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Over the last three years, Joe Biden and Far Left Democrats' repeated support for the Defund the Police movement, and anti-police legislation has resulted in the rate of assaults on our brave law enforcement officers to skyrocket. According to nationalFBI data released earlier this week, The rate of assaults on U.S. law enforcement officers reached a 10-year high last year, with 79,000 attacks on officers recorded. That is why this week, House Republicans brought a series of bills to the floor as part of National Police Week that showed our continued support for our brave men and women in blue and would hold these violent criminals accountable. Far Left House Democrat overwhelmingly voted against these bills, once again reaffirming that they are the Party of lawlessness. Most notably 148 Far Left House Democrats votedagainst a bill to deport illegal immigrantswho assault police officers. Today, House Republicans will bring to the floorH. Res. 1213, condemning calls to defund the police. Now more than ever, law enforcement officers need our support. FAR LEFT DEMOCRATS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED AGAINST OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DURING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK:

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House Democrats Have Overwhelmingly Voted Against Our Law Enforcement Officers - GOP.gov

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With two weeks left until the primary runoff, state Rep. Shawn Thierrys fight for political survival is intensifying, as more of her current and former legislative colleagues have lined up behind her opponent and grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of the Houston Democrat.

This past weekend, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Dallas Democrat who previously served in the Texas House with Thierry, spoke at a campaign event where she condemned her former colleague and restated her support for Lauren Ashley Simmons in the May 28 contest.

I dont show up for [just] anybody. Shawn Thierry is just that bad, Crockett said. Shes got to go.

Thierry, a 54-year-old Houston attorney, has been in her own partys crosshairs since last spring, when she voted for a measure barring gender-transitioning care for minors, and then delivered an emotional speech from the House floor explaining why she broke with her party. Thierrys vote, and her viral remarks, prompted a spirited and well-funded challenge from Simmons, a 36-year-old labor organizer who finished ahead of Thierry in a three-way March primary.

The two are now facing off in a runoff that will effectively decide who represents the solidly blue south Houston district next year, while testing the staying power of Democrats who vote for GOP bills opposed by the LGBTQ+ community. Thierry, the only Democrat in the Texas House to be pushed into a runoff, has countered with her own slate of endorsements from Black church leaders and six of her Democratic colleagues.

Simmons, meanwhile, has picked up support from eight Democrats who currently serve with Thierry in the Texas House and two others Crockett and former lawmaker Garnet Coleman who previously overlapped with her in the lower chamber. Several of them, including Crockett, appeared with Simmons over the weekend for a rally and a round of block-walking.

She aint never had yalls back, Crockett said, after recounting a story in which Thierry allegedly asked House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, if Democrats would be allowed to retain their committee positions if they went ahead with a plan to flee the state to thwart a GOP elections bill. They were targeting her constituents. And you know what she cared about? Her damn seat on a committee.

Thierry wound up joining more than 50 House Democrats who flew to Washington, D.C., to temporarily deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass their bill overhauling the states elections. She denied the details of Crocketts account, calling it a made up scenario designed to boost Simmons campaign.

I will conclude that it's disappointing and beyond bizarre that these Members ever believed that holding a hyperbolic press conference solely to attack a fellow Dem colleague in a Democratic runoff was a good idea, Thierry wrote on X.

Thierry added that she never raised my hand in any meeting to ask [Phelan] such a dumb question, and she suggested that some of Simmons legislative supporters should be blamed for helping Republicans restore the quorum they used to pass the elections bill.

Thierry, for her part, is touting support from a coalition of church leaders that she said is the largest collective of African American Baptist ministers ever assembled in a Democratic primary runoff. She framed it as a major political shift in the primary, pointing to the pivotal role that the Black church has shaping African-American civic engagement and mobilizing communities against societal injustices.

I would like for this to be a sign to all legislators, and those who seek to be a legislator, that you too can enjoy this type of support when you stand for righteousness, M.D Morrison Sr., pastor at Houstons New Faith Baptist Church Northeast, said while flanked by Thierry and other ministers at a recent campaign event. You too can enjoy this type of solidarity from the faith community when you stand simply for what is right.

Thierry is seeking her fifth term representing House District 146, a heavily Democratic seat that covers parts of south and southwest Houston. The district is three-quarters nonwhite and anchored by Sunnyside, a low-income, majority-Black neighborhood that once was a thriving economic hub that is trying to revitalize.

Thierry is hoping her support from the Black faith community will be enough to overcome Simmons mounting support from Democratic politicians and local political groups. Since the runoff, Simmons has added endorsements from U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher and Houston state Reps. Alma Allen, Ann Johnson and Christina Morales.

Five of Thierrys House colleagues had already gotten behind Simmons in the first round, including Houston-area Reps. Jon Rosenthal and Gene Wu. Simmons has also been endorsed by former Senate and gubernatorial nominee Beto ORourke.

Asked about her fellow Democrats who had lined up behind Simmons' campaign, Thierry said that in "a political climate like we are seeing unfold on both sides, it's understandable that some individuals have made choices to support candidates based on highly charged issues."

"Ultimately, it is the voters of District 146 who will decide," she added.

Thierry has added recent endorsements from state Reps. Richard Raymond, D-Laredo, and Sergio Muoz Jr., D-Palmview. She is also backed by Democratic state Reps. Nicole Collier of Fort Worth, Harold Dutton of Houston, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins of San Antonio and Eddie Morales Jr. of Eagle Pass.

The animus toward Thierry from within her own party comes after she broke ranks on three major GOP bills that became law: the ban on gender-transitioning care for minors; a bill aimed at removing sexually explicit books from school libraries, a designation critics feared would be used to target LGBTQ+ literature; and a requirement that transgender college athletes play on teams that align their sex assigned at birth.

Critics of Thierrys remarks on the gender-transitioning bill noted she ignored the fact that treatment decisions for minors could only be made by parents or legal guardians. A consensus of major medical groups has also argued that gender-transitioning care should be available to children and teens in the care of doctors.

A number of Republicans praised Thierrys comments, calling it a brave rebuke of what they view as a radical stance. She has received the bulk of her campaign funding from a mix of GOP donors, PACs that advocate for charter schools and school vouchers, and the PAC affiliated with Las Vegas Sands, which is aiming to legalize casino gambling in Texas. Also among Thierry's top donors is Adam Loewy, an Austin personal injury lawyer who mostly donates to Democrats.

Thierry was not the only Democrat to support the GOP legislation 11 others voted for the book-banning bill, including Collier, Dutton, Morales, Muoz and Raymond but she was by far the most outspoken. She said in another floor speech that the book bill would set up guardrails against explicit materials that have infiltrated schools, noting one that she said teaches children how to access dating websites.

Crockett said she decided to weigh in on the race after the Houston Chronicle editorial board quoted Thierry appearing to dismiss Simmons Texas House supporters as the gay ones. Thierry said the quote was taken completely out of context from a larger discussion, but in any case, Simmons campaign told the Chronicle that they received a major surge in fundraising after Thierrys remarks were published.

Simmons' top donors are the Texas Organizing Project, the Texas Gulf Coast AFL-CIO and the Houston Federation of Teachers.

Texas voters may be able to participate in the following elections: - May 4 elections for many local elected offices and bond propositions that are not part of county government. The voter registration deadline is April 4. - May 28 primary runoffs for elected offices in which no candidate won more than half of the votes during the March Republican and Democratic primaries. The voter registration deadline is April 29. - Nov. 5 general elections for many state, federal and county offices. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 7.

Cellphones, cameras, computers and other devices that can record sound or images cannot be used within 100 feet of voting stations (where ballots are marked). There are usually traffic cones or signs indicating this. Campaigning, including wearing clothing or other items that publicize candidates, political parties or measures on the ballot, is also banned beyond this point. Voters are allowed to use written notes to cast their ballot at the discretion of election officers, who may determine if the material counts as campaigning. Firearms, including handguns, are also prohibited at polling places, according to Texas law.

Voters have the right to: - cast a provisional ballot if they are registered but their name does not appear on the list of registered voters because of an administrative issue - get written instructions about how to cast a ballot or to ask a polling place officer or worker (but not about who or what to vote for) - use up to two additional ballots to make corrections if a voter makes a mistake while marking their ballot - generally cast their ballots in secret and should not be subject to intimidation - get interpretation, assistance or accommodations to vote if they have a disability or limited English proficiency - vote during work hours without being penalized or losing pay (this may not apply if a worker has two hours before or after work to go vote) - cast their ballot as long as theyre in line by 7 p.m. on Election Day A state law passed in 2023 also allows voters with disabilities or mobility problems to skip the line at their polling location and requires each polling location to have a designated parking spot for curbside voting.

If you have contracted COVID-19 or are exhibiting symptoms, consider requesting an emergency early voting ballot or using curbside voting. Emergency ballot: These ballots can be requested if you become sick or disabled close to an election and are unable to go to a polling place on Election Day. To qualify, you must designate a representative to submit an application in person on your behalf and have a certified doctors note. The application must be received by your countys early voting clerk before 5 p.m. on Election Day. Your ballot must be returned by the same designated representative before 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Contact your county elections office for more details about an emergency early-voting ballot due to sickness or disability. Curbside voting: You can also contact your county elections office to determine if youre eligible for curbside voting, which must be made available at every polling place for voters with disabilities unable to enter a polling location.

At the polls, voters can talk to election officers or poll workers if they run into issues. The secretary of states office has a helpline at 1-800-252-VOTE (8683) to reach state attorneys available to assist voters and election officials with questions. A coalition of voting rights groups runs voter protection hotlines in several languages. Disability Rights Texas also offers a helpline for people with disabilities.

Weve got big things in store for you at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Join us for three days of big, bold conversations about politics, public policy and the days news.

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Houston House Democratic primary gets uglier ahead of runoff - The Texas Tribune

Idaho Democrats will hold their presidential nominating caucus from 5-8 p.m. local time on May 23, giving Democrats across the state the chance to vote for their partys presidential nominee.

The caucus is new this year, and the Democrats are staging their caucus two days after the May 21 primary election. Idaho Republicans already conducted their presidential nominating caucus on March 2.

Although President Joe Biden secured enough delegates to clinch the Democratic Partys nomination for president back in March, there are six candidates who have qualified to appear on the ballot for the Democratic caucus in the Gem State, said Jared DeLoof, executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party.

Those candidates are

In addition to their choice of presidential candidates, Democrats will also vote on delegates to attend the Idaho Democratic Partys summer convention, which runs June 22 through June 23 in Moscow, DeLoof said.

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The locations of Democratic caucus sites are posted online. There is at least one caucus site in every county and voters must attend a caucus site in the county they are registered to vote in. For counties that feature more than one caucus site, such as Ada and Canyon counties, voters may go to any site they wish in their home county, DeLoof said.

In order to vote in the Democrats caucus, voters must be affiliated with the Democratic Party or be an unaffiliated voter, DeLoof said. People can register to vote or change their party affiliation to the Democrats at the caucus site. But voters cannot participate in the Democrats caucus if they already participated in the Republicans presidential caucus or any other presidential caucus this year, DeLoof said. Additionally, interested voters who are only 17 years old when the Democratic caucus takes place will be allowed to register to vote and participate in the caucus if they turn 18 before the Nov. 5 general election. Voters are also allowed to bring their younger children to accompany them and observe the caucus.

The caucus will begin at 5 p.m. local time and will end at 8 p.m. DeLoof said anyone who is in line for a Democratic caucus at 8 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.

Once voters are checked in at their caucus site on May 23, they will be given a ballot to fill out and hand in, and then may leave if they wish. DeLoof said there will only be one round of voting, and the goal is for the entire process to take less than 10 minutes.

The thing we have prioritized more than anything else is voters participating in ways that will be familiar to them and with the least amount of obstacles as possible, DeLoof said in a telephone interview.

The presidential caucus is new for Idaho voters this year because last year the Idaho Legislature seemingly unintentionally eliminated the presidential primary elections.

In 2023, the Idaho Legislature passed House BIll 138, which supporters said was designed to move the states presidential primary election back from March to take place in May with the other state primary elections. But instead of moving the presidential primary back, House Bill 138 eliminated the presidential primary election altogether. A so-called trailer bill that was designed to correct the issue did not advance out of the House State Affairs Committee at the end of the 2023 legislative session, and legislators could not agree to a special session in late 2023 to reinstate the presidential primary election.

In response, the states political parties decided to conduct presidential nominating caucuses in absence of the primary election.

We did not want this caucus system, DeLoof said. We tried to work with Republicans to get this fixed because a caucus, quite frankly, is not a great way for folks to be able to cast a vote. Were not happy with the system, but we are making the best of it.

Primary elections and caucuses are different for many reasons. One of the reasons is that caucuses are run entirely by the political parties, not the state or counties. The Republican caucus also required all voters to attend their caucus in person and there was no exception for members of the military stationed out of state, religious missionaries, people who had to work, people who were traveling, people who had accessibility issues or people who lacked transportation.

On the other hand, the Democrats offer absentee ballots to voters who cannot participate in person due to military service, disability or illness, work, child care obligations, school, the inability to travel or other reasons. Voters can request an absentee ballot online, and the deadline to request an absentee ballot is 5 p.m. Mountain Time, May 16.

Were trying to make it as accessible as possible and ultimately make the best of a bad situation, and we look forward to seeing everyone at these events, DeLoof said.

Unlike the Republican caucus, news reporters will be allowed inside the Democratic caucus sites to observe and report on the process as long as they register for a credential with the Democratic Party, DeLoof said. Only registered Republicans and their children were allowed at the Republicans caucus in March, meaning news reporters and independent observers who were not registered Republicans were not allowed to observe the GOP caucus.

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Here's what to know about the May 23 Idaho Democratic presidential caucus Idaho Capital Sun - Idaho Capital Sun

A filibuster in the Missouri Senate set a new record Wednesday morning, as Democrats continued to demand ballot candy about non-citizen voting and foreign fundraising be removed from an initiative petition bill before it goes to voters.

The previous modern record for longest filibuster was set earlier this year by the Senate Freedom Caucus, who held the floor for 41 hours. Democrats passed that mark at around 7:30 a.m. Wednesday.

With time ticking down as the legislature is set to adjourn at 6 p.m. Friday, Democrats argue that if Republicans are truly concerned with ensuring only citizens can vote in Missouri elections, there are at least two other bills close to the finish line that include that language.

The GOP could pass those bills, strip the ballot candy out of the initiative petition bill, end the filibuster and allow the Senate to function in its final days, said Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence.

Were more than happy to let that through, he said.

The longest filibuster in Missouri Senate history happened earlier this year, when the Freedom Caucus held the floor for 41 hours. Democrats will pass that mark around 7:30 a.m.

The bill that inspired this weeks filibuster would ask voters to make it harder to amend the Missouri Constitution through the initiative petition process. But it also includes proposals that would bar non-citizens from voting and ban foreign entities from contributing to or sponsoring constitutional amendments, both of which are already illegal.

Democrats say they will not allow the bill to move forward with even an iota of ballot candy.

Theyre trying to disenfranchise not Democratic voters or Republican voters, state Sen. Brian Williams, a Democrat from University City, said Tuesday. Theyre trying to disenfranchise Missouri voters.

The non-citizen voting prohibitions are also included in two bills that would amend the Missouri Constitution to ban ranked-choice voting.

The House passed its version of the ranked-choice voting bill in April, though it hasnt been heard by a Senate committee.

The Senate also passed its version in April. A House committee approved the bill without making any changes, meaning it could be taken up and sent directly to the statewide ballot at any time this week.

The Senate sponsor of the ranked-choice voting measure, GOP Sen. Ben Brown of Washington, couldnt be reached for comment.

But Republicans remain steadfast as of Tuesday afternoon that they want the initiative petition proposal to go to voters with the ballot candy included.

We want to put something that Republican voters want to vote for, said Sen. Andrew Koenig, a Manchester Republican and member of the Senate Freedom Caucus. I think it can look in different ways; however, we dont want to send this bill to conference. Its hard to say exactly whats going to happen, but were very limited on what we can do.

If a compromise cant be reached, Republicans have one tool at their disposal to end the filibuster: invoking a rarely-used procedural tactic called moving the previous question. This immediately ends debate and forces a vote, but Republicans know doing so could have long-term consequences on how the Senate functions.

Moving the previous question is still on the table, Koenig said, but it remains a last resort.

Not all Republicans are looking for a showdown over the initiative petition bill.

Asked Tuesday if he feels any personal urgency to pass the bill, state Sen. Justin Brown, a Rolla Republican, said: I dont.

Senate Democrats have argued invoking the previous question would be an outrage, as theyve worked in good faith with Republicans all session including ending a filibuster of the initiative petition bill earlier this year after ballot candy was removed.

It would be especially outrageous, Democrats contend, because the Senate Freedom Caucus has used the filibuster and other procedural maneuvers to undermine GOP leadership in the chamber and cause gridlock.

A month after Senate Democrats ended a 21-hour filibuster when Republicans agreed to a paired down initiative petition bill, the bills sponsor, state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold, asked a House committee to put the ballot candy back in.

Senate Democrats said theyd been double crossed, so they retaliated by shutting down Senate business for the day.

Rizzo said if the Republicans invoke the previous question, the consequences could last into next session. While he is not returning to the chamber in 2025, Rizzo said Democrats should play by the Freedom Caucuss rules next year.

I would definitely try to do everything I could to be the most disruptive, Rizzo said during his second filibuster shift Tuesday morning. Because there is no reason to go to work if youre not getting the stuff you want or work in good faith because its clearly not rewarded.

Fate of game changer womens health care bill in hands of Missouri Senate

The Senate gridlock stems from the likelihood that Missouri voters will have the chance to vote to re-establish the constitutional right to abortion later this year. A campaign to legalize abortion up to the point of fetal viability in recently submitted more than 380,000 signatures to the Missouri Secretary of States office, paving the way for the issue to land on the November ballot.

Republicans hope that by raising the threshold needed to pass citizen-led ballot measures, they will be able to defeat the abortion vote.

In a video posted to social media Tuesday, state Sen. Bill Eigel, a Republican from Weldon Spring, said hed been up all night defending liberty.

Were going to make (the Democrats) continue to talk until theyre ready to see initiative petition reform go to the people of this state, Eigel said. And were going to protect our Constitution. Were going to protect it from the abortionists who want to enshrine a culture of death into the founding document of the state.

The Independents Rudi Keller contributed to this story.

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Democratic filibuster of initiative petition bill exceeds 41 hours, sets new record Missouri Independent - Missouri Independent

New York is poised to play a decisive role in the battle for control of Congress this fall, with roughly a half-dozen House seats considered up for grabs in November most of them currently held by Republicans.

But polling shows President Joe Bidens popularity in New York has sagged since 2020, raising questions about whether he might be a drag on Democrats chances of winning those contested seats and taking back the majority in theUnited States House of Representatives.

The presidents under water in my district, Rep. Mike Lawler recently told Spectrum News NY1.

Lawler is one of four Republicans looking to win reelection in New York congressional districts that Biden carried four years ago. The others are Rep. Marc Molinaro, Rep. Anthony DEsposito andRep. Brandon Williams.

All have been openly critical of the president.

This administration has not been good for upstate New York, and I have no problem saying that, Molinaro said.

Some have gone a step further, formally endorsingformer President Donald Trumps effort to win the Oval Office again. That includes DEsposito, whose Nassau County district went for Biden by nearly 15 percentage points four years ago.

If you think back to a time when President Trump was the president, we had a safer America, a more affordable America. We had an America that you could be proud of, he said when announcing his endorsement in February.

The willingness of these politically vulnerable Republicans to criticize Biden and, in some cases, openly support Trump, offers a clue about the decline in Bidens standing in heavily blue New York heading into November.

House Republican Conference ChairElise Stefanik, whose goal is to keep these seats red, told Spectrum News NY1 in March that, based on the internal polls she is seeing, President Trump is polling stronger in any of those districts, and Joe Bidens numbers are plummeting.

In 2020, Biden won New York state by more than 23 percentage points.

But a recent poll conducted in April by Siena College shows Biden beating Trump by just 10 pointsamong registered voters.

That same poll showed 45% rating Biden favorably, compared to 52% unfavorably.

Siena College pollster Steven Greenberg said that while an April poll is not a predictor of what's going to happen in November, he argued it could be a warning sign.

It should be concerning to Democrats. It should be concerning to the Biden campaign, Greenbergsaid.

The poll, which has an overall margin of error of +/- 4.1 percentage points, also showed that as of mid-April, 27% of registered voters across New York believe the United States is on the right track. Nearly two-thirds said the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Some Republicans see opportunity in these lagging polls.

Lawler, for instance, said that Biden is not the same president that won my district by 10 points in 2020.

Asked if the presidents polling could complicate things for his Democratic rival, former Congressman Mondaire Jones, Lawler said he thinks it could.

Look, people are unhappy. They are unhappy with the direction of the country,Lawler said.

Spectrum News NY1 asked some of the Democrats in these competitive seats whether they worry Biden could be an anchor on their own electoral chances.

Laura Gillen, who is pursuing a rematch against DEsposito on Long Island after losing by just under 10,000 votes in 2022, argued that the expected boost in voter turnout tied to the presidential race should actually increase her odds.

She then pivoted to her own contest, saying that she is focused on holding Anthony DEsposito accountable to his record and for the positions that he's taken. And for the lack of results that he's delivered.

Hudson Valley Rep. Pat Ryan, one of two Democratic incumbents in New Yorks competitive seats the other is Rep. Tom Suozzi on Long Island pointed to the issues, arguing November is about contrasts.

It's not even about any individual. It's about: Do you want to go forward with an optimistic, hopeful vision or do you want to go backwards to more, really, division? Ryan said.

Some of the Democrats in these races have at times sought to distance themselves from the White House, particularly on immigration an issue that has dogged Biden.

Ryan, for instance, recently joined colleagues in writing a letterto the president, urging him to take executive action on the border.

Josh Riley, a Democrat running in a district just north of Ryans, offered this take on the president, saying hes done a terrible job on the border.

And so have all of the politicians, frankly,Riley said.

Regardless of the polling, though, at least one Republican was quick to downplay any boost he may get from Biden lagging.

I still got to earn every vote, Molinaro said.

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With sagging polls, could Biden hurt Democrats in critical New York House races? - Spectrum News NY1