good intentions are not enough. You have to make decisions, manage resources responsibly, and ultimately be accountable for results.”

To help address the city’s housing needs, including meeting state mandates for more homes, especially at lower income levels, both Rodriguez and Sharief suggested speeding up the permit process to allow housing to be built faster and said they supported new housing near jobs, transit hubs and major commercial areas, while Rodriguez criticized the state’s “one-size-fits-all approach to every city.”

Aitken named several milestones made during her first term.

“I led the effort to adopt Anaheim’s first inclusionary affordable housing program, which the City Council unanimously approved,” she said, mentioning the Anaheim Local Housing Trust Fund, motel conversions and new affordable housing communities around the city.

Addressing housing affordability, “which is a really big challenge in Anaheim,” Aitken said, requires thinking about “everyday affordability.”

“Do we have programs in place like we set up with Anaheim Contigo for people who’ve lost the breadwinner in their family and need rental assistance? Seniors that need a bit of a social safety net. Those are the things as a city that we can help with and should be focusing on,” she said. “And, of course, trying to address the long-term issues of building more affordable housing.”

The next four year-term will see the completion of some multi-billion-dollar projects, including first phases of the OCVibe development that’s revamping Honda Center and the area around it as an entertainment and residential neighborhood and the first wave of the DisneylandForward theme park buildout.

Anaheim’s mayor could inform how these regional destinations would work in tandem with each other and weigh in on transit options to get residents and tourists around.

Aitken said, “We need to invest in both short- and long-term transportation solutions,” proffering shuttles or buses as short-term solutions to remove cars and congestion from the city’s busiest areas. A long-term solution would “cheaply and easily” move both residents and visitors and “connect to our county and light rail systems that cross our city into other counties.”

Sharief and Rodriguez proposed balancing exploring new transit systems for the city’s largest destinations, while investing in ground-level improvements to traffic signal coordination and street infrastructure and existing transit systems.

Rodriguez added, “Technology should play a larger role in managing traffic during major events and peak tourism periods.”

Anaheim officials are expecting “at year’s end” an assessment of the 60-year-old Angel Stadium’s condition. Angel Stadium is the fourth-oldest MLB stadium, and assessment results could be a key point in future lease negotiations.

And, for the first time in 23 years since Arte Moreno purchased the team, a new Angels owner in billionaire sports mogul and Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke is set to be in place early in the next mayoral term.

Sharief said he wants the team to stay in Anaheim and he’s also waiting for the results of the assessment to see what that future in town might look like.

“The assessment underway should give the city important information about its condition, remaining useful life and what rehabilitation may cost. I would not commit the city to a particular solution before seeing those facts,” he said.

“Once we have them, I would sit down with the Angels and work toward a long-term agreement that makes sense for both sides. I am open to different possibilities for the stadium and surrounding property,” he added. “Whatever we do, Anaheim taxpayers need to be protected. The process should be transparent, and residents should be able to understand the costs, benefits and obligations involved.”

Aitken said she supports Assembly Bill 2512, known as the “Home Run for Anaheim Act” and recently signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which would require the Los Angeles Angels to change the team’s name back to Anaheim Angels if the city gets an exemption from the Surplus Land Act — state law that prioritizes affordable housing — for developing around the stadium.

“They should be the Anaheim Angels,” Aitken said. “We need to break the curse.”

The ball club’s lease on the stadium runs through 2032 with the option to extend until 2038.

Aitken’s vision for Angel Stadium includes a new youth sports complex, she said. “I talk a lot about a youth sports complex because it would be a really unique opportunity for us to build on our tourism industry and be able to host traveling tournaments, whether they’re national or international baseball tournaments, soccer tournaments, softball.”

Rodriguez said he “would want to explore opportunities for the surrounding stadium property to generate additional economic activity, jobs and revenue while improving the overall area for residents and visitors,” adding, “The city and the Angels should approach this as partners, but Anaheim must negotiate from a position of strength.”

The mayor of Anaheim is paid up to $19,200 a year, plus a $50 stipend per council meeting they take part in, and they are eligible for health insurance through the city while in office.

​ Orange County Register