Republicans

Atlanta’s Fox affiliate reports: Georgia House Rep. Devan Seabaugh was taken into custody Thursday night, Georgia State Patrol said, by DUI Task Force troopers after he struck a cyclist in the bike lane on Memorial Drive in Atlanta. State Rep. Seabaugh, a Republican who represents parts of Cobb County, was taken to Atlanta City Jail and turned over to booking …

The Hill reports: The Republican National Committee (RNC) asked the Supreme Court to take emergency action to revive an Arizona law requiring voter registration applicants show proof of citizenship when using a state form. The request, docketed Friday, also asks to reinstate Arizona’s prohibition of voting in presidential elections or by mail if someone has not met the proof-of-citizenship requirement, …

The Associated Press reports: Donald Trump’s plane was diverted on its way to Bozeman, Montana, due to a mechanical issue but landed safely in nearby Billings, according to a staff member at the Billings airport. The former president was heading to Bozeman for a Friday night rally in support of Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, who is challenging Democratic Sen. …

The Hill reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday he does not intend to endorse or wade into the presidential race this November, expressing concerns about the direction of the Republican Party while criticizing the Democratic agenda. “For my part, I’m staying out of the presidential campaign,” Pence said at “The Gathering,” an event organized by conservative radio host …

The editorial board of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes: By Wednesday, the opposition had mobilized with lightning speed for its one of its first political attacks, dubbing Walz “Tampon Tim” in reference to a new state law providing free menstrual products to school students. The nickname was trending nationally this week on Twitter, an indicator of its political currency. Chaya Raichik, …

CBS News reports: Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday ordered hospitals in the Lone Star State to ask patients about their immigration status in order to ascertain the costs of providing medical care to people living in the U.S. illegally. Through an executive order, Abbott directed Texas hospitals to compile data on inpatient discharges and emergency visits by immigrants …

The Associated Press reports: A high-profile former North Dakota lawmaker who was one of the most powerful members of the Legislature pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to a charge that he traveled to Europe with the intent to pay for sex with a minor. Ray Holmberg, 80, of Grand Forks, was indicted in October 2023 for travel with intent …

The Freedom From Religion Foundation writes: The 8-year legal saga over censorship by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott of a Bill of Rights display has finally ended with receipt of attorneys’ fees by the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Although FFRF won the lawsuit with a judgment by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals last year, disputes and delaying tactics by …

Florida Politics reports: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio posted to X that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz “is an example of how Beijing patiently grooms future American leaders.” “Decades later they get into positions of power, are portrayed as ‘experts’ by the media & push for policies that allow China to steal our jobs & factories & flood America with drugs,” Rubio …

Colorado Public Radio reports: Tina Peters was worried early on that election material being posted online could put her in legal jeopardy, according to Belinda Knisley, her former chief deputy clerk who testified in court. “‘I’m f—ed,’” Knisley recalled the clerk telling her. “She said, ‘it’s on the internet, it was not supposed to be, and it’s out there.’” Knisley …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: A divided Georgia Election Board voted Wednesday to re-investigate Fulton County’s handling of the 2020 presidential recount, reviving an inquiry into allegations of double-counted ballots months before this year’s election. The board, led by three Republicans lauded by Donald Trump at a rally last weekend, voted 3-2 to ask for an investigation by Attorney General Chris …

The Daily Beast reports: J.D. Vance briskly marched up to Air Force 2, Kamala Harris’ plane, planning to give political reporters a show as he confronted the vice president uninvited on Wednesday. His power play dreams, like most of his chaotic veep run, were immediately thwarted once he realized Harris was not present. “I just wanted to check out my …

Gallup Polling reports: Fewer Americans today consider childhood vaccines important, with 40% saying it is extremely important for parents to have their children vaccinated, down from 58% in 2019 and 64% in 2001. There has been a similar decline in the combined “extremely” and “very important” percentage, which was 94% in 2001 but sits at 69% today. The declining belief …

Courthouse News reports: Huntington Beach will work to fight California’s prohibition on forcing educators to out LGBTQ students after the City Council voted Tuesday night to prepare a “parents’ right to know” ordinance. Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark submitted a request to prepare the ordinance in response to Governor Gavin Newsom signing the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today’s …

Mediaite reports: Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) attacked the military record of Tim Walz during a press conference on Wednesday morning by accusing him of stolen valor. Vance claimed that Walz “abandoned” his unit in the National Guard before it was deployed to Iraq. Walz served in the National Guard in Nebraska and later Minnesota for 24 years reaching the rank …

Florida Politics reports: “I watched his speech and this guy is a shyster,” DeSantis told Sean Hannity, taking issue with Walz telling people that on abortion, they should mind their own business. “This is the guy that set up a snitch line during COVID for neighbors to inform if somebody was violating his draconian code restrictions. He claims people should …

Politico reports: An Arizona Republican who falsely claimed to be a legitimate presidential elector for former President Donald Trump — part of a sweeping effort by Trump and his allies to subvert the 2020 election — has pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme. Lorraine Pellegrino, one of 11 Arizona Republicans who falsely posed as Trump’s electors that year, …

The Georgia Recorder reports: The Georgia State Election Board pushed through proposed right-wing Republican election rules Tuesday that have sparked fierce debates over giving county officials greater authority to refuse to certify voter tallies. Tuesday’s election board meeting comes on the heels of Saturday’s campaign rally in Atlanta where former President Donald Trump praised conservative Georgia election board members Rick …

The Kansas City Star reports: Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey won the Republican primary for the office on Tuesday, fending off an aggressive challenger in a nasty battle that pitted two candidates with virtually identical politics against each other. Bailey, a former lawyer for Gov. Mike Parson, who appointed him to the office less than two years ago, stands on …

FITS News reports: Federal agents conducting an ongoing investigation involving a sitting member of the South Carolina General Assembly are probing allegations related to “child exploitation” – specifically allegations tied to child sex abuse materials (or “CSAM”), more commonly known as child pornography. These allegations – confirmed by multiple sources familiar with the status of the investigation – served as …