Category: LEAD

Virginia Bill to Require Physicians Affirm Biological Gender of Athletes, Ban Male-to-Female Transgender Students from Girls’ Teams

Tom Pappert
Softball

Legislation proposed in the Virginia General Assembly on December 1 by Senator Tammy Brankley Mulchi (R-Clarksville) would require student athletes to provide a written statement by a physician that affirms they seek to participate in a sports team that corresponds to their biological gender, prevents biological males from playing on teams designated for girls, under the threat of civil litigation.

Blankley Mulchi’s SB 749 would require schools to clearly state whether sports teams are male, female, or coed, and mandates any team participating in the Virginia High School Sports League which “is expressly designated for ‘females,’ ‘women,’ or ‘girls,'” must “not be open to any student of the male sex.”

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Donated Driving Simulators Headed to Springfield, Ohio to Train Illegal Immigrants and Refugees How to Drive

The Center Square
Gov. Mike DeWine

by J.D. Davidson   The state of Ohio plans to use donated driving simulators to teach people living in or entering the country illegally in Springfield safe driving skills in hopes of easing ongoing traffic issues throughout the community. Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive donated 10 new simulators to the Ohio Department of Transportation for use in Springfield and Clark County. They’ve been put in places that serve the Haitian community, which has recently come to the area with little or no driver training. “One of the big issues we’ve seen with migrants in Clark County is that they are not used to driving here,” said Governor DeWine. “With the generous donations from the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive, this new program will help the Haitian population learn the rules of the road and allow them to practice defensive driving skills that can keep everyone on the roads safe.” It’s part of an ongoing state effort to deal with a growing legal Haitian refugee population, which has grown since 2020 to around 15,000 in the city of nearly 60,000 under the Temporary Protected Status program. The Temporary Protected Status program…

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Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen Considers Run Against A.G. Kris Mayes, Who Doubled Down on Trump Electors Case

Tom Pappert
Warren Petersen, Kris Mayes

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) confirmed on Monday he is considering a campaign to unseat Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in 2026, and later said he is being urged to challenge the attorney general by multiple Arizona attorneys.

Mayes was declared the winner of her 2022 election against Abe Hamadeh, who is now the U.S. Congressman-elect for Arizona’s eighth district, by just 280 votes, making it the narrowest statewide election in the history of Arizona.

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Georgia A.G. Chris Carr Announces Run for Governor, Setting Stage for Possible GOP Primary with Brad Raffensperger, Burt Jones

Tom Pappert

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr on Thursday announced he is running for the Republican nomination for governor in 2026.

Carr confirmed filing the paperwork for his candidacy in a post to the social media platform X, where he said his campaign will seek to continue “the legacy of Brian Kemp, Nathan Deal and Sonny Perdue.”

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Speaker Mike Johnson Wants Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘More Involved’ with House GOP After ‘Productive Meeting’

Tom Pappert
Speaker Mike Johnson, Rep. Margorie Taylor Greene

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly said Tuesday that he wants Representative Marjorie Taylor Green (R-GA-14) to become “more involved” with the House Republicans on the heels of a “productive meeting” the two shared last week.

According to journalist Jordain Carney, who reports for German-owned Politico, Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that he and Greene discussed her role in the next Congress during a meeting held last week.

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Montenegro to Serve as Arizona State House Speaker, Petersen Holds onto State Senate Presidency

The Center Square
Arizona State President Warren Petersen

The Arizona state Legislature is seeing some new leadership in its upcoming session.

In private meetings in and around the capitol on Tuesday, members voted on their picks to run the show. State Rep. Steve Montenegro will succeed outgoing Speaker Ben Toma. Montenegro won with 18 votes and ran against State Rep. Joseph Chaplik and current Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci.

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Pennsylvania Attorney General Claims Fraudulent Voter Registration Schemes Discovered, ‘Defeated’ in Four Counties

Tom Pappert
Michele Henry

Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry on Thursday confirmed at least four counties in the commonwealth had “defeated” fraudulent voter registration schemes after multiple counties went public with their findings.

The attorney general, a Democrat who was nominated to the position by Governor Josh Shapiro after his election in 2022, confirmed “[a]pparent attempts to submit fraudulent voter registration forms in Berks, Lancaster, Monroe, and York Counties,” in a press release posted to her office’s website.

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Ohio School District Adopts Controversial ‘Grading for Equity’ Policies

The Center Square
Math Homework

A school district outside Cleveland, Ohio, will have staff read Joe Feldman’s controversial book “Grading for Equity.” 

According to a Lakewood City Schools presentation to the school board from earlier this month, the book will be required for teachers in all grade levels. Critics say the book promotes practices that lower students’ standards, while its proponents say it is more fair to students.

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Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Reps Sue Over Loose Verification Process for Overseas Voters

Tom Pappert
Ballots

Six Republican members of the U.S. House from Pennsylvania amended their legal action on Monday as they seek action over loose processes employed by multiple states when verifying overseas voters are citizens with the right to vote.

The lawsuit filed by Representatives Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Mike Kelly (R-PA-16), and Scott Perry (R-PA-10) on October 7, and amended Monday, seeks immediately action against the Pennsylvania Department of State by courts “to ensure legal compliance with federal and state law regarding the verification of voter registration applicants’ identity and eligibility before accepting and counting ballots” from applicants who are citizens and Pennsylvania voters but live outside the United States.

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Ex-Atlanta BLM Leader Lands 3.5-Year Prison Sentence Using Charity’s Money to Buy Guns, House, Prostitute

Tom Pappert
Tyree Conyers-Page

The former leader of a nonprofit named Black Lives Matter (BLM) of Greater Atlanta was sentenced to over three years in prison on Thursday after he was found guilty of financial crimes for using his charity’s money to live a luxurious lifestyle after raising more than $400,000 following the death of George Floyd.

Tyree Conyers-Page, who used the name Sir Maejor Page when representing BLM of Greater Atlanta, was sentenced in Ohio on Thursday to 42 months in federal prison, or three-and-a-half years, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, over what prosecutors successfully argued was a scheme to defraud donors to Black Lives Matter.

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Ruben Gallego Asks Arizona Court to Keep Divorce Records Sealed amid New Details About Second Marriage to Lobbyist

Tom Pappert
Ruben Gallego family

New details have emerged about the marriage between Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) and his second wife, Sydney Barron Gallego, as the date approaches for a court to decide whether records from his divorce from his first wife, Kate Gallego, should be unsealed.

Attorneys for Ruben Gallego, his ex-wife Kate Gallego, and The Washington Free Beacon are expected in court on October 10 to review proposed redactions to their divorce case after the conservative news publication sued and obtained a ruling demanding the Gallegos propose redactions ahead of a public release.

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Nashville Metro Council Adopts Second Resolution Declaring Racism ‘Public Health Crisis’

Tom Pappert
MNPD meeting

The Nashville Metro Council on Tuesday voted to adopt a resolution declaring racism a “public health crisis” within Davidson County, marking the second time Nashville’s local lawmakers have passed such a resolution.

Originally sponsored by Councilwoman Kyonzté Toombs, the text of the resolution passed in Nashville states that black and minorities in face “significantly worse health outcomes than their white counterparts,” and claims these differences “are rooted in systemic racism.”

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Michigan Lawmakers Aim to Boost Funding, Recruitment of Law Enforcement

The Center Square

Michigan lawmakers are launching bipartisan efforts to increase police recruitment and benefits as the number of law enforcement officers trends downward in the state. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., introduced legislation Friday that would provide $50 million annually to state and local law enforcement agencies to create “Pathways to Policing” programs aimed at boosting recruitment in the field. 

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Sen. Bob Casey Declines to List Single Disagreement with Biden-Harris Admin as Dave McCormick Brands Him ‘Out of Touch’

Tom Pappert
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) on CNN

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick were both interviewed on Sunday by CNN host Manu Raju. In his remarks to the network, Casey declined to name a single area of disagreement with the Biden-Harris administration.

Asked why he continues to align himself with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris despite efforts by the McCormick campaign to remind voters of their alignment, Casey claimed Harris’ presidential campaign “brought a real lift to the turnout dynamics” in Pennsylvania.

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Grandfather of Colt Gray Claims Teen ‘Driven’ to Commit Attack on Apalachee High School by ‘Evil’ Father Colin Gray

Tom Pappert
Colin Gray (r) and Colt Gray (l)

The maternal grandfather of Colt Gray, who police say killed four and injured nine at the Apalachee High School in Georgia last Wednesday, said on Sunday the teen was “driven” to commit the attack due to a troubled childhood and “evil” father, Colin Gray, who was charged last week in relation to the attack.

Charlie Polhamus told the New York Post on Sunday that Colt Gray was subjected to constant “screaming and hollering” from his father, and suggested spending over a decade in that environment “can affect anybody.”

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Arizona Democrats Eye Seven Key State House Races in Bid to Claim Majority

Christy Kelly
Arizona Capitol

In Arizona the stakes are high, as the Democrats are attempting to win statewide control of the legislature in Arizona. We previously featured the State Senate races to watch, here we detail the State Houses that are competitive. 

Early ballots for the upcoming elections will be mailed out on October 7. The Arizona State Legislature is currently divided and under Republican control by a narrow margin. Republicans hold a 2-seat majority in the State Senate, while in the State House of Representatives, the Republicans maintain a single-seat edge, meaning Democrats need to flip just one seat in each chamber to achieve a tie and two to take the gavel.

For those who want to get involved, Turning Point Action has launched a major initiative called “Commit 100,” as part of their broader “Chase the Vote” campaign aimed at mobilizing conservative voters in key battleground states like Arizona. This initiative encourages volunteers to chase 100 early ballots and 100 Election Day ballots, focusing on ensuring that low-propensity voters turn out.

The last day to register to vote is October 7. The General Election will be held on November 5.

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Local ‘Sanctuary’ Policies in Virginia Pose Dangers to National Security

The Center Square
Town of Quantico

Localities with “sanctuary” policies in Virginia have grown, many butting up against vital military or national security instillations, posing potential threats, according to a former Homeland Security and immigration senior official.

Last month, immigration policy think tank the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) released an updated map of localities that have adopted sanctuary policies, which showed a surge in the commonwealth totaling 84.

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Ohio State University’s New Intellectual Diversity Center Director Will Teach Students to ‘Engage with Fellow Citizens in a Civil Way’

The College Fix
Professor Lee Strang

A new civics center at Ohio State University will help students learn how to “engage with fellow citizens in a civil way,” according to the director.

Former University of Toledo Professor Lee Strang is now at Ohio State University to lead the Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society. It is one of five new “intellectual diversity” centers at public Ohio universities that are in the works.

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Biden Claims Netanyahu Not Doing Enough to Secure Release of Hostages in Israel Ahead of Pennsylvania Rally with Harris

Tom Pappert
Joe Biden in the Indian Treaty Room

President Joe Biden on Monday said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not doing enough to secure the release of hostages in brief remarks made after the recovery of the bodies of six who were captured by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, including U.S. citizen Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Biden made the remarks ahead of his Monday rally in Pennsylvania with Vice President Kamala Harris, who Republicans have suggested was influenced by concerns of antisemitism within the Democratic Party when she passed over Governor Josh Shapiro and instead picked Governor Tim Walz to complete her presidential ticket.

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Georgia Officials Tout Enhanced Election Security for 2024 Amid Ongoing 2020 Controversies

The Center Square
Georgia Sec State Brad Raffensperger

As Georgia gears up for the critical 2024 presidential election in November, state officials within the Legislature and Georgia’s State Election Board say they are enhancing security measures at polling stations in response to ongoing concerns stemming from the 2020 election.

Cobb County’s Board of Elections & Registration Director Tate Fall announced new safety protocols – including more instruction on conflict resolution for poll workers and discreet alert badges for managers – aimed at addressing potential threats and ensuring a secure voting environment. This heightened focus on election security comes amid a backdrop of intensified political rhetoric and unrest, underscoring Georgia’s pivotal role in the upcoming election.

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Doctors Warn Voters About ‘Deceptively Worded’ Language in Florida’s Amendment 4

Daily Caller News Foundation

A large group of Florida physicians recently united to oppose the state’s Amendment 4 initiative, warning voters about its potential impacts as it heads to the ballot in November. Florida’s Amendment 4, also known as the Right to Abortion Initiative, is sponsored by the Sarasota-based group “Floridians Protecting Freedom.” The amendment seeks to end the state’s six-week abortion ban by enshrining abortion rights in Florida’s constitution. While some physicians support the amendment, others have begun to caution voters against it.

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Financial Controversies Surround Both U.S. Senate Candidates in Wisconsin

The Center Square
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Eric Hovde

Both U.S. Senate candidates from Wisconsin accuse each other of lacking fiscal transparency, and each deny harboring conflicts of interest. But recent investigations show incumbent Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican challenger Eric Hovde are equally opaque about certain financial circumstances.

Hovde is the CEO of California-based Sunwest Bank, and a July report by WCPT820 Radio shows the company received foreign government deposits totaling nearly $250,000 in December 2023. 

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Ohio Bulletin Issued for New, Deadly Drug Combinations

The Center Square

Mixtures of powerful drugs that can cause overdoses or skin wounds are being found more often in illicit drug samples throughout Ohio, according to the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center.

The agency recently issued a safety bulletin to alert Ohioans of what it calls “tranq-dope” and “benzo-dope” after state labs reported an eight-fold increase in drug samples in one and double the number in the other between 2021 and 2023.

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Pennsylvania Counter Sniper Claims Secret Service Denied Encrypted Radios Prior to Trump Assassination Attempt

Tom Pappert
Ben Shaffer

A counter sniper with Pennsylvania law enforcement told members of the U.S. House on Monday that the U.S. Secret Service declined the encrypted radios offered by local law enforcement ahead of the July 13 rally where former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.

The claim was made during a J13 Forum attended by U.S. Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Cory Mills (R-FL-07), Chip Roy (R-TX-21) and streamed to social media by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL-01).

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Trump Asks Georgia Appeals Court to Toss Election Case in ‘Death Knell’ for D.A. Fani Willis

Tom Pappert
Donald Trump and Fani Willis in a courtroom (composite image)

The attorney representing former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asked a Georgia appeals court, which is currently considering whether Willis should be disqualified due to her affair with former special counsel Nathan Wade, asked the court to toss the case with a new legal filing he argues contains the “death knell” for the prosecution.

Trump attorney Steve Sadow on Monday submitted a 22-page filing which asks the Georgia Court of Appeals to toss Willis’ case against Trump because the former president was “aggrieved” by Willis’ “letter to God” speech from the pulpit of a Baptist church in Atlanta.

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Arizona Abortion Activists Sued to Keep ‘Unborn Human Being’ Off Referendum Because Term ‘Tinged with Anti-Abortion Sentiment’

Tom Pappert
Chris Love, Arizona Capitol

An article published by the spokesperson for the group of Arizona activists who successfully gathered signatures for an abortion referendum, Prop. 139, explained the group sued to remove the phrase “unborn human being” from the November ballot because they view it as unscientific and “tinged with anti-abortion sentiment.”

The Louisiana Illuminator reported on Sunday that Arizona for Abortion Access spokesperson Chris Love told the outlet on August 16 they sought to replace the phrase “unborn human being” with “fetus,” describing it as “the scientific, medically-accurate language.”

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Minnesota Special Education Program Hands Out $10 Million in Grants

The Center Square
Young boy in learning environment

Minnesota’s Department of Education awarded $10 million in education grants to support and train special education teachers in more than 35 public school districts, charter schools and co-ops. 

“As a former classroom teacher for over 20 years, I understand the impact a dedicated teacher can have on their students’ lives,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Wednesday. “By investing in our special education workforce, we can help ensure every student in Minnesota receives the support they need to thrive in their education.”

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Former Walz Supporter Says Governor ‘Flipped Out’ When Questioned About Vaccine Mandates

Admin
Tim Walz

“He’s being portrayed as this blue-collar, likable, rural guy, and he’s the furthest thing from it,” said Nate O’Reilly, a 30-year veteran of the construction industry and former president of the Southeastern Minnesota Building & Construction Trades Council.

The Zumbrota resident once considered himself a staunch DFL supporter who strongly backed Gov. Tim Walz.

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Arizona Court of Appeals Hears Oral Arguments over Scottsdale’s ‘Bait and Switch’ Description of ‘New’ Prop. 490 Park Sales Tax as a Tax Decrease

Rachel Alexander
Attorney Scott Day Freeman

A three-judge panel on the Arizona Court of Appeals heard oral arguments last Tuesday in the Goldwater Institute’s (GI) legal challenge to a $1.2 billion sales tax the City of Scottsdale referred to the ballot this fall. GI said the City’s description of Proposition 490 made the tax for parks out to be a tax decrease, when it really was a new tax. GI was appealing a dismissal of its lawsuit by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano.

In its executive summary about the lawsuit, GI stated, “The City of Scottsdale is attempting to trick Scottsdale residents into approving a tax increase by calling it a tax reduction.” GI cited Arizona law, Molera v. Hobbs, which prohibits bait and switch tactics with ballot measures. 

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Atlanta Area Continues to Have High Inflation

The Center Square
Atlanta

Inflation continues to plague Georgia businesses, and the Atlanta area continues to grapple with inflation, though it may be faring better than other cities in the country, a new analysis revealed.

According to personal finance site WalletHub, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metropolitan statistical area ranks 11th out of 23 major MSAs for its change in inflation. An analyst with the site said the ranking highlights some positive and concerning aspects policymakers should consider.

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Trump-Aligned Lawyer Who Exposed Fani Willis Affair and Stalled Georgia Election Case Says D.A. Caused Downfall: ‘She’s the One to Blame’

Tom Pappert
Ashleigh Merchant and Fani Willis in a courtroom (composite image)

The Georgia election case against former President Donald Trump and those who helped him contest the 2020 election results in the Peach State is almost certain to remain ongoing on Election Day, and the attorney who first surfaced evidence Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was engaged in a romantic affair with her special counsel said on Sunday that Willis is “the one to blame” for the current state of the case.

Willis’ case against Trump is currently before the Georgia Court of Appeals, which will determine whether Judge Scott McAfee erred when he ruled that Willis’ relationship with Wade, a private defense attorney paid more than $650,000 for his work on the case, was not sufficient reason to disqualify her as the prosecutor in the case against the former president.

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Dave McCormick Warns ‘American Dream Is Slipping Away’ Under Biden-Harris, Sen. Bob Casey During Pennsylvania Trump Rally

Tom Pappert
Dave McCormick at Trump Rally

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick spoke at the Saturday rally held in Wilkes-Barre by former President Donald Trump. McCormick relayed his experiences being raised in Pennsylvania and achieving successes within the commonwealth, before warning voters the “American Dream is slipping away unless we turn this country around.”

Revealing his Pennsylvania roots, McCormick briefly mentioned his childhood in Bloomsburg before parlaying his mother’s birthplace in Punxsutawney into a quip about the incumbent, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA).

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Arizona School District Launches Outside Investigation of Democratic Lawmaker, District President Accused of Sexual Harassment

Tom Pappert
AZ State Rep Elda Luna-Nájera, Tolleson School District Office

An Arizona state lawmaker and school official was reportedly accused of sexual harassment by a superintendent earlier this month, which prompted an alleged effort to oust him, culminating in the launch of a third party investigation on Wednesday.

Arizona State Representative Elda Luna-Nájera (D-District 22), who also serves as the governing board president of the Tolleson Union High School District, was accused of sexual harassment by superintendent Jeremy Calles in a legal complaint reported by 12 News on August 9.

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A.G. Jason Miyares Determines Virginia Retirement System Prohibited from Investing in ‘Unfounded ESG Fads’

Tom Pappert
Jason Miyares

Attorney General Jason Miyares determined in a Friday legal opinion the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is prohibited by Virginia law from making investments based on controversial environment, social and governance (ESG) scores.

In a statement posted to the Virginia Attorney General website, Miyares said Virginians “spent decades working hard” for their retirement, and the commonwealth’s investments must be driven by financial data and not ESG scores as a result.

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Dave McCormick Wants Additional Observers, ‘Huge Voter Turnout’ After Pennsylvania Officials Warn of Delayed Election Results

Tom Pappert
Dave McCormick

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick on Sunday urged additional election observers after the Pennsylvania Department of State warned that election results may not be available on Election Day, and claimed that changing vote totals should not be construed as evidence of “rigging.”

Ultimately, McCormick that Republicans in Pennsylvania must go to the polls with a “huge voter turnout” that will result in a resounding victory announced on the night of the election.

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Arizona Democrats Say They Want to Cut Costs with New Laws, State Republicans Contend it Would Lead to Higher Taxes

The Center Square
Sen. Juan Mendez and Sen. John Kavanagh in front of the Arizona State Capitol Building (composite image)

If victorious in November, Arizona Democrats aim to institute laws they say would cut costs for Arizonans. Republicans say these measures would only hurt Arizona’s economy and lead to higher taxes.

Only two seats away from having a Democratic majority in Arizona’s legislative chambers for the first time in six decades, the Democratic Caucus has established a plan they say would allow them to hit the ground running in 2025 should they take control of the Legislature. This story is part of an ongoing series of what a Democratic trifecta would look like for Arizona taxpayers.

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