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Tag: Democratic Party

  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pronounces Impartial Presidential Run

    PHILADELPHIA — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced Monday that he’s going to run for president as an impartial, leaving behind his quest to problem President Joe Biden for the Democratic Birthday celebration nomination.

    Kennedy, the son and namesake of an assassinated former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, published his new plan of action at an early afternoon rally for supporters on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, a location he selected for its proximity to the place the rustic used to be based.

    “Other folks prevent me all over … and so they strike a cord in me that this nation is in a position for a history-making alternate. They’re in a position to reclaim their freedom ― their independence!” he declared to a cheering crowd. “And that’s why I’m right here as of late ― I’m right here to claim myself an impartial candidate” for president.

    Kennedy went on to stipulate how his ideologically heterodox marketing campaign, inquisitive about therapeutic the partisan divide, would “claim independence” from the corrupting affect of firms, the “mercenary” media, the “cynical elites,” and naturally, the two-party machine.

    As a Democratic candidate, Kennedy, an environmental-attorney-turned-vaccine-skeptic and conspiracy theorist, disillusioned expectancies with the numerous enhance he garnered in some polls, regardless that that enhance has waned through the years.

    However the Democratic Nationwide Committee has refused to time table debates between Biden and different Democratic hopefuls.

    Kennedy additionally lamented new occasion regulations making South Carolina the primary number one state and penalizing applicants who marketing campaign within the unsanctioned New Hampshire number one, pronouncing this had stacked the race in opposition to him. (The occasion has laid the ones regulations out brazenly, however Kennedy has made further, baseless claims in regards to the DNC’s alleged plans to intervene together with his bid.)

    “So how are we going to win in opposition to the established Washington pursuits?” Kennedy stated in a video teasing his Philadelphia rally. “It’s now not thru taking part in the sport via the corrupt regulations that the corrupt powers and vested pursuits have rigged to stay us all of their thrall.”

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney known for his conspiratorial views about vaccines, insists that leaders of both parties are "corrupt."
    Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer identified for his conspiratorial perspectives about vaccines, insists that leaders of each events are “corrupt.”

    Kennedy’s determination follows a equivalent step via left-wing instructional and activist Cornel West, who introduced Thursday that he would run as an impartial moderately than vie for the Inexperienced Birthday celebration’s presidential nomination. He advised CNN that in search of the Inexperienced Birthday celebration nomination required an excessive amount of interior occasion campaigning and that it used to be more uncomplicated to acquire a spot at the poll in all 50 states as an impartial.

    Marianne Williamson, a self-help writer and non secular guru, stays within the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. She has to this point failed to damage thru in polling.

    In contrast to Williamson, alternatively, Kennedy and West may each siphon votes from Biden in a basic election.

    Kennedy has espoused conventionally liberal perspectives on local weather alternate, racial justice and the welfare state whilst additionally opposing the USA’ persevered arming of Ukraine, the management of a collection of vaccines whose dangers he believes were hid via Large Pharma and the federal government, and the closures of colleges and different public puts for public well being causes right through the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Kennedy has additionally expressed extra conservative perspectives than Biden at the query of shutting down unauthorized entries on the U.S. border, gun rights, and fogeys’ position in selections about their youngsters’s gender transitions.

    As a Democratic candidate, Kennedy gained a lot more protection — and favorable remedy — from right-wing media retailers than from mainstream or liberal outfits. It’s unclear whether or not that may proceed now that he’s not difficult Biden within the Democratic number one.

    The Republican Nationwide Committee wasted no time blasting Kennedy as a “conventional elitist liberal” as Kennedy made the announcement Monday afternoon.

    “Make no mistake ― a Democrat in Impartial’s clothes remains to be a Democrat,” RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel stated in a remark. “RFK Jr. can not conceal from his report of endorsing Hillary, supporting the Inexperienced New Deal, combating in opposition to the Keystone Pipeline, and praising AOC’s tax hikes ― he’s your conventional elitist liberal and electorate gained’t be fooled.”

    In a hypothetical basic election matchup with each Biden and previous President Donald Trump, who’s the polling chief within the GOP number one, Kennedy would obtain 14% of the vote, pulling enhance from each main occasion applicants, in step with a Reuters/Ipsos ballot that got here out Thursday.

    This can be a growing tale. Please take a look at again for updates.

  • GOP Politicians And Pundits In point of fact Need To Blame McCarthy’s Ouster On Democrats

    The Democrats’ mascot is also the donkey, however Republicans attempted to cause them to the scapegoats on Tuesday.

    Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was once ousted as Area speaker after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) filed a movement to claim the speaker’s workplace vacant.

    The measure handed 216-210, because of votes towards McCarthy from 8 Republicans and all Area Democrats.

    However whilst Democrats made up nearly all of votes to take away McCarthy, the trouble was once the paintings of Republican Gaetz, who says he’s offended that McCarthy has labored with the Democrats to stop the government from shutting down final week.

    Subsequently, it might appear that individuals offended at McCarthy’s ouster will have to be mad at Gaetz, no longer Democrats, who principally left it to the Republican participants to avoid wasting or no longer save McCarthy.

    So, even supposing the Republican Home is going through a dumpster fireplace to take a look at to determine who can get elected as the following speaker, GOP politicians and pundits determined the Democrats had been at fault.

    Ari Fleischer, a White Area press secretary within the George W. Bush management, gave the impression to accuse the Area Democrats of masterminding McCarthy’s political loss of life “with the assistance of Matt Gaetz,” even supposing it was once the wrong way round.

    Others chimed in with their very own blame sport.

    Many of us appropriately idea the concept that an ouster arranged by way of a disgruntled Republican congressman will have to be blamed at the Democrats is ridiculous.

    Even supposing McCarthy may just run to switch himself as Area Speaker, he stated after his elimination that he’s going to no longer search the placement.

  • Senate Democrats Introduce Invoice To Cancel Faculty Lunch Debt National

    A bunch of Senate Democrats have offered a invoice that might wipe out pupil meal debt for children throughout the US.

    Fetterman stated there are greater than 30 million children within the U.S. who can’t have the funds for faculty foods and that the nationwide public faculty meal debt is $262 million a yr.

    “‘Faculty lunch debt’ is a time period so absurd that it shouldn’t even exist,” Fetterman stated in a press liberate on Monday. “That’s why I’m proud to introduce this invoice to cancel the country’s pupil meal debt and forestall humiliating children and penalizing starvation.”

    The brand new invoice would erase pupil lunch debt through directing the Division of Agriculture to pay for all money owed owed to colleges for lunch and breakfast techniques.

  • Rob Menendez Broadcasts Reelection Bid In a while After His Father’s Indictment

    Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), the son of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), is looking for reelection following his father’s indictment on corruption fees remaining week.

    The elder Menendez was once charged Friday over allegedly accepting bribes, together with $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in money, in alternate for reliable acts that aided an Egyptian American businessman and the Egyptian govt.

    However his son, a freshman member of Congress, seems undeterred via his father’s felony troubles and is looking for any other time period in administrative center.

    “I can be operating for reelection in response to that document so I will be able to proceed to serve the citizens of this district that I really like, in stark distinction to people who would possibly run to additional their very own bare political ambition,” Rob Menendez mentioned in a remark launched Monday, consistent with Politico.

    Rob Menendez defended his father in a remark in a while after the indictment was once made public.

    “I strongly consider in his integrity and his values, and stay up for seeing him transfer previous this distraction to proceed combating for our state in the USA Senate,” he mentioned.

    Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla (D) is reportedly mulling a problem to Rob Menendez, consistent with the New Jersey Globe.

    In the meantime, a number of outstanding Democrats, together with Sens. Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Peter Welch (Vt.) and John Fetterman (Pa.) and previous Area Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), have known as on Bob Menendez to step down.

    The New Jersey senator has denied wrongdoing and refused to renounce, pronouncing the ones calling for his ouster “have rushed to judgment.”

    “I can be exonerated and proceed to be the senior senator from New Jersey,” he advised a press convention Monday.

    Bob Menendez up to now has now not formally showed whether or not he’ll search any other time period in administrative center. Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), despite the fact that, has already introduced he’ll run for the seat and others may just practice swimsuit.

    The senator and his spouse, Nadine Menendez, who could also be dealing with bribery fees, are anticipated to be arraigned Wednesday.

    If convicted, they may resist 45 years at the back of bars, consistent with Reuters.

    This isn’t the primary indictment for Menendez. He confronted corruption fees in 2015 however the case led to a hung jury.

  • Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez Will Step Down As International Family members Chairman

    Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) will briefly step down as chairman of the Senate International Family members Committee as he faces federal corruption fees, Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) mentioned Friday.

    “Bob Menendez has been a devoted public servant and is at all times combating laborious for the folk of New Jersey. He has a proper to due procedure and a good trial,” Schumer mentioned in a short lived commentary. “Senator Menendez has rightly made up our minds to step down briefly from his place as Chairman of the International Family members Committee till the subject has been resolved.”

    It’s no longer a lot of a concession through Menendez at hand over the committee gavel. It seems like he had no selection, given the foundations of the Democratic Convention, which state:

    “Any Member of the Convention who serves as chair or score member of a status, make a choice, particular, or joint committee who’s charged with a prison shall in an instant step apart in prefer of the following maximum senior eligible Democratic member of the committee in query, who shall function appearing chair or score member.”

    The New Jersey Democrat was once indicted previous Friday on fees of accepting bribes together with $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in money in trade for professional acts that aided an Egyptian American businessman.

    Menendez has denied the allegations, pronouncing in a commentary that he’s being prosecuted through individuals who “merely can’t settle for {that a} first technology Latino-American from humble beginnings may just upward thrust to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and difference.”

    It’s the second one time that Menendez has been indicted on corruption fees. In 2017, his trial ended with a deadlocked jury. He received reelection in 2018.

    A handful of Democrats are already calling at the New Jersey senator to surrender, together with former U.S. Lawyer Basic Eric Holder, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim.

  • Senate Democrats Reintroduce Sweeping Invoice To Codify Federal Abortion Protections

    A bunch of Senate Democrats reintroduced the Girls’s Well being Coverage Act on Wednesday night — regulation that targets to codify federal abortion protections because the Splendid Courtroom repealed its landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade.

    The regulation, backed by way of Democratic Sens. Tammy 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (Wis.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), targets to “offer protection to an individual’s skill to resolve whether or not to proceed or finish a being pregnant, and to offer protection to a doctor’s skill to offer abortion products and services.”

    Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and President Professional Tempore Patty Murray (D-Wash.), in conjunction with 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley and Blumenthal, led 45 different Democrats in introducing the WHPA at the Senate ground on Wednesday night.

    “Republicans have ushered in a disaster—a nightmare for ladies, for sufferers, and for medical doctors alike—with their nonstop assaults on each lady’s reproductive rights,” Murray stated in a remark. “They’ve handed one excessive abortion ban after the following, and as they fail to persuade the American other folks to get on board with their excessive time table, they’ve attempted to drive it on girls around the nation with threats, intimidation, and outrageous court cases.”

    Because the Splendid Courtroom overturned Roe final 12 months, round a dozen states have banned abortion care, and a dozen others are prone to coming near near restrictions or bans at the process — making the WHPA a key piece of regulation for Democrats having a look to proactively offer protection to abortion get right of entry to.

    The WHPA would offer important safeguards towards those state bans and medically needless hurdles, offer protection to other folks’s skill to shuttle out of state for abortion care, and be sure that abortion later in being pregnant can’t be banned if the existence or well being of the pregnant individual is in danger.

    Senate Democrats conduct a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol to voice support for abortion rights on May 19, 2022.
    Senate Democrats behavior a information convention outdoor the U.S. Capitol to voice beef up for abortion rights on Might 19, 2022.

    Tom Williams by means of Getty Photographs

    However that is the 3rd time within the final decade that Democratic leaders have reintroduced the Girls’s Well being Coverage Act — and it’s more likely to fail once more, given the Republican majority within the Space.

    The invoice, initially presented in 2013, was once reintroduced in 2021 as a reaction to the looming attainable death of Roe. The WHPA handed within the Space with historical beef up in September 2021, simply weeks after Texas applied a draconian measure banning abortion at six weeks and deputizing personal electorate to put into effect the brand new regulation. The invoice died by way of filibuster within the Senate final February and once more in Might, days after the leak of the Splendid Courtroom’s draft resolution in Dobbs v. Jackson Girls’s Well being Group, the case that at last resulted in the repeal of Roe.

    The WHPA did not advance within the Senate final 12 months even after Democrats stripped the invoice of legislative findings that described the intersection of racism, classism and misogyny in abortion restrictions — an try to “draw in the broadest conceivable beef up” from Democrats, Blumenthal instructed HuffPost final Might.

    The 2023 model of the regulation additionally leaves out those nonbinding findings, which can be incessantly used to lend a hand identify the intent of a work of regulation and can also be pointed to later if there are court docket demanding situations.

    “In too many corners of The united states as of late, the some distance proper’s campaign to stifle the physically autonomy of pregnant other folks is resulting in disproportionate hurt for non-white communities in addition to LGBTQ+ communities,” Schumer stated in a remark. “This regulation writes into regulation that reproductive freedom and get right of entry to to fundamental well being care will have to be to be had to each American, no longer matter to the whims of an excessive birthday party whose ideals are out of step with a majority of American citizens.”

  • Jennifer McClellan Projected To Change into Virginia’s First Black Congresswoman

    Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan (D) was once projected to defeat her Republican opponent on Tuesday to turn out to be the primary Black girl to constitute the state in Congress, in step with The Related Press and early vote counts.

    McClellan, 50, led Republican Leon Benjamin by way of about 40 share issues on Tuesday throughout a different election to fill a seat vacated by way of the demise of Rep. Donald McEachin (D). McEachin died of most cancers in November, in a while after he was once elected to a fourth time period in place of business.

    Her victory, whilst anticipated in a blue-leaning district that comes with Richmond, is a milestone in Virginia politics. McClellan painted her bid as an honor heavy with duty to be the state’s first Black girl to move to Congress, pointing to her circle of relatives’s reports within the Jim Crow generation. She instructed The Related Press that her father and grandfather had been required to pay ballot taxes and her mom wasn’t ready to vote till the passage of the Balloting Rights Act of 1965.

    “It’s poetic justice, occupied with what now not most effective my circle of relatives has been via, however what our nation has been via,” McClellan instructed The Washington Submit after her projected victory. “To be the primary Black girl from Virginia, which was once the birthplace of American democracy but in addition the birthplace of American slavery.”

    Her victory was once hailed by way of the Virginia Democratic Celebration.

    “Jennifer McClellan’s history-making victory as the primary Black girl to be elected to Congress from Virginia may have ripple results around the Commonwealth,” Susan Swecker, the chairwoman of the birthday celebration, stated in a commentary Tuesday night time. “Her management will enlarge upon the phenomenal growth and advocacy for which we keep in mind Congressman A. Donald McEachin ― I will not assume of a higher method to honor his existence and legacy.”

    McClellan has served as a state legislator since 2006, sponsoring many Democratic tasks, together with expenses that expanded vote casting get entry to and abortion rights. She driven ahead a blank power initiative and has pledged to paintings towards equivalent efforts whilst in Congress.

    Best 3 Black males have ever represented Virginia in Congress. McClellan will sign up for 29 different Black girls now within the Area of Representatives.

    “It’s an enormous honor, and duty, to make sure that I’m now not the final,” she instructed AP.

  • Barbara Lee Tells Congressional Colleagues She Plans To Run For Senate

    Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) informed her colleagues on Wednesday she intends to run for Senate, a supply acquainted with the discussions informed HuffPost.

    Politico first reported that the consultant discussed her plans to run for Senate in 2024 right through a closed-door assembly of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lee stated she is ready to make a proper announcement about her candidacy out of appreciate for Senator Dianne Feinstein, who has but to mention if she’ll run for a 6th time period, and the ongoing storms and ensuing floods recently plaguing California.

    “At this time, in appreciate to [Sen.] Dianne Feinstein and the floods and what I’m doing, I’m doing my paintings. And we’ll allow them to know once I intend to visit the next move. However now’s the time now not to discuss that,” she informed Politico.

    Lee intends to make an respectable announcement “when it’s suitable,” however has already spoken to Feinstein about her goal to run, The Washington Publish reviews.

    Information of Lee’s plans to run for Senate emerged an afternoon after Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif) introduced her candidacy. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has additionally hinted at a run. In the meantime, Feinstein stated Tuesday that “everyone seems to be after all welcome to throw their hat within the ring” and that she’d make a statement about her electoral long run “on the suitable time.”

    Lee represents Oakland and Berkeley and has served within the Area of Representatives for over twenty years. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) reportedly regarded as Lee to exchange Kamala Harris within the Senate in 2020 however opted for California elections leader Alex Padilla as a substitute.

    HuffPost’s Igor Bobic contributed reporting.

  • Virginia Democrat Holds Small Lead In State Senate Race To Make a decision Destiny Of Abortion Rights

    Democrats seem to have flipped a essential Senate seat within the Virginia legislature on Tuesday — most likely safeguarding the state from enacting a 15-week abortion ban.

    Aaron Rouse, a former NFL participant and Virginia Seaside councilmember, holds a slim lead over Republican Kevin Adams, a Military veteran, as of Wednesday morning. The particular election used to be held to fill a swing-district seat vacated via Republican Jen Kiggans after she used to be elected to the U.S. Space in November.

    It used to be a decent race, with Rouse taking 50.41% of the votes and Adams 49.51%, in line with the Virginia Public Get admission to Undertaking. Rouse these days leads Adams via simply 348 votes. Even if Virginia Public Get admission to Undertaking referred to as the race for Rouse ― and Rouse and Democrats have claimed victory ― absentee ballots are nonetheless being counted. As of Wednesday morning, Adams had no longer conceded.

    “THANK YOU! Along with your give a boost to, and the give a boost to of electorate from throughout Virginia Seaside and Norfolk, we now have gained this Particular Election,” Rouse tweeted on Tuesday evening. “No relaxation for the weary – the following day, we head to Richmond to get to paintings for Virginia households.”

    The election attracted large cash from all sides of the aisle as a result of its end result will most likely have an oversized affect at the destiny of abortion rights in Virginia. Rouse is pro-choice and promised to “fiercely offer protection to the best to an abortion,” whilst Adams opposes abortion and supported a 15-week ban with exceptions for rape, incest and the lifetime of the pregnant individual.

    Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) first hinted at the potential for a 15-week abortion ban in December when he proposed allocating $50,000 to ascertain the sort of ban within the state finances. Youngkin, a possible 2024 presidential candidate, first of all painted himself as a reasonable on abortion rights at the marketing campaign path in 2021 however temporarily modified his track as soon as in place of job.

    “I’m proud to be a pro-life governor and plan to take each and every motion I will be able to to offer protection to lifestyles,” Youngkin stated in a observation to the clicking not up to an hour after the Ultimate Court docket repealed federal abortion protections ultimate summer season.

    “Any invoice that involves my table, I can signal thankfully and gleefully so as to offer protection to lifestyles,” Youngkin informed a gaggle of supporters days later.

    If Rouse’s slim lead holds, his win solidifies a 21-18 Democratic majority within the state Senate. Then again, state Sen. Joe Morrissey, an anti-abortion Democrat, has stated he can be open to supporting a restriction if regulation made it to the Senate flooring. If Adams makes a comeback, Morrissey’s swing vote may make a narrow Democratic majority necessarily needless for shielding abortion rights.

    Whilst a 15-week abortion ban might appear reasonable in a post-Roe international the place just about a dozen states have near-total abortion bans, it could have massive penalties for Virginians and people in the hunt for care from neighboring states. Lately, Virginia lets in abortion via the second one trimester of being pregnant and into the 3rd if the mummy’s lifestyles is in peril. As well as, it’s one among a handful of states that permits abortion in the course of the twenty eighth week of being pregnant, making it a secure haven for abortions later in being pregnant.

    “We’re delighted to congratulate Sen.-elect Aaron Rouse who valiantly and unapologetically made this particular election about protective abortion rights,” Jamie Lockhart, government director of Deliberate Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, stated in a Tuesday evening observation.

    “The electorate of SD-07 spoke back loudly and obviously that they wish to see abortion secure, no longer banned ― as do nearly all of Virginians all all over the commonwealth. When our rights are at the line, electorate display up in give a boost to of reproductive freedom,” she persevered. “It is a essential victory for well being care get admission to and the way forward for abortion rights in our commonwealth, and we sit up for running with Sen.-elect Rouse and all of our allies within the Normal Meeting who will boldly champion Virginians’ freedom this legislative consultation.”

  • Most sensible Adviser Thinks Bernie Sanders Would Give 2024 A ‘Laborious Glance’ If Biden Doesn’t Run Once more

    A most sensible adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) mentioned Thursday he believes the Vermont lawmaker would give a 2024 bid for the White Space a “laborious glance” if President Joe Biden makes a decision to not run for a 2d time period.

    Faiz Shakir, a senior adviser to the senator who controlled his 2020 marketing campaign, advised CBS Information he believed Sanders would imagine working for a 3rd time if he felt the Democratic Celebration used to be “susceptible” in its talent to talk to running elegance electorate.

    “I guess that he would give it a difficult glance,” Shakir mentioned. “I don’t need to make a judgment for him, clearly, it might be his option to make. However I guess that he would need to reevaluate it.”

    Biden has signaled he’s going to certainly run for a 2d time period, however he has but to make a proper annoucement with two years left in his time period. Former President Donald Trump declared his personal bid remaining month, and different Republicans have jostled for nationwide consideration forward of their very own anticipated bulletins.

    Shakir went on to notice that Sanders, now 81, is “very mindful” he’s older than when he ran for the Democratic nomination in 2016 and 2020, including the lawmaker must “make an actual judgement about his personal vigor and his stamina.”

    “But when it had been an open box? Yeah, I’m assured he would take every other take a look at it and say, ‘Do I need to do that or now not?’” Shakir mentioned, noting Sanders would hope different applicants sharing his fortify of running elegance electorate would throw their hats within the ring.

    He added that are meant to Biden go away the White Space, he’d be expecting the Democratic festival for the nomination to be fierce.

    “You’d have numerous other folks within the box,” Shakir mentioned. “No longer 3 or 4 or 5, however 15, 20 almost definitely.”