Showing posts with label Democrats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Democrats. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

House Minority Leader Hakkem Jeffries Statement On Motion to Vacate the Chair

House Minorty House Leader Hakeem Jeffries realesed the following statment after Rep. Kevin McCarthy was removed from his position of speaker of the House.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries statement on impeachment inquiry into President Biden

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) posted the following on Twitter (now X) in response to the announcement of an impeachment inquiry into President Biden Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).

Tuesday, September 05, 2023

Gabe Amo wins Rhode Island primary

Former White House aide Gabe Amo won the crowded special election Democratic primary for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, The Associated Press projected Tuesday.

Amo, a former staffer in the Obama and Biden administrations, will go up against political newcomer Gerry Leonard (R) in November to replace Rep. David Cicilline (D), who resigned from his office in June to enter the private sector.

Amo took about 32 percent of votes in the primary, as of 9 p.m. Tuesday, besting state Sen. Sandra Cano, former state Rep. Aaron Regunberg and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos.

Amo was most recently the deputy director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Biden administration and an advisor to President Biden before leaving that post to run for Congress. He worked in the same office during the Obama administration before a stint as an aide to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D).

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Rep. Barbara Lee files to enter Democratic primary for Feinstein’s seat

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) has filed paperwork to run in the California Senate race in 2024, joining what’s expected to be a crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

Lee has not made a formal announcement, though she filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, one day after Feinstein, at 89 the oldest currently serving senator, said she would not seek another term next cycle.

When reached for comment, Katie Merrill, a consultant for Lee, said in a statement “the campaign is taking the necessary steps to prepare. The Congresswoman will have more to say about this before the end of the month.”

Democratic California Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff had already announced plans to run for the seat before Feinstein said she would be vacating it.

[SOURCE: THE HILL

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Michigan House elects Rep. Joe Tate as first Black House speaker

Democratic state Rep. Joe Tate made history Thursday after he was selected to lead the Michigan House of Representatives in the upcoming 102nd Legislature as the first Black person ever to do so.

Tate, D-Detroit, is additionally not only the first Black lawmaker to become speaker of the House but the first Black lawmaker to ever oversee either of Michigan’s legislative chambers.

Following the vote, Tate told reporters that Michiganders could expect forward motion on issues like health care, gun safety regulations, transparency in the legislature, education and worker’s right’s.

“First and foremost, we’re going to get started immediately,” he said. “I think you saw the message that we talked about, our values, over the campaign trail for most of the year. ... So, there won’t be any surprises, because we’ve been talking about Democratic values for years.”

Tate was first elected to state office in 2018 after garnering 73% percent of the vote in the 2nd House district. He was overwhelmingly reelected under new maps to Michigan’s 10th House district with 68.4% of the vote to his Republican opponent’s 31.6%.

Tate previously was an offensive lineman in the NFL, splitting time between the Jacksonville Jaguars, the St. Louis Rams and the Atlanta Falcons over his two years in the league. Following his pro football career, Tate enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy.

He also possesses a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan, as well as a Master of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. Tate first graduated from MSU in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy.

[SOURCE: MSN]

Maine Democrats nominate first Black woman as House speaker

Democrats in the Maine House of Representatives nominated the state’s first African American to serve as speaker, selecting a Portland lawmaker whose father was the first Black member of the Maine Legislature.

Rep. Rachel Talbot Ross was nominated Thursday over another Portlander, Ed Crockett, to lead the chamber. Her selection is all but assured since Democrats control the state House.

Talbot Ross said she’s ready to focus on challenges including the rising cost of living, climate change and a lack of access to affordable housing and healthcare. “Should I receive the support of the full Legislature, I will continue to push for progress in our state and use my position of leadership to work to improve the lives of all Mainers,” she said.

Her father, Gerald Talbot, was the founding president of the Portland chapter of the NAACP, and the first Black lawmaker in Maine, elected in 1972. He later served on Maine State Board of Education, and a school in Portland bears his name.

Like her father, Talbot Ross served as president of the Portland NAACP. She was elected in 2016 to the House, where her father served. Her party made her assistant majority leader in the House, becoming the first person of color to serve in leadership in the Maine Legislature.

Friday, November 18, 2022

Hakeem Jeffries running to replace Pelosi as top House Democrat

New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the fourth-ranking House Democrat, said Friday that he will run to replace House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the party's leader after Republicans took back control of the chamber in last week’s midterm elections.

His announcement in a letter to colleagues came a day after Pelosi said in a powerful floor speech that she is stepping down after a two-decade reign as the top leader of House Democrats.

If Jeffries is successful, it would represent a historic passing of the torch: Pelosi made history as the first female speaker of the House, while Jeffries, the current Democratic Caucus chairman, would become the first Black leader of a congressional caucus and highest-ranking Black lawmaker on Capitol Hill. If Democrats were to retake control of the House — a real possibility with Republicans having such a narrow majority — Jeffries would be in line to be the first Black speaker in the nation's history.

The ascension of the 52-year-old Jeffries to minority leader would also represent generational change. Pelosi and her top two deputies — Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C. — are all in their 80s and are receiving from within the party for “new blood” in leadership; Hoyer will not seek another leadership post while Clyburn plans to stay on and work with the next generation

[SOURCE: NBC NEWS]

Friday, November 11, 2022

Democrat Steven Horsford wins reelection to US House in Nevada's 4th Congressional District

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV) managed to survive a dogfight election race against insurance agency owner Republican Sam Peters, keeping the battleground seat in Democratic control.

Horsford held a 51.5% to 48.5% edge over Peters as of early Friday morning with about 93% of the vote in. His victory was projected by multiple media outlets such as CNN and NBC.

"As I embark on another term serving the people of this great district in the U.S. House of Representatives, I remain committed to protecting fundamental rights for women, preserving Social Security and Medicare, and building an economic agenda that creates opportunities for everyone, leaving no one behind," Horsford said in a statement following his projected victory.

Connecticut Democrat Jahana Hayes wins reelection to US House seat in state's 5th Congressional District

The Associated Press projects that Democratic Rep. Jahana Hayes will win re-election in Connecticut's 5th Congressional District, defeating the GOP nominee George Logan in the state's tightest congressional race.

Hayes, the first Black woman to be elected to Congress from Connecticut, won her last two campaigns by double-digits in the district that extends along Connecticut's western border with New York.

Hayes said she was "tired but excited" on Wednesday night, adding she hadn't slept the night before and had endured a gruelling campaign. She knew the race would be close, but didn't think it would be this close, she said.

“I had to work twice as hard and really fight to hold this seat," she said during her press conference. "And at the end of the day, I think that was the message that resonated with the people of my community, that I’m one of them, that I'm going to continue to fight for them. And listen, a win is a win so I'm excited, I’ll take it.”

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries wins reelection to U.S. House in New York's 8th Congressional District

Democratic Caucus Chair Democrat Hakeem Jeffries won reelection to U.S. House in New York's 8th Congressional District.

Jefferies won with 72% of the vote.

Hakeem Jeffries Democrat 93,295 +72.4%72.4%

Yuri Dashevsky Republican 35,486 +27.6%27.6

Austin Davis to be Pennsylvania’s first African American Lt. Governor

Austin Davis will be Pennsylvania’s first African American Lieutenant Governor after Josh Shapiro declared victory Tuesday night.

Davis, who was endorsed by gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro in the primary, received 63% support among the three-candidate primary race.

The son of a union bus driver and a hairdresser, Davis is in his third term in the state House of Representatives.

As outlined by his campaign website, Davis serves as chair of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation and vice-chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee, as well as serving on the House Appropriations Committee, House Consumer Affairs Committee, House Insurance Committee, and House Transportation Committee. Plus, he is also a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Climate Caucus, and PA SAFE Caucus.

Davis and his wife reside in McKeesport where Davis began his career. In high school Davis founded and served as chairman of McKeesport Mayor Jim Brewster’s Youth Advisory Council. After graduation from the University of Pittsburgh, Davis joined the Allegheny County Executive’s office and ran for the State House in 2018.

Davis will be sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on January 17, 2023, and a special election will be called to fill his seat in the State House.

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Democrat Emilia Sykes wins Ohio 13th district congressional race

Democratic Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes of Akron on Tuesday defeated Republican North Canton attorney Madison Gesiotto Gilbert in a newly reconfigured congressional district that includes all of Summit County, a sliver of Portage County, and northern Stark County.

Unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office showed Sykes with 146,621 votes, compared to 132,181 for Gesiotto Gilbert. The Associated Press called the race for Sykes at 1:54 a.m. on Wednesday, hours after statements began rolling in to tout a Sykes victory.

Anthony Brown becomes Maryland's first Black attorney general

Anthony Brown, an outgoing three-term congressman and former two-term lieutenant governor, made history in 2022 by becoming Maryland's first African American attorney general when he defeated former Anne Arundel County Councilman Michael Peroutka.

With early voting, mail-in ballots and more than 90% of precincts reporting, Brown had almost 60% of the vote — a lead of more than 285,000 votes.

A Republican has not been elected attorney general in Maryland since 1919. Edward D.E. Rollins was the last Republican to serve in the office, after being appointed to it in 1952.

Democrat Summer Lee defeats Republican Mike Doyle to represent Pennsylvania's 12th District

Summer Lee is the projected winner of Pennsylvania's Congressional District 12 race. She defeated Republican Mike Doyle and she becomes the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.

Lee held more than 58% of the vote with 74%of votes reported, and most major outlets called the race for her in a district that had been heavily favored Democratic.

Lee, is a second-term state House member, lawyer and former labor organizer, comes from the party's progressive wing. She was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two-time presidential candidate and a leading voice in the Democratic Party’s left wing who came to campaign for Lee.

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

Democrat David Scott wins reelection to U.S. House in Georgia's 13th Congressional District

The Associated Press reports that Democrat David Scott has won reelection to U.S. House in Georgia's 13th Congressional District. Scott defeated his Republican challnger, Caesar Gonzales with over 84% of the vote.

Candidate 8888888 Party88888888 Votes88888 Percent of vote

David Scott8888-88 Democratic888 143,147888 84%

Caesar Gonzales88 Republican888 26, 674888 15.7%

Sunday, November 06, 2022

WATCH: Former President Obama Campaigns in PA for US Senate Candidate John Fetterman

Watch Former President Barack Obama's full campaign speech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for US Senate candidate John Fetterman on November 5, 2022, just days before the 2022 midterm elections.

Sunday, October 30, 2022

WATCH: Former President Obama Campaigns for Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin

Watch as former President Barack Obama campaigns in Milwaukee for Democratic candidates running in the state’s 2022 midterm elections, including U.S. Senate candidate Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and incumbent Governor Tony Evers.

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Barack Obama endorses Cherri Beasley in North Carolina Senate race

In a video shared on Twitter former President Obama endorsed Democrat Cheri Beasley in North Carolina’s Senate race.

Watch the video below:

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Barack Obama to campaign for Mandela Barnes in Wisconsin Senate race

Former President Barack Obama is heading to Wisconsin later this month to help boost Senate candidate Mandela Barnes, a Democrat challenging GOP Sen. Ron Johnson, as well Gov. Tony Evers' re-election bid.

The joint event, set for Oct. 29 in Milwaukee, will also promote other Democrats on the November ballot, including Attorney General Josh Kaul and Rep. Gwen Moore. NBC News was first to report the news that Obama would campaign in Wisconsin.

“From restoring access to reproductive health care to defending democracy and Wisconsinites’ right to vote, the stakes couldn’t be higher,” the Wisconsin Democratic Party said in a statement on Friday.

The visit from Obama comes as both Barnes and Evers face tough battles against their Republican opponents. According to the latest polling averages from Real Clear Politics, Barnes trails Johnson by around 3 points while Evers is locked in a dead heat with challenger Tim Michels.

[SOURCE: NBC NEWS]

Sunday, October 09, 2022

Democrat Cheri Beasley deadlocked with Republican Rep. Ted Budd in North carolina

North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race is a statistical dead heat with the economy as the driving issue for voters in all parties, according to a WRAL News Poll released on Monday.

The online survey found 43% of likely voters favor Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, while 42% prefer the Democrat, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. Thirteen percent of the 677 likely voters surveyed are undecided. Two percent plan to back Libertarian candidate Shannon Bray, and less than 1% support Green Party candidate Matthew Hoh.


The poll, which was conducted in partnership with SurveyUSA from Wednesday to Sunday, reported a credibility interval of 4.4 percentage points. A credibility interval is similar to a margin of error but takes into account more factors and is considered by some pollsters to be a more accurate measurement of statistical certainty.


The WRAL survey is the third public opinion poll released over the past week showing Beasley and Budd within a single percentage point of one another. Civitas, a conservative nonprofit organization, last week had Beasley ahead of Budd by 0.3 of a percentage point with 10% of respondents undecided. A Meredith College poll on Thursday reported Budd up by 0.3 of a percentage point with 12% of respondents undecided.

Political onlookers say the race will remain tight leading up to Election Day on Nov. 8, with the economy and concerns over abortion access having an outsize influence on the results.