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.

Chadwick Boseman Black Panther costume to be part of NMAAHC exhibition, "Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures."

On March 24, 2023, the National Museum of African American History and Culture museum will debut a major, thought-provoking exhibition, "Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures."

Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures explores the past, present, and future of this dynamic concept in an exhibition that features the various people, unique themes and radical artistry that have given voice to it.

One of the highlights of this new exhibition will be the Black Panther hero costume worn by the late Chadwick Boseman.

Thursday, November 10, 2022

Attorney General Keith Ellison wins reelection

Attorney General Keith Ellison on Wednesday morning claimed re-election victory, with results showing a lead of more than 20,000 votes over Republican challenger Jim Schultz.

In a statement, Ellison said he's "grateful" for the win, adding: "But this election was tough. Millions of dollars were spent to sow division, hate, and fear. And we overcame it: we were positive, and Minnesotans responded."

VOTE TOTALS

Keith Ellison 1,254,372 votes 50.4%

Jim Schultz 1,233,573 votes 49.6%

[SOURCE: FOX9]

Judge who signed Breonna Taylor warrant loses reelection

A Kentucky judge who signed off on the police raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor lost her reelection bid on Tuesday.

Judge Mary Shaw lost to Tracy Evette Davis for the Circuit Court Judge - 5th Division seat by 2,367 votes as of Wednesday morning.

She faced criticism in the past for signing the falsified warrant in March 2020 for the raid of Taylor's apartment.

Tracy Davis is a native Louisvillian, mother, grandmother and practicing attorney.

She said while practicing, she saw instances of unconscious bias. She was sometimes the only woman or person of color in a courtroom, and saw ways to make the system more accessible.

Davis felt switching spots, running for a seat, was a way to have a broader impact.

Her aim is to bring transparency to the court. She also values the use of technology to make things easier on lawyers and litigants.

"I do want change," Davis said. "I do want the city to heal, I do want people to trust the judicial system and to have faith that when they come seeking justice, justice is what they will get regardless of where they come from or who they are."

Responding to questions of how the race was impacted by the attention on the Breonna Taylor race and Judge Shaw, Davis said she felt after the pandemic, people started paying more attention to the decisions made in the judiciary and by lawmakers.

Davis said in this race, she felt people researched more than they may have before and paid attention to the votes they cast in judicial contests.

“Who are the people on the judiciary, what are their thoughts, what are their approaches to things, what are their thoughts on bond and bail," she said. “I can honestly say the people went through the races and selected who they thought was the best fit for the judicial system.”

[SOURCE: MSN]

Wednesday, November 09, 2022

Democrat Shontel Brown wins reelection to U.S. House in Ohio's 11th Congressional District

Incumbent Shontel Brown retained her seat representing the U.S. House District 11, beating challenger Eric J. Brewer on Nov. 8, according to final, unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections website.

Brown received 162,154 votes, or 77.6%, to Brewer’s 46,862 votes, or 22.4%.

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.

Muriel Bowser Wins Third Term as Washington DC Mayor

Muriel Bowser is the first D.C. mayor elected to a third term since Marion Barry won his in 1986.

Her opponents were Independent Rodney Red Grant, a D.C. native who has had an entertainment career with BET and his own film company, and Republican small business owner Stacia Hall.

Bowser won with 77% of the vote.

VOTE TOTALS

Muriel Bowser 118,752__ 77%

Rodney Grant 23,663__ 15%

Stacia Hall 9,573__ 6%

Dennis Sobin 2,098__ 1%

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 Rep. Lucy McBath Wins reelection to Seventh District in Georgia.

Democrat Lucy McBath wins reelection to U.S. House in Georgia's 7th Congressional District.

Mcbath defeated her Republican challener, Mark Gonsalves with over 63% of the vote.

Candidate 8888888 Party88888888 Votes888888 Percent of vote

Lucy McBath*-8888 Democrat-8888 88,6898888- +63.9%

Mark Gonsalves888 Republican888 50,17488888 +36.1%36.1

Maxwell Frost elected to Congress

Democratic nominee Maxwell Frost is projected to win election in Florida’s 10th Congressional District, becoming the first Generation Z member in Congress.

Frost, 25, beat Republican Calvin Wimbish, a retired 72-year-old Army Green Beret, to take the Orlando-based 10th Congressional District seat now held by Democrat Val Demings.

Frost, 25, takes the seat vacated by Rep. Val Demings (D), who launched a Senate bid in Florida.

Wes Moore elected governor in Maryland

Democratic candidate Wes Moore is projected to win Maryland’s gubernatorial race against Republican challenger Dan Cox, becoming the state’s first Black governor.

Moore, is a bestselling author, former nonprofit CEO and combat veteran who campaigned under the slogan “leave no one behind” and pledged to create greater opportunity for Maryland residents, strengthen education and boost economic growth.

Only two other Black politicians have ever been elected governor in the United States — Virginia’s Douglas Wilder in 1989, and Deval Patrick of Massachusetts in 2006.

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%

Democrat Nikema Williams wins reelection to U.S. House in Georgia's 5th Congressional District

The Associated Press reports that Democrat Nikema Williams has won reelection to U.S. House in Georgia's 5th Congressional District.

Williams defeated her Republican challnger, Christian Zimm with over 80% of the vote.

Candidate88888 Party-888 Votes88 Percent of vote

Nikema Williams Democratic 115,961 80.63%

Christian Zimm 8Republican8 27,863 19.37 %

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Advance Ticket Sales Over $45M in U.S.

Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has already raced past $45 million in advance U.S. box office ticket sales, and there are several days to go before the highly anticipated Marvel Studios sequel officially opens in roughly 4,300 cinemas domestically.

On Wednesday, Wakanda Forever begins its international rollout on its way to opening everywhere by the weekend (excluding China and Russia). Projections show the tentpole opening to at least $175 million domestically — some exhibitors are suggesting $185 million to $200 million — and anywhere from $155 million to $195 million at the international box office.

As of Sunday, Wakanda Forever‘s advance ticket sales in the U.S. stood at $45 million, which is more than Thor: Love and Thunder but behind the (frontloaded) Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, according to Disney insiders. By Friday, advance ticket sales for the Wakanda Forever number could be in the $60 million-$65 million range, which would rank above the $55 million collected by the first Black Panther.

Among superhero movies released in the pandemic era, Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home opened to $260.1 million in December 2021. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opened to $187.4 million in early May of this year, while Thor: Love and Thunder scored $144.2 million in July (both were from Marvel/Disney). In March 2022, DC and Warner Bros.’ The Batman flew to $134 million in its launch. More recently, DC’s Black Adam, starring Dwayne Johnson in his first live-action superhero role, opened to a more subdued $67 million domestically.

[SOURCE: HOLLYWOOD REPORTER]

Monday, November 07, 2022

'Descendant': A documentary about the descendants of the Clotilda, a sunken slave ship

Descendant follows members of Africatown, a small community in Alabama, as they share their personal stories and community history as descendants of the Clotilda, the last known slave ship to illegally transport human beings as cargo from Africa to America. The ship’s existence, a centuries-old open secret, is confirmed by a team of marine archeologists. The film explores implications of the Clotilda’s discovery for the descendants, who grapple with their heritage while claiming the power to shape their own destinies.

Descendant, Directed by Margaret Brown premiered in the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, and won the Special Jury Award: Creative Vision.

The documentary is currently airing now on Netflix.

Watch the trailer below:

Wanda Gordon is missing

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.- Police asked for the public's help Friday with locating a woman who was reported missing after she was last seen in Northport Thursday afternoon.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department said 49-year-old Wanda Gordon could be disoriented and lost and possibly in the Walker County area.

Gordon was described as 5'2" in height and weighs around 150 pounds. She was last seen wearing a white top and yellowish/gold bottoms.

She was last seen driving a 2011 Chrysler 200 with an Alabama tag. The front driver's side of the car has damage and there are multiple stickers on the rear window.

If you see Gordon, police asked that you call 205-349-2121 or any local enforcement if you see her or her vehicle.