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Mayor Steve Adler, who forged a tenuous alliance between progressives and Austins business community, is in his final few months in office.

Several leading progressives have also recently left the council. The charismatic Greg Casar, a Democratic Socialist, stepped down in January to run for Congress, and the combative Jimmy Flannigan was ousted by voters in 2020. That same year Delia Garza won a post as county attorney.

Since then, the council has backed away from criminal justice reforms demanded by grassroots groups in 2020, most recently by reinstating funding for a previously nixed police programthe license plate reader program, which had been eliminated through a budget amendment in 2020and by leaving unfinished many recommendations of the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, which they established in 2020.

These developments increasingly leave the far left without a clear champion at City Hall.

The frontrunner in the nonpartisan mayoral race, Kirk Watson, has courted the progressive left with donations to such groups as Austin Justice Coalition, Capital Area Progressive Democrats, and Workers Defense Project. But Watson, a former state senator, former chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, and one-time mayor, is an unlikely champion for a political movement demanding radical systemic change. In a recent article in the Austin Monitor, he was described as a symbol of the old guard and a fixture of Texas politics for decades.

Watson, 64, has raised big money from establishment business interests and is endorsed by the Austin Board of Realtors and Texas Restaurant Association Greater Austin Chapter, among others. According to campaign finance reports, Watson raised $997,000 through June 30th, including scores of donations from real estate professionals, lobbyists, and developers.

State Representative Celia Israel, the other leading Democrat in the race, is likewise a veteran politician, having served in the Texas House since 2015, worked as an aide to Rep. Glen Maxey (D-Austin) before that, and worked for Governor Ann Richards in the 1990s.

She has tried to cast herself as the more progressive of the two, and has won endorsements from Council Member Jose Chito Vela, State Representative Donna Howard (D-Austin), State Representative Vikki Goodwin (D-Austin), the LGBTQ Victory Fund, the Latino Victory Fund,Travis County Attorney Delia Garza, and Ground Game Texas co-founder Julie Oliver, who twice ran for Congress.

Oliver said in a statement, Celia is the only candidate in this race who exhibits the political courage we need to get the really big, aspirational things done in Austin Celia would be a mayor for all of us, not just those who can buy access. Similarly, Vela said in a video endorsement that Israel has the working class background and has what it takes to be the next mayor of Austin.

Israel, 58, also won the nod of Austin Young Democrats, Northeast Travis County Democrats, and Circle C Area Democrats.

But Israel has struggled to lock up endorsements from unions and key progressive advocacy organizations that have had a growing influence in Austin politics in recent years. For example, Workers Defense Action Fund endorsed Watson over Israel, as did IAFF Local 975 (Austin Firefighters Association), Laborers Local 1095, UniteHere Local 23, AFSCME Local 1624which represents city and county employeesand the Austin EMS Association.

Thus far Watson has also won endorsements from more elected officials than Israel, including both conservative Democratssuch as former Mayor Lee Leffingwelland progressives, such as Travis County Judge Andy Brown. Other public supporters include City Council Members Sabino Renteria, Ann Kitchen, and Leslie Pool; and County Commissioners Ann Howard, Jeff Travillion, and Brigid Shea.

In an interview, civic activist JulioGonzlezAltamirano described Israel as more progressive on housing, transportation, the budget, economic development, et cetera. But he conceded that labor groups and other progressive constituencies are not uniformly for Celia. Some groups are backing Watson, while others are still on the sidelines.

Altamirano, who backs Israel for mayor but isnt closely associated with her campaign, attributed this in part to a desire by stakeholders to back the winning horsegiven that Watson is widely considered the frontrunner.

Watsons experience and extensive political network are also playing a role: Some (stakeholders) have good relationships with one or the other candidate and that supersedes ideology, he said.

On the other hand, Paul Saldaa, a former chief of staff to Mayor Gus Garcia and a supporter of Watson, said that the endorsements are a vote of confidence in Watsons competence: There a lot of important decisions on the horizon and theyre leaning towards Kirk to get things done.

Although Saldaa questioned whether it was helpful to describe Israel as the progressive candidate in the race, given the nebulousness of that term, he agreed that Watson was somewhat more centrist than Israel. Saldaa said that the city was looking for stability after a period of political turbulence. That dynamic favors Watson, he said, because you really do need to have somebody who can be a consensus-builder and bring people to the table.

Saldaa, who is also a former Austin ISD trustee and co-founder of the political action committee Habla y Vota, said that Watsons coalition is diverse and he has strong support among Austin Latinos. Kirk just resonates really well with us. We may not always agree, but he has an open door policy, hell call you back, hell meet you, hell debate you, hell do all those thingsbut most importantly hes present, he said.

Watson also had a record of facilitating tough conversations on racism during his time on council, he said, following incidents of police tensions with Black and Hispanic communities at the time. What I remember and what made a very strong impression on me was that back in the late 90s, Kirk was brave enough as the mayor of a big city in Texas to be facilitating conversations about racial reconciliation and racism, which is not an easy thing to do. That is still a very polarizing conversation for some in 2022.

According to Altamirano, Watsons appeal this year is due in part to cyclical factors that favor a safe establishment candidate. Turnout in mid-term elections is typically lower than in presidential election years, and mayoral candidates need to raise funds not just to win the November election but also a runoff in December.

The median runoff voter, depending on the race dynamics, you can expect that theyre going to be morenot necessarily Republicanbut they will probably be more conservative because they will be older and a homeowner, he said.

In such an environment, a candidate who could distinguish herself as the more aggressive change-maker might be able to advance to a runoff but would face difficulty at that stage. For Israel, therefore, the challenge is to run far enough to the left to distinguish herself from Watson, without alienating constituencies that she might need at the runoff stage.

On her website and in campaign emails, Israel says shes running to break up the status quo and get stuff done for working people.

But Israel herself is not exactly an outsider candidate, according to Altamirano. Its really hard to categorize her coalition. Because if you try to characterize her as like the urbanist, social democratic, outsider candidate, thats not exactly true, he said. There are some neighborhood folks, and folks who are skeptical of CodeNEXT, there are some of what I would consider establishment people there, obviously, a lot of long-term elected officials and civic elites that are supporting her.

Israels public supporters include activists who stand on opposite sides of the CodeNEXT debate, such as environmental advocate Susana Almanza and housing advocate Greg Anderson, according to a list of endorsements emailed by Rich Thuma, Israels campaign manager.

Still, Altamirano prefers Israels policy proposals to Watsons and thinks shed be more aggressive on the dais. Like the current mayor, Steve Adler, Altamarino said he thought Israel would try to build majorities on the council with an inclination to aim for the most ambitious outcome feasible.

Comparing Watson and Israel, he said, Are they both Democrats? Yes. In the scheme of national politics, are they both left of center? Yes. Have they both done things that are fairly progressive, by national standards and Texas standards? Yes. Soit really is not a label thing. I think it really comes down to the how much urgency we have around making some policy changes.

I think it is more about do you want that mayoral tie-breaking vote to take a little bit more of a proactive stance in pushing for a more aggressive change from the status quo policy direction? Or do you want a more moderate and slow approach to addressing challenges? And so I think temperamentally, thats the big difference, said Altamirano.

Saldaa, however, questioned whether Israel would be a unifying figure in the way that he thought Watson would be. He described Watson as the person to bring resolution to the fraught topic of the Land Development Code, which has polarized Austin city politics for nearly a decade.

I think if anybody can help bring some type of resolution to get us back on track to address this Land Development Code, I think he can do it. And I think his experience has proven that, that he can do it, he said.

Saldaa added, Ive been concerned about the direction our city has been heading in certain areas, as have a lot of peoplewho think we need some stability in the city. We need to kind of stop, check in, and then get us reset and move us in the right direction.

With all due respect to CeliaI have the utmost respect for her, she served as state representativebut honestly she hasnt been around for a lot of these conversations, and Im concerned that shes not going to be that consensus-builder (that Watson would be) and certainly doesnt have that public policy experience at the city level.

Watson served as mayor from May 1997 to November 2001. He won 49 percent of the votes in 1997, advancing to a runoff that he won by default when his would-be runoff opponent Ronney Reynolds dropped out. Running for reelection in 2000, he faced no serious opponent and cruised to victory with 84 percent of the votes.

He lost a bid for Texas Attorney General in 2002 to future governor Greg Abbott but apart from that has won resoundingly in each of his senate contests, most recently taking 72 percent of the votes in the 2018 general election. He resigned that office April 30, 2020, to become the first dean of the University of Houstons Hobby School of Public Affairs.

For her part, Israel has served in the Texas House since 2015. She won reelection most recently in 2020 with 69 percent of the votes. Her voting record in the legislature won her top marks from progressive interest groups, and poor marks from conservative groups and business groups, according to legislative scorecards produced by the lobby groups. Watson earned similar marks from the same groups.

Apart from Watson and Israel, four other candidates are running for mayor: Anthony Bradshaw, Phil Brual, Gary Spellman, and Jennifer Virden.

The best funded and politically connected of these is Virden, who ran a nearly successful campaign for District 10 in 2020, losing to Alison Alter in runoff election by just 656 votes (51-49 percent). Virden began preparing and fundraising for her mayoral run not long after losing that election, allowing her to build on an existing network of supporters and donors.

Virden, a Republican, isnt advertising any endorsements from conservative stakeholders, which might be a liability in a general election. In a recent interview with the Austin Monitor, she downplayed her party affiliation, saying, I dont have a lot of admiration for either of the national political parties. My personal views kind of run the gamut. And what I can commit to Austin voters is that they will not get my perspective thrown into their face on national issues, because that will not be my job as mayor of Austin.

The Federal Elections Commissions website indicates she made two $50 donations to Donald Trumps Make American Great Again Committee in June and July 2020.

If she wins, Virden says she would fight to lower property taxes, boost police funding, and comprehensively review all city expenditures.

Needless to say, the odds of a Republican winning a mayoral race in Austin have to be considered pretty low. But with six candidates on the ballot, she wouldnt need anywhere near a majority of votes to make it to a runoff.

Thats what happened in her D10 council race in 2020, when she beatDemocrat Pooja Sethi and four other candidates for the second-place slot, taking 25 percent of the votes to Sethis 18 percent.

Nothing would surprise me, Saldaa said. That certainly is a possibility. Because women are the dominating demographic profile of who our voters are and there are some folks who, you know, want to see a woman as our next mayor. So I could certainly see that as a potential scenario.

Trust indicators:Bulldogreporter Daniel Van Oudenaren is a journalist with 13 years experience in local, state, and international reporting.

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Let the mayor and council campaigns begin, August 22, 2022

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Read more:
Israel and Watson vie for endorsements of influential Democrat groups - The Austin Bulldog

Gaylord National Resort and Convention CenterNational Harbor, Maryland

THE VICE PRESIDENT: Jaime, you give me hope. (Applause.) It is so good to see all of these leaders under one roof at one time. I see so many friends.I want to thank you all. And, Jaime, I want to thank you. Youve been such an incredible leader at a very, very significant and important time in our country. And thank you for the passion and the drive and the inspiration that you give to this position and to all of us as Democrats. Can we hear it up for Jaime Harrison? (Applause.) Thank you.So I do want to say that when we think about where we are today and, to the DNC members, I want to thank you all, because you are the leaders who are making our promise real in this country. And so, I thank you for that.To the elected leaders who are here and the elected officials, especially the state and local officials, thank you for lifting up our communities.As Jaime said, Ive been traveling the country, convening in particular our Democrats at the state level, because with so much of what has happened recently, their leadership is as, if not more, important than ever, in terms of you being on the ground a recognizable face in the community to remind people of all that is at stake and to give them a sense of optimism about our future.To the young leaders who are here, I thank you. You talked about a Harry Styles concert; that would be fun. (Laughter.) But thank you for all that you are doing. Ive met with so many of you, and you really are role models of what it means to understand the role of leadership that we all were born with, but its a matter of when you decide to turn it on. And you all are doing that work.And to our labor leaders who are here, thank you for fighting on behalf of working people every day. (Applause.) As you know, I head up the Labor Council with Marty Walsh, Secretary of Labor. And Joe Biden and I are very proud that we will be the most pro-union administration in the history of our country. (Applause.) Indeed.So, as Jaime said, weve got 59 days to go 59. And our work, your work is going to make all the difference because we know, Democrats, the stakes are so high.As the President as our President made clear in Philadelphia last week, the threats we face as a nation are great: threats to our freedom, threats to our very democracy. And we need to speak truth about that.And so, today, we all, by coming together, reaffirm that we refuse to let extremist, so-called leaders dismantle our democracy. (Applause.)We convene today to recommit to the fight for freedom. Democrats, we here rise to meet this moment. And weve done it before. It wasnt very long ago: 2020. Under extremely difficult circumstances, the American people stood for their country and our democracy in one of the greatest expressions of patriotism: They voted.They dropped off their ballot with their kids in the backseat. They took time off from work. They found childcare in order to stand in line for hours.Democrats, in 2020, you reminded American voters of the stakes and, so importantly, you reminded you reminded them that their vote matters and that they matter.And because of your work, more Americans voted than ever before, including a record number of younger voters.Because of your work, the American people delivered a Democratic Congress and sent Joe Biden and me to the White House. (Applause.)And so, all of our progress since has proven that your work mattered. In 2020, the American people put their trust in Democrats. And over these last 18 months, Democrats have delivered.Let me rephrase that. Over these last 18 months, Democrats have delivered big time. (Applause.)And if there was any question about whether theres a difference between the parties, well, over the last 18 months, it has become crystal clear: There is a big difference.We all know that American families have been struggling. But while Republican Party leaders have gone on TV to opine about the situation, Democrats actually did something about it. (Applause.)Think back, at the height of the pandemic, when Democrats provided emergency relief to the American people. You know, not one Republican in Congress voted for the bill.We extended the Child Tax Credit; brought down, in the first year, child poverty in America by 40 percent. We gave parents a tax cut of up to $8,000 for the cost of raising a child: medical supplies, school supplies. And not one Republican in Congress voted with us.Just last month, when Democrats brought down healthcare costs, energy costs by passing the Inflation Reduction Act, again, not one Republican in Congress voted for the bill.For years, Big Pharma tried to pocket bigger profits by stopping Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices. Well, Democrats we said, Enough. Because we know that it is not right in a civil nation that people go broke or bankrupt just to be able to get the prescription medication they need to live.And because of us, Democrats, Medicare now has the power to negotiate drug prices on behalf of 60 million Americans. (Applause.) Because we dont put profits before people.And of course, Republican Party leaders strongly opposed us when we cancelled between $10,000 and $20,000 in student debt for millions of Americans. (Applause.) But we know whats the right thing to do.They say they care about crime. Well, it was us who expanded background checks and passed the most significant gun violence law in 30 years. (Applause.)They made promise after promise about investing in infrastructure. You remember Infrastructure Week. (Laughter.)Well, it was us we led the way to the largest investment in our nations infrastructure in a generation. (Applause.)They downplay even deny the impact of climate change as communities are literally on fire. We made the largest investment to combat the climate crisis in history and deliver on environmental justice for people everywhere. (Applause.) And, yes, not one Republican voted with us.We have paid for all of this without raising taxes on working people. (Applause.)And, you know, its interesting. Republican Party leaders well, they like to talk about fiscal responsibility. We have done all of this and brought down the deficit by a record amount. (Applause.)And let us not forget about our judiciary. We are ensuring that our judiciary looks like America. (Applause.) Yes.We have confirmed more women to the federal courts than ever before (applause) including to the highest court in our land. (Applause.) Her name is Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Applause.)So, Democrats, you know, I believe that when you know what you stand for, you know what to fight for. So, let us remind the American people what Democrats stand for. Let us remind the American people that we, as Democrats we fight for the people, all the people. Let us remind them, in this moment, that the stakes could not be higher.You know, right now, extremist so-called leaders are trumpeting the rhetoric of freedom while they restrict and systematically attempt to take away freedoms.The United States Supreme Court just took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, from the women of America. And now, these extremist, so-called leaders are passing laws to criminalize healthcare providers and punish women.They believe that government should make personal decisions for women that government should make decisions for women about their own body.Well, we do not. We trust women. (Applause.)And an important point to be made on that subject is on the subject of choice and what the Dobbs decision has done and what it means. Its an important point to acknowledge that you dont have to abandon your faith or your beliefs to agree that the government should not be making that decision for her. (Applause.)And thank you, Kansas. (Applause.) You guys are here.Those extremist, so-called leaders claim we should return this issue to the voters in the states. Well, isnt that ironic? Because some of the same people are the ones passing laws that intentionally make it more difficult for people in those states to vote, passing laws that ban drop boxes and restrict early voting laws that make it illegal to give people food and water when theyve been standing in line for hours; undemocratic laws; un-American laws.So again, in this moment, the stakes could not be higher. And take a look because I have at which states from which states are we seeing attacks on the freedom to vote, attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, attacks on womens rights to make decisions about their own bodies. Take a look at from where these attacks are happening, and you will then not be surprised to know that theres quite a few of those states that are doing all three at the same time: Florida, Georgia, Texas.And this November, those governors well, theyre going to have to answer to the voters. (Applause.) As I travel to visit with all of you travel all over our country, let me tell you: Folks know they also know that elections matter up and down the ballot. Right?Because think about it. As doctors are being criminalized, pay attention to those local county prosecutor races. As big lies are being perpetrated, pay attention to those Secretary of State races. In fact, in 11 states right now in 11 states, Republican candidates for Secretary of State deny the results of the 2020 election. Just consider: The very people who dont trust elections want to be responsible for running them.And then, theres D.C., where we need to hold on and we will hold on to the House of Representatives and expand our majority in the United States Senate. (Applause.)And and on that point, allow me to lay out two very real scenarios for you. First, imagine I dont want to, but imagine if we lost our Democratic majority in the Congress.Republican Party leaders have made it clear: They want to ban abortion nationwide. And they wont stop there. Justice Clarence Thomas said the quiet part out loud: Marriage equality will be on the line. Contraception will be on the line. Without a Democratic majority in Congress, who knows what other rights they will come after?Now, imagine a better future. Imagine what we can do if we defend the five seats we need to hold on to the majority in the House. Imagine what we can do if we protect and, better yet, expand our majority in the Senate. Imagine. (Applause.)We can then fight to ensure every worker has paid family leave. We can fight to ensure every family can afford childcare. We can fight to ensure every childcare provider is paid fairly also. (Applause.)Because, you see, we have done a lot over these last 18 months, but we still have a lot more work that were ready to do.And, Democrats, with just two more seats in the Senate, we can codify Roe v Wade. We can put the protections of Roe into law. (Applause.)With two more seats in the United States Senate, we can pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. (Applause.) Two more seats. (Applause.) Thats right. Two more seats.And, you know, our President our President, Joe Biden, hes been clear. Hes kind of done with those archaic Senate rules that are standing in the way of those two issues. Hes made that clear, and has said that that he will not allow that to obstruct those two issues.And, you know, for me, as Vice President, Im also president of the Senate. And (applause) and in our first year in office, some of the historians here may know I actually broke John Adamss record of casting the most tiebreaking votes in a single term. (Laughs.) How about that? (Applause.) How about that?And so, that being the case, I cannot wait to cast the deciding vote to break the filibuster on voting rights and reproductive rights. I cannot wait. (Applause.) Fifty-nine days. Fifty-nine days.And heres the good news you all know it; I can feel the energy in the room weve got momentum on our side. Because again, if I may ask the Kansans in the room to stand so we can applaud what you did. (Applause.) Yeah. Momentum.Look what happened in Kansas. The people there these leaders and so many joined together and protected reproductive rights in their state.Look what happened in New Yorks Hudson Valley. Remember, the pundits predicted a Republican victory, but the people elected a Democrat to Congress. (Applause.)Look whats happening just last week in Alaska. (Applause.) How about that? Mary Peltola is on her way to the United States House of Representatives. (Applause.) And by the way, its the first time a Democrat has won that seat in 50 years. (Applause.)So, in the next 59 days, it is up to all of us here to build on this momentum. And each and every one of these days counts.And know that the majority of Americans are with us on so many of these issues. Because we stand with the people, and we fight for the people, and we are committed to leading our nation forward, not back.So, to every American, let us say: If you believe in the right to privacy, in the promise of freedom and liberty, in the ideal of self-determination, then stand with Democrats. If you believe in the promise of America, then stand with us.Because, you see, we do believe fundamental to America is to protect womens rights. Fundamental to America is to protect LGBTQ rights. Fundamental to the strength of America is to fight for workers rights. Fundamental to who America has always been and will be is to fight for immigrant justice. Fundamental to having responsible policing is the point that if we want to be safer and treat all as equals, this is what we do.If we as a nation want to invest in small businesses that make America stronger, stand with us.If you want to build the middle class and expand opportunity for every American wherever they live be it a big city, a suburb, or a small town stand with us.This is a pivotal moment in our nations history. And make no mistake: This election is how we rise to meet it. (Applause.)You all have heard me paraphrase Coretta Scott King so many times, and Im about to do it again. (Laughter.) She said, Struggle is a never-ending process, and freedom is never really won. You earn it, and you win it in every generation. And today, Im going to add a piece: and you earn it and you win it in every election. (Applause.)So, in 59 days, we will determine the future of our nation. And in these 59 days then, lets leave it all on the field. Because when we fight, we win. (Applause.)God bless you all. God bless America. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.) END

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Remarks by Vice President Harris at the 2022 Democratic National Committee Summer Meeting - The White House

(Photo by Al Drago/AFP via Getty Images)

Once upon a time, members of Congress viewed it as their job to steer the White House toward a better foreign policy; party solidarity wasnt reason enough to subordinate their principles. Congress also believed the power of the purse was a tool not simply to constrain, but also to lead the executive branch toward a more robust American global leadership. Those days are mostly done. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) Chairman Bob Menendez is an exception, one of a tiny cohort that remembers that historically it has been Congress that has led on human freedom, support for democracy, and sanctions against weapons proliferators and dictators.

Like the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairs of yesteryearHenry Cabot Lodge, William Borah, Arthur Vandenberg, J. William Fulbright, Frank Church, and Jesse Helms, among othersMenendez has sought to return the committee to the center of U.S. foreign policy, along the way sticking it to the Biden (and Trump and Obama) White Houses with New Jersey verve that has earned the senator an impressive roster of detractors, both within his own party and without.

On domestic policy issues, Menendez is a standard issue liberal ($10,000 student loan relief on the taxpayer? Why not more? The Inflation Reduction Act? More, sir, please! And dont forget the Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act, introduced with Elizabeth Warren, that targeted crisis pregnancy centers. On foreign policy, however, he has been called the last hawk on the Left. Or as one former GOP national security staffer put it to me, Id be proud if he was a Republican.

Menendez is Cuban-American, and it shows. He has opposed all efforts, Obamas and more recently Bidens, to loosen restrictions on Communist Cuba. In a recent press release on Bidens changes to U.S. Cuba travel policy, he left no doubt as to his position:

All the empty hope for change cant hide the brutality of the declaration Che Guevara made before the United Nations in 1964: we have executed people, we execute people now and we will continue executing people for as long as we deem necessary. No words better sum up the true nature of this regime.

Cuba punches far above its weight in Washingtons foreign policy battles, but it is on China and Iran where Menendez has truly made his mark in recent years. He was not the only Democrat to oppose Barack Obamas cozy dealings with the Islamic Republic in 2015current Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was the firstbut he arguably was the most vocal.

Menendez made his opposition to a weak deal with the Islamic Republic clear from the earliest days. He had been among the leading Iran hawks for many years, and as it became clear that congressionally mandated sanctions could well be lifted in exchange for a deal, the senator joined with GOP opponents to demand Obama submit the agreement to Congress.

The president and his echo chamber fought back, or appeared to. On April 1, 2015, Menendez was hit by the Obama Justice Department with 14-count, 68-page indictment that included seven bribery charges and allegations of sex with underage prostitutes. The indictment, the first federal bribery charges against a sitting senator in a generation, forced Menendez to step down from his leadership position at the SFRC, effectively sidelining him from a senior role in addressing the Iran nuclear deal. Coincidence? At the time, Menendez staff told me they thought not. (A subsequent trial ended with a hung jury, a dismissal of several of the counts, and finally, a Justice Department decision to drop all the charges.)

Obama acolytes in the left and mainstream media savaged Menendez. A lengthy article in the fringe-y pro-Iran deal Intercept magazine went on to detail the relationship between the shadowy Mujahedin e-Khalqa former U.S. designated terrorist organization and Menendez, drawing a line between support for the group, campaign donations, and opposition to the Iran nuclear deal. (Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald explained that Neocons [read, Jews] hate the Iran deal precisely because its likely to normalize the worlds relations with that country, making the war theyve long craved much less likely.)

In the face of a White House onslaught, Menendez came out swinging. Unlike President Obama's characterization of those who have raised serious questions about the agreement, or who have opposed it, Menendez sneered in a 6,000 word speech at Seton Hall University in August, 2015, I did not vote for the war in Iraq, I opposed it, unlike the Vice President and the Secretary of State, who both supported it. It went downhill from there.

While I have many specific concerns about this agreement, Menendez continued, foreshadowing ongoing criticisms of the nuclear deal, my overarching concern is that it requires no dismantling of Irans nuclear infrastructure and only mothballs that infrastructure for 10 years. Not even one centrifuge will be destroyed under this agreement. He criticized the deals sunset provisions: One of the single most concerning elements of the deal is its 10-15 year sunset of restrictions on Irans program, with off ramps starting after year eight. We were promised an agreement of significant duration and we got less than half of what we are looking for. Well, yes.

Although a vocal opponent of the nuclear deal inked in 2015, Menendez nonetheless opposed the Trump administrations withdrawal from the JCPOA. He reiterated his opposition to the original deal, but cited concerns about leaving European allies to hang out to dry and the lack of a follow-on plan to contain Iranian breakout. While he remains critical of Trumps handling of Iran, he does not advocate returning to the deal Trump abandoned.

The Biden administration has been working assiduously on a new deal since he was inaugurated. No member of Congress has been more critical of that effort than Menendez. He has also aggressively made the case that any new agreement with Iran be submitted for congressional review, which he says the White House has agreed to.

And now Menendez is turning his attention to another sticking point with the Biden administration. He and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham recently introduced the Taiwan Policy Act.

In a New York Times editorial, he wrote We saw the warning signs for Ukraine in 2014 and failed to take action that might have deterred further Russian aggression. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake with Taiwan. Hes essentially telling the White House (as well as Trumps and Obamas administrations), you screwed this up and were not going to let you do it again.

The TPA was marked up and moved to the Senate floor on Wednesday. Committee members watered down several provocative (per Sen. Mitt Romney) provisions, including one that would have elevated the post of U.S. representative to Taipei to a quasi-ambassadorial Senate confirmed position and another that would have renamed the Taiwanese mission in Washington. Others that designate Taiwan a major non-NATO ally (implying a level and quality of weapons supplies and military relations by the U.S.), authorize the appropriation of almost $4.5 billion in security assistance, elevate efforts to include Taipei in international organizations (currently blocked by Beijing) and authorize the imposition of wide-ranging sanctions on Beijing in the event of conflict over Taiwan, made it through. Notably, the Committee added $2 billion in foreign military financing.

As Menendezs NYT piece notes, this effort would be the most comprehensive restructuring of U.S. policy toward Taiwan since the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. And thats right.

The effort to modernize and sharpen the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which underpins the delicate U.S. relationship with Taipei, is long in coming and represents a serious effort on the part of Congress to begin to face up to a likely Chinese invasion of Taiwan in the coming years. Ironically, the Taiwan Relations Act was itself a congressional effort to ensure the United States did not completely abandon the small democratic Republic of China in the wake of U.S. recognition of the Peoples Republic of China.

Menendezs effort with Graham (and supported by SFRC ranking member Jim Risch), like Speaker Nancy Pelosis recent visit to Taipei, has not been warmly welcomed by the White House. National security officials have been reticent, but the vibeof a piece with the Presidents confused efforts to persuade Pelosi to stay homehas been unhappy. The executive branch is leery of congressional efforts to dictate foreign policy or wedge the president into a corner even in the best of times. And, to be fair, even well-known China hawks have been hesitant to throw their full weight behind the Taiwan bill, fretting that it escalates tensions with Beijing before a deeper security partnership with Taipei is in place.

Quibbles notwithstanding, the Taiwan Policy Act of 2022 is headed for the full Senate. Expect to see the administrations water carriers making their arguments to go slow as China expands its domination of the South China Sea and continues its aggressive incursions into Taiwanese territorial waters. The bill faces substantial hurdles ahead, and only one thing is certain: Menendezs crusade to restore congressional influence over foreign policy will continue. And at a time of deepening partisan divides and diminishing returns for the politically independent-minded, that, at least, is a good thing.

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The Democrat Standing Up to Biden on Iran and Taiwan - The Dispatch

Journal Staff| The Providence Journal

Rhode Island primary election guide 2022

Everything you need to know about voting in Rhode Island's primary election on Sept. 13.

Waldy Diez, Wochit

Rhode Island is one of three states to hold its primaries today. These are the final three primaries before the mid-term elections in November.

The nation's eyes are on the Second Congressional District, whereRepublicans have hopes for an upset in the election for a House seat now held byU.S.Rep.Jim Langevin, who is retiring after 11 terms representing Democratic-leaning Rhode Island.

The other major race on the Democratic primary ballot is the governor's race, where Dan McKee is trying to be elected to his first full term. He is one of five candidates vie for the chance to go against the presumptive Republican nominee, Ashley Kalus in November's general election.

Rhode Island Primary Voter Guide: Everything you need know to about the candidates

Early Voters out in Barrington

Barrington High School polling station.

The Providence Journal

Around 2 p.m., Brett Smiley stopped by a polling place in Roger Williams Park. The mayoral hopeful described a feeling of energy and enthusiasm, noting that hes received support on the road in the form of car honks and waves from windows.

Smiley began his day with visits to several East Side polling sites. He grabbed breakfast at the Butcher Shop deli on Elmgrove Avenue with former Journal political writer Charlie Bakst and mentor Myrth York, a former state senator.

More: Why are they running? Providence mayoral candidates on the political and the personal

Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in every city and town except New Shoreham, where poll hours are 9a.m. to 8 p.m.

The general election isNov. 8.

WARWICK -- A small but steady stream of voters were casting ballots at Norwood Elementary School in WarwickTuesday shortly before noon. A torrential rain had stopped, and the sun was peeking through the clouds.

Carol Buckley a Warwick resident, stood outside the school, carrying a sign for the state Senate candidate she supports DemocratHarrison Tuttle.

Speaking of the morning just ending, she said Its been slow but people canvassing are pretty cheerful, pretty engaged.

She added: Its nice to see people doing their civic duty in this questionable weather.

Eighteen-year-old Kingston DaLomba was doing his civic duty by voting for the first time. A graduate of Pilgrim High School, Dalomba, a musician and singer, is a student at the Community College of Rhode Island, which he is attending on the Rhode Island Promise program.

I feel like local politics is very dominated by the older generationand people my age don't pay attention to local elections and the stuff that really impacts us in ways that we can see firsthand, DaLomba said.

I feel like if I want to create change that I want to see around me, I should be voting in local elections. So I made sure I researched everything. I knew who I wanted to vote for and came out before going to classes.

In a sloppy, rain-soaked morning, Gov. Dan McKee and his wife Susan emerged frombeneath umbrellasto slip inside the gymnasium of Community School in Cumberland to vote,just after 10 a.m.

Afterward, McKee told a few assembled reporters he was feeling good, very goodastheelection day began.

We ran a very good campaign and did what I said we woulddo,which was to manage the state of Rhode Island and sign the[state]budget before I started the campaign and weve had momentumeversince.

Askedhow he would characterize the tone of thecampaign, which turned nasty in recent weekswithhisDemocratic opponents, Nellie Gorbea and Helena Foulkes,McKee said: the tone...Illjust leave that alone.

Instead, McKee thankedhis campaign staff who worked to get out his message ineverycorner of the state:So we have a very broad base of supportand as a result of that I think we are talking about what was really important: increasing peoples incomes in thestate,continue work to improve our schools and to improve the lives of families.

McKee said, There is a distinction between actually managing a state and campaigning for governor. They are two different animals.The workis whats important to me. Thats why Icampaignedfor governor because the work is important to me and I love the state and I want to make sure that we follow through with all the things weve already laid the groundwork for in the first 18 months in office.

ColleenDeGroot, the precinct moderator at Community School, wondered whether the days rain would impact voter turnout.

The precinct has 800 registered Democrats and 400 Republicans and with all the rainfrom that last storm, people might be skittishabout coming out, she said.

McKee was the 80thvoter to cast a ballot at Community School shortly after 10 a.m.

-Tom Mooney, Journal Staff writer

Candidate's supporters rally votes in RI during the primary election

Avi Shapiro withstood the rain Tuesday at the Aspray Boathouse in Warwick to for Harrison Tuttle, a progressive Democratic candidate.

Katie Mulvaney, The Providence Journal

WARWICK Voter turnout was light Tuesday morning at the Aspray Boathouse a reality longtime elections clerk Denise Hainey chalked up to steps taken during the pandemic to make voting more accessible in Rhode Island.

More Rhode Islanders opted to vote early or cast absentee ballots than in the past, Hainey said.

A total of 2,542 voters had cast ballots by 10:42 a.m.

It will never go back to the way it was before because people have options, Hainey said Tuesday as rain poured outside.

The mood inside the polling place was decidedly upbeat, with one volunteer breaking out singing My Girl by the Temptations. Ive got sunshine on a cloudy day, as perhaps some sliver of sunshine slipped through the rain.

Avi Shapiro braved the rainfall at the Aspray Boathouse to press votes for Harrison Tuttle, a progressive Democratic candidate for state Senate District 31.

Its about having an advocate from the community, Shapiro said. I think Harrison represents what people are looking for.

Shapiro called Tuttles opponent, former prosecutor Matthew LaMountain, a candidate handpicked by Senate PresidentDominick J. Ruggerio.

Dave Fontaine and Lou Ullucci, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323, manned the polls in support of union-backed LaMountain and Joseph M. McNamara, for House District 19.

Were here supporting the candidates who support our issues, Fontaine said.

Stuart Wilson, second-time Democratic candidate vying for McNamaras seat, was joined by his father, Tom Thomson, in rallying for votes.

A father of two who took his two sons out on the campaign trail, Wilson hoped hed prevail in Tuesdays Primary.

I always knew it would take two cycles. Im tired of good ideas not getting enough support from the leaders, Wilson said.

Theyve let education flounder. We don't even have universal pre-K, said Wilson, whose five-year-old son, Henry, attends first-grade at Wyman Elementary School.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323 representatives at the polls

Dave Fontaine and Lou Ullucci, of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 2323, manned the polls Tuesday in support of union-backed Democratic candidates

Katie Mulvaney, The Providence Journal

Voters can look up their designated polling station and, as Election Day draws closer, view sample ballots by logging into the Voter Information Center:vote.sos.ri.gov

Yes. Voters need to present an ID, which can be a driver's license, passport, Rhode Island Voter ID Card or another form of identification listed here: vote.sos.ri.gov/Content/Pdfs/voter_id_information.pdf

More than 20,000 people had voted in Rhode Island as of Thursday night, about half by mail and half early in-person sites, according to the secretary of state's officehttps://ri-voter-turnout-tracker-ridos.hub.arcgis.com/

Polls are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in every city and town except New Shoreham, where poll hours are 9a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can view a sample ballot by entering your address in the secretary of state's Voter Information Center athttps://vote.sos.ri.gov/Home/PollingPlaces?ActiveFlag=2

A total of 712,945 active voters are eligible to cast ballots in Tuesdays statewide primaries, according to the secretary of state's voter information data.

Of those, nearly 4%, or 27,986, had already cast ballots as of 4:30 p.m. Monday, using either mail ballots or early in-person voting, according to the secretary's voter turnout tracker.

Democrats have contested primaries for four of the five statewide general officers governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and general treasurer and in Congressional District 2.

Republicans have primaries for governor and lieutenant governor.

There are also more than 40 Democratic primaries and four Republican primaries for general assembly seats, plus contests for local offices across the state.

Voters who are registered with a party are only allowed to vote in that party's primary, while unaffiliated voters can choose Democratic or Republican at the polls, but can only vote in one.

Polls open everywhere at 7 a.m., except on Block Island, where they open at 9 a.m. All polls close at 8 p.m.

While Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly 200,000 voters 290,805 to 97,879 the largest voting bloc statewide by party affiliation is unaffiliated voters, often called independents. That group, numbering 324,261, makes up 45% of the electorate.

In just 10 communities do Democrats outnumber independents, including four where more than half the voters are Democrats: Providence at 62% the most Democratic community in the state; Central Falls; Pawtucket; and North Providence.

Republicans do not outnumber independents in any community, but the GOP is ahead of Democrats in three rural communities clustered on or near the Connecticut border in Western Rhode Island: Foster, Scituate and West Greenwich, a town in which there are 11 more Republicans than Democrats.

But those three communities have a fierce independent streak, with more than half of registered voters 53% to 55% not declaring allegiance to a party. Nearby Glocester is the most independent in the state, at 56%.

And those three towns combined have fewer Republicans, 4,127, than the town of Tiverton has Democrats, .4,171.

The community leading the early voting turnout as of noon Monday was Jamestown, where 9.4% of active voters had already cast ballots.

Rounding out the Top 5 were: Portsmouth, 6.9%; South Kingstown, 6.6%; East Providence, 5.7%; and Narragansett, 5.5%.

The early turnout in the state's four largest cities was: Providence, 4.8%; Cranston, 3.5%; Warwick, 4.0%; and Pawtucket, 2.6%.

The lowest early turnout in the state was Woonsocket, 1.3%.

Active voters are those who have votedrecently and are not marked for removal from the voter rolls if they don't vote soon. Inactive are still eligible to vote in Tuesday's primaries. Their numbers were not immediately available.

- Paul Edward Parker

The Rhode Island state primary isSept. 13. However, early voting is available.

Polls will open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in every city and town except New Shoreham, where poll hours are 9a.m. to 8 p.m.

Voters can look up their designated polling station and, as Election Day draws closer, view sample ballots by logging into the Voter Information Center:https://vote.sos.ri.gov/

More: Rhode Island Primary Voting Guide: Everything you need to know to get your ballot

Here's a primer on the important statewide primary races and the candidates vying for your vote

Democrats face a crowded gubernatorial field going into the September 13th primary. Five candidates vie for the chance to go against the presumptive Republican nominee, Ashley Kalus in November's general election.

Luis DanielMuoz:From Central Falls to the governor's race, Luis Daniel Muoz is used to being the underdog

Matt Brown: In bid for governor, Democrat Matt Brown says voters are looking for something different

Nellie Gorbea: In her campaign for governor, Nellie Gorbea bills herself as the underestimated candidate

Helena Foulkes: How Helena Foulkes hopes to go from corporate CVS office, to RI Governor

Dan McKee:In his bid for reelection, Governor Dan McKee leans on accomplishments and allies

Ashley Kalus:'Outsider' Ashley Kalus launches GOP campaign for RI governor

If youre just tuning in, a quick recap: Back in February, Jim Langevin unexpectedly announced that he would not seek reelection. It briefly felt like every politician whod ever set foot in Rhode Islands 2nd Congressional District, which covers the western half of the state, was floating the idea of running for the open seat. The field as since narrowed to five candidates.

Until recently, Spencer Dickinson, a former lawmaker with conservative views, was also in the race. HisfriendJohn Carlevalesaid on Tuesday that Dickinson was experiencing serious health issues and was "suspending the active part of his campaign."

Whichever Democratcomes out ahead in the September 13th primary will likely square off against Republican candidate and former Cranston Mayor, Allan Fung.

Can RI Democrats hold 2nd District seat? Five contenders make their case to primary voters

Where Democrats in RI's 2nd District race stand:On housing, health care, Green New Deal

More: RI GOP trying to make sure Allan Fung faces no primary contest

Allan Fung's prescription for Congress?Make Washington more like Cranston

The lieutenant governor does not have many constitutional duties.

The lieutenant governor chairs four boards:the Long Term Care Coordinating Council, the Alzheimer's State Plan Executive Board, the Emergency Management Advisory Counciland the Small Business Advocacy Council.

The office's most important role came to the fore in March 2021, when Gov. Gina Raimondo resigned after being confirmed by the Senate as U.S. commerce secretary and McKee was sworn in to replace her.

Running for Lt. Governor are SabinaMatos and CynthiaMendes, running together with their gubernatorial counterparts, Gov. Dan McKee for Matos and Matt Brown for Mendes, while DeborahRuggiero is running alone.

They will face either Republicans,Aaron Guckian orPaul Pence in the general election

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2022 RI Primary Live: Voters are casting their ballots in Democrat and Republican races - The Providence Journal

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An increasing trend among top Democrats running for re-election in November's midterms has them pitting themselves against their own party, as well as President Biden, despite their past statements and voting records telling a different story.

This group of vulnerable Democrats at risk of losing their seats to Republican challengers has progressively sought to paint themselves as moderates, as well as independent-minded members of Congress, and touted what some of them have referred to as their record of standing up to Biden and Democratic Party leadership in order to win re-election.

A review of their congressional voting records and a number of their previous statements suggest the contrary as many of them consistently voted in tandem with the Biden administration's legislative agenda according to FiveThirtyEight, as well as that of Democratic Party leadership according to ProPublica, and expressed support for Biden and the job he has done as president.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, has been touting what she's called her record of "fighting back" against Biden, releasing an ad last month accusing his administration of "letting Ohio solar manufacturers be undercut by China."

2022 PRIMARY SEASON CONCLUDES WITH FIERY REPUBLICAN FACE-OFFS IN BATTLEGROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE

President Joe Biden, CEO of SparkCharge Joshua Aviv and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrive for a signing ceremony for the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 on the South Lawn of the White House on August 9, 2022 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The ad also claimed Kaptur didn't "work for" Biden and said she was working to protect jobs alongside Ohio's retiring Republican Sen. Rob Portman. She's also avoided saying whether she would appear with Biden during his visits to her district, after warmly greeting him when came to Ohio in June.

In contrast to her distancing herself from Biden, Kaptur has voted with his legislative agenda 100% of the time as a member of Congress, and has previously said that he would go down in history as "a great president." She's also voted in line with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 100% of the time.

In addition to praising Biden on a number of other occasions, she once stated in that it would be "an honor" to work for him.

CHUCK SCHUMER OFFERS UP TO $15 MILLION TO BOLSTER DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAMPAIGNS

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., made similar attempts to paint herself differently than her record suggests, telling attendees of a virtual town hall earlier this month that she had bucked the Biden administration on her congressional votes.

"I dont always vote with Democrats either, for those of you here today," she said, adding that she "sometimes" votes for Republican-proposed amendments to pieces of legislation.

Craig, however, has voted in line with the Biden administration and Pelosi 100% of the time.

Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., has voted with Biden and Pelosi 100% of the time (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Ind., told viewers in a Facebook live stream last month to "vote your interests," and claimed he had "stayed moderate" and connected to his community.

His voting record showed he voted with Pelosi and Biden 100% of the time.

Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., claimed in a July ad that he had "stood up" to fellow Democrats and said he made himself unpopular in Washington, D.C., on certain policy positions, but has a similar track record of voting with Biden and Pelosi 100% of the time.

His attempt to distance himself from the party is complicated further by the fact that he has served as the chief deputy whip of the Democratic Caucus since 2020, a position whose responsibility involves "whipping" votes to support party-backed legislation.

Additionally, Kildee has received support from Pelosi in his campaign, including with fundraising requests sent on his behalf.

Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, says she's not afraid to "get in anybody's face" including the Biden administration, but she has voted with Biden 100% of the time (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

"I'm not afraid to get in anybody's face whose not doing something right for this district That includes this administration. I have stood up to President Biden," Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, told a crowd at an event in her district earlier this month, in addition to going extended periods of time without mentioning Biden on the campaign trail.

However, Axne has praised Biden as "a great president," and said she would always welcome him to Iowa for a visit. Records show that she has voted with the Biden administration and Pelosi 100% of the time.

WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS IN MIDTERMS NOW THAT PRIMARY ELECTION SEASON IS OVER

Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., has also maintained that she has separated herself from her fellow Democrats.

When asked recently how Biden's unpopularity had affected her efforts at re-election, Slotkin discussed the need to differentiate herself from the rest of her party.

"You have to establish yourself as something separate from what people see on TV, and that's difficult. But that's our job," she said. "And I'm only one of five Democrats running in 2022 that represents a Trump-voting district. I've always had to separate myself from the party, from party leadership."

Slotkin has, however, voted in tandem with Biden and Pelosi 100% of the time.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) represents a district Trump won, but she has voted with Biden 100% of the time (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., has sharply criticized Biden in recent weeks, rebuking his student loan handout plan, as well as his comments regarding "MAGA Republicans," but has kept a 100% record of voting in line with the president and Democratic leadership.

The trend of Democrats turning away from their support of the Biden administration and their party is not exclusive to those running for re-election in the House of Representatives. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who are running to retain and flip a Senate seat respectively, have upped their criticisms of Biden.

"I'll continue to stand up to the Biden administration on the issue of securing the border, listening to our frontline personnel down there about needing more border agents, more technology. In some places we need more physical barrier," Hassan recently told Axios, adding her opposition to Biden's student loan handouts.

FETTERMAN CAMPAIGNS WITH OUTSTANDING COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT CALLS TO DEFUND THE POLICE

Despite the criticism, Hassan has voted with the Biden administration 96% of the time, and votes with her party in the Senate 98% of the time.

She has not, however, shied away from Biden on the campaign trail. She has maintained that he's "always welcome" to join her in a visit to the state.

Ryan has voted with Biden and Pelosi 100% of the time while in Congress, but has said he doesn't think the president should run for re-election in 2024, citing the need for a "generational move" in both parties.

He did attend an event with Biden last week, the opening of a new Intel manufacturing plant in Ohio, but has otherwise avoided directly answering questions on whether he would welcome Biden's support on the campaign trail.

Democrat Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who is running for Senate, voted with Biden 100% of the time (Joshua A. Bickel/The Columbus Dispatch via AP)

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The midterm general elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Fox News' Power Rankings predict Republicans will take control of the House, while the Senate remains a tossup.

Fox News' Thomas Phippen, Aubrie Spady and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.

Brandon Gillespie is an associate editor at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter at @brandon_cg.

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Top Democrats try to distance themselves from their party and Biden, but voting records tell a different story - Fox News