Republicans

Politico reports: House GOP leaders raced to disavow a Republican congressional candidate who made racist Facebook videos and embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory. But less than two months later, the party has done little to block Marjorie Taylor Greene from winning a seat in the House. Now, Republicans could be days away from adding their most controversial member yet to …

The Hill reports: “The pen-and-phone theory of executive lawmaking is unconstitutional slop,” Sasse said in a statement.  “President Obama did not have the power to unilaterally rewrite immigration law with DACA, and President Trump does not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the payroll tax law.“ Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham (R) offered less harsh comments, saying that while he …

Courthouse News reports: A federal judge in Iowa dismissed California Congressman Devin Nunes’ libel suit against Esquire magazine and journalist Ryan Lizza over an article saying Nunes was hiding a “politically explosive secret” involving his family’s dairy farm in the Hawkeye State. Nunes, a Republican who has represented California’s 22nd Congressional District since 2003, filed a lawsuit last year in …

USA Today reports: As Gov. Ron DeSantis pushed this summer for schools to reopen, state leaders told school boards they would need Health Department approval if they wanted to keep classrooms closed. Then they instructed health directors not to give it. Following a directive from DeSantis’ administration, county health directors across Florida refused to give school boards advice about one …

Roll Call reports: Three months ago, House Administration ranking member Rodney Davis led the GOP opposition to Democrats’ proxy voting rule that allows members to cast votes from their districts during the pandemic. Now the Illinois Republican, stuck quarantining at home after a positive COVID-19 test, will likely miss his opportunity to vote on the next coronavirus relief package because …

The Washington Post reports: It was a selfie by Del. Mark Cole that first caught Sookyung Oh’s eye. Cole (R-Fredericksburg) tweeted an image showing off a bright red face mask he said he’d purchased from the congressional campaign of Del. Nick Freitas (R-Culpeper) Oh, who is Virginia director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) Action Fund, …

Just in from Gallup Polling: With more indications that a vaccine could be close, the next question for health professionals, policymakers and political leaders will be Americans’ willingness to be vaccinated once a vaccine is ready. But many Americans appear reluctant to be vaccinated, even if a vaccine were FDA-approved and available to them at no cost. Asked if they …

The Columbus Dispatch reports: A more sensitive coronavirus test has determined that Gov. Mike DeWine does not have COVID-19, his office announced Thursday night. A rapid test before DeWine was scheduled to greet President Donald Trump in Cleveland determined he was positive for the virus. A second, more-proven test administered later Thursday in Columbus produced a negative result. “We feel …

The Alabama Political Reporter reports: An arrest warrant has been issued for Alabama State Rep. Will Dismukes, R-Prattville, for felony theft from a business where he worked, Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said Thursday. Dismukes is charged with first-degree theft of property in connection with a theft that occurred at his place of employment between the years 2016 to …

The New York Daily News reports: You can go to Disney World now — if you dare. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) on Thursday finally rescinded coronavirus quarantine rules on people coming to Florida from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, months after the tri-state area tamed the pandemic. DeSantis, who is facing harsh criticism for allowing the pandemic to rage …

The Texas Tribune reports: Five of the Texas Legislature’s most conservative members are suing Gov. Greg Abbott and state health officials, claiming Texas leaders overstepped their bounds when they awarded a major contract for tracking Texas’ coronavirus outbreak to a little-known technology firm. In a lawsuit filed Monday, Republican state Reps. Mike Lang, Kyle Biedermann, Bill Zedler, Steve Toth and …

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday before he was supposed to greet President Donald Trump. DeWine took a COVID-19 test as part of the protocol to meet Trump on the tarmac at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland. Trump planned to tour the Whirlpool plant in Clyde, Ohio, before attending a private …

Chicago’s WBBM reports: Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis said Wednesday he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The Taylorville Republican said he has a mild fever but no other symptoms and plans to self-quarantine. Davis said he received the positive test result Wednesday morning. His wife and the staff members he has worked with in-person have all tested negative, he …

The Minnesota Pioneer Press reports: A group of Republican lawmakers and voters on Tuesday said it plans to bring a federal lawsuit against the Walz administration contending the governor’s mandate of face masks in public places, including polling places, violates state law and Minnesotans’ constitutional rights. A handful of voters along with the watchdog Minnesota Voters Alliance brought the action …

NBC News reports: Republicans in at least four states, including a crucial swing state, appear to be helping music superstar Kanye West gain ballot access for November’s election, actions that raise new questions about the hip-hop star’s presidential bid. West’s bid has been marred by missed deadlines and faulty filings that have frustrated his efforts to make the ballot in …

The Washington Post reports: The chairman of the Arlington County Republican Committee was kicked out of a Facebook group Sunday for posting personal information of people who complained about county businesses not enforcing rules on masks and physical distancing. Andrew Loposser posted a set of names with contact information he obtained from the Virginia Department of Health to the more …

Kansas City’s ABC News affiliate reports: Freshman Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins lost his Republican primary Tuesday after being charged with felony election fraud and other crimes. State Treasurer Jake LaTurner unseated Watkins after arguing that the criminal charges against Watkins made an already vulnerable incumbent an even worse bet with Democrats sensing an opportunity to pick up the 2nd District …

NPR reports: Kansas Rep. Roger Marshall [photo] has defeated former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in the Republican Senate primary, according to The Associated Press, calming Republicans’ worst fears about putting a seat in a deep red state in play this fall with the Senate majority contested. Marshall was the favored candidate of many party leaders to take on …

The Kentucky Herald-Ledger reports: Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Tuesday that he’s setting a statewide order for people to wear masks in public amid a recent surge in cases of the new coronavirus. The Republican also delayed the start of the school year for upper grades in eight counties that are hard-hit by COVID-19. Reeves also said he will sign …

Roll Call reports: Former Rep. Chris Collins, who was sentenced to over two years in federal prison for insider trading and lying to the FBI, is asking Judge Vernon S. Broderick to push his report date back to Oct. 13, marking the fourth time the New York Republican has asked to delay his reporting date amid the coronavirus pandemic. Collins, …