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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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SANDERSON Dale Lynn Carruthers had always been a Democrat.

Growing up in the small, predominantly Hispanic city of Sanderson near the border in West Texas, everyone she knew belonged to the party, which had long been dominant in the region. So when she ran for a seat on the Terrell County Commissioners Court for the first time in 2018, there was no question that shed do so as a Democrat.

But after she became county judge in 2021, things started to change. President Joe Biden took office and promised to overturn many of Donald Trumps restrictive immigration policies. At the same time, residents living in Terrell County, which has a population of less than 1,000, started reporting a significant increase in the number of migrants coming through the rough terrain.

Ranchers complained that large groups of migrants were entering through their border-adjacent land, cutting high fences, which risked setting their animals loose, damaging the water lines that supply their vast ranches in a semi-arid climate and making it harder for them to tend to their livestock.

The deadline to register to vote in the 2022 primary election is Oct. 11. Check if youre registered to vote here. If not, youll need to fill out and submit an application, which you can request here or download here.

Early voting runs from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4. Voters can cast ballots at any polling location in the county where they are registered to vote during early voting. Election day is Nov. 8.

This option is fairly limited in Texas. Youre allowed to vote by mail only if: You will be 65 or older by Election Day, you will not be in your county for the entire span of voting, including early voting, you cite a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without needing personal assistance or without the likelihood of injuring your health, youre expected to give birth within three weeks before or after Election Day or you are confined in jail but otherwise eligible (i.e., not convicted of a felony).

Not always. Youll want to check for open polling locations with your local elections office before you head out to vote. Additionally, you can confirm with your county elections office whether election day voting is restricted to locations in your designated precinct or if you can cast a ballot at any polling place.

County election offices are supposed to post on their websites information on polling locations for Election Day and during the early-voting period by Oct. 18. The secretary of states website will also have information on polling locations closer to the start of voting. However, polling locations may change, so be sure to check your countys election website before going to vote.

Youll need one of seven types of valid photo ID to vote in Texas: A state drivers license, a Texas election identification certificate, a Texas personal identification card, a Texas license to carry a handgun, a U.S. military ID card with a personal photo, a U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo or a U.S. passport. Voters can still cast votes without those IDs if they sign a form swearing that they have a reasonable impediment from obtaining a proper photo ID or use a provisional ballot. Find more details here.

On her familys 17,000-acre ranch, Carruthers saw the same problems. Visitors who came to hunt wild game started stumbling upon the bodies of migrants who apparently died of heat while making the journey. One day, her husband was outside feeding the animals when he saw state police arresting a group of 49 migrants. They worried about the safety of their family.

But Democrats nationally werent talking about the border issues her community was experiencing firsthand. They were critical of efforts led by Republicans like Gov. Greg Abbott to build a border wall and increase the presence of law enforcement. Democrats, Carruthers said, werent listening. So she switched parties.

And so did many others. The countys clerk and treasurer also became Republicans, as have most of the elected officials in county government.

Seeing the lack of support from the federal government has really impacted the community and they're looking and leaning towards the Republican Party, Carruthers said.

In 2014, the percentage of registered voters casting ballots in the Republican primary in Terrell County was 12%. By 2022, that percentage had more than doubled with 31% of the countys registered voters casting ballots in the GOP primary compared to 10% in the Democratic primary. It was the first time in at least eight years that Republicans voting in the Terrell County primary outnumbered Democrats.

We explain the voting process with election-specific voter guides to help Texans learn what is on the ballot and how to vote. We interview voters, election administrators and election law experts so that we can explain the process, barriers to participation and what happens after the vote is over and the counting begins. Read more here.

Instead of letting only politicians set the agenda, we talk to voters and scrutinize polling data to understand ordinary Texans top concerns. Our readers questions and needs help inform our priorities. We want to hear from readers: What do you better want to understand about the election process in Texas? If local, state or congressional elected officials were to successfully address one issue right now, what would you want it to be? Whats at stake for you this election cycle? If were missing something, this is your chance to tell us.

We do not merely recount what politicians say, but focus on what they do (or fail to do) for the Texans they represent. We aim to provide historical, legal and other kinds of context so readers can understand and engage with an issue. Reporting on efforts that make voting and engaging in our democracy harder is a pillar of our accountability work. Read more here.

We arent able to closely cover all 150 races in the Texas House, 31 in the Texas Senate or 38 for the Texas delegation in the next U.S. House. We need to choose what races we cover closely by using our best judgment of whats most noteworthy. We take into account factors like power, equity, interest and competitiveness in order to determine what warrants more resources and attention. Read more here.

In reporting on falsehoods and exaggerations, we clearly explain why it is untrue and how it may harm Texans. Sometimes, we choose to not write about misinformation because that can help amplify it. Were more likely to debunk falsehoods when they are spread by elected officials or used as a justification for policy decisions. Read more here.

The shift in allegiance is being replicated across the Texas-Mexico border and is encouraging for Republicans who are campaigning on border security and making a big push to win over Hispanic voters. It is also concerning for Democrats who have long held sway in these border and South Texas communities.

In 15 counties along the Texas-Mexico border, participation in Republican primaries has grown steadily since 2014. That year, 23,243 voters participated in a Republican primary, accounting for about 2% of voters. This year, 54,085 voters cast ballots in the GOP primary, making up 4% of voters.

While Democrats voting in primaries still far outnumber Republicans in those counties, the trendline is moving in the opposite direction. In 2014, more than 122,000 people turned out for a Democratic primary in border counties, accounting for 11% of voters. But after nearly 214,000 voters cast ballots in the 2020 Democratic primary, that number fell to 131,189 this year, making up less than 10% of voters in the region.

Juanita Martinez, the Democratic Party chair in Maverick County, which is 95% Hispanic, acknowledged the Republican Party has grown rapidly in her area in recent years and is mounting vociferous challenges to established Democrats in her South Texas community. Only one candidate running for a county office had run as a Republican in Maverick since 2016. But this year, the GOP has mustered eight candidates for local office.

Still, Martinez believes that most of the areas voters are still with Democrats, and the local party is gearing up to defend their political offices against the GOPs push.

Everybody knows the Republicans have been targeting the border, Martinez told a recent meeting of volunteers preparing for a Beto ORourke event in the county seat of Eagle Pass. Were mostly a Democratic community, so we have to work it, work it, work it. No way in hell can we ever let even one Republican get into office. Thats our main objective: Keep Maverick County blue.

A few years ago, a Republican candidate courting votes in South Texas or along the border was a rare sight. But bolstered by Trumps better-than-expected performance in heavily Hispanic regions of South Texas in 2016 and 2020, the GOP began to target those voters. Border security and immigration made up a big part of the Republican messaging, but so were other social issues like opposition to abortion and support for gun rights.

At the top of the ticket, Abbott, who has long pursued Hispanic voters in the area, has homed in on South Texas as a priority of his campaign efforts. In April, speaking before the Texas Latino Conservatives luncheon while in San Antonio, Abbott boldly declared that he would win the Hispanic vote over Democrat Beto ORourke.

In 2020, Republican Monica De La Cruz came within 3 percentage points of unseating Democratic congressman Vicente Gonzalez in Congressional District 15, a heavily Hispanic border district that includes McAllen. This year, De La Cruz is running for the same seat after Gonzalez was drawn out of the district and moved over to neighboring District 34. There, he will compete against another conservative Latina, Mayra Flores, who is the incumbent congresswoman after winning a special election this year to replace Democrat Filemon Vela, who had resigned before the end of his term.

Republicans are also running Cassy Garcia, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, in Laredo-based District 28 against longtime Democrat incumbent Henry Cuellar.

The Republican push has also trickled down to the local level. In places like Maverick County, the local GOP was almost nonexistent a few years ago. Martinez said poll workers used to joke on Election Day about whether all the Republicans in their precincts had voted yet.

They would name them on one hand, Martinez said. Usually, in a county like ours, if you were running and you won the [Democratic] primary, that was it, you won. Because there were no Republicans.

But Democrats arent laughing this year. Fueled by financial support from Republican groups like Project Red Texas, which is focused on electing Republicans to local government, the Maverick County GOPs candidates are well funded, putting up election signs at some of the most prominent intersections in Eagle Pass. At some intersections, posters for GOP candidates stand alone without any sign from their Democratic counterparts with less than two months until Election Day.

Republicans are also competing for local elections in nearby counties like Val Verde and Dimmit, and in Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley.

Starr County has shown other troubling signs for Democrats. Last year, state Rep. Ryan Guillen, who had served in the statehouse for 19 years as a conservative Democrat, switched to the GOP. Guillen cited the Democratic Partys refusal to engage on border security and its impact on oil and gas jobs in his district as reasons for his change.

In Eagle Pass, a city of about 30,000, trucks sport bumper stickers that read I am the elephant in the room with pictures of the GOPs mascot and Lets Go Brandon, a political slogan thats used by Republicans to substitute for a profane insult to Biden. One house along a main thoroughfare in town boasts a large Vote Trump, End abortion sign even though the former president hasnt declared hes running for reelection.

Even those shows of support are signs of the GOPs growth, said Alfredo Freddy Arellano III, a local party activist. In 2018, when former state Sen. Pete Flores was running in a special election that he would eventually win, voters would not put campaign signs in their yards for fear of being ostracized for being Republicans. But since 2020, when Arellano served as the chair of the local GOP and organized caravans of trucks called Trump trains to show support for the former president, interest in the party has gone up.

We went from nobody wanting a sign for Sen. Flores to giving away over 500 for President Trump [in 2020], Arellano said. And, right now, with Abbott they sent 300 and theyre almost all gone.

Many of the new Republicans in Maverick County are former Democrats who say the increase in migrants crossing through their region was a major factor in their decision to switch parties. In July, Eagle Pass region of the border, which stretches north to the city of Del Rio, reported about 50,000 apprehensions of migrants 20,000 more than the number of people in the entire city of Eagle Pass.

Ana Gabriela Derbez, a candidate for justice of the peace, wears a red Defend the Border cap as she discusses how the region has seen a massive increase in migrant crossings over the last two years. Shes a former Democrat who voted twice for Barack Obama. But in recent years, she said she reconsidered her political leanings as Republicans have drawn her in with their views on guns, abortion and immigration.

Voters she talks to gripe about the use of taxpayer dollars to hold and process migrants caught by immigration officials and to transport them to other parts of the country, while local residents in the impoverished area struggle economically. The median household income in the county is $41,385, and 1 in 5 of its residents live in poverty.

They are having a hard time with their paychecks and with their jobs, and making ends meet and all of this help is being given to illegals instead of them, she said. That is a very serious issue.

Immigration was also the issue that moved Rosa Arellano to switch parties. In 2016, during Trumps first campaign for president, she was a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer whose job required her to testify in court when migrants who crossed the border had previously been convicted of violent crimes. She said she knew of the bad hombres Trump was referring to during a presidential debate as he advocated for tougher immigration rules. And she thought the ensuing criticism Trump received for the comment was unfair.

Thats when I started to open up my eyes, she said.

She considered herself a Democrat but was not a regular voter. After Trumps run, she decided that the Republican Party aligned more with her socially conservative values on issues like border security, government assistance and abortion. Now, her whole family is politically active in getting local Republicans elected to office. Her son, Freddy Arellano, served as Maverick County GOPs chair when he was 19.

Were seeing a change here, Freddy Arellano said. You could tell what the border wants. It was border security, abortion and election integrity. Those things stood out more than anything.

Even among border Democrats, immigration and border security are priority issues. State Rep. Eddie Morales, a Democrat from Eagle Pass, was one of the co-authors of a law passed last year that appropriated $1.8 billion in state funds for additional border security that would aid Abbotts Operation Lone Star, which has sent thousands of Department of Public Safety troopers and National Guard service members to patrol the border. Immigrant rights advocates and some Texas Democrats have called on the Justice Department to investigate the state missions treatment of migrants and use of spending.

But Morales said he represents the nuanced approach voters in his region have toward the issues. While he supported the border security funding, part of which would also go toward building border wall or fencing, Morales also supports guest worker programs for migrants that would allow them to live in the country legally, letting immigration authorities monitor their whereabouts while at the same time providing much-needed labor sources for ranchers in the state. Morales wrote Abbott in May asking him to support the policy but has not received an answer.

Morales also wants to see better treatment for the migrants who are crossing the border into his city.

Even [for] Democrats, its important to the community here, the border issues were facing, he said. [But] of course, we need to do it in a way where we are respectful to those that are coming.

That sentiment resonates with voters like Amerika Garcia Grewal, a Democrat in Eagle Pass, who counts immigration as one of her priorities this election cycle. Her father carries water bottles in his car that he can give to struggling migrants he sees walking alongside the citys roads. She wants to see migrants treated humanely and is turned off by how many Republicans refer to them as illegals.

They are people, she said. How would you want to be treated if you no longer had a home and couldnt survive where youre living?

Despite the GOPs push in border areas, Democratic leaders are quick to point out that participation in Republican primaries is still far short of their own. In Maverick County, for example, only 624 voters participated in the 2022 GOP primary in March.

Thats major growth from the 79 voters who participated in the countys Republican primaries in 2014, but less than 10% of the 6,656 voters who participated in the countys Democratic primaries this year.

Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, said voters in border regions arent swayed by a Republican Party that claims to be for family values but wont increase funding for schools and the health care system or fight for a higher minimum wage to support low-income families. Those are all issues that are front and center for Democratic campaigns and voters along the border.

They can try to make these arguments left and right in South Texas but our folks are not dumb, Hinojosa said. They understand whos on their side and whos not.

To counter the GOPs offensive on immigration in border regions, Hinojosa said his party plans to put together strong Get out the vote campaigns to remind Democrats why their party is the best choice for them and to make sure that voters are getting to the polls.

But its not just immigration that motivates South Texas and border voters. He said voters want to see gun safety measures to prevent mass shootings like the one that killed 21 people at a Uvalde elementary school in May, including 19 children.

That is the top issue for Rogelio Mancha Jr., a Democrat who has several relatives, including a sister, who are schoolteachers. Republicans in Texas have largely signaled resistance to any measure that would restrict gun access.

There needs to be a big change, Mancha said. I worry about not just my family, but other people involved in the schools. There shouldnt be innocent lives taken away.

A political realignment

While Latino voters along the border have traditionally been conservative on social issues like abortion and LGBTQ rights, fueled by traditional Christian values, they tend to reject polarizing views on those fronts, said Jason Villalba, the founder of the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation and a former GOP state legislator.

Hispanics in [South Texas] dont vote on the color of the jersey, they vote based on candidates that will have the best impact in their communities and in their lives, he added. They vote for jobs, employment, security and education. Those will win the hearts and minds of Hispanics, regardless of party.

And younger generations are leaving behind their parents conservative views and trending more progressive, said Jeronimo Cortina, a political scientist at the University of Houston who studies Latino voters.

He pointed to the recent close race between Cuellar and liberal champion Jessica Cisneros in Laredo as evidence of that shift. Cuellar, a 17-year incumbent who is the only anti-abortion Democrat remaining in Texas congressional delegation, edged out Cisneros, a fiery liberal who had been endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, by only 289 votes.

Cortina said he sees a political realignment happening among Latino voters that will make political races in border areas interesting over the next few years.

You have an opportunity for both parties to make special inroads, but the interesting point here is that the inroads are going to be made in such ways that you have to take into account generations, Cortina said. Are [Republicans] betting on older Latinos going out to vote and give them some advantage in this cycle? And are Democrats trying to make inroads in terms of trying to lure to the Democratic Party more progressive and younger Latinos?

Freddy Arellano, the former Democrat who now helps local Republicans with their campaigns in Maverick County, is undaunted by the trend lines of young Latino voters and said he will push to make the region a GOP battleground.

I know that we can win over young Latinos, Arellano said. I look forward to inspiring a lot of young people to go out and vote for the Republican Party.

Martinez, the Democratic chair, said shes going to work just as hard to prevent that.

Were going to fight tooth and nail to keep our county blue, she said. Over my dead body well let this county go red.

Carla Astudillo contributed to this report.

Disclosure: University of Houston has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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Along the Texas-Mexico border, GOP enthusiasm mounts as Democrats defect over immigration concerns - The Texas Tribune