Research Highlights:

• EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit: On October 16, Brussels hosted the first-ever EU-GCC summit, where European and Gulf leaders discussed critical issues such as the Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and bilateral relations. This summit marks a new phase in diplomatic and economic relations between the EU and GCC nations.
• Israel-Hamas Conflict Escalation: The ongoing fighting in Gaza intensified, with concerns about broader regional involvement, including potential US and Iranian entanglements, raising alarm globally about further destabilization in the Middle East.
• Supreme Court EPA Case: The United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments regarding an effort to restrict the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to set water quality standards for sewage and other systems in a challenge by the City of San Francisco to the agency’s authority under the Clean Water Act.



Key Votes: Congressional and State

• No Congressional legislation updates this week
• Michigan (SB 790): Requires Individual Home Caregivers be Categorized as Public Employees and Authorizes Collective Bargaining
• Pennsylvania (SB 1230): Requires Improved Elevator Safety Standards
• Ohio (HB 301): Expands Non-Profit Corporation Law in Ohio

Political Highlights:

Elections: No elections this week

Candidates who have recently filled out our Political Courage Test (PCT):



• June Goodband: Peace and Justice (Party) nominee for Governor of Vermont
• Stephen Whitmer: Republican nominee for Indiana State House District 97
• Robert Marshall: Democratic representative for Colorado’s 43rd State House district. Before being elected in 2022, he served in the Marine Corps, was an employee for the Internal Revenue Service, and was a conservative Republican who left the party in 2017 before joining the Democrats in 2021.
• Robert Latham: Libertarian nominee for Governor of Utah

• Click here to view your state’s Political Courage Test

Endorsements: Here are some interesting endorsements and interest group ratings our team found this week!

• Kamala Harris: Endorsed by Equality Maine
• Donald Trump: ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors), AEA (American Energy Alliance), and the Christian Civic League of Maine
• 3rd Party Candidates: No endorsements this week.

Voter Registration:

• Click here to add or view our elections calendar, which provides voter registration dates for every state.
• Click here to learn how and where to vote in your state, including links to where to find your local polling place.