Latest news with #gubernatorial
Al Arabiya
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
In Virginia and New Jersey governor's races, Democrats reprise a 2018 roadmap for opposing Trump 2.0
Abigail Spanberger launched her Virginia gubernatorial campaign at her high school alma mater near Richmond. 'I grew up walking the halls of Tucker High School,' the former congresswoman says in her first ad since securing the Democratic nomination, as she walks past a bank of lockers. Later, she highlights her background as a CIA case officer and then as a 'tough-minded, get-things-done lawmaker' in Congress. A similar message is resonating in New Jersey, where Rep. Mikie Sherrill is also running for governor. Both women present themselves as Democrats capable of transcending the discord of Donald Trump's Washington. For national Democrats, who have deliberated for months on how to counter the former president's aggressive second administration, it's a reminder of what proved successful during Trump's first term. Spanberger and Sherrill were prominent figures in the 2018 wave of center-left Democrats who helped flip House control from Republicans, appealing to moderates, progressives, and even anti-Trump conservatives. Now, they lead statewide tickets in races that could offer Democrats a familiar path forward as they look toward next year's midterms. 'There are a lot of similarities in Democrats' current position and the 2018 campaigns,' said Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., who chaired his party's congressional campaign arm during Trump's first midterm election cycle. The 2018 Democratic freshman class gained a net 40 seats, with record numbers of women and numerous candidates with national security and business backgrounds. A similar effort yielded a net gain of six governorships. The party's 2018 winners also included outspoken progressives like Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, elected in more liberal urban districts. But the balance of power shifted thanks to centrist candidates who carried the nation's suburbs and improved Democrats' performance in exurbs and even small-town, GOP-dominated areas. Among Spanberger's and Sherrill's freshman colleagues were Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA analyst who won a suburban Detroit seat before her election to the Senate last November; Rep. Jason Crow, a former Army officer who represents suburban Denver; and Rep. Angie Craig, who flipped a GOP-held seat in greater Minneapolis and is now running for Senate. Crow is now co-chairman of candidate recruitment for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Similar résumés are appearing among new Democratic recruits. In Michigan, Bridget Brink, former US ambassador to Ukraine, launched her bid for Slotkin's old 7th Congressional District, emphasizing her international experience as a counterpoint to Trump. Luján noted that the common thread has been recruiting 'real people – regular folks with incredible credentials and an ability to hold a real conversation with people around economic issues … around the kitchen table and campaign in any area.' So even as New Jersey's Sherrill labels her Republican opponent, Jack Ciattarelli, a 'Trump lackey' and Spanberger vows in a fundraising email to defeat 'Trump's agenda at the ballot box,' their broader appeal hinges on different arguments. Sherrill has emphasized her biography: Naval Academy graduate, Navy Sea King helicopter pilot, federal prosecutor, and mother of four. Her blue and gold yard signs feature a helicopter hovering above her name. She also promises an 'Affordability Agenda' to address voters' economic anxieties. Spanberger, part of the Problem Solvers Caucus during her time on Capitol Hill, stresses her deal-making centrism, pledges to address economic disparities, and has promised to campaign in every Virginia congressional district, including those where Trump has dominated. 'It's not the job of the governor of Virginia to cater to President Trump,' Spanberger said in a primary campaign speech. 'It's not the job of the governor of Virginia to cater to a political party.' In an Associated Press interview, Spanberger even criticized President Joe Biden for posturing by promising to eliminate student debt – something he couldn't achieve solely through presidential action. 'Don't make promises you can't keep,' she said. She also bristled when asked to define her political position, instead saying she sets goals by asking, 'How do I impact the most people in the fastest way possible?' Jared Leopold, a Democratic strategist who worked for the Democratic Governors Association during the 2018 cycle, noted that Spanberger and Sherrill avoid the internal party struggle among progressives, liberals, and moderates. 'Most voters aren't really thinking about things along a simple left-right political spectrum, especially in statewide races,' Leopold said. 'People are looking for politicians who they think understand them and can get things done to help them.' He cited another 2018 Democratic standout: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Now a potential 2028 presidential contender, Whitmer gained national attention as a state legislator who spoke out about abortion rights and her experience of being raped as a college student. But she became a force in the governor's race with what Leopold called a 'brilliant and simple slogan: 'Fix the damn roads!'' Democrats acknowledge that candidates' military and national security experience helps neutralize Republican attacks painting all Democrats as too liberal or out of touch. 'These credentials for how they've served the country – they're just sharing who they are,' Luján said. Leopold added, 'It certainly gives a different definition of what the Democratic Party is to some voters.' In Virginia, Republican nominee and Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who, like Spanberger, would be the first woman to serve as the state's top elected official, is trying to link the Democratic nominee to her national party. Earle-Sears's social media frequently shares pictures of Spanberger and Biden together. She accuses Spanberger of effectively rubber-stamping Biden's legislative agenda while in Congress. 'Part of the challenge,' Spanberger counters, 'is that either my opponent or people who might be running anywhere who don't necessarily have things to run on are going to try and distract.' Spanberger, Sherrill, and similar Democrats hope that most voters will see through the GOP attacks and appreciate their own branding efforts, like Fred Martucci, a retired glazier who voted early in Trenton, New Jersey. The seventy-five-year-old expressed a strong dislike for Trump. Regarding Sherrill, he said, 'She was a Navy helicopter pilot. You can't be a dummy – she's sharp.'
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Former Michigan House speaker joins increasingly crowded GOP primary for Michigan governor
LANSING, Mich. — A former GOP state lawmaker who served as speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives is joining a crowded bench seeking the Republican nomination for the 2026 gubernatorial race in the battleground state. Tom Leonard , who served in the state Legislature from 2013 to 2018, announced his bid for governor Tuesday. He joins three other Republicans in the state who are seeking the office and likely also the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Dem mayor arrested for trespassing ICE facility floated as pick for state's No 2 office
Despite losing his bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination last week, progressive Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who was recently arrested outside an ICE facility during a protest, is likely not finished in New Jersey politics, according to political strategists from both sides of the aisle. According to a New Jersey political insider, Baraka is likely to even be tapped by the now-Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill for the lieutenant governor role, the No. 2 spot in the state. Mayor of Newark since 2014, Baraka has garnered a reputation as a progressive. It was his arrest outside an ICE detention facility in Newark on May 9, however, that propelled him to the national stage. Baraka filed a lawsuit against U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba this month, accusing her of "false arrest and malicious prosecution" in connection with the incident. He was one of several public officials, including Democratic Reps. Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Bonnie Watson Coleman, who allegedly rushed past security through the gates of the facility with a group of protesters, according to officials from the Department of Homeland Security. The U.S. attorney's office has since dismissed the case against Baraka "for the sake of moving forward." Kenny Gonzalez, executive director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, told Fox News Digital that "the day that his arrest happened, [Baraka] really did become a hero of New Jersey's Democrat Party." Baraka's campaign took full advantage of the moment, even beginning to send fundraising messages to supporters while he was still incarcerated, according to Politico. Politico reporter Matt Friedman posted a screenshot of a text message from Baraka's campaign that reads in all caps "RAS BARAKA HAS BEEN ARRESTED" and "Ras was at Delaney Hall today demanding entry into the ICE detention center where Trump and MAGA extremists are illegally detaining people." The message went on to say, "Ras is ready to do whatever it takes to stop Trump and protect New Jerseyans from his extreme agenda. We need you with us now more than ever. Donate now." Gonzalez explained that "almost every Democrat elected official, including all of his primary opponents for governor, came out against what had happened, calling it some sort of injustice and saying that it was wrong." "I do believe that we were correct in predicting that this stunt would actually boost him, and it really did," said Gonzalez. He said that though early polling had Baraka in a distant third place, the Newark mayor's performance, coming in second with 20.6% of the vote, "was really the big news of the night." "Mikie Sherrill spent millions and millions more dollars than he did. So it's no surprise that she emerged as the primary winner. But Ras Baraka was a distant third place, and he came in second," said Gonzalez. "So the stunt definitely boosted him, and I think to this day he remains very, very popular among the Democrat Party." "I wouldn't be surprised if Mikie Sherrill picks Ras Baraka to be her lieutenant governor candidate," he said. "He put up a formidable performance, and he's an African-American politician who has very deep ties to many urban communities," he went on. "Mikie Sherrill couldn't even win her own home county. So I think she should probably pick somebody who did." Gonzalez is optimistic that Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, can flip the New Jersey governorship back red. "What Ras Baraka did was he failed to fulfill his responsibility as mayor of Newark … he put illegal immigrants over Newark citizens," he said. "There are so many other issues that New Jerseyans face, such as high property taxes, unsafe neighborhoods, a school funding formula that hasn't worked in many years. So I believe that commonsense voters think that Ras Baraka should have focused his campaign a little bit more on that." Meanwhile, Kevin Hagan, a New Jersey Democratic political strategist and advisor, told Fox News Digital that "Baraka certainly created a campaign that not only gained attention but earned an impressive result of votes on Election Day." Hagan credited Baraka's success not to the Delaney Hall protest and arrest but to "his willingness to take on President Trump and his policies but also bring to the forefront issues important to the Democratic Party on education, affordability and quality of life in the state." Hagan said that based on how well Baraka ran his campaign, he should "certainly" at least "be considered as a potential candidate." "But what's important now is the Sherrill campaign and the congresswoman deciding on who is best to be her partner, to see the campaign's way to victory in November, but more importantly, a partner to govern in January," he said. On whether Democrats will be able to pull off a win in November, Hagan pointed out that over the last 32 years, New Jersey has been governed for 16 years by a Democrat and 16 years by a Republican. "So, from a partisan perspective," he said, "Democrats can take nothing for granted in their effort to maintain control of the governor's office."
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hochul's estranged lieutenant announces he will challenge her in NY governor's race
ALBANY – Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is challenging his estranged boss, incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul, in next year's election. Delgado called for 'bold, decisive, transformational leadership' for New York in a video launching his campaign for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, released alongside an interview in The New York Times Monday afternoon. 'It's love of family, it's love of community, it's love of state, it's love of country — and I'm dedicated to that,' Delgado says in the spot. 'That's why I'm running for governor of New York.' The video and Times story were released moments after The Post reported that Delgado was telling allies that he would make his campaign plans public sometime this week. The former Hudson Valley congressman formally split from Hochul earlier this year following significant public disagreements between the two. Delgado first attracted the governor's ire last summer when he publicly called for President Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. Hochul, at the time, was an outspoken voice in the chorus of Democrats still cheering on the dithering president despite clear evidence of his failing health. Delgado also got out in front of Hochul earlier this year when he called for Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid his swirling corruption scandals. While sources familiar with the two's declining relationship said they were heading towards a public breakup for months, Delgado made it 'social media official' on Feb. 24, suddenly announcing that he wouldn't run for re-election as her No. 2 next year. 'There are a lot of folks in politics who wake up every single day thinking about everything but the damn people,' Delgado told a room full of Democrats in his hometown of Schenectady a day later in what unmistakably resembled a campaign speech. The abrupt announcement prompted Hochul to take away many of Delgado's state perks, like his capitol office and even official email, according to the sources. Since then, Delgado has been using an email address set up for him by the state Senate, which he technically presides over as lieutenant governor, according to a source familiar with the situation. He has spent the last few weeks traipsing around all corners of the state hosting town hall events. A spokesperson for Governor's campaign declined to comment, but referred The Post to a statement from the Hochul-friendly Democratic Governors Association. 'The Governor knows how to take on big fights and win for New York families — and her agenda is overwhelmingly popular with New Yorkers on both sides of the aisle,' the statement from Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper read. 'The Democratic Governors Association is 100 percent behind Governor Hochul as she continues to deliver for New York, take on Donald Trump, and build the operation it will take to beat Republicans up and down the ballot in 2026,' it continued. Delgado would no doubt struggle in an attempt to topple Hochul — who became governor in 2021 after Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace and who was elected to a full term the following year. She has an undeniable advantage in name recognition, a massive $15 million campaign war chest and the benefit of keeping New York's powerful unions and other special interests happy as the incumbent. According to Siena College polling's most recent survey, Delgado would currently receive just 12% of the vote in a matchup including him, Hochul and Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) who is also rumored to be considering a bid in the 2026 race. Hochul won in that simulation, though with only 46% of the vote. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), who posed a bruising primary challenge against Hochul in 2022, was quick to pan Delgado's entry into the race. 'Antonio, you are a talented guy, with a great future. Based upon my experience this may not be the most well-thought out idea!,' Suozzi posted to X. Delgado was Hochul's second pick after her first lieutenant governor, Harlem state Sen. Brian Benjamin (D-Manhattan) resigned while facing charges he accepted bribes from a real estate developer — a case that was eventually dropped. She recently made a point to slam the door shut on any chance she may have to serve with Delgado for another four years by shoving a provision into the state budget that would change New York election law so governors and lieutenant governors run as a ticket during the primary, instead of separately as it worked previously. Hochul's detractors were quick to chime in on Delgado's entry as well. 'Her own Lieutenant Governor that she hand picked is now primarying her which shows she has lost support not just from Republicans and Independents, but Democrat New Yorkers as well,' North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) wrote in a statement. 'Her first LG was indicted for public corruption. Her second LG has announced he's running against her. We can't wait to see who she picks as her third LG candidate,' Hudson Valley Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) snarked on X.
Japan Times
02-06-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Miyazaki elected Wakayama governor for first time
Former Deputy Wakayama Gov. Izumi Miyazaki won Sunday's gubernatorial election in the prefecture, defeating his rival, Michiko Matsuzaka. Miyazaki, 66, was elected Wakayama governor for the first time, succeeding Shuhei Kishimoto, who died in April at the age of 68. Running as an independent candidate, Miyazaki was backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People and Komeito. He garnered 250,454 votes, trouncing Matsuzaka, a 68-year-old candidate of the Japanese Communist Party, who collected 47,215 votes. Voter turnout stood at 39.86%, the same as in the previous Wakayama gubernatorial election in 2022. Miyazaki received endorsements from various organizations as well as ruling and opposition parties. During his campaigning, he pledged to uphold the prefectural administration promoted by the late former governor. He also touted his administrative experience as a former prefectural government official and appealed for the expansion of child care support measures and disaster prevention and mitigation measures, garnering broad support. Matsuzaka had advocated a prefectural government that would help people's lives by raising the minimum wage and reducing consumption tax, but failed to attract enough votes.
