Democrats Go All In On Abortion After Kansas Pro-Life Referendum Fails
Kansas voters rejected a referendum that would have removed the right to abortion from the state’s constitution by an 18 point margin. In reaction, President Joe Biden stated that the vote was a mandate from the American people to codify Roe v. Wade and protect the right to abortion nationwide.
“This vote makes clear what we know: the majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion and should have the right to make their own health care decisions,” Biden said in a statement after the election results were announced.
“Congress should listen to the will of the American people and restore the protections of Roe as federal law,” Biden added.
In Michigan, Another GOP Rep Who Voted For Trump’s Impeachment Loses
Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) lost his primary battle in Michigan’s 3rd District against John Gibbs, a political appointee who served in former President Donald Trump’s Housing and Urban Development agency and earned the endorsement of Trump. Meijer was one of ten House Republicans to vote for Trump’s impeachment following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Six out of ten of those Republicans have either retired from Congress or lost primary challenges.
Former two-time U.S. Senate candidate John James handily won Michigan’s GOP primary for a U.S. House seat. He will go on to face Democrat nominee Carl Marlinga in a newly redrawn district.
In the Wolverine State’s gubernatorial race, Trump-backed Tudor Dixon also proved victorious in the Republican primary. Dixon also was backed by the state’s party’s establishment. Dixon will now face incumbent Democrat Gretchen Whitmer in the general election, dubbing her “the queen of lockdowns.”
“Frankly Michigan, we deserve better,” Dixon said during her victory speech. “Now we have the opportunity to truly hold Gretchen Whitmer accountable for the pain she has inflicted on each and every one of us during the past four years.”
Masters Wins In Arizona, Governor’s Race Too Close To Call
Blake Masters, a Trump-endorsed Silicon Valley entrepreneur, knocked off Attorney General Mark Brnovich and businessman Jim Lamon in Arizona’s widely watched GOP Senate primary election. Masters — a strong supporter of Trump’s America First agenda — ran on strong borders, taking on Big Tech, and supporting the right to life while creating an economy that allows Americans to raise a family on one income.
Meanwhile, the race for Arizona’s gubernatorial race is too close to call, but the MAGA candidate Kari Lake holds a lead over Taylor Robson. Former Vice President Mike Pence endorsed Robson. Trump endorsed Lake, and the election has been viewed as a quasi-proxy war between Pence and Trump.
Cheney Lands Hollywood Endorsement
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) touted a recent endorsement from Hollywood actor Kevin Costner, but it is doubtful that the “Yellowstone” star will attract any new supporters to her campaign. Costner supported Pete Buttigieg in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary and then-candidate Joe Biden in the presidential election.
Polls indicate that Cheney will likely lose by a wide margin to her Trump-endorsed challenger Harriet Hageman. Hageman is up by 20 points over the January 6 Committee member, according to one set of data.
Based on recent press comments, Cheney has not ruled out a 2024 run for president.
“At this point, I haven’t made a decision on 2024 …. I’ll make a decision on 2024 down the road,” Cheney said on CNN’s “State of The Union.”
Crime Takes Center Place In Nevada
Nevada Democratic Governor Steve Sisolak is accusing his GOP opponent, Sheriff Joe Lombardo, of overseeing a crime and homicide surge in Clark County.
Sisolak released an ad last week harping on the point and referencing Trump’s claim that Nevada is a “cesspool” of crime. Sisolak’s ad also says that the state spends more than any other on law enforcement as a percent of its budget.
For his part, Lombardo is throwing the crime issue back at Sisolak, claiming that Nevada State Police is short-staffed and that is causing problems, such as long waits on the freeway.
Lombardo is also hitting Sisolak for staying silent on Clark County Judge Erika Ballou’s “anti-police” comments. Lombardo has called for Ballou’s resignation for implying that police officers are racist.
“You’re the one making the decisions not to walk away from cops,” Ballou said to one defendant. “You’re a black man in America. You know you don’t want to be nowhere where cops are.”
“You know you don’t want to be nowhere where cops are because I know I don’t, and I’m a middle-aged, middle-class black woman,” the judge added. “I don’t want to be around where the cops are because I don’t know if I’m going to walk away alive or not.”
Lombardo and Sisolak will face off against each other in the first gubernatorial debate on October 18.
Early Voting Starts In Alaska
Early voting started Monday for the race that includes former Republican Governor Sarah Palin seeking to return to politics in a House special election to replace the deceased Representative Don Young (R-AK).
Palin, Republican Nick Begich III, and Democrat Mary Peltola face off in a ranked-choice battle.
Wisconsin Dems Rally Around Leftist Senate Candidate, GOP Gubernatorial Primary Days Away
This past week, Wisconsin Democrats consolidated behind leftist Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, who is running to challenge incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, on-leave Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry, and county executive Tom Nelson dropped out of the race and endorsed Barnes. He is also supported by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
Johnson responded to the recent news of Godlewski dropping out by tweeting: “Showing their lack of respect for voters and the democratic process, the power brokers of the Democrat party have now cleared the field for their most radical left candidate. Socialist policies have produced this mess, & a radical left Senator from Wisconsin is not the solution.”
“I won’t be lectured about respecting voters by a pro-insurrectionist Senator,” Barnes said in response.
The Badger State’s Republican primary is less than a week away as GOP contenders attempt to connect with voters.
Candidates Tim Michels, a Trump-endorsed construction executive, state Assemblyman Tim Ramthun, and former Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch answered questions from callers for a local TV station on Monday.
An interesting note is that Trump has a Friday rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for Michels.
Meanwhile, Pence, the state’s former GOP Governor Scott Walker, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley are expected to campaign for Kleefisch throughout the state this week.