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ALBANY At first glance, the challenges filed earlier this month to the petitions for two Democratic candidates for the Albany County Legislature to get on Novembers ballot appear run of the mill.

Whats noticeable is the name behind those challenges.

The attorney working on behalf of the two Republican and Conservative candidates trying to get their opponents knocked off the ballot is Matthew Clyne, the former Democratic commissioner for the Albany County Board of Elections. Clyne, who did not seek another term as commissioner after a 2020 dispute over wearing masks in the Board of Elections building, later enrolled in the countys Conservative Party.

Clyne, who also once led the town of Bethlehem Democratic committee, was a powerhouse in county politics for years and is considered one of the foremost state election law experts in the county. Since leaving his county positionshe has worked for politicians on both sides of the aisle.

He did not return a call for comment.

The lawsuits challenge the petitions filed by Herbert Joseph, of Rensselaerville, who is seeking to represent parts of southern Albany County that includes much of theHilltowns, and Ansel Asch, who is running in Colonie.

Both are challenging sitting legislators, Christopher Smith in the Hilltowns and Jennifer Whalenin Colonie. Smith is seeking his third term and Whalen is seeking her second. All 39 of the County Legislatures seats are up for election this year.

Whalens challenge to her opponents petitions alleges that in his initial filing on April 3 with the county Board of Elections, Aschs petition did not have the required number of properly filled out signatures. Asch filed a second set of signatures several days later as part of a Volume 2 that included two cover sheets.

On Friday, Whalen said Aschs petitions were, defective and sloppy.

We cant have people that are sloppy representing the people of the 21st district, she said.

Ryan Horstmyer, the chair of the Colonie Democratic committee, said he believed Whalens challenge to Aschs petitions would fail and that there is nothing in the states election law that prohibits filing petitions on different days.

We know we got more than the minimum number of clean signatures that have no issues, he said.

Smith, who ran as a Democrat and Conservative in 2019, is running on the Republican and Conservative party lines this fall. He could not be reached for comment.

Smiths challenge to Herberts petition is focused on a different issue, arguing that his petition doesnt meet the requirements for a designating petition and relies on conflicting witness statements.

Specifically, Herberts petition includes signed statements from a witness as well as a notary public, but on at least two sheets, the number of signatures that the two attest to do not match.

These discrepancies cast into doubt the validity of all the signatures on the petition, Clyne wrote.

Joseph disputed that that his petition was faulty.

I collected more signatures than I needed, he said. Hes objecting because what, for the first time in eight years, he actually has some competition?

The two challenges are scheduled for hearings in Albany County Supreme Court early this week.

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Former Albany Democrat Matthew Clyne challenging petitions - Times Union

Brandon Johnsons election as Chicagos next mayor represented a further leftward movement of the states Democratic-led politics, fueled by generational and ideological changes that are stretching and sometimes straining the fabric of the partys big tent.

In my view, the state of Illinois, led by Gov. (J.B.) Pritzker and this legislative body, has become the vanguard for progressive policy all over this country, Johnson told lawmakers Wednesday to resounding applause while making his first visit to Springfield as mayor-elect. Youve done it.

But Johnsons 52% to 48% victory over Paul Vallas to become the citys 57th mayor, laid bare some fundamental splits within the states Democratic Party that go deeper than just Chicagos most recent mayoral contest.

Vallas billed himself as a lifelong Democrat despite ties to right-wing activists, the conservative Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, and his declaration in 2009 that he considered himself more of a Republican than a Democrat and was fundamentally opposed to abortion.

[Mayoral candidate Paul Vallas insists hes a lifelong Democrat. But hes backed by conservative donors and the FOP.]

In the end, Johnson succeeded in raising questions in voters minds about Vallas Democratic bona fides. Still, several older Democrats in the party establishment who are considered more moderate endorsed Vallas. They included former Secretary of State Jesse White and Dick Durbin, the No. 2 ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate. Durbin served with Vallas in Springfield more than 40 years ago in the office of the late Democratic Senate President Philip J. Rock of Oak Park.

Christopher Mooney, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said the Democratic leaders who backed Vallas look out of step with the way the party is headed.

I think its not a good look for a lot of those folks, Mooney said. The progressives are in ascendancy in the state. Youve got the governor and now the new mayor two poles of political power in a state who are both proudly progressive.

The Democratic Party has always been a pretty broad base. Republicans especially in Illinois today (are) very narrow. They have sort of an exclusionary interest if youre not for this, youre out, or youre a RINO (Republican in Name Only), youre not a real Republican, Mooney said. Who knows if the progressives go that way too.

The potential for increased friction between moderates and progressives threatening the partys future has grown to the point that a special committee was formed by Cook County Democrats to determine what it means to be a Democrat in todays political climate.

What I started to see was there are Democrats that are confused, said Northwest Side Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, a member of the Cook County Democratic Central Committee, who is chairing the committee. Your regular Democrats are confused as to what are the principles around being a Democrat, and how the Democratic Party is being influenced by some portions of the left.

Villegas just won reelection to the City Council against a progressive challenger backed by the Chicago Teachers Union after last year losing a Democratic congressional primary to Delia Ramirez, a product of the progressive United Working Families organization whose candidacy was backed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Ald. Gilbert Villegas greets people during a campaign event at Playas Nayaritas in Belmont Cragin on Jan. 8, 2023. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

My task was to figure out, the Democratic Party is a big tent. What are core pillars that we can identify with that would allow people who want to be a part of the Democratic Party to say, You know what? Although I dont agree with everything within the new Democratic Party, what are those core pillars that make me a Democrat? Villegas said.

[In 36th Ward, two-term Ald. Gilbert Villegas declares victory over CTU leader]

So whether its making sure that were providing for working families, paying livable wages, a womans right to choose, affordable housing, what are some of the core things that, as Democrats, when a candidate from the Democratic Party speaks, is going to touch on those core pillars to say Yeah, Im a Democrat. But obviously Im either more of a moderate Democrat or more of a left Democrat. So that way they get more of a sense of where theyre at within the big tent of the Democratic Party. he said.

Pritzker, with the emergence of power of the legislatures Black Caucus, has set out the template for the partys progressive pillars organized labor rights, abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, criminal justice reforms, including cashless bail for nonviolent crimes, and banning so-called assault weapons.

The governor is leading by example. I mean, the guy is advocating very, very strongly and very, very emphatically, very, very nationally. Especially on abortion and guns. Thats right down Main Street for progressives, Mooney said.

Pritzker acknowledged that Johnson represents a new generation politician, despite his age of 47, by bringing both younger voters and voters of color to the polls important parts of what Pritzker calls the Democratic coalition.

Dignitaries listen to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on a stage behind the Shedd Aquarium to celebrate the selection of Chicago as the host for the 2024 Democratic National Convention April 12, 2023. Behind Pritzker is Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, right, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison, left. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

The two-term governor said older voters show up in large numbers and theyre very important to party fortunes but things are evolving toward younger voters.

The Democratic Party is much more resolute about the issues that we stand up and fight for, Pritzker said. That resoluteness certainly defines the younger generation and I admire that.

One veteran Democratic campaign strategist, who asked not to be identified due to his links with current politicians, said generational change is morphing with a progressive ideology, in part due to greater educational opportunity and social media and digital technology.

The Black community, in particular, has a larger number of people who are college educated and moving into a gravitational pull of politics that makes them more progressive and more activist, the strategist said. Older voters, theyre not looking for revolutions. Theyre just looking for things to be improved. They dont believe the whole system needs to completely change over because when youre older, youre more of an incrementalist.

As for moderate older Democrats, the strategist said, The center never holds. It just adapts and that new generation takes over. They start paying taxes and try to change things and run into failures and then they get more incremental in the amount of change that they think the system can handle. Then the cycle repeats itself.

In Springfield, members of the Democratic supermajorities have created a moderate caucus along with its progressive caucus a recognition of the factional ideologies in the House and Senate.

[Arguments over controversial no-bail law aired before Illinois Supreme Court]

Those differences were readily apparent in the passage of the controversial Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act, known as the SAFE-T Act, dealing with criminal justice and policing as well as cashless bail. Due to the overwhelming number of Democrats, some moderates representing a more conservative, less progressive ideology were able to vote against it without their votes needed for passage.

Moderate caucus leaders said it is paramount to represent the ideology of their districts, which brings geography in play. Democrats have seen their numbers reduced downstate, while increasing in the once traditional Republican suburbs and exurbs.

They have their issues, we have our issues. Youve got to work together and get a consensus, state Rep. Marty Moylan of Des Plaines, a moderate House Democrat, said of his progressive colleagues.

You know, sometimes their issues dont agree with ours and then well discuss it and try and come up with some kind of conclusion, Moylan said. (Were) not going to agree on everything. But that doesnt mean that were not Democrats.

State Rep. Marty Moylan, left in vest, speaks at a campaign stop along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Democratic politicians and candidates at the Sugar Bowl restaurant on Oct. 31, 2022, in Des Plaines. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

One major reason Democrats have not fractured so far is the political alternative Republicans.

People, particularly in the suburbs, who might have once considered themselves moderate Republicans on social issues no longer fit into the narrow cast of what the GOP calls itself now, Mooney said.

And Pritzker said Republicans have painted themselves into a terrible corner on social issues.

We are the party of reproductive rights. Theres nowhere else to go, he said. If you are a believer that womens rights need to be protected, you are a Democrat and should vote for Democrats. If youre a believer in public safety and protecting our children from being victims of mass shootings at schools, then you are a Democrat and should vote for Democrats.

Chicago Tribunes Jeremy Gorner contributed from Springfield.

rap30@aol.com

jebyrne@chicagotribune.com

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Brandon Johnson's win as mayor furthers Democratic leftward tilt as ... - Chicago Tribune

The Democratic National Committee announced that the Democratic National Convention would be hosted in Chicago next year, beating out cities including Houston, New York and Atlanta for the spot. While Chicago is a fine place for the convention to be held, holding it in Atlanta would have been a powerful statement for the Democrats due to the importance Georgia has held in the last few elections and the diverse culture surrounding the city.

A letter was sent to President Biden and the Democratic National Committee before the decision was made urging them to choose Atlanta to host the convention by southern Democrats. The letter explains that Biden owed his presidency and a Democratic Senate majority to the state of Georgia. More than 65 current and former Democratic leaders signed the letter in support of Atlanta hosting the convention, including both Georgia Democratic Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. The letter advocates for Atlanta as it stands as a beacon of LGBTQIA+ rights in the Deep South and served as the cradle of Americas civil rights movement. The letter, although unsuccessful, shows the advocacy and support Atlanta had in the bid.

In the 2020 presidential election, Georgia was a key player in getting President Joe Biden elected. Georgia was the only blue state in the Deep South, marking a turning point for southern Democrats who hadnt seen Georgia as a blue state in 28 years, when then Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter ran for President. This switch can be attributed to the explosive growth of Metro Atlanta as well as the suburbs that have swung the state blue.

Though Georgia voted as a blue state in the 2020 presidential election, it was only by a slim number, 11,779 votes to be exact. The state is split down the middle with Democratic voters being the narrow majority in the 2020 election. While the state voted blue then, state-level politics are still Republican-favored. Republican Governor Brian Kemp defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in the recent 2022 gubernatorial race. Additionally, in that same election year, Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock only beat Republican Herschel Walker in a runoff race by a slim 2.74%.

These conditions prove that having the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta couldve helped solidify Georgia as a blue state in the 2024 election and those to come. The campaigning and mere attention alone that Atlanta and Georgia as a state could have received might have been vital in ensuring a Democratic majority, by convincing moderate voters to vote blue. The convention could have also encouraged young people to register to vote as that is something Democrats are passionate about and would touch on in the convention.

The main reason Chicago was chosen over Atlanta is due to the fact that Atlanta does not have enough labor-unionized hotels. While it is slightly hypocritical for the Democratic National Convention to be hosted at not unionized hotels, the Democratic National Committee could have used this opportunity to advocate for labor unions in a place that doesnt have many strong ones. If we want to work for change, we have to start where we want change to be.

Additionally, Atlanta is more diverse than Chicago. Atlantas black population is over 50% while Chicagos just barely hits 30%. Having the convention in Atlanta would have reached more people of color, which is something the Democratic National Committee pushes for constantly, a more diverse government.

While Chicago was the pick for the 2024 Democratic National Convention, lawmakers are confident that Georgia will remain a blue stronghold in the south.

Excerpt from:
Democratic National Convention not held in Atlanta, missed ... - the Southerner Online

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has rejected calls from a growing chorus of Democrats for Republicans to cooperate with their efforts to replace Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Republicans will not take part in sidelining a temporary absent colleague off the committee just so Democrats can force through their very worst nominees, the Kentucky senator and ranking Republican said on Tuesday, according to CNN.

Feinstein, the longest-serving female senator in American history, entered the body in 1992 and, at 89, is the oldest member in the chamber. She was hospitalized in early March following a bout with shingles and has yet to return to active political duty.

Feinsteins absence from the Judiciary Committee has reportedly led to the delay in the confirmation of at least a dozen of President Bidens federal judicial appointees. Moreover, the California senator has missed dozens of votes while she recovers at her home in San Francisco.

Last Wednesday, Feinstein released a public statement acknowledging the growing frustration over her lingering absence from Capitol Hill.

I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so Ive asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work.

McConnell, who returned to the Senate on Monday following a fall that left him hospitalized in early March, has committed to blocking Democratic efforts to replace Feinstein, whose absence has narrowed the partys majority in the body to just one seat.

Replacing Feinstein would require 60 overall votes and at least ten Republicans to vote across party lines.

Leading House Democrats including Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) and Alexandria Ocasion-Cortez (D., N.Y.) have also called upon Feinstein urgently relinquish her duties for the sake of the party.

Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign, the California representative tweeted last Wednesday. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.

Story continues

Fellow House representative Jamaal Bowman (D., Ny.) joined his colleagues supporting Feinsteins departure during an interview with CNN on Monday. Shes had a very long and stellar career, you know, but missing that many votes, stopping us from moving forward with our judge nominations, Bowman said.

However, fellow Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D., N.Y.) and Tammy Baldwin (D., Wis.), have come to Feinsteins aid.

Shes a team player, and shes an extraordinary member of the Senate, Gillibrand insisted during a recent interview on CNNs State of the Unionon Sunday. Its her right. Shes been voted by her state to be senator for six years. She has the right, in my opinion, to decide when she steps down.

I think that is really an important, a responsible thing to do during her absence, because we have President Bidens nominees waiting for hearings and votes and we want to keep that moving. But I wish her well and hope she returns to the Senate very soon, Baldwin said during an appearance onMeet the Press.

Prior to her decades-long stint in the Senate, Feinstein served as the Mayor of San Francisco and unsuccessfully ran for Governor of California.

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McConnell Vows to Block Democrat Attempts to Remove Feinstein from Judiciary Committee - Yahoo News

WASHINGTON Senator Bob Menendez, one of the loudest and most powerful Democratic critics of the Biden administrations immigration policies, said this week that he had delivered a list of recommended executive actions to the White House to address illegal migration at the southern border in a more humane way.

The move is unusual for Mr. Menendez, a three-term Democrat from New Jersey and the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who has for years focused on immigration policy and introduced a number of bills meant to change the outdated system.

But Mr. Menendez acknowledged the reality that Congress was unlikely to pass immigration legislation soon. His decision to go public with his recommendations reflects his growing frustration that President Biden is falling short on his immigration promises.

I do believe that there are a series of executive actions the administration can take that would more effectively and humanely deal with our challenges, Mr. Menendez said in an interview with The New York Times.

Each of the past three presidents, including Mr. Biden, has resorted to executive actions to address immigration issues because Congress hasfailed to overhaul the countrys immigration laws for more than 30 years.

The Biden administration has focused some of its executive actions onmanaging a record number of illegal border crossings amid relentless Republican attacks. It has also embraced some Trump-era policies that many Democrats and immigration advocates expected Mr. Biden to end upon taking office. Some of the actions came as the administrationprepared for the expiration on May 11 of the public health measure known as Title 42, which allowed authorities to swiftly expel migrants, even those seeking asylum.

Mr. Menendez has criticized some of those actions, saying last month that he feared Mr. Biden would become the asylum denier in chief. His recommendations, which he delivered to the White House on Friday, include streamlining deportations, developing programs to support migrants in Latin America and raising penalties for criminal activities thatfacilitate illegal migration.

He also recommended the creation of a new pathway for parole paired with states need for workers. Governors, including some Republicans, have been calling for immigration laws to change to fill vital work force shortages. This month, the Labor Department reported 9.9 million job openings around the country as of February.

In the absence of being able to find Americans to do those jobs, this is an opportunity, an escape valve on which people can regularize a process, come do some critical work in the United States, help us grow our prosperity, Mr. Menendez said.

Mr. Menendez also suggested that the administration increase the salaries of Border Patrol agents and officers at Customs and Border Protection.

The White House declined to commenton Mr. Menendezs recommendationsbut defended Mr. Bidens track record on immigration policies.

This administration has taken unprecedented action to expand lawful immigration pathways, reduce unlawful migration and secure record funds for border security, said Abdullah Hasan, a White House spokesman.

But only Congress can update decades-old laws and provide the resources to truly fix our long broken immigration system.

Americans remain divided over who should be allowed to come into the country. A nationwide survey conducted in February found that 44 percent of respondents said immigration should be reduced, while only 20 percent would like to see more immigrants allowed into the country.

On his first day in office, Mr. Biden sent Congress a frameworkthathe described as layingout a return to a fairer and more humane immigration system. Less than a month later, Mr. Menendez and Representative Linda T. Snchez, Democrat of California, introduced bills based on that framework.

But the legislation effectively died in Congress, and the White House refocused its effortson passing the presidents infrastructure bill.

The administration has blamed Republicans for refusing to find a compromise to increase border security and allow migrants to come to the United States legally and instead focusing on partisan efforts to build an impeachment case against the homeland security secretary, Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

In general, Democrats favor comprehensive immigration legislation, but they, too, are worried about wasting political capital to build support because they expect Republicans, who control the House majority, would not cooperate and any legislation would die in the House, congressional aides said.

The Republican House leadership has already said it would consider only bills about border security and not other issues driving illegal migration.

Karoun Demirjiancontributed reporting.

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Senior Democrat Urges Executive Actions From Biden on Immigration - The New York Times