Republicans

The Washington Post reports: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Monday that he has come under increasing pressure in recent days from fellow Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), to question the validity of legally cast absentee ballots in an effort to reverse President Trump’s narrow loss in the state. The atmosphere has grown so contentious, Raffensperger said, …

Via press release from Mitch McConnell: A rapid withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan now would hurt our allies and delight the people who wish us harm. Violence affecting Afghans is still rampant. The Taliban is not abiding by the conditions of the so-called peace deal. The consequences of a premature American exit would likely be even worse than President …

The Detroit Free Press reports: Michigan GOP Rep. Tim Walberg on Monday revealed he has tested positive for the coronavirus, which has now killed more than 240,000 Americans. In a statement, the Republican lawmaker said he learned on Sunday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and that he is experiencing mild symptoms. “It’s been more than a week since I …

“My team secured and strengthened absentee ballots for the first time since 2005. As Secretary of State the first thing I did was push legislation that — OUTLAWED — absentee ballot harvesting in Georgia. “Next, for the first time in the history of Georgia, Absentee ballots submitted through our electronic portal required photo ID. My team — we made that …

The Michigan Advance reports: Another pro-President Trump rally was held at the Michigan Capitol on Saturday as the “Million MAGA March” attracted thousands, including several far-right groups like the Proud Boys, in Washington, D.C. One of the speakers was blogger and GOP activist Brandon Hall, who says he’s running for Michigan Republican Party chair. “We’re not going to give over …

The Hill reports: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said on Sunday he “expect[s] Joe Biden to be the next president of the United States,” adding that it was “good” that President Trump seemingly acknowledged Biden’s win in a tweet that the president later walked back. “I expect Joe Biden to be the next president of the United States,” Hutchinson said …

The Wall Street Journal reports: For nearly two years, allies of President Trump have been exploring ways to build up a formidable competitor to Fox News. One target they recently zeroed in on: the fledgling pro-Trump cable channel Newsmax TV. Hicks Equity Partners, a private-equity firm with ties to a co-chair of the Republican National Committee, has held talks in …

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine Sunday urged President Donald Trump to allow the normal transition of power to his successor, President-elect Joe Biden. “It’s clear that, certainly, based on what we know now, that Joe Biden is the president-elect. And that transition, for the country’s sake, it’s important for a normal transition to start through,” DeWine – …

West Palm Beach’s ABC News affiliate reports: U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) says he will quarantine as a precaution. Florida’s junior senator in Washington wrote on Twitter after arriving in Florida Friday night he came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Scott said he had a coronavirus test which came back negative. He’s also showing no symptoms …

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports: A day after it was revealed that GOP state Sen. Dave Senjem [photo] tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a Nov. 5 party caucus, news broke that Republican senators and staffers were informed in a Tuesday memo that “a number of [GOP Senate] members and staff have been diagnosed with COVID-19.” DFLers were not informed …

The Grand Forks Herald reports: North Dakota has put in place a statewide mask mandate, occupancy limits on public-facing businesses and the suspension of most high school winter sports as the state’s worst-in-the-nation COVID-19 outbreak continues to spiral out of control. The mask order, announced in a news release late Friday night, Nov. 13, means residents of the state must …

The Texas Tribune reports: At 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 2, David Maxwell and Mark Penley, then two top aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, reported separately to the agency’s offices, where, they claim, they were subjected to hours of “irregularities, harassment and retaliation.” Then, they say, when pressured to resign, they refused. Eight hours later, they were fired. …

The Arizona Republic reports: Sen. Martha McSally, whose race against Democratic challenger Mark Kelly was decided more than a week ago, has conceded, days after it became clear that it was mathematically impossible for her to catch up. Her concession marked the end of a fierce, year-and-a-half-long race to fill the remainder of the term won by the late Sen. …

The Daily Beast reports: Kansas billionaire Charles Koch now says that he regrets his partisan spending—admitting in his new book that it only made things worse, according to The Wall Street Journal. The 85-year-old tycoon’s book, Believe in People: Bottom-Up Solutions for a Top-Down World, says that he is shifting his focus from intense Republican partisanship to finding unifying answers …

Charleston’s WVNews reports: Gov. Jim Justice issued several executive orders tightening up on COVID-19 rules. “Beginning at midnight tonight, I will issue a mandatory requirement to wear a face covering indoors in all public buildings at all times. This is not just when social distancing cannot be maintained, this is mandatory wearing your face covering in all buildings, at all …

The Mississippi Free Press reports: With COVID-19 cases ramping up, Mississippi’s capital city has run out of ICU beds. “Zero ICU beds in Jackson. Very few elsewhere. Please protect yourself and your family,” Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said in a grim tweet this morning. There is still no statewide mask mandate; Gov. Tate Reeves allowed it to …

The Independent reports: Covid-19 survivors should throw away their masks and “celebrate”, according to a pro-Trump Republican senator in the US, despite rising case numbers and there being no proof that a prior infection can keep you safe from the virus. “We have 11 million people in our country who have already had Covid. We should tell them to celebrate. …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is self-quarantining after his wife tested positive for COVID-19, Channel 2 Action News reported. Raffensperger, 65, will get tested himself this afternoon. His exposure comes as the state is beginning a manual recount of more than 5 million presidential ballots. Counties were able to begin the process Thursday afternoon, and must …

Alaska Public Radio reports: U.S. Rep. Don Young, 87, has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced in a tweet Thursday. Young, a Republican, was first elected in 1973 and is now the Dean of the House, meaning he’s the longest-serving member of Congress. He’s also the chamber’s oldest member. He photographed at one of his fundraisers not wearing a mask …

Roll Call reports: The top Republican in the House on Thursday stood firm in not accepting President-elect Joe Biden’s victory, speculated that recounts could turn the tide of President Donald Trump’s loss and welcomed new lawmakers into his conference who have given credence to the QAnon conspiracy theory. At his weekly press conference, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California cast …