Mediaboss Marketing

Sign up for the We the Texans newsletter to receive twice-monthly updates on our year-long initiative dedicated to boosting civic engagement and chronicling how democracy is experienced in Texas.

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.

Read this article:
Houston House Democratic primary gets uglier ahead of runoff - The Texas Tribune

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.

Read this article:
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.

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

L.L. Bean has just added a third shift at its factory in Brunswick, Maine, in an attempt to keep up with demand for its iconic boot.

Orders have quadrupled in the past few years as the boots have become more popular among a younger, more urban crowd.

The company says it saw the trend coming and tried to prepare, but orders outpaced projections. They expect to sell 450,000 pairs of boots in 2014.

People hoping to have the boots in time for Christmas are likely going to be disappointed. The bootsare back ordered through February and even March.

"I've been told it's a good problem to have but I"m disappointed that customers not getting what they want as quickly as they want," said Senior Manufacturing Manager Royce Haines.

Customers like, Mary Clifford, tried to order boots on line, but they were back ordered until January.

"I was very surprised this is what they are known for and at Christmas time you can't get them when you need them," said Clifford.

People who do have boots are trying to capitalize on the shortage and are selling them on Ebay at a much higher cost.

L.L. Bean says it has hired dozens of new boot makers, but it takes up to six months to train someone to make a boot.

The company has also spent a million dollars on new equipment to try and keep pace with demand.

Some customers are having luck at the retail stores. They have a separate inventory, and while sizes are limited, those stores have boots on the shelves.

Read the original:
Thousands of Philly Democrats wrote in names other than Biden during Pa. Primary, data shows - NBC Philadelphia

Outside money pouring into ads in an Oregon swing district in recent days spurred accusations from Democrats that Republicans are meddling to ensure incumbent GOP Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer faces a weaker opponent in November.

Democrats Janelle Bynum and Jamie McLeod-Skinner are in a fierce contest for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District, which stretches from Bend to Portland and is one of a handful of races nationwide that could determine control of the U.S. House. Ads for both candidates have accelerated ahead of the May 21 deadline to return ballots.

On Wednesday, ads began running on Portland TV stations praising 2022 nominee McLeod-Skinner for fighting for Medicare for all and putting progressive values into action. The super PAC that paid more than $460,000 to air the ads, Health Equity Now, registered with the Federal Election Commission on May 3 and wont disclose its funders until after the election.

But Democrats, including McLeod-Skinners primary opponent, state Rep. Janelle Bynum, suspect the new group is tied to Republican operatives. It used an ad vendor, FiDi Media, which primarily works with Republican campaigns. And the groups treasurer, Trevor Kowalski, was the assistant treasurer on a political committee for former NFL player Herschel Walker during his 2022 Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate in Georgia.

During the Walker campaign, Kowalski reported sharing an address with Sal Purpura, a Republican compliance operative who has been paid by several national candidates and political action committees. Another apparent housemate of Purpuras in 2020 managed a PAC that bought ads to boost a lagging North Carolina Senate candidate in a move Democrats denounced as an attempt to undermine the strongest Democratic candidate vying for a chance to face incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

That history prompted Bynums campaign to refer to the Health Equity Now ads as shady GOP election meddling.

Democrats need to know what MAGA Republicans already do: There is only one candidate who can defeat extremist Lori Chavez-DeRemer this November and that is Janelle Bynum, Bynum campaign manager Blakely Wall said. Let us be crystal clear, Jamie McLeod-Skinner is House Republicans dream opponent because they know they can beat her making this shady GOP election meddling in a Democratic primary all the more alarming.

McLeod-Skinner said in a statement that she has never heard of Health Equity Now and that she doesnt support undisclosed money in elections. She added that the ads are correct about her health care policies.

McLeod-Skinner and her campaign have claimed corporations and Republicans are meddling to support Bynum, who McLeod-Skinner maintains is the weaker candidate. That claim stems from the nearly $475,000 spent on ads and mail supporting Bynum from the 314 Action Fund, a political action committee that exists to elect more scientists to political positions. The group supported McLeod-Skinner in her 2022 campaign and now backs Bynum.

The 314 Action fund also spent $1.7 million to support state Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Portland, in the 3rd Congressional District and tear down fellow Democrat Susheela Jayapal, a former Multnomah County commissioner. The Intercept reported based on unnamed congressional sources that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee is funneling money for that race through 314 Action Fund, as AIPAC disagrees with Jayapals stances on Middle Eastern politics.

The 314 Action Fund doesnt have to reveal its donors until May 20, the day before the primary. In the meantime, Dexters and Bynums primary opponents have claimed, without providing evidence, that MAGA Republicans are behind the science committees political spending. AIPAC has endorsed Chavez-DeRemer and contributes to both Democratic and Republican campaigns throughout the country.

I share the concern about Republicans trying to tip the primary given that it appears that AIPAC, which supports MAGA Republicans who encouraged the January 6th attack on our democracy, has already inserted itself on behalf of Janelle Bynum, McLeod-Skinner said in a statement.

She and her campaign have continued to fundraise on allegations that dark money is supporting Bynum in an attempt to ultimately help McLeod-Skinner.

Corporate and undisclosed money is flooding into our district in a blatant attempt to buy this seat, campaign manager Kelie McWilliams wrote in a Wednesday email seeking contributions. The reason they are attacking Jamie is simple: they want a weak Democrat running against Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer in November its the only way they can keep this seat red.

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

SUBSCRIBE

Revised May 17 with an updated dollar amount for the ads bought by Health Equity Now.

Original post:
Outside money in Oregon swing district prompts claims of Republican meddling Oregon Capital Chronicle - Oregon Capital Chronicle