Politico: “In what may prove to be Florida’s last stand as a battleground state, Democrats are launching a $15 million voter organizing effort ahead of this year’s elections. Democratic candidates up and down the ballot — even those running in contested primaries — have agreed to pour in money that will be used to hire…
“Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron files to run for governor in 2023”
Courier-Journal: “Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron filed paperwork Wednesday to launch a run for governor in 2023, ending weeks of speculation that he would join the field of prospective Republican candidates. Cameron filed a statement of spending intent form Wednesday morning with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, indicating such spending would be as a gubernatorial candidate. Two hours…
“New Florida Maps Thrown Out”
Political Wire: “A Florida district court has ruled that Florida’s newly-drawn congressional districts drawn by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) violate the state constitution, the AP reports. CNN: “Judge J. Layne Smith, a DeSantis appointee to the 2nd Circuit Court of Florida, said during a hearing that he intended to issue an order granting an injunction that would prevent the…
FL Sec of State Unexpectedly Resigns, Gov. Appoints Replacement
ClickOrlando: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is appointing Rep. Cord Byrd as the next Secretary of State, following the resignation announcement by the prior secretary earlier this week. Thank you @GovRonDeSantis for appointing me as Secretary of State. Honored and ready to get to work on protecting the integrity and security of our elections!— Cord Byrd (@CordByrd) May 13, 2022…
Progressives Object to Anti-LGBT Tone of Madison Cawthorn Smear Campaign
Buzzfeed News: “But Aiken has been chafed by what he says is a disgusting anti-gay undercurrent to the recent onslaught of sexualized material released against the 26-year-old Republican. “I am loath to defend him in any way but I will say that that last video with him on the bed pissed me off,” Aiken told…
“Inside the Relentless Campaign to Ruin Madison Cawthorn”
The Daily Beast: “Multiple embarrassing traffic stops. A credible accusation of insider trading. Photos of him sporting hoop earrings and a bra. A video of a male staffer’s hand near his crotch. Another video showing him jokingly but nakedly humping the upper body of potentially the same man—his cousin. And possibly more to come. Few…
“How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church” [Longread]
The Atlantic: “For the next 15 minutes, Bolin does not mention the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, or the life everlasting. Instead, he spouts misinformation and conspiratorial nonsense, much of it related to the “radically dangerous” COVID-19 vaccines. “A local nurse who attends FloodGate, who is anonymous at this time—she reported to…
“As a ‘Seismic Shift’ Fractures Evangelicals, an Arkansas Pastor Leaves Home”
NY Times: “In the fall of 2020, Kevin Thompson delivered a sermon about the gentleness of God. At one point, he drew a quick contrast between a loving, accessible God and remote, inaccessible celebrities. Speaking without notes, his Bible in his hand, he reached for a few easy examples: Oprah, Jay-Z, Tom Hanks. Mr. Thompson…
“Multiple fake electors cooperating in Georgia criminal probe of Trump’s efforts to overturn 2020 election”
CNN: “Prosecutors in Georgia investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election have interviewed several individuals who served as fake GOP electors from the state, according to two sources familiar with the ongoing criminal probe. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office appears to be trying to determine whether the pro-Trump electors in Georgia…
“The last best chance for North Carolina’s public schools”
NC Policy Watch: “All of which brings us back to that ever-present but rapidly graying elephant in the North Carolina education policy room: the quarter-century-old Leandro school funding lawsuit. For 25 years now, learned judges at various levels of the state’s judiciary have been handing down determinations in that case that state lawmakers are failing to meet their…