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Pennsylvania Republicans have nominated state senator Doug Mastriano to be the next governor. Mastriano is one of the most radical gubernatorial candidates ever to receive a major party nomination.

Many Republicans have indulged Trumps claims that Democrats stole the 2020 presidential election. But few have gone as far as Mastriano has to try to justify Trumps fever dream.

On 25 November, Mastriano staged a faux legal hearing in Gettysburg, in which Giuliani played prosecutor before a panel of Republican state senators and representatives. Mastriano introduced a number of poll watchers who told unsubstantiated stories of phantom ballots, hacked machines, and dead voters, which they claimed had all led to an election stolen from Trump.

Five days later, after all of Trumps legal challenges had failed and the Pennsylvania secretary of state had formally certified Biden the winner, Mastriano introduced a resolution urging Congress to ignore the official results. His plan was for the Pennsylvania legislature to ignore millions of votes and directly appoint electors pledged to Trump.

Ultimately, Mastrianos resolution didnt go anywhere in the Republican-controlled state legislature because Pennsylvanias Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, did not yield to demands to call a special session. But Mastriano was not deterred. On 10 December 2020, Mastriano signed on to an amicus brief supporting Texass effort to convince the US supreme court to throw out the results in Pennsylvania and several other states. That effort also failed.

In the lead-up to 6 January 2021, Mastriano was reportedly in regular communication with Donald Trump. On the day, Mastriano was at the US Capitol and was captured on video walking through police lines with a crowd of people.

In a statement, Mastriano said that police lines did shift throughout the course of the day and he followed those lines as they existed. (In February, Mastriano was subpoenaed by the January 6 committee. It is unclear if he complied.)

In July 2021, Mastriano sent a letter to several counties requesting information and materials needed to conduct a forensic investigation of the 2020 general election and the 2021 primary. Mastrianos conduct, however, was so extreme that he was removed from the process by the Republican leadership of the Pennsylvania senate. The senate president, Jake Corman, said that Mastriano was only ever interested in politics and showmanship and not actually getting things done.

During his candidacy for governor, Mastriano has been clear that he will use his power including his authority to appoint the Pennsylvania secretary of state to influence the administration of future elections. He said the following on 30 March:

Im Doug Mastriano, and I get to appoint the secretary of state whos delegated from me the power to make the corrections to elections, the voting logs and everything. I could decertify every machine in the state with the stroke of a pen via the secretary of state. I already had the secretary of state picked out. Its a world-class person that knows voting integrity better than anyone else in the nation, I think, and I already have a team thats gonna be built around that individual.

Yesterday, with Trumps endorsement, Pennsylvania Republicans put him one step closer to the governors mansion.

In April, Mastriano spoke at a far-right Christian conference, Patriots Arise for God and Country, which was organized by Francine and Allen Fodsick, self-described prophets who have long promoted QAnon, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. At the outset of the event, organizers played a video claiming the world is experiencing a great awakening that will expose ritual child sacrifice and a global satanic blood cult. The QAnon conspiracy alleges that top Democratic officials and celebrities are Satan-worshipers running a secret child sex-trafficking ring. The video also featured allegations that 9/11 was a false flag, vaccines are genocide therapy, and Hitler faked his death.

Last year, the Fodsicks promoted Mastriano on promotional material for the event, but Mastriano said he would not attend. At the time, a spokesman said Mastriano strongly condemns the Q anon conspiracy theory and never committed to speak at this event but sadly was used to help promote it with his picture on the invite.

Last month, Mastriano attended as a featured speaker, using his remarks to complain about the persecution and oppression he was subjected to for contesting the 2020 presidential election. The Fodsicks auctioned a portrait of Trump for $4,000 during the event, with the proceeds going to Mastrianos campaign. This year, his campaign did not respond to a request for comment by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

In a 31 March appearance at the PA Pro Life Coalition, Mastriano said supporters of abortion rights wanted to wipe out Black and Latino communities. He said he believed thats a baby from Day 1 at conception. Mastriano said my objective, of course, is to save life at conception and not play games.

In a 27 April debate, Mastriano said opposition to abortion is his No 1 issue. The first bill he introduced in the Pennsylvania senate was a heartbeat bill which would ban abortion after six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. But Mastriano said that, as Pennsylvanias governor, he would work our way toward a total abortion ban from conception. Mastriano made clear that he doesnt support any exceptions to abortion bans for rape, incest or life of the mother.

Mastrianos position on abortion reflect his Christian nationalist worldview. Christian nationalism, the New Yorker reports, is rooted in the idea that God intended America to be a Christian nation. During his time as a military intelligence officer in Iraq and Afghanistan he developed a dim view of Islam. He has frequently spread Islamophobic memes online, including a conspiracy theory that Ilhan Omar, the Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota, directed fellow-Muslims to throw a five-year-old over a balcony.

After retiring from the military and successfully running for office in 2019, Mastriano began attending events held by a movement called the New Apostolic Reformation. Members of the New Apostolic Reformation believe that God speaks to them directly, and that they have been tasked with battling real-world demons who control global leaders. (Mastriano says he has not worked directly with the group.)

In the legislature, Mastriano has supported a bill that would have mandated teaching the Bible in public schools and would have made it legal for adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples.

Judd Legum is the founder and author of Popular Information, an independent newsletter dedicated to accountability journalism, where this post originally appeared

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Republicans just nominated one of the most radical governor candidates in history - The Guardian

Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers celebrated the defeat of Trump loyalist Madison Cawthorn in the North Carolina Republican primaries on Tuesday, which will end the 26-year-old freshman congressmans scandal-ridden term in office. Oh Madison, you may be gone but soon youll be forgotten, the Late Night host said. At least now hell have more time for his other jobs starring as, I dont know, the bad boy villain in a CW drama?

Cawthorn, once seen as a rising star within the party, faced an aggressive opposition campaign waged by fellow Republicans disgruntled with his antics calling the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a thug, for example, as well as accusations of insider trading.

I will say, its a rare treat to watch Republicans tear each other apart, because when Republicans decide to knife each other, they hold nothing back, Meyers said. Democrats just snipe at each other on cable news about whos responsible for their poll numbers.

Theyre like the Wasp-y Connecticut family that just passive aggressively bickers at the dinner table and then goes to bed full of quiet resentment, he continued. Going from that to Republican infighting is like when you date someone whose family is Italian and you go over to their house for dinner and theyre just chucking plates of spaghetti across the room.

The last straw for many in the GOP was when, in a podcast interview in March, Cawthorn claimed to have been invited to cocaine-fueled sex parties by fellow Republicans.

Normally I wouldve dismissed that all as ridiculous, except the GOP freaked out, said Meyers. Nevertheless, Cawthorn still received support from Donald Trump, who posted lets give Madison a second chance on Truth Social before the primary.

Lets give Madison a second chance sounds like something youd hear at a sorority after a pledge barfs all over the rug, Meyers joked.

Cawthorns loss proves that the GOP establishment, if it wanted to, could easily ostracize its most toxic members, Meyers concluded. It just chooses not to. It has actively chosen to collude with Trump and his ilk, no matter how dangerous they are to democracy, because they think thats the path to power.

And on the Late Show, Stephen Colbert recapped the results of Tuesdays primaries in several important states. The results are in, he said, and America has upheld its proud tradition of not knowing who won, at least in one of the most closely watched races, the GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania. As of taping, the race was too close to call, with Mehmet Oz at 31.3% of the vote and Dave McCormick at 31.1%.

Wow, thats a nail biter. That is stressful. And there is no better cure for stress than Dr Ozs Raspberry Ketone & Green Coffee Bean Protein Pancake Mix, Colbert joked, referencing the TV doctors long history of dubious pseudo-scientific claims.

Pennsylvania law requires a recount when the margin is half a percentage point or less, but one Dr Oz supporter sees a way around that, Colbert noted. That would be Donald Trump, who posted on Wednesday: Dr Oz should declare victory. It makes it much harder for them to cheat with the ballots that they just happened to find.

Well, I will give him this: he is an authority on cheating. Just ask all of his wives, Colbert quipped.

The host also celebrated the loss of Madison Cawthorn, who ostracized himself from the GOP when he told a podcast that he was frustrated by cocaine use in Washington: Some of the people that are leading on the movement to try and remove addiction in our country and then you watch them do a key bump of cocaine in front of you, he said.

OK, thats an obvious lie, Colbert said. If members of Congress were on cocaine, they would get a lot more done.

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Seth Meyers on Madison Cawthorns loss: A rare treat to watch Republicans tear each other apart - The Guardian

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is running for reelection to his post amid an eventful term in office, and there are six Republican candidates that are hoping to give the state just its third GOP governor in the last 20 years.

Pritzker, who defeated Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 race, has invited a slew of challengers who have criticized his handling of the states budget, the COVID pandemic and more over the years.

Those candidates are currently trying to differentiate themselves from one another in hopes of defeating Pritzker in the 2022 General Election this November.

Here are the six Republican candidates currently on the ballot in Illinois, along with their lieutenant governor selections.

Bailey, a state senator representing the 109th District in southern Illinois, hade made a reputation for himself after filing lawsuits against Pritzkers executive orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bailey has prioritized lowering taxes and removing any remaining COVID mitigations as his top campaign pledges, saying that the states economy requires full opening to grow and expand.

He also has proposed bills that would roll back what he calls onerous gun legislation, and says he fully opposes state and taxpayer funding of abortions.

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin has made prioritizing investments in police and law enforcement the hallmark of his campaign, criticizing crime bills and police reform legislation passed by Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly.

Irvin says that he is proposing legislation to hire more police officers to combat increases in crime, specifically in Chicago, and has also proposed bills that would cut property taxes, curtail government spending, and to establish term limits for state lawmakers.

Rabine has campaigned on his credentials in the world of business, citing his creation of more than 30 small businesses as one of the key components of his campaign.

His campaign pledges to use that expertise to push legislation that would encourage investment and job creation in the state, along with cutting taxes on the states residents.

Rabine has also proposed more funding for law enforcement as part of his platform.

A former state senator in Illinois 58th District, Schimpf served on a wide variety of committees during his time in Springfield, including the Judiciary committee and the Telecommunications and Agriculture committees.

A former Marine who graduated from Southern Illinois Universitys School of Law, Schimpf has made cleaning up corruption a priority for his campaign. He also opposes government overreach in the handling of the COVID pandemic, as well as opposing vaccine mandates of any kind.

A licensed attorney and ordained Christian minister, Solomons campaign website describes him as a social and fiscal conservative.

His campaign says that it will emphasize legislation that would allow parents to receive vouchers to send their children to private schools, as well as bills to cut taxes and bills prohibiting mask mandates and other COVID mitigations.

A businessman, Sullivan has pitched himself as an anti-politician who plans to tackle several issues in Illinois, including tax reform and increased funding in law enforcement.

His campaign website pledges to reduce business taxes to encourage small businesses to open in Illinois, along with promises to address issues with the public employee pension system in the state.

Sullivan has also put forth a campaign platform plank to increase investment in law enforcement through his Safe Streets Plan, which will emphasize Enforcement, Protecting Heroes and Restoring Accountability.

Read more here:
Election 2022: Here are the Republicans Running for Illinois Governor - NBC Chicago

In this issue: Takeaways from five states primaries and former V.P. Pence to campaign for Kemp

Idaho, Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Oregon held primaries on May 17.

Pennsylvania Senate: As of Thursday morning, the race remained too close to call. Mehmet Oz led with 31.2% of the vote, while David McCormick received 31.1% and Kathy Barnette received 24.7%. Seven candidates ran in the primary. Senator Pat Toomey (R) did not run for re-election.

Under state law, any election with a vote margin within 0.5% is subject to an automatic recount. If applicable, the secretary of state must order the recount by May 26. It must start by June 1 and be completed by June 7.

Former President Donald Trump (R) endorsed Oz in April. Former candidate Sean Parnell, whom Trump initially endorsed before Parnell withdrew, endorsed McCormick. On May 12, Trump issued a statement opposing Barnette, who rose in recent polls.

Three independent race forecasters rate the general election either Toss-up or Tilt Republican.

North Carolinas 11th: State Sen. Chuck Edwards defeated incumbent Madison Cawthorn and six others in the Republican primary for North Carolinas 11th Congressional District. Eight candidates were on the ballot. Edwards received 33.4% of the vote to Cawthorns 31.9%.

Cawthorn is the second U.S. representative to seek re-election and lose a primary this year. Rep. David McKinley (R) lost to Rep. Alexander Mooney (R) in West Virginias 2nd Congressional District. The two ran in the same district following redistricting. In addition, Rep. Bob Gibbs (R) remained on the ballot in Ohios 7th District after he unofficially withdrew. Max Miller won that primary. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D) of Oregons 5th is trailing challenger Jamie McLeod-Skinner as of Thursday morning and may become the third House member to lose a re-election bid.

Trump endorsed Cawthorn on March 31. Following Cawthorns claims in late March 2022 that Washington lawmakers hold orgies and use cocaine, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) endorsed Edwards.

Three independent forecasters rate the general election either Safe or Solid Republican.

Pennsylvania Governor: State Sen. Doug Mastriano won against eight candidates. Mastriano received 44% of the vote. Former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta was second with 20%.

Mastriano campaigned on his opposition to COVID-19 measures and said he would defend election integrity. Mastriano said voting fraud was prevalent in the 2020 election. On Feb. 15, the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach subpoenaed Mastriano, citing a November 2020 tweet and his presence outside the Capitol on the day of the breach. Trump endorsed Mastriano on May 14.

The 2022 primary featured the largest number of candidates in a Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial primary since at least 1978. Incumbent Tom Wolf (D) is term-limited. Forecasters view the general election as a Toss-up or Tilt or Lean Democratic.

Idaho Governor: Incumbent Gov. Brad Little defeated seven other candidates. Little received 53% of the vote to Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachins 32%.

According to the Idaho Presss Betsy Russell, a lieutenant governor hadnt challenged an incumbent governor in a primary in Idaho since 1938. Idaho is one of 17 states where the lieutenant governor is elected separately from the governor instead of on the same ticket.

Trump endorsed McGeachin in the primary. The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund and the Idaho Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Little.

Twice in 2021, McGeachin issued executive orders related to COVID-19 measures while Little was out of state. The first banned mask mandates. The second expanded a prohibition against state entities requiring vaccination or testing. Little rescinded both orders when he returned to Idaho.

Independent forecasters rate the general election as Solid or Safe Republican.

Weve been tracking Trumps 2022 endorsements. The May 17 primary results (so far) bring Trumps primary endorsement record to 73 wins (96%) and 3 losses. Aside from McGeachin and Cawthorn, Nebraska gubernatorial endorsee Charles Herbster lost last week.

U.S. Senate

U.S. House

At least 30 state legislatorseight Democrats and 22 Republicanslost in primaries on May 17. Including those defeats, 44 state legislative incumbents have lost to primary challengers this year. This number will likely increase: there are 42 primaries or primary runoffs featuring incumbents that remain uncalled or undecided.

Across the nine states that have held primaries, 4.7% of incumbents running for re-election have lost.

That 4.7% loss rate is the highest compared to previous cycles in these nine states. In 2020, 3.3% of incumbents running for re-election lost primaries. In 2018, 4.3% lost in primaries.

Of the nine states that have held primaries so far, one had a Democratic trifecta, five had Republican trifectas, and three had divided governments with Democrats controlling the governorship and Republicans controlling both legislative chambers. Across these nine states, 1,114 seats are up for election, 18% of the nationwide total.

The Washington Examiners Kate Scanlon wrote about Mastrianos perceived gubernatorial general election prospects:

Trump offered his endorsement to Mastriano on Saturday after it became clear he was the front-runner in the race. The move was seen as a hedge, as Trumps selection for the Senate, television personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, was in a tight three-way race with businessman David McCormick and conservative commentator Kathy Barnette, who surged in polling in the final days of the race. Barnette and Mastriano ran campaigns in tandem, endorsing one another.

Some state Republicans were concerned Mastriano would hurt Republicans chances of winning not just the governors mansion but the Senate race and some congressional contests. They attempted to coalesce the field around former Rep. Lou Barletta, arguing he was better positioned to defeat Shapiro in November.

Politicos David Siders said Mastrianos prospects may be better than some observers think, referencing Trumps performance in the state:

Everything about Pennsylvanias swing state electorate suggests Mastriano is a dead man walking.

Except for this: Lots of Republicans and Democrats alike felt exactly the same way about Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential primary, back when establishment Republicans were praying for anyone other than Trump to win the nomination and some of Hillary Clintons advisers were salivating over the prospect of running against Trump. The climate for Democrats in this midterm election year is no better than it was then. In fact, its worse. And Pennsylvania is a swing state for a reason. Trump only lost Pennsylvania by about 80,000 votes in 2020. He won the state four years earlier.

Fox News Paul Steinhauser described what he saw as both the strength and limitation of Trumps influence in Tuesdays primaries:

The [Senate primary in Pennsylvania] is proving another test of Trumps immense sway over the GOP. Sixteen months removed from the White House, the former president remains the most popular and influential politician in the Republican Party as he plays a kingmakers role in this years primaries and repeatedly flirts with another presidential run in 2024.

Trump was a winner in Pennsylvanias GOP gubernatorial primary, as state Sen. Doug Mastriano bested a crowded field of contenders. Mastriano was already the polling front-runner when the former president endorsed him on Saturday.

Trump was also a big winner in North Carolinas Republican Senate primary in another crucial race in a general election battleground where the GOPs defending an open seat.

Trumps clout couldnt pull controversial Rep. Madison Cawthorne over the top in the Republican primary in North Carolinas 11th Congressional District, however. Even with Trumps backing in the final days heading into the primary, Cawthorne whos made plenty of enemies in the GOP in his short year and a half on Capitol Hill came up short to state Sen. Chuck Edwards, who enjoyed the backing of many of the partys establishment.

In Idaho, far-right Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin handily lost her bid to oust incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little. Trump endorsed McGeachin last autumn, but did little to actively support her.

Alaska Survey Research published the first poll weve seen of Alaskas top-four U.S. House special primary. The poll included 12 of the 48 candidates by name.

Weve colored in the names below based on party affiliation (blue for Democrats, red for Republicans, and gray for independents). Affiliation was not included in the poll.

The polls margin of error was +/- 4 percentage points.

Former Governor and 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin (R), Nick Begich III (R), and 2020 U.S. Senate candidate Al Gross (I) top the results. A cluster of candidates are within the margin of error for fourth place, including North Pole City Councilmember Santa Claus (I), former state Rep. Mary Peltola (D), Anchorage Assemblymember Christopher Constant (D), former Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tara Sweeney (R), and state Sen. Josh Revak (R).

Sweeney and Revak co-chaired former Rep. Don Youngs (R) statewide re-election campaign. Young died in March.

The special primary is June 11, and the special general election is Aug. 16. The regularly scheduled primary will also be held Aug. 16.

In addition to top-four primaries, Alaska will use ranked-choice voting for both general elections.

Alaska Survey Research tested four general election scenarios. Each included Begich, Gross, and Palin, with someone different in the fourth spot. In each RCV simulation, Begich and Gross were left standing in the 3rd round, with Begich taking a majority.

On Saturday, the Minnesota Republican Party endorsed Scott Jensen for governor. According to the Star Tribune, it was a heated endorsement fight that started with a crowded field of contenders and featured multiple rounds of balloting. Kendall Qualls, who finished second in the voting, announced after the GOP convention that he was dropping out of the race.

Jensen, a physician who served in the state Senate from 2017 to 2021, has campaigned on his opposition to vaccine and mask requirements.

Gov. Tim Walz (D) is seeking re-election. The primaries are Aug. 9.

Former Vice President Mike Pence (R) announced hell be campaigning for Gov. Brian Kemp (R) at a rally on May 23. Pence said Kemp is one of the most successful conservative governors in America.

Kemp faces former U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R) and three others in the May 24 primary. Trump endorsed Perdue in December, saying, Kemp has been a very weak Governorthe liberals and RINOs have run all over him on Election Integrity, and more.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitutions Greg Bluestein said Pences upcoming rally appearance illustrates a growing proxy fight in Georgia between establishment forces backing Kemp and the Trump loyalists who want to remake the state Republican Party in the former presidents mold. Bluestein said Pences endorsement deepen[ed] a split with Donald Trump as each maneuvers for a possible 2024 White House run.

Pences announcement followed news that Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (R), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), and former President George W. Bush (R) would campaign for Kemp. Ricketts and Ducey are co-chairmen of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), and Christie is a former RGA chairman.

Alabama holds primaries on May 24. Weve crunched some numbers to see how competitive the primaries will be compared to recent election cycles.

Notes on how these figures were calculated:

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Heart of the Primaries 2022, Republicans-Issue 23 (May 19, 2022) Ballotpedia News - Ballotpedia News

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on her Republican colleagues on Thursday to denounce the great replacement theory, which sprung into the national spotlight this week after a gunman who allegedly espoused the racist conspiracy shot 13 people in Buffalo, N.Y., 11 of whom were Black.

Some former President Trump-aligned Republicans have come under fire in the wake of the shooting, which killed 10, for past comments implying that Democrats and other top figures have tried to empower minorities through immigration policy at the expense of white individuals.

Pelosi speaking at a press conference on the steps of the Capitol alongside members of the congressional Black, Asian and Hispanic caucuses said violence must be stopped and emphasized the Democratic push for firearm background checks, before asserting that current circumstances are being compounded by the replacement theory.

Its an extremely alarming and despicable idea and it must be rejected by anyone who claims to embrace our American ideals, Pelosi said. Its spread by social media algorithms where people find people who think the way they do, in an evil way, promoted on top television networks yes, it is.

She then turned to her colleagues across the aisle.

And tragically, as has been mentioned here by leading political figures. Why isnt everyone in this Congress saying I reject replacement theory? Pelosi said, eliciting applause from the Democrats surrounding her.

House GOP leadership rebutted allegations hurled by Democrats that accused their rhetoric of contributing to white supremacy following the Buffalo shooting, regarding them as all politics. Rank-and-file members of the conference also dismissed accusations that leadership was entertaining white nationalism.

But while Democrats have been vocal in their vehement opposition to the right-wing theory, Republicans for the most part have been silent on the topic.

And on Wednesday night, nearly all House Republicans voted against the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which leadership brought up in the aftermath of the shooting. President Biden on Tuesday called the deadly attack domestic terrorism.

The bill passed in a 222-203 vote, with only one Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.) supporting the measure.

Pelosi, during her weekly press conference earlier on Thursday, commented on the GOPs opposition to the bill, saying Republicans dont even vote for domestic terrorism prevention.

Isnt that sad? she added.

Pelosi on Thursday, during remarks from the steps of the Capitol, tied the conspiracy to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, saying the riot had the same racist elements to it and replacement theory background to it.

America, open your eyes to this hateful replacement theory that is taking lives and taking a toll on the spirit of democracy in our country, she later added, after reading a section of the poem I Have No Other Country by Israeli poet Ehud Manor.

See the article here:
Pelosi calls on Republicans to denounce great replacement theory - The Hill