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The governor of Michigan is considered one of her partys brightest stars. Her states Democratic-controlled Legislature is rapidly approving a raft of ambitious priorities. The Democratic Party is planning to host one of its earliest presidential primaries in Michigan, while the states Republican Party is in chaos.

Seven years after Michigan helped cement Donald J. Trumps presidential victory, the state has transformed into a new if fragile focal point of Democratic power, testing the promise and pitfalls of complete Democratic governance in one of the nations pre-eminent political battlegrounds.

Michigans Democratic leaders, however, recoil at the idea that their state once a reliable stronghold for the party in presidential years is turning blue once more.

No! Michigans not a blue state, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer insisted in an interview last week in Bay City, nestled in a windy, working-class county near Saginaw Bay that Mr. Trump won twice. Ms. Whitmer captured it too, prevailing there and across the state in Democrats November sweep.

It would be a mistake for anyone to look at that and think Michigan is not still a tossup, very competitive, very diverse state thats going to decide the outcome of the next national election again, she said.

Everybody thinks, Oh, Michigans done, its a blue state, added Representative Debbie Dingell, a Michigan Democrat. Tenuous is the operative word.

Against that backdrop significant victories last fall, in a state that is still closely divided state Democrats are pursuing a flood of liberal legislation, while measuring the durability of an unwieldy coalition that defeated Republicans in the last three elections.

Democratic triumphs were fueled by both moderate suburbanites and liberal city dwellers, left-wing college students and even some onetime Trump voters who thought their party had gone too far.

The state Republican Party is not reflective of the average Republican in Michigan, Ms. Whitmer said, nodding to the hard-right turn of the Michigan G.O.P. I dont think that everyones all of a sudden become Democrats.

Ms. Whitmer has cautioned against claiming political mandates.

But Democrats have moved assertively to act on their power, which includes full control of the Legislature and governors mansion for the first time in 40 years, focusing on both pocketbook priorities and cultural issues.

The race begins. Four years after a historically large number of candidates ran for president, the field for the 2024 campaignis starting out small and is likely to be headlined by the same two men who ran last time: President Biden and Donald Trump. Heres who has entered the race so far, and who else might run:

Donald Trump. The former president is running to retake the office he lost in 2020. Though somewhat diminished in influencewithin the Republican Party and facing several legal investigations he retains a large and committed base of supporters, and he could be aided in the primary by multiple challengers splitting a limited anti-Trump vote.

President Biden. While Biden has not formally declared his candidacy for a second term, and there has been much hand-wringing among Democratsover whether he should seek re-election givenhis age, he is widely expected to run. If he does, Bidens strategyis to frame the race as a contest between a seasoned leader and a conspiracy-minded opposition.

Marianne Williamson. The self-help author and former spiritual adviser to Oprah Winfrey is the first Democrat to formally enter the race. Kicking off her second presidential campaign, Williamson called Biden a weak choice and said the party shouldnt fear a primary. Few in Democratic politics are taking her entry into the race seriously.

They have shepherded through a major tax package, and, to the consternation of some in the business community, made Michigan the first state in nearly 60 years to repeal right-to-work rules, which had weakened organized labor. They have expanded L.G.B.T.Q. protections and pursued anti-gun violence measures, and have moved to repeal a now-unenforceable abortion ban from 1931.

Ms. Whitmer has also signed a measure moving up Michigans presidential primary, a move blessed by national Democrats, though it is unclear how Republicans will proceed.

If that calendar change takes hold, voters around the country who were once made intimately familiar with the Iowa State Fair may soon become acquainted with the Posen Potato Festival and a Michigan cheeseburger festival, as the state moves into a position of greater prominence in the Democratic nominating process.

Ms. Whitmers victory margin of nearly 11 percentage points on par or ahead of governors in several more liberal states has only encouraged a perception among many Democrats that she is possible presidential material.

But she insisted she would not run for president in 2024, regardless of President Bidens re-election plans. He is expected to run and would have strong support from party leaders including Ms. Whitmer, but has not yet announced a bid.

I have made a commitment to the people of Michigan, Im going to do this job till the end of this term, Ms. Whitmer said. Pressed on whether there was anything about the presidency that appealed down the road, she first demurred no, not at the moment before allowing, I think that this country is long overdue for a strong female chief executive.

Republicans, for their part, who as recently as 2018 controlled the state levers of power, are now adrift and divided. Ahead of what should be a marquee Senate race to succeed Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat who is retiring, the challenge of nominating someone who would both survive a primary contest and thrive in a general election is growing more apparent by the week.

The state Republican Party is now helmed by an election denier, Kristina Karamo, who lost her November race for secretary of state by 14 points and has stoked doubts about her ability to run a serious operation.

People have concerns that the incumbent will have trouble raising money when she openly maligns the same donors she needs to bring in to help win the Senate race, said Gustavo Portela, a former spokesman for the Michigan Republican Party. Shell have a challenge being able to balance the grass roots and donors.

Ms. Karamo did not respond to requests for comment.

Just last week, the Michigan G.O.P. promoted an image on social media that compared efforts to curb gun violence with the Nazis theft of wedding rings from Holocaust victims, then defended the posts amid a backlash.

The Republican Party in Michigan is dead for the foreseeable future, said former Representative Dave Trott, who represented a suburban Detroit district as a Republican but now considers himself an independent, supporting Mr. Biden in 2020. Even if the right people were in charge, the MAGA movement is such that any candidate that would be more acceptable to a general electorate cant win the primary.

If Im Elissa Slotkin, he added, Im already trying to figure out which Senate building I want my office in.

The primary and the general elections for Senate are political lifetimes away, but Ms. Slotkin, a Democratic congresswoman from a competitive district, is currently in a commanding position in the race.

Several of the states highest-profile Democrats have passed on a Senate run, giving her running room in the primary, though a number of other Democrats hoping to see more representation of Black voters, Detroit voters, or both in the race could still get in.

Among Republicans, former Representative Peter Meijer, who voted to impeach Mr. Trump, is perhaps the best-known potential candidate. Kevin Rinke, who ran a largely self-funded Republican primary campaign for governor, has also been seen as a possible contender, among others. Both men lost primaries last year to far-right candidates who were then defeated in general elections.

Maggie Abboud, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said the committee had seen a number of strong potential candidates reach out.

Certainly, it is difficult to predict how the Democratic strength on display last fall will translate in 2024. The contests were defined in part by an extraordinary backlash to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and a major, successful initiative to enshrine abortion protections in the State Constitution and it is far too early to say what issues will be galvanizing next year.

Democrats benefited from a redistricting process. And party leaders freely acknowledge how quickly the political environment in the state can shift.

We were looking into the brink and decided to work our backsides off, Ms. Slotkin said. The minute you sleep on Michigan, it can go the other direction.

There were also warning signs in Wayne County, which is home to Detroit and the states largest population of Black Americans. Turnout was lower in 2022 than it was in the 2018 midterms.

We have an opportunity to do more, said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, himself a Detroiter. I certainly spent a lot of time with Black voters and particularly our younger voters and our Black male voters who weve got to make sure are deeply engaged, and that we invest in that engagement.

Still, the partys gains were significant, including signs of new inroads in white working-class territory that has become exceedingly difficult for Democrats around the country.

In my district, folks were outraged by Jan. 6, but if thats all you talk to them about, youre not going to win their vote, said State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet, a Democrat whose seat includes parts of Bay County, and who emphasized both kitchen-table economic issues and abortion rights in her race.

By demonstrating that we are moving on real issues that people care about and doing it very aggressively with Democratic power, she said, she hoped Michiganders would believe that voting for a Democrat means things are going to get better.

Democrats were really demoralized after the Trump victory, and suddenly we are seeing people coming to party meetings again, she added. The Democratic trifecta in Michigan has mobilized Democrats in a way that I havent seen in a really long time.

But Ms. Dingell, the Democratic congresswoman, remains keenly focused on pro-Trump sentiment in the state, and she is already warning of another challenging election cycle, arguing that races up and down the ballot will be highly competitive.

We will be ground zero for every race, she said.

Originally posted here:
Michigan Democrats Rise, and Try to Turn a Battleground Blue - The New York Times

WASHINGTON Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the Democratic chairman of the Intelligence Committee, chided the Biden administration Wednesday for the lack of information being shared about classified documents that were found at the homes of current and former presidents.

"This is where the Biden administration gets an absolute failing grade," Warner said on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports." "Their position is outrageous."

Lawmakers have increasingly criticized administration officials' ignoring requests to be briefed about the classified documents.

Warner and other lawmakers have been asking to see which documents were found, a request that has been stonewalled.

"We have a constitutional responsibility to see those documents the classified ones make a judgment whether the intelligence community did appropriate protection, and if those documents were to fall into the wrong hands, what kind of mitigation we could take," Warner said. "And I am done with the lack of willingness for the administration to address this."

He added, "Their position does not pass the smell test."

Asked about Warner's remarks, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday's briefing that "were going to have disagreements with you know, with elected officials that we work with, with our partners and friends.That happens all the time."

Before his comments Wednesday, Warner spoke with Lisa Monaco, a deputy attorney general, his office confirmed. It described the conversation as "frank but candid." The source in his office added that changes from their talk were expected.

Hundreds of pages of documents with classified markings were recovered from Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump's Florida home and private club in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump had refused to turn the documents over in response to a subpoena.

Months later, a handful of documents were found at an office President Joe Biden used before he was elected. Subsequent searches of his residences produced additional documents. Biden has complied with federal officials' requests to search for those documents.

In addition, a handful of records were found at the home of former Vice President Mike Pence, who also complied with a request to search after the Biden and Trump documents were discovered.

Warner, who said his demands are not partisan, suggested he could issue a subpoena to obtain the information.

"You know, if this was the Trump administration and this is not a Democrat, Republican thing every Democratic member of the intelligence community is outraged by this non-supportable position of the administration," Warner said. "Im joining with my Republican colleagues and my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, in the House. This position cannot stand, and their dragging their feet is outrageous. Weve got a job to do. And if we cant get it through a negotiation process with them, we will use other tools."

A special counsel is investigating the documents found at Trump's home, in addition to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. A separate special counsel is investigating the documents found in Biden's possession.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a Senate hearing Tuesday that his office is working to make the information available to lawmakers.

"We do have to balance the concerns of ongoing criminal investigations, but we also well recognize the oversight responsibilities and obligations of the committee, and we intend to work out an arrangement that will accommodate those interests," Garland said. "Weve been working with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence towards that. And weve been making quite a bit of progress recently. And we expect to make further progress.

Ginger Gibson is the senior Washington editor for NBC News Digital.

Ryan Nobles contributed.

Continue reading here:
Top Democrat gives 'failing grade' to Biden administration on classified documents - NBC News

Opinion: The Arizona Legislature may be evenly split, but only bills sponsored by Republicans stand a chance of passing. That's not how good government works.

Christine Marsh| opinion contributor

When I first ran for office, I said I was committed to working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to solve problems.

I still am.

I believed then thatgood ideascan come from anyone and that the legislative process works best through collaboration with colleagues in both parties.

I believe that now.

The Senate Democrats have a proven record of bipartisanship,evidentby themore than five dozenRepublican billsthat we have voted for and supported.

If we thinkitsa good bill meaning enacting good policy, no matter who the sponsor is we will vote for it.

Meanwhile, many of my Senate Republican colleagues have had few opportunities to show any bipartisanship because so few of our bills have gone up on the board.

As of Monday,only 14 Democratic bills have received a vote, while 309 Republican bills have.

Remember that the chamber isalmost evenlysplit:There are 16 Republicans and 14 Democrats.

Many of the Republican bills that have taken up our time and passed without any Democratic support are controversial, implement significant changes to law, and willlikely bevetoed by the governor.

This is not a productive use of our time.

With such a closely divided Legislature, it would be so much better forArizonansif senators and representatives focusedonbipartisanbills that will improve lives andlikely willbe signed into law.

In one ofthecommitteesI serve on, there have been just three Democratic bills included on agendas for a hearing, while 58 Republican bills were presented and discussed.

In addition, we were recently informed that no Democratic bills will have a hearing in the House if theydontreceive a majority of the majoritythe support of nine of the 16 Republican membersin the Senate.

This is an artificial rule. The reality is that 16 yes votes from the 30senators should be enough.

We are already seeing evidence that Republicans are intentionally ensuring that Democratic bills do not make that artificial threshold.

Risky politics:Why GOP is betting big on a far-right agenda

Can I prove it?

Maybe not, but some of us in competitive districts have been told by Republican colleagues that none of our bills will make it to the finish line because theydontwant to give Democrats a win in those districts.

Democrats have sponsored multiple bills this session that would implement positive change for our state. When Democratic bills make it through their assigned committees, these bills deserve a debate on the floor of bothchambers,and they deserve that final, recorded vote on the board.

I have sponsored24 billsthis session, but just one of my bills has been transmitted to the House. Senate Bill1159 is a potentially life-saving change in law that would allow us to keep up with the evolution of deadly, illicit drugs by making testing and analyzing equipment and devices legal.

The legislationpassed the full Senate on a 20-9 vote (with one senator absent), yet with nine of the 16 Republicans voting no, it is now apparently dead andwontbe heard in the House.

I am frustrated by what we are seeing this session.Voters should be,too.

Weare facing life-altering issues in our state:

None of these issues will ever be solved by one party or the other. Bipartisanship is essential.

I would like the opportunity to fight for my bill that is now assigned to the House. Other Democrats would like that same opportunity.

Forthat to happen, however, my Republican colleagues will need to show that they, too, believe in good policy no matter who sponsors a particular bill.

Sen. ChristineMarshrepresentseast and northeast Phoenix and Paradise Valley in District 4. Reach her atcmarsh@azleg.gov.

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Arizona Republicans are killing Democrat bills for the worst reasons - The Arizona Republic

North Carolinas pistol permit law which required people to get approval from a county sheriff before buying a handgun was repealed Wednesday.

The Republican-controlled General Assembly overturned Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto of the repeal the first time thats happened to a Cooper veto since 2018.

The GOP was able to override the veto when Mecklenburgs Tricia Cotham and two other Democratic House members didnt vote. That gave the Republicans the three-fifths supermajority of members present.

Cooper had successfully vetoed a similar bill in 2021.

Republicans said the permit law, passed in 1919, is no longer needed because of federal background checks. Pistol buyers will still be subject to those.

Some conservatives also said the century-old law was racist, passed during Jim Crow in order to keep African Americans from arming to protect themselves from violent white supremacists. At least one scholar who has studied the issue, Andrew Willinger of the Duke Center for Firearms Law, said there is no direct evidence that lawmakers were targeting Black North Carolinians with the law.

They also complained that residents of urban counties were being denied their Second Amendment rights because it often took months to receive a permit.

But Democrats said it makes no sense to further weaken gun control regulations.

House members were not allowed to debate the override.

After the vote, the progressive group Carolina Forward said it would hold the three Democrats accountable for missing the vote and that they choose political expediency over their constituents.

Cotham said she had a doctors appointment to treat her long COVID during the vote, and that both sides knew she wouldnt be there. She said the override was unfortunate and that the repeal is dangerous.

In reply, Carolina Forward said on Twitter that they sympathize with Cotham but added that she should resign if shes not able to fulfill her positions duties.

Twelve of the 13 members of Mecklenburgs legislative delegation are Democrats.

House Speaker Tim Moore named Cotham a co-chair of the K-12 education committee, and she has voted with the GOP on some issues. She had previously voted against repealing the pistol permit law.

House Democratic leader Robert Reives said in a statement that elections have consequences and that the only way to change direction on gun safety is to elect different legislators in next years election.

Go here to read the rest:
Mecklenburg Democrat says illness prevented her from voting ... - WFAE

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) became the latest Democrat on Capitol Hill to articulate concerns about the use of the Customs and Border Protections CBP One mobile application at the border in a March 27 letter to the agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

Lawmakers have pushed back about the use of the app, which launched in 2020, for migrants seeking exceptions to the so-called Title 42 pandemic restrictions on immigration put in place in 2020. Those restrictions allow the U.S. to turn away immigrants to prevent a possible contagious spread of disease.

In January, DHS announced that the app would be used for people seeking exceptions to Title 42 by allowing certain individuals to schedule appointments before arriving at land ports of entry.

Non-U.S. citizens can use the app to schedule an appointment if theyre located in Central or Northern Mexico, but according to advocacy group the American Immigration Council which sued the CBP to get records about the app via the Freedom of Information Act CBP One is currently used for travel authorization for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans as well.

CBP states in a fact sheet about the app that its use streamlines the experience at the port of entry, may reduce wait times and permits a safe and orderly process at POEs for all travelers.

Since its creation in 2020, the app has been the subject of privacy-related critiques over government data collection, but more recently, media reports have detailed problems with access disparities in terms of the technology, glitchy functionality and limited appointment slots relative to demand.

Booker raised these concerns in his March 27 letter, noting that Successfully receiving an appointment is akin to winning the lottery for the thousands of migrants living in camps waiting to secure an interview slot. Beyond the odds of getting an appointment, technical issues make it virtually impossible for many migrants to access the app antiquated devices, poor cell phone service or language access have all become barriers.

There have also been reports of individuals with darker skin struggling to submit face photographs required for the app, although DHS officials told The Washington Post that they reject the notion that the app doesnt work as well with people with darker skin.

But beyond technical issues, Booker said in his letter that the app still places access limitations on users seeking appointments through it.

Even if the CBP One app was as efficient, user friendly, fair and inclusive as possible which I hope one day it will be it would still be inherently discriminatory, he writes. To use the app, a person must have a working cell phone, a reliable internet connection, and must have adequate resources and be in good enough health to safely stay in a single location either near the southern border or in their country of origin. This situation is not the reality for asylum seekers whose lives are threatened in their home country or in northern Mexico.

Booker also laid out concerns about who gets appointments, noting that the system, which only offers limited appointment slots, apparently does not consider when someone first registered on the app to try to get an appointment.

The New Jersey senator isnt the only concerned lawmaker.

Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter asking DHS to stop using the app in February, citing privacy concerns around biometrics and location data as well as technical problems and access problems.

And Reps. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Chuy Garca (D-Ill.) and Ral Grijalva (D-Ariz.) also have written to DHS about the app, along with 32 other House Democrats.

For its part, the administration touted the appointment scheduling process in January and signaled that the app will also be used after Title 42 is no longer in place.

When Title 42 eventually lifts, noncitizens located in Central and Northern Mexico seeking to enter the United States lawfully through a U.S. port of entry have access to the CBP One mobile application for scheduling an appointment to present themselves for inspection and to initiate a protection claim instead of coming directly to a port of entry to wait, a January fact sheet reads.

This new feature will significantly reduce wait times and crowds at U.S. ports of entry and allow for safe, orderly and humane processing, the sheet continues.

The Biden administration plans to end the public health emergency for the coronavirus in May, and has since signaled in Supreme Court briefings that that ending will also end Title 42.

CBP did not respond to request for comment by publication time.

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Another Democrat joins chorus of concerns about CBP's mobile app - FCW.com