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CHARLES CITY | Iowa Rep. Todd Prichard, an Iraq War veteran and rural lawyer, will announce his candidacy for governor Tuesday in Charles City, saying he intends to fight for economic prosperity for all and appeal to places in the state that have not always been hospitable to Democrats.

Prichard, who was elected to the legislature in 2013, will join a growing field of Democrats seeking their party's nomination.

The 42-year-old, who grew up in Davenport, has been exploring a campaign for weeks, and after his announcement he plans to embark on a tour through the state.

"I love Iowa and I'm concerned about the direction that the state has taken over the last few years under the Branstad administration and during my time in the legislature," he told the Quad City Times on Monday. "I know that we can do better. We've left a lot of Iowans behind."

He said working for higher wages and an expanding middle class will guide his efforts.

Prichard said he would focus on improving educational opportunities in the state, including a state program to pay for community college costs that aren't covered by other financial assistance programs.

He also says he would push for a higher minimum wage and redirect state incentives to parts of the state he says haven't received enough.

He cited an $18 million state incentive to help move a corporate headquarters two years ago from West Des Moines to Des Moines.

"We're not investing resources into the rest of Iowa," he said.

Even with 13 months to go before the primary, the Democratic field is growing.

Former Iowa Democratic Party Chair Andy McGuire, former Iowa DNR Director Rich Leopold, Sen. Nate Boulton and former Des Moines School Board President Jon Neiderbach have all launched campaigns.

John Norris, who was a top aide to former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, and Des Moines businessman Fred Hubbell also are considering running. There are others said to be thinking about it, too.

Prichard hopes to set himself from the others with his military record and his rural background. "I'm not from Polk County," he says. Others in the race all hail from the Des Moines area.

Prichard says that his upbringing and familiarity with the west side of Davenport and Charles City (which has a population of about 7,500 people) give him a broad understanding of Iowa others will find hard to match.

Politically, that could be helpful to Democrats. The party has acknowledged it needs to do better in rural parts of the state.

Prichard is married with three children.

He won the House seat in a special election in 2013 after the previous officeholder, also a Democrat, resigned to take another job.

He is the ranking Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee.

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Charles City Democrat launches governor bid - Mason City Globe Gazette

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Maine Democrat proposes internet privacy regulations - News & Observer

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is flanked by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., (left) and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas (right). They are three of the 13 senators in the health care working group. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is flanked by Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., (left) and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas (right). They are three of the 13 senators in the health care working group.

The Senate is negotiating its own legislation to repeal and replace much of the Affordable Care Act in secret talks with senators hand-picked by party leaders and with no plans for committee hearings to publicly vet the bill.

"I am encouraged by what we are seeing in the Senate. We're seeing senators leading," said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, one of the 13 Republicans involved in the private talks. "We're seeing senators working together in good faith. We're not seeing senators throwing rocks at each other, either in private or in the press."

Senate Democrats have a different take. "Your morning reminder that under the cloud cover of the FBI story, 13 GOP Senators are still secretly writing a bill to destroy the ACA," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., tweeted Monday morning.

Senate Republicans have shrugged away criticism about their decision to avoid action in committees in favor of closely guarded meetings in the U.S. Capitol to craft legislation to repeal and replace key pillars of President Barack Obama's health care law and reshape Medicaid.

The working group has met four times, and it plans to continue to meet every Tuesday and Thursday. So far, its strategy appears to be selectively suggesting potential provisions of the legislation to the media.

For instance, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has floated pegging tax credits to help Americans buy health insurance to their income instead of their age like it does in the House version of the bill.

While the fallout over President Trump's decision to fire FBI Director James Comey consumes the news cycle, it has not had an impact on Republicans' health care talks. A GOP aide for a senator involved in the talks said it has even given the Senate some breathing room to negotiate with so much attention focused elsewhere.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell formed the negotiating team to take the lead on crafting health care legislation that can ultimately win the support of at least 50 of the chamber's 52 Republicans. No Democrats are expected to support any potential GOP health care bill. The legislation is moving under special budget rules known as reconciliation, which means it is not subject to usual filibuster rules and cannot be blocked by the minority party.

Republicans ditched the House-passed bill in pursuit of their own legislation, although the two chambers share the broad goals of repealing the ACA's individual mandates and taxes, restricting access to abortion services and overhauling the Medicaid system from an open-ended federal guarantee that covers costs to a system that gives states more flexibility to spend an allotted amount of money.

Conservatives like Cruz are also laying down what they say is a key marker for whether a bill can pass the Senate: "Do premiums go up, or do they go down?" Cruz said.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told reporters last week that Republicans are still in the early planning phase of crafting a bill. "We still need to agree on those goals and find out what's achievable," he said. Like Cruz, Johnson said for him lowering premiums is a top goal and he wants to repeal as much of the ACA as possible under the Senate's more strict budget rules.

Early talks suggest Republicans are optimistic they can ultimately pass a bill by the August recess. "We've got a group of 52 Republican senators, all of us want to get to 'yes,'" Johnson said.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Bill Cassidy, R-La., have introduced their own health care plan, and they have been prominent voices in the debate, but they were excluded from the health care working group.

Republicans were roundly criticized for not including any women in their core group, but the Republican women in the Senate who were asked about the omission said they didn't mind. "It doesn't bother me, the leaders have the right to choose whoever they wish," said Collins. "It doesn't mean that I'm not going to work on health care."

Cassidy and Collins have been moderating voices in the health care debate, and their support or opposition could be critical to Republicans' success.

The Cassidy-Collins proposal would let states keep the ACA, also known as Obamacare, in place if they wanted to, and it leaves in place the ACA's taxes and fees to have revenue streams to pay for their health care overhaul. However, their plan doesn't enjoy support among conservatives who don't believe it goes far enough to repeal and replace Obamacare the party's signature campaign pledge.

The duo has been reaching out to Democrats, but Cassidy said his efforts have been rejected. Democrats see no policy or political upside to working with Republicans to dismantle the ACA. "Let me phrase this carefully. I've had seven or eight meetings with Democrats either in their office, maybe once my office or on the floor, and that was the consistent message I got," Cassidy said.

Most Republicans see no political advantage to attempting to craft bipartisan legislation that could aid vulnerable Red State Senate Democrats heading in to the midterm elections. In other words, there is mutual disinterest in bipartisanship when it comes to the fundamentals of Obamacare.

The GOP health care talks are expected to roll through the summer months in the Senate. The long-term strategy according to senior GOP aides in both the House and Senate is to pass a Senate bill and send it back to the House for an up-or-down vote.

While House passage of their bill was hailed by the president in an unusual Rose Garden ceremony earlier this month, Republicans are still a long way away from fulfilling their campaign promises on health care.

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Secret Republican Senate Talks Are Shaping Health Care Legislation - NPR

Rep. Mo BrooksMo BrooksRepublican rep roils Alabama Senate race GOP Rep. Brooks enters Alabama Senate race Rep. Mo Brooks expected to announce Senate run: report MOREs (R-Ala.) Monday announcement that hell enter Alabamas Senate special election sets up a high-profile clash between the conservative congressman and the Republican establishment.

The Senate GOP leadership has already lined up behind Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to the seat in February to replace Attorney General Jeff SessionsJeff SessionsSenate battle lines harden in FBI fight Lobbying war rages over Turkish exile Pelosi: Trump actions on Comey dismissal really weird MORE. But Brookss candidacy shows that leadership hasnt cleared the field of potential primary challengers, meaning that Strange might not face an easy path to reelection.

Warning about a country put at risk by those who want to allow noncitizens to vote, gun control advocates and those who seek to destroy our values and faith in God, Brooks made clear who should shoulder the blame.

The solutions of Americas challenges are there the roadblock to these solutions is the United States Senate, Brooks said in an apparent attempt to tar Strange as a Washington insider just months into his tenure.

Brooks was active in Alabama politics for decades before winning his House seat in the 2010 Tea Party wave. But while hes cruised to reelection in subsequent primaries, hes raised eyebrows among more moderate Republicans by making a slew of controversial comments, including repeated accusations that Democrats have sponsored a war on whites.

Brooks has $1.2 million in his campaign account, according to a March filing, compared with Stranges $763,600.

Strange already faces a rocky path in the August primary, thanks in part to questions about his appointment to the seat by ex-Gov. Robert Bentley (R) and his own involvement in a convoluted investigation of the governor.

As Alabamas attorney general, Strange asked the state House Judiciary Committee to pause an investigation into impeaching Bentley for misusing campaign funds and for an alleged affair with an aide, instead allowing his own office to continue related work on the case.

But when restless state lawmakers pressed Strange on when he would take action on Bentley, the attorney general later clarified that he could not confirm or deny a probe into the embattled governor. Bentley eventually appointed Strange to Sessionss seat, later resigning the governorship in April over his affair.

The optics of Stranges appointment will likely be a prime line of attack for his Senate opponents.

[Stranges opponents] can make the case: Weve earned where we are. Luther was granted this in a suspicious bargain with a now-disgraced governor, said Bill Britt, the editor of the Alabama Political Reporter.

I think as long as someones got money to keep making that pitch, Luthers toast.

Still, the GOP establishment has made it clear that Strange will have the partys full backing. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) says that it will treat him as an incumbent, a move that both gives Strange powerful allies and could hinder his challengers campaigns.

The NRSC doesnt work with campaign vendors who help primary challenges to incumbent senators, so anyone siding with Brooks could get put on that blacklist.

Last week, the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF), a super PAC with ties to Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellTrump triggers battle over energy nominees Senate battle lines harden in FBI fight Pelosi: Trump actions on Comey dismissal really weird MORE (R-Ky.), announced a $2.6 million TV ad buy to boost Stranges bid.

The SLF pushed back on Brooks just hours after his announcement with a statement charging that he, not Strange, is the real Beltway politician.

While Luther Strange was cleaning up the corruption in Montgomery, Mo Brooks was living the life of a Washington insider, opposing Donald TrumpDonald TrumpState Dept. surprised by Tillerson defending Trump: report GOP strategist: GOP would have 'rightly' tried to impeach Clinton for classified disclosure Pelosi: 'What do the Russians have on Donald Trump?' MORE and failing to get a single bill signed into law in four terms in the House, said SLF spokesman Chris Pack.

Its clear Mo Brooks is more interested in advancing his own career than he is with delivering for Alabama.

Its too early to tell if outside groups or vendors will defy that pledge the field is still shaking out ahead of Wednesdays filing deadline. A spokesman for the conservative Club for Growth, a group that Brooks cited in his announcement for giving him high marks, said only that it is watching the race.

Along with his penchant for controversial comments, Brooks hasnt always sided with House GOP leadership two factors that make him an unappealing senator in the eyes of leadership.

Brooks refused to vote for the first iteration of House leaderships healthcare bill, eventually backing the revised bill after the conservative House Freedom Caucus extracted more concessions. During the healthcare debate, Brooks took flak for saying that that people who lead good lives shouldnt have to pay as much for healthcare.

And when Republicans began to sour on then-Speaker John BoehnerJohn BoehnerRepublican rep roils Alabama Senate race Feehery: Mend it, dont end it Press: Ryans gift to Dems MORE (R-Ohio) in 2014, Brooks vocally encouraged others to challenge BoehnerJohn BoehnerRepublican rep roils Alabama Senate race Feehery: Mend it, dont end it Press: Ryans gift to Dems MORE.

While the GOP establishment in Washington has rallied behind Strange, Brooks and some other Alabama Republicans have slammed Stranges D.C. allies.

Brooks has denounced Washington Republicans as swamp critters who want to strong-arm Alabama voters into reelecting Strange.

State Rep. Ed Henry, a Republican Senate hopeful, and state Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, who is eyeing a bid, have made similar attacks.

All I would ask is that they let Alabama choose its senator, Marsh said earlier this month, according to The Montgomery Advertiser.

I dont consider Gov. Bentleys hand-chosen senator to be the incumbent. I think the people will choose that in an election cycle.

But Strange supporters dont see it that way.

Folks who are upset that they werent appointed think that he shouldnt be treated as an incumbent, but the fact is he is, and hes an absolutely critical piece of the puzzle in terms of delivering on a Trump agenda, a Senate Republican campaign operative told The Hill.

I think everyones doing the right thing by backing Luther Strange.

Despite pressure from the Senate Republican leadership, though, the GOP field continues to grow. Along with Brooks and Henry, other declared candidates include suspended Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, Christian Coalition of Alabama President Randy Brinson and businessman Dom Gentile.

And Marsh would be considered a high-profile contender should he decide to run.

Moore was suspended in September for encouraging lower courts to ignore the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Despite that setback, Alabama observers say he has a base that will show up to the polls.

Prior to Brookss official entry, a recent poll found Moore with a dominant lead, followed by Strange in second and Brooks in third. But Moore and Brooks could split their shared conservative base.

[Brooks is] a conservative choice that doesnt have the baggage that Roy Moore does, Britt said. Hes a firebrand. He likes to shake it up. Hes the kind of politician we like down here.

With so many candidates in the race, a runoff tentatively set for Sept. 26 is a real possibility. Along with Strange, Moore, Brooks or Marsh are considered the most likely contenders for a possible runoff.

As the field continues to take shape ahead of the May 17 filing deadline, Alabamians are gearing up for their first contested Senate election since 1996.

Its all focused right now on the 17th to know whos in and not, Britt said. But I think its going to be a real battle.

Updated at 8:45 p.m.

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Republican rep roils Alabama Senate race - The Hill

A man votes in November in Durham, N.C. The U.S. Supreme Court had refused to reinstate strict voter restrictions in time for Election Day. Sara D. Davis/Getty Images hide caption

A man votes in November in Durham, N.C. The U.S. Supreme Court had refused to reinstate strict voter restrictions in time for Election Day.

The U.S. Supreme Court has once again declined to reinstate North Carolina's strict voter ID law, which was struck down last year after a court ruled it was intentionally designed to stop African-Americans from voting.

The nation's highest court refused to consider an appeal by North Carolina Republicans, NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

"Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the court's refusal to consider an appeal did not signify an opinion on the merits of the case," Fessler says.

It's not the first time the Supreme Court has considered an appeal over the voter ID law, which was one of the country's strictest. It was put in place after the Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, clearing the way for states with a history of discrimination to craft new voting laws without federal oversight.

Michael Tomsic of member station WFAE wrote last fall about the lengthy battle over North Carolina's law, which was ostensibly meant to combat voter fraud:

"That fight began in 2013, when the state made cuts to early voting, created a photo ID requirement and eliminated same-day registration, out-of-precinct voting and preregistration of high school students.

"More than half of all voters there use early voting, and African-Americans do so at higher rates than whites. African-Americans also tend to overwhelmingly vote for Democrats."

Those provisions of the law were struck down in July 2016 by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

In its ruling, the appeals court said the law was intentionally designed to discriminate against black people. North Carolina legislators had requested data on voting patterns by race and, with that data in hand, drafted a law that would "target African-Americans with almost surgical precision," the court said.

The state appealed to the Supreme Court, which refused to reinstate the law in time for elections.

The legal drama continued, as David Boraks of WFAE reports:

"The state and then-Gov. Pat McCrory appealed the 4th Circuit decision to the Supreme Court. As the Supreme Court discussed whether to hear the case, the state under a new Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, asked to withdraw the appeal."

That is the appeal the high court will not be hearing, it announced Monday.

Voting rights have been making headlines again this month, after President Trump announced the creation of a presidential commission to investigate voter fraud.

"Numerous independent investigations have concluded that voter fraud exists but is extremely limited in scope," Fessler reported last week.

Critics said the commission would justify voter suppression efforts, while state election officials are worried it could "divert attention from other serious concerns, such as aging equipment and the threat of hacking," she wrote.

Continued here:
Supreme Court Declines Republican Bid To Revive North Carolina Voter ID Law - NPR