Upcoming in the Month Ahead

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

• Second Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election season held in California. Debate is hosted by Fox Business, in partnership with Univision and Rumble. In order to participate, candidates must meet thresholds of 50,000 unique donors, 200 unique contributors from 20 or more states and territories, and must be polling at least 3% in two national polls or 3% in one national poll and in two polls conducted from separate early nominating states. Candidates must also pledge to not participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debates and to support the eventual party nominee.

• Court hearing for Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., his wife Nadine Menendez and businessmen Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes, charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in an alleged corruption scheme. Prosecutors say Menendez and his wife accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from Hana, Uribe, and Daibes in exchange for Menendez using his position as a senator and chair of the chamber’s Foreign Affairs Committee to benefit Egypt’s government. He allegedly ghost wrote a letter to other senators encouraging them to release millions of dollars in aid for the nation and gave non-public information to officials about military officials. Menendez denied the charges and refused to resign despite pressure from some fellow Democratic senators, New Jersey’s governor, and state party officials. The case is before Judge Sidney Stein, case no. 1:2023cr00490.

• First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visits Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri, to “highlight their programming to support civic literacy and education in the local community.” Dr. Biden tours the museum and meets with local high school students and teachers. Dr. Biden then delivers remarks at political event for the Biden Victory Fund in Kansas City, Missouri.

• President Joe Biden, who is running for reelection, participates in campaign receptions.

• Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump meets with striking autoworkers in Michigan and delivers remarks. Workers from the UAW are in talks with the “Big Three” automotive manufacturers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — in order to prevent strikes continuing, with workers calling for a 36% wage increase over four years and more job protections. The second Republican presidential debate takes place today in California. Trump did not attend the first debate.

• Status conference for David DePape, charged with attempted kidnapping of a federal officer or employee and assault on the immediate family member of a federal official. DePape allegedly broke into the San Francisco, California, house of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., knocking her husband Paul Pelosi unconscious with a hammer. Officials also said he told police he wanted to confront Nancy Pelosi and break her kneecaps if she lied. Case no. 3:2022cr00426 before Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. DePape also faces charges in California state court.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

• President Joe Biden, who is running for reelection, participates in a campaign reception. Biden delivers remarks honoring the legacy of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and “the work we must do together to strengthen our democracy.”

• 14th Annual Congressional Football Game for Charity. Charity game traditionally brings together members of Congress, former NFL players and U.S. Capitol Police to raise funds for local Washington, D.C., organizations.

• 2023 Atlantic Festival, hosted by The Atlantic to bring together “influential and provocative political, cultural, business, tech and climate leaders for two full days of in-depth interviews, timely forums, intimate breakout sessions, book talks, screenings and networking opportunities.” Speakers include Secretary of State Antony Blinken; Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Joaquin Castro, D-Texas; Republican presidential candidate former Rep. Will Hurd; National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan; Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox; authors Cheryl Strayed, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Lauren Groff; model Karlie Kloss; OpenAI CTO Mira Murati; and director Spike Lee.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

• U.S. House of Representatives scheduled to break for Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus Day District Work Period.

• California GOP Fall 2023 Convention begins, with speakers including Republican presidential candidates former President Donald Trump, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

• Funding for parts of the federal government due to expire, unless extended, following the passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, in December last year. The most recent government shutdown was December 2018-January 2019, which followed a dispute over border security.

• New Hampshire Democratic Party State Convention, with keynote speaker Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

• Polk County Democrats Steak Fry, with guest Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1

• Annual Red Mass, to “invoke God’s blessing and guidance on justices, judges, diplomats, attorneys and senior government officials” ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s October session. SCOTUS justices usually attend, along with congressional leaders and cabinet secretaries, who attend as private individuals rather than government representatives to avoid arguments over the separation of church and state. Each year the John Carroll Society confers its Pro Bono Legal Service Awards to thank lawyers and law firms that have provided outstanding service to the Catholic Charities Legal Network.

• The Maryland Democratic Party Annual BBQ Bash is to be held at 4:00 p.m. EDT.

• Democratic presidential candidate author Marianne Williamson campaigns in New Hampshire, with stops including a meet and greet, Tamarack Tennis Camp, Franconia, at 11:00 a.m. EDT and University of New Hampshire, Durham, at 5:30 p.m. EDT.

• Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy hosts campaign rally in Las Vegas at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country at 4:00 p.m. PDT.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2

• Democratic presidential candidate author Marianne Williamson campaigns in New Hampshire, with stops including a politics and pizza event at Franklin Pierce University, Rindge, 11:00 a.m. EDT; Keene State College at 3:30 p.m. EDT; and Water Street Bookstore in Exeter, 7:00 p.m. EDT.

• Trial scheduled to begin in civil suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the Trump Organization. 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3

• Democratic presidential candidate author Marianne Williamson campaigns in New Hampshire, visiting Dartmouth College.

• Green Party presidential candidate scholar and activist Cornel West hosts Busboys and Poets fundraising reception.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4

• Democratic presidential candidate author Marianne Williamson campaigns in New Hampshire, with stops including Veterans Home in Tilton, at 10:15 a.m. EDT, a town hall at New England College in Henniker, at 1:00 p.m. EDT, Manchester Community College in Manchester, at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and St. Anselm College in Goffstown, at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

• The Missouri Democratic Party 2023 Truman Dinner is to be held at the Marriott St. Louis Grand at 7:30 p.m. CDT.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5

• Democratic National Committee Summer Meeting begins.

• Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy hosts “Vektoberfest” at 4:00 p.m. in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Jamie Hurd Amphitheater.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6

• Senate scheduled to break for Columbus Day State Work Period.

• Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence holds a meet and greet in Fremont County, Iowa.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7

• Palm Beach County Democratic Party annual Truman-Kennedy-Johnson Gala to be held at West Palm Beach Marriott at 6:00 p.m. EDT.

• Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence campaigns in Iowa, holding a town hall in Mills County, Bloom Senior Center in Glenwood, Iowa, at 9:00 a.m. CDT, and Montgomery County town hall at Pizza Ranch in Red Oak, Iowa, at 11:15 a.m. CDT.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

• “The Final Witness: A Kennedy Secret Service Agent Breaks His Silence After Sixty Years,” book by Paul Landis, published by Chicago Review Press. Landis, a former Secret Service agent tasked with guarding First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, gives his first-hand account of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963, including testimony that raises questions about whether there might have been a second gunman in Dallas, Texas, that day.

WEDNEDAY, OCTOBER 11

• U.S. Supreme Court hearing: Alexander v. SC Conference of NAACP (Whether the South Carolina Legislature’s redistricting map following the 2020 Census constitutes an illegal racial gerrymander, even if the purported intent was a political gerrymander?)

• Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders discusses alternatives to capitalism, inequality, climate change and countering extremism with GroenLinks-PvdA party leader Frans Timmermans in the Netherlands.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12

• Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce hosts Kentucky gubernatorial candidate forum at 11:30 a.m. CDT, with candidates Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

• The Texas Federation of Republican Women Convention is to be held at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Texas.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13

• The Iowa Federation of Republican Women Biennial Convention is to be held at Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel in Des Moines, Iowa.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14

• Louisiana primary election, with the gubernatorial race and both legislative chambers on the ballot. Incumbent Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards is term-limited and cannot seek reelection. If no candidate receives over 50% of the vote, the top two candidates advance to the Nov. 18 general election.

• Louisiana votes on ballot measure: Amendment 1, which prohibits the use of funds, goods and services donated by a foreign government or nongovernmental source in conducting elections; Amendment 2, which provides that “the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that is worthy of the highest order of protection:” Amendment 3, which requires a minimum of 25% of state revenue that is designated as nonrecurring to be applied to the balance of the unfunded liability of the state retirement system; and Amendment 4, which prevents a nonprofit organization from receiving a property tax exemption if they own residential property that is in a state of disrepair dangerous to the public’s health or safety.

• Nebraska Democratic Party Kerrey Nelson Gala, celebrating the work of volunteers across the state.

• Human Rights Campaign National Dinner is to be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15

• The Winnipesaukee Republican Committee hosts Lincoln-Reagan Dinner in Moultonborough, New Hampshire, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16

• Congress scheduled to return after Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus Day District Work Period (aka State Work Period). No votes in the House of Representatives today.

• Presidential primary candidate filing deadline in Nevada.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23

• The jury trial for Trump allies charged in alleged attempt to overturn 2020 presidential election in Georgia is scheduled to begin.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25

• President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden host Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for an official state visit to “underscore the deep and enduring alliance between the United States and Australia and the two nations’ shared commitment to supporting an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.” The leaders also discuss “strengthening collaboration on critical issues for both nations in order to ensure the alliance is well equipped to respond to ever-evolving regional and global challenges.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

• A court hearing is scheduled for man charged with attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

• House breaks for recess.

• GOP presidential candidates speak at RJC Annual Leadership Summit.

• Court hearing scheduled for GOP New York Rep. George Santos on wire fraud and money laundering charges.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

• A court hearing is scheduled for Trump allies charged in alleged attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
  
  
  

More information about your state’s elections can be found at your Secretary of State’s Website: