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I didnt know whether to laugh or to be disappointed when I read the chair of the Midland County Democrat Partys letter to the editor in last weeks Midland Daily News calling Florida Gov. RonDeSantis a fascist.

Really? Are ad hominem attacks calling Gov. DeSantis a fascist really the best the Midland Democrats can muster?

Seems like quite an empty and angry charge for those who proclaim that Hate Has No Home Here.

Far from being a dictator,Gov. DeSantis is a popular elected leader who even won longtime Democrat strongholds like Miami-Dade County en route to his nearly 20% landslide re-election win. Perhaps you should ask more than 4.5 million Floridians who supported his campaign what they make of the Midland Democrats unfounded claim.

Gov. DeSantis won re-election by such a large margin. He gets results. Comparing his results in Florida to Gov. GretchenWhitmer in Michigan is quite striking:

With this track record, it is easy to see why Florida is winning where Michigan is losing. Florida has a stronger economy and better schools.Atlas Van Lines marked Florida as one of the Top 10 states for in-bound migration, while Michigan was one of the Top 10 States for out-bound migration. Michigan has lost an estimated more than 22,000 people to Florida since 2022 alone. Thats about half the size of the city ofMidland!

Floridas track record of success under the conservative leadership of Gov. DeSantis is why the Midland County Republican Party invited him to be our speaker at our Dave Camp Spring Breakfast. We had a sold-out crowd of more than 600 people in attendance.

The Midland County Democrats may feel threatened by his bold leadership and strong results, which is why they resort to name-calling. The facts and our strong turnout at our breakfast speak for themselves: Michiganders are buying into the Florida Plan.

CATHY LEIKHIM

Midland County Republican Party Chair

Midland

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Midland Democrats resort to hateful ... - Midland Daily News

TOPEKA A day after casting a decisive vote to override Gov. Laura Kellys veto of a transgender athlete ban, Rep. Marvin Robinson appeared on a conservative radio talk show to defend his vote.

Robinson, a Kansas City Democrat, said a colleague had told him transgender teens would kill themselves if the legislation were to become law. The unnamed legislator asked Robinson if he would feel blame and guilt for their deaths.

I had to gasp. I was like, God, how cruel of a question, Robinson told host Pete Mundo on Thursday on KCMO-FM.

The Legislature on Wednesday voted to override the governors veto with the minimum number of votes needed in the House. Robinson broke from party ranks to join 83 Republicans in their support for the bill, which bans transgender and cisgender girls from playing together from the time they enter kindergarten. The Democratic governor had vetoed similar bills in each of the past two years.

Robinsons vote sparked outrage among Democrats who felt betrayed. State party officials issued a statement calling for Robinson to resign.

If Rep. Robinson is going to allow hate to overrule his commitment to Democratic values, he needs to step aside and let a real Democrat represent his district, said Brandie Armstrong, chair of the Kansas Democratic Partys LGBTQ+ Caucus. Democrats barely have representation in Kansas as it is. The least someone who claims to be part of our party can do is represent our ideals.

Robinson is a first-term representative from a district where 80% or more of the vote routinely favors Democrats. Earlier in the session, Robinson voted against the transgender athlete bill. But in recent weeks, Robinson increasingly voted with Republicans on a wide range of issues, including anti-abortion bills, vouchers for private schools, and a womens bill of rights that establishes no rights and blocks transgender people from public spaces.

Melinda Lavon, chair of the KDPs Progressive Caucus, said the rare safe blue districts in Kansas present Democrats with an opportunity to push the boundary. Lavon said Robinsons vote to override the governors veto is an affront to basic empathy.

The Democratic Party in Kansas is a big tent, with diversity in political thought and approaches, Lavon said. But Republicans excommunicate party members for endorsing positions that the GOP leadership dislikes. We can treat each other better than that, but its vital for the Democrats in Kansas to hold each other accountable on our basic values. The Progressive Caucus looks forward to supporting a progressive candidate.

Two Republicans Rep. Mark Schreiber, of Emporia, and Rep. David Younger, of Ulysses split from party ranks to join Democrats in opposing the veto override. Neither faced apparent retribution for their votes.

In his radio appearance, Robinson said he didnt view transgender athletes as a hot topic, but it became like this snowballing gigantic issue.

I thought that I was voting for civility and inclusion and kindness, Robinson said. People turned it into something different.

Robinson said he would feel no guilt or blame for the deaths of transgender kids who kill themselves in response to the legislation.

The very first thing I would do is pray for their souls and ask God to bless their families and their classmates and their neighbors, Robinson said.

The Democratic Party, Robinson said, needs to understand that regular people are just trying to survive.

I think theyve kind of neglected the fact that theyre supposed to be there for the working underclass, Robinson said.

House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat, said in a statement that the vote was disappointing and caused warranted and understandable fear in families across the state. He said Democrats would work to protect and defend each Kansans right to live free of government control.

Its sad that rather than keep the focus on the vulnerable youth most affected by this policy, coverage is centered on a rogue, misguided legislator, Miller said. I hope we can shift the focus to victims and away from politicians.

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Kansas City Democrat risks exile from party after vote on ... - Kansas Reflector

The Democratic candidates vying for Northampton County district attorney continued swinging charges and countercharges Wednesday night in their second face-to-face meeting, this one held at Lehigh Valley Public Media in south Bethlehem that was aired live on PBS39.

And while no Republican candidate has come forward ahead of the May 16 primary election, incumbent Terry Houck, in response to a question from challenger Stephen G. Baratta, said he is asking Republicans to write his name on the GOP ballot.

I intend on organizing a write-in campaign, Houck said. He said his goal is to capture the position outright in the primary rather than face another campaign in the fall. Pennsylvania has closed primaries, meaning only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote for candidates during partisan spring elections.

No Republican candidate has emerged, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary could effectively have a clear path to the term that starts in 2024. However, Northampton County GOP Chair Glenn Geissinger said earlier Wednesday he might have a Republican contender who would file as a write-in candidate for the primary.

A total of 250 signatures would be required for a candidate to be placed on the November ballot, Geissinger said.

Baratta said afterward he would not seek Republican write-in votes.

If I lose as a Democrat, Im going home, Baratta said. If the Democratic party doesnt want me, then I have to find different work.

Houck is seeking his second term as district attorney after serving several years as first assistant prosecutor under John Morganelli, who is now a county judge.

Baratta also is a former first assistant district attorney under Morganelli before being elected as a county judge in 1997. He served on the bench for 25 years until his retirement at the end of last year.

The candidates clashed over a host of topics in questions posted by moderators Jen Rehill and Tom Shortell during the fast-paced, at times feisty debate.

Baratta said Houck was handed a turn-key operation after winning the 2019 election and succeeding Morganelli, but the office has become an operation in disarray, with low conviction rates, staff turnover and questionable practices such as full-time workers taking on outside jobs.

While his office implodes, he and his assistant make money outside the office, Baratta said.

Houck said Baratta has lied about Houcks record and career, adding he has achieved a 90% conviction rate. He also said Baratta tried to find employment as an attorney in the health care industry and with several law firms. He is now resorting to running for district attorney as his last resort, Houck said. He has made you his last resort.

Baratta, several times saying facts are facts regarding Houcks record, said afterward he has not sought employment elsewhere, except for having a conversation with a law firm.

They also asked each other several questions during a crossfire segment, including Baratta questioning Houck on plans to seek Republican write-in votes.

Houck questioned Baratta on the retired judges stance on the death penalty. Baratta has stated his support for Gov. Josh Shapiros decision to continue Pennsylvanias moratorium on the death penalty, arguing the punishment is inhumane and inequitable.

If you were to go into office [as district attorney], would it be you or one of your subordinates to tell these families to deny what a jury has imposed? Houck asked.

Baratta said he would exercise the discretion regarding the dealth penalty responsibly. And if the law is unfair like it is now, and discriminates against other people, I am not going to impose the death penalty, he said.

The debate can be seen at lehighvalleynews.com.

Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone can be reached at asalamone@mcall.com.

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Democrat Terry Houck says he'll seek Republican write-in votes to ... - The Morning Call

A Brunswick Democrat is the first challenger to emerge to take on U.S. Sen. Angus King in next years U.S. Senate race.

David Costello, a 62-year-old consultant, said hes not really running against the two-term independent, whom he called a very intelligent, thoughtful person.

He said he is entering the contest as an extreme long shot because he wants to promote what he calls a reform agenda that would modernize the countrys government.

Our governing infrastructure is as outdated as many of our roads, ports and bridges, he said. Partisan gridlock, government dysfunction, and political disinformation abound, and our imperfect democracy is in danger of becoming even more flawed.

No Republicans have yet stepped forward to try to unseat King, a former governor who easily won a second term in 2018 in a three-way race. King has said he plans to run again but has not formally announced his reelection bid.

Costello, who was born in Bangor and grew up in Old Town, has held a variety of government and policy jobs over the years, including a stint as deputy secretary of Marylands Department of the Environment and Interim Climate and Clean Energy Program Director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

His reform agenda, outlined on his website, includes a call to end the filibuster in the Senate, increase national service programs for young adults, abolish the Electoral College, give presidents line-item veto power, adopt mandatory retirement for judges at age 80, increase the size of the U.S. House and much more.

I view the Senate as obscenely undemocratic, Costello said, and in need of an overhaul.

He said that he disagrees with King, whom hes never met, on a few issues, but generally thinks he is one of the better senators caucusing with the Democrats.

Costello said his focus is on constitutional and legal reforms that would tackle some of the archaic systems that are holding back the country.

Its not about changing the politician. Its about changing the system, Costello said.

He said the nations founders never intended the Constitution to be something like the Ten Commandments, inviolable and timeless. They hoped for a natural progression toward something suited for ages to come, Costello said.

Costello, who is married with four children, earned a bachelors degree from George Washington University and a masters degree from the London School of Economics.

He worked on presidential campaigns for U.S. Sens. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Gary Hart of Colorado, but left the political scene to work overseas for nearly a decade in the 1990s doing development and humanitarian work in Cambodia, Haiti, Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia and Kosovo.

He said he was raised by his mother and grandparents after his father, an Army veteran and union organizer, died young. He said his grandparents worked in the mills and railroads. He was the first in his family to attend college.

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Brunswick Democrat is first to enter the 2024 U.S. Senate race in ... - Press Herald

Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Caseys announcement Monday that he will seek reelection makes him the latest swing-state Democrat to run again in a year that the party will be relying on battle-tested incumbents.

The Democrats decision to seek a fourth term was expected but still welcomed by his party, which will be almost entirely on defense in next years elections as they try to maintain a narrow Senate majority.

Im running for re-election because with so much on the line for Pennsylvanias working families, I want to keep delivering results for Pennsylvania, Casey said in a statement. Theres still more work to cut through the gridlock, stand up to powerful corporate special interests, and make the lives of hardworking Pennsylvanians a little bit easier.

His announcement comes before any major Republican candidates have entered the race. Businessman Dave McCormick, who narrowly lost a GOP Senate primary in the Keystone State to Mehmet Oz last year, is considering another run, as is state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who lost a gubernatorial bid last year.

Democrats hope Casey will benefit from a competitive GOP primary that could drain his opponent's resources before the general election and force candidates to the right. Mastriano last week said in a Facebook video that he would win the nomination if he ran because the partys establishment couldnt win without the base.

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Casey running gives Democrats another battleground incumbent - Roll Call