CBC in the news as voting rights debates loom and political divides heat up. Refresher: oldest Black caucus in Congress, chaired by Rep. Karen Bass since 2019.
In March 2026, AI and cryptocurrency industries spent nearly $20 million in Illinois primaries to influence candidates' stances on regulation. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, backed by Gov. JB Pritzker, won the Senate primary despite opposition from crypto-backed super PACs. Rival AI super PACs Leading the Future and Public First spent millions supporting opposing candidates nationwide, signaling growing tech industry political ambitions ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker's support for Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in her Senate primary has caused friction with Congressional Black Caucus members, who feel his financial backing tilted the race. Stratton's victory highlights Pritzker's influence and potential 2028 presidential ambitions amid intra-party tensions.
The NAACP has launched the Out of Bounds campaign, urging Black athletes, families and supporters to withhold athletic and financial support from public universities in states perceived as weakening Black voting representation. The initiative aims to pressure flagship programs in several Southern states as part of a broader response to gerrymandering and a Supreme Court decision affecting the Voting Rights Act.