22 Democratic presidential candidates attending Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry

It’s time again for the event columnist Roger Simon described as “one of those all-too-rare, feel-good evenings in politics,” and this year it’s bigger than ever. “Jim Clyburn’s World Famous Fish Fry” will be held on Friday, June 21st during the 2019 South Carolina Democratic Weekend in Columbia, S.C., and it will be a “can’t miss” stop for any candidate seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.

Twenty-two Democrats running for president in 2020 will attend House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s (D-S.C.) fish fry in South Carolina next Friday as they jockey for support in the early primary state.

The event is likely to be the largest gathering of the 2020 candidates so far this election cycle, as nearly the entire primary field will attend. The fish fry, founded 30 years ago, has steadily grown into a campaign staple every four years and comes shortly before the first primary debates later this month.

“Each candidate will be given a generous moment to address the audience. The candidates are then encouraged to enjoy the fried fish, join in the electric slide and take selfies with the attendees,” a press release for the event said.

The only major contender of the 24-candidate field to not have confirmed their attendance is Montana Gov. Steve Bullock.

Jim Clyburn began the fish fry nearly three decades ago as a thank you to his campaign workers and for folks who couldn’t afford to attend the South Carolina State Democratic Party dinner. This free event is known for tons of fried fish, the Electric Slide, and old-fashioned politicking.

Ayanna Pressley launches leadership PAC

U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley is launching a new leadership political action committee to help boost Democratic candidates — including those challenging incumbents.

The committee, called the Power of Us PAC, will also fund civic engagement efforts and help cultivate a diverse pipeline for community activists and organizers to access federal-level campaigns, something Pressley said is necessary to knock down barriers many newcomers face.

Learn more about the PAC and listen to Pressley talk about it below:

Democrat Jaime Harrison to run against Lindsey Graham in 2020

Democrat Jaime Harrison, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, is set to announce Wednesday his Senate bid against Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

“The formal announcement will take place tomorrow morning. I’ll be back in South Carolina tonight, and it’s going to be tomorrow morning where I will formally announce that I am running for the United States Senate for South Carolina against Lindsey Graham,” Harrison said on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show” on Tuesday night.

Harrison announced in February he would form an exploratory committee as he weighed potentially launching a Senate bid in 2020.

Harrison currently serves as associate chairman and counselor for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). He first garnered national headlines when he unsuccessfully ran for DNC chair in 2017.

Learn more about Jaime Harrison and his platform here: jaimeharrison.com

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Eric Holder: AG Barr not fit to run USDOJ

Former United States Attorney General, Eric Holder took to twitter to give reasons why current Attorney General William Barr is not fit to run the United States Justice Department.

AG Barr has deliberately misrepresented the Mueller report. He has started examinations of the conduct of Intell/FBI personnel without a predicate-for political reasons. He is protecting the President. He does not stand up for the good people he leads. He is not fit to lead DOJ.

— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) May 18, 2019

Baltimore's new mayor, Bernard "Jack" Young vows to clean up the city

Baltimore's new mayor has vowed to clean up the city after being thrust into office by his predecessor's resignation amid corruption investigations, but he inherits serious, longstanding problems that have plagued previous administrations.

Bernard "Jack" Young, a longtime leader of the City Council, says he intends to serve only the remainder of former Mayor Catherine Pugh's term and has no interest in running for mayor in 2020. If the Democrat doesn't change his mind, his tenure would last just 1 ½ years.

Young had been Baltimore's interim leader since April 2, when Pugh departed on an indefinite leave for what her lawyer has said was poor health after a bout of pneumonia. Pugh stepped down a month later, mired in a scandal that's put her in the crosshairs of federal, state and city investigators trying to unravel the murky financial arrangements of her self-published children's books.

In a phone interview, Young told The Associated Press he's ready to make changes and is focused on reducing one of the country's highest rates of violent crime and tidying up the city's streets. He aims to bring more investments and jobs, particularly to its most deeply disenfranchised neighborhoods.

"I'm determined to make a dent. I'm not a placeholder — I'm the mayor now. And I'm going to run the city like the mayor," Young said from Detroit, where's he's attending a conference about economic development before his return to Baltimore over the weekend.

[SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS]

Senator Booker Questions AG Barr in Judiciary Committee

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told Attorney General William Barr that he feared Barr's response to special counsel Robert Mueller's report and his characterization of President Donald Trump's actions normalizes a "deep litany of lies and deceit and misconduct," as well as foreign election interference. Booker also questioned Barr on some of the report's findings about the Trump campaign's links to Russia, and said the attorney general's unwillingness to criticize the Trump administration calls his credibility into question.

Stacey Abrams will not run for Senate

Stacey Abrams has decided against running for the Senate from Georgia in 2020, according to a Democratic official.

Abrams met with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Monday to inform him of her plans.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Abrams will focus on her voting rights project. She has not decided whether to seek any other office at this time.

Abrams is considered a rising star in Democratic politics. A former Georgia state House minority leader, Abrams rose to national prominence last year during a closely fought gubernatorial bid. Abrams, who would have been the first African American woman ever elected governor, narrowly lost the race in the reliably red state.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Rep. Elijah Cummings Statement on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh

FBI agents raided the home of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh amid accusations of corruption stemming from the sale of her children's book. Baltimore resident Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) issued the following statement on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh:

“I urge Mayor Pugh to put the best interests of the City and its residents first and foremost. Baltimore needs and deserves leadership that is above reproach and which can lead the City forward in ways that engender the trust and confidence of all essential stakeholders. No one questions Mayor Pugh’s passion for Baltimore City and its citizens. At the same time, the circumstances now require that she also provide an example of accountability for those same people. We all want her health to be restored and to now focus on these very grave matters that have everything to do with her personal business endeavors and nothing to do with the priorities of the City of Baltimore.”

Cory Booker: I will have a woman running mate

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker promised that he would choose a woman as the vice presidential candidate on his ticket if he wins the Democratic nomination for president.

“I will have a woman running mate,” Booker, D-N.J., said at a presidential forum in Houston sponsored by She the People, a national network of women of color. “To me, it’s really clear that we do that.”

Booker was responding to a question asked at the event, which also attracted several other 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls.

He previously said he would consider having a woman in the No. 2 slot on the ticket, but this is the first time he specifically committed to choosing a female vice-presidential nominee.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]

Rep. Cummings: Trump deserves the mark of impeachment

Rep. Elijah Cummings, the House Oversight chairman responds to Trump's lawsuit against him and the administration's fight against congressional subpoenas.

Wayne Messam is running for President of the United States

Its a pretty crowded field of Democrats running to be President of the United States, so you can be forgiven if you did not know that Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar, Florida announced on March 28, 2019 that he is running for the highest office in the land.

On his website Messam gives his reasons for running:

The lack of urgency to plan for the future and take action on the crises we can see coming is the biggest threat facing our nation.

As you read this note, the gun violence epidemic continues to take far too many lives, climate change damages more homes and devastates more communities each year, skyrocketing healthcare costs cut off many Americans from the possibility of their American Dream, and crippling student loan debt leaves people of all ages with little hope for the future.

Washington is not working for the American people, and these big issues need fresh eyes and bold ideas from someone closer to the people, so our voice can be heard. Together, we can fundamentally change our country for the better and tackle these challenges with actions that match the scale and urgency of this moment.

I do not believe that the best ideas come from Washington.

Far too many of our friends and neighbors feel left behind and deserve someone in their corner who will fight for them. This moment requires leadership that will set us on a path to put the American Dream within reach for every single person in this country.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WAYNE MESSAM ON HIS WEBSITE: WAYNE FOR AMERICA

WATCH WAYNE MESSSAM'S CAMPAIGN LAUNCH VIDEO

Watch Cory Booker official presidential campaign kickoff speech in Newark NJ

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) officially kicked off his presidential campaign with a rally in his hometown of Newark. Watch his full campaign launch speech below.

Lori Lightfoot elected Chicago's 1st black, female mayor

Lori Lightfoot won a resounding victory Tuesday night to become both the first African-American woman and openly gay person elected mayor of Chicago, dealing a stinging defeat to a political establishment that has reigned over City Hall for decades.

After waging a campaign focused on upending the vaunted Chicago political machine, Lightfoot dismantled one of its major cogs by dispatching Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, whose candidacy had been hobbled in part by an anti-incumbent mood among voters and an ongoing federal corruption investigation at City Hall.

“Today, you did more than make history,” Lightfoot told hundreds of supporters at the Hilton Chicago on Tuesday night. “You created a movement for change.”

With roughly 97 percent of the city’s precincts reporting, Lightfoot had swept all 50 of Chicago’s wards, winning 74 percent of the unofficial vote to 26 percent for Preckwinkle, a 28-year officeholder who prior to her eight years as the county’s chief executive served 19 years as a Hyde Park alderman.

Lightfoot will be sworn in as Chicago’s 56th mayor on May 20 while Preckwinkle will return to her third term running the county after a humiliating defeat that included losing her own 4th Ward by 20 points.

Lightfoot will become the third African-American to serve as mayor. Harold Washington was elected in 1983 as the city’s first black mayor and won re-election in 1987 before dying in office later that year. Eugene Sawyer, the city’s second black mayor, was appointed to serve out Washington’s term until a 1989 special election.

[SOURCE: CHICAGO TRIBUNE]

Baltimore mayor, Catherine Pugh under fire over book sales, takes leave for health

Baltimore's embattled mayor began an indefinite hiatus on Monday, citing health reasons for her leave on the same day the state's governor called for a probe into sales of her self-published books to a health provider.

Mayor Catherine Pugh has been battling pneumonia for a few weeks and her physicians have advised her to focus on recuperating, her office said in a statement.

"At this time, with the mayor's health deteriorating, she feels as though she is unable to fulfill her obligations as mayor of Baltimore City," the statement from Pugh's office said. "To that end, Mayor Pugh will be taking an indefinite leave of absence to recuperate from this serious illness."

Pugh, who was elected mayor in 2016, has been under fire since the Baltimore Sun reported last month the University of Maryland Medical System paid her $500,000 between 2012 and 2018 to buy copies of her self-published children's book series, "Healthy Holly."

The series promotes healthy choices for children, such as exercise and eating vegetables.

Pugh, a Democrat, was serving on the board of the medical system when she received payments for the books. She was among nine members of the board with some form of business arrangement with the medical system, the newspaper reported.

Read more: Baltimore mayor, under fire over book sales, takes leave for health.

Stacey Abrams not running for Vice President

While appearing on ABC's The View former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams answered a question about running on a Joe Biden ticket as the VP candidate by saying, "That you don't run for second place. Watch the rest of her remarks on the 2020 Election and her future political plans below:

Cory Booker on Trump: ‘Racists think he’s a racist’

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Cory Booker tells MSNBC’s Chris Matthews that President Trump’s language is “causing pain, fear -- the way he's talking is making people afraid."

Rep. Karen Bass Statement on Introducing the Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security, delivered the following remarks at a press conference about the introduction of the “Violence Against Women Act of 2019”:

“Thank you very much, thank you very much Mr. Chair, and thank you, Madame Speaker, for leadership on not just this issue, but of our House. 

“Today is a very important day for survivors everywhere. We are here to follow through on the pledge we made to the American people when we said we will deliver in this 116th Congress.

“We said reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was a priority in the first 100 days of this Congress, and today, we are keeping our word by introducing the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act of 2019.

“I welcome my co-sponsor Mr. Fitzpatrick, who joins me in introducing this monumental piece of legislation, the Violence Against Women Act of 2019, which builds upon the amazing progress made under the leadership of my colleague, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, in the last Congress.

“This year we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of VAWA, and on this very day, March 7th, President Barack Obama signed our last VAWA reauthorization in 2013.  

“And today, on the 6th year anniversary of VAWA’s last passage, we are holding this press conference to address the urgency of now in reauthorizing this vital legislation.

“For centuries, women have fought vigorously to demand changes in our federal laws, not simply for their own benefits, but for others as well.  VAWA is no exception in that regard.  

“Women have stood up for themselves -- for men and for their children -- and have said NO MORE.”

Eric Holder not running for President in 2020

Former United States Attorney General Eric Holder has announced that he will not run for president in 2020 in an op-ed hr wrote for the Washington Post.

Holder wrote they he will instead focus on his redistricting reform efforts through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.

“Though I will not run for president in 2020, I will continue to fight for the future of our country through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and its affiliates,” he writes. “For too long, Democrats have lost sight of the state and local races that shape the day-to-day lives of the people we serve.”

"I will do everything I can to ensure that the next Democratic president is not hobbled by a House of Representatives pulled to the extremes by members from gerrymandered districts," he continued.

Elijah Cummings announces the rescheduling of Michael Cohen’s public testimony for next week

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, announced that the Committee has rescheduled its public hearing with President Donald Trump’s longtime personal attorney, Michael Cohen, for 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building:

“I am pleased to announce that Michael Cohen’s public testimony before the Oversight Committee is back on, despite efforts by some to intimidate his family members and prevent him from appearing. Congress has an obligation under the Constitution to conduct independent and robust oversight of the Executive Branch, and this hearing is one step in that process.”

Kamala Harris discusses her stance on healthcare

In an interview with NBC News's Kasie Hunt U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) explained her position on healthcare saying "it should not be a privilege, it should be a right." Watch that segment below.