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☆ Secretive Society Keeps Watch Over Arizona’s Holy Grail of Cactus
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Eliza Collins | Photographs Ash Ponders For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PIMA COUNTY, Ariz.—Millions of saguaro cactuses grow in the Sonoran Desert, yet only an estimated one in 200,000 exhibits the spectacular crown of the crested saguaro. Its rare beauty spawned the needle-in-a-haystack mission of Arizona’s secretive Crested Saguaro Society. With the zeal of birders, the society’s 10 members are out to find as many of the crested saguaro as time and energy allow. They hunt in a desert that stretches across 100,000 or so square miles.

☆ Staff Report Urges RNC to Intensify Focus on Election Integrity
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PHOENIX—A report by a group of Republican National Committee aides calls for a nationwide permanent “election integrity” program and an aggressive legal response following claims of election fraud pushed by former President Donald Trump and some other GOP candidates and voters. The internal draft was written by members of the RNC “National Election Integrity Team” and isn’t endorsed by the full committee. A separate initiative by some of the RNC’s members is focused on analyzing recent elections and what went wrong for the party. That effort includes a member-driven election-integrity committee that will release its own results in the coming months.

Rifts in the GOP between those who support Donald Trump’s false 2020 election fraud claims and those who want the party to move on from the former president have resurfaced in party leadership races in key states, with each side blaming the other for disappointing midterm results. In Arizona, the state Republican party—which for years has been at odds with former GOP Gov. Doug Ducey and more establishment Republicans—on Saturday elected Jeff DeWit as party chairman.

☆ Ronna McDaniel Wins RNC Leadership Post Following Divisive Campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( John Mccormick | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

DANA POINT, Calif.— Ronna McDaniel will become the longest-serving Republican National Committee leader in modern history after winning her re-election bid Friday following disappointing GOP performances in the last three election cycles and a contentious party chair campaign that revealed internal divisions. Ms. McDaniel won on the first round of balloting among committee members assembled in a ballroom at a luxury Southern California resort. She received 111 votes, followed by 51 for California election lawyer and six-year RNC member Harmeet Dhillon and four for MyPillow Inc. Chief Executive Mike Lindell .

☆ Republicans to Pick Party Leader as Some Call for Ousting Ronna McDaniel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( John Mccormick | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

If Ronna McDaniel is re-elected as Republican National Committee chair, she would become the RNC’s longest-serving leader in modern history. DANA POINT, Calif.—The Republican National Committee on Friday is set to resolve a leadership fight that has revealed party divisions and opposition to incumbent Ronna McDaniel from both the grass-roots and some of the GOP’s rising stars. Interviews at the luxury Southern California resort where members are meeting this week suggest Ms. McDaniel is favored to win re-election as party chair following a contentious campaign within the traditionally clubby RNC.

☆ Ruben Gallego Jumps Into Arizona Senate Race, May Face Kyrsten Sinema
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ruben Gallego, 43, has been representing Arizona in Congress since 2014. PHOENIX—Arizona Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego announced he is running for Senate Monday, a move that could pit him against Sen. Kyrsten Sinema , a Democrat-turned-independent who hasn’t announced if she will run again in 2024. In a video announcing his decision, Mr. Gallego tells veterans at a local American Legion Post he is running for Senate.

☆ Senators Pursue Deal on Border Security and Path to Citizenship for Dreamers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Eliza Collins | Michelle Hackman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SOMERTON, Ariz.—A bipartisan group of senators is pushing ahead in the new Congress with efforts to reach an agreement on border security and immigration policy, after talks ran out of time last year. The lawmakers recently visited the southern border in Arizona and Texas, in the face of sharp political divides over how to handle a record number of illegal crossings that have strained border staff and facilities. The lawmakers say they see an opening for compromise on an issue that has vexed Capitol Hill for decades, following last year’s bipartisan work to pass a gun-control law.

☆ Barbara Lee to Become Second Congresswoman to Enter California Senate Race
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Eliza Collins | Siobhan Hughes | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. Barbara Lee, who represents Oakland and surrounding areas, told members of the Congressional Black Caucus she is making plans to run for Senate. The California Senate race is shaping up to be a showdown between Democratic House members, even before the state’s sitting Sen. Dianne Feinstein has announced if she plans to run again in 2024. On Wednesday, Rep. Barbara Lee , 76 years old, who represents Oakland and surrounding areas, told members of the Congressional Black Caucus she is making plans to run for Senate, according to a person familiar with the conversation.

☆ Gas Stoves Don’t Face Ban From Biden Administration
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Eliza Collins | Katherine Blunt | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Scientific studies have shown that gas stoves release pollutants that can affect indoor air quality and raise the risk of health problems. The chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday that the agency isn’t seeking to ban gas stoves but is instead looking for ways to make them safer, addressing concerns that the government could force households to switch to electric cooking. “To be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so,” said Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric . He said the CPSC is researching emissions from stoves and “actively engaged in strengthening voluntary safety standards.”

California Rep. Katie Porter , a favorite of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, said she would run for Senate in 2024, the first big name to enter what is expected to be a hotly contested race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein . Ms. Porter, 49 years old, is one of just a handful of progressive members who represent battleground districts. A law professor who had no previous electoral experience, Ms. Porter was one of seven California Democrats who flipped GOP-held districts in 2018, riding an anti-President Donald Trump wave that handed her party the House majority. She narrowly won reelection in 2022.

WASHINGTON—Shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday morning, Kevin McCarthy finally saw the sign he had been waiting for his entire political career. Hung above an office on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol were the words: “SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE KEVIN MCCARTHY.”“Oh yes!” he exclaimed, before asking someone standing nearby to snap a picture. See that?” he said to the crush of reporters gathered around him. “It was worth the wait.”

☆ Kevin McCarthy Wins Election as House Speaker After Days of Grueling Negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Natalie Andrews | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—Republican Kevin McCarthy won election as House speaker on the 15th ballot after days of grueling negotiations that turned detractors in his favor for the chamber’s top job, and forced leadership to make concessions to the party’s far-right members up to the last moment of sometimes-heated discussions on the House floor. The victory marked a personal achievement for Mr. McCarthy, 57, who had failed to secure the speakership more than seven years ago, and clawed his way to a win early Saturday morning after four days of repeated rejections.

WASHINGTON— Kevin McCarthy stepped up negotiations with Republican detractors, offering fresh concessions to win support after a third day of House speaker votes yielded no movement toward a winner in the GOP-controlled chamber. Mr. McCarthy and some of his opponents appeared to be coalescing around a deal, stepping up the pace of discussions as the House marked its 11th round of votes with no winner, the most since just before the Civil War. Most Republicans backed Mr. McCarthy over three days of tallies, but 20 continued to oppose him, and it wasn’t known if enough holdouts would potentially change their votes to give Mr. McCarthy the gavel. All Democrats supported their pick, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

☆ Kevin McCarthy Makes New Concessions to Try to Win Over GOP Holdouts in Speaker Race
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Natalie Andrews | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON— Kevin McCarthy made new concessions to try to win over detractors in the hard-fought race for House speaker, with some lawmakers expressing hope that they could see a resolution soon, but with both sides acknowledging that it could take days. The discussions between the California Republican’s allies and his opponents heated up after Mr. McCarthy didn’t reach the majority in three series of votes for the speaker post Tuesday, nor another three Wednesday, deepening doubts about his prospects and fueling talk of alternatives.

☆ Kevin McCarthy Falls Short of House Speaker Win in Three Rounds of Voting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-04 | by ( Natalie Andrews | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—Republican Kevin McCarthy fell short of winning the House speaker’s gavel in three rounds of voting Tuesday, leaving the chamber without a leader as a determined bloc of conservative holdouts refused to relent over longstanding complaints about the direction of the party. The failure to pick a speaker underlined the fractious nature of the GOP conference on its first day in control of the chamber after four years of a Democratic majority. After the third vote was officially tallied with no winner, the House then adjourned until the next day, with the leadership question still up in the air and neither side offering a way out of the deadlock. The speaker vote hadn’t gone past a first ballot since 1923, when lawmakers needed nine ballots to pick a leader.

☆ How the House Election for Speaker Works: What to Know
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When the new Congress gathers on Jan. 3, with the new Republican majority, party leader Kevin McCarthy will make his official bid to be speaker of the House. Usually the speaker is elected with little suspense. But this year, lawmakers are bracing for a dramatic vote, due to the thin Republican margin and a determined bloc of GOP dissidents who oppose Mr. McCarthy.

☆ Kevin McCarthy Falls Short of Speaker Win in First Round of Voting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Natalie Andrews | Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON—Republican leader Kevin McCarthy fell short of victory in the first round of voting for speaker of the House, as lawmakers braced for a drawn-out session due to hardened opposition from some conservative lawmakers. The initial vote was 203 for Mr. McCarthy, 212 for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York and 10 for Rep. Andy Biggs (R., Ariz.), with nine votes for other current and former lawmakers including Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio). The result put Mr. McCarthy short of the majority of lawmakers present and voting needed to secure the speakership. The speaker vote now goes to a second ballot, which hasn’t happened since 1923.

☆ Senate Map Tilts Toward Republicans as 2024 Election Comes Into Focus
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( Eliza Collins | Aaron Zitner | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

With a new Congress set to begin, both parties are already looking to 2024, when Senate Democrats will have to defend nearly half of their members and compete on turf that has become more difficult for the party to win. Democrats did better than expected in November’s midterm elections, bolstering their narrow majority by adding a Senate seat and keeping the loss of House seats smaller than analysts had predicted. Senate Democrats will have a 51-49 seat majority, including independents who caucus with them. In the House, Republicans are set to have a 222-212 advantage, with one vacancy.

☆ Kevin McCarthy or Someone Else? How U.S. House Picks a Speaker
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

When the new Congress gathers Jan. 3, with the new Republican majority, party leader Kevin McCarthy will make his official bid to be speaker of the House. Usually the speaker is elected with little suspense. This time things are expected to be at least a little bumpy, because of the thin Republican margin and a determined bloc of GOP dissidents who oppose Mr. McCarthy.

☆ Seeking Votes, McCarthy Offers to Make It Easier for Lawmakers to Oust Speaker
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Eliza Collins | Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. Kevin McCarthy has offered to make it easier for critics to oust him as speaker, in an effort to secure enough votes for the California Republican to be elected to the post next week, according to two people familiar with the matter. While this is the most significant concession to his detractors to date, it isn’t clear if the House minority leader’s proposal will win over the support he needs.

☆ Seeking Votes, McCarthy Offers to Make it Easier for Lawmakers to Oust Speaker
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Eliza Collins | Natalie Andrews | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

At least five Republicans have said publicly they won’t support House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as speaker when Republicans take over the House next week. Rep. Kevin McCarthy has offered to make it easier for critics to oust him as speaker, in an effort to secure enough votes for the California Republican to be elected to the post next week, according to two people familiar with the matter. While this is the most significant concession to his detractors to date, it isn’t clear if the House minority leader’s proposal will win over the support he needs.

Mr. Santos, 34 years old, won a New York seat that had previously been held by a Democrat and is set to be sworn into Congress on Jan. 3. The district attorney of Nassau County, N.Y., said Wednesday her office is investigating Mr. Santos. Mr. Santos has said he was born in Queens, N.Y., to Brazilian parents and has dual U.S.-Brazilian citizenship. He said his father’s parents were Brazilian and his mother’s family was Jewish and had fled persecution in Europe. Mr. Santos has said that his understanding of his maternal grandparents’ history and religion came from family stories.

☆ Rep. Jamie Raskin Undergoes Treatment for Lymphoma
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rep. Jamie Raskin said he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and would undergo a course of chemo-immunotherapy on an outpatient basis. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, a rising star in the Democratic Party who recently played a central role in the House investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, said he has been diagnosed with lymphoma and has started treatment. Mr. Raskin, who is 60 years old and about to start his fourth term in Congress, said he had been diagnosed with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma and would undergo a course of chemo-immunotherapy on an outpatient basis at Washington’s MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. He called it a “serious but curable” form of cancer and said people with his condition have an excellent prognosis after four months of treatment.

☆ U.S. House Bans TikTok on Phones of Representatives and Staff
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bans on downloading TikTok onto government-issued smartphones and other devices have been in place in many executive branch agencies on the grounds that users’ data could be shared with China’s government. WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives is banning TikTok on all House-managed devices, moving to get in sync with a new law banning the app on executive branch government phones amid mounting national-security concerns. The Chief Administrative Officer advised House members and their staff that the social-media application was banned from phones for all House members and staff effective immediately. U.S. officials and lawmakers from both parties have raised concerns about the app’s owner, Beijing-based ByteDance Ltd.

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