Politics - Parties, Candidates
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties - covering the U.S. political arena including state and national political parties.
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Wisconsin Republican Party Executive Director Jefferson Issues Statement on Rep. Duffy Replacement
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 18 -- The Wisconsin Republican Party issued the following statement by Executive Director Mark Jefferson:
Gov. Evers could have scheduled an early primary in the 7th Congressional District, which would have allowed a replacement for Sean Duffy to be chosen sooner, and allowed more people to participate in the general election on April 7th. Yet he chose to delay the election for obvious partisan gain.
"Tony Evers and the Democrats are terrified of rural voters and there are no limits to the lengths they'll go to suppress their votes.
"First, Evers sought to hold an election
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MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 18 -- The Wisconsin Republican Party issued the following statement by Executive Director Mark Jefferson:
Gov. Evers could have scheduled an early primary in the 7th Congressional District, which would have allowed a replacement for Sean Duffy to be chosen sooner, and allowed more people to participate in the general election on April 7th. Yet he chose to delay the election for obvious partisan gain.
"Tony Evers and the Democrats are terrified of rural voters and there are no limits to the lengths they'll go to suppress their votes.
"First, Evers sought to hold an electionon a Monday during the holiday season under the guise of getting prompt representation for district residents.
"Now he needlessly pushes off the general election until after the regularly scheduled April 7th election in an effort to stack the deck for his liberal partisan Supreme Court candidates.
"His partisan motives will not be lost on voters in the 26 counties who will now have to vote twice in general elections in order to have their votes fully counted."
RGA Releases New Ad in Louisiana Governor's Race Featuring President Trump
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Republican Governors Association issued the following news release:
RGA Right Direction PAC, an organization supported by the Republican Governors Association (RGA), today released its first television ad in the Louisiana runoff election. Titled "Can't Take," the ad features President Donald Trump excoriating Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards for his broken promises, tax-and-spend agenda, and liberal record.
President Trump knows that Louisiana cannot afford four more years of John Bel Edwards' tax hikes, poor economic performance, and ties to the most radical liberals
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Republican Governors Association issued the following news release:
RGA Right Direction PAC, an organization supported by the Republican Governors Association (RGA), today released its first television ad in the Louisiana runoff election. Titled "Can't Take," the ad features President Donald Trump excoriating Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards for his broken promises, tax-and-spend agenda, and liberal record.
President Trump knows that Louisiana cannot afford four more years of John Bel Edwards' tax hikes, poor economic performance, and ties to the most radical liberalsin the country.
Fortunately, Louisianans are offered a clear contrast with conservative outsider Eddie Rispone, who puts Louisiana values first and - as a proven job creator - will partner with President Trump to get the state's economy roaring.
After decisively falling short in the primary with just 46.6 percent of the vote, compared to 52 percent for the Republicans, John Bel Edwards enters the runoff with no clear path to victory and new public polling shows that Rispone has quickly consolidated the Republican vote. Read RGA Executive Director Dave Rexrode's memo on the runoff election here.
"A clear majority of Louisiana voters rejected John Bel Edwards' liberal tax-and-spend agenda in the primary, and will do the same in the runoff election," said RGA Communications Director Amelia Chasse Alcivar. "The voters know what President Trump knows - that John Bel Edwards has failed the state, and Eddie Rispone will right the ship and partner with the President to move Louisiana forward."
Script for "Can't Take"
President Trump: "John Bel Edwards lied to the people of Louisiana.
"When John Bel Edwards ran for office, he made your state a sacred promise that he would not raise your taxes.
"Then he got elected and broke that promise by ramming through the largest tax hike in your state's history, John Bel Edwards.
"Louisiana cannot take four more years of a liberal Democrat governor."
Paid for by RGA Right Direction PAC.
Prominent Kentucky Columnist: Matt Bevin 'Way Off Base,' Looks And Sounds 'Like A Flailing Loser'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Democratic Governors Association issued the following news:
In the Courier Journal, Kentucky columnist Al Cross called out Matt Bevin's bonkers post-debate spin as "way off base." It was so embarrassing Cross even said Bevin looked and sounded "like a flailing loser."
Cross lambasts Bevin for trying to rewrite his record of insulting Kentuckians, defending a misstatement with another misstatement, and lashing out at the media for questioning his mischaracterizations.
Every day, Bevin proves why he's deeply unpopular.
Read Cross' absolutely brutal column about Bevin's
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Democratic Governors Association issued the following news:
In the Courier Journal, Kentucky columnist Al Cross called out Matt Bevin's bonkers post-debate spin as "way off base." It was so embarrassing Cross even said Bevin looked and sounded "like a flailing loser."
Cross lambasts Bevin for trying to rewrite his record of insulting Kentuckians, defending a misstatement with another misstatement, and lashing out at the media for questioning his mischaracterizations.
Every day, Bevin proves why he's deeply unpopular.
Read Cross' absolutely brutal column about Bevin'sunhinged post-debate spin:
Al Cross: Opinion: Gov. Matt Bevin sounded like a flailing loser after governor's debate
Matt Bevin is a conviction politician; he has beliefs and sticks to them. That's one thing to like about the governor. But some of his beliefs are mistaken, perhaps even about himself. That was on display Tuesday night at the University of Kentucky, after he and Attorney General Andy Beshear tangled in a televised debate.
Afterward, Beshear told reporters that Bevin was "unhinged" in their hour-long encounter. That description much better fit Bevin's performance in his own press conference, which followed. He tried to rewrite his political history, defended a misstatement with another misstatement, and made unsupported assertions about his questioners.
Bevin made perhaps his best-known remark on April 13, 2018, after the legislature controlled by his own party overrode his vetoes of tax and budget bills, amid a protest by teachers whose sickout caused many school districts to cancel classes on short notice.
He said, "I guarantee you somewhere in Kentucky today, a child was sexually assaulted that was left at home because there was nobody there to watch them. I guarantee you somewhere today, a child was physically harmed or ingested poison because they were left alone because a single parent didn't have any money to take care of them."
The governor provided no proof that such calamities occurred, and his remarks sank him in job-approval polls.
But in that press conference, Bevin looked and sounded like a flailing loser. Asked about his damaging comment, he said:
"Do any of you truly believe that when children are left home unattended that bad things don't happen to them? Do any of you really believe that? That's what I said. I said when children are left home alone unattended, they're exposed to drugs, they are sexually assaulted, that they're exposed to things that are bad for them."
No, Governor, that's not what you said. You guaranteed that such things had happened. If, the day after, you had said that's what you meant to say, and apologized, you might be assured of re-election right now. Instead of taking the blame, you put it on the news media, and you doubled down on that Tuesday night.
"Teachers were nowhere in that commentary; their names were never invoked," Bevin said, adding later, "For people to then conflate that into saying it was a direct attack on them, and for you all to carry that water, which was an absolute, blatant lie . . . Get the actual question that was asked, and the full answer, and you will realize that what you're alluding to and what you're asking about is not based on anything I actually said. It's based on falsehoods that many of you have reported, and that people enjoyed hearing, because it fit a narrative that they wanted."
Asked if people are making up what they think he said, Bevin replied, 'Perception is reality, and perception is driven by people not doing their homework sometimes to get to the truth - or, in fairness, you not reporting the things capable of allowing them to get to the truth, by holding out a question to an answer that wasn't asked."
The governor was way off base. The video of his remark begins with the question, "What did you think about the demonstration today by the teachers from across the state?"
At the end of the debate, Bevin said "People that worked for this attorney general and his father [then-Gov. Steve Beshear] are increasingly going to federal prison, who are being convicted month after month." There have been two such convictions, the most recent last summer, followed by a sentencing in January.
Asked afterward to explain himself, Bevin said, "There have been two or three in the last several months," adding that one "of the most notable is Alison Lundergan Grimes' father." That would be Jerry Lundergan, the longtime political enemy of Steve Beshear. The governor was off base again.
Bevin ended Tuesday night's presser by telling the reporters, "I know you're voting for the other guy. . . . You can continue to carry water for the next two and a half, three weeks, for those of you that are doing it, and you can ask half-baked things . . . But at the end of the day, the people of Kentucky deserve better than that. They deserve the truth, and for the next four years you're gonna realize that things are shifting, and you can either come along board and actually report on the news, or you can continue to try to twist and fabricate."
Bevin seems to believe that reporters play favorites, and that those who ask him tough questions are out to get him. What they're trying to get is the truth. That often requires asking for responses to an opponent's charges, but beyond that, no one worthy of the job title reporter carries water for against a politician. The governor should apologize to every reporter who was there.
Now, this is a column, not a news story, but your correspondent tries to base opinions on facts, not personal feelings. Bevin asserted that "Nobody will be more disappointed" than this writer when he is re-elected. Governor, I've been doing this kind of work for more than 30 years, and I quit being disappointed or happy about elections very long ago. People in my trade aren't driven by emotional reactions, and you're one big blip in a very long passing show.
Journalists are human; sometimes our feelings do bubble up, especially when we're disrespected. And it might even affect our votes. But we are trained to not let it affect our work, and editors and colleagues help us do that. We sometimes fall short, but we try to operate in good faith. Our leaders should, too.
Ohio Democratic Party: Portman Says He Doesn't Know Why Trump 'Would Turn To' Giuliani on Ukraine
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 18 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news:
Donald Trump told the world that Rob Portman "backed me up" on his Ukraine cover story, but now Portman is claiming he doesn't know why Trump "would turn to" Rudy Giuliani on Ukrainian issues, months after Giuliani told the New York Times he was pushing officials there to help Trump politically.
"Rob Portman's story on Donald Trump's Ukraine scandal keeps changing, but it always requires the listener to believe that Portman doesn't read newspapers or follow major news related to Ukraine -- which might be plausible
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 18 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news:
Donald Trump told the world that Rob Portman "backed me up" on his Ukraine cover story, but now Portman is claiming he doesn't know why Trump "would turn to" Rudy Giuliani on Ukrainian issues, months after Giuliani told the New York Times he was pushing officials there to help Trump politically.
"Rob Portman's story on Donald Trump's Ukraine scandal keeps changing, but it always requires the listener to believe that Portman doesn't read newspapers or follow major news related to Ukraine -- which might be plausibleif he weren't co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a self-professed 'big Ukraine fan,'" said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper. "In his caucus leadership role, Portman would have closely tracked developments about Ukraine, as Rudy Giuliani bragged about his exploits to national media outlets and on Fox News, as the well-regarded ambassador was recalled with no notice and as Portman discussed Ukrainian affairs with officials throughout the administration. Yesterday Mick Mulvaney admitted there was a quid pro quo with Ukraine and told critics to 'get over it.' Rob Portman playing dumb after everything that has been revealed over the past few weeks -- and everything Trump and his lackeys have confessed to -- just isn't credible."
Another Ohio Republican, former Gov. John Kasich, today said he believed Trump should be impeached, in light of Mulvaney's admission yesterday. Like Portman, Kasich voted in favor of impeachment in 1999.
UPDATED TIMELINE:
January 2019 -- Giuliani meets with the Ukrainian prosecutor general Yuriy Lutsenko. (Giuliani admitted to the meeting in a July 2019 story for the New Yorker and told the New York Times that he called Trump during their first meeting.)
Jan. 15, 2019 -- Portman tweets that he met with Marie Yovanovitch, the American ambassador to Ukraine, to discuss "the latest developments in #Ukraine."
Jan. 15, 2019 -- Portman votes to let the Trump administration ease sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. One day earlier he had told CNN he would "be more on that side" of supporting sanctions.
Jan. 30, 2019 -- Portman endorses Trump, saying he gets "a lot done ... with him."
March 20, 2019 -- The Hill publishes a dubious story sourced to Lutsenko that gets bounced around the right-wing media echo chamber and conservative Twitter (including Donald Trump Jr.).
April 21, 2019 -- Zelensky is elected as Ukraine's next president.
April 29, 2019 -- The whistleblower learns that Yovanovitch was being "suddenly recalled" -- and Giuliani tells Ukrainian media that it's because of her "efforts against the president."
May 6, 2019 -- The State Department announces that Yovanovitch is leaving her post early. Democratic lawmakers call her removal a "political hit job."
May 9, 2019 -- Giuliani admits to the New York Times that he is "meddling in an investigation" in Ukraine.
May 31, 2019 -- Portman tweets that he met with Zelensky and "encouraged them to continue [their] anti-corruption efforts."
June 5, 2019 -- Portman delivers a floor speech about his trip to Ukraine.
"I told President Zelensky that he is now the face of reform in Ukraine and indeed for those of us watching around the world. He acknowledged that with a smile and said, 'I know.' He said that his commitment to reform is real, but he also had no illusions about how hard reform will be, and I am very hopeful he will have the continued courage to see it through, whether we are talking about fighting corruption, more transparency in government or civilian control of the military. He understands it is the only path forward and frankly a linchpin of the U.S. partnership with Ukraine, and as a matter of law, a condition of our future defense assistance."
June 19, 2019 -- Portman questions the Trump administration's special envoy for Ukraine, Ambassador Kurt Volker, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.
July 25, 2019 -- Trump has his infamous call with Zelensky.
Sept. 1, 2019 -- Vice President Mike Pence meets with Zelensky in Poland. The next day Pence is asked if the Trump administration is holding up funding because of efforts to "dig up dirt on the Biden family." Pence responds that "Trump had me make clear, we have great concerns about issues of corruption."
Sept. 3, 2019 -- The Senate Ukraine Caucus sends a letter to Mick Mulvaney at the Office of Management and Budget calling on the OMB to direct the Pentagon to release the funds.
Sept. 5, 2019 -- The Washington Post pens an editorial making crystal clear that Trump "is attempting to force Mr. Zelensky to intervene in the 2020 U.S. presidential election by launching an investigation of the leading Democratic candidate, Joe Biden."
Sept. 11, 2019 -- Portman calls Trump to ask him to release the funds.
Sept. 12, 2019 -- Trump releases the funding.
Sept. 24, 2019 -- Portman goes on Fox Business and Fox News to defend Trump, repeating Trump's talking points that he sees no quid pro quo.
Sept. 25, 2019 -- Portman tells a reporter for Spectrum News 1 that he doesn't believe Trump's behavior crossed a line.
Sept. 26, 2019 -- Portman tells CNN he had been "been 'running around' all day" and had not read the complaint and refused to comment.
Oct. 2, 2019 -- Trump says, "Rob Portman backed me up ... I gave the money because Rob Portman and others called me and asked."
Oct. 7, 2019 -- Portman says, "The president should not have raised the Biden issue on that call, period. It's not appropriate for a president to engage a foreign government in an investigation of a political opponent."
Oct. 17, 2019 -- Mulvaney admits there was a quid pro quo regarding military aid to Ukraine.
Oct. 17, 2019 -- Portman says, "I don't know why the president would turn to [Giuliani]. I've never talked to Giuliani about anything to do with the Ukraine."
Oct. 18, 2019 -- Kasich comes out in favor of impeachment.
Michigan Democratic Party: John James Cashes In on '2000%' Support, Heading to an Out-of-State Fundraiser With Trump & McConnell
LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 18 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
John James is cashing in again on his 2000% support for President Trump and is set to attend an NRSC fundraising retreat at the Trump International Hotel with President Trump, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the special interest donors funding their campaigns. It's another example of how James is still all aboard the Trump Train, despite his efforts to hide it from Michigan voters.
James' Trump "identity crisis" began when he tried to erase social media posts highlighting his "2000%" backing for
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LANSING, Michigan, Oct. 18 -- The Michigan Democratic Party issued the following news release:
John James is cashing in again on his 2000% support for President Trump and is set to attend an NRSC fundraising retreat at the Trump International Hotel with President Trump, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and the special interest donors funding their campaigns. It's another example of how James is still all aboard the Trump Train, despite his efforts to hide it from Michigan voters.
James' Trump "identity crisis" began when he tried to erase social media posts highlighting his "2000%" backing forthe president and his agenda, and he was later caught cropping Trump's name out of pictures. James repeatedly "remained silent on the President's conduct" and has failed to name a single issue that he disagrees with Trump on. But privately, Trump remains James' "No. 1 ally" and sent a fundraising email containing a 100% endorsement of James' campaign. Now that they are fundraising together in person, it's clear James' attempts to hide his support for Trump are purely superficial.
"Despite his best efforts to hide it from Michigan voters, John James' 2000% support for Trump is as strong as ever," said MDP Spokesperson Alex Japko. "James' embrace of Trump and McConnell proves he would be their loyal ally in the Senate, and help them pass their toxic agenda. James' close ties to Trump may help him raise a few more campaign dollars, but it shows he will never be an independent voice for Michiganders."
James' ties to President Trump could be a real problem in his second attempt to reach the Senate. Polling consistently shows Trump underwater in Michigan by double digits, and even the Trump campaign itself is "pessimistic" and "increasingly grim" about their chances of winning the state this time around. A Target Insyght/MIRS poll from earlier this month showed that James' ties to Trump might be hurting him with Michigan voters as well. The poll showed James trailing Sen. Gary Peters by double digits, with Peters winning Independents by 25 points.
Congressional Black Caucus Issues Statement on Death of Rep. Cummings
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Oversight Committee:
"We - the nation, the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and the United States Congress - have all suffered a tremendous loss. As a lifelong advocate for justice, equality, and the truth, Elijah Cummings was the true definition of a leader and his commitment to civility and humanity were invaluable in times such as these. To many, Elijah was a friend and mentor, but to the members of the CBC, Elijah was family.
"Born
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on the death of Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, chairman of the House Oversight Committee:
"We - the nation, the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and the United States Congress - have all suffered a tremendous loss. As a lifelong advocate for justice, equality, and the truth, Elijah Cummings was the true definition of a leader and his commitment to civility and humanity were invaluable in times such as these. To many, Elijah was a friend and mentor, but to the members of the CBC, Elijah was family.
"Bornand raised in Baltimore, Maryland, to sharecroppers from South Carolina, Elijah knew firsthand the challenges of discrimination, segregation, and poverty. But at the young age of 11, he stepped into his calling by helping to integrate a local swimming pool while being attacked with bottles and rocks. This only strengthened his commitment to ensuring his community overcame these obstacles. Once elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, Elijah became the youngest chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus and the first African American to serve as speaker pro tempore.
"As the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Elijah used his gavel to speak truth to power on behalf of the American people. Moreover, his fairness and integrity were undeniable by Members on both sides of the aisle. As a former Chair of the CBC and an active member within the Caucus, Elijah worked fiercely to uplift and empower Black people. He shared his wisdom and strength in his ongoing efforts to ensure Black Americans received equal rights and protection under the law. Simply put, Elijah was a civil rights icon.
"Elijah often said, 'that our children are the living messages that we send to a future we will never see.' From this perspective, he fought to ensure that the next generation has access to a clean environment, affordable healthcare, a quality education, and financial stability. The Congressional Black Caucus will continue his fight and honor his legacy by fearlessly seeking the truth and ensuring every person in this country has the opportunity to achieve the American dream. The nation is heartbroken by this loss and we extend our sincerest condolences to his wife, children, grandchildren, friends, staff and all those positively impacted by his remarkable life and work."
Arizona Democratic Party: Dropping Popularity Another Sign Of McSally's Vulnerability
PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 18 -- The Arizona Democratic Party issued the following news release:
According to Morning Consult's new Senator Approval Ratings, unelected U.S. Sen. Martha McSally is facing a declining job approval rating, with an approval score now below 40% -- placing her among the Senate's least popular members up for election in 2020.
This news follows Arizona and Washington Republicans last week sounding the alarm about McSally's 2020 prospects. It also comes as two corporate special interest-funded groups linked to Mitch McConnell announced they are "amassing a $190 million war
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PHOENIX, Arizona, Oct. 18 -- The Arizona Democratic Party issued the following news release:
According to Morning Consult's new Senator Approval Ratings, unelected U.S. Sen. Martha McSally is facing a declining job approval rating, with an approval score now below 40% -- placing her among the Senate's least popular members up for election in 2020.
This news follows Arizona and Washington Republicans last week sounding the alarm about McSally's 2020 prospects. It also comes as two corporate special interest-funded groups linked to Mitch McConnell announced they are "amassing a $190 million warchest" to try buying the 2020 election for McSally and other vulnerable Senators.
"It's no surprise that Martha McSally's job approval rating has dipped under 40 percent," said Brad Bainum, Arizona Democratic Party spokesperson. "Arizonans have become more familiar with our unelected Senator's record of siding with Mitch McConnell 98% of the time and voting with her corporate special interest backers at the expense of our state."
