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Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey

Harris County leaders voted to confirm the results of the most recent election on Monday with the exception of one Republican.

Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey was the lone no vote on a measure to certify the results of the Nov. 2 election.

Citing grave concerns that included delays in election night results and a lack of equipment familiarity, Ramsey said he wanted an independent audit of the process.

This was a very small (turnout) election, Ramsey said. Weve got some big elections coming up next year. Weve got the primary likely in March, and weve got, of course, November 2022, and we just have to make sure that everything is as it should be.

Republican Commissioner Jack Cagle of Precinct 4 joined the three Democrats on Commissioners Court to vote yes on confirming the results.

The state has already announced it would review this years early voting returns in Harris County, which Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria said were delayed because of a power outage at the central count location. The Texas Secretary of States Office said it would work to ensure that all ballots were handled appropriately and counted validly.

The 2021 election was an off-year cycle, with no major candidates on the ballot. Voters did approve eight constitutional amendments, including one that would ban local governments from suspending religious services during an emergency.

But Ramsey's vote against certifying the results comes amid increased polarization among political parties over the validity of elections, despite no proof of widespread voter fraud.

Former President Donald Trump publicly called for an audit into Texas 2021 election results, insisting for months without evidence that widespread voter fraud cost him the election. Hours after Trumps statements, the Texas Secretary of States Office did open an audit into Harris and three other counties Dallas, Tarrant and Collin. All but Collin County voted for Joe Biden.

In September, Ramsey and Cagle voted against a resolution condemning that audit. The resolution nonetheless passed 3-2 along party lines, with Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo calling it yet another argument to feed a conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen.

A number of Texas Republicans have come under fire for refusing to accept the results of 2020s presidential election, in which Biden defeated Trump with 306 electoral college votes to Trumps 232. Biden also won 51.3% of the popular vote.

More than a dozen Texas Republicans and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz all voted to reject the presidential election results in January. That same day, violent pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop the process of counting the votes and certifying the election.

Some state Republican lawmakers who echoed the false stolen election narrative later championed sweeping new voting laws that critics say amount to voter suppression. Houston-area state Rep. Briscoe Cain, who traveled to Pennsylvania to try and help Trump overturn the election, was chair of the House Elections Committee.

Abbott also later appointed John Scott, who briefly represented Trump in his attempts to overturn the election, as Texas Secretary of State.

Ramseys tenure on Commissioners Court has not been without controversy. At a meeting two weeks ago, he was criticized for going on a conservative talk radio show and accusing Democratic Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis of corruption without evidence.

Ramsey also said Ellis, who is Black, may have anger issues. Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, also a Democrat, put forward a resolution to condemn Ramseys remarks, saying they promoted a stereotypical angry Black person image.

A resolution condemning Ramsey for his comments passed 3-2 on party lines.

Additional reporting by Andrew Schneider.

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A Republican Harris County commissioner voted against certifying the 2021 election results - Houston Public Media

The past couple of weeks have seen endless pundits predicting gloom and doom for the Democrats next year: Bidens approval rating is down. The party of the incumbent president always loses ground in midterm elections. Republicans control most state legislatures, so the decennial gerrymandering of Congressional districts will play out in Republicans favor. Inflation is up, and thats a pocketbook issue that will matter to voters. Finally, look at the results in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races.

Woe is Democrats!

Someone should offer a (slightly) contrary view.

Ive got some good news for you: Im just the guy to do it.

Three things are actually likely to be working in the Democrats favor by the time of next years midterm elections.

First, the pandemic is likely to be essentially under control in the United States by November 2022. One of the keys to controlling the pandemic is convincing (or coercing) the vaccine-hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Until the FDA approved approved, not approved through an emergency use authorization the COVID-19 vaccines, the government was hesitant to compel vaccinations. Once the FDA approved the vaccines, the government moved fairly rapidly to require government contractors and large employers to have their employees vaccinated. Although there are legal objections to those vaccination programs, theyre likely to have an impact. And those programs give other private employers the cover they need to require their employees to get vaccinated.

Add to that the availability of vaccines for children over 5 and likely under 5 by next spring and COVID-19 may be essentially under control in the United States by November 2022.

Nothing is certain, of course. Ive restricted my prediction to COVID-19 in the United States; the virus will probably still be running rampant overseas. And theres always the chance that a new, vaccine-resistant variant will emerge, putting public health, and the Democrats, back to square one. But, barring that public health disaster, the United States could almost be back to normal next year, and Democrats will benefit from that.

I suspect that Bidens approval rating will move inversely to infection rates. By November 2022, infection rates will decrease, and Bidens approval rating will improve, along with the Democrats chances.

Second, the economy is looking pretty good right now, and thats likely to continue for another 12 months. Were emerging from the virus; thats likely to continue. Businesses that benefit from the re-opening trade will reap the rewards. Unemployment is currently low and likely to move lower. Wages are increasing.

For the most part, the economy is doing well, and its likely to continue doing well for another year. Democrats will benefit.

Finally, everyone seems to be ignoring the possibility that Trump will be indicted between now and November 2022. New grand juries have been convened in New York and Georgia to investigate possible financial and electoral misconduct, respectively. Isnt the smart money betting that at least one of those two investigations will lead to an indictment?

If an indictment is handed down, any case against Trump is likely to be pending trial in November 2022. This puts Republicans in an awful bind: Trump will continue to insist that candidates pledge loyalty to him, insisting that any indictment is a Democrat-inspired witch hunt. Candidates will want to distance themselves from Trump, but Trump wont permit it. Whats a candidate to do?

Thats a tricky situation for all Republican candidates, and it cant help a political party to have its leading figure at risk of going to prison.

My crystal ball is of course cloudy. None of these events may come to pass. Even if they do, the many advantages that Republicans have in the midterm elections may outweigh the advantages accruing to the Democrats. But fate is funny, and I suspect that Democrats are not in as much trouble as the conventional wisdom suggests.

(Allow me to end on a point of personal privilege: Happy birthday to me! Today marks the eleventh anniversary of this column at Above the Law. Eleven years! Heaven help me, but thanks for reading.)

MarkHerrmannspent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and is now deputy general counsel at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeons Guide to Practicing LawandDrug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy(affiliate links). You can reach him by email atinhouse@abovethelaw.com.

Originally posted here:
Why The Expectation Of A Republican Landslide In November 2022 May Be Overstated - Above the Law

A slate of conspiracy theorists and Republican state officials headlined a rally against COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates Monday inside the state capitol.

The rally was held on the same day the legislature began its special session on redistricting. Their rhetoric included misleading or false claims about the vaccines and the efficacy of masks, as well as repeated comparisons of the present-day United States to the political climate in Germany before the Nazis took control.

Former ophthalmologist and aggressive anti-vaxxer Jim Meehan was among the events headline speakers. He touted the efficacy of ivermectin in preventing and treating COVID-19, which there is insufficient evidence for, and decried masks as useless, though they have been proven to slow the spread of the disease.

"Listen, ladies and gentlemen, we've got to rise against this medical tyranny. It's gone on too long," Meehan told the crowd on the second floor of the rotunda.

Other speakers framed the fight against vaccine and mask requirements as a Christian battle between good and evil, and the crowd was repeatedly urged to fight mandates. Six teachers fired from Oklahoma City Public Schools for not following a mask requirement made an appearance, as did Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters, who is running for state superintendent.

"I'm a teacher, I'm the secretary of education, more importantly than any of that, I'm a parent. Love seeing all the kids here today. By the way, you know what? Your mom and dad are here today because they care about you and your future," Walters said.

Several Republican state lawmakers also spoke, including Broken Arrow Sen. Nathan Dahm, Yukon Sen. Jake Merrick, McCurtain Sen. Warren Hamilton, Tulsa Sen. Joe Newhouse and Shawnee Sen. Shane Jett.

"The federal government, in collusion with corporations and an international cabal, want to control the American people. You do not have to fear a free people who are armed to the teeth if you reflect their will," Jett said.

Attorney General John OConnor was on the schedule but was not seen during a broadcast carried on The Highwire, a website prominent anti-vaxxer Del Matthew Bigtree has used to spread COVID conspiracy theories and urge people not to follow health professionals' advice.

Rallygoers were encouraged to go meet with their state lawmakers afterward.

Excerpt from:
Republican state officials and conspiracy theorists share the stage at capitol rally against COVID vaccine and mask mandates - Public Radio Tulsa

CARMEL Assemblyman Kevin Byrne (R, C Mahopac) has announced thathe will not run for another term in Albany, but will instead seek to become the next Putnam County executive.

Current Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell is not eligible to run again in 2022, due to term limits. Byrne announced his campaign intentions in a letter sent to Republican and Conservative county committee members.

Byrne, recognized as one of the most conservativemembers of the state legislature, has received high marks from both the State Republican and Conservative Committees.

His Assembly district includes the Putnam County towns of Patterson, Southeast, Mahopac, and Putnam Valley.

Ourcountyneeds leaders who are unafraid to stand up andmake governmentwork better for taxpayers,his letter said. As county executive, Ill work to make Putnam our states most welcoming county for new business and job creation; to lift property-tax burdens and innovate to make services more efficient and cost-effective.

See the article here:
Conservative Republican to run for county executive - Mid Hudson News Website

He was able to impose his will on legislation, said Joe Vitale, a Democratic state senator. He was a force of nature. So it will be a loss for those of us who respect him and support him.

Mr. Sweeney was closely allied with George E. Norcross, an insurance executive and powerful power broker whose stranglehold on southern New Jersey politics lead many to see him as a shadow governor. The two remained close during both Mr. Murphys administration and former Gov. Chris Christies eight years. Without Mr. Sweeney at the helm of the Senate, and with other Democratic losses in the southern part of the state, Mr. Norcross may no longer possess the ironclad control to shape state policy, though he still counts numerous legislators as allies.

In an interview, Mr. Norcross described Mr. Sweeney as the Lyndon Johnson of the State Legislature who brought order to the chaos. He said the sudden swelling of Republican turnout and independents anger happened with such warp speed, that there was nothing that could have been anticipated or done, because its not like we didnt have the money available to do it.

He added that the Democratic Party will need to change, both in the state and around the country, to win back voters.

The Democratic Party is going to have to, and candidates for office are going to have to, redefine themselves as fiscally responsible legislators and ones that are going to spend government money wisely and not recklessly as is portrayed, Mr. Norcross said. They cant be defined as wanting to defund police or socialist.

Mr. Sweeneys loss sets up a wide open race for his successor. Nicholas Scutari, a Democratic state senator from northern New Jersey, is seen as a possible candidate to replace Mr. Sweeney in the senate leadership. Troy Singleton, a Democratic state senator from southern New Jersey, also has been mentioned as a possible replacement, among many other candidates.

Ed Dobzanski, 56, a union truck driver from Gibbstown, N.J., said he voted for Mr. Sweeney because of the Senate presidents long support for trade unions, but he thought his rivals victory reflects a public desire for change.

I think this is a backlash of the same people being in the same positions a long time, he said. People just wanted change, they are tired of career politicians.

Jon Hurdle contributed reporting from West Deptford Township, N.J.

More:
Republican Truck Driver Beats Sweeney in N.J. Election - The New York Times