Author: Stacy Choi

President Biden made a three-day swing through Pennsylvania, including his hometown of Scranton, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. During his visit, President Biden called attention to the stark differences between his economic plan and Trump’s self-serving plan that caters to big corporations and his ultra-wealthy friends.

• In Pennsylvania: Times-Leader: Biden sees economy ‘through the eyes of Scranton, not Mar-a-Lago’
• In Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Biden makes unions and steel the focus of his first 2024 visit to Pittsburgh
• In Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Business Times: Biden to steelworkers: U.S. Steel should remain a ‘totally American company’
• In Pennsylvania: Sharon Herald: Biden calls for increased tariffs on foreign steel, aluminum in Pittsburgh speech
• In Pennsylvania: WESA: In Pittsburgh, Biden renews his pledge to oppose the sale of U.S. Steel to a Japanese firm
• In Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Tribune: In North Philadelphia appearance, Biden paints contrast between himself and Trump
• In Pennsylvania: WNEP: Pres. Biden touts tax plan at Scranton Cultural Center
• In Pennsylvania: WOLF: Pres. Biden leaves Scranton, makes local stops before departing
• In Pennsylvania: WPVI: President Biden visits childhood home in Scranton, Pennsylvania

This week, Vice President Harris visited Las Vegas, Nevada where she praised efforts to enshrine abortion rights in Nevada’s Constitution and slammed Trump for his role in the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

• In Nevada: FOX5 Las Vegas: VP Kamala Harris holds discussion about gun violence, community safety in Las Vegas
• In Nevada: KLAS: Vice President Kamala Harris makes stop in Las Vegas
• In Nevada: KNTV Las Vegas: Vice President Harris talks abortion, guns during visit to Southern Nevada
• In Nevada: KSNV: Vice President Harris promotes Reproductive Act during Las Vegas visit
• In Nevada: Las Vegas Review-Journal: VP Harris rallies for reproductive rights in Las Vegas visit
• In Nevada: Nevada Current: Harris warns a second Trump term would endanger abortion rights in Nevada
• In Nevada: Nevada Public Radio: Vice president voices support for reproductive rights at Las Vegas rally

The Democratic National Committee put up billboards in Pennsylvania ahead of Trump’s visit to the battleground state, highlighting that Trump is responsible for extreme abortion bans across the nation and that he will enact a national abortion ban, ripping away the rights of Pennsylvanians and Americans regardless of where they live, if given the chance. 

• In Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Capital-Star: DNC billboards criticize Trump on abortion ahead of Pennsylvania campaign stop
• In Pennsylvania: WFMZ: DNC Billboards in Pennsylvania Slam Trump for Extreme Abortion Bans
• In Pennsylvania: WHYY: Democrats counter Trump rally with reminder that reproductive rights hang in balance

While Arizona Democrats work to repeal the state’s near-total abortion ban dating back to the Civil War era that Trump made possible, extreme Republicans in the state House doubled down on Trump’s extreme ban. 

• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: Kari Lake downplays 1864 abortion law, says Arizonans can travel ‘3 hours’ for procedure
• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: Senate kick-starts Arizona abortion ban repeal after House Republicans block similar bill
• In Arizona: Arizona Mirror: Arizona women will die because yellow-bellied Republicans are afraid of political risk | Opinion
• In Arizona: Arizona Mirror: Dems say Republicans broke rules by ignoring attempts to force a vote on an abortion ban repeal
• In Arizona: KVOA: Local leaders react to blocked 1864 abortion ban repeal

To honor Black Maternal Health Week, Team Biden-Harris and Democrats came together to raise awareness of the long-standing disparities in maternal health care that Black women face, while Trump continues to push for policies that would exacerbate this crisis across the nation.

• In Michigan: WJBK: Biden Campaign Hold Black Maternal Health Week Event
• In Michigan: tellusdetroit.com: Biden-Harris Campaign, Detroit Community Leaders, and Advocates Spotlight the Threat Trump Poses to Black Mothers
• In Pennsylvania: Hazleton Standard Speaker: During Black Maternal Health Week, Pa. officials highlight efforts to cut mortality rates
• In Missouri: KCUR: ‘It’s a crisis’: Midwest lawmakers back Momnibus Act to curb Black maternal mortality

In more news, voters rejected Trump’s MAGA agenda in Michigan as Democrats restored their state trifecta and elected two new Democrats who will champion reproductive rights to the state House.

• In Michigan: Detroit Free Press: Democratic majority in Michigan House restored with special elections
• In Michigan: Bridge Michigan: Democrats retake Michigan House with special election wins
• In Michigan: Macomb Daily: Democrats reclaim House majority with Xiong Warren win
• In Michigan: Michigan Advance: Democrats regain full control of state House with two special election wins
• In Michigan: Upper Michigan Source: Michigan House of Representatives gridlock ends as Democrats retake house majority
• In Michigan: WJR: Michigan Democrats Regain Full Control of State House After Special Elections
• In Michigan: WWMT: Michigan House swings to Democratic majority post special elections

The post IN THE STATES: Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans Push for Extreme Abortion Bans, Democrats Fight Back appeared first on Democrats.

As Trump’s toxic agenda and divisiveness splinters Republican state parties beyond repair, MAGA Republicans doubled down on their losing strategy of hateful rhetoric, infighting, and extreme abortion bans. 

Take a look at the latest:

MAGA Republicans once again blocked efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s 1864 abortion ban with no exceptions for rape, incest or health of the mother. Donald Trump bears responsibility for this extreme ban after he “proudly” overturned Roe v. Wade and thinks the chaos currently unleashed on Arizona women is “working very brilliantly.” 

NBC News: “Arizona Republicans again quash effort to repeal 1864 abortion ban”

“For the second time in two weeks, Arizona Republican lawmakers rejected an attempt to repeal a near-total ban on abortion from 1864 that was upheld by the battleground state’s Supreme Court.”

Axios: “Arizona House again blocks repeal of 1864 abortion ban; Senate leaves door open”

“Arizona House Republicans again on Wednesday blocked an attempt to repeal the 1864 ban on nearly all abortions that was reinstated last week by the state Supreme Court.”

Arizona Republic: “Senate kick-starts Arizona abortion ban repeal after House Republicans block similar bill”

“Arizona House Republicans twice blocked attempts on Wednesday to repeal a near-total abortion ban that dates from 1864.”

MAGA Republicans follow Trump’s lead as they weaponize dangerous and divisive rhetoric instead of focusing on whether their party can function. 

The Denver Post: “Colorado GOP meltdown: Leader’s brash style, party spending under fire from fellow Republicans”

“The Republican Party in Colorado is having a crisis of confidence, facing increasing calls from within for Chairman Dave Williams to step down following a raucous GOP assembly last weekend and, in the days that followed, bitter infighting in full view.

“In the face of all the criticism, the party under Williams has doubled down.

“On its official account on the social media platform X, the state GOP went after Republican officeholders and candidates who criticized Williams, calling 4th District congressional candidate Deborah Flora a ‘dishonest, say-anything’ politician after she protested the party’s removal of the reporter from the venue. State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, a prominent figure from Brighton, caught fire from the party on the same issue.”

Media Matters: “Michigan GOP Chair Pete Hoekstra works for anti-Muslim institute that warned of ‘Great White Death’ from Muslim immigrants”

“While serving as chair of the Michigan Republican Party, Pete Hoekstra has also been working for the anti-Muslim Gatestone Institute, which has posted commentaries suggesting that Muslims are incompatible with the West, declaring ‘Islam is a Problem,’ and claiming Europe may be facing ‘Great White Death’ because of Muslim immigrants.

“Hoekstra is a former member of Congress and Trump administration ambassador who was elected the Michigan GOP chair earlier this year after a bizarre power struggle ousted far-right commentator Kristina Karamo. (Karamo has her own history of anti-Muslim remarks.) He has been a distinguished senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute since at least 2022. He has written dozens of pieces for the organization since 2021 and has continued to write for Gatestone since he assumed the Michigan GOP chair.” 

Politico: “Trump campaign asks for cut of candidates’ fundraising when they use his name and likeness”

“Former President Donald Trump’s campaign has found a new way to press for badly needed cash.

“In a letter received by Republican digital vendors this week, the Trump campaign is asking for down-ballot candidates who use his name, image and likeness in fundraising appeals to give at least 5 percent of the proceeds to the campaign.

“The letter comes as Trump is struggling to close a fundraising gap with President Joe Biden. Biden’s campaign has said that it has raised over $190 million, more than double what Trump has taken in.”

The post MAGA in the States: Doubling Down on Trump’s Abortion Bans and Dysfunction appeared first on Democrats.

This week, the horrifying news of the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a near-total abortion ban dating back to 1864 sent shockwaves throughout the country. Women in Arizona and across the country witnessed news of this 160-year-old ban becoming reality – and it’s all because of Donald Trump.  

• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: National Democrats hit Trump and Schweikert for backtracking on reproductive rights
• In Arizona: AZ Family: Biden campaign launches abortion ad in Arizona days after court ruling
• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: Arizona reacts to state Supreme Court implementing 1860 abortion law
• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: What Arizona leaders and lawmakers are saying about abortion ban after high court ruling
• In Arizona: KVOA: Arizona Supreme Court’s decision on abortion access sparks controversy
• In Arizona: KSWT: Local community reacts to near total abortion ban ruling
• In Arizona: 12 News: Arizona Supreme Court rules all elective abortions are now ‘illegal,’ 1864 law can be enforced
• In Arizona: Copper Courier: Arizona Republicans rush to distance themselves from abortion ban they fought for

Nationwide, Trump’s extreme abortion bans were under fire as Americans from coast to coast read news that Donald Trump is responsible for women’s reproductive rights being ripped away from them.

• In Florida: Florida Phoenix: Dems vow to hold Trump accountable for 6-week abortion law about to go into effect in Florida
• In Michigan: Michigan Advance: Whitmer “confident” Trump will sign a federal abortion ban if given the opportunity
• In Nevada: KOLO: Nevada Representatives express anger over Arizona abortion decision
• In North Carolina: ABC11: 2 women impacted by abortion restrictions, campaign for Biden in North Carolina
• In North Carolina: Queen City News: As CLT becomes surge point for abortion access, some women fear Trump will restrict it even further if re-elected
• In North Carolina: News & Observer: Biden supporters, including women who miscarried, blast Trump on abortion at NC event
• In Pennsylvania: Penn Capital-Star: Gov. Shapiro calls Trump agenda ‘too dangerous and extreme’ ahead of Pennsylvania campaign visit
• In Utah: ABC4 Utah: Utah Democrats respond to Trump’s taking credit for ‘extreme abortion bans’

Across the states, Trump’s Republican Party doubled down on its MAGA madness – from supporting extreme abortion bans with no exceptions for rape or incest to election denialism and employing dangerous individuals who threaten to kill law enforcement. 

• In Alabama: Alabama Reflector: Republicans scrutinize voting rolls and ramp up for mass challenges ahead of election
• In New Hampshire: Granite Post: State Rep who threatened shooting spree of police is a NH Trump campaign chair
• In Missouri: Missouri Independent: Republican National Committee courts election conspiracy theorists to help watch polls

Also this week, President Biden visited Madison, Wisconsin to unveil the administration’s new student loan relief initiative. The plan promises life-changing relief for 30 million borrowers when combined with other actions taken by the Biden administration, granting them newfound freedom to pursue their dreams without overwhelming student debt after Donald Trump left them behind. 

• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff touts Biden student loan relief in AZ: ‘Fixing a broken system’
• In Massachusetts: WWLP: New student loan forgiveness plan: What this means for those still paying after debt
• In Pennsylvania: Fox43: President Biden announces new student loan forgiveness plan during Wisconsin visit
• In Virginia: Prince William Times: In Wisconsin, Biden underlines plans to help college students with ‘unsustainable debts’
• In Wisconsin: Wisconsin Public Radio: Biden unveils student loan forgiveness plan in Madison
• In Wisconsin: WMTV: President Biden visits Madison to announce new student debt relief plan
• In Wisconsin: WisPolitics: Biden touts student debt relief plan during Madison stop
• In Wisconsin: Madison365: President Biden unveils details of new student loan forgiveness plan in Madison

Vice President Harris made a stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania this week to discuss the Biden-Harris administration’s latest actions to reduce and eliminate student debt for tens of millions of hardworking Americans and rally with local Democrats.

• In Florida: Florida Phoenix: VP Kamala Harris in Philly to tout Biden administration’s latest student debt relief proposal
• In Pennsylvania: WHYY: Vice President Kamala Harris unveils more student debt relief measures in North Philly
• In Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Capital-Star: VP Kamala Harris in Philadelphia to tout Biden administration’s latest student debt relief proposal
• In Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Inquirer: Vice President Kamala Harris schmoozes with Mayor Parker, other Philly Dems ahead of Pa. primary
• In Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Inquirer: Vice President Kamala Harris, in Philly, promotes student debt relief plan
• In Pennsylvania: KYW Newsradio: Vice President Harris swings by Philly elementary school to talk latest loan forgiveness program

President Biden is delivering tangible results to Americans, catalyzing state economies through historic investments and generating millions of jobs in both rural and urban communities. Nationwide, President Biden’s investments are building our economy from the middle out and the bottom up. 

• In Arizona: 12News: More CHIPS, more jobs? Semiconductor manufacturing company to build 3rd factory in Arizona with support from CHIPS Act
• In Arizona: AZPM: Arizona’s Clean Tech Boom: $90 billion invested, ‘thousands of jobs created’
• In Arkansas: KATV: Biden-Harris Administration Grants $16.1 Million to Arkansas for Infrastructure Upgrades
• In Oregon: Central Oregon Daily: North Irrigation Unit receiving $2.5M to install solar panels over canals
• In Wisconsin: FOX2548: Senator Baldwin announces rural airport funding for Wisconsin
• In Wyoming: The Cheyenne Post: Wyoming to Receive Close to $19 Million for Public Transit

The post IN THE STATES: Trump’s Extreme Abortion Bans Send Shockwaves Throughout the Country appeared first on Democrats.

Donald Trump and his MAGA allies’ deeply unpopular policies are only rivaled by their deep dysfunction. Across the states, Trump’s Republican party doubled down on their MAGA madness – from supporting extreme abortion bans with no exception for rape or incest to employing dangerous individuals who threaten to kill law enforcement. 

Take a look at the latest:

Trump is responsible for the cruel abortion ban in Arizona that makes no exceptions for rape, incest, or the health of the mother. No amount of spin or lies from him or MAGA Republicans will change that.

Axios: GOP suffers desert meltdown on abortion

“A day after former President Trump thought he’d tamped down the GOP’s exposure on abortion, it popped back up in the key 2024 battleground of Arizona.

“Why it matters: Trump ushered in the end of Roe vs. Wade and its national protection of abortion rights, and now his party is suffering a massive voter backlash.

“Abortion rights have yet to lose since the end of Roe when the decision has been up to voters instead of legislators or courts. The big picture: Despite the backlash, state-level Republicans have responded to the end of Roe by pushing extremely strict restrictions on abortion, including many that effectively outlaw the practice.

“The Arizona Supreme Court, controlled by GOP-appointed justices, upheld today a 1864 law that allowed abortion only to save the life of the mother.

“Between the lines: The state court ruling creates a stark contrast in November.

“Republicans have ushered in a near-total ban.

“Democrats are pushing a state constitutional amendment for the ballot to protect abortion rights up to 24 weeks.”

New York Times: Kari Lake Called Arizona’s Abortion Ban a ‘Great Law,’ but Now She Denounces It

“Kari Lake, the leading Republican candidate for Senate in Arizona, was quick to denounce the state Supreme Court’s ruling upholding an 1864 law banning nearly all abortions in the state. The law is ‘out of step with Arizonans,’ she said in a statement. She called on state lawmakers to ‘come up’ with a ‘solution that Arizonans can support.’

“But Ms. Lake, an ally of former President Donald J. Trump and a 2020 election denier, had voiced enthusiastic support for the law less than two years ago, when she was in the midst of a scorched-earth campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. Asked then what she thought of the ban, she said she was thrilled it existed and called a ‘great law.’”

Copper Courier: Arizona Republicans rush to distance themselves from abortion ban they fought for

“Arizona lawmakers with an extensive history of opposition to abortion-related healthcare spent Tuesday deriding the state’s newly reinstated, total abortion ban.

“But those who passed the 15-week ban made clear the eventual goal was to ban abortion services entirely. Three months after Republicans passed the 15-week ban, Queen Creek Sen. Jake Hoffman prepared to introduce a new bill to ban abortion entirely.

“When conflict arose surrounding the bill—Republican House Majority Leader Ben Toma wouldn’t bring the bill to a vote over worries its introduction could signal that the 1864 ban was no longer legally sound—the two nearly got into a physical altercation to prove who was the most anti-abortion.

‘I’m more pro-life than you will ever be!’ Toma shouted on the House floor. ‘I’ve done more to help life than you ever will.’

“Toma, who later explained that all Republican legislators support a total ban but need to be more strategic about implementing one, has now toned down his support considerably, while still not taking a total ban off the table.”

The laundry list of Donald Trump’s ties to dangerous, violent individuals keeps getting longer as new reporting revealed one of his campaign chairs had inappropriate relationship with a teen girl and threatened to murder police officers and rape the chief’s wife and children. 

Granite Post: State Rep who threatened shooting spree of police is a NH Trump campaign chair

“New Hampshire State Representative Jonathan Stone, who was last week revealed to have been terminated as a police officer following an investigation into his relationship with a minor and threats of mass shootings and rape, has multiple ties to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign in the state.

“Trump personally identified Stone as his campaign chair for Sullivan County during a speech in late 2023 in Claremont, where Rep. Stone is based, and thanked him for his work on the campaign.

“Stone spoke on behalf of the Trump campaign on multiple news reports ahead of the New Hampshire primary, including one on WCAX as recently as January of this year. In one report, he previewed a Trump visit to the region, where it was mentioned Stone had been connected to the Trump campaign going back as far as his 2016 presidential campaign.”

In peak extremism, MAGA Republicans continue to falsely spread lies about the 2020 election. 

Missouri Independent: Republican National Committee courts election conspiracy theorists to help watch polls

“As the Republican National Committee ramps up plans to monitor the polls for illegal voting this fall, the national party is increasingly working with a loose network of anti-fraud extremists who have been found to routinely spread election lies. 

“The extremists also have close ties to the prominent far-right conspiracy theorists who tried to overturn the 2020 results of the presidential election.

“The director of the Republican National Committee’s department for ‘election integrity’ — tighter voting rules that prioritize anti-fraud measures over access — spoke at an April 4 online meeting hosted by two Florida activists who are close allies of the pillow entrepreneur and leading election-conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell.”

Alabama Reflector: Republicans scrutinize voting rolls and ramp up for mass challenges ahead of election

“In the chaotic aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, he believed that too many of his fellow Republicans were convinced that there was widespread voter fraud. By keeping voter rolls current, Hoen thought he could restore voter trust in his county’s election system.

“Hoen was surprised, then, to be named in a lawsuit the Republican National Committee and the Nevada Republican Party filed last month against him, four other Nevada county clerks and the secretary of state. The lawsuit alleges that five localities had ‘inordinately high’ voter registration rates, and that the state is violating federal law by not having what are known as ‘clean’ voter rolls.

“Hoen said the lawsuit is ‘unfortunate’ and ‘a distraction’ in a pivotal election year. The state responded by saying the data Republicans used in the lawsuit are ‘highly flawed’ and that the RNC’s analysis was like ‘comparing apples to orangutans.’”

The post MAGA in the States: Ripping Away Freedoms, Spreading Lies, and Embracing Violence appeared first on Democrats.

KEY POINT: “‘Abortion is banned in Arizona thanks to Donald Trump. He won’t stop until it’s banned nationwide,’ five billboards will read, some in English and others in Spanish.”

Arizona Republic: National Democrats hit Trump and Schweikert for backtracking on reproductive rights
[By Laura Gersony 4/11/24]

• National Democratic groups are seizing the opportunity to highlight Republicans’ shifting rhetoric on abortion rights after the Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a near-total ban on abortion.
• They are taking aim at candidates in several of Arizona’s top-of-the-ticket races.
• On Thursday, the Democratic National Committee will launch a billboard campaign in the Phoenix and Tempe areas alleging that Trump is responsible for Tuesday’s ruling.
• “Abortion is banned in Arizona thanks to Donald Trump. He won’t stop until it’s banned nationwide,” five billboards will read, some in English and others in Spanish.
• In a platform released on Monday, Trump called for state-level laws on the issue rather than a national one, though he has suggested his support for a national law in the past.
• Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the DNC’s allegation.

The post ICYMI: Arizona Republic: National Democrats Hit Trump and Schweikert for Backtracking on Reproductive Rights appeared first on Democrats.

In response to the Arizona Supreme Court’s ruling, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison released the following statement: 

“Today, MAGA Republicans rolled the clock back 160 years on women’s rights. The Arizona Supreme Court’s decision to uphold an archaic and dangerous abortion ban from 1864 with no exceptions for health, rape, or incest rests squarely on Donald Trump’s shoulders. Trump said so himself – he is proud that he overturned Roe v. Wade and fully supports every draconian abortion ban that his extreme MAGA allies can push through in states across the country.

“Women’s lives are at risk. Doctors are under threat of prosecution and jail time. Trump is responsible – period.

“This shouldn’t be happening in America, but Trump and his allies are hellbent on inserting themselves into the most personal decisions women can make, even including contraception and IVF. This ban is beyond cruel, and things will only get worse if Trump gets another term. Trump has called for ‘punishment’ for women who have an abortion, and his MAGA allies are already pushing a plan that would allow Trump to rip away access to reproductive care in all 50 states with or without Congress. 

“The stakes are clear: Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in November, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the only candidates who will fight to codify Roe and stand up for women’s right to make their own health care decisions.”

The post DNC Chair Jaime Harrison Statement on Arizona Supreme Court Upholding Extreme Abortion Ban appeared first on Democrats.

With the decision from the Florida Supreme Court this week allowing a near-total ban on abortion in the state, Team Biden-Harris released a new ad slamming Donald Trump for his role in overturning Roe, which paved the way for Florida’s extreme abortion ban. 

• In Florida: Florida Phoenix: Biden campaign begins airing ad in Florida attacking Trump’s call for a national abortion law
• In Florida: Tampa Bay Times: Abortion in Florida: Democratic candidates just got a boost for 2024
• In Florida: Palm Beach Post: Biden campaign chief: Trump ‘owns every single cruel’ abortion ban in the United States
• In Florida: Florida Politics: Joe Biden campaign makes clear that Florida is in play for 2024 — probably
• In Florida: News4JAX: Florida abortion providers brace for new law restricting abortions after six weeks; abortion ballot measure in spotlight
• In Florida: WPLG Local 10: Democrats eye Florida’s abortion vote as chance to flip the state. History says it’ll be a challenge
• In Florida: WMNF: Democrats look to abortion issue to help fall election
• In Georgia: Atlanta Voice: Democrats say Florida is in play in 2024 due to Conservatives’ anti-abortion push

Nationwide, Trump’s push to ban abortion was under fire. Trump proudly brags that he was the one who “got rid of” Roe v. Wade, and he won’t stop until reproductive freedoms are ripped away from women across the country.

• In Arizona: Arizona Mirror: A vote for Trump is a vote for a national abortion ban, Whitmer says on AZ trip
• In Arizona: Arizona Republic: Voters ‘cannot trust’ Trump on abortion, Michigan governor says in Phoenix
• In North Carolina: WLOS: Gov. Roy Cooper weighs in on Florida Supreme Court abortion ban ruling
• In Pennsylvania: The Keystone: A second Trump term could lead to abortion and IVF bans

MAGA Republicans continue to raise chaos under Trump’s leadership, and it’s gotten so disastrous they’re struggling to pay their own rent. As their infighting continues, it becomes clearer by the day that the Republican Party’s inability to govern exists at all levels.

• In Arizona: Arizona’s Politics: UPDATE: AZGOP Admits Failing To Report and Pay Rent On Office Building For Several Months
• In Georgia: Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia GOP leader demands vice-chair resign after he was sanctioned for illegal votes
• In North Carolina: WUNC: NC Democratic Party outpaces NCGOP in fundraising
• In North Dakota: Inforum: Port: The NDGOP’s civil war may be on full display in the opening hours of the party’s state convention
• In Rhode Island: The Providence Journal: RI GOP party goes ‘all volunteer’ after executive director steps down. What that means.

While Trump’s operation is nonexistent in critical battleground states, Team Biden-Harris and Democrats are growing stronger and prepared to win this November. 

• In North Carolina: WGHP: Pres. Joe Biden’s reelection campaign expands North Carolina staffing
• In New Hampshire: Granite Post: As NH Dems open fourth NH campaign office, Trump cash crunch seems to hold operation back
• In Pennsylvania: Bucks County Beacon: Campaign Offices For Democrats Ashley Ehasz And Joe Biden To Be Strategically Located in Bucks County
• In Pennsylvania: The Keystone: Biden’s campaign ramps up in Pennsylvania as new poll shows him ahead

After being absent from the campaign trail, Trump traveled to Michigan and Wisconsin this week to double down on his extreme and unpopular agenda. The Democratic National Committee welcomed him with billboard campaigns in Grand Rapids and Green Bay slamming him for tanking the bipartisan border deal and failing working families.

• In Michigan: Michigan Advance: Michigan Democrats and pro-immigrant groups push back on Trump’s Grand Rapids visit
• In Michigan: WXMI: DNC Billboards in Grand Rapids, Green Bay Put Trump on Blast
• In Michigan: WXMI: Dueling billboards support, criticize Trump on border problem
• In Michigan: WZZM: DNC Billboards in Grand Rapids, Green Bay Put Trump on Blast
• In Wisconsin: WTAQ: Democrats Criticize Trump during Green Bay Rally
• In Wisconsin: WLUK : DNC Billboards in Grand Rapids, Green Bay Put Trump on Blast

On Thursday, Vice President Harris traveled to North Carolina to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to combat climate change and open a new campaign office in the Queen City.

• In North Carolina: Queen City News: VP Kamala Harris visits Charlotte, announces $20B towards clean energy projects
• In North Carolina: The Charlotte Observer: ‘A novel approach.’ Kamala Harris announces billions in clean energy grants in Charlotte
• In North Carolina: WBTV: VP Harris in Charlotte, announces $20 billion in funding for clean energy projects
• In North Carolina: WFAE: Local News Roundup: VP Harris visits Charlotte; Not enough NC school vouchers; Centene’s HQ gets a new owner
• In North Carolina: WRAL: Kamala Harris stops in Charlotte today, her 4th visit to NC this year
• In North Carolina: WSOC: Biden campaign invests heavily in North Carolina
• In North Carolina: WSOC: VP Kamala Harris comes to Charlotte to announce climate investments

While Donald Trump is threatening to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Democrats are fighting to make health care more accessible and affordable. President Biden and Vice President Harris have made affordable health care a cornerstone of their administration, expanding access to the Affordable Care Act and lowering prescription drug costs. 

• In Arizona: Arizona Capitol Times: Affordable Care Act saved my son – Trump wants to put his life at risk
• In Colorado: Colorado Newsline: Secretary Becerra touts improved health care access and equity during Colorado visit
• In Ohio: Ohio Capital Journal: As Ohio U.S. Senate campaign ramps up, anniversary put Affordable Care Act in the spotlight
• In Washington: The Seattle Times: Finally here to stay? Near 1 million in WA now get Obamacare
• In West Virginia: WCHS: Affordable healthcare advocates urge lawmakers to adjust state budget funding for Medicaid recipients
• In Wisconsin: Milwaukee Courier: President Biden Announces New Landmark Rule to Protect Americans who Purchase Short-Term Health Insurance Plans

The post IN THE STATES: Trump Slammed Across the Country for Extreme Abortion Bans appeared first on Democrats.

Under Trump’s leadership, MAGA Republicans’ disarray and disorganization has gotten so disastrous that they can’t even pay their own rent. As their infighting gets worse, it’s becoming more and more apparent that the Republican Party’s inability to govern comes from the top down.

Take a look at the latest:

Republican state parties across the country are strapped for cash and struggling to fill key roles in their leadership. Meanwhile, Democrats are out-fundraising Republicans and building on the strong infrastructure necessary for victory in November.

WUNC: “The North Carolina Democratic Party is leading its Republican counterpart in fundraising. Both parties have new leaders but Democrats enter election season with triple what the GOP has in the bank to fund campaign efforts.

“The state political party organizations help build the infrastructure for successful campaigns. So far this election cycle, the state Democratic party has raised $5.26 million for its state and federal campaign accounts. The state Republican Party, meanwhile, has raised over $3.34 million across its accounts.

“As of the latest campaign finance reports in February, the N.C. Democratic Party had $2.44 million on hand, while the NCGOP had $871,000.”

Arizona Politics: “The Arizona Republican Party confessed today to the Federal Elections Commission that they failed to report and pay rent ‘for multiple months’ in 2023 due to their ‘shortage of cash-flow and donations.’”

“The party says the lack of paid expenses was accurate. ‘Please note that the Committee had a shortage of cash-flow and donations up until the end of 2023.’”

The Providence Journal: “The Rhode Island Republican Party’s executive director has stepped down and, at least in the short term, will not be replaced.”

“State party Chairman Joe Powers Monday said the organization had ‘not put in a plan to fill the position straight away’ and would be returning to the all-volunteer arrangement that was in place from 2018 until Solorio’s hiring in 2022.

Trump’s extreme, MAGA vision for America is ripping the Republican Party apart, and there aren’t signs that things will get any better.  

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Georgia GOP leader demands vice-chair resign after he was sanctioned for illegal votes”

“The chairman of the Georgia GOP has joined other Republicans in demanding that the embattled first vice-chair of the state party resign after a judge found he violated state laws when he voted nine times while serving probation for a felony check forgery sentence.”

Inforum: “Port: The NDGOP’s civil war may be on full display in the opening hours of the party’s state convention | Opinion”

“This controversy is the latest chapter of the NDGOP’s civil war between populist insurgents, who have seized much of the power within the NDGOP’s apparatus, and the traditional “normie” Republicans who have been winning elections in North Dakota for more than three decades.”

The post MAGA in the States: A Steaming Crock of Chaos and Extremism appeared first on Democrats.

After being MIA from the campaign trail and absent from critical battleground states, Donald Trump traveled to Michigan and Wisconsin yesterday to spread more lies about his abysmal record, double down on his extreme and violent rhetoric, and fan flames of hatred and division. The Democratic National Committee greeted him with a billboard campaign in Grand Rapids and Green Bay to slam him for tanking the bipartisan border deal and failing working families.

In case you missed it, here’s what Wisconsinites and Michiganders were seeing:

On National Broadcast:

FOX News:“But tonight Democrats are fighting back. The DNC launching these new billboards in swing states blaming Trump for the collapse of a bipartisan border security bill.”

MSNBC News:“Meanwhile, the Biden campaign is saying that Trump is essentially using a tragedy. The DNC is up with new billboards in the Grand Rapids area essentially highlighting that it was President Biden, who backed a bipartisan border bill, and it was Donald Trump who helped block it – that would have done something to increase border security.”

“Just in the past couple of minutes, we saw outside the local Democrats have a press conference here where they essentially said, ‘this is the reason why Trump killed that bill,’ essentially saying that he wanted to use it for political points rather than addressing the hard issue.”

NBC News:“Democrats argue Mr. Trump is trying to exploit Garcia’s death. They blame the former president for killing a bipartisan border security bill in Congress. These billboards are now going up in the crucial swing states.”

On Local Broadcast: 

WLUK (FOX – Green Bay, WI): “Fox 11 has confirmed that this anti-Trump billboard along Ashland Avenue in Green Bay – which is paid for by the Democratic National Committee – is only running today to coincide with Trump’s visit…”

“Trump’s detractors took aim at the former president’s lack of [presence] here in Wisconsin and criticized his visit. Now, during a news conference at the Brown County Democratic Party headquarters, Joe Biden supporters talked about the negative impact Trump’s first administration had on Green Bay and Wisconsin; including the loss of jobs, the lack of tax cuts for the middle class, and how Trump’s Supreme Court nominees helped overturn Roe v. Wade. Not only did Biden supporters tout the president’s record and the good things he’s done for Wisconsin. They implored people to not support Donald Trump because of the harm he’s already caused, but also how damaging another Trump administration could be for Wisconsin.”

WTAQ (Green Bay, WI): Democrats Criticize Trump during Green Bay Rally

“An anti-Trump billboard along Ashland Avenue in Green Bay, which was paid for by the Democratic National Committee, is only running Tuesday to coincide with Trump’s visit.”

WZZM (ABC – Grand Rapids, MI):“The Democratic National Committee is launching a billboard campaign to coincide with Donald Trump’s visit to Grand Rapids today. The billboards are up along 131 and I-96. They call the former president out for ‘tanking the bipartisan border deal.’ The DNC accuses Trump of putting his own political ambitions ahead of border security, saying President Joe Biden worked with other Republicans to find a bipartisan solution to secure the border.”

WXMI (FOX  – Grand Rapids, MI): Dueling billboards support, criticize Trump on border problem

“Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee raised three billboards — one near Coopersville, one near Wayland and one in Comstock Park — blaming the border problem on Trump, asserting he and ‘MAGA Republicans’ shot down a bipartisan deal to resolve the border problem.”

WXMI (FOX  – Grand Rapids, MI):“Meanwhile, the Democratic National Committee raised three billboards of their own — right near Coopersville, Wayland and one in Comstock Park — placing the blame on Trump, asserting that he and ‘MAGA Republicans’ shot down a recent bipartisan deal that really could’ve helped resolve the border problem.”

In print:

The New York Times: Trump Again Invokes ‘Blood Bath’ and Dehumanizes Migrants in Border Remarks
[Michael Gold and Anjali Huynh, 4/2/24]

“Democrats have pushed back against that framing. Ahead of Mr. Trump’s visit, the Democratic National Committee put up billboards near Grand Rapids referring to a bipartisan border bill that fell apart in the Senate after Mr. Trump pressed Republicans to block it. The billboards claimed that ‘Donald Trump broke the border’ and that the former president wanted only ‘chaos, not solutions.’”

Politico: Trump rails against ‘border bloodbath’ as Democrats bash him on abortion
[Adam Wren and Elena Schneider, 4/2/24]

“The Democratic National Committee bracketed Trump’s visit to Grand Rapids with four billboards in the area that attacked him for leading the charge to defeat a bipartisan border security deal in Congress: ‘Donald Trump broke the border,’ the billboards read. ‘Donald Trump just wants chaos, not solutions.’”

The Washington Times: Dems lash out at Trump for border chaos in effort to save Biden in battleground states
[Seth McLaughlin, 4/2/24]

“The Democratic National Committee has erected billboards in Michigan accusing former President Donald Trump of causing the border chaos by blowing up an immigration deal on Capitol Hill.”

“‘Donald Trump broke the border,’ the billboard says. ‘He and MAGA Republicans killed the bipartisan border deal. Donald Trump just wants chaos, not solutions.’”

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