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☆ Nikki Haley wants a two-person race. New Hampshire’s independents just might give her one
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Arit John | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Haley and her family walk back into the South Carolina State House after her inauguration in 2011. Tim Dominick/The State/MCT via Getty Images Haley campaigns for presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Haley waves to the crowd during the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2013. Alex Wong/Getty Images Haley hugs her husband after his Army National Guard unit returned in 2013. Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/Getty Images Haley visits a farm during a campaign stop in Grand Mound, Iowa, in September 2023.

Persons: Hollis, Hollis , New Hampshire CNN — Danielle Brown, John McCain, Barack Obama, Nikki Haley, ” Brown, Haley, “ Haley, Chris Sununu, Trump, Trump . Sen, Tim Scott of, ”, ” Haley, Sununu, “ Nikki Haley, ” Trump, Greg Moore, Charles Koch, Moore, “, ” Moore, Susan Rice, Trump . Rice, “ I’m, ” Rice, ” Michael Lewis, Donald Trump, ” Lewis, “ There’s, “ MAGA, GOP Sen, J.D, Vance of, Sylvia, ” Bill Jackson, “ She’s, She’s, we’ve, they’re, Trump –, Biden, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Travis Dove, Michael, Nalin, Rena, Twitter Haley, Gerry Melendez, AP Haley, Chip Somodevilla, Tim Dominick, Getty Images Haley, Mitt Romney, Justin Sullivan, Alex Wong, Michael Haley, Rainier Ehrhardt, Jaswinder Singh, Narinder Nanu, Bobby Jindal, Jindal, Win McNamee, Sean Rayford, Saul Loeb, Mike Pence, Drew Angerer, State Rex Tillerson, Matthew Rycroft, Boris Johnson, Bryan R, Smith, Raad Adayleh, Brendan Smialowski, Spencer Platt, Evan Vucci, Kevin Lamarque, Don Bolduc, Brian Snyder, Jonathan Ernst, Jake Tapper, Will Lanzoni, Demetrius Freeman, Rachel Mummey, Jonathan Newton, Nikki Haley Prev, CNN’s KFile, “ You’re, Nancy Protzmann, ” Protzmann, –, don’t, Ebony Davis, Ali Main Organizations: Hollis , New Hampshire CNN, New Hampshire Republican, Democratic, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Hampshire GOP, Republican Party coalesces, Trump ., Republicans, Republican, AFP, White House, Republican Party, Hollis, NATO, Republican National, Convention, Fox News, GOP, Vance of Ohio, “ Republican, Marist, Biden, Florida Gov, State House, New York Times, Twitter, South, AP, Capitol, South Carolina State House, Getty Images, Conservative Political, Conference, Army National Guard, Getty, Louisiana Gov, National Governors Association, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, United Nations, United Nations Security Council, UN, State, British, Norwegian Refugee Council, Gali Tibbon, UN Security, West Bank, The United States, Anadolu Agency, Republican National Convention, CNN, Washington Post, Social Security, Social Locations: Hollis , New Hampshire, Granite, New Hampshire, Haley’s, Hampshire, South Carolina, Trump, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Concord, Washington, Newfields, Hampton, Manchester, Portsmouth, Rochester, Maine, Kingston, Nashua, she’s, Iowa, Columbia , South Carolina, Afghanistan, Amritsar, India, AFP, Charleston , South Carolina, Columbia, State, New York, Syrian, United States, Jerusalem, Gali, Kuwait, Gaza, Londonderry , New Hampshire, Des Moines , Iowa, Grand Mound , Iowa, Miami, Hollis

☆ Opinion: The dangerous Civil War ideology looming over the 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Opinion Karen Finney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The myth of the Lost Cause hasn’t been defeated. Echoes of Lost Cause mythology have also been invoked throughout the primary by Trump’s leading opponents, Florida Gov. The myth of the Lost Cause hasn’t been defeated. In short, it was defeated and discredited, but Lost Cause mythology nevertheless lives on. It was easy not to indulge my grandmother Mildred Lee in her promotion of Lost Cause mythology.

Persons: Karen Finney, Hillary Clinton, Robert E, Lee, Mildred Lee, Karen Finney Ralph Alswange, ”, curriculums, General Lee, Jim Crow, hasn’t, Biden, —, Donald Trump, Abraham Lincoln, Trump’s, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, DeSantis, ” Karen Finney, Trump’s MAGA, Haley, Trump, McCarthy, Clint Smith, we’ve Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Aggression, United, Mother Emanuel AME Church, Florida Gov, South Carolina Gov, Trump voters, Capitol, Fox News, Florida Governor, CNN Town Hall, Union, South Carolina, House, Confederate, Illinois, Reconstruction, Ku Klux, Republican, Civil Locations: Virginia, North Carolina, Charleston , South Carolina, Iowa, Florida, America, South Carolina, United States

His sentence includes a 10-day suspended jail sentence, a mandatory evaluation and a victim impact panel. Rios' sentence is consistent with others for similar offenses, said criminal defense attorney Mark Friese, a long-time practitioner in DUI cases. He noted that Rios' driving privileges will be suspended automatically for 91 days. The House-Senate panel meets between legislative sessions for studies of topics related to law enforcement and the legal system for future or potential legislation. He also previously said he takes responsibility for his “disgusting actions," and apologized “to those I have hurt and disappointed," including law enforcement officers.

Persons: Nico Rios, Rios, Mark Friese, Friese, Mike Lefor, “ Organizations: N.D, North, Republican, Police, Republican Party, Committee, Representatives Locations: BISMARCK, North Dakota, Williston

Beshear's national profile rose after his convincing reelection win over GOP challenger Daniel Cameron last November. The newly formed 501(c)(4) group called “Heckbent” will promote key Beshear proposals by supporting grassroots advocacy, said Eric Hyers, his chief political strategist. There was no such group to promote Beshear's agenda during his first term, when his notable legislative successes often were overshadowed by his many policy disputes with GOP lawmakers. The governor's record of legislative achievements is more checkered — something the new group will try to change with messaging that could focus on areas represented by GOP lawmakers. He's so far failed to persuade lawmakers to appropriate state funds to provide preschool for every Kentucky 4-year-old.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Eric Hyers, ” Hyers, Donald Trump, He's, David Osborne Organizations: —, Gov, Republican, State, GOP, supermajorities, GOP House Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Two Republican legislators filed a resolution Wednesday aimed at initiating impeachment proceedings against Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham over her emergency public health orders suspending the right to carry firearms in some public places in greater Albuquerque, such as parks and playgrounds. Gun rights advocates have filed legal challenges to the orders and are urging the New Mexico Supreme Court to block them. In the federal court system, a judge has allowed enforcement of the gun provision to continue while legal challenges run their course. New Mexico lawmakers convened Tuesday for a 30-day session and could take up a broad slate of firearms proposals from the governor that aim to reduce gun violence, including a permanent statewide ban on firearms in public parks and playgrounds.

Persons: Michelle Lujan Grisham, Stefani Lord, John Block, ”, “ We're, ‘, Lujan Grisham Organizations: SANTA FE, Democratic Gov, Sandia, Alamogordo, Republicans, New, Republican, National Rifle Association Locations: SANTA, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mexico

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Several transgender candidates for state office in Ohio are facing challenges and even outright disqualification for omitting their former names from petition paperwork under a little-known state elections law, confronting a unique dilemma as they vie for office in increasing numbers in the face of anti-LBGTQ+ legislation. But state law mandates that candidates list any name changes in the last five years, though it isn't in the Secretary of State's 33-page candidate requirement guide. Michigan has a similar elections law, which mandates candidates list any name changes in the past decade, but it's not clear which others states have one. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe Ohio law has existed in some form since as early as the 1920s, and the current version has been in place since the 1990s. It's rarely been enforced in Ohio over the decades, usually in response to candidates wishing to use a nickname on the ballot.

Persons: —, Bobbie Arnold, Arienne, Angie King, It's, Vanessa Joy, Joy, it's, Frank LaRose, ” LaRose, Zephyr, “, Ari Faber, Arnold, Childrey, potty, ” ___ Samantha Hendrickson Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Ohio House, Senate, Montgomery County, Associated Press, Ohio Supreme, Washington County, Ohio Democratic Party, AP, Zooey, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio, West Alexandria, Montgomery, Auglaize County, Michigan, Stark County, Stark, Montana, Athens , Ohio

Jones mandated Black majorities in one additional congressional district, two additional state Senate districts and five additional state House districts. Political Cartoons View All 1277 Images“A minority opportunity district must be a district where a single racial group is a majority," Echols said Monday. “District 7 was a minority opportunity district in our view. Besides congressional districts, minority coalitions could also be an issue in Georgia’s new state legislative maps, which are moving toward final passage. “And it’s all over this map from District 10 to congressional District 7.

Persons: Rep Lucy McBath, Steve Jones, Jones, Shelly Echols, Echols, ”, Ken Lawler, McBath, Carolyn Bordeaux, Sen, Tonya Anderson Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Republicans, U.S, Supreme, Democratic U.S, Rep, District, Gainesville Republican, Circuit, Appeals, Democratic, Republicans, Democrat Locations: Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia's, ”, Gainesville, U.S, Florida, Alabama, Hardee County , Florida, Gwinnett County, Fulton County, Cobb, Douglas, Fulton, Fayette counties, “, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Galveston County , Texas, Michigan, Atlanta’s, Five

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s former top utility regulator surrendered Monday in connection with a $60 million bribery scheme related to a legislative bailout for two Ohio nuclear power plants that has already resulted in a 20-year prison sentence for a former state House speaker. Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, self-surrendered at U.S. District Court in Cincinnati after being charged in an 11-count indictment that was returned on Nov. 29, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Randazzo, 74, resigned in November 2020 after FBI agents searched his Columbus townhome and FirstEnergy revealed in security filings that it had paid him $4.3 million for his future help at the commission a month before Republican Gov. Mike DeWine nominated him as Ohio’s top utility regulator. The long-awaited indictment marks the latest development in what has been labeled the largest corruption case in Ohio history.

Persons: —, Sam Randazzo, Columbus, FirstEnergy, Mike DeWine Organizations: Public Utilities Commission, Ohio, U.S, FBI, Republican Gov Locations: COLUMBUS , Ohio, Ohio, Cincinnati, U.S

N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Black and Latino voters sued in federal court on Monday seeking to strike down congressional districts drawn this fall by Republican state legislators that they argue weaken minority voting power in violation of the U.S. Constitution. Under the iteration of the congressional map that had been drawn by state judges for the 2022 elections, Democrats and Republicans each won seven seats. Meanwhile, the number of minority voters grows in the 12th, which is represented by Rep. Alma Adams of Charlotte. Rep. Jeff Jackson, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, already said he’s running for state attorney general, saying he can’t win reelection under the new congressional map. The latest congressional map “continues North Carolina’s long tradition of enacting redistricting plans that pack and crack minority voters into gerrymandered districts designed to minimize their voting strength," the plaintiffs' lawyers write.

Persons: gerrymanders, Tim Moore, Kathy Manning, Republican mapmakers, Don Davis, Alma Adams, Charlotte, Jeff Jackson, Moore Organizations: —, — North Carolina, Republican, U.S . Constitution, General, Republicans, Capitol, U.S . House, Black Democrats, 6th, GOP, Democratic, Rep, Mecklenburg County Democrat, Supreme Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, — North, U.S ., U.S, Charlotte, District, North, Greensboro, Pitt County, South Carolina, Mecklenburg County

☆ Georgia Republicans advance new US House map that maintains their edge
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A general view of the Atlanta skyline includes the Georgia Capitol dome and a "Vote" sign atop the 100 Peachtree building, days ahead of nationally significant U.S. Senate and state governor elections in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. November 6, 2022. In his Oct. 26 opinion, U.S. District Judge Steve Jones said that Georgia could not remedy the problem "by eliminating minority opportunity districts elsewhere." The new map would likely allow Republicans to maintain their current 9-5 advantage among the state's 14 U.S. House districts. In a statement, the Republican speaker of the state House, Jon Burns, said the new map "fully complies with the judge's order." McBath's campaign manager, Jake Orvis, said in a statement, "Georgia Republicans have yet again attempted to subvert voters by changing the rules."

Persons: Jonathan Ernst, Lucy McBath, Steve Jones, Brian Kemp, Jon Burns, Jake Orvis, Joseph Ax, Will Dunham Organizations: Georgia Capitol, Senate, REUTERS, Georgia Republicans, . House, voters, Republican, Democratic U.S, District, Legislators, McBath, Thomson Locations: Atlanta, Georgia, Peachtree, Atlanta , Georgia, U.S, Black, United States, Georgia's, New York

Experts say these are just glimpses of what could ensue if campaigns or outside actors decide to use AI deepfakes in more malicious ways. So far, states including California, Minnesota, Texas and Washington have passed laws regulating deepfakes in political advertising. Federal law is limited in its ability to regulate AI at the state and local levels, Benson said in an interview, adding that states also need federal funds to tackle the challenges posed by AI. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, announced earlier this month that it will require political ads running on the platforms to disclose if they were created using AI. Google unveiled a similar AI labeling policy in September for political ads that play on YouTube or other Google platforms.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer, They're, Joe Biden, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump’s, Deepfakes, Democratic Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Republican Sen, Josh Hawley of, Jocelyn Benson, Benson, ” Benson, ”, ___ Swenson, Christina A, Cassidy Organizations: Federal, Commission, Gov, Republican National Committee, Republican Florida Gov, Public Citizen, Fiscal Agency, Democratic, Republican, Social, Google, YouTube, Associated Press, AP Locations: LANSING, Mich, Michigan, United States, California , Minnesota , Texas, Washington, Illinois , Kentucky , New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Washington ,

Williams, a former federal prosecutor and former U.S. Marine Corps pilot and prosecutor, is the third Republican to declare his candidacy. In an announcement video, Williams says, “I'm running for attorney general because I know how to deal with violence. As a freshman lawmaker, he became one of two House Republicans tapped to lead the impeachment of Philadelphia's progressive district attorney, Larry Krasner. The two other Republicans who have announced their candidacies are York County District Attorney Dave Sunday and former federal prosecutor Katayoun Copeland. Josh Shapiro 's second term as attorney general and doesn't plan to run for the office.

Persons: Philadelphia's, Joe Biden’s, Craig Williams, Williams, “, Joe Sestak, Larry Krasner, Krasner, Donald Trump’s, Dave Sunday, Katayoun Copeland, Jack Stollsteimer, Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, Eugene DePasquale, Joe Kahn, Keir Bradford, Michelle Henry, Josh Shapiro, Shapiro, Henry, Marc Levy Organizations: Republican, U.S . Marine Corps, U.S . Rep, Peco Energy Co, Exelon Corp, Republicans, University of Florida, York, Gov Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Philadelphia, Alabama, York County, Delaware County, Montgomery, Alaska

Stollsteimer joins a Democratic primary field that is already four-deep in which he will be the only elected prosecutor. In his campaign for attorney general, Stollsteimer will lean heavily on his experience as the twice-elected district attorney of Delaware County, Pennsylvania's fifth-most populous county sitting between Philadelphia and Delaware. In 2019, he won his race for district attorney, becoming the first Democrat to hold the office in Delaware County, once a Republican bastion that Democrats now control. On the Republican side, York County District Attorney Dave Sunday and former federal prosecutor Katayoun Copeland have announced their candidacies. Attorney General Michelle Henry does not plan to run to keep the office.

Persons: Jack Stollsteimer, Joe Biden’s, ” Stollsteimer, Stollsteimer, Donald Trump’s, ”, Fanta Bility, Jared Solomon of Philadelphia, Eugene DePasquale, Joe Kahn, Keir Bradford, Dave Sunday, Katayoun Copeland, Michelle Henry, Marc Levy Organizations: Democratic, Treasury Department, Democrats, Temple University, Republican, of Education, Philadelphia Inquirer Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and Delaware, “, Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, York County

☆ Kenyan parliamentary committee call for reforms to electoral body
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Humphrey Malalo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The bipartisan committee formed to study opposition grievances wants the electoral commission reconstituted and an audit of the last presidential election. As a result, the committee was formed in August with the backing of a parliamentary resolution and was mandated to study the grievances and propose necessary policy reforms to the government. In its report, the committee recommended the "restructuring and reconstitution" of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the country's electoral body. "The committee recommended the appointment of a panel of experts who would evaluate the 2022 electoral process and a mechanism for evaluating future elections." The government, the committee said in the report, should also review its tax policy, rationalise public expenditure and expand the reach of social protection.

Persons: Baz Ratner, William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Hussein Mohamed, Ruto, Humphrey Malalo, Elias Biryabarema, Giles Elgood Organizations: Kenyatta International Convention, REUTERS, Rights, Kenyan, Reuters, Sunday, Independent, Commission, Kenya State House, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI

☆ Kenyan Parliamentary Committee Call for Reforms to Electoral Body
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Persons: Humphrey Malalo, William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Hussein Mohamed, Ruto, Elias Biryabarema, Giles Elgood Organizations: Kenyan, Reuters, Sunday, Independent, Commission, Kenya State House Locations: Humphrey Malalo NAIROBI, Kenya

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The historic South Carolina city of Charleston has elected its first Republican mayor since the Reconstruction Era. William Cogswell, formerly a Republican state lawmaker, defeated incumbent Democratic Mayor John Tecklenburg by about 2 percentage points in Tuesday's runoff, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. Political Cartoons View All 1262 ImagesCharleston last elected a Republican mayor in the 1870s, according to historical records from the city and other municipal areas. “We can confidently say that I’m going to be the next mayor,” Cogswell said Tuesday night, as final results came in. "When Mayor Cogswell succeeds, Charleston succeeds, and that's something we're all in favor of.”The City of Charleston has become the second reliably blue area in South Carolina — where Republicans dominate congressional and statewide politics — to choose a Republican mayor in recent years.

Persons: William Cogswell, John Tecklenburg, Cogswell, Tecklenburg, Joe Biden, Sen Tim Scott, Drew McKissick, Russell Fry, ” Cogswell, Teckleburg, “, ”, —, Daniel Rickenmann, ___ Meg Kinnard Organizations: COLUMBIA, Republican, Democratic, South, GOP, Charleston, U.S . Rep, Republicans Locations: South Carolina, Charleston, Tuesday's, Charleston's, South, City, South Carolina —, South Carolina’s, Columbia

☆ A Left Turn for Democrats in New Hampshire?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Louis Jacobson | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Since their narrow victories in 2016, Democrats have won every federal race in New Hampshire – and have done so by widening margins. But Sununu, the scion of a New Hampshire Republican dynasty, decided not to run for a new term in 2024. Depending on vacancies and special elections, the Democrats might be able to flip control of the chamber even before the 2024 election. Under Biden, Democrats changed the order of their primaries to place New Hampshire tied for second, rather than first. Regardless, the unusual nature of the 2024 primary could have negative consequences for Democrats, Galdieri said.

Persons: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Maggie Hassan, Republican Sen, Kelly Ayotte, Trump, Republican Party –, Joe Biden, Louis Jacobson, It’s, Kenneth M, Johnson, Dante Scala, Andrew Smith, Smith, ”, Chris Galdieri, Karoline Leavitt, Bob Burns, Don Bolduc, ” Galdieri, Biden, Biden’s, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Cornel West, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Chris Sununu, Republicans ’, Sununu, “ Donald Trump, ” Sununu, “, He’s, there’s, Dean Phillips, Phillips, Galdieri, Barack Obama Organizations: MANCHESTER, Republicans, Republican, Republican Party, GOP, New Hampshire –, Democrats, Democratic, U.S . News, New, University of New, Anselm College in, Biden, Trump, CNN, Emerson College, South Carolina Gov, New Hampshire Republican, New Hampshire, New Hampshire Democratic Locations: N.H, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, University of New Hampshire, Anselm College in Manchester, New England, Hampshire, Israel, Gaza, New, Minnesota

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's state Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to approve rules for a new commission to discipline and remove state prosecutors, meaning the commission can't begin operating. In an unsigned order, justices said they have “grave doubts” about their ability to regulate the duties of district attorneys beyond the practice of law. Beyond the hurdle of state Supreme Court approval of rules, four district attorneys are suing to overturn the commission, arguing that it unconstitutionally infringes on their power. The Georgia law states a prosecutor can't refuse to prosecute whole categories of crimes, but must instead decide charges case by case. It applies both to district attorneys and elected solicitors general, who prosecute lower-level crimes in some Georgia counties.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, hadn't, Houston Gaines, ” Gaines, Sherry Boston, ” Boston, Judge Paige Reese Whitaker, “, Chris Carr, Willis, Trump, Randy McGinley, McGinley Organizations: ATLANTA, —, Judicial, ”, Athens Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Republican Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Athens, Atlanta's DeKalb County, Walton

Tennessee's state House map was also challenged in the lawsuit, though the state did defend those boundaries. Ultimately, the three judges panel upheld the House map and ordered the Tennessee Senate to come up with a new district layout by Jan. 31, 2024. “Today's court ruling against the gerrymandered state Senate map is a clear win for the Tennessee Constitution,” said Democratic Sens. The Tennessee Democratic Party said Wednesday that it would continue fighting the ruling on upholding the House map. In April 2022, the panel of state trial-level judges blocked the Senate map from taking effect.

Persons: —, Wednesday's, “, Randy McNally, Jonathan Skrmetti, ”, Democratic Sens, London Lamar, ” Akbari, Lamar, Hendrell Remus, didn’t Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Tennessee Senate, Tennessee Constitution, Democratic, The Tennessee Democratic Party, state's Democratic Party, General, Tennessee Democratic Party, U.S Locations: Tenn, Nashville, Davidson County, gerrymandered, Tennessee, Raumesh Akbari, London, Shelby, Memphis

The scaled back package of bills known as the Reproductive Health Act will repeal regulations aimed at abortion providers, known as TRAP laws, that critics had said were designed to close abortion providers. Last November, Michigan voters overwhelmingly approved a citizen-led ballot proposal — known as Prop 3 — that enshrined abortion rights in their state’s constitution. Whitsett, a Detroit Democrat, opposed the repeal of a state law that requires patients to wait 24 hours before receiving an abortion. A group of some of the state's top abortion right advocates slammed Whitsett in a statement after the package's passage. The organization has called restrictions on Medicaid coverage for abortion “de facto abortion bans” for people with low incomes.

Persons: Gretchen Whitmer, Laurie Pohutsky, ” Pohutsky, Roe, Wade, Karen Whitsett, Whitsett, member’s, “, Whitmer Organizations: — Michigan Democrats, Gov, Reproductive, Michigan, Detroit, Democratic, Detroit Democrat, Whitsett, Democrats, Associated Press Locations: LANSING, Mich, Michigan, Detroit

The office of Republican Senate Leader Phil Berger did not immediately respond Monday to emails seeking comment on the lawsuit. The “Black Belt” counties of eastern North Carolina have significant and politically cohesive populations of Black voters who overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates, the lawsuit states. A white majority in the surrounding area is also politically cohesive, and the plaintiffs argue they historically vote as a bloc to defeat candidates supported by Black voters. One of those districts, Senate District 2, where Pierce and Matthews reside, stretches more than 160 miles from the Virginia border down parts of the Atlantic coastline. Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue, a Wake County Democrat, said the lawsuit provides “a glimmer of hope” to Black voters in eastern North Carolina.

Persons: Rodney Pierce, Moses Matthews, Phil Berger, Pierce, Matthews, Dan Blue, ”, Blue, ___ Hannah Schoenbaum Organizations: Republican, Assembly, GOP, Democratic, Black voters, North, General, Wake, Wake County Democrat, General Assembly, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, North Carolina, Black, Halifax County, Martin County, Virginia, Wake County

Political Cartoons View All 1250 ImagesHere’s a look at what to expect on election night:ELECTION DAYThe Louisiana general election will be held Saturday. All registered voters may participate in the general election on Saturday. Turnout for the 2019 gubernatorial general election was 1.5 million voters, or 51% of registered voters. That year, turnout went from 33% of total registered voters in the primary to 23% in the general election. In the 2019 gubernatorial general election, 33% of voters cast ballots before Election Day.

Persons: Republican Kyle Ardoin, Nancy Landry, Gwen Collins, Landry, Collins, Jeff Landry, Mike Lindell, Greenup, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, John Bel Edwards, Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Biden, it’s, Republican Bobby Jindal Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Republican, Ardoin, Republican Gov, Associated Press, WHO, Democrats, AP Locations: Louisiana, Baton Rouge

☆ A Pandemic Novel That Never Says ‘Pandemic’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Caleb Crain | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

DAY, by Michael CunninghamMichael Cunningham’s new novel, “Day,” visits a family on April 5 in 2019, 2020 and 2021 — before, during and after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which shadows the book although the words “Covid” and “pandemic” never appear. Both she and Dan consider her gay brother, Robbie, a sixth-grade teacher who lives alone in the attic of their brownstone, to be their closest friend. The novel’s first April day, in 2019, finds Isabel apologizing to Robbie because she and Dan are about to evict him. To soften the blow, Isabel recalls an old daydream. In his first novel, “A Home at the End of the World,” a gay man, a bisexual man and a straight woman tried to raise a child in an upstate house.

Persons: Michael Cunningham Michael Cunningham’s, ”, Isabel, Dan, Robbie, “, ” Robbie, Cunningham

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia's state House will soon have its first Black speaker in its more than 400-year history after the chamber's incoming Democratic majority on Saturday chose Del. Scott was unanimously elected speaker-designee by the House Democratic Caucus, the group said in a news release. The full House of Delegates will vote to officially confirm him on the first day of the 2024 legislative session. “Virginia voters sent a resounding message on Tuesday that they wanted a Commonwealth that moved forward and that is exactly what I intend to do as your next Speaker,” Scott said in a statement. House Republicans were expected to vote Sunday.

Persons: Del, Don Scott, Scott, Virginia, ” Scott, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Richmond —, “, We’re, ”, Youngkin's, Breit, designee, Eileen, Todd Gilbert, Charniele Herring, Alexandria, Kathy Tran, Tran, Terry Kilgore, Gilbert Organizations: —, Democratic, House Democratic Caucus, GOP, U.S . Navy, Portsmouth, Virginia Democrats, Navy, Republicans, Youngkin, Virginia voters, Virginia, Republican, ”, Democrats, American, Pacific, Senate Democratic Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Commonwealth, Tuesday's, Virginia, Texas, Fairfax County

☆ Book banning Moms for Liberty just got canceled by US voters
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Conservative organization Moms for Liberty faced major setbacks in state and school board elections. Candidates endorsed by the organization suffered widespread defeats, this week. With over 130 endorsed candidates nationwide, most faced losses, some with single-digit support. New Jersey saw only four out of 19 endorsed candidates winning. In April, a Florida school banned an adaptation of Anne Frank's Holocaust diary because Moms for Liberty deemed it "sexually explicit."

Persons: —, Nathan Gibson, Ron DeSantis, Anne Frank's, Ohioans Organizations: Liberty, Service, Washington Post, Ohio, Gov, Republican Party, Senate Locations: Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, . New Jersey, Virginia, Florida

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