New Hampshire Republicans Expand Control Of State Government

New Hampshire Republicans are projected to maintain trifecta control of state government heading into 2025.

New Hampshire Governor Signs No-Excuse Voter ID And Citizenship Law, But It Won’t Matter In 2024

The law will require New Hampshire voters to bring an ID to cast a ballot, as well as provide proof of citizenship in order to register.

Indiana Republicans Snub The Establishment In Lieutenant Governor Race

Many Hoosiers feel that the establishment sect of the Indiana House has failed to deliver on key issues, acting more like Democrats than true conservatives.

Republican Joe Lombardo defeats Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in Nevada



Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo has defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak in Nevada's 2022 gubernatorial contest, according to a race call by the Associated Press.

Sisolak issued a statement on Friday acknowledging his apparent loss.

"While votes are still coming in — and we need every ballot tallied and every voice heard — it appears we will fall a percentage point or so short of winning," Sisolak said in the statement. "Obviously that is not the outcome I want, but I believe in our election system, in democracy and honoring the will of Nevada voters. So whether you voted for me or Sheriff Lombardo, it is important that we now come together to continue moving the state forward. That is why I reached out to the Sheriff to wish him success."

\u201cServing you as governor for the last four years has been the honor of my lifetime. \n\nThank you to everyone who believed in us and put your all out there. \n\nIt\u2019s important that we now come together to continue moving the state forward.\u201d
— Steve Sisolak (@Steve Sisolak) 1668216680

Lombardo issued a statement about his election win.

"I've dedicated my life to protecting and serving our community, and now, I'm honored to have the opportunity to protect and serve our entire state as your next governor," Lombardo said in the statement. "Our victory is a victory for all Nevadans who want our state to get back on track. It's a victory for small business owners, for parents, for students, and for law enforcement."

\u201cWe did it, Nevada! Thank you so much for the great trust you\u2019ve placed in me. Together, we\u2019re going to get our state back on track. #nvgov\u201d
— Joe Lombardo (@Joe Lombardo) 1668220488

While Election Day was on Tuesday, it still remains unclear which political party will control the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives next year.

Multiple Republican senators have called for the postponement of the Senate GOP leadership elections that are slated for next week — but Politico reported that Senate GOP Conference chair John Barrasso wrote to Republican senators and conveyed that the leadership elections will take place next week. "After presentations from candidates, and there is every opportunity to address questions from every member, we will complete leadership elections," Barasso wrote, according to Politico.

'Hate will lose, love will win,' Desantis challenger Charlie Crist tweets while predicting defeat for the Florida governor in the state's gubernatorial election



Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist of Florida, who recently won the state's Democratic gubernatorial primary, is framing the election as a contest between love and hate.

"Ron DeSantis WILL lose this November. It's a story as old as time: Hate will lose, love will win," Crist tweeted on Friday.

\u201cRon DeSantis WILL lose this November. \n\nIt\u2019s a story as old as time: Hate will lose, love will win.\u201d
— Charlie Crist (@Charlie Crist) 1661557644

Earlier this week, Crist said that he does not want the votes of DeSantis supporters, suggesting that they harbor hate within their hearts.

During an appearance on MSNBC this week, Crist said of the governor, "He is on the battlefield of hate, I am on the battlefield of love."

In another tweet on Friday, Crist claimed that DeSantis is taking away people's liberty. "Don't be fooled by Ron DeSantis's far-right propaganda — he doesn't protect freedom, he takes it away."

He has also referred to the governor as "anti-freedom Ron."

Reports indicate that on Saturday Crist is expected to announce Karla Hernandez-Mats as his running mate.

Hernandez-Mats is the president of United Teachers of Dade, a left-wing teachers union. She has previously shared a cartoon on social media that appears to take a swipe at parents — in the cartoon, a group of individuals wearing what look like frightening Halloween costumes say that they are heading to a school board meeting.

"For any of you following the school board meetings, you know that the craziness is real. God be with us. #antivaxxers #disinformation #misinformation" Hernandez-Mats tweeted last year when sharing the cartoon.

\u201cFor any of you following the school board meetings, you know that the craziness is real. God be with us. #antivaxxers #disinformation #misinformation\u201d
— Karla Hern\u00e1ndez (@Karla Hern\u00e1ndez) 1634867231

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is currently running for re-election, announced this week that he is pledging $100,000 to support Crist.

Crist previously served as Florida governor from early 2007 until early 2011, but after winning that job as a Republican, he lost a 2010 U.S. Senate bid as an independent. He lost the state's 2014 gubernatorial contest as a Democrat. Crist is currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

'Time to make Ron DeSantis a one-term governor': Gavin Newsom pledges a whopping $100,000 to support Democratic candidate Charlie Crist in Florida governor race



California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who survived a recall election last year and is currently seeking another term in office during the Golden State's 2022 gubernatorial contest, announced that he is pledging $100,000 to support Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist's bid to defeat incumbent GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the Sunshine State's governor race.

"Time to make Ron DeSantis a one-term governor. I'm pledging $100k right now to @CharlieCrist. Who will join me in helping Charlie become the next Governor of Florida?" Newsom tweeted on Thursday.

"Great to have you on Team Crist, @GavinNewsom! I've said it all along, DeSantis isn’t just a Florida problem. He wants to be president and force his radical right-wing views on the country. When we beat him this November, that show is OVER," Crist tweeted in response to Newsom's post.

\u201c@GavinNewsom Great to have you on Team Crist, @GavinNewsom!\n\nI've said it all along, DeSantis isn\u2019t just a Florida problem. He wants to be president and force his radical right-wing views on the country.\n\nWhen we beat him this November, that show is OVER. Join us today:https://t.co/Bgss6lGA0E\u201d
— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1661441658

While DeSantis has not announced any plans to mount a presidential bid, the governor has become an enormously popular figure within conservative circles and many political watchers view him as someone who could eventually pursue a White House run.

Earlier this week, Crist won Florida's Democratic gubernatorial primary contest, which means that he will face DeSantis during the general election later this year.

Crist previously served as Florida governor from early 2007 through early 2011 — he had been elected to that post as a Republican, but in 2010 he lost a U.S. Senate contest while running as an independent. He lost the state's 2014 governor race while running as a Democrat.

Fresh off of his primary victory this week, Crist declared that he does not want the votes of DeSantis supporters. "Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him," Crist said, adding emphatically, "I don't want your vote."

Christina Pushaw, who recently resigned from her job as the Florida governor's press secretary and assumed the role of rapid response director for the DeSantis campaign, responded to Newsom's post by commenting, "Who needs opposition research when your opponents are like this." In another tweet she remarked, "Also so nice for Floridians that Charlie Crist said he doesn't want our votes, but he wants Gavin Newsom's money!"

Newsom previously ran an advertisement in Florida in which he claimed that freedom is under assault in the Sunshine State but that California is a bastion of freedom.

\u201cWe\u2019re about to celebrate Independence Day -- but Freedom\u00a0is under attack by Republican leaders in states like Florida.\n\nBanning books.\nRestricting speech.\nMaking it harder to vote.\nCriminalizing women and doctors.\n\u00a0\nIt\u2019s time to stand up. Don\u2019t let them take your\u00a0freedom.\u201d
— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1656860438

Former Rep. Charlie Crist wins Florida Democratic gubernatorial primary, will face Gov. Ron DeSantis during the general election



U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist soundly defeated Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried during the Florida Democratic gubernatorial primary and will now move on to face incumbent Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis during the general election later this year.

DeSantis, who took office in 2019, has become an enormously popular figure on the political right, and could prove to be difficult to defeat in November.

A University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab poll from earlier this month found that among registered voters who indicated that they will vote during the midterm election, 50% indicated that they would vote for DeSantis while 42% indicated that they would back Crist if the two politicians were competing in the general election.

DeSantis served in the U.S. House of Representatives prior to serving as governor.

Crist previously served as the governor of the Sunshine State from early 2007 through early 2011 after being elected to the role as a Republican. He later lost a U.S. Senate bid in 2010 while running as an independent. In 2014, he lost the state's gubernatorial contest while running as a Democrat. Crist has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since early 2017.

Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) threw her support behind Crist's candidacy. "I'm honored to receive the full support and endorsement of my colleague and friend, @SpeakerPelosi, as we work to build a Florida that truly works for all Floridians!" Crist tweeted.

\u201cI'm honored to receive the full support and endorsement of my colleague and friend, @SpeakerPelosi, as we work to build a Florida that truly works for all Floridians!\u201d
— Charlie Crist (@Charlie Crist) 1650287752

Crist has called DeSantis "an autocrat" and "a demagogue," according to the Associated Press.

Fried has described DeSantis as "the most dangerous governor in the country."

\u201cDeSantis is the most dangerous governor in the country.\u201d
— Nikki Fried (@Nikki Fried) 1660402664

Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor of California in recall election



Former Olympic decathlete, reality TV star, and transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner is running for governor of California.

"I'm in! California is worth fighting for," Jenner announced Friday.

Jenner, a Republican, will seek to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) in a special election to recall the governor. Republican activists in California have gathered more than 2 million voter signatures to trigger a special election to recall the governor, which, according to KCRA-TV, political insiders in the state believe will be enough to overcome expected challenges declaring some signatures redundant or invalid.

Axios reported a team of prominent GOP consultants is lining up behind Jenner to run the campaign, including top Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, RedRock Strategies founder Ryan Erwin, and Allegiance Strategies President Tyler Deaton. Steven Cheung, a former Trump communications aide who worked on former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's successful 2003 recall campaign, is also joining Jenner's team.

"Sacramento needs an honest leader with a clear vision," Jenner said in a statement to Axios. "For the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people."

The statement blasted California's taxes as "too high" and criticized Newsom for an "over-restrictive lockdown" response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is Gavin Newsom's California, where he orders us to stay home but goes out to dinner with his lobbyist friends," Jenner said.

According to Axios, Jenner will run as a "very socially liberal" candidate who is also "fiscally conservative." The campaign believes the reality TV star's name recognition in California is even greater than Newsom's and that the earned media attention from being the first serious transgender Republican candidate for governor in the state's history will boost the odds of victory.

Jenner will not run as a Trump Republican. In 2018, when Trump rescinded federal guidelines instructing schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms associated with their self-proclaimed gender identity, not their biological sex, Jenner criticized the president, writing, "my hope in him ... was misplaced."

"Certainly she has not seen eye-to-eye with [Trump] on a lot of things," an aide with the campaign told Axios. "I think that Caitlyn will talk to anyone, Democrat or Republican. Donald Trump is not going to be the deciding factor for the state of California."

A recall election in California has a two-step process. First, voters must answer a question regarding whether Gov. Newsom should be recalled. Voters are then asked a second question about who should succeed the governor if a majority says he should be recalled.

If a majority votes to recall the governor, then his successor is the candidate with the most votes on the second question, regardless of whether that candidate has a majority or not.

A poll of California voters released earlier this month found that only 40% of respondents said the governor should be recalled, putting the liklihood of Jenner or any candidate actually beating Newsom in doubt.