Democrats

ANAHEIM — California Republicans may not have well-known candidates running for governor — or any candidate of note running for Senate next year. But they’re settling on a two-point game plan for trying to return to relevance in a state where they’re a super-minority in the Legislature, have no statewide officeholders and can count only 1 in 4 registered voters as being a fellow Republican. Step 1: Lure voters to the polls with a statewide ballot measure next year with a populist call to rescind the gasoline tax intended to pay for the $50 billion in transportation improvements the Legislature passed in June. Step 2: Convince voters that Democrats have overplayed their progressive ruling hand with moves like declaring California a sanctuary state —and then blame the majority party for how roughly 1 in 5 Californians lives in poverty. Jim Brulte, the state GOP chairman, said it’s not going to be enough for Democrats to just be against President Trump, noting a July Washington … [Read more...] about California GOP has a plan for beating Democrats, if it can unite

Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, was named the top Democrat of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Wednesday as members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation take on familiar committee and leadership roles — this time in a newly divided Congress. The biggest difference for the delegation is that House members who were once chairs of powerful committees and subcommittees will now serve as ranking members since Democrats the minority party. But some Connecticut lawmakers, like Himes, have been promoted within their committee ranks. The appointment of Himes as ranking member elevates him on a panel where he has served for the past 10 years. It has oversight over U.S. intelligence agencies as well as some issues concerning the Pentagon and some other government agencies. But the Intelligence Committee functions differently than most in Congress, since the speaker of the House ultimately has power over who is seated. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., … [Read more...] about CT Democrats secure key committee assignments in Congress

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden hasn't announced a reelection campaign, but some of the themes likely to be the centerpiece of that expected run should be on display Friday night when he addresses a national Democratic Party meeting. The president will focus on his administration's accomplishments creating jobs and stimulating domestic manufacturing when he and Vice President Kamala Harris appear at a Democratic National Committee gathering in Philadelphia. Before the speech, Biden will visit a water treatment plant and announce $160 million to upgrade Philadelphia water facilities and replace 20 miles of lead service lines — part of a larger effort to remove lead pipes around the country. An additional $340 million will go to upgrade the city's water system. Much of that funding comes from a bipartisan infrastructure package Congress passed in 2021 and is also bankrolling railway projects the president spent this week trumpeting. With the State of the Union address … [Read more...] about Biden to promote administration wins in speech to Democrats

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 4 Four Democrats looking to replace termed-out Gov. Jerry Brown next year will share a stage in San Francisco on Tuesday, giving voters an unusually early look at the candidates and the themes of the 2018 campaign. State Treasurer John Chiang, former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and onetime Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will field questions on health care, education, housing and immigration at the lunchtime event sponsored by The Chronicle, called “State’s Big Issues: Do Democrats Have the Ideas and the Resolve to Meet Them?” A similar event is in the works for the GOP candidates for governor. The event, starting at noon, will be live-streamed on The Chronicle’s Facebook page. Although there’s nothing unusual about candidate debates or forums, it’s the timing that sets Tuesday’s 75-minute event apart. It will take place … [Read more...] about 4 Democratic candidates for governor to make early appearance on same stage

close Video Adam Schiff misused classified information for 'years': Sen. Tom Cotton Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton provides reaction to Rep. Matt Gaetz' proposed resolution that would bar Schiff from accessing classified information. He also discusses the ongoing search for classified documents. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., was disappointed to learn of his removal from the House Intel Committee on Thursday after serving eight years in the post. Quigley, one of the more senior Intelligence Committee members, had been a close ally of Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., whose assignment to the committee was recently blocked by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy , R-Calif. "I heard it second or third hand. It’s disappointing," Quigley told Crain’s on Thursday, a Chicago news outlet. Quigley had learned of his removal through a press release on final committee assignments from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. "We just took a hit to institutional … [Read more...] about Schiff ally ‘disappointed’ that Democrats denied him House Intel committee spot: ‘Hit by friendly fire’

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi — who rarely weighs in on Democrat-versus-Democrat races — is endorsing Burbank Rep. Adam Schiff for Senate if Sen. Dianne Feinstein declines to run in what will be a fiercely contested, possibly once-in-a-generation contest. It is the strongest sign yet that Feinstein will not seek re-election in 2024. Feinstein, 89, has said she will announce her intentions by spring . Pelosi delicately nodded to her Pacific Heights neighbor’s timeline in a statement obtained by The Chronicle Thursday: “If Senator Feinstein decides to seek re-election, she has my whole-hearted support.” If Feinstein doesn’t run, Pelosi said in the statement, “I will be supporting House Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff, who knows well the nexus between a strong democracy and a strong economy. In his service in the House, he has focused on strengthening our democracy with justice and on building an economy that works for all.” Last month, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy … [Read more...] about Nancy Pelosi endorses Adam Schiff in California Senate race

Of the many huge challenges Kevin de León faces in trying to unseat Dianne Feinstein, the toughest is this: How does the state Senate president say it’s time for the 84-year-old U.S. senator to go without saying she’s old? Oh, there are plenty ways to say “old” without saying “old” in that passive-aggressive language known as political-speak. “Time for a new generation.” “The status quo will not stand.” And, my personal favorite, “It’s time for new ideas.” As if there ever are any. The good news for de León is that here in California, there’s no shortage of Democrats who toppled their, ahem, veteran fellow party members. We’ve seen how this can work. The bad news for de León is that none of those examples provides a perfect path to follow. What he needs to win — aside from name recognition and money to defeat the multimillionaire first elected in 1992 — is either a scandal or a sign of age-related incompetence. So far, neither has surfaced. Polls say most voters … [Read more...] about How to say ‘Get lost!’ without saying ‘You’re old!’

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 HARTFORD — A partial solution to the state's need for affordable housing is to provide incentives for developers to convert vacant strip malls and big-box stores into housing for some of the 100,000 workers Connecticut needs, Democrats in the state Senate announced on Thursday. The multi-prong proposa l, discussed in a morning news conference, includes collaborations with towns and cities to create new on under-utilized land; an experimental program to reduce homelessness; and rental aid for dwellers of mobile-home parks. "We spend a lot of money on early childhood education, we spend a lot of money on secondary education, we spend a lot of money on higher education," said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff of Norwalk. "We need to make sure that all that money we invest in our students is well put, so when they graduate they can actually find housing here in the state of Connecticut. … [Read more...] about CT lawmakers suggest converting vacant strip malls, big-box stores for housing

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was kicked off the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a party-line vote that followed a contentious debate on the House floor Thursday morning that included yelling and Omar defending herself on the verge of tears. House Republicans had set their sights on removing Omar after she had made what Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) recently described as "repeated antisemitic and anti-American remarks" throughout her time as a member of the House. The resolution explicitly condemns Omar for using an antisemitic trope to suggest Israel's allies in U.S. politics were motivated by money rather than principle when she in 2019 tweeted, "It's all about the Benjamins baby." The resolution also disapproves of Omar's critiques of Israel and her comparison of actions by the United States to those of terrorist groups. She later clarified those comments, saying, "I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with democratic countries with well-established judicial … [Read more...] about Rep. Ilhan Omar removed from committee under GOP majority

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota utilities would be obligated to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 to step up the fight against climate change under a bill speeding through the Legislature. The bill was slated for a final vote on the Senate floor Thursday night after passing the House 70-60 last week. It's a top priority for Democrats, who control both chambers, and for Democratic Gov. Tim Walz, who has made it an important part of his climate agenda. “Climate change is coming and has been here, and it affects everything we do," the lead author, Democratic Sen. Nick Frentz, of North Mankato, said at the start of a debate that was expected to last well into the night. The Senate's two meteorologists — Democratic Sens. Nicole Mitchell, of Woodbury, and Robert Kupec, of Moorhead — detailed for their colleagues how climate change is accelerating across Minnesota. They said it's leading to more extreme weather events, as well as hotter summers with more droughts … [Read more...] about Minnesota moves toward 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040