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FIRST ON FOX A leading conservative advocacy group that backs Republican causes is taking aim at House Democrats over the issue of crime and urging Congress to support a new measure that backs law enforcement.

The news ads bythe American Action Network (AAN), which were shared first with Fox News on Monday, spotlight Democrats who voted against a bill by the House Republican majority that was signed into law earlier this year by President Biden and aimed at nullifying a proposed overhaul by city officials of the District of Columbias criminal code.

And the digital ads, which AAN says its spending $100,000 to run online this week during National Police Week 2023, also urge lawmakers to support the Protect and Serve Act a pro-law enforcement piece of a larger package thats expected to receive a vote on the House floor this week.

"Carjackings, theft, violence. Crime is out of control. When Congress took action to stop it in our nations capital, even Biden signed on. But not liberals in Congress. They voted against cracking down on criminals," the moderator in the ad argues. "Now they have a chance to stand with Americas law enforcement. Critical legislation with tough new penalties for assaulting cops. Standing up to the defund the police movement. Tell liberals in Congress to side with law enforcement, not criminals."

HOUSE GOP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIR SAYS DOZENS OF DEMOCRAT SEATS IN PLAY IN 2024

Besides two spots that will run nationally, AAN is targeting with ads six House Democrats who could face challenging re-elections next year. They are Reps. Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania 17), Emilia Sykes (Ohio 13), Mary Peltola (Alaska at-large), Gabe Vasquez (New Mexico 2), and Abigail Spanberger (Virginia 7).

"Nearly 175 liberals in Congress sided with criminals over law enforcement by voting to lessen penalties for violent offenders in Washington," AAN President Dan Conston charged. "Now, Congress has a chance to instead stand up for our men and women in uniform and support new pragmatic legislation that protects law enforcement. Every Member of Congress should vote to back the blue."

FIRST ON FOX: HOUSE DEMOCRATS' RE-ELECTION COMMITTEE SHATTERS FUNDRAISING RECORD

A Fox News poll conducted earlier this year indicated that nearly nine in 10 Americans were extremely or very concerned about higher crime rates.

Fox News Poll on America's concerns. (Fox News Poll)

Longtime Republican attempts to portray Democrats as "soft on crime" had varying degrees of success in last Novembers midterm elections, as many Democrats in front-line House districts pushed back by spotlighting their support from law enforcement.

And national Democrats pushed back on GOP attacks over the issue by pointing out the no votes by House Republicans for a bill passed by the then-Democratic majority in the chamber and signed into law by Biden that increased funding for police.

"Despite their empty rhetoric, the truth is that House Republicans are the ones who have voted for major cuts to law enforcement and who have failed to condemn Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans calls to defund the FBI and DOJ," Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Courtney Rice argued. "That couldnt stand in clearer contrast to House Democrats who have a proven track record of advocating for public safety. In 2022, Democrats made their commitment to public safety clear on the campaign trail, and they will again in 2024."

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Republicans controlled the House majorityfor eight years before the Democrats won back the chamber in the 2018 midterms. Two years later, in the 2020 elections, the GOP defied expectations and took a big bite out of Democrats majority.

The GOP captured the majority in the November 2022 elections, but hopes of a red wave never materialized and the party is holding onto a fragile 222-213 majority. That means Democrats need a net gain of just five seats to win back control of the chamber next year.

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Top conservative advocacy group targets House Democrats over crime with new ad blitz - Fox News

The lifting of a pandemic-era restriction that turned away many migrants at the U.S. border has ignited fierce debates within the Democratic Party over immigration and border security, exposing raw intraparty divisions over an issue that Democrats often find difficult to navigate.

As U.S. officials brace for a rise in illegal crossings at the southern border after the expiration of the measure, known as Title 42, Democrats are grappling with competing political demands, seeking to address the intensification of a long-running humanitarian crisis and in some cases flexing their border security bona fides.

Mayors, members of Congress and other Democrats have demanded more federal support for their cities, districts and states. Some have sharply rebuked the Biden administrations decision to send troops to the border while applauding the end of the Trump-era border policy but worrying about what will replace it. And several moderate Democrats, by contrast, have criticized the White Houses decision to lift Title 42, sometimes pursuing efforts to extend it.

Taken together, the moment underscores the crosscurrents President Biden faces within his party as he slowly begins his re-election campaign and the challenges that await many Democrats in competitive races next year.

Its a tough issue because its a complex issue, said Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from El Paso, a border city that declared a state of emergency before the lifting of Title 42.

For Republicans, it comes down to three words: Build the wall, Ms. Escobar said, faulting Republicans for torpedoing past immigration overhaul proposals. For Democrats, she acknowledged, the messaging is more challenging.

We want to talk about the multifaceted approach that it takes to address this, she said, adding that sometimes, we lose people in the process, because everybody is looking for a quick, easy sound bite.

Republicans have often used border security and the arrivals of immigrants to fire up their base, at times deploying racist conspiracy theories. But that strategy has had inconsistent results in recent general elections.

And the White House has blamed Republicans for opposing Mr. Bidens efforts to pass immigration legislation.

But an array of recent polls illustrate the political dangers for Democrats on immigration. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 60 percent of Americans disapproved of Mr. Bidens handling of immigration; a similar share of registered voters in a Fox News poll said the same. Its also an issue that alarmed Mr. Bidens lead pollster early in his presidency.

It starts with a safe and secure border and communicating what youre doing to ensure theres a safe and secure border, while at the same time providing a humanitarian and responsible way to become a United States citizen, said Dan Sena, a former executive director of the House Democratic campaign arm, the first Hispanic person to have held that position.

Both priorities, he said, from a messaging perspective and from an actual policy perspective, need to move together in unison.

In the days surrounding the lifting of Title 42, some Democrats have sought to strike that balance, arguing that there should be no conflict between supporting border security and demanding compassion for asylum seekers. Title 42, a public health rule, had allowed Border Patrol agents to turn away migrants rapidly, without providing most with the chance to seek asylum and in the immediate aftermath of the lifting of the order, the scenes of chaos some had worried about did not materialize.

But some moderate Democrats running in competitive races like Senator Jon Tester of Montana have argued against lifting Title 42 for now, as they seek to combat Republican attacks that Democrats are weak on border security.

We can have law and order at the border, and still be respectful of immigrants and their rights and treat them with respect and dignity, said Representative Henry Cuellar, a conservative Texas Democrat who offered a mixed assessment of how the Biden administration had handled the rollback.

Janet Napolitano, a homeland security secretary during the Obama administration, recalled the pressures the White House had faced from various factions of the Democratic Party when increased numbers of Central American children crossed the border in 2014.

Democrats have a much broader spectrum to cover, from those that are in what I would call the immigration advocacy community, to those who I would consider the pragmatic moderates and everything in between, Ms. Napolitano said.

Ms. Napolitano, who describes herself a pragmatist on immigration, said she had also confronted these tensions as attorney general and governor of Arizona.

There are those who believe sincerely and honestly that the United States should not deport people, Ms. Napolitano said. And there are those who believe thats not realistic nor does it fully respect the sovereignty of the United States.

Progressive Democrats have previously voiced frustration over Mr. Bidens reliance on Title 42, especially given his criticism during the 2020 campaign of former President Donald J. Trumps aggressive approach to migrants, which included separating families. And some suggest that moderates in their party are mistakenly ceding ground to Republicans on the issue.

We are allowing, in some cases, Republicans to win the conversation about immigration and asylum seekers, said Representative Delia Ramirez, a left-leaning Democrat from Chicago, whose mother crossed the border while pregnant with her.

She urged her party to embrace policies including directing more emergency funding to cities that are absorbing undocumented immigrants, making efforts to keep undocumented families together, and pursuing flexible and expedited work permits that could combat labor shortages.

Many of the people arriving at the border want to work, she stressed.

Latino voters have said to me over and over, neither party has actually delivered, she said. We have an opportunity to deliver.

Mr. Bidens plan to replace Title 42 with a so-called transit ban has also angered some of his fellow Democrats. This new rule would make migrants who fail to apply for protection in a nation on their way to the border ineligible for asylum within the United States.

The transit ban is a problem, said Representative Adriano Espaillat, Democrat of New York. The traditional asylum-seeking model should not be altered or mutilated with these new policies.

Some mayors of major liberal cities have expressed other concerns about managing the flow of migrants into their cities. Mayor Eric Adams of New York has been strikingly critical of the Biden administration.

And Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, D.C., privately conveyed to the White House that she was much more concerned than she had let on about migrants being dropped off in the city last year, according to a former White House official. A representative for Ms. Bowser did not respond to a request for comment.

Its a prickly, prickly subject, Mr. Sena said.

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Democrats Spar Over Immigration as Title 42 Lifts - The New York Times

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Democratic donors in Florida are trying to persuade former National Basketball Association stars Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill to run for a Florida U.S. Senate seat in 2024, NBC News reported May 8, 2023.

Wade, 41, led Marquette University to a Final Four appearance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament in 2003.

He then played for the Miami Heat in 15 of his 17 seasons in the NBA, ending in 2019.

The Florida donors and party operatives are seeking a high-profile candidate to run as a Democrat against Republican Sen. Rick Scott, NBC reported.

Scott, the former governor, was elected to the Senate in 2018. He defeated the incumbent, Democrat Bill Nelson, by 50.1% to 49.9%.

Cook Political Report rates the 2024 race as likely Republican.

Wade stated that he and his family moved out of Florida in support of his 15-year-old transgender daughter after state lawmakers pushed to implement anti-LGBTQ laws there.

This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such asthis one.

Sources

NBC NewsDemocratic donors hope to recruit NBA legends Grant Hill and Dwyane Wade to run for Senate in Florida

Encyclopedia BritannicaDwyane Wade

US Senator Rick ScottRick Scott Senate Biography

New York TimesFlorida Senate Election Results: Bill Nelson vs. Rick Scott

Cook Political Report2024 CPR Senate Race Ratings

The HillDwyane Wade says his family left Florida because they would not be accepted there

Originally posted here:
Are some Democrats trying to recruit a former Marquette University ... - WisconsinWatch.org

Democratic leaders from Tarrant County want the Department of Justice to investigate the actions of Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare and the countys election integrity unit.

In a letter sent to the office of the U.S. Attorney General, US Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, asked Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke to conduct a federal investigation into the County Judges actions to protect minority voters in Tarrant County from harassment and discrimination.

Veasey, county commissioners Alisa Simmons and Roy Brooks and state Reps. Nicole Collier, Ramon Romero, Chris Turner, and Salman Bohjani all Democrats signed the letter, sent May 15. In it, they lay out concerns surrounding the creation of the task force and the subsequent resignation of election administrator Heider Garcia.

Four months after a trio of Republican leaders in Tarrant County OHare, Sheriff Bill Waybourn and District Attorney Phil Sorrells created an election integrity task force, the Democratic elected officials said they were worried that the task force and OHares conduct will frighten minority residents and keep them from exercising their right to vote.

As elected officials representing districts that are predominantly communities of color in Tarrant County, we are deeply concerned that recent actions by Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare and other county officials will further diminish the voting rights of those we represent and undermine their ability to freely and effectively participate in elections, the group wrote in its letter.

The Fort Worth Report reached out to OHare for comment but did not immediately get a response.

The letter also requests a written response outlining how the Department of Justice plans to end the pattern in Tarrant County of voter intimidation and harassment. The officials are concerned with the transparency in establishing the election integrity task force, and offered assistance to the DOJ to ensure voting rights are protected.

The letter was sent weeks after Garcia, Tarrant Countys election administrator, resigned from the county following a meeting with County Judge Tim OHare. In the letter, Garcia cited a conversation with OHare before his departure.

The letter sent by Veasey and others to the Department of Justice also mentions harassment and intimidation directed toward Garcia by local groups, including a group called Citizens for Election Integrity and the True Texas Project. OHare has previously spoken at True Texas Project events, including an April meeting where he said low voter turnout in local elections would help Republican candidates.

County Judge OHare has consistently challenged Mr. Garcias efforts to uphold the integrity and racial fairness of our elections, the letter reads. Statements made leading up to the 2020 elections and the actions taken since then by the County Judge, the County District Attorney, and the County Sheriff appear to be designed to undermine and suppress minority voter participation in Tarrant County elections.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates as the Report receives more information.

At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policyhere.

Rachel Behrndt is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her atrachel.behrndt@fortworthreport.orgor viaTwitter.

Emily Wolf is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at emily.wolf@fortworthreport.org or viaTwitter.

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South Carolina legislators are gearing up for what is expected to be a lengthy debate on Tuesday as Democrats have filed 1,000 amendments for a bill that bars abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

House Speaker Murrell Smith said last week that the South Carolina House will not adjourn Tuesday until the measure gets approved, but Democrats are hoping to prolong the discussion.

"Bring supper, dinner, breakfast, lunch, whatever for days or however long you want to get through amendments," Smith said last week.

The bill facing consideration would almost entirely ban abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. It comes as a compromise of sorts after the state Senate rejected a previous proposal to outlaw the procedure.

NEAR-TOTAL ABORTION BANS FAIL IN SOUTH CAROLINA, NEBRASKA AS REPUBLICAN HOLDOUTS EXPRESS CONCERNS

Senators confer during a break while debating amendments about the ban on abortion in the South Carolina Senate chamber on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Republicans control both legislative chambers so an abortion ban is expected to pass, but disagreements exist within the party on what limits, if any, should be in place.

The abortion debate in the state first kicked off when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last year. As a result, the two GOP-dominated chambers began debating the perimeters of the state's abortion law.

An effort last year resulted in a law banning abortions once cardiac activity is detected, but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court in January.

That decision left abortion in the state legal through 22 weeks of pregnancy leading Republicans back to the drawing board.

State Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, discusses an amendment on the abortion ban bill fellow senators listen in the South Carolina Senate chamber on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

South Carolina Republican Sen. Larry Grooms said his partys "troubles" first started when some House lawmakers "wanted to be more pro-life" and pursued a near-total ban. However, it lacked support in the state Senate.

"For those folks, the politics were more important than the policy," said Grooms.

NORTH CAROLINA'S GOVERNOR SAYS JUST 1 REPUBLICAN CAN KILL 12-WEEK ABORTION BILL

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tom Davis, who helped block the near-total ban, described the ongoing discussions as "playing with live ammunition."

"It was like this is for real now and everything that we debate and pass is going to be law," Davis said.

State Sen. Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, addresses the abortion ban bill while debating amendments in the South Carolina Senate chamber on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, in Columbia, South Carolina. (Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

The House is now weighing a Senate bill that would ban abortion when an ultrasound detects cardiac activity. Critics have described the so-called "heartbeat bill" as essentially an "outright abortion ban."

The House could have passed the Senate bill without amendments and it would have reached the governors desk to become law but a House committee last week approved changes that include mandating child support starting at conception and requiring a judge sign off on any minors request for an abortion.

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Ann Warner, the CEO of Womens Rights and Empowerment Network, said last week that the bill "puts peoples lives at risk, because it pushes health care further out of reach for the vulnerable, and makes pregnancy more dangerous for everyone."

Lawmakers in both chambers believe the new version contains tweaks that will overcome anticipated legal challenges.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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South Carolina House Democrats file 1,000 amendments to stop 6-week abortion ban - Fox News