2023-2024 Presidential, senate, house, state and city election thread

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

Presley wins Democratic primary for Mississippi governor, while Gov. Reeves faces 2 GOP rivals

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Gov. Tate Reeves is hoping to breeze past two political newcomers in the state’s primary election Tuesday and secure the Republican nomination as he seeks a second term, setting up a general election contest with Democrat Brandon Presley.

Reeves says Mississippi has momentum with a low unemployment rate and steady job growth, while Presley — a cousin of rock ’n’ roll icon Elvis Presley — says Reeves is out of touch with people who struggle to make ends meet in one of the poorest states of the U.S.

Presley won the Democratic primary after running unopposed. Polls closed at 7 p.m. Central time.

https://apnews.com/article/mississippi- ... 5183c1d4d6

[weatheriscool]

Post-GOP walkout, Oregon elections chief says lawmakers with 10 or more absences can't run next term
Source: AP

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The 10 Republican state senators in Oregon who racked up more than 10 unexcused absences during a walkout in the most recent legislative session can’t run for reelection in 2024, the state’s elections chief said Tuesday.

Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade made the announcement in a news release to clear up confusion over how reelection rules would affect those senators. Under Measure 113, which was approved by voters in 2022, lawmakers with more than 10 unexcused absences were supposed to be disqualified from being reelected for the following term. But some Republicans raised questions over the measure’s vague wording, sparking confusion over what the consequences of the walkout would be for boycotting senators.

“My decision honors the voters’ intent by enforcing the measure the way it was commonly understood when Oregonians added it to our state constitution,” Griffin-Valade said.

She has directed the Oregon Elections Division to implement an administrative rule to clarify the stance, which she said is consistent with that of the Oregon Department of Justice.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/oregon-repub ... 669eb93f52

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[caltrek]

More background on that, some of which was already presented in the cited Twitter feed:

Direct Democracy—and Abortion Rights—Win in Ohio
by Madison Pauly and Aei Berman
August 8, 2023

Conclusion:

(Mother Jones) The defeat of Issue 1 now clears the way for voters to support abortion rights in November. The proposed amendment, which will go to voters on November 7, would guarantee individuals the right to “make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions, including but not limited to decisions on contraception, fertility treatment, continuing one’s own pregnancy, miscarriage care, and abortion.” The measure includes language designed to stop the state from over-regulating abortion clinics. Yet it does allow the legislature to ban abortion after the point of fetal viability, unless a doctor deems it necessary to protect a pregnant patient’s health.

The Ohio vote could have major ramifications for other states. As many as eight states could vote on abortion-rights ballot initiatives in 2024, according to Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the left-leaning Ballot Initiative Strategy Center. Such measures have so far been filed in Maryland, South Dakota, and Missouri, where Republican leaders have been pulling their own stunts to block the referendum process. And an abortion-rights referendum very similar to those in Ohio and Michigan has been filed in Florida, which in 2006 became the first and only state in the country to require 60 percent of the vote to pass a constitutional amendment.

“Republicans should be ashamed of their efforts to subvert the will of voters,” NARAL Pro-Choice America said in a statement on Tuesday night. “Seeing this measure defeated is a victory for our fundamental rights and our democracy.”

Read more here: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/20 ... 1-results/

[caltrek]

Manchin 'Thinking Seriously' About Leaving the Democratic Party
by Brandon Gage
August 10, 2023

Introduction:

(Alternet) United States Senator Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) told radio host Hoppy Kercheval on Thursday that he is considering leaving the Democratic Party, lamenting the "extremes" that he believes have developed inside each political camp. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona) shared similar concerns when she switched to Independent in December 2022.

"I want to be able to speak honestly about, basically, the extremes of the Democrat and Republican Party that is harming our nation," Manchin said, per NBC News' Julie Tsirkin.

"I'm thinking seriously what's best for me, I have to have peace of mind basically," Manchin added. "I've been thinking about that for quite some time."
Per Axios' Andrew Solender, Manchin complained that "the brand has become so bad. The D brand and R brand ... You've heard me say a million times, I am not a Washington Democrat."

Manchin is also rumored to be contemplating a presidential run in 2024 under No Labels, although he has made no formal announcement. Nonetheless, Tsirkin noted that Manchin touted the passage of President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act as an example of his willingness to do what he views as "the right thing" despite being politically unpopular among conservative voters.

Read more here: https://www.alternet.org/manchin-serio ... ic-party/

caltrek's comment: What bothers me about the prospective candidacies of folks like Manchin and Cornell West is their unwillingness to compete in the Democratic primaries. I can understand Manchin's reluctance in that his base genuinely straddles those registered as Democrats and those that are independents. There are fourteen states and the District of Columbia that have closed primaries. Meaning that voters have to be a registered Democrat to vote in the primaries for a Democratic candidate. So, the third-party option gives him the opportunity to attract votes that he might not otherwise be able to gain. I suppose even Cornel West sees himself as being able to attract independents to his candidacy.

Still, I would think that for both Manchin and West, the priority would be to keep Trump from regaining power. Being candidates in the general election would most likely only serve to make it easier for Trump to win. That would be an unmitigated disaster for those that both Manchin and West claim to want to help. For West especially, it would make far more sense to try and gain the Democratic party nomination. He could articulate dissatisfaction with Biden, and yet still support Biden over Trump in the general election. Under that scenario, I would even seriously consider urging voters to vote for West. As it is, I really have to question his judgement.

[caltrek]

In Arizona and Montana, Senate GOP 'Would Almost Certainly Get Rolled' in General Election With These 'Headache' Candidates
by Maya Boddie
August 12, 2023

Introduction:

(Alternet) Senate Republicans in Arizona and Montana have a couple of "headaches" on their hands, according to a Saturday, August 12 report from Press Pass.

Despite Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake's loss last November — and refusal to concede — Press Pass notes the right-winger "doesn't appear interested in waiting for that historic wrong to be corrected before embarking on her new political project: securing the Senate seat that will be up for grabs in Arizona in 2024.

"I've looked at the polling, to be honest, and I believe I’m the only one who can win that race," Lake said during an event last month.

Conclusion:

Once state Republicans showed support for retired Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy for (the U.S.) Senate (seat in Montana), according to Press Pass, "many in the state GOP crossed their fingers that (Representative Matt) Rosendale would take the hint and leave it alone. But that doesn't appear to be working."

Press Pass notes, in both cases, Lake and Rosendale "would be in a strong position to win the party's nomination but would almost certainly get rolled by a more moderate Democrat in the general election."

Read more here: https://www.alternet.org/senate-gop-ro ... didates/

[weatheriscool]

Ron DeSantis' Decline Is 'Accelerating,' Poll Shows

BY JAMES BICKERTON ON 8/8/23 AT 11:48 AM EDT

https://www.newsweek.com/ron-desantis-d ... ws-1818309

"SNIP........

Ron DeSantis' level of support from Republican primary voters has nearly halved since the end of March, with the decline accelerating over the past week, according to an aggregation of polling figures produced by the RealClearPolitics website.

On March 30, 30.1 percent of GOP primary voters wanted the Florida governor to secure the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, versus just 15.7 percent on August 6. During the same time period, Donald Trump's support with the same voters increased, from 45.9 percent to 53.7 percent.

Since launching his presidential bid in May, DeSantis has struggled to gain ground on his chief rival, raising the prospect of a rerun of the 2020 contest between Trump and Joe Biden. Trump has been indicted three times and faces a range of criminal charges related to his alleged payment of hush money to a porn star; mishandling of classified documents; and efforts to overturn the 2020 election result. He has pled not guilty to all charges, and has consistently said that the allegations against him are politically motivated.

Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican Party of Iowa's 2023 Lincoln Dinner at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on July 28, 2023. The Florida governor has fallen further behind Trump in the race to represent the GOP in 2024, according to the latest polling analysis.

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[caltrek]

Here’s What’s Fueling the Ramaswamy Boomlet
by Thomas F. Harrison
August 14, 2023

Introduction:

RYE, N.H. (Courthouse News) — The main reason for Vivek Ramaswamy’s unlikely rise to third place in the Republican presidential contest was on clear display late Sunday when he spoke at a rally in the New Hampshire seacoast village of Rye — his policies are perfectly in sync with Trump supporters but his personality doesn’t offend people.

“He’s Trump without the drama,” said Sharon Verrette of Swanzey, N.H., who drove two hours to see Ramaswamy speak. “He’s professional, he’s presidential, and he doesn’t attack people on social media.”

“I love Trump, but he’s over the top, and he turns people off,” said Nancy Brown. Her husband Albert added that Trump is too old: “How can we complain about the fact that Biden is 80 when Trump isn’t far behind?”

A woman from nearby Stratham said she voted for Trump before, but “I can’t handle another four years. There’s just too much drama.”

Anita Dahlstrom also complained about “drama,” which seems to be a common term among Trump supporters for everything from the former president’s social media battles to his impeachments and criminal indictments.

Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/heres-w ... -boomlet/

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

Seriously, wtf has Biden done to deserve to have to fight this criminal tooth and nail to try for another term? WTF? A very large part of this country would probably vote for Trump even if he was in prison.

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

[weatheriscool]

Ron DeSantis debate memo urges him to defend Trump and take 'a sledge-hammer' to Vivek Ramaswamy
Source: NBC News

Allies of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined a strategy for next week's GOP presidential primary debate in a memo encouraging him to defend former President Donald Trump from attacks by rival Chris Christie and call upstart contender Vivek Ramaswamy "fake."

The two-page memo, authored by leaders of the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down, was published to the website of Axiom Strategies and dated Aug. 15. Axiom founder Jeff Roe also leads the pro-DeSantis' super PAC. “Defend Trump when Chris Christie attacks him,” the memo reads, adding a potential line for DeSantis to use on stage in Milwaukee against the former governor of New Jersey: “Trump isn’t here so let’s just leave him alone. He’s too weak to defend himself here.

We’re all running against him. I don’t think we want to join forces with someone on this stage who’s auditioning for a show on MSNBC.” On Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old businessman whose long-shot campaign has seen upward movement in the polls in recent weeks, the DeSantis allies write that the Florida governor needs to “take a sledge-hammer” to him, calling him “Fake Vivek” or “Vivek the Fake.”

The New York Times was first to report on the memo. Never Back Down did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The document offers an insider's perspective into what DeSantis' boosters believe he needs to accomplish on stage next week, listing among "four basic must dos" his defense of Trump and attack on Ramaswamy.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-e ... rcna100414

[caltrek]

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, a Fierce Ron DeSantis Critic, Qualifies for GOP Presidential Debate
by Steve Peoples
August 18, 2023

Introduction:

NEW YORK (AP via Courthouse News) — Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Friday that he has qualified for next week's Republican presidential debate, becoming the ninth White House hopeful to meet the fundraising and polling thresholds required to participate in the opening face-off of the 2024 campaign.

Suarez, 45 and the only Hispanic in the field, will be perhaps the least-known Republican on the stage Wednesday in Milwaukee. But with an audience expected of more than 10 million viewers, he said the debate will give him equal footing to contrast his personality against his higher-profile opponents. He argued that he is uniquely positioned to help the Republican Party reach out to Hispanic and younger voters in particular.

“Oftentimes, it’s not policy because we agree, by and large about policy, right? It’s personality, dynamism. It's the ability to connect,” he told The Associated Press in an interview confirming his debate attendance.

So far, nine candidates say they have met the debate qualifications, although former President Donald Trump has indicated he may not attend. To qualify for the prime-time debate, candidates need to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican National Committee: at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.

Suarez said he met the donor threshold earlier in the month and just hit the polling requirement.

Read more here: https://www.courthousenews.com/miami-m ... -debate/

[weatheriscool]

Emerson: Trump +46, Biden +60
Trump 56%
DeSantis 10%
Ramaswamy 10%
Pence 3%
Christie 3%
Scott 2%
Haley 2%
Burgum 1%
Elder 1%
Hurd 1%
Hutchinson 1%
Johnson 0.3%

Biden 69%
RFK Jr. 9%
Williamson 4%

https://emersoncollegepolling.com/augus ... of-debate/

[weatheriscool]