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By Victor Reklaitis

Democrats largely close ranks behind Joe Biden for 2024, but Marianne Williamson and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are challenging the president

The 2024 Republican presidential field has grown crowded and now stands at a dozen relatively well-known contenders, after five more candidates threw their hats in the ring last month.

Former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd of Texas entered the race on June 22, following Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who launched his bid on June 14.

In early June, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and current North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum all formally kicked off their campaigns.

Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in May that he won't be on the presidential campaign trail in 2023 because of elections for his state's legislature in November, but he appears to have left the door open for a 2024 White House run.

In the latest polls of Republican primary voters, former President Donald Trump has a big lead, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis a distant second.

Below is MarketWatch's list of Republican presidential contenders and the status of their candidacies.

Trump was in the spotlight last month when he pleaded not guilty on June 13 following his federal indictment on 37 charges, including unauthorized retention of classified documents and obstruction of justice.

Also see:Latest Trump indictment could help him in the 2024 GOP primary but not in the general election, analysts say

And read:Trump calls latest indictment 'election interference'

On the Democratic side, Biden officially launched his re-election campaign in April, even as most Americans don't approve of his performance. The president has been talking up the strong job market and his legislative record.

The first official debate of the GOP presidential primary is slated to be held in Milwaukee on Aug. 23. The Republican National Committee said there will be a second debate on Aug. 24 if "enough candidates qualify to make it necessary."

In addition to the relatively high-profile names on the list above, there are some lesser-known GOP presidential hopefuls as well, such as Aaron Day, who is known in part for his 2016 run against former Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, a fellow Republican; Perry Johnson, a former gubernatorial candidate in Michigan; Steve Laffey, a former mayor of Cranston, R.I.; and former Montana Secretary of State Corey Stapleton.

A number of other Republican politicians have also been talked about as potential 2024 contenders but have not said they are running. That group includes Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has passed on speaking in the key primary state of Iowa; John Bolton, a former national-security adviser and former ambassador to the United Nations; former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who has run an ad in New Hampshire, another key state; South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem; and former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan.

Among the prominent Republicans who have said they're not seeking their party's presidential nomination in 2024 are Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.

From MarketWatch's archives (September 2022): In a conversation with MarketWatch, Vivek Ramaswamy says companies should 'leave politics to the politicians'

Democrats are closing ranks behind Biden, although author and activist Marianne Williamson has said she's seeking the party's nomination again and vigorously defended her decision to challenge the president in an extensive question-and-answer session with MarketWatch. Antivaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is also mounting a long-shot challenge to Biden and held a kickoff event for his campaign in April.

Among third-party candidacies, Cornel West, a former Ivy League professor now at Union Theological Seminary, has announced that he's a presidential candidate for the People's Party and that he's seeking the Green Party's nomination. In addition, a group called No Labels has been considering a "unity ticket" for 2024, saying that a rematch between Biden and Trump would be "the sequel that no one asked for," but a Politico report said the group would not submit a third-party challenger if DeSantis becomes the Republican nominee.

Now read:Nikki Haley says 'no Republican president will have the ability to ban abortion nationwide'

And see: Biden's age is figuring 'prominently' in the 2024 White House race -- but here's what the pundits could be getting wrong

Plus:Billionaire investor Bill Ackman says JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon should run for president

Robert Schroeder contributed.

-Victor Reklaitis

This content was created by MarketWatch, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. MarketWatch is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-06-23 1509ET

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Here are the Republicans running for president in 2024 - Morningstar

When Canadian wildfires recently sent dangerous and unhealthy clouds of smoke over large swaths of the country, a new round of articles made the case that this latest devastating and strange weather event was a result of climate change.

Scientists and those who believe in the science of climate change have been passionately arguing their position for so long they may not have noticed the ground has shifted.  Most Americans already agree climate change is a threat — even across party lines.  

As message strategists and pollsters, we have often advised clients that the most effective way to motivate voters is to talk about the disastrous impact climate change will have on the world we are leaving behind for our children and grandchildren. But our recent polling on climate attitudes makes it clear that voters also see climate change as a serious problem right now.  

Even before the recent apocalyptic scenes of New York and New Jersey’s blood-red skies and air quality alerts causing school closures and other disruptions, 7 in 10 registered voters agreed with the statement: “With recent wildfires, drought, flooding, and storms, climate change is already having a serious impact on the country.”

Climate change has become personal, with slightly more than 4 out of 10 registered voters agreeing with the statement: “I or my immediate family have been negatively impacted by strange weather.” One can only assume that number has risen after recent events.  

It’s a message Republicans don’t seem to have heard. With their new majority, congressional Republicans made the decision to pick a high-profile fight over energy and climate change right out of the gate with H.R. 1., their pro-fossil fuel energy bill. They proposed in their debt ceiling bill to roll back the clean energy components of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Republicans clearly think this is a winning political issue for them. The National Republican Congressional Committee recently circulated a memo signaling its intention to use votes against H.R. 1 to go after vulnerable Democrats. Meanwhile, Republicans such as Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) continue to blithely dismiss the threat of climate change. 

But Republicans are leading with their chin. Majorities of voters across the political spectrum —including Republicans — believe that climate change is a major problem and have an unfavorable view of lawmakers who deny that it is a threat. A huge majority want to see a shift toward clean energy. Most problematic for Republicans, the political swing voters who will decide the 2024 election are strongly pro-climate and clean energy.  

Our research also shows voters have little patience for leaders who brush off climate change or oppose clean energy — for example, 63 percent of voters have an unfavorable view of lawmakers who deny that climate change is a threat. Among swing voters, these lawmakers’ favorability is underwater by a whopping 50 points. This tells us that voters are connecting their frustrations around climate to their political decisions. That’s not exactly great news for the Ron Johnsons of the world.

Not only is there a political price to pay for Republicans who hinder progress on climate, but there is also a political benefit for Democrats who do talk about their party’s accomplishments on this issue. Our research shows the IRA’s climate and clean energy provisions are very popular, with 63 percent supporting them and 27 percent opposing them. And after we simulate a balanced debate between the two parties’ approaches to energy, the swing voters who will decide the 2024 election prefer the Democrats’ approach by an overwhelming 26 points, even though they lean Republican on party identification by 14 points. Moreover, this debate causes voters to trust Democrats more on broader economic issues such as jobs and energy prices.  

The recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change underlined the desperate need for strong climate action now and even indicated that this may be our last shot.

Meanwhile, since the IRA became law, clean energy companies have already announced new projects that will create more than 142,000 clean energy jobs, helping reinforce the argument that the clean energy transition will boost the economy (something voters already believed).

The policy case for Democrats to engage in this fight is clear. As recent polling tells us, now more than ever, the political case is just as strong. If this is a fight Republicans want to have at the ballot box, especially in difficult swing districts, Democrats should be more than happy to oblige.  

Andrew Baumann is a Democratic strategist and leading expert on public opinion on climate change. Melissa Bell is a Democratic strategist and leading expert on public opinion and vote choice. They both work with candidates and top environmental organizations at Global Strategy Group. 

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Republicans want a fight over energy and climate? Bring it on - The Hill

The executive committee of the Lynchburg Republican City Committee formally handed down a censure of Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi on Monday, rebuking him for a slew of actions they believe failed to meet the expectations of conduct put forth by the party, according to a news release from the party.

The basis of the censure, according to the resolution, dates back to actions of the vice mayor as early as the bodys heated Feb. 14 meeting, all the way through to the bodys most recent meeting on June 27, where Faraldi led a push to adjourn Lynchburg City Councils meeting before a scheduled discussion on a controversial workplace resolution put forth by another Republican member of council.

The censure resolution starts by accusing Faraldi of committing a perceived abuse of his power by asking a law enforcement officer to spy on Ward III Councilor Jeff Helgeson the night of the Feb. 14 meeting, which is when Helgeson was caught on the microphone calling Mayor Stephanie Reed the stupidest person Ive ever seen, she claims.

Continuing on, the executive committee later accused Faraldi of disparaging the committee in council meetings and in the media; betraying the trust of the party and its members by working with media against the other Republicans; abusing his office by retaliating against At-large Councilor Martin Misjuns to advance a personal agenda; blocking Misjuns workplace resolution debate; and refusing to communicate with his entire Republican caucus while promoting division in the public eye.

Wednesday afternoon, Faraldi issued a statement regarding the censure, saying hes profoundly disappointed to learn of the action taken by the committees executive board, but added he will refuse to succumb to and reject the bullying tactics and intimidation from those who would rather play political games than address the grave problems left by decades of liberal leadership in Lynchburg.

The vice mayor said the censure motion was propelled by a small group of unelected, biased individuals who are wailing in emotion because the council chose to make School Board appointments outside of their own personal preferences, and whose leader is rumored to be exploring a council run in Ward IV all this will not alter my course.

Firmly, he added, I believe that the overwhelming majority of our citys residents, regardless of their political leanings, would concur that I am not the one who is deviating from the proper course among the seven members of the City Council.

The censure is yet another instance of persistent infighting amongst Lynchburgs Republican-majority city council, dating back to the bodys organizational meeting this year, where the five Republicans split amongst themselves on their first vote for mayor.

Since that meeting, the body endured a months-long heated debate over how and when to bring forth tax relief, where numerous spats between councilors transpired. Misjuns wrote a note and passed it to Faraldi on the dais in late January, calling him a RINO, or Republican In Name Only, during a tax relief debate, according to Faraldi.

There was jostling amongst the Republicans over city council committee assignments, the aforementioned hot mic moment, confusion prior to approving the citys capital improvement plan and, most recently, the motion by Faraldi to adjourn councils meeting before engaging on a discussion regarding a controversial workplace resolution brought forth by Misjuns.

The latest event was one of the catalysts for the censure, according to the resolution, as Faraldi said he was retaliating against Misjuns for his treatment of city staff.

According to the resolution, Faraldi was informed of the censure on July 4; the committee adopted the censure on July 3.

In closing his statement, Faraldi said that he is devoted to the tasks at hand, and concentrated on the matters that truly impact our city. I will continue my focus on governing the city of Lynchburg with the conservative ideals I hold dear, principles endorsed by 61% of the voters in May of 2020.

Faraldi is in the midst of the third year of his first term on city council, having been elected in May 2020 to represent Ward IV.

On its face, censure is merely a symbolic gesture condemning an elected representative for their words or actions. The act has no bearing on an elected officials ability to remain in office, nor does it strip them of any governing abilities.

Its unclear, however, the effect the censure might have on Faraldis standing inside the party. Veronica Bratton, chair of the LRCC and leader of the executive committee, did not respond to attempts for comment or questions regarding the resolution or its allegations as of publication time Wednesday evening.

Bryson Gordon , (434) 385-5547

bgordon@newsadvance.com

@brysongordon on Twitter

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Citing a slew of complaints, Lynchburg Republicans formally ... - Lynchburg News and Advance

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos talks to the media after Gov. Tony Evers addressed a joint session of the state Legislature in the Assembly chambers during his State of the State speech at the state Capitol, Feb. 15, 2022, in Madison, Wis.

Conservatives have made it their mission to abolish diversity initiatives in schools around the country. In a historic blow to affirmative action, last week the Supreme Court ruled that Harvard University and the University of North Carolinas race-based admissions policy violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.

In addition to years of censoring educational materials in schools written by Black and brown authors as well as reversing affirmative action, it appears that the GOP is also setting its sights on scholarship programs for students of color as another way to eliminate diversity.

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Last week, the Republican speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, Robin Vos, implied that hell soon work to ban grants designated for minority undergraduate students. Vos took it upon himself to respond to a tweet asserting a scholarship program for Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and other minority students was equivalent to discrimination.

We are reviewing the decision and will introduce legislation to correct the discriminatory laws on the books and pass repeals in the fall, Vos wrote. Vos has always opposed anything related to diversity, equity and inclusion and even went as far as calling DEI programming at the University of Wisconsin as indoctrination.

Even though Wisconsin is projected to operate at a $7 billion surplus budget, Vos and other Republicans in the state Legislature voted to cut $32 million from the UW Systems budget unless it agrees to allocate the money toward workforce development as opposed to DEI resources. The Republicans are also planning on doing away with nearly 200 DEI jobs on UW campuses.

On the heels of the Supreme Courts devastating decision, we are certain this is just the beginning.

Story continues

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As If Affirmative Action Wasn't Enough, Now Republicans Are Coming for Minority Scholarships - Yahoo News

U.S. Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) talked with the Washington Blade on Saturday about the LGBTQ and womens history education bill that she and U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) reintroduced last week.

The legislation, just like actions recently announced by the White House, responds to book bans and curriculum restrictions that have increasingly cropped up in conservative states and school districts, which disproportionately target educational materials inclusive of LGBTQ subjects and histories.

Balint and Torress LGBTQI+ and Womens History Education Act of 2023 would authorize the director of the Smithsonian Institutions National Museum of American History to develop and distribute resources for educators to teach LGBTQI+ and womens history education in a more inclusive and intersectional manner.

On June 8, meanwhile, the White House debuted plans to address attacks on the safety and rights of LGBTQ Americans. Among these were instructions to the U.S. Department of Education to appoint a coordinator who will address the growing threat that book bans pose for the civil rights of students, such as by providingnew trainings for schools nationwide on how book bans that target specific communities and create a hostile school environment may violate federal civil rights laws.

Balint told the Blade the education bill and these moves by the White House complement each other, but her efforts with Torres were not coordinated as much with the Biden-Harris administration as they were a product of the lawmakers shared understanding of this moment that were in as were both queer Americans trying to live our lives and not have our histories erased.

And I also come to this, Balint said, as a longtime social studies teacher in junior high who also taught history as the community college level. This push from the GOP to erase us from not just society but from history, she said, is so dangerous.

Its important for us to make sure that our histories and our stories are preserved, not just for posterity sake, but also because students across this country need to be able to see themselves in their history that were taught, Balint said.

Battles over the inclusion of Black, LGBTQ and womens history have roiled school districts across the country, leading to legislative restrictions that were passed in conservative states and even flaring up in areas traditionally known as liberal strongholds, like Southern California.

Last week saw protests over the inclusion of curricula that included the late gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk in Temecula in Riverside County.

We cant write off any area of the country, Balint said. There are movements from from the right coming in more traditionally blue states, as well, and theyre trying to make parents and community members feel afraid of their neighbors.

As the right has sought to deliberately scapegoat queer and transgender kids, fear mongering to rile up the conservative base, the congresswoman said its really important that those of us in a position to shore up those those teachers in those schools who are trying to do the right thing, [because] they need help, theyre under siege right now.

Balint said that her wife is from Wyoming, a solidly conservative state where she also has experience teaching.

I understand the struggles that teachers have in those schools, when they want to bring in a more inclusive history, a more true history, of the complexity of life in this country, she said.

So, I think its a really important message for us to send, both from the White House and from Congress, and in this case, also, from the Smithsonian Institution, to say this is real history. Its important that you expose your students to it. And I think that gives those teachers more courage to be able to teach a curriculum that is more inclusive and true.

The LGBTQI+ and Womens History Education Act of 2023, Balint said, can also help educators in a more direct sense. Whether youre trying to teach the history of people of color in this country, or of women, or of queer and trans people, she said, it is a huge undertaking to try to do that research on your own.

Unfortunately, however, the congressman acknowledged the political roadblocks to its passage with Republicans controlling the U.S. House of Representatives.

Just before flying home to her district, Balint said she had to sit through a speech on the House floor in which a GOP member railed against how disgusting it was that there any kind of federal building or State Department building would fly, you know, a Pride flag, telling his colleagues thats not the kind of thing that we in this country want to be known for.

The congresswoman characterized the language this member used as hurtful and cruel, intended to demonize LGBTQ people.

There are good people in the Republican conference, Balint said. But when it comes to these issues, we have not seen any of them. In this congressional session, they are all falling in line. I welcome any partners across the aisle. To stand up to this kind of scapegoating.

For this reason, when it comes to her and Torres legislation, she said, I am not hopeful in this Congress. But we have to lay the groundwork for what will come when we hopefully are able to recapture the majority and really make movement on these things.

Balint told the Blade some of her Republican colleagues have assured her and other Democrats well, you know I dont believe this stuff that the extremists are pushing.

GOP members will admit that they have to take extreme anti-LGBTQ positions that they do not actually believe in for fear of losing a primary race to someone further to the right, she said.

And one of the things that Ive been talking about with my friends within my caucus is if, in the end, youre gonna vote just like your extremist colleagues, then frankly, youre not better! If youre not gonna use your position to stand up when you know [your colleagues in the GOP caucus] are shamelessly and cruelly scapegoating a group of people, then what will it take?

Balint said she nevertheless remains optimistic that the tides will eventually turn, but in the meantime we have to hold them accountable. And we have to stand with them when they are courageous, which is why I always try to point out that youve got a few bright spots one being the [Republican] governor of Utah, Gov. [Spencer] Cox, who made a very powerful statement about these anti-trans bills.

When legislation that would have prohibited trans students from playing on girls sports teams reached his desk in March, Cox vetoed it. When in doubt, he wrote, I always try to err on the side of kindness, mercy and compassion.

I cant overstate what it has meant for young queer and trans kids in Vermont and across the country, to be able to come and talk with me, Balint said, or any of her colleagues who are openly gay. We also are working so hard right now to make sure that we will be able to elect our first trans American to Congress, she said, we are so committed to that we have to have true representation.

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Gay and trans Republicans shocked DeSantis now targeting them - Washington Blade