DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Threats against election workers driving exodus of veteran staff, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Election workers process ballots after polls closed for the U.S. midterm elections at the tabulation center at Cobb County Elections and Registration Center in Marietta, Georgia, U.S., November 8, 2022. WASHINGTON — Physical and cyber threats against election workers are driving people away from the industry, potentially endangering the ability of states to conduct off-year elections like those on Tuesday, and the upcoming 2024 presidential election. Some election experts and secretaries of state said the threats have trended upward since former President Donald Trump and his allies allegedly attempted to undermine, then overthrow, the results of the 2020 presidential election. Witnesses urged senators to invest in protections for election workers ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In recent years, election officials have endured death threats, online harassment and other abusive behavior, according to the Brennan Center.

Persons: Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Adrian Fontes, Donald Trump, Elizabeth Howard, Brennan, Laphonza Butler Organizations: U.S, Administration, Justice Department, Force, Associated Press, Brennan Center for Justice Locations: Cobb County, Marietta , Georgia, U.S, WASHINGTON, Arizona, D

☆ A tide of election worker resignations raises alarms ahead of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —A wave of departures by election officials in key states risks adding new stress to the nation’s election system ahead of next year’s presidential contest, voting rights groups and several state election chiefs warn. The growing alarm over the resignations and retirements comes as officials say election workers continue to face a barrage of threats and harassment and partisan interference in their duties, first ignited by false claims of a stolen White House election in 2020. In King County, Washington – which includes Seattle – Julie Wise, the county election director, recalled receiving a letter over the summer with a rant about elections. Election watchdogs say more action is needed – including boosting federal funding and extending a federal law that criminalizes the release of restricted personal information about federal workers to cover election officials. Brinson Bell began tracking the departures when she became the state’s election chief that year.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Adrian Fontes, Pennsylvania –, Republican Al Schmidt, “, Nick Penniman, Schmidt, Donald Trump’s, ” Schmidt, Seattle – Julie Wise, Wise, ’, ” Penniman, Meagan Wolfe, Trump, Wolfe, there’s, Roy Cooper, Critics, Karen Brinson Bell, Brinson Bell, Kathy Holland, Holland, –, Brinson, ” Adam Byrnes, he’s, ” Byrnes, Fontes, ” Fontes, that’s Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republican, US Justice Department, National Conference of State Legislatures, Committee, ” Workers, GOP, supermajorities, Gov, North Carolina State Board, Emory University, “ Locations: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, King County , Washington, Seattle, In Wisconsin, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alamance County, Swain County, Georgia

Fontes’s office told the group last month that it is obligated to accept filings from candidates even if party leaders reject them. No Labels has drawn extra scrutiny in Arizona, one of a dozen states where it has secured ballot access for a potential presidential candidate. By refusing to nominate candidates for state offices, No Labels argues it is not subject to Arizona’s campaign finance disclosure laws. The party argues state law allows political parties to participate only in elections that they choose and the U.S. Constitution protects the party’s right to freely associate or not associate with candidates. Candidates have filed statements of interest to run for U.S. Senate and Arizona Corporation Commission, the state’s utility regulator.

Persons: Adrian Fontes, who's, Joe Biden, Biden, they're, ”, Benjamin Chavis Jr, Colleen Connor, Richard Grayson, Donald Trump Organizations: PHOENIX, Democratic, Constitution, NAACP, Fontes, Democrat, U.S . Senate, Arizona Corporation Commission, Corporation Locations: Arizona, Phoenix, U.S

☆ Fact Check: Katie Hobbs did not step down as governor of Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Arizona governor Katie Hobbs did not step down from her position, contrary to claims shared online following a brief visit by Hobbs out of state. Arizona treasurer Kimberly Yee was temporarily serving as acting governor in line with Arizona state constitution which requires the transfer of power while a governor is out of state. This prompted Yee to serve as acting governor in their absence. Hobbs returned to Arizona on Sept. 28, 2023, and gave a speech at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs did not step down from her role.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Kimberly Yee, Adrian Fontes, Kris Mayes, Fontes, Mayes, Yee, “, ” Yee, Christian Slater, ‘ Hobbs, Alejandro Mayorkas, ’, Read Organizations: Washington D.C, AZ Central, Republican, Fox News, Washington , D.C, Homeland, Tempe Center, Arts, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Arizona, Washington, “ Arizona, Washington ,

Arizona’s governor was out of the state for a day this week, prompting false claims that she’d abruptly resigned or vanished entirely. The Democrat, who has been the target of misinformation since taking office this year, was out of state for meetings in Washington for a day, so the state treasurer briefly served as acting governor. Political Cartoons View All 1190 Images“She has now stepped down as Arizona governor, and it’s raising questions,” claimed one Facebook user in a widely shared video posted on Thursday. “Republican State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is currently the Acting Governor,” wrote another user on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter on Wednesday. The usually unremarkable handover gained attention when Yee released a statement Wednesday acknowledging she’d be serving as acting governor from that evening through Thursday morning.

Persons: she’d, Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Joe Biden, ”, Kimberly Yee, “, Christian Slater, Yee, hasn’t, Slater, Alejandro Mayorkas, Sen, John McCain, Adrian Fontes, Kyrsten Sinema, Paul Smith, Leonard, Kris Mayes, Richie Taylor, baselessly, ” Slater Organizations: Arizona, Democrat, “ Republican, Twitter, Democratic, Republican, U.S . Homeland, Tempe Center, Arts, of Regents, U.S, Sen, Infrastructure Security Agency, White House, Drug, Agency, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Kroger Locations: Washington, Arizona, U.S, Flagstaff

The very existence of the No Labels group is fanning Democratic anxiety about Trump’s chances against an incumbent president facing questions about his age and record. If even a small number of those voters were to back a No Labels candidate next year, Biden could fall short. No Labels party members skew younger. Twelve percent of them live in the 4th Congressional District, which includes Arizona State University. Such a poll would be meaningless because a large swath of voters won’t know anything about the No Labels candidate before a campaign is run, he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, hasn't, ”, Rodd McLeod, Biden, Adrian Fontes, Fontes, Richard Grayson, Kamala Harris, Republican Sen, Jeff Flake, Cindy McCain, Sen, John McCain —, Ross Perot, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, Jill Stein, Hillary Clinton ’, Stein, Trump, Matt Bennett, Benjamin Chavis, Sam Almy, they've, they’ll, Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Joe Lieberman, Jon Huntsman, Larry Hogan, Larry Hogan of Maryland, Ryan Clancy, we’re, ” Clancy Organizations: PHOENIX, Trump, White, Democratic, Biden, Democratic Party, Phoenix, Trump Republicans, Republican, Green, NAACP, Republicans, Congressional, Arizona State University, Super, Republican Gov Locations: Arizona, Pinal County, George H.W ., Michigan , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona , Georgia, Washington, Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, West Virginia, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, Utah, Larry Hogan of

☆ 2020 election interference probe: New glimpses into investigation suggest peril could be growing for Trump and his associates
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Revelations that special counsel Jack Smith has been digging into efforts to overturn former President Donald Trump’s Arizona election loss in 2020 bolster growing indications that his investigation is nearing a critical point. Smith has already made Trump the first former president to be formally accused of federal crimes. But a flurry of details about Smith’s inquiries into alleged election-stealing efforts suggest his investigators have had an industrious summer. He said he talked about a call that he had with Trump and Giuliani after the election, and a second call just from Trump. Prosecutors were also set to talk to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, CNN reported in June.

Persons: Jack Smith, Donald Trump’s, Smith, Trump, pushback, Rusty Bowers –, –, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Rudy Giuliani, He’s, specter, it’s, Bowers, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Giuliani, Smith’s, Adrian Fontes, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Brad Raffensperger, Robert Costello, Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn, Patrick Byrne Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Arizona House, FBI, GOP, Capitol, Arizona Republican, Arizona Republic, Arizona’s, Prosecutors Locations: Donald Trump’s Arizona, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Washington, Manhattan, Trump, Nevada, York

☆ Six battleground states will hold the key to the White House in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AP Photo/Andrew HarnikGeorgia2012 margin: Romney +7.8%2016 margin: Trump +5.1%2020 margin: Biden +0.2%For decades, Republicans could easily depend on the Peach State's electoral votes falling into their column. Two years later, Biden won the state by roughly 12,000 votes over Trump, followed by the dual 2021 runoff victories of Sens. AP Photo/Matt RourkePennsylvania2012 margin: Obama +5.4%2016 margin: Trump +0.7%2020 margin: Biden +1.2%Biden's hometown of Scranton is dear to his heart so Pennsylvania was always going to be a key state for the party in 2024. AP Photo/Andy Manis, FileWisconsin2012 margin: Obama +6.9%2016 margin: Trump +0.8%2020 margin: Biden +0.6%Wisconsin is one of the most politically-divided states in the country. But Trump flipped Wisconsin to the GOP in 2016, the first time it had supported a Republican presidential nominee since 1984.

☆ Fact Check-Heat map showing Republican voters in Maricopa County does not prove that voter fraud was committed during the midterm elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A photograph of a heat map showing Republican voters in Maricopa County, Arizona, has been shared online along with unfounded claims that fraud was committed during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections. The Maricopa County Elections Department told Reuters that the picture circulating online has been cropped and that claims they only have the Republican heat map in their offices are false. In the MCTEC hallway, we have a Democratic In-Person Voter Turnout Map, a Republican In-Person Voter Turnout Map, and a Total Voter In-Person Turnout Map”, Gilbertson said. The Maricopa County Elections Department has maps with voter data on its website, including one of voting precincts by party majority (scroll down “Geography layers”) (here). A photograph of a heat map showing only Republican voters in Maricopa County does not prove that fraud was committed during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, contrary to claims on social media.

An Arizona judge on Friday dismissed Republican Mark Finchem's lawsuit seeking a new secretary of state election after he lost the race in November to Democrat Adrian Fontes. In her ruling, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian dismissed Finchem’s lawsuit against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, and Fontes, confirming Fontes' election win. The judge dismissed his misconduct allegations with prejudice — barring them from being brought back in another court — and called some of his claims "fatally flawed." He also supported a partisan review of Maricopa County’s election results, even though the review reaffirmed Biden’s victory. Kari Lake, the GOP candidate who lost Arizona's governor's race, filed a lawsuit this month challenging certification of the state's election results and seeking a court order that declares her the winner.

In the 13 races in six battleground states where an election denier was on the ballot for governor, secretary of state or attorney general, 12 lost, according to the latest NBC News projections. Arizona — along with Michigan and Alabama — was one of three states where election deniers advanced to be the GOP nominees for governor, secretary of state and attorney general. In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Republican Doug Mastriano — who was one of the most high-profile election deniers — lost the race for governor to Democrat Josh Shapiro. “But voters sent a very clear message that Americans deeply care about democracy and don’t want extremists running our nation’s elections.”The defeats of election deniers spanned well beyond swing states. All 14 races where election deniers won were in states that voted to elect Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

☆ The most prominent election-deniers lost their races. But at least 172 have won so far.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Kayla Gallagher | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

So far, at least 172 election deniers have won their races. Of the election deniers up for election, at least 172 have won their elections as of Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. There are 104 election deniers who have lost their races as of 9:30 a.m. Election deniers who have won their racesHigh-profile Republicans who have won their 2022 midterm races include Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. Election deniers who could impact 2024 battleground states if electedOut of the election deniers on the ballot, 171 were favored to win and 46 were in races considered competitive by election watchers.

☆ Election denier Mark Finchem loses secretary of state race in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Republican Mark Finchem, a prominent election denier, has lost to Democrat Adrian Fontes in the race for Arizona secretary of state race, NBC News projects. Fontes, a former top elections official for Maricopa County, will succeed Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, the Democratic nominee for governor. “Mark was willing to say what few others had the courage to say” about the 2020 election, Trump said in offering his public support. He also supported a partisan review of Maricopa County’s election results, even though the review reaffirmed Biden’s victory. In Michigan, election deniers lost bids for governor, secretary of state and attorney general.

In Arizona Senate, Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly is ahead of Republican Blake Masters by 115,000 votes with 80% in. On Dobbs, the national exit poll showed 27% of voters picking abortion as their No. And remember that our final NBC News poll found Trump as one of the most unpopular political figures we measured, especially compared with President Biden. In each state, those Democratic secretaries of state nominees were running against Republicans who cast doubt on the 2020 election result. Two of those five feature Democrat vs. Democrat contests, thanks to the state’s Top 2 primary, so those will stay in the Democratic column.

“We cannot move on from the 2020 election,” he said at a debate in April during the GOP primary. Marchant has said he would not have certified the 2020 results in the state, which Biden won. Republican Tudor Dixon — who has said the 2020 election was stolen — is running for governor against Democratic incumbent Gretchen Whitmer. Matthew DePerno, who is running for attorney general against Democratic incumbent Dana Nessel, has also repeatedly espoused debunked conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election results in Michigan. DePerno has also argued that any Michigan resident should have the right to demand a vote audit of the state’s election results.

☆ Police back Republican candidates in U.S. midterms, even those at Jan. 6 riot
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Julia Harte | Daniel Wiessner | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

The rightward shift held true even in races where a Republican candidate attended the Jan. 6 rally. "But are you going to work with law enforcement, are you going to support law enforcement?" A union's backing also helps remove the stigma around a candidate's presence at the Jan. 6 rally, experts said. Van Orden has denied entering the grounds and said he left when the protest became a mob. Windorff, the Wisconsin police union president, said there was no evidence Van Orden had done anything wrong.

Fontes, a Marine and former Maricopa County elections administrator, is running for the job that oversees elections in Arizona. His opponent is Republican state legislator Mark Finchem, a 2020 election denier and self-identified member of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers. There are several Latino Republican candidates who are election deniers, too, such as Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican running for election to the U.S. House to represent Florida’s 13th District. 'Our community is demonized'Election denialism is still “overwhelmingly concentrated among non-Hispanic whites," said Francisco Pedraza, an associate director at Arizona State University's Center for Latinas/os and American Politics Research. In 2020, Latino voters helped Joe Biden win the state.

☆ Top Arizona election official refers more cases of potential voter intimidation to law enforcement
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs has referred six reports of possible voter intimidation to law enforcement in the past week, as well as an allegation of harassment of an election worker, her office said Monday. The cases were referred to the state attorney general’s office and the U.S. Justice Department for further investigation. Early voting got underway Oct. 12 in the battleground state, where Hobbs is the Democratic nominee for governor. Hobbs’ office said it also referred a report of election worker harassment to law enforcement Saturday. The case is being pursued by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, which was launched in June 2021.

“And I will accept the result if I don’t.”Arizona Republican nominee for governor Kari Lake sign a campaign poster for a supporter on Oct. 7 in Scottsdale. Mario Tama / Getty ImagesLake has seized on Hobbs’ refusal to debate and centered it during recent campaign appearances. Kristi Noem, a Republican, in Scottsdale last week, Lake again sharply criticized Hobbs for eschewing a statewide debate. The Kelly campaign told NBC News the senator does not have any imminent plans to campaign with Hobbs. Chuck Coughlin, an Arizona Republican pollster, said there are some “traditional Republican voters that are going, ‘No f---ing way, I’m not going there.

Illinois Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who is retiring this cycle after voting to impeach former President Donald Trump, is endorsing a slate of high-profile Democrats (and a few Republicans) in key midterm races. Kinzinger is also backing Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin in Utah, House Republican hopeful Larry Lazor in Connecticut and a state House candidate in Minnesota. Shapiro, Hobbs, Fontes, Benson and Murkowski are all running against Republican nominees backed by the former president and who have all at least questioned the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s election. While not backed by Trump, Nevada Republican secretary of state nominee Jim Marchant and Minnesota Republican secretary of state nominee Kim Crockett have also cast doubt on the 2020 election. While Lee subsequently voted to certify the 2020 election, opponents have used those texts to argue he lent a hand to those who sought to discredit the election.

LAS VEGAS — Jim Marchant, the election-denying Republican nominee for secretary of state in Nevada, has so far been outspent and out campaigned by his Democratic opponent. Davis, a Republican, said he “hadn’t thought much” about whether the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and remained undecided in the secretary of state race. The dynamics in Arizona’s secretary of state race are similar. He and Marchant, as well as Kristina Karamo, the Republican secretary of state nominee in Michigan, are all members of the pro-Trump America First Secretary of State Coalition, though polling shows Karamo’s race is far less competitive. “This could be the last free and fair election in Nevada,” West said.

Search resuls for: "Adrian Fontes"

21 mentions found