Republicans

The Roanoke Times reports: A small number of Republicans on a congressional district committee tried to censure Rep. Denver Riggleman because he officiated a same-sex marriage earlier this month. The 5th Congressional District Republican Committee went into a closed session for more than two hours to discuss the matter at a meeting on Saturday at Healing Strides horse riding center …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: Republican Sen. Rand Paul is offering to buy Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar a plane ticket to visit her home country of Somalia to learn to be more grateful for living in the United States. Omar is one of four congresswomen — known as “The Squad” — who President Donald Trump told to “go back” to their …

Newsweek reports: The hashtag #MoscowMitch was trending on Twitter this morning after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked two election bills designed to deter interference by Russia and other states, claiming it was “partisan legislation” by the Democratic Party. It followed special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony on Wednesday that Russia is still attempting to interfere in American democracy, further to …

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports: In January, she was arrested on felony shoplifting charges after she allegedly stole 279 items valued at $2,327.97 from an Edina Target. According to a criminal complaint, Stella scanned only $50 worth of items at a self-checkout before leaving the store. She told officers she remembered “arriving at Target to purchase items but nothing else due …

Montgomery’s ABC News affiliate reports: Alabama’s only Republican female representative in Congress says she won’t seek re-election for a sixth term in 2020, meaning the seat will be without an incumbent. Rep. Martha Roby, who represents the state’s 2nd District, said Friday she won’t seek another term, issuing a statement that doe not specifically give a reason for her decision. …

The Texas Tribune reports: U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, announced Friday afternoon that he is retiring from Congress. The retirement sets up what will likely be one of the most competitive House races in the country. Olson narrowly won reelection last year against Democrat Sri Kulkarni, who is running again. While once a conservative stronghold, the district’s political future …

The Guardian reports: A pro-Trump Republican candidate for Congress who is aiming to unseat Ilhan Omar in Minnesota has been charged with a felony after allegedly stealing from stores. Danielle Stella was arrested twice this year in Minneapolis suburbs over allegations that she shoplifted items worth more than $2,300 from a Target and goods valued at $40 from a grocery …

Bloomberg reports: Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told Bloomberg she has not decided whether to run for reelection, suggesting “dark money groups” have hurt her chances. “The divisiveness of our country and the unceasing attacks by dark money groups in Maine have clearly had an impact,” Collins said Thursday. “But I believe that once Mainers really focus on the race and …

Bowling Green’s NBC News affiliate reports: A new billboard along I-65 in Hart County is raising some eyebrows. The sign reads, “Putin’s Mitch” and features a photo of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Mad Dog Political Action Committee paid for the sign and another anti-McConnell sign elsewhere. “That’s what our campaign is about, it’s about putting up billboards that bring …

The Hill reports: Senate Republicans blocked two election security bills and a cyber security measure on Wednesday in the wake of former special counsel Robert Mueller warning about meddling attempts during his public testimony. Democrats tried to get consent to pass two bills that would require campaigns to alert the FBI and Federal Election Commission about foreign assistance offers, as …

The Tennessean reports: A West Tennessee Republican lawmaker says he is stepping down from the statehouse, citing a family matter and demands of his business. Rep. Bill Sanderson, R-Kenton, confirmed Tuesday night that he plans to resign from his legislative seat. His resignation will become effective Wednesday at noon. Sanderson, who owns White Squirrel Winery in Kenton, said his business …

Roll Call reports: Michigan Rep. Paul Mitchell won’t be running for a third term in 2020, saying he’s frustrated with how politics dominates policy in Congress. Elected to an open seat in 2016, Mitchell is the sophomore representative in GOP leadership. He represents the 10th District, a safe Republican seat that President Donald Trump carried by 32 points. “You look …

The Albany Times-Union reports: Legislation designed to crack down on the non-consensual distribution of intimate images was signed Tuesday by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The new law, which comes after five years of back-and-forth negotiations attempting to find a legislative weapon against “revenge porn,” creates a path for victims to remove content from the internet and imposes a penalty of …

Jared Holt reports at Right Wing Watch: Danielle Stella, a Republican candidate seeking to unseat Rep. Ilhan Omar from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020, firmly supports the QAnon conspiracy theory, according to someone identifying themselves as communications volunteer who responded to Right Wing Watch’s inquiry. We were answered by someone calling themselves Heather, who said she was an …

Some rare truth-telling from Newt Gingrich: The president’s allies say that his talent is in scorching the opposition, and he is unlikely to deviate much from that task. “I think he doesn’t mind if it happens, but it’s not his primary focus,” Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, said of racking up policy accomplishments. “His primary focus is to so …

The Associated Press reports: The Senate voted Tuesday in favor of a bipartisan bill to ensure a victims’ compensation fund related to the September 11 attacks never runs out of money. The announcement came after Democratic Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, both of New York, reached an agreement with Republican Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of …

From the editorial board of the Miami Herald: Witnessing Sen. Marco Rubio’s pathetic response last week to President Trump’s latest racist outrages, it is impossible now to believe that Florida’s senior senator was once hailed as “The Savior of the Republican Party” on the cover of Time magazine. He has transformed from Trump critic to a sycophantic cheerleader — derided …

The Associated Press reports: House Republicans are pledging tough questioning of special counsel Robert Mueller when he testifies before Congress this week as Democrats plan to air evidence of wrongdoing by President Donald Trump in a potentially last-ditch bid to impeach him. Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on House Judiciary Committee, said the American public is growing weary of …

The Aspen Times reports: Monday’s $35,000-a-couple fundraiser starring Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to take place at a private club in Aspen owned by two gay men, sources said Friday. The Caribou Club in Aspen’s downtown core is set to host the VIP reception with Pence, according to sources who declined to be named. Billy Stolz, one of the …

The Chicago Tribune reports: Top leaders of the Illinois Republican Party launched an effort at damage control Sunday after a social media post echoed President Donald Trump’s criticism of four Democratic congresswoman and went further, referring to them in a movie-type poster of being a “jihad squad” and contending they believe any criticism is racist. The post was made to …