Politics

Salt Lake City’s NBC affiliate reports: Utah independent Evan McMullin portrayed himself as the true conservative in the U.S. Senate race against Republican Sen. Mike Lee in a speech Wednesday in which he called the incumbent a “constitutional conman.” Speaking to supporters at Salt City Spaces in downtown Salt Lake City, McMullin repeatedly said Lee has “betrayed” Utahns and Americans, …

CNN reports: Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Ohio GOP Gov. Mike DeWine ahead of a rally in Youngstown next week.”Little has been said about the race for Governor, where we have an outstanding person running, Mike DeWine, who quietly, but professionally, goes about doing his job and really well,” Trump, who is scheduled to hold a rally on September …

NBC News reports: Democrat John Fetterman on Wednesday agreed to a debate in Pennsylvania’s closely watched race for an open Senate seat, a day after Republican Mehmet Oz publicly questioned his opponent’s explanation for rejecting earlier invitations. A spokesperson for Fetterman, Joe Calvello, said the Democratic nominee was committing to one debate against Oz. The details have yet to be …

USA Today reports: A South Carolina judge has found that the firing squad and electric chair are prohibited by the state’s constitution, a decision sure to be swiftly appealed as the state struggles to implement its new execution protocols. In an order filed Tuesday evening, Judge Jocelyn Newman ruled that the South Carolina Department of Corrections is permanently barred from …

The Associated Press reports: It’s been more than a decade since President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, welcomed back George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, for the unveiling of their White House portraits, part of a beloved Washington tradition that for decades managed to transcend partisan politics. President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, are set to revive …

Axios reports: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) will formally unveil a four-part “Commitment to America” in Pittsburgh on Sept. 19 to tell voters why they should vote for Republicans — not just against Democrats — in November, Axios has learned. Remember the GOP’s “Contract with America” in 1994? It made promises on cutting taxes and government and other conservative …

The Detroit News reports: Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s lead over Republican Tudor Dixon has expanded to 13 percentage points with two months remaining before Election Day, according to a new poll from The Detroit News and WDIV-TV (Channel 4). The statewide survey of 600 likely voters in the battleground state found that 48% supported Whitmer, a former state lawmaker from …

Florida Politics reports: A new poll shows Sen. Marco Rubio is under the critical 50% mark with Florida voters. The survey results, conducted for AARP Florida by two top pollsters, reveal the Republican Senator with a slim lead, winning 49% support among likely voters to Democrat Val Demings’ 47%. That puts the race well within the poll’s 4.4% margin of …

The Associated Press reports: Liz Truss took office as British prime minister on Tuesday when she followed outgoing leader Boris Johnson in meeting Queen Elizabeth II for a ceremonial transfer of power showcasing centuries of tradition, but also the uncertainty and gloom presently hanging over the country. Truss, who was announced as leader of the ruling Conservative Party a day …

Politico reports: Vote.org, the nonpartisan voter registration and turnout organization, is investing at least $10 million to engage young voters ahead of the midterm election. The group is launching its “Vote Ready” campaign to reach more than 4 million voters between the ages of 18 and 30, with a focus on young voters of color, according to plans first shared …

Reuters reports: Boris Johnson bowed out as British prime minister on Tuesday, ending a tumultuous three years in office and bequeathing his successor Liz Truss a daunting list of problems to tackle. Johnson, who was forced out of office by his own Conservative Party over a series of scandals, urged the country to come together and back his successor. After …

The Associated Press reports: “This midterm looks and feels significantly different than it did six months ago,” said veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. The abortion ruling “has energized some segments, especially the Democratic constituency, and it has thrown a wrench, at least to some extent, into the hopes of winning a ton of seats.” Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel …

The Associated Press reports: Britain will get its third prime minister in just over three years this week as the ruling Conservative Party announced Monday it had chosen Liz Truss to be its new leader after an internal party contest. Truss replaces Boris Johnson, a controversial maverick who defied many of Britain’s political traditions. Johnson resigned in July after senior …

The Hill reports: Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) on Sunday said election officials nationwide are most worried about “violence and disruption” as the midterm elections approach. “Violence and disruption on Election Day, first and foremost, and in the days surrounding the election,” Benson told CBS “Face the Nation” chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett when asked about her biggest …

The New York Times reports: Tucked away in the California desert, where windmills line the sprawling hills and rainbows adorn the crosswalks, a sizable progressive L.G.B.T.Q. community has turned a once reliably Republican stronghold into a battleground in the fight for control of Congress, giving Democrats hope for picking up a House seat that has long been beyond their reach. …

The Hill reports: Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said on Sunday that President Biden was “right to sound the alarm” about former President Trump and the MAGA wing of the Republican Party. “Two of the hallmarks of a fascist political party are, one, they don’t accept the results of elections that don’t go their way. And two, they embrace political violence,” …

The New York Times reports: By the end of July, the committee had collected a record $181.5 million — but had already spent more than 95 percent of what it had brought in. The Republican group entered August with just $23.2 million on hand. Now top Republicans are beginning to ask: Where did all the money go? The answer, chiefly, …

The Associated Press reports: Democrat Katie Hobbs on Friday declined to agree to a televised debate with Republican Kari Lake as both seek the Arizona governor’s office, instead proposing individual interviews with the moderator. The campaign manager for Hobbs, who is currently secretary of state, pointed to a raucous debate between the four Republicans vying for their party’s nomination in …

The Dallas Morning News reports: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said this week that although the state’s abortion ban makes no exception for rape or incest, victims of these crimes can take emergency contraception and call the police. “We want to support those victims, but also those victims can access health care immediately, as well as to report it,” Abbott said …

Florida Politics reports: Fresh polling shows Gov. Ron DeSantis with only a 3-percentage-point lead over Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. Progress Florida and Florida Watch published polling modeled on a Republican-leaning Midterm electorate and found DeSantis leading with 48% to Crist’s 45%. That closely matches findings for a generic ballot test showing 48% of voters feel inclined to vote Republican in …