Politics, Parties, Candidates
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Ohio Democratic Party: Ohioans in Zanesville Slam Vivek Ramaswamy's Scammy Policy Plans
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 18 -- The Ohio Democratic Party posted the following news:
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Ohioans in Zanesville Slam Vivek Ramaswamy's Scammy Policy Plans
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Columbus, Ohio- Earlier this week in Zanesville, candidate for lieutenant governor David Pepper joined members of the United Steelworkers to slam Vivek Ramaswamy's scammy policy plans that would ship Ohio jobs overseas and leave working families behind.
WATCH THE CLIP HERE: https://youtu.be/Hrav_SmmQsA
"He is literally flying around the state and country in this fancy corporate jet and I think what happens when you do that is people feel
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Ohio, June 18 -- The Ohio Democratic Party posted the following news:
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Ohioans in Zanesville Slam Vivek Ramaswamy's Scammy Policy Plans
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Columbus, Ohio- Earlier this week in Zanesville, candidate for lieutenant governor David Pepper joined members of the United Steelworkers to slam Vivek Ramaswamy's scammy policy plans that would ship Ohio jobs overseas and leave working families behind.
WATCH THE CLIP HERE: https://youtu.be/Hrav_SmmQsA
"He is literally flying around the state and country in this fancy corporate jet and I think what happens when you do that is people feellike you're not really on the ground. You don't understand their issues. You know, he proposes consolidating colleges and universities. If you are on the ground, in communities, you realize what a terrible idea that is. You realize that not only would it cost students and families but it also really would hurt the economy of these communities, " said candidate for lieutenant governor David Pepper.
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Original text here: https://ohiodems.org/watch-ohioans-in-zanesville-slam-vivek-ramaswamys-scammy-policy-plans/
N.C. Republican Party: Sarah Stevens Will Defend Parental Rights, Anita Earls Won't
RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 18 -- The North Carolina Republican Party issued the following news release on June 17, 2026:
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Sarah Stevens Will Defend Parental Rights, Anita Earls Won't
North Carolina families can depend on conservative Sarah Stevens to defend parental rights on the N.C. Supreme Court. The same cannot be said for radical liberal activist Anita Earls.
In a recent appellate decision, a lawsuit filed by a Guilford County mother and her son over a forced Covid vaccination can proceed in part due to court rulings by the N.C. Supreme Court and the N.C. Court of Appeals. Anita
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, June 18 -- The North Carolina Republican Party issued the following news release on June 17, 2026:
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Sarah Stevens Will Defend Parental Rights, Anita Earls Won't
North Carolina families can depend on conservative Sarah Stevens to defend parental rights on the N.C. Supreme Court. The same cannot be said for radical liberal activist Anita Earls.
In a recent appellate decision, a lawsuit filed by a Guilford County mother and her son over a forced Covid vaccination can proceed in part due to court rulings by the N.C. Supreme Court and the N.C. Court of Appeals. AnitaEarls dissented in the matter, saying government officials should be held accountable for a forced vaccination and did not violate their state constitutional rights.
Emily Happel and and her son, Tanner Smith, began in 2021.
"My son told me that the lady who was helping him said they had tried to call his mother, but that she didn't answer and said, 'Let's just give it to him anyway.' I still had no idea that he was going to be getting a vaccine; I was still waiting for a test," Happel told North State Journal.
When the case made its way to the N.C. Supreme Court, the justices ruled 5-2 to allow the case to proceed and not be dismissed. Earls joined the dissenting opinion of fellow Democrat Allison Riggs that Happel and Smith are not owed accountability by the local school board and medical provider.
Sarah Stevens, who spent nearly two decades as a state legislator, sponsored and voted for legislation to assert the rights of parents and defend families. Rising to become just the second female House Speaker Pro Tempore, she supported the 2023 Parental Bill of Rights Bill.
"Sarah Stevens has built a career as a common sense conservative who will uphold the constitutional rights of North Carolinians while radical liberal activist Anita Earls is in the pocket of rich out-of-state donors. This disturbing case is just one example of Sarah Stevens looking out for the rights of all North Carolinians," said an NCGOP spokesman.
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Original text here: https://www.nc.gop/sarah_stevens_will_defend_parental_rights_anita_earls_won_t
ICYMI: Van Orden Hosts Cabinet Secretaries in Western Wisconsin
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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ICYMI: Van Orden Hosts Cabinet Secretaries in Western Wisconsin
This week, Congressman Derrick Van Orden hosted U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler and U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire.
Van Orden, Loeffler, and Sonderling hosted a roundtable table with local community members and business leaders and also toured McDonough Manufacturing and Chippewa Valley Technical College.
"Congressman Derrick Van Orden and the Trump
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WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee posted the following news:
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ICYMI: Van Orden Hosts Cabinet Secretaries in Western Wisconsin
This week, Congressman Derrick Van Orden hosted U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler and U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire.
Van Orden, Loeffler, and Sonderling hosted a roundtable table with local community members and business leaders and also toured McDonough Manufacturing and Chippewa Valley Technical College.
"Congressman Derrick Van Orden and the Trumpadministration remain committed to helping Wisconsinites keep more of their hard earned cash through policies like no tax on tips and no tax on overtime. Van Orden continues to deliver real results and will be re-elected this fall." - NRCC Spokesman Zach Bannon
Read more from WQOW here or see excerpts below:
Rep. Van Orden hosts Cabinet Secretaries at Chippewa Falls roundtable
WQOW
Toby Mohr
June 15, 2026
Congressman Derrick Van Orden brought two more members of the Trump administration cabinet to the Chippewa Valley Monday.
That follows visits from Secretaries Brooke Rollins and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and from President Donald Trump himself to the Third Congressional District this month.
On Monday U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler and Department of Labor Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling joined Van Orden for a roundtable discussion at Loopy's Grill and Saloon in Chippewa Falls. They then toured McDonough Manufacturing and Chippewa Valley Technical College.
[...]
Loopy Kleich, owner of Loopy's, says no tax on tips helps people make a career out of restaurant jobs.
"This is actually a career choice now with no tax on tip and no tax on overtime where people can stay in this industry they love and make it a career," Kleich said.
[...]
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Original text here: https://www.nrcc.org/2026/06/17/icymi-van-orden-hosts-cabinet-secretaries-in-western-wisconsin/
ICYMI: "Libertarian says Zach Nunn, RFK Jr. pushed him to exit US House race"
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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ICYMI: "Libertarian says Zach Nunn, RFK Jr. pushed him to exit US House race"
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Politico : "Battaglia says Nunn, during his June 7 visit to his home, offered him a deal and referenced the HHS secretary: 'We'll fly you out to D.C. and you can be my wing man,' Nunn allegedly said, per Battaglia's recollection. 'We'll make you the poster boy for election integrity, and we'll hang out with Robert Kennedy Jr.'"
Bombshell reports this week from the Des Moines Register and Politico outline
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WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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ICYMI: "Libertarian says Zach Nunn, RFK Jr. pushed him to exit US House race"
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Politico : "Battaglia says Nunn, during his June 7 visit to his home, offered him a deal and referenced the HHS secretary: 'We'll fly you out to D.C. and you can be my wing man,' Nunn allegedly said, per Battaglia's recollection. 'We'll make you the poster boy for election integrity, and we'll hang out with Robert Kennedy Jr.'"
Bombshell reports this week from the Des Moines Register and Politico outlinehow Zach Nunn and RFK Jr. worked to pressure a Libertarian candidate to drop out of the Iowa's Third District race - before Nunn's campaign consultant and official office Deputy Chief of Staff directly filed a challenge to kick the candidate off the ballot.
Reporting found that Nunn and his campaign consultant, Annie Kuhle, visited the Libertarian candidate Marco Battaglia at his home - " where Nunn and Kuhle asked him to drop out of the race." Nunn allegedly " offered [Battaglia] a deal," including to " fly [him] out to D.C." where he could " be [Nunn's] wing man " and " hang out with Robert Kennedy Jr. "
The next day, RFK Jr. called. Politico reports that " Battaglia shared screenshots of his call log with POLITICO that show an incoming call from a phone number Kennedy has previously used."
Then, Kuhle and Nunn's Deputy Chief of Staff Wes Enos filed a challenge to Battaglia's signatures.
Read more:
Des Moines Register: Libertarian says Zach Nunn, RFK Jr. pushed him to exit US House race
* Battaglia told the Register Nunn and Annie Kuhle, a Republican strategist and adviser to Nunn's campaign, reached out to him to ask him to meet. Battaglia said he invited Nunn to join him at his house, where Nunn and Kuhle asked him to drop out of the race.
* "We had a really good conversation. I talked about how we should have debates, forums, town halls in every county in the district," Battaglia said. "And he countered that with, 'I think you should drop out.'"
* Kuhle and Wes Enos, the deputy chief of staff in Nunn's congressional office, filed two challenges against Battaglia's candidacy...
* Battaglia said he followed up with a text message telling [Robert Kennedy Jr.] he wouldn't be dropping out of the race.
* The national Libertarian Party put out a statement accusing Republicans of "an escalating campaign of intimidation" they said was designed to force qualified candidates off the ballot.
Politico: RFK Jr. urged Iowa Libertarian to drop out of battleground House race, challenger claims
* A Libertarian challenger in a top Iowa battleground says Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the district's current representative, GOP Rep. Zach Nunn, privately pressured him to drop out.
* Battaglia said Nunn visited his home on June 7 to convince him to exit the race. Then, a day later, came a call from Washington -and Kennedy, allegedly, was on the other line. Battaglia said Kennedy told him that it would be a direct blow to Kennedy, personally, if Republicans lost the seat.
* Battaglia shared screenshots of his call log with POLITICO that show an incoming call from a phone number Kennedy has previously used. The call arrived at 12:44 p.m. central and lasted nearly 12 minutes. POLITICO also reviewed screenshots of text messages Battaglia later sent to the number associated with Kennedy, which did not garner responses.
* Nunn's campaign did not dispute that he visited Battaglia's home...
* Battaglia says Nunn, during his June 7 visit to his home, offered him a deal and referenced the HHS secretary: "We'll fly you out to D.C. and you can be my wing man," Nunn allegedly said, per Battaglia's recollection. "We'll make you the poster boy for election integrity, and we'll hang out with Robert Kennedy Jr."
Iowa's News Now: Iowa Libertarian says Republicans urged him to drop out of race
* Battaglia said U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urged him to drop out of the race before the challenges to his nomination papers.
* "He was very nice," Battaglia said of his conversation with RFK Jr. "He leaned on me slightly to, is how I would put it, to like drop out. He said it would make his life hell if I, if the House flipped."
* Battaglia said Nunn and GOP campaign strategist Annie Kuhle came to his house... "They basically asked me to withdraw from the race," Battaglia said.
* Battaglia believes the meeting was an intimidation tactic.
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Original text here: https://dccc.org/icymi-libertarian-says-zach-nunn-rfk-jr-pushed-him-to-exit-us-house-race/
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: GOP Senate Candidates Backed Ballroom Projected To Cost Taxpayers $300 Million
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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GOP Senate Candidates Backed Ballroom Projected To Cost Taxpayers $300 Million
Washington Post: "The project is deeply unpopular with most Americans [...]"
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New reporting from The Washington Post reveals that the Trump administration is planning to spend more than $300 million of taxpayer money on the construction of Trump's gilded, vanity ballroom project, which has been backed by Republican Senate candidates across the map.
While American families are struggling with gas price
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee posted the following news release:
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GOP Senate Candidates Backed Ballroom Projected To Cost Taxpayers $300 Million
Washington Post: "The project is deeply unpopular with most Americans [...]"
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New reporting from The Washington Post reveals that the Trump administration is planning to spend more than $300 million of taxpayer money on the construction of Trump's gilded, vanity ballroom project, which has been backed by Republican Senate candidates across the map.
While American families are struggling with gas pricespikes, worsening and more costly health care, and reckless tariffs that have "measurably pushed prices higher for American consumers," GOP Senate candidates have dismissed voters' dissatisfaction with Trump's "deeply unpopular" ballroom as being "hot and bothered about all the wrong things," supported the project "100%," downplayed it as simply a "renovation," and blocked Democrats' efforts to halt further taxpayer funding.
Here's where Republican Senate candidates stand on Trump's $300 million taxpayer-funded vanity project:
* Alaska GOP Senate Candidate DAN SULLIVAN defended Trump's ballroom in a letter to Alaskans, calling it a "renovation," which is often "left to the President's discretion." Sullivan said a Secret Service briefing on a $1 billion funding request for the ballroom was "compelling."
* Florida GOP Senate Candidate ASHLEY MOODY voted against an amendment to block funding for the ballroom without congressional authorization.
* Georgia GOP Senate Candidate MIKE COLLINS said, "I support 100% getting that ballroom," when asked about spending $1 billion of taxpayer money on the ballroom.
* Iowa GOP Senate Candidate ASHLEY HINSON supported Trump's ballroom, saying there was "a very valid argument" for building it.
* Michigan GOP Senate Candidate MIKE ROGERS backed Trump's ballroom saying "I don't disagree" with the President on the need for the ballroom because "it didn't cost taxpayers money," and that people opposed to it were "all hot and bothered about all the wrong things."
* Mississippi GOP Senate Candidate CINDY HYDE-SMITH voted against an amendment to block funding for the ballroom without congressional authorization.
* New Hampshire Senate Candidate JOHN SUNUNU said, "I don't think there's anything wrong with including public funding" for the ballroom.
* Ohio GOP Senate Candidate JON HUSTED defended Trump's ballroom, saying "we need to make sure that the security at the White House is sound" when asked about adding ballroom funding to a Senate funding bill.
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Original text here: https://www.dscc.org/article/new-gop-senate-candidates-backed-ballroom-projected-to-cost-taxpayers-300-million/
Democratic Governors Association: Rick Jackson Is Only Out for Himself, Not Georgia
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Rick Jackson Is Only Out for Himself, Not Georgia
Rick Jackson is officially the Republican nominee for Georgia governor, and today, the DGA is releasing a new video - the first of the general election - to showcase exactly how he has been lining his own pockets at Georgians' expense. As Georgians struggle with high gas prices and skyrocketing health care costs, the video highlights how Rick Jackson has been getting richer, even celebrating Donald Trump's cost-raising tariffs that are making everything
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic Governors Association posted the following news:
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Rick Jackson Is Only Out for Himself, Not Georgia
Rick Jackson is officially the Republican nominee for Georgia governor, and today, the DGA is releasing a new video - the first of the general election - to showcase exactly how he has been lining his own pockets at Georgians' expense. As Georgians struggle with high gas prices and skyrocketing health care costs, the video highlights how Rick Jackson has been getting richer, even celebrating Donald Trump's cost-raising tariffs that are making everythingmore expensive for hardworking families across the state.
Jackson has a long record of using taxpayer dollars to benefit his own bottom line while supporting Donald Trump's agenda that is raising costs on Georgians. Jackson has faced scrutiny for enriching himself on no-bid state contracts, making over a billion dollars from state agencies that exist to serve Georgians - which would pose significant conflicts of interest if he were ever elected governor. He even faced accusations from Burt Jones of defrauding seniors by scamming Medicare through his billion-dollar health care company.
Meanwhile, Jackson has admitted to lining his pockets with Trump's tariffs, even as these cost-raising policies took money directly out of Georgians' pockets. He has said he supports Trump's budget law because it lowered his own taxes by 40 percent. And when asked about high gas prices, he bragged about owning an oil refinery.
"Jackson has spent years lining his own pockets at the expense of hardworking Georgians," said DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. "As Georgians face skyrocketing costs from gas prices to groceries, Jackson's long record of corruption has made it clear that he will always put himself ahead of doing what's best for the state,"
Watch the video HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLxxCDl_8zU&feature=youtu.be):
Rick Jackson: I think there's a lot of the Big Beautiful Bill that's good. If he hadn't passed it, I would be paying 40% more in taxes.
Burt Jones: They're seeing the fraud in which he is, I mean the lies that have come out of his camp.
Rick Jackson: I think fair tariffs are good. Now, the stock market went down last April when he announced that. I went and bought options and made 80% return in four weeks.
Burt Jones: If Jackson were here I would just ask him, what is the deal with the Medicare fraud and the $750,000 in settlement money that he paid to the Department of Justice?
Burt Jones: We'd love to start talking to him about his business dealings, and some of his dark money groups.
Burt Jones: He is trying to buy the election.
Anchor: Rick Jackson has poured at least $80 million of his own money...
Burt Jones: It's about $100 million, actually.
Burt Jones: Slick Rick Jackson, he's a fraud.
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Original text here: https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/new-video-rick-jackson-is-only-out-for-himself-not-georgia/
DNC: Georgia Democrats Defeat Donald Trump and Brian Kemp's Desperate Attempt to Rig the Maps and Erase Black Representation During New Special Session
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on June 17, 2026:
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Georgia Democrats Defeat Donald Trump and Brian Kemp's Desperate Attempt to Rig the Maps and Erase Black Representation During New Special Session
Georgia Democrats defeated Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp's desperate attempt to rig the maps, erase Black representation, and cling on to power as lawmakers convened in Atlanta to kick off a special session. Today's victory for voting rights comes in the wake of Georgia Democrats, legislative leaders, and an expansive coalition of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on June 17, 2026:
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Georgia Democrats Defeat Donald Trump and Brian Kemp's Desperate Attempt to Rig the Maps and Erase Black Representation During New Special Session
Georgia Democrats defeated Donald Trump and Gov. Brian Kemp's desperate attempt to rig the maps, erase Black representation, and cling on to power as lawmakers convened in Atlanta to kick off a special session. Today's victory for voting rights comes in the wake of Georgia Democrats, legislative leaders, and an expansive coalition ofadvocacy, faith, and civil rights organizations launching a massive mobilization effort to pressure Republican legislators to back down from their power grab. Kemp called the special session just two weeks after the GOP-captured Supreme Court effectively killed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which generations of Black Americans fought for and won -- opening the door for extremist lawmakers and governors to weaken the voice and representation of Black, Latino, AANHPI, and Native American voters.
In response to Georgia Republicans pulling their redistricting plans, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
"From Democratic state lawmakers and civil rights leaders to organizers on the ground, Georgians stood up and fought back against Donald Trump and Brian Kemp's desperate attempt to rig the maps, cling on to power, and weaken the representation of Black, Latino, AANHPI, and Native American voters. The DNC is grateful that the people of Georgia have once again shown the nation what it looks like to organize and fight for voting rights and fair representation. While Republicans scramble to defend their deeply unpopular and harmful agenda that has skyrocketed costs and taken healthcare away from millions of families, Democrats will stay on offense. We will continue to organize on the ground, register and turnout voters, and win races up and down the ballot -- in Georgia, throughout the South, and all across the country."
REMINDER: Trump and Republicans' corrupt, cost-raising agenda is deeply unpopular with Georgia voters who are being forced to pay more for groceries, gas, utilities, healthcare, childcare, and housing.
It's no wonder that voters throughout the nation continue to turn against them. Since Trump took office, Democrats have won or overperformed in nearly 90% of key elections. The average Democratic overperformance in these special elections is around 14 points. With Trump's approval rating continuing to fall, Democrats have also flipped 30 state legislative seats while Republicans have flipped zero.
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Original text here: https://democrats.org/georgia-democrats-defeat-donald-trump-and-brian-kemps-desperate-attempt-to-rig-the-maps-and-erase-black-representation-during-new-special-session/
