Talk Elections

LOL Ron Paul

Here we go.

Get Hype!

Loved the first half, very excited to see where you take this world from here. Obama's great and all but here's to moderates taking back the GOP based off Huntsman's popularity.

Thanks, everyone! This part will probably have a slightly different format from the first- instead of large article-like updates with singular focus on events, it will have smaller tidbits about various events, a bit like MyCroftCZ's Hillary Presidency TL or President Johnson's Liberal Republic TL. The reason is that I believe it's more effective for covering a transition and an administration with many events and news. First update soon!

Great developments. I look forward to read the TL! Trump's call was gracious, though I don't expect him to stay that quiet. I bet he'd be out tweeting very soon after his defeat. :P

November 9th, 2016

Trump calls Obama to concede; addresses supporters in surprisingly tame morning speech

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NEW YORK CITY - After raising fears he would not concede the election during the night, 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump has called President Obama to concede in the early morning hours, a call that was described by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest as "gracious". Later, Trump finally addressed supporters in his New York City election night watch party, in a speech described as surprisingly tame. He called supporters to "unite and support our President at this time like in every democracy", but then quickly veered to subtly attacking those he blames for his defeat- the establishment. Trump thanked supporters, who seemed eager to hear a more fiery speech, for "making this movement to Make America Great Again happen", and claimed that "we were almost there, but our country's political establishment doesn't want America to be great again". He finished his speech by calling his supporters to "keep fighting" for what they believe, raising speculation that he was planning another run in four yers. In the night before, many feared Trump would refuse to concede, with only running mate Chris Christie calling Vice President-elect Tammy Baldwin to congratulate her and addressing the campaign's supporters without Trump.

November 10th, 2016

President Obama: team getting to work on building cabinet, crafting agenda

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - In remarks given to the press at the White House's Rose Garden, President Barack Obama confirmed that "several" cabinet positions will see "new faces". The current assumption amongst White House officials is that Obama will retain some of his cabinet members and replace others, to create a combination of continuity and a feeling of a fresh start in his administration. Furthermore, the President said that his team was already working on crafting an agenda for his third term, and hinted on the priorities being considered: "guaranteeing quality healthcare coverage to all Americans, protecting our environment, reforming our immigration system and making our justice system equal." The first new cabinet secretary was already confirmed during Obama's election night victory speech- Vice President Joe Biden will serve as Secretary of State. For other cabinet positions, speculation is rampant, as White House sources hinted that there will be "more Republicans" in the cabinet than currently the first two terms, in an attempt to mend divisions.

November 13th, 2016

Republicans 'open' to giving Garland a hearing, McConnell says

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) confirmed today that Senate Republicans are now willing to to give President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Appeals Court Judge Merrick Garland, a hearing, potentially paving the way for his confirmation even before the swearing-in of the new Congress, when Republicans will lose their majorities. McConnell explained the change of mind by the fact that "an election was held" and the identity of the new President was confirmed- "the same one currently in office". Thus, the Kentucky Republican said, there is no use in waiting until Obama's re-inaguration until Garland's hearings. However, it's uncertain if Obama, guaranteed a strong Democratic Senate majority in the next Congress, will keep the centrist Garland as nominee instead of appointing a more liberal judge. Opinions in the Democratic party are split- while progressives like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) urged the President to appoint a more liberal judge who's "guaranteed to upend Citizens United", others like Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Sen.-elect Evan Bayh (D-IN) have said that the President should "stay the course" and push for Garland's confirmation soon.

November 16th, 2016

Obama national security team to retain two key figures: Jeh Johnson, Ash Carter will remain in cabinet positions

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Obama said today that two key figures of his administration, Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, will remain in their positions. Carter, 62, has served for less than two years and is said to be close to the President, while Johnson, 60, who served in the position since 2013, is considered a capable and professional secretary, so their retainment doesn't come as a surprise. With the confirmation that Vice President Joe Biden will serve as the nest Secretary of State, President Obama's national security team is shaping up to consist mostly of old faces. But one cabinet-level position remains uncertain- with U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power confirming yesterday that she will retire come 2017, speculation is rampant about the identity of her replacement. Some names raised were former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY), current Secretary of State John Kerry (D-MA), Fmr. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Fmr. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (D-MD).

November 19th, 2016

President Obama announces major cabinet appointment- Fmr. Gov. Deval Patrick to serve as next Attorney General

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In the first major shakeup in the Obama cabinet since Joe Biden was announced as the next Sec. of State, the President announced that Attorney General Lorretta Lynch, known for meeting with Bill Clinton on an airplane to allegedly discuss his wife's email probe, will retire at the end of the current term. Instead, former Massachusetts Governor and close Obama ally Deval Patrick will serve as head of the Justice Department. Though disliked by progressives for his time at Bane Capital, Patrick is considered a solid pick for the job, with extensive legal experience and a strong focus on criminal justice reform, an Obama third term priority. Patrick was rumoured to be one of the main figures urging Obama to seek a third term, and is a close person in the President's circle.

Excited to see who the new Sec. of Treasury will be. Will he pull an FDR and run for a 4th term?

Thanks! The new Sec. of Treasury is coming in the post after the next one, it's an interesting pick to be sure. And as for the 4th term speculation... Obama isn't ready to pledge not to do it yet, so we shall see :P
Also, it'd be great if you could cut the TL post from the quote when replying to it, like I did here, so as to not crowd the page :)

November 23rd, 2016

Obama's pick for Agriculture Department: Patty Judge, another Iowan

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Des Moines - The next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture will be another politician from the State of Iowa, President Obama confirmed today. Patty Judge, former Lieutenant Governor and Iowa Agriculture Secretary, will be the President's pick to replace Tom Vilsack, elected to the Senate from his state in 2016, in the Agriculture Department. Judge is considered a qualified woman for the position, especially since she has deep experience in agricultural matters, and the pick was widely praised by agriculture activists from both sides of the aisle. Sen. Joni Ernest (R-IA) said that the pick was "encouraging" and that "Patty is a great Iowan and a friend of mine", signaling Republican support for the pick.

November 25th, 2016

Two more retainments: Julián Castro, Ernest Moniz to stay in posts

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Two more popular members of the Obama cabinet will stay in their posts, the President confirmed today. Julian Castro, former Mayor of San Antonio and current Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party and him remaining in the cabinet is seen as a good way to keep him politically visible before a potential run for higher office in Texas, a state Obama narrowly won in 2016. Ernest Moniz, the Secretary of Energy, is a nuclear physicist by profession and is considered an effective and competent leader for the department overseeing the nation's nuclear arsenal. He also promised to work to implement the President's clean energy agenda. The choices are considered strong, and pundits say that there was no reason for Obama to replace the two popular secretaries.

November 28th, 2016

Howard Dean to serve as next Secretary of Health and Human Services

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BURLINGTON - In an announcement considered by many a surprise, President Obama said that current HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell, previously favoured to be retained, will retire at the end of the current term and be replaced by Howard Dean, a politician with an extensive record- former Governor of Vermont, Democratic Vice Presidential nominee in 2004, and 4th-place finisher in the 2008 Democratic Presidential Primary, losing to Obama. Dean, a former doctor and a high-profile appointment who expressed support for some form of universal healthcare, said that guaranteeing healthcare for all Americans will be "very high in the agenda". The pick was praised by progressive as well as moderate Democrats, with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) calling it "a very positive sign", but opposed by most Republicans, and signals a coming congressial battle on healthcare as Obama strives to cement his legacy.

December 1st, 2016

Comey to remain FBI Director, Avril Haines to lead CIA

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Obama announced today his picks to head the two most important security agencies- Avril Haines, former Deputy CIA Director and current Deputy National Security Advisor, will return to the CIA to head the agency, while current FBI Director James Comey will retain his position. Both choices are considered somehow surprising- Haines is regarded as a woman with high work ethics and a personality of humility and kindness, traits hardly associated with the CIA, and is considered a sign that Obama wishes to make the agency less "brutal". Haines will also be the first woman to head the CIA, signaling a historic development. Meanwhile, Comey reportedly angered the President by publicly announcing that the Hillary Clinton email probe will be briefly resumed a few weeks before election day, returning Clinton's email problems to the headlines. However, he's regarded as a neutral and ethical force within the FBI, and the President was otherwise happy with his performance.

December 11th, 2016

BREAKING NEWS: Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) appointed by Obama to serve as Commerce Secretary

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LAS VEGAS - In his most surprising new cabinet announcement to date, President Barack Obama announced today that Senator Dean Heller, a relatively moderate Republican from Nevada, will serve as his next Secretary of Commerce. The pick shook up Washington, as it meant two things- Obama will press on with his free-trade policy and work to pass the TPP, and Heller will not run for reelection in 2018, opening up a possible pickup for Democrats in a year looking grim for them. However, Governor Brian Sandoval, whose term is up in 2018, will appoint Heller's replacement and could potentially run for the seat himself. The pick got mixed reviews- progressive Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) called Heller "someone who doesn't have the best interests of the American worker in mind", and Senator Mitch McConnell called it "a nakedly political move". However, others praised the pick, with House Speaker Paul Ryan noteably regarding it "positively" and Senator John McCain lauding Obama for "a strong showing of bipartisanship and goodwill". Heller himself confirmed the nomination, said that he will "gladly accept the oppurtinity to serve my nation", and defended the pick, denying that it has a political purpose, and joking that there is "no evidence I would be a stronger candidate in 2018 than another person I think we all have in mind", probably hinting at Governor Sandoval. The Nevada Governor refused to reveal Heller's appointed replacement or to reveal his own intentions.

Liking the Cabinet so far. Patrick as Attorney General probably means a presidential run in the future

But why

Please.

December 16th, 2018

Al Gore chosen EPA Administrator, signaling strong environmental agenda

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - After weeks of speculation, President Obama announced today that former Vice President Al Gore, a Peace Noble Prize winner for his work to combat climate change and increase awareness to the issue, will be chosen as the new Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. With such a high-profile pick for the Agency, Obama signals that environmental issue will take a high priority in his third term's agenda, and that the EPA's authority will likely increase even more. Environmental activists applauded the choice, and while most conservatives are likely to oppose Gore, it is likely that some moderate Republican Senators will vote for him, guaranteeing confirmation. Gore said that he was "very happy and honoured" by the appointment and promised to "work hard to protect our environment and help save our planet's future". In a CNN Interview, Gore also confirmed that the Obama administration will present an environmental bill before congress "during the first year", making it likely to be one of the first items on the agenda. The Gore pick also has some historic significance- it will mean that President Obama will have three Vice Presidents serving in his cabinet, Vice President-elect Tammy Baldwin, current Vice President Joe Biden and former Vice President Al Gore.

December 18th, 2016

Obama chooses a new Chairman for the DNC- his Secretary of Labour, Tom Perez

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Labour Tom Perez was announced today as President Obama's recommendation to serve as the next Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, which means that he's expected to easily be chosen for the job by delegates. Perez will be replacing Interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile, who took over after Debbie Wasserman Schultz was forced by the President to resign over a DNC email leak by Wikileaks a bit before the 2016 Democratic National Convention, in which she attacked former Senator Bernie Sanders and indicated that the DNC must work to defeat him in the primary. The choice of Perez is considered unusual, given that he's not a political insider, but not surprising- Obama is likely to want a man close to him heading the DNC, and Perez fits the bill. Secretary Perez was considered one of the most effective and popular cabinet secretaries, having strong executive credentials and good relations with Congress, and speculative future prospects for him included Attorney General, remaining in Labour, or running for Governor in his homestate of Maryland against Republican Larry Hogan, but he was chosen for the DNC- for the time being.

December 22nd, 2016

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to become next Labour Secretary, a key victory for Progressives

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DETROIT - President Obama announced today the identity of the one who will take over from outgoing Labour Secretary Tom Perez, who was chosen to lead the DNC- former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. Generally considered a good Governor who helped Obama with the restoration of the auto industry in Detroit, Granholm is staunchly pro-union and enthusiastically supports expanded worker's rights. This is considered a victory for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, which was pushing for a strongly pro-organized labour person to fill the job. Indeed, Granholm was lauded by Senator Sanders (I-VT) as "a strong pick for the American workers" , and by Senator Merkley (D-OR) as "a pick that should let the average American worker sleep easier". Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was especially vocal about his support, calling Granholm "one of [his] favourite cabinet appointtees so far".

December 25th, 2016

Rob Nabors to become new OMB Director; Sandra Black will be Chair of Economic Advisors Council; Marianne Markowitz to be Administrotor of the Small Business Administration

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Obama's economic team was bolstered today as three important members of his administration were confirmed- Rob Nabors, an important White House aide and former Deputy Director of the agency, will serve now as Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Harvard economist and current member in the Council of Economic Advisors will now serve as Chair, and Marianne Markowitz, a financial aide, will be the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, where she briefly served as Acting Administrator in 2014. The appointments of mostly Obamaworld insiders signals that the President is planning to double down on his economic policy of stability and careful growth in the coming term.

December 29th, 2016

BREAKING: Janet Yellen announced Obama appointtee to serve as next Secretary of the Treasury

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Chair of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen will leave her office to serve as President Obama's next Secretary of Treasury, the President confirmed today. It's considered a strong, if fairly surprising, appointment- Yellen was praised for her job in the Federal Reserve, being ranked by media and experts as one of the best economic policymakers in the world. While a less powerful position than her current one, the Treasury Department will allow her to serve for at least four years, while her term in the Federal Reserve is up in a year. Politicians from across the aisle praised the Yellen pick- future Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called her "an excellent woman, the best one for the job", Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called her "a good choice, who will hopefully help implement a progressive economic agenda", and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) said that he "approves" of the pick.

I had a feeling Yellen would be chosen. Most of these picks are good!

I appreciate all the comments, but please do take note :P

Ok you're doing this on purpose now.

I've been away from What Ifs for almost a week, I'm so glad to see this TL is going beyond Obama's re-election! Wish this was the real world.

Thanks. This will continue soon, I'll try to ignore NOTTYLER's trolling.

I second the motion.

Good job! I hope Obama now gets more progessive legislation passed (though I think it's just gonna last two years). Also like the cabinet selections.

with a big Dem mandate in Congress I'm sure there will be at least something

Did the  22nd  amendment  exist or  was  there  a change to the constitution??

no 22nd amendment. He didn't give us an explanation as to why, maybe it was shot down and never brought back up.

December 30th, 2016

Next Obama Chief of Staff- Eric Holder; David Plouffe to serve as next Chief  Strategist

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NEW YORK CITY - Former Attorney General Eric Holder was named by President Obama his next White House Chief of Staff, a high-level position that signals his return to the President's inner circle. The choice is an interesting one, but makes sense- Obama is attempting to surround himself with old faces he trusts as well as new, fresh faces. Meanwhile, Obama's 2008 campaign manager and former Special Advisor to the President, David Plouffe, will returng to the White House to serve in the important position of Chief Strategist. The new choices bring the President's team closer to the finish.

January 1st, 2017

In New Year's Eve address, President Obama promises to work for unity, progress

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Happy New Year! We've finally arrived at 2017, the year that will see a third term in office beginning for the first African American President of the United States. Yesterday, in his New Year's Eve address, President Obama gave Americans a unifying message, pledging to "be a President for everyone" and asking the American people to put trust in him in the next four years. He also reaffirmed his commitment for "progress" which- a bit contrary to his previous message- Obama said would include "progress in healthcare, progress in the environment, progress in civil rights and progress in the international stage". The President is projected to enter his third term with about 58% approval and 33% disapproval, following a strong election victory which gave him a renewed mandate and the quick announcement of popular cabinet choices.

January 3rd, 2017

In key U.N. Security Council vote, Obama administration vetoes Israeli condemnation

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NEW YORK CITY - After weeks of tension and speculation, and rumours that the Obama administration was seriously considering not to cast a veto as a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power cast what is likely her last veto in the Security Council in the name of President Obama. The U.S. prevented the adoption of Resolution 2334, which condemned "Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories occupied since 1967". However, in her remarks, Power agreed that the settlement are "a serious obstacle to peace" and called the Israeli government to limit the building of new houses, hinting that the next Obama administration is not going to be friendly to the Israeli right-wing. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Power for the veto and called America "a great friend of the Jewish people".

January 6th, 2017

Cary Kennedy to become next Interior Secretary; Bob McDonald retained as V.A. Secretary; Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen will be next U.S. Trade Representative

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Obama announced a slew of new cabinet choices today- with one particular surprise. Cary Kennedy, former Colorado State Treasurer and member of the Kennedy political dynasty who was rumoured a possible 2018 gubernatorial candidate, will serve as next Interior Secretary in the Obama administration. According to speculation, this is also a move to clear up the field for Congressman Jared Polis, who's also a rumoured candidate, in what will surely be a competitive race to replace term-limited Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper. Meanwhile, Bob McDonald, a Republican businessman and the current Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, attempting, as Obama called itc "to keep bringing dysfunction in veteran's issues to an end". And lastly, Republican Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Legtinen surprised many by announcing that she will be joining Obama's team as the next U.S. Trade Representative, ready to "negotiate agreements to make trade in our world fairer and freer". This is a key choice that doesn't only signal President Obama's commitment to free trade, despite opposition from left and right, but will also trigger a competitive special congressial election soon. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) already announced his opposition to Ros-Lehtinen, calling her "a very worrying choice" that will "only do harm to American workers with damaging, unfair trade agreements". After key victories in the appointments of two progressive leaders to the cabinet, Howard Dean to HHS and Jennieft Granholm to Labour, this is considered a blow to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

January 9th, 2017

Outgoing Delaware Governor Jack Markell chosen as next Secretary of Transportation; Bobby Scott to head Education Department

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WILMINNGTON - In a mostly expected choice, President Obama picked the outgoing Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, as his next Secretary of Transportation, replacing the retiring Anthony Foxx, who's also rumored as a possible candidate for Senate from North Carolina in 2020, and would probably be ill-served by staying in the cabinet for that entire duration. Markell is considered well-versed in matters of transportation and a natural pick for the job, having the experience to manage a federal agency, and having eyed that job for the past years. With yet another Governor joining his cabinet, Obama seems to be building a strong team of experienced officials around him, gearing up for what many believe the President intends to make his most productive term to date. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. for Virginia's 3rd district, Bobby Scott, was chosen to head the Education Department. Scott has decades of experience in congress and is the Democratic ranking member of the House Education Committee, so he's considered a solid choice who will be able to help pass the President's education agenda.

January 12th, 2017

Fmr. Senator Olympia Snowe, a Republican, appointed next Obama U.N. Ambassador

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PORTLAND - Olympia Snowe, a former Senator from Maine, was appointed by President Obama to serve as his next Ambassador to the United Nations, a prominent cabinet-level position in the administration. Snowe, a Republican, was considered one of the most moderate, some would say liberal, members of her party in the Senate, and was one of the first to turn against Donald Trump and endorse former Governor Jon Huntsman during the 2016 election. She's considered fairly compatible with Obama on foreign policy issues, and will be yet another bipartisan pick meant to appeal to Huntsman voters. While the pick saw some criticism from both left and right- including from Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), a potential 2020 Presidential candidate, who called Snowe 'essentially a Democrat'- the choice is considered very strong. With years of experience in the Senate, no one can doubt Snowe's qualifications for the U.N. job, and she will be a well-respected figure in the New York City Headquarters.

January 14th, 2017

Shaking political scene, President Obama appoints James Stavridis next National Security Advisor; cabinet formation finished

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a move that shook the political scene, President Obama appointed retired Admiral James Stavridis as his next National Security Advisor, the last high-ranking member of his national security team yet to be decided. Stavridis is a household name after serving, during the 2016 Presidential election, as the running mate of Jon Huntsman, a moderate Republican running as an independent, and performing very well at 20% and 25 Electoral Votes. This is clearly another attempt to gain support from Huntsman's voters. While very experienced and qualified, Stavridis is a risky pick, as comments he made during campaign, including those criticisizing the President, can backfire. So far, the pick saw relatively few criticisms, though several conservative activists already begun tweeting videos of Stavridis attacking the President on the campaign trail. Obama was widely expected to name soon-to-be former Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, who has plenty of experience in the field, to that post, but McDonough will instead serve as the next Homeland Security Advisor. With that appointment, President Barack Obama is essentially done with choosing his cabinet and cabinet-level officials, and will most likely not be having any problems with quickly confirming them, especially with a strong Democratic Senate majority in the next congress and several Republicans who already announced support for some of the appointees.

Oh wow! I love Obama, especially in this TL. What other positions have yet to be filled?

Snowe as UN Ambassador is gonna be great!

Oh, Stavridis was last, I should probably mention it :P

January 20th, 2017

President Barack Obama inaugurated a third time, officially starting historic third term in office

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, January 20th 2017, President Barack Obama saw his third official inauguration to the office of the Presidency. It was an event of historic importance as Obama, the first African American President of the United States, previously elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012, will be the first President since Franklin Delano Roosevelt to serve more than two terms in the office of the Presidency. Obama has now entered his third term.

The inauguration event was attended by many of the nation's politicians, generals and judges. Noteably, in attendance were former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush; former First Ladies Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush; Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Jill Biden; former Vice Presidents Dick Cheney, Al Gore, Dan Quayle and Walter Mondale; almost the entirety of Congress- Senators and House Representatives- including those who will take office in 2017; all current and appointed cabinet Secretaries excluding Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, the Designated Survivor; all Justices of the Supreme Court, and many others. While 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump, who lost the election, did not attend the event, his running mate, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, was in attendance, as was independent candidate Jon Huntsman, who was seen conversing with retired Admiral James Stavridis, his running mate in the past election who was the selected as Obama's next National Security Advisor.

Below this impressive gathering of important Americans, a very big crowd gathered, comparable to the one attending Obama's first inauguration in 2008, They practically filled the National Mall compound as they watched Obama's inauguration, most of them from afar. According to reports, African Americans were particularly heavy in their share of the crowd, as well as women, who flocked to the nation's capital to watch the inauguration of the first female Vice President in U.S. history.

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A huge crowd fills the National Mall as President Obama is inaugurated for the third time

First, Vice President-elect Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) was sworn in by Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, repeating the oath of office while her predecessor, fmr. Senator Herb Kohl, held the bible. That is because Baldwin's parents are deceased and she separated from her longtime partner back in 2010.

After Baldwin was sworn in and the nation officially had its first female, and openly lesbian, Vice President, it was time for the main event. President Barack Obama was, for the third time, sworn in by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, and repeated the oath of office while his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama, held the bible for him.

Then, President Obama took a few steps towards the podium overlooking the National Mall, and gave his inaugural address to the American people. In his address, Obama thanked the American people for giving him a renewed mandate, and also "every single voter, no matter who you chose in the polls, for participating in our wonderful, treasured democratic system". He once again reaffirmed his commitment to unity, and callled for ending the "polarization and dysfunction in our capital", asking congressmen to work with him "for the good of the American people" and not just "for a precious few". Then, President Obama articulated his planned agenda for the next four years- he called for "swiftly filling the vaccancy in our nation's highest court", affirmed his commitment to grant "quality, affordable healthcare for all Americans" so that "no single person remains uninsured", and asked for support in "protecting our environmentand making sure we leave a healthy planet for our children and grandchildren".

The President also announced, controversially, that he will bring the TPP Trade Agreement before Congress "as soon as possible", and said that it will "improve the labour conditions in a myriad of countries, as well as lower prices for the American consumers and boost the growth of our economy". Less controversial parts of his speech included a strong affirmation for "protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination and ensuring they enjoy full rights, like the rest of us", a call for "reforming our criminal justice system to stop discriminating minorities and to be less brutal against low-level offenders", and asking congress to "work with the White House to finally reform our immigration system to combat illegal immigration and create a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who lived here for most of their adult lives, and who are not at fault for their parents' decision to illegaly immigrate". One of the most surprising parts of the speech, though, was President Obama's call for "continuing the positive trend for relaxing laws against marijuanna accross the nation", calling the heavy restrictions "unnecessary" and "too favourable for pharma corporations and not for simple American citizens who might need marijuanna for a normal daily life." However, Obama also promised to "do all we can possibly do" to fight the opioid epidemic, including "more enforcement while giving better care and treatment for those afflicted". Other issues were addressed, such as voting rights, affordable higher education, foreign policy and others.

Barack Obama finished his speech with a promise "in the next four years, I have but one pledge that I will never stray from. No matter who you voted for, no matter your gender or sex or sexual orientation, no matter your race or ethnicity or religion, no matter whether you live in a big coastal city or a small rural town, I promise to work hard for your benefit, and to do all I can to be President you can be proud of." He asked all those mentioned- the American people- to "join me in the next four years, and work together for progress and prosperity. Thank you."

The inaugural speech, like most speeches by President Obama, was widely praised as a charismatic and inspiring address. All prominent Democrats who commented on the speech praised it, with even Senator Bernie Sanders ignoring the TPP endorsement and thanking the President for "standing on the right side of history on healthcare". Even some Republicans had warm words- Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) said that the call for unity in the speech was "very imporant and appreciated" and promised to "work with the White House to bring real, positive change". Fmr. Ambassador Jon Huntsman, who maintains a voice in politics, said that while him and President Obama "don't agree on much", the speech was "very well done and had the right sentiment- it's time to end this polarization and work in a bipartisan manner". However, hardline conservatives attacked the speech as "a hellish vision of a liberal, heavily taxed socialist country", as Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) said it in a Fox News interview.

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President Barack Obama giving his third inaugural address

Following the renewed electoral mandate and his inauguration, the President seems to have entered a honeymoon period, and enjoys strong support from the American people. The White House hopes to use this to start quickly passing legislation, with the first target being, most likely, healthcare.

President Obama job approval
Approve- 62% () (+4)
Disapprove- 29% () (-2)
Not sure- 7% () (-2)

Trump's inauguration was bigger than that one.

oof

The Obama Administration (2017-)

President of the United States
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Name: Barack Hussein Obama II
Age: 55
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Illinois State Senator (1997-2004), U.S. Senator from Illinois (2004-2009), President of the United States (2009-)

Vice President of the United States
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Name: Tammy Suzanne Green Baldwin
Age: 54
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Wisconsin State Assemblywoman (1993-1999), U.S. Representative from Wisconsin's 2nd district (1999-2013), U.S. Senator from Wisconsin (2013-2017)

Secretary of State
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Name: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
Age: 74
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: New Castle County Councilman (1970-1972), U.S. Senator from Delaware (1973-2009), Vice President of the United States (2009-2017)

Secretary of the Treasury
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Name: Janet Louise Yellen
Age: 70
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Clinton (1987-1999), President of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (2004-2010), Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve (2010-2014), Chair of the Federal Reserve (2014-2017)

Secretary of Defence
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Name: Ashton Baldwin Carter
Age: 62
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs (1993-1996), Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (2009-2011), Deputy Secretary of Defense (2011-2013), Secretary of Defense (2015-)

Attorney General
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Name: Deval Laurdine Patrick
Age: 60
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division (1994-1997), Governor of Massachusetts (2007-2015)

Secretary of the Interior
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Name: Cary Kennedy
Age: 48
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Colorado State Treasurer (2007-2011), Deputy Mayor of Denver (2011-2017)

Secretary of Agriculture
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Name: Patty Jean Poole Judge
Age: 73
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture (1999-2007), Lieutenant Governor of Iowa (2007-2011)

Secretary of Commerce
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Name: Dean Arthur Heller
Age: 56
Party Affiliation: Republican Party
Past Roles: Nevada State Assemblyman (1990-1994), Secretary of State of Nevada (1995-2007), U.S. Representative from Nevada's 2nd district (2007-2011), U.S. Senator from Nevada (2011-2017)

Secretary of Labour
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Name: Jennifer Mulhern Granholm
Age: 57
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Attorney General of Michigan (1999-2003), Governor of Michigan (2003-2011)

Secretary of Health and Human Services
()
Name: Howard Brush Dean III
Age: 68
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Vermont State Representative (1983-1987) Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (1987-1991), Governor of Vermont (1991-2003), Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee (2004), Chair of the Democratic National Committee (2005-2009)

Secretary of Education
()
Name: Robert 'Bobby' Cortez Scott
Age: 69
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Virginia State Delegate (1978-1983), Virginia State Senator (1983-1993), U.S. Representative from Virginia's 3rd district (1993-2017)

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
()
Name: Julián Castro
Age: 42
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: San Antonio City Councilor (2001-2005), Mayor of San Antonio (2009-2014), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (2014-)

Secretary of Transportation
()
Name: Jack Alan Markell
Age: 56
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Treasurer of Delaware (1999-2009), Governor of Delaware (2009-2017)

Secretary of Energy
()
Name: Ernest Jeffrey Moniz
Age: 72
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Nuclear Physicist, Under Secretary of Energy for Energy and Environment (1997-2001), Secretary of Energy (2013-)

Secretary of Veterans Affairs
()
Name: Robert Alan McDonald
Age: 63
Party Affiliation: Republican Party
Past Roles: Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2014-)

White House Chief of Staff
()
Name: Eric Himpton Holder Jr.
Age: 66
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (1988-1993), United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (1993-1997), Deputy Attorney General (1997-2001), Acting Attorney General (2001), Attorney General (2009-2015)

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
()
Name: Albert Arnold Gore Jr.
Age: 68
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 4th district (1977-1983), U.S. Representative from Tennessee's 6th district (1983-1985), U.S. Senator from Tennessee (1985-1993), Vice President of the United States (1993-2001), Democratic Nominee for President (2004)

Ambassador to the United Nations
()
Name: Olympia Jean Snowe
Age: 69
Party Affiliation: Republican Party
Past Roles: Maine State Representative (1973-1977), Maine State Senator (1977-1979), U.S. Representative from Maine's 2nd district (1979-1995), First Lady of Maine (1989-1995), U.S. Senator from Maine (1995-2013)

United States Trade Representative
()
Name: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Age: 64
Party Affiliation: Republican Party
Past Roles: Florida State Representative (1982-1986), Florida State Senator (1986-1989), U.S. Representative from Florida's 27th district (1989-2017)

Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers
()
Name: Sandra Eilene Black
Age: 47
Party Affiliation: Independent
Past Roles: Professor of Economics, Member of the Council of Economic Advisers (2015-2017)

Administrator of the Small Business Administration
()
Name: Marianne O'Brien Markowitz
Age: 50
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Past Roles: Acting Administrator of the Small Business Administration (2014)

I obviously have plenty of disagreements with this cabinet, but interesting to see where it’s headed. Looking forward to more.

Interested to hear, since your insight is fairly unique (even if I disagree with it on many issues)- which of them do you approve\disapprove of? I guess Heller, Ros-Lehtinen are in the "disapprove" category while Dean and Granholm in the "approve"?
(Note: Dean is considered part of the progressive wing ITTL. He remained pretty much his 2004-self because of his continued career in politics as a Vice Presidential nominee and a candidate in 2008)

Janurat 26th, 2017

Obama, Dean announce beginning of work on bill to "guarantee healthcare to all Americans"

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Howard Dean announced today that the White House and the HHS Department have begun work on a comprehensive bill meant to reform America's healthcare system, "fixing" the problems with the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare). Secretary Dean said that one of the bill's main targets will be "drastically lowering premiums", addressing one of the main criticisms on Obamacare, and "making sure every American is safely insured". According to White House sources, a low-cost public option will very likely be part of the bill, creating government competition to private health insurance companies, as well as more government subsidies meant to make sure every citizen has coverage, what could essentially mean a sort of a social, multi-payer universal healthcare system. However, the same sources claim that the Obama administration is trying to make the healthcare reform "budget-neutral", which could mean increased taxation. This signals that healthcare is, indeed, the first issue on the administration's agenda.

February 1st, 2017

Governor Walker calls Wisconsin special election for Vice President Baldwin's seat in April

()

MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has announced today that he's calling a special election to fill the vacancy created in the state's Class 1 Senate seat when Vice President Tammy Baldwin was sworn in as Vice President. According to Wisconsin state laws, Governor Walker cannot fill Baldwin's seat with his own appointed Senator, but instead has to call a special election to fill it for 62 to 77 days after the "date of order". While at first it was reported that the Governor is reluctant to call an election so early, while President Obama still enjoys high approval ratings, but decided not to test the law and call it as scheduled. The special election is considered likely to be highly competitive, and a first test of Obama administration's ability to survive what might be a brutal 2018 midterm for the Democratic Party. On the Republican side, rumoured candidates include U.S. Representatives Glenn Grothman and Sean Duffy, Senate Majority Leader Scott L. Fitzgerald, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, State Senators Leah Vukmir, far-right businessman Kevin Nicholson and maybe even Governor Scott Walker himself. For the Democrats, candidates rumoured to be considering include U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore, Ron Kind and Mark Poca, young State Senator Chris Larson, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, State Superintendent Tony Evers, former Ambassador to Belarus and Greece Daniel Speckhard and progressive President of the Wisconsin Firefighters Mahlon Mitchell. Whoever wins the election, scheduled to be held in April 19th of this year, will have to run for re-election in the 2018 midterms to serve a full 6-year term in the Senate.

February 7th, 2016

President Obama will press on with Merick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court, White House confirms

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a move sure to anger progressives pushing him to nominate a more liberal judge, President Barack Obama has reaffirmed his nomination of Judge Merick Garland to the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia. Garland is considered a moderate liberal and a judicial centrist, and has been called "the model, neutral judge". With Democrats holding a strong majority in the Senate, and moderate Republicans like Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John McCain (R-AZ) having already announced that they'll supporte Garland, Obama's nominee will have no trouble getting confirmed, meaning that, with a staunch conservative being replaced by a centrist, the Supreme Court will move to the left.

February 11th, 2017

North Korea conducts another test, firing ballistic missile across the Sea of Japan; U.S. to push for more sanctions

()

TOKYO - North Korean state media reported, and Japanese outlets confirmed, that the isolated dictatorship fired another test ballistic missile, this time across the Sea of Japan. This is considered a provocation against the U.S. government, meant to test President Obama's new foreign policy team. The administration reacted by strongly condemning the move, with Press Secretary Josh Earnest calling it "a threat against America and its allies that we will not tolerate", and U.N. Ambassador Olympia Snowe, following orders from the President, started pushing for stronger sanctions in the Security Council. Secretary of State Joe Biden, announcing the new push, said that it's "important" that the international community "stand against bullies", and indicated that he will have discussions with Russia and China to try and promote the new sanctions.

February 18th, 2017

Secretary of State Joe Biden announces first trip abroad to Eastern Asia; trip includes China visit

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Joe Biden, the new Secretary of State, announced today what will be his first trip abroad. Between late February and early March, Secretary Biden will travel to east Asia, an important region for U.S. interests where North Korea is trying to stir trouble. The trip will include a visit to Tokyo, Japan, where he will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss trade and North Korea and a visit to Seoul, South Korea to discuss similar issues with President Park Geun-hye. The Secretary of State will proceed to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where he will briefly meet with President Trương Tấn Sang to discuss improving relations between the two nations. This marks a historic occassion, following the lifting of the arms embargo against Vietnam back in May 2016, and shows the improvement of relations between the nations, a move meant to pressure China. The trip will be concluded with an even more important finale- Biden will visit Beijing, China to meet with President Xi Jinping and other members of the Chinese Government. Biden is expected to discuss issues of trade with the Chinese, but more importantly, North Korea, where he's expected to begin a series of negotiations with the Chinese government to cooperate on the issue, asking China to pressure North Korea into formal negotiations about dismantling its nuclear program. Noteably, the trip will not include the Philippines, where President Rodrigo Duterte has taken a hard line against the United States. Ambassador Philip Goldberg, will also leave the Philippines to become the next U.S. Ambassador to China after Dutrete called him "a gay son of a wh*re". The White House did not have a comment about the Philippines' exclusion from the visit.

Yep. Dean/Granholm I think are very good picks, Heller and Ros-Lehtinen are at the bottom of my list, and the rest are somewhere in between. Depending on her surveillance position (I'd assume she's for it), I'd have a big problem with Haines as well. James Stavridis I don't know enough about his foreign policy positions.

February 20th, 2017

Governor Sandoval appoints Fmr. Rep. Heck to Secretary Heller's Senate seat; Heck says he will not run for a full term, election to be held in 2018

()

LAS VEGAS - Nevada's Republican Governor Brian Sandoval appointed fmr. U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, who ran for the other Senate seat of Nevada in 2016, as U.S. Senator from Nevada, filling the seat left vacant by Dean Heller's official confirmation as Secretary of Commerce last week. Heller won the Senat vote with a decisive 89-9 majority, with only conservative Republicans Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Mike Enzi (R-WY), as well as protectionist Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) voting against him, and himself abstaining. With Heck's appointment and subsequent announcement that he will not run for reelection, reasoning that "the people of Nevada have made their will known in 2016, and I'm only here to serve my state and my nation", the race will be wide open in 2018. This caretaker Senate appointment by Governor Brian Sandoval just increases the speculations that he will indeed run for the seat, which could prove a strong asset for Republicans- if the moderate Governor can win the primary.

February 22nd, 2017

Reps. Duffy (R), Kind(D), and divisive Sheriff Clarke (R) jump into Wisconson Senate race; polls show divisive primaries on both sides, Democrats hold edge in general election

()

MILWAUKEE - The field of candidates vying for Vice President Tammy Baldwin's empty Senate seat has been finalized in the past few days. U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, a young and popular contender considered one of the Republican frontrunners and a rising star, jumped into the race, quickly followed by former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, a very divisive, anti-immigration hawk who has been vocal about his support for Republican nominee Donald Trump. In November 10th, Clarke left the Democratic Party and became a Republican, raising rumours of his intention to run for Baldwin's seat as a conservative hardliner, which were indeed confirmed true. They join the former frontrunner, Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch, as well as State Senators Leah Vukmir and Duey Stroebel, and a few minor candidates. On the Democratic side, there was also an exciting development- U.S. Rep. Ron Kind joined the race, entering what was regarded as an uninspiring field including U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, young State Senator Chris Larson and progressive firefighter Mahlon Mitchell. Kind is considered the strongest Democrat for the general election, and was heavily courted to run by the Obama administration, apparently being convinced by the swiftness of the Wisconsin special elections, meaning that the voting will occur in April, possibly still during Barack Obama's honeymoon period. The primaries, to be held in March 10th, are shaping up to be divisive and close, with polls showing tight races in both sides and in the general election:

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- Democratic Primary
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind- 24%
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan- 21%
Mr. Mahlon Mitchell- 15%
County Exec. Chris Abele- 12%
State Senator Chris Larson- 9%
Undecided/Others- 19%

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- Republican Primary
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy- 24%
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch- 22%
Fmr. Sheriff David Clarke- 21%
State Sen. Leah Vukmir- 8%
State Sen. Duey Stroebel- 3%
Undecided/others- 22%

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- General Election
Democrat- 42%, Republican- 40%, Undecided- 18%
Kind- 44%, Duffy- 41%, Undecided-15%
Kind- 45%, Kleefisch- 39%, Undecided- 16%
Kind- 57%, Clarke- 32% Undecided- 11%
Pocan- 42%, Duffy- 42%, Undecied- 16%
Pocan- 42%, Kleefisch- 40%, Undecided- 18%
Pocan- 54%, Clarke- 33%, Undecided- 13%

February 28th, 2017

Garland confirmed as Supreme Court Justice by full Senate, officially filling a contentious vacancy

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - It did not take long for the now Associate Justice Merrick Garland to be confirmed once the Democratic majority gave him a hearing, as instructed by Barack Obama. While the President did not agree to confirm Garland before the inauguration of the new congress, vetting a few other, more liberal options in what many called "a sting against Republicans and McConnell", he decided in the end to press on with Garland, appointing him again to seat vacated by the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. Today, he was confirmed by the full Senate with a strong margin of 72 votes. The 27 Republcians voting against him are conservatives, who announced their opposition when Garland said in his hearing that he supports Roe vs Wade and that he's "leaning against" Citizens United, a position that bought him the votes of progressives but lost him several conservatives. In addition to the 57 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, Garland received the votes of Republicans Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tim Scott (R-SC), John McCain (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Bob Corker (R-TN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Neely Kennedy (R-LA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ben Sasse (R-NE), Joni Ernest (R-IA), Cory Gardener (R-CO),  and the newly-appointed Joe Heck (R-NV).

March 1st, 2017

Biden goes to China

()

BEIJING - Secretary of State Joe Biden reached the last part his east Asian trip today with the grand finale- a meeting with President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking Chinese government officials in Beijing and Shanghai. The two met privately for about two hours before giving a joint press conference to Chinese state media and American outlets. Biden described the meeting as "very productive", and Jinping thanked the former Vice President for the visit, calling him "a honourable partner" and promising to "work with the United States government on important economic and security issues", signaling a willingness to cooperate on North Korea. Speaking to U.S. media, the Secretary of State confirmed that Jinping will announce a trip to Pyongyang very soon, where he will speak to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to try and convince him to enter negotiations with the United States about nuclear disarmament.

March 7th, 2017

Report: Signatories to re-negotiate TPP, Secretary Heller promises final deal will "benefit everyone"

()

TOKYO - After the visit by Secretary of State Joe Biden in nations including Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam, and trips by Secretary of Commerce Dean Heller to Mexico and Canada, one major accomplishment was revealed- representatives of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, including U.S. Trade Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, have gathered in Tokyo, Japan to begin a new round of negotiations for what Ros-Lehtinen called "modifications to the previously signed agreement". Secretary Heller promised that the negotiations will make the TPP, attacked from both left and right as harming American workers and encouraging the outsourcing of jobs overseas, an "even better" pact. Vice President Tammy Baldwin, who opposed the original agreement, said the move was "encouraging" and that she hoped to bring "a new agreement, better for the American people, for retification before the full Senate soon enough". The negotiations, headlined by Ros-Lehtinen with outside support from Secretary Heller, Secretary Biden and President Obama, are expected to make several months. A White House source speaking on the condition of anonimity claimed that the President encouraged the delay, prefering to pass his landmark healthcare legislation before bringing the controversial topic of the TPP before the Seante, where he's not guaranteed the votes to pass it in the current form, with opposition from both Democrats and Republicans.

Who will be Secretary of Energy?

How i wish this was our reality.

Ernest Moniz was retained:

Very good TL!

[/quote]

As has been brought to my attention by EdgeofNight, I've edited the officialy cabinet post to include Jack Markell as Transportation Secratary and correctly name Ernest Moniz in Energy. Thanks!

March 11th, 2017

Wisconsin Senate election: Duffy narrowly defeats Clarke in GOP Primary, Kind wins Democratic nomination to succeed Baldwin

()

MADISON - The nominees of the two major parties in the race for Vice President Tammy Baldwin's vacant Wisconsin U.S. Senate seat were decided yesterday night, as a closer-than-expected race left Republicans waiting for a projection until the early hours of the night, while Democrats decisively chose their nominee, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, by a double-digit margin. Kind, a moderate and popular congressman, was supported by most of the Wisconsin and federal Democratic establishment, which considers him the most electable of the bunch, and won decisively against his less-inspiring colleague, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, and a surprisingly strong third-place showing for State Senator Chris Larson, who was polling last mere weeks ago. On the Republican side it was a lot more interesting- U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy prevailed narrowly, very late into the night, over controversial far-right Sheriff David Clarke, who ran on a Trumpian, populist platform, railing against the establishment. In the end, however, despite splitting the anti-Clarke vote with other candidates, Duffy was able to rally the powerful Wisconsin Republican establishment behind him to eke out a win. Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch fizzled out and came a distant third, despite being considered a frontrunner early on and getting the endorsement of Governor Scott Walker, followed by State Senators Leah Vukmir and Duey Stroebel who only earned single-digit support. Sheriff Clarke did not yet concede defeat to Duffy or announce whether he'll support him in the general election. However, he's rumoured to be planning a possible second campaign in 2018 should Rep. Ron Kind win the seat, and maybe even a primary challenge to a Senator Duffy. Current general election polls show a close race, with Kind currently leading.

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- Democratic Primary Results
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind- 34.8% ✓
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan- 23.1%
State Senator Chris Larson- 21.0%
Mr. Mahlon Mitchell- 12.9%
County Exec. Chris Abele- 5.4%
Others- 2.8%

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- Republican Primary Results
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy- 31.4% ✓
Fmr. Sheriff David Clarke- 30.8%
Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch- 20.2%
State Sen. Leah Vukmir- 8.7%
State Sen. Duey Stroebel- 5.3%
Others- 3.6%

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- General Election Polling
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind- 46%
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy- 43%
Undecided- 11%

March 16th, 2017

Far-right stagnates at Dutch general election; Rutte most likely to remain Prime Minister

()

AMSTERDAM - Was the momentum of the worldwide right-wing populist movement halted with Donald Trump's landslide defeat? As far as the voters of the Netherlands are concerned, it seems that it was. In the general election for the parliament held yesterday, the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV), lead by the controversial Geert Wilders, far outperformed the polls, that projected it growing by at least a three seats, and gained only one, turning from the third biggest party to the fifth. This is also much less than polls suggested a few months ago, when the PVV was widely thought likely to become the second-biggest party. The biggest party remained Prime Minister Mark Rutte's People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, but, losing nine seats, Rutte will have to forge a coalition of at least three parties, if not four. Still, Rutte is right now the only one with the numbers to build a coalition. The biggest victors, surprisingly, were the pro-European Democrats 66 and Green Left parties.

()

The centrist, liberal pro-EU party D66 gained a very strong 11 seats in the parliament, rising to the status of second-biggest party, while the progressive GL, buoyed by its charismatic, young leader Jesse Klaver, gained an astronomic 15 seats to rise from 8th-biggest to 3rd-biggest. With them, the Christian Democratic Appeal center-right party gained several seats, while the biggest losers were the socialist parties- the social democratic Labour Party (PvdA) lost 23 seats, becoming the biggest loser of the election despite outperforming the polls showing an even worse result for them, while the Socialist Party (SD) lost three. With these results, the only plausible coalition seems to involve all four of the biggest parties- VVD, D66, GL and CDA, making it potentially one of the most pro-European governments in the continent, and also one of the most ideologically diverse.

March 27th, 2017

Obama Administration presents Guaranteed Healthcare Act in White House ceremony

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama, Vice President Tammy Baldwin, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and HHS Secretary Howard Dean have appeared in the White House's Rose Garden this morning to officially announce what is being called "a very ambitious" healthcare proposal, the Guaranteed Healthcare Act (GHA). According to the details laid out by Secretary Dean, the bill will "significantly expand medicaid to higher income brackets"", as well as merge medicare benefits, essentially eliminating the second program in order to, as Secretary Yellen termed it "reduce bureaucracy, slash the deficit and increase efficiency". Additionally, a surprisingly robust public health insurance option will be created, with very low costs, called National American Health Insurance (NAHI). While it'll take months to establish, NAHI is aiming to provide quality health insurance for every citizen who cannot afford private health insurance. Two noteable and controversial parts of the proposal are sure to define the process of passing the healthcare law- one makes it compulsory to participate in at least one health insurance plan, meaning NAHI, but citizens will be able to buy additional, private health insurance plans to add benefits. This clause is expected to anger conservatives and make it particularly hard to whip Republican votes in favour of the bill. The other interesting clause might offset the former- it concerns the budget, and is meant to reduce deficits by shedding healthcare buearocracy and creating a healthcare tax, while reducing payroll taxes previously funding medicare and medicaid. Democrats are rumoured to attempt to use this clause to push the GHA through congress with a budget-reconciliation process that bypasses the need to garner 60 votes in the Senate.

March 29th, 2017

Lawmakers react to Obamacare 2.0: progressives praise, conservatives go on the attack, setting off lengthy legislative battle

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Shortly after the Obama Administration presented its groundbreaking healthcare plan, the Guaranteed Healthcare Act (GHA), reactions ranging from enthusiastic support to forceful condemnations and attacks started pouring in from politicians and political figures accross the nation, especially from those who will have a say in making the plan a reality- the members of Congress. The GHA was met with enthusiasm by Democrats, including progressives who were recently critical of the Obama Administration. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said that while he'd prefer a single-payer plan, "the Guaranteed Healthcare act goes very far" and has "a potential to finally insure every American like we must do". Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) gave a ringing endorsement of the plan and announced that "the Obama administration has acted bravely today, finally presenting a plan to give all Americans their crucial right for healthcare, and I will fully support the passage of this great plan as soon as possible". Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), considered amongst the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party, has also announced his enthusiastic support of the plan and pledged to work hard for its passage in the Senate. But on the other side, reactions were much harsher. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), the arch-conservative Republican runner-up from 2016, attack the plan vehemently, calling it "a brew of socialism and authoritarianism that will shred our citizens' freedom to pieces and bankrupt our country". Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell joined Cruz's protests, calling the plan "an extremely harmful legislation that the Republican party will do everything to oppose". Attempting to coin the new name of the legislation was Senator Rand Paul, a possible 2020 contender, who called it "Obamacare 2.0- another bad plan that will only worsen healthcare, balloon the national debt and serve as a dramatic increase of authoritarianism and the destruction of freedom in our country". Businessman Donald Trump, the Republican nominee from 2016, remained surprisingly quiet about the plan, and only condemned it briefly before passing on to a recent environmental regulation by Al Gore's EPA, saying in a recent tweet that: "The @POTUS Administration is a TOTAL DISASTER! Bad healthcare laws and KILLING our energy industries! @Al_Gore will take away millions of AMERICAN JOBS and destroy our economy!"

Which of the Western Wisconsinians will play better in SW WI?

Haha lmao, if this had happened I would have had no trust in my country whatsoever anymore... that's truly the nightmare scenario in terms of seats right there, though the actual coalition would not have been so bad. Also, any government with both the VVD and the CDA would not have been one of the most pro-European governments in Europe.

April 2nd, 2017

Obama approvals take a hit as administration marches on with healthcare bill, under rain of heavy criticism

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Obama administration appears to be spending all of its political capital and goodwill with voters on the healthcare bill, promoting it heavily and embracing it fully, and it shows in the President's plunging approval ratings. Conservatives are launching a frevent, full-on assault on the new initiative, with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), along with Senators such as Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and John Thune (R-SD) at the helm. Paul has made dozens of media appearances attacking the bill, and seems to be making a national brand for himself over the issue, while the others also joined the media blitz. President Barack Obama, who was enjoying high approvals following a landslide electoral victory and a renewed mandate, is losing approval over the issue as it becomes more polarizing:

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 53% () (-7)
Disapprove- 39% () (+8)
Not Sure- 6% () (-2)

April 6th, 2017

NYT: Tough legislative battle looms for Obamacare 2.0

()

NEW YORK CITY - As the Obama administration finishes the final details of its ambitious healthcare bill, the Guaranteed Healthcare Act (GHA) or, as it's called in a popular phrase coined by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Obamacare 2.0, a hard legislative battle seems to loom before it. While most Democrats have announced support for the bill, while most Republicans announced opposition, there are several key swing votes who could mean the success and failure of the bill, especially in the Senate. Moderate Democrats up for reelection in 2018 have to tread carefully, as many in their conservative states oppose the ambitiously progressive GHA, and already, Senators like Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) have said that they're not sure how to vote yet. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) said that she would "have to review the bill carefully and see whether it benefits the people of Missouri before making a decision", while Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) criticized President Obama for "crafting a very one-sided legislation without any bipartisanship or much input from the Senate".However, other red-state Democrats announced support for the bill- Jason Kander (D-MO) said that he fully supports "this tremendous effort to make sure everyone has quality healthcare", while Senator Jason Carter (D-GA) said that "with some reservations, I'm happy with this bill". Meanwhile, there are moderate Republicans also on the fence- Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John McCain (R-AZ) all criticized  Obamacare 2.0 but refused to commit to voting against it, with Collins saying that "healthcare is an important part of our daily lives, and I shall have to see if this bill protects the people of Maine." The NYT conducted an indepth, comprehensive analysis of the safe, likely, leaning and tossup votes in the Senate, and reached a clear conclusion- the Obama administration would have to pass the GHA as part of a budget reconciliation process that will allow them to pass it with 50 votes (including Vice President Baldwin's possible tie-breaking vote) rather than 60, avoiding a filibuster. Indeed, the bill has clauses concerning the deficit and sources inside the White House confirmed that, while prefering to pass Obamacare 2.0 normally, President Obama, Democratic Majority Leader Schumer and Speaker Pelosi currently see this as the only option. Let's look at the NYT's official GHA Senate whip count:

Safe AYE: 40 Senators
Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Jason Kander (D-MO)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Likely AYE: 9 Senators (10 if Ron Kind wins)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Jason Carter (D-GA)
Angus King (I-ME)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Ron Kind (D-WI)

Lean AYE: 3 Senators
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)

TOSSUP: 4 Senators
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Joe Heck (R-NV)

Lean NAY: 3 Senators
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)

Likely NAY: 7 Senators
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)

Safe NAY: 33 Senators (34 if Sean Duffy wins)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Stever Daines (R-MT)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
John Thune (R-SD)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
John Barrasso (R-WY)

April 12th, 2017

Wisconsin Senate race gets tighter as President Obama, healthcare bill lose popularity; Kind maintains support for the GHA

()

MILWAUKEE - Democratic U.S. Represenative Ron Kind is losing support in recently released Wisconsin Senate race polling, as his Republican colleague, U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, seems to be closing the gap. This is, most likely, caused by the recent plunge in approval ratings for President Obama as himself, and his healthcare bill, dubbed by Republicans Obamacare 2.0, lose popularity in Wisconsin as well as the rest of the nation. However, both the President and the GHA remain with positive approvals in the state, and thus the Senate race is getting closer and closer, with Kind currently leading by a little more than 1 percentage point. The race is framed by many as a first referendum on the third-term President, and so both parties see great importance in it. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the state's former Senator unseated in 2016, Ron Johnson and former Governor Tommy Thompson, have recently come out to campaing for Duffy in force, holding doezens of events throughout the state. However, Democrats brought their own giants in to the expensive race- Vice President Tammy Baldwin, the holder of the currently-vacant seat has come to campaign for Kind in Wisconsin several times, as did Senator Russ Feingold and former Senator Herb Kohl. Thus with tremendous resources poured in from both sides, the race to succeed the Vice President in the Senatr remains tight.

Wisconsin Senate, 2017- General Election Polling
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind- 47% () (+1)
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy- 46% () (+3)
Undecided- 7% () (-4)

April 17th, 2017

REPORT: Democrats aiming to pass Obamacare 2.0 via budget reconciliation

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) confirmed today that the Obama administration and congressial Democrats are aiming to use budget reconciliation- a legislative process that allows passage of budgetary measures through both houses of Congress with a simple majority- in order to pass the Guaranteed Healthcare Act, their ambitious healthcare reform plan. They will use a measure in the bill calling for the reduction of the federal debt by shedding bureaucracy and asking citizens to pay a special healthcare tax to justify the use of the reconciliation process. The confirmation comes two days after the Congressional Budget Office confirmed that the GHA will reduce deficits by about $86 billion over a decade, thus making it eligible under the Byrd Rule that sets up the process. However, criticisms naturally arose- Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called it "a gross violation of the Byrd Rule", House Minority Leader Paul Ryan condemned Democrats for an "authoritarian attack on congressial rules", and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) called Pelosi and Schumer "thieves in the night, stealing our freedom in illegal ways". Criticism also came from the Democratic side- Senator Joe Manchin said that it made him "far less likely" to support the healthcare bill, while Senator Evan Bayh called Democratic leaders to "work in a bipartisan manner" to pass the healthcare reform rather than "lowering ourselves and violatng Senate procedures".

This healthcare act seems great

Oh this will be fun

April 20th, 2017

In heavy blow to Obama and Democrats, Wisconsin elects Republican Sean Duffy as U.S. Senator

()

MADISON - The Wisconsin special election to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Senator Tammy Baldwin's election as Vice President of the United States occured yesterday, and though it was tight and could not be called until late in the night, the end result was a heavy blow to President Barack Obama's administration and to the Democratic Party- a victory for U.S. Representative Sean Duffy, the Republican candidate, over U.S. Representative Ron Kind, the Democratic candidate. The Republican win, considered an upset, comes after weeks of Kind, a popular congressman, leading the polls, and following a plunge in President Obama's approval ratings. Sources inside the Wisconsin Democratic Party accused the Obama administration of "ruining our chances" by presenting the healthcare plan when they did, instead of waiting for after the special election. Congressman Kind conceded graciously, congratulating Senator-elect Duffy and saying that he will return to the House to "keep working for my dear constituents", while Duffy thanked his supporters and promised to fight the Obama agenda, "including a harmful healthcare bill Wisconsinites clearly don't like". With Duffy's election, Republicans have another vote against Obamacare 2.0, and it will make the work of passing the bill harder for the President, even using budget reconciliation. It will also bring about a humiliating picture for the Obama administration in a few weeks- Vice President Tammy Baldwin swearing in a Republican to her old Senate seat. Finally, it's considered a bad sign for Democrats ahead of what is likely to be a harsh environment in the 2018 midterms.

Wisconsin Senate, 2017 (99% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN GAIN
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R)- 49.8% ✓
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D)- 48.3%
Others- 1.9%

April 23rd, 2017

Macron, Mélenchon advance to runoff in French Presidential election, a disappointment to French right-wing

()

PARIS - After a wild and contentious election season, independent centrist candidate for the French Presidency Emmanuel Macron easily came first in the first round of the country's election, far before his three closest contenders, who were all very close to each other. In the end, far-left La France Insoumise candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon upset his right-wing rivals to narrowly come second in the final tally, and will advance to the runoff against Macron in May 7th, when Macron will be heavily favoured, according to the polls. Third came the conservative LR's candidate, François Fillon, who went through damaging scandals in the election season, and the far-right National Front candidate, Marine Le Pen, came in a very close fourth place, which is considered yet another disappointment for the global nationalist movement, following Donald Trump's defeat and the Dutch elections. Socialist candidate Benoît Hamon came in an alarming place for the French moderate left- sixth. He lost many votes to Mélenchon and the fifth place finisher, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, seemed to gain some voters from Le Pen.

French Presidential Election, 2017 (First Round)
Emmanuel Macron (EM)- 26.0% ✓
Jean-Luc Mélenchon (FI)- 20.3% ✓
François Fillon (LR)- 19.7%
Marine Le Pen (FN)- 19.5%
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (DLF)- 5.5%
Benoît Hamon (PS)- 5.4%
Others- 3.6%

April 29th, 2017

Obama administration prepares to send Obamacare 2.0 to Senate, faces uniform Republican opposition; Manchin, Heitkamp to oppose

()

BISMARCK - The healthcare showdown that will probably set the scene for the rest of President Obama's third term is looming closer. Democrats are planning to present the Guaranteed Healthcare Act before the Senate soon, and are now in the process of trying to secure at least 50 votes in its favour, a simple majority required as part of the budget reconciliation process. This target, despite heavy opposition and frevent attacks from conservative and libertarian Republicans, appears to be very achieveable. While all Republicans, including Susan Collins (R-ME), Joe Heck (R-NV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who were considered possible swing votes, announced opposition for the ambitiously progressive bill, President Obama will just need the support of 50 Democrats. Two Senators from his party have already announced opposition- Joe Manchin from West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp from North Dakota, both of which are up for a difficult reelction in 2017. Additionally, both Democratic Senators from the state of Indiana, Evan Bayh and Joe Donnelly (whose seat is also up in 2018), are reportedly leaning against the bill. Bayh has frequently criticized Democratic leaders for a process lacking bipartisanship, while Donnelly considers the bill "problematic for choice and freedom". Without them, Democrats are working hard to secure to secure the support of at least ten Senators amongst those who did not yet announce support for the bill, who are all also faced with a potentially difficult reelection bid in 2018, if they choose to seek it.

May 3rd, 2017

U.S. launches airstrike on Syria following chemical weapons use throughout April

()

JERUSALEM - After giving out one warning after the other to the Assad regime, urging the Syrian dictator against using chemical weapons against rebels amongst his own population, the Obama administration has finally acted on the threats, signaling a more forceful line against the Russia-backed leader. According to Secretary of State Joe Biden, the strikes were "precise and surgical", and "meant to show that the United State govenrment will not tolerate these monstrous crimes anymore". This is considered the first sign of a tougher line against Russia, especially after the reports of Russian intervention in the U.S. 2016 election increased the tensions between the two nations. President Putin called the attack "an attack on a sovereign nation" that  "substantially impairs" Russo-American relations. While the action received support from U.S. politicians, there were also some criticisms, chief amongst them from Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who accused President Obama of "spending money on an unnecessary loss of life and virtue-signaling", and even said that "the President is trying to distract the American people from an atrocious attack on healthcare".

---

NOTE: I made about three posts today, so if you didn't, make sure you've read the two new ones in the previous post, too :P They could go unnoticed with the TL moving to page three and all.

So is there going to be a WI-07 special election now?

mistake spotted?

Yep. Thanks!


I guess. Also special elections coming for Ros-Lehtinen's and Scott's House seats.

May 7th, 2017

Emmanuel Macron elected French President, easily dispatching far-left opponent



JEFFERSON CITY - The healthcare clash is approaching an end, as White House Press Secretary confirmed that the bill will be presented before the Senate "in the coming days". With at least 49 votes secure for the Guaranteed Healthcare Act and at least 46 secure against it, the fate of the most ambitious healthcare reform in decades hinges upon the shoulders of three Senators, all of whom are up for a difficult reelection in 2018: Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). With the President losing approval over the healthcare battle and Obamacare 2.0 holding negative ratings in all three of the states in question, and as conservative Super PACs and politicians barrage them with pressure, the three Senators stand before a tough dilemma- vote for the GHA and risk losing their seats in 2018, or vote against it and face the fury of Democrats. Nelson, a Democrat from a state Obama won in the last three Presidential races, is considered the likeliest vote for the bill, however he's facing the tough prospects of a battle against Governor Rick Scott (R-FL) in 2018. McCaskill and Tester have always been fairly liberal for their deeply-Republican states, but with Republicans ready to challenge them in 2018, they'll find it hard to vote for the bill. There's also an outside chance that the Obama administration will manage to gain the support of two Senators who have walked back from their definitive refusal to support the GHA in recent days- Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), who called it "a difficult choice" because "healthcare in my state is in a bleak situation", and Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) who said that the bill "might have some merits" despite the "atrocious process of its creation".

Nelson will support it!!!

May 25th, 2017

BREAKING: Obamacare 2.0 passes Senate in a 53-47 vote; Obama administration proclaims victory on healthcare

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a big victory for President Obama's administration, the Guaranteed Healthcare Act, its signature healthcare reform bill, passed the Senate today by a safe margin- 53 Senators voted for it, and 47 Senators opposed. The measure was ushered in through a budget reconciliation process, allowing it to bypass filibuster. The key votes for the GHA, dubbed by many Obamacare 2.0, were from four Democratic Senators facing tough reelection prospects in 2018. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Jon Tester (D-MT) all voted for the bill, which is considered a testament to the skills Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and HHS Secretary Howard Dean (D-VT) displayed by collecting the votes in congress. But the biggest surprise came from Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), who was considered a fairly reliable vote against the GHA but in the end changed his tune, saying that the bill "would cover tens of thousands of West Virginians who are suffering and have no other way to get themselves insured", reasoning that his state is suffering "a terrible drug epidemic" and that it was his "duty to support West Virginians who are out of job and don't have a way to protect their and their children's health".

AYE: 53 Senators ✓
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Jason Carter (D-GA)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Angus King (I-ME)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jason Kander (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)

NAY: 47 Senators
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Stever Daines (R-MT)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Joe Heck (R-NV)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
John Thune (R-SD)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
John Barrasso (R-WY)

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell launched an attack on the Senators who voted for the bill. "Mark my words", McConnell said in a press conference today, "we will take all of them down next year". McConnell's junior Senator, Rand Paul (R-KY), also attacked the bill, lamenting that the Obama administration has brought America to "a more authoritarian era with bad healthcare and no freedom". Democrats, however, could finally celebrate- President Obama proclaime that "we finally won a big victory on healthcare for the American people", and promised to pass the measure through the House and sign it as soon as possible. HHS Secretary Howard Dean, whose role just became outsized with the need to create a whole, nationwide public health insurance agency, said that he's "ready to face the challenges ahead and make sure every American has the best healthcare possible". Finally, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) praised the Obama administration for "a bold, progressive measure" and, smiling in a press conference with Schumer, Durbin and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), which was considered a display of unity between the Demcoratic progressive and establishment wings, thanked the President for "finally bringing an unfair system to an end".

May 29th, 2017

Virginia gubernatorial Democratic primary heats up as Obama, Sanders wade into Northam vs Perriello race

()

RICHMOND - The 2017 race for Virginia governor is heating up as the primaries for the nominations of both parties get closer. On the Republican side, fmr. RNC Chairman and establishment favourite Ed Gillespie is being challenged by Supervisor Corey Stewart, a far-right candidate running on a Trumpian, some would say racist platform and by State Senator Frank Wagner, but Gillespie is widely expected to win. On the Demcoratic side, the race appears closer- Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, a favourite of the Virginia Democratic establishment, including an endorsement from term-limited Governor Terry McAuliffe and unofficial support from Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, is being challenged by former U.S. Representative Tom Perriello. The former congressman, who served as special envoy under Obama, is being supported by an odd alliance- progressives, lead by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his Our Revolution organization, and Obamaworld, which sees Perriello as a close ally. While the President didn't explicitly endorse Perriello, he and his aides are making their support very clear- in a recent press conference, Obama called Northam's challenger "an excellent candidate who would make a great Governor". Sanders, meanwhile, is actively campaigning for Perriello, and has called him "a progressive who will bring real results to Virginia". The primary has gotten tighter in recent weeks, and the Obama\Sanders favourite seems to have a real chance of victory. Virginia is not the only place where President Obama is supporting insurgent allies- in New York City, fmr. OMB Director and Secretary of HUD under Obama, Shaun Donovan, is rumoured to consider an Obama-supported challenge to incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio, a Clinton ally.

Who will you vote for in the Virginia Gubernatorial Democratic Primary?
Ralph Northam- 46%
Tom Perriello-  44%
Unsure- 10%

June 5th, 2017

House of Representatives passes Obamacare 2.0; Speaker Pelosi praised for strong hold on caucus

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Obama administration has completed its final step in passing the Guaranteed Healthcare Act, a major victory for Democrats who passed their signature bill in a smooth process. The orderly process was largely attributed to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who showed her skills at moving bills through congress and holding the Democratic caucus by getting the votes of a strong majority amongst Democrats, letting only a few endangered ones vote against- 221 U.S. Representatives, all Democrats, voted for the bill, while 212 voted against, 9 amongst them Democrats and the rest, the entire Republican caucus. Two seats are currently vacant- the Democratic seat of Education Secretary Bobby Scott and the Republican seats of Trade Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and new Senator Sean Duffy. Now, the bill moves to President Barack Obama's desk for signing.

AYE: 221 U.S. Representatives ✓
221 Members of the House Democratic Caucus

NAY: 212 U.S. Representatives
All 202 Members of the House Republican Caucus
Dan Lipinski (D-IL)
Shelli Yoder (D-IN)
Monica Vernon (D-IA)
Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA)
Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Brad Ashford (D-NE)
Steve Santarsiero (D-PA)
Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
Pete Gallego (D-TX)

June 7th, 2017

President Obama officially signs Guaranteed Healthcare Act into law

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - History was made today in the White House, as President Barack Obama officially signed the Guaranteed Healthcare Act into law, creating a national health insurance agency, called NAHI, expanding and combining Medicare and Medicaid and making enrollment in some health insurance plan mandatory. The CBO, Congressial Budged Office, has confirmed that the bill's reduction of buearocracy will reduce deficits in the long term, and experts agree that the plan would mean that most, if not all Americans will eventually have health insurance. While Republicans kept condemning the bill- Senator Rand Paul lamented today as "the day our freedom and choice on healthcare was taken away by a bloated government"- Democrats and progressives celebrated the victory. Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it "a great day for Americans in all states" and progressive Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) proclaimed that "finally, we have achieved a fair healthcare system in our country". Republicans are expected to challenge the bill in the courts, but judicial experts agreed that the attempt has a "very low chance" to succeed. Following the victories in the Senate and House, Obama's approvals saw an uptick:

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 50% () (+1)
Disapprove- 42% () (-2)
Not Sure- 6% () (+1)

SGP losing 2 seats in the Dutch election is completely impossible (2% of voters always votes SGP, 98% will never vote SGP), but other than that: great TL!

Great TL so far! may I ask what the current 2018 GCB Polling and senate polling  look like in (Indiana, West Virginia and Pennsylvania) please?

Great TL, looks pretty realistic to what I would expect from a third Obama term in which the Democrats control both houses of Congress


On the other hand I hope there is a gop wave in 2018 (in both house and senate)

I guess I let my deep dislike of religious extremism get ahead of me :P Won't fix it because editing Wikipedia is effort, but thanks!


Thank you! Just like in our timeline, there aren't many polls for 2018 races yet at this point, but you're right- it's time to release some. I'll add them to my next post, but for now, I'll say that Manchin and Donnelly are in serious trouble while Casey Jr. is leading pretty confidently. Curiously, you've hit two of my most interesting planned races for 2018- West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Of course, I won't reveal yet why they're so interesting ;) In the Generic Ballot, Republicans have a moderate lead of about 3-5 points at this point.

I wonder if Missouri could end up being interesting. If Eric Greitens lost in 2016, it would be likely that he would have attempted to then run for the Senate seat in 2018. There would then be a large unpredictable variable in when the allegations came out.

If he lost an open seat in 2016 , there is no way he would win the gop nomination to face an incumbent democrat.

Ted Bessell did that in one of his timelines (https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=275662.msg5885373#msg5885373)

Greitens was not the Republican nominee for Governor in 2016. It was Peter Kinder. In fact, Greitens' political fortune was destroyed back in the Republican primaryb for Governor, when his affair scandal emerged to destroy his chances. I looked back at the first part of the TL, and after a slight edit (I mentioned in election night someone losing to Kinder because of a scandal but forgot to write Greitens' name), this is the official version:

Oh if that just was true ;) Hope something similar happens from 2021 onward. Obama-Macron is also a great international coalition.

I don't see Mélenchon loosing that much. He would have had appeal on Le Pen's voters.
And the map seems also unrealistic: why would Pyrénées-Orientales vote for him (it's not a lefty region at all), while historic lefty departments like Ariège, Martinique or Val-de-Marne (the last department that communists run)...

Nevermind, great TL !

The margin is fairly realistic imo, it's closer than the irl matchup but I do believe Mélenchon would lose fairly strongly because of depressed turnout from right-wingers. Macron was believed to be center to center-left back then iirc, so I could see many of the PS voters supporting him, all of the LR voters who bother to turn out, and at least some of the FN voters, which means Mélenechon doesn't have a path to a much higher percentage. I guess he could, but I don't think 37% is completely unrealistic.

As for the map- you're most likely correct, since you understand way more than me. I just took the first round results and checked where Mélenchon won or did well :P I'll probably refain from doing non-U.S. or Israel maps from now on.

Senate races for 2018 should be... interesting. Does anyone think that President Obama will pay more attention to issues dear to rural voters? 

June 8th, 2017

British snap election results in hung parliament; next government uncertain

()

LONDON - The snap parliamentary election called by British Prime Minister Theresa May turned quite sour for her, as her Conservative Party suffered a net loss of seats for the first time since 1997 and could not achieve a majority in the next parliament. While it was originally called by May in order to earn herself a stronger mandate for Brexit negotiations, her campaign proved insufficient and Labour Leader Jermey Corbyn overperformed, leading to a gain of seats for his party. The Liberal Democratic Party gained a few seats as well, while the separatist Scottish National Party lost many seats to Labour's surge.

Results of the United Kingdom General Election, 2017
Conservative Party (Leader: Theresa May)- 306 Seats (41.2%)
Labour Party (Leader: Jeremy Corbyn)- 268 Seats (40.6%)
Scottish National Party (Leader: Nicola Sturgeon)- 34 Seats (2.9%)
Liberal Democratic Party (Leader: Tim Farron)- 18 Seats (8.1%)
Democratic Unionist Party (Leader: Arlene Foster)- 10 Seats (0.9%)
Sinn Féin (Leader: Gerry Adams)- 7 Seats (0.7%)
Plaid Cymru (Leader: Leanne Wood)- 4 Seats (0.5%)
Green Party (Leaders: Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley)- 1 Seat (1.6%)
Independent- 1 Seat (0.5%)
Speaker (John Bercow)- 1 Seat (0.1%)
UK Independence Party (Leader: Paul Nuttall)- 0 Seats (1.8%)

The results leave May and Britain in a tough situation- no party holds a majority in the parliament, and the Prime Minister will have to build a coalition. However, that might get complicated- an idea of a deal with the right-wing Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was suggested, but would not hold quite enough seats for a majority. The only option, then, is for May to get the support of the Liberal Democratic Party- which would mean significant concessions. While Tim Farron campaigned on a second Brexit referendum, pundits speculate that he'll agree to support May even without it, but it would require making Brexit much softer than the Conservatives would be comfortable with. In a post-election speech, May confirmed that negotiations with the Liberal Democrats will begin soon, which might take some time considering the leadership election triggered by Tim Farron's resignation following an underwhelming showing in the election.

June 14th, 2017

Perriello wins Virginia Democratic nomination for Governor in an upset, Gillespie to be Republican nominee

()

RICHMOND - Former U.S. Representative Tom Perriello defeated Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam in last night's Democratic primary, becoming the party's nominee for the gubernatorial election to be held in November of this year. Perriello, supported by both President Obama and his allies and progressive Democrats, defeated the favourite and frontrunner in the race, Northam, who was supported by the Virginia Democratic establishment. This is considered a victory for President Obama, and also for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the progressive wing of the Democratic party. Northam graciously conceded the race and endorsed Perriello in the general election, calling his opponent "a great choice for Virginians". Perriello, a former congressman and diplomat, will face former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie in the general election. Gillespie was generally considered a moderate Republican who can win in the state after almost unseating popular Senator Mark Warner in 2014, but has moved to the right during the primary in order to defeat his opponent, Corey Stewart, which he only managed to do by a surprisingly narrow margin. The narrow primary victory and Gillespie's move to the right has reportedly worried Republicans in Virginia, a state trending to the Democrats. Currently, Perriello is holding a narrow lead in the polls.

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017- Democratic Primary Results
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello- 50.7% ✓
Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam- 49.3%

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017- Republican Primary Results
Fmr. RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie- 42.7% ✓
County Supervisor Corey Stewart- 41.4%
State Sen. Frank Wagner- 15.9%

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017- General Election Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello - 47%
Fmr. RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie- 45%
Undecided- 8%

June 17th, 2017

Details of TPP finalized; Obama administration prepares to bring trade deal for ratification in House, Senate

()

TOKYO - After several months of additional negotiations, U.S. Trade Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and representatives of the other signatories have presented the newly-minted final version of the Trans Pacific Pact. The re-negotiated version is fairly similar to the old one, prompting disappointment amongst some progressive Democrats and conservative Republicans. The changes include small reductions in tariffs cut, from over 18,000 to 17,000, more regulations to online commerce which are expected to benefit small businesses, and even more robust environmental regulations than originally, a change probably meant to appeal to progressive Democrats. Storng intellectual property regulations were slightly relaxed, while labour rights and standards, already meant to be improved and standarized in the old TPP, were increased- according to Commerce Secretary Dean Heller, "countries like Malaysia and Vietnam will now crack down on child labour and forced labour, and take labour and human rights much more seriously", making the agreement, according to Heller, "historic". Lastly, cooperation in the agricultural sector was expanded, allowing for more exports from the U.S. agricultural sector to countires like Japan and South Korea, and at the same time imports from east Asian countries to America.

June 19th, 2017

Progressives, Conservatives attack TPP as Obama, Heller attempt to forge majority for trade deal

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Reactions in the U.S. to the unveiling of the newly-minted version of the free-trade Trans Pacific Pact were mixed. While Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) endorsed the agreement as "a good deal that will help American small businesses and our standing in the world" and promised to try and push it through the Senate, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) criticized it as "the same old lie that will only help large corporations and hurt American workers", Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) warned that it will "leave thousands out of job" and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) claimed that the TPP will "do great harm to my state". Notably, Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) refused to explicitly endorse the deal, saying that she had misgivings about the agreement and "some disagreements with the President". Though some conservative Senators like John McCain (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), John Boozma (R-AR) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) expressed support for the deal, with the latter of them saying that it will help "revitalize growth and economic strength in the U.S. and drastically lower prices", others were not as supportive. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) criticized the TPP from the right, claiming that it was "full of regulations and tedious big govenrment that will only bog down the economies of those involved". This sentiment was joined by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who also added that the agreement was "tilted against simple Americans". And, of course, 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump was one of the most vocal in opposition to the bill:

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Nontheless, the agreement is expected to pass with the support of both Republicans and Democrats from the more moderate side of the aisles.

June 20th, 2017

De la Portilla, a Republican, wins special election in Florida's 27th congressial district, upsetting favourite Democrat Donna Shalala

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MIAMI - In a special election that Democrats hoped to win for a gain in the House of Representatives, Republican Miguel Díaz de la Portilla upset the favourite, Donna Shalala, an important hold for the Republican Party. The seat in Florida's 27th district was held by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen before her appointment as U.S. Trade Representative under the Obama Administration this year, and in recent years appears to be rapidly moving towards Democrats- President Obama won it against Romney in 2012 with 53%-46%, and against Trump and Huntsman in 2016 with 52%-24%-21%. In light of the trend, Democrats hoped to make a rare House gain in a special election, but their hopes were foiled due to a number of factors. A political moderate who often supported gun control, lgbtq rights and a path to amnesty for illegal immigrants, Miguel Díaz de la Portilla, the Republican, was a member of the Miami-Dade County Commission before serving six years in the Florida State Senator. Now, he will replace Ileana Ros-Lehtinen in Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala, the Democrat, was bogged down by her image as an establishment creature, intensified by how easily she won the Democratic nomination and by her tenure as President of the Clinton Foundation. Republican leaders celebrated the victory as a success, with Speaker Paul Ryan claiming it showed "Americans everywhere are sick of the Obama administration's rampaging, bloated government policies" and fmr. Senator Marco Rubio, rumoured to be contemplating a 2018 run for the other Senate seat in Florida, said it "spoke volumes" about the "deep unpopularity of the Democratic Party right now". The victory comes a week after a loss, albeit an expected one, for Republicans, when the election for Virginia's 3rd Congressial District, vacated by Secretary of Education Bobby Scott, was won by his niece and State Delegate Marcia Price, a Democrat, over her colleague, Republican State Delegate David Yancey, with a closer-than-expected 58%-41% result.

Florida 27th Congressial District Special Election (100% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
State Sen. Miguel Díaz de la Portilla - 52.3% ✓
Fmr. Sec. of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala- 47.5%
Other- 0.2%

Correct. Thanks.

I wonder if there be in this case a third term curse for Obama.

The Diaz de la Portillas are one of the most despised political families in Miami ahahahaha. Love this TL

Obama only won FL-27 53.0 to 46.3 in 2012.

You have it listed as 53 to 36 why?

Typo.

June 22nd, 2017

POLLING UPDATE: several Democrats in trouble for 2018, Presidential primaries in 2020 remains unclear

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CHARLESTON - While the midterms are still more than a year away, several polls are starting to trickle in, providing a first look at the key 2018 races- and beyond. The polls, conducted for both primaries and general elections for the Senate, show several Democratic incumbents in states considered hard for Democrats to win struggling, as GOP primary fields appear likely to be large and close, with many top-level candidates hoping to ride on what's shaping up to be a strong year for Republicans. Some, like Senate Minority Leade Mitch McConnell, have predicted "a Republican wave" after special election victories for the party, in the face of "a failing administration taxing our nation and destroying our freedom". However, Democrats point to the relative popularity of recent measures like the healthcare bill, and claim that the damage in the midterms can be mitigated.

Indiana Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young- 26%
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita- 20%
U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks- 18%
U.S. Rep. Luke Messer- 16%
Fmr. State Rep. Mike Braun- 5%
State Sen. Mike Delph- 2%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Indiana Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 46%
Senator Joe Donnelly*- 39%
Undecided/Other- 15%

Missouri Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
State Att. Gen. Josn Hawley- 22%
U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner- 21%
Businessman John Brunner- 14%
Fmr. Navy SEAL Eric Greitens- 11%
Businessman Austin Petersen- 8%
Fmr. Speaker Catherine Hanaway- 4%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Missouri Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 46%
Senator Claire McCaskill*- 40%
Undecided/Other- 14%

West Virginia Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins- 30%
State Att. Gen. Patrick Morrisey- 28%
Businessman Don Blankenship- 21%
Undecided/Other- 21%

West Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 45%
Senator Joe Manchin*- 37%
Undecided/Other- 18%

As we can see, Democratic incumbents in Republican states are facing an uphill climb in the 2018 midterm elections. In a midterm where a Democrat is sitting in the White House, Republicans were always expected to make gains, but with so many vulnerable Democrats, it might get tough for the President's party. The most surprising poll is likely the one from West Virginia- Senator Joe Manchin was considered a popular moderate Democrat in his state, but is trailing a generic Republican candidate by eight points. However, Republicans are worried that the one facing him will be businessman Don Blankenship, a man jailed for a year for his role in a mine explosion that killed 29 people, who's running as a Trumpist, right wing populist. Other polls conducted checked races in states considered swing states- where Democratic incumbents are also facing a potentially tough reelection, and also a curious primary poll in Utah.

Florida Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor Rick Scott- 29%
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 28%
State Att. Gen. Pam Bondy- 11%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. David Jolly- 10%
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis- 4%
Undecided/Other- 18%

Florida Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bill Nelson*- 43%
Republican Candidate- 41%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Ohio Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor John Kasich- 38%
State Trs. Josh Mandel- 21%
Fmr. Sec. of State Ken Blackwell- 18%
U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci- 10%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Ohio Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Sherrod Brown*- 45%
Republican Candidate- 41%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum- 26%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 24%
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent- 14%
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta- 14%
State Rep. Rick Saccone- 3%
Undecided/Other- 19%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bob Casey Jr.*- 45%
Republican Candidate- 39%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Utah Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.- 23%
Fmr. Governor Mitt Romney- 22%
Senator Orrin Hatch*- 20%
U.S. Rep. Mia Love- 11%
U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz- 9%
Undecided/Other- 15%

Utah Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 58%
Democratic Candidate- 28%
Undecided/Other- 14%

While all three Democratic Senators from Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania are currently leading, there is trouble in the water in the shape of possible high-profile Republican candidates challenging them. Casey Jr. from Pennsylvania is not expected to lost even if he runs against popular former Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, and is expected to easily defeat the conservative former Senator Santorum or Congressman Lou Barletta. Meanwhile, Ohio's Sherrod Brown is leading too, but he could face a problematic race if popular Governor and 2016 Presidential contender who refused to endorse Trump, John Kasich, decides to run. Florida's Republican primary appears to be potentially very contentious- Governor Rick Scott is widely expected to run, but rumour has it that former Senator Marco Rubio, after losing his seat in 2016, is contemplating another run for a Senate comeback. However, sources inside the Rubio sphere also claim that he's contemplating another option- running in the gubernatorial race to replace the term-limited Scott. Republican leaders are reportedly urging this option, potentially sending two high-profile contenders to two separate races, but it is unknown if Rubio is willing to give up the national standing provided by a Senate seat for a gubernatorial role. In Utah, longtime incumbent Orrin Hatch, who promised to retire but is now reportedly re-considering, is facing a potentially very tough reelection primary bid. He's placing second against two high-profile candidates who are reportedly considering a run- former Governor, Ambassador to China and wildly successful 2016 third party candidate Jon Huntsman, who, according to inside sources, whishes to keep his voice relevant, and former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney. It remains to be seen if Hatch retires and either or both of the two decide to run.

Another poll provides a first look at a race further down the road- the 2020 Presidential election.

Who would you vote for if the 2020 Republican Presidential Primary in your state was held today?
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)- 17%
Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ)- 14%
Governor John Kasich (R-OH)- 11%
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY)- 8%
Fmr. Governor Jon Huntsman (R-UT)- 8%
House Minority Leader Paul Ryan- 6%
Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR)- 5%
Governor Scott Walker (R-WI)- 5%
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)- 4%
Governor Nikki Haley (R-SC)- 3%
Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE)- 2%
Governor Charlie Baker (R-MA)- 2%
Fmr. Governor Rick Perry (R-TX)- 1%
Undecided/Other- 18%

Who would you vote for if the 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary in your state was held today?
Secretary of State Joe Biden (D-DE)- 21%
Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)- 17%
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)- 16%
Senator Elizabetn Warren (D-MA)- 9%
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA)- 5%
Senator Jason Kander (D-MO)- 4%
Senator Al Franken (D-MN)- 3%
Fmr. Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA)- 2%
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)- 2%
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)- 2%
Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY)- 1%
Secretary of HUD Julian Castro (D-TX)- 1%
Senator Amy Klobucher (D-MN)- 0.5%
Fmr. Governor Martin O'Malley (R-MD)- 0.5%
Undecided/Other- 16%

The primary polls don't provide much more than uncertainty. Name recognition appears to have large impact, as well-known candidates like Senator Cruz, the 2016 runner-up, Governor Christie, who served as Trump's running mate, and John Kasich, the 2016 third-place finisher, lead the Republican field. Jon Huntsman does surprisingly well despite his perceived betrayal of the party, as does Senator Rand Paul, whose previous campaign crashed back in 2016. On the Democratic side, the titans seem to be sucking all the oxygen from the air- Joe Biden, former Senator, Vice President and current Secretary of State, who hadn't ruled out a run, is leading, followed by the currently not-extremely-visible Vice President Tammy Baldwin and progressive leader Bernie Sanders is a close third. Another progressive firebrand, Senator Elizabeth Warren, is fourth, and other potential contenders with less name recognition are polling in low single-digits. It remains to be seen if any of them can break through.

June 24th, 2017

President Obama has sitdown with Senator Sanders (I-VT) on trade, other issues; Sanders still "strongly against current version of TPP" after meeting

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - In light of the fiery opposition by progressives in the Democratic party to the Trans Pacific Pact trade agreement, which, in the words of Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), they consider "a very bad deal that will hurt American workers and leave thousands unemployed in already suffering areas of our country", President Barack Obama has surprisingly invited Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), his former primary opponent and a leader of the party's progressive wing, to a sitdown in the White House. The meeting was an attempt by Obama to reconcile differences days before the TPP is brought before the House. According to Press Secretary Josh Earnest, the meeting was "friendly and productive", and the two discussed various issues other than trade, including healthcare, the environment and a possible infrastructure bill. However, Senator Sanders, apparently, remained unconvinced- in a CNN interview a day after the meeting, Sanders said that, while he appreciated the invintation, the environmental and labour regulations added to the TPP in recent negotiations are "too little" to compensate for "a disastrous blow to our workers". In addition to progressives, some more moderate Democratic Senators from midwestern and applachian states have also declared their opposition to the bill, including Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Tom Vilsack (D-IA). Others, like Jason Kander (D-MO), Joe Sestak (D-PA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) are still on the fence.

June 27th, 2017

Trans Pacific Pact passes House in tense vote; differences spark between Democratic leaders

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Obama administration's signature trade deal, the TPP, won a majority in the House of Representatives today, passing one of its biggest obstacles before arriving at the President's desk for official ratification. The vote in the House was tense, and resulted in a fairly strong victory for President Obama- 228 U.S. Representatives voted for the deal, while 206 voted against it. But the partisan breakdown of the vote was even more interesting- 164 Democrats voted for the bill and 67 voted against it, while 64 Republicans voted for the bill, with the rest, 139 U.S. Representatives, opposing it. The strong Republican support is considered a result of hard lobbying by Commerce Secretary Dean Heller and U.S. Trade Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, both Republicans and among the architects of the newly-negotiated trade agreement. They helped convince enough moderate Republicans from the Main Street Partnership Caucus, as well as pro-free trade conservatives, to essentially pass the deal. On the Democratic side, the split is a result of progressives believing it hurts workers, as well as rural and midwestern Democrats fearing the loss of their seats come 2018, as the TPP is unpopular in these areas. Particularly interesting was the split inside the Democratic leadership itself- while Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) supported President Obama's efforts to whip Democratic votes in the House and voted for the deal, Majority Leader Tim Ryam voted against and even addressed to House to voice his opposition. This is yet another sign of conflict between Pelosi and Ryan, who has become a counterweight to the Speaker.

July 1st, 2017

Senate ratifies Trans Pacific Pact, giving another a victory for the Obama administration; President officially signs deal

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a vote anticipated for several months, the Senate has officially ratified the Trans Pacific Pact today. President Obama's trade deal was passed with 62-38 majority, avoiding a filibuster mainly thanks to pro-trade Republican Senators joining their Democratic colleagues and supporting the deal, making it one of the least partisan major Senate votes in recent years. It's considered a victory for the Obama administration, who now hope to move on from the TPP and regain the trust of progressives opposing the deal, and particularly a victory for Commerce Secretary Dean Heller, who worked on the deal and lobbied hard, and as we saw today, successfully, for Republicans to support it in the Senate. The responses in the political world were mixed- while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer celebrated the passage of "a great agreement", and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) said that he was happy to vote for "a solid trade deal that will stimulate our economy", others were less thrilled- Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) gave a short, curt comment about "a bad deal to our workers", while 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump tweeted that the agreement is "A TOTAL DISASTER" and that it was "a very, very sad day for all good Americans". President Barack Obama quickly signed the TPP, officially ratifying it, and now, the other signatories are expected to start a quick process to ratify it too and get the deal to finally take effect.

AYE: 62 Senators ✓
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Jason Carter (D-GA)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Jason Kander (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Steve Daines (R-MT)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Joe Heck (R-NV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
John Thune (R-SD)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Safe NAY: 38 Senators
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Angus King (I-ME)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
John Barrasso (R-WY)

Prediction: Republicans pick up MO, IN, ND, WV, MT, and one of FL/OH/VA.

If Rick Santorum wins in Pennsylvania, I will cry.

Any chance Obama pulls a FDR and runs for a fourth term in 2020?

I believe more  Republicans supported TPP in OTL than Democrats



Great update though

The new version holds some environmental and labour regulations that turn down the principled conservative types (Paul, Cruz, Lee, Cotton, Sessions, Inhofe) while the more populist-ish midwestern ones (Capito, Duffy, Cassidy etc) oppose it on the same grounds Sanders and co do (takes away jobs). Also, a President's power to persue his party is considerable, so loyal northeastern Democrats fell in line.

July 4th, 2017

President Obama gives Independence Day address urging action on environment, immigration as approval ratings tick down

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Days after signing the Trans Pacific Past despite protests from progressive, midwesterners and others, U.S. President Barack Obama gave his annual Independence Day address to the American people. In his speech, the President barely mentioned the TPP, merely glancing over it by saying that "an agreement to stimulate our economy, lower prices and strengthen our global standing was passed". Instead, he seemed to pivot to issues where he's more in line with the party's progressive wing- he said that he was proud of "finally guaranteeing the basic right of quality healthcare coverage to all Americans, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation or socio-economic position", and urged congress to act on two hot-button issues: the environment and immigration. On immigration, President Obama said that it's time to "finally pass a comprehensive reform to guarantee citizenship to hardworking residents whose life is centered in America while securing our borders". But most of the address seemed to zero in on the environment- the President said that "our planet is in grave danger", and that, while his administration is hard at work on "measures to protect our environment and move us towards alternative, clean energy sources", it's "time for congress to act and pass a package to protect our planet". The President also confirmed that he will soon travel to France to "meet President Macron and discuss another possible environmental agreement". The pivot to this issues seems to be an attempt to regain the trust of anti-trade progressives, whose lack of support after the passage of the TPP seems to be the reason for a recent downtick of Obama's approval ratings, now below the 50% mark.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 48% () (-2)
Disapprove- 43% () (+1)
Not Sure- 7% () (+1)

July 10th, 2017

Mosul liberated from ISIS by Iraqi, Kurdish forces; PM Abadi formally declares victory

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MOSUL - One of the last significant holdout of ISIS control was finally liberated today by a joint Iraqi and Kurdish assault, with support from the U.S.-lead coalition. The Liberation of Mosul is a blow to the terrorist orgnaization that gained steam in recent years, conquering oil fields and cities. In the past months, ISIS seemed to lose momentum under heavy airstriked of the U.S.-lead coalition and a strong resistance put up by Kurdish forces in northern Iraq, later joined by a resurgent Iraqi army. In Syria, meanwhile, Iran and Russia-supported government forces are also pushing back against ISIS, though they seem to concentrate on moderate rebels just as much as radical ones. President Barack Obama congratulated the Iraqi government and Kurdish resistance for "a brave stand and a successful attack", and promised to continue "fighting ISIS until there will be nothing left from them". This is considered a sign for the success of airstrikes conducted by U.S. and allies.

July 18th, 2017

EPA Administrator Al Gore meets with lawmakers, urges action on environment

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - As President Obama prepares to depart to Paris, France for discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and former Vice President Al Gore made a trip to a closer destination- Capitol Hill. There, Gore had bipartisan meetings with several dozens of lawmakers, where he reportedly urged them to start drafting a comprehensive environmental and energy bill to help transition the U.S. to alternative energy and increase regulation. The lawmakers include liberals like Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jason Kander (D-MO) and Jason Carter (D-GA), more moderate Senators such as Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Jon Tester (D-MT), and moderate Republican congressmen like Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Heck (R-NV), and Representatives Barbara Comstock (R-VA), Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Susan Brooks (R-IN). In recent weeks, Gore's EPA, which experts describe as "the most activist EPA in history", has been intensifying efforts, indicating an increased interest in climate change by the Obama administration. The efforts lead to protests by conservatives, as several state Attorney Generals, lead by Oklahoma's firebrand Scott Pruitt, tried and failed the sue the EPA for its "tyrannical regulations".

July 20th, 2017

BREAKING: Sen. John McCain diagnosed with brain cancer, set to begin treatment

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PHOENIX - America has woken up to sad news today, as Senator John McCain (R-AZ), the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, a longtime Senator and a war hero, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain tumor. The news comes five days after McCain, 81, underwent a surgery to removea a blood clot above his left eye in the Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona. McCain's spokespersons have announced that he will remain Senator for the forseeable future, and will undergo treatment for his cancer. Well-wishers came from accross the political map- Republicans and Democrats praised McCain and wished him full recovery. President Barack Obama, for example, said that McCain is "a hero and an extremely honourable man who I'm proud to have participated in the same election with", while Secretary of State Joe Biden wished McCain a quick recovery, calling him "a dear friend of mine".

July 25th, 2017

Obama, Macron meet in Paris; discussions include environment, trade, ISIS and North Korea

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PARIS - President Barack Obama was warmly welcomed yesterday in Paris, France, and today sat down with new French President Emmanuel Macron for discussions. According to spokespersons, the two world leaders, who begin to emerge as leaders of the western world, discussed another possible environmental agreement in the mold of the fresn Paris Agreement, continued airstrikes against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, new sanctions against the increasingly bold North Korean regime and, surprisingly, another proposition has emerged- a trans-atlantic trade agreement tying the U.S. and the European Union. However, sources confirmed that such a proposition will not be negotiated in 2017. Following the meeting with Obama, Macron has reportedly called three other important western leaders and invited them to meet him- German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Theresa May, who recently established a shaky coalition with the Liberal Democrats and began negotiations for a softer version of Brexit than intended. Macron is expected to discuss the new environmental and trade agreements with the leaders and attempt to initiate larger, multilateral discussions.

July 28th, 2017

As North Korean leadership remains stubborn in face of diplomatic attempts, National Security Advisor James Stavridis levels up threats

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NEW YORK CITY - After Secretary of State Joe Biden made his Asian trip a few months ago, there were hopes that China would be able to pressure North Kore into beginning talks with the U.S. and its allies for nuclear disarmament. But Chinese pressure was lacking, and the Kim Regime remained stubborn- and now, after yet another ballistic missile test, the Obama administration appears to be taking a harder line. National Security Advisor James Stavridis, who served as Jon Huntsman's independent running mate back in 2016 and is considered one of the more hawkish voices within the administration, said in a recent interview that if the North Korean regime continues making steps that threaten the United States or its allies, "we will respond harshly and forcefully". Asked if it means actual attacks on North Korean soil, Stavridis said simply that "nothing is off the table". U.S. attacks on North Korea could result in an escalation that, according to experts, would likely lead to the toppling of the Kim Regime at a very heavy cost for both Korea and America.

I would recommend posting Obama’s approval like they do on the thread “Hillary Wins”

August 5th, 2017

UN Security Council approves sharp new trade, investment sanctions on North Korea; Ambassador Snowe says "more to come" if Kim Regime remains stubborn

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NEW YORK CITY - As North Korea intensifies ballistic missile tests and continues making threats against the U.S. and its allies in the region, the Obama administration is leveling up its actions against the Kim Regime. In a show of expert diplomacy, UN Ambassador and former Maine Senator Olympia Snowe successfully pushed a new and sharp package of sanctions against North Korea through the UN Security Council, avoiding vetos by China and Russia. The new sanctions include heavy restrictions on trade and investment, as well as harsher punishment for anyone who sells the Kim Regime military equipment and technology. The approval of the sanctions is considered a success for both Ambassador Snowe, who's proving herself a solid choice and said that there were "more sanctions to come" if the North Korean leadership remains stubborn, and Secretary of State Biden, who worked hard to convince China not to veto the package. Biden is expected to make a trip to Europe soon, where he hopes to convince leaders to increase cooperation against North Korea and the environment.

August 12th, 2017

Unite the Right Charlottesville rally causes uproar as counter-protester is killed; Governor McAuliffe sends in National Guard

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CHARLOTTESVILLE - Protesting the expected removal of the Robert E. Lee statue in a Charlottesville city partk, several hundreds of far-right activists marched through the city yesterday night in what was considered an attempt to unite white supremacist and alt-right movements in America. The protesters included a ragtag of groups consisting of neo-confederates, neo-nazis, white nationalists, Klansmen, and other militias, and as they marched they shouted slurs of an extremely racist, antisemitic, anti-Muslim and homophobic nature. African Americans were especially targeted, as protesters called President Obama "a foreign monkey" and "a n**ger". Jews were also heavily targeted, chanting slurs like "Jews will not replace us", "the Goyim know" and "Jews are Satan's children". Over a thousand counter-protesters, many of them peaceful while some more violent, stood against the racist march, which lead to tragedy as the two groups clashed and a white supremacist rammed his car into a croud of counter-protesters, killing one woman named Heather D. Heyer. Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency and harshly condemned the march as "repugnant" and "unlawful", sending in the Virginia National Guard with the approval of Attorney General Deval Patrick and leading to dozens of arrests and clashes between far-right activists and authorities.

August 14th, 2017

Responses to far-right rally harsh accross the political spectrum; Attorney General Patrick leads crusade against organizers

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RICHMOND - Days after the deadly far-right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, responses in the political world seem to be full condemnation to the rally. President Barack Obama attacked the protest as "a show of hate and extremism meant to tear us apart" and added that the rally was "a hive of wretched people such as nazis, racists and would-be murderers", while Attorney General Deval Patrick said that he would "act in the strongest terms" to persecute "those who incited violence and caused this tragedy". Thus, in addition to violent protesters, several of the protest's organizers were arrested by federal authorities, including organizer Jason Kessler and other far-right figures such as former Klan Imperial Wizard David Duke, dentity Evropa leader Nathan Damigo and National Policy Institute Chairman Richard Spencer. In a short statement, a spokesperson for Duke decried the Obama administration for "attacking the first amendment".

Meanwhile, responses to the march were strong on both sides of the aisel: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that the rally was "a disgusting display of racism and antisemitism" and praised the Obama administration for combatting "those who would like to repeat what my people went through not so long ago", while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) agreed that the protest was "repugnant", saying that the protesters "have no place in our political discourse". Republican leaders seemed especially eager to condemn the protest, as many of the participants in the far-right rally seemed to identify as Republicans and some wore red Make America Great Again hats, reminding voters of the 2016 Republican nominee. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), for example, agreed with the sentiment, and said that "while the first amendment is a treasure and applies for everyone, these people are just plain monsters". House leaders Nancy Pelosi, Tim Ryan, Paul Ryan and Steve Scalise held a joint press conference where they decried the rally as "terrible and absolutely unacceptable". Another result of the rally seems to be backlash, as progressives, liberals and independents rally around the President's flag, causing a spike in his approval ratings. And in Virginia, Governor Terry McAuliffe's approvals also see a rise, as his handling of the crisis is praised, and in the gubernatorial race, Democratic nominee Tom Perriello seems to be gaining in the polls against Republican nominee Ed Gillespie.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 53% () (+5)
Disapprove- 39% () (-4)
Not Sure- 6% () (-1)

Governor McAuliffe Job Approval
Approve- 64%
Disapprove- 27%
Not Sure- 9%

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017- General Election Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello - 51%
Fmr. RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie- 42%
Undecided- 7%

August 19th, 2017

Mr. Trump says "very fine people on both sides" in Charlottesville, hints at possible 2020 bid; Republican leaders condemn

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NEW YORK CITY - For around a week after the extremely controversial Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where neo-nazis and white supremacists gathered and attacked minority groups, 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump remained mostly silent, only tweeting againt Al Gore's environmental agenda once. But now, in a surprise press conference in Trump Tower, Mr. Trump was finally asked for a comment about the events. The conference was originally intended to bring Trump's voice back into the political world, and included the 2016 nominee laying out an anti-environmental, anti-trade populist agenda and hinting at a 2020 Presidential run, saying that the Republican field "looks very sad" and that "our movement is not done yet". But it could not escape the shadow of Charlottesville, and when a reporter asked Mr. Trump for a comment, he made a comment that is causing headache for many Republican leaders hoping to escape the controversy- Trump said that the rally was "wrong and violent", but that there was violence in the counter-protest too, and that "there are very fine people in both sides". Republicans were quick to condemn, with House Minority Leader Paul Ryan stating that Trump's comments "do not represent the Republican Party", but the damage was done- 'very fine people' became the most circulated story of the week. Asked for a comment, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that Mr. Trump is "irrelevant".

August 23rd, 2017

Secretary Biden takes major trip to Europe, holds meetings with majort leaders

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BERLIN - In his longest trip since the one to Asia months ago, former Vice President Joe Biden continued his role as a very activist Secretary of State and travelled across the European continent. Biden met with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Prime Minister Theresa May in London, Prime Minsiter Mark Rutte in Amsterdam, European Union leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk in Luxembourg, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome, and Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. According to spokespeople, the discussions were very productive and included multilateral cooperation to combat climate change, a possible increase in trade between the U.S and the EU, and joint efforts to pressure the North Korean regime and finally destroy ISIS. But Biden's trip isn't done yet- the Secretary of State is set to depart to Moscow from Berlin now, where he will hold an important meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in the shadow of tensions between the Obama administration and the Putin regime following alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

August 25th, 2017

Biden concludes European trip after tense meeting with President Putin; flash environmental talks to begin soon

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MOSCOW - Concluding his major European trip, Secretary of State Joe Biden arrived at Moscow to hold meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials. In the shadow of Russian meddling in the 2016 Presidential election, the meeting was considered important and was widely covered. According to spokespeople, Biden and Putin discussed cooperation against ISIS and pressure on North Korea, and Biden made the administration's environmental agenda a central part of the meeting, receiving Putin's support for starting a new, faster round of talks. The most complicated issue discussed was Syria, on which Biden demanded Russia stops the Assad regime from using chemical weapons and Putin denied that there was such use. Biden also repeated the Obama administration's disapproval of Russian actions in Ukraine, while Putin demanded the relaxation of sanctions. Upon his return to Washington, Secretary Biden announced one result of the trip- he achieved the consent of European leaders, as well as Russian, Chinese and Latin American leaders, for flash talks about a new environmental agreement "supplementing and strengthening the Paris Agreement". The negotiations will be held between the foreign ministers of the nations, and will be "much quicker" than the talks leading up to Paris because of broad agreement between the nations on most issues, as China increasingly begins to support a more environmentally friendly agenda. Additionally, according to rumours, President Putin was expected to expel U.S. diplomats as a response to sanctions and was dissuaded by Biden, preveting furtner deterioration of the Russo-American relations. The cost is likely to be a slight reduction in sanctions, in exchange for Russian cooperation on North Korea and climate change. The increased pressure for climate change action comes as the U.S. is struck by Hurricane Harvey, shaping up to be the costliest natural disaster in United States history.

August 29th, 2017

New York City mayoral race heats up as Obama-backed Shaun Donovan pushes against incumbent Bill de Blasio; Donald Trump Jr. favoured to win Republican nomination

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NEW YORK CITY - The 2017 mayoral race in New York City was not expected to be very interesting- in a city turning more and more liberal in recent decades, and with President Obama very popular in the city, Republicans were not expected to put up a significant challenge to incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio. However, the challenge to de Blasio came from another direction- the President himself. Two months ago, Shaun Donovan, a close ally of Obama formally announced his intention to primary the NYC Mayor, who, with a problematic management of the city, holds falling, underwater approvals. Donovan, the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under President Obama, quickly gained traction, as his experience appealed to the political class in the city and gained him many endorsements, and his closeness to the popular President gained him grassroots support. Still, de Blasio is currently leading the polls and is expected to survive his reelection campaign. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, a surprising challenger has recently declared his intention to run- Donald J. Trump Jr., the colourful son of the even-more-colourful 2016 Republican nominee, is running a populist campaign, decrying de Blasio's "weak leadership" and making law-and-order a central theme. However, he's been striking a far more moderate tone than his father, virtually running as a liberal on social issues and a moderate on economic issues, with hawkish immigration and crime positions. He's favoured to win the Republican nomination, but it won't be a cakewalk, as he has a challenger- Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, running as a mainline conservative Republican, is calling Trump Jr. "a raging liberal" and a "woefully unelectable and incompetent candidate", pointing to Don Jr.'s father, Donald Trump, losing NYC to President Obama by a landslide margin. In the general election polls, Trump has been gaining, and some Democrats are afraid that a damaging primary and a tough environment might lose their candidate the race and bring Trump's son to the Mayoral Mansion.

New York City Mayoral Election (Democratic Primary)- Polling
Mayor Bill de Blasio*- 39%
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan- 33%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr- 7%
Fmr. Detective Bo Dietl- 2%
State Sen. Tony Avella- 2%
Fmr. City Councilman Sal Albanese- 1%
Undecided/Other- 16%

New York City Mayoral Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Businessman Donald Trump Jr- 41%
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis- 26%
Pastor Michel Faulkner- 9%
Businessman Rocky De La Fuente- 6%
Undecided/Other- 18%

New York City Mayoral Election (General Election)- Trump vs de Blasio
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D)*- 48%
Businessman Donald Trump Jr- 35%
Undecided/Other- 17%

New York City Mayoral Election (General Election)- Trump vs Donovan
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan (D)- 51%
Businessman Donald Trump Jr- 33%
Undecided/Other- 18%

New York City Mayoral Election (General Election)- Malliotakis vs de Blasio
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D)*- 47%
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis- 34%
Undecided/Other- 19%'

New York City Mayoral Election (General Election)- Malliotakis vs Donovan
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan (D)- 54%
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis- 27%
Undecided/Other- 21%

September 3rd, 2017

North Korea conducts sixth and most powerful missile test yet; Stavridis threatens action, Biden calls Chinese President

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SEOUL - The North Korean regime appears to be taking bolder and bolder steps, increasingly the Obama administration. Today, the Kim Regime conducted a test of its most powerful missile yet, raising further security fears in South Korea, Japan and the U.S. itself. The Obama administration, however, seems determined not to show weakness, and has responded harshly- National Security Advisor James Stavridis made a direct threat against the Kim Regime, saying that if it continues threatening America or its allies, "we will be forced to act, and when we act, they will not know the tsunami coming for them, so I advise North Korea to start acting reasonably". Secretary of State Joe Biden, meanwhile, struck a more diplomatic but still firm tone, reporting that he has called the Chinese President to "demand that China makes it clear to the North Koreans that they can't continue threatening peace in eastern Asia". The North Korean issue seems likely to become the major foreign policy issues for the Obama administration in the coming months.

September 9th, 2017

Hurricane Irma hits, becomes the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin outside the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico

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TAMPA - The second hurricane in a short span of time hits U.S. coasts from the south, and it's not expected to be the last. What is now known as Hurricane Irma swept over the Caribbean and affected several states in the south, especially Florida, but with less damage than expected- Governor Rick Scott (R-FL), whose handling of the crisis received praised as he cooperated with the Obama administration's disaster relief efforts, said that "we expected to see a lot more damage, and we're relieved that we didn't see it". Irma was extremely powerful at first, the strongest storm on record to exist in the open Atlantic region, and it caused major damage in Caribbean island-nations, but the U.S. appeared less affected. Still, President Obama traveled to Florida to observe the situation and the relief efforts, appearing in a show of unity with the state's Republican Governor and Democratic Senators, and even appeared serving food at a shelter.

September 13th, 2017

Donovan upsets de Blasio in New York City Democratic mayoral primary, earning another victory for Obamaworld

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NEW YORK CITY - A major political victory for President Obama, and a huge shakeup in the New York City political scene, occured today. Shaun Donovan, Obama's former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Budget Director, has narrowly defeated incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio in New York's Democratic mayoral primary. Donovan's victory is considered a major upset, as de Blasio had the city's powerful Democratic political machine behind him. However, pundits observe that the Mayor's defeat was caused by his unpopularity, combined with the fact that many important political players in the party didn't show up to support him, or outright opposed him- Obamaworld was strongly behind Donovan, progressive Democrats, such as Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and the Our Revolution organization, refused to endorse a candidate despite de Blasio trying to position himself as the progressive in the race, New York's Governor, Andrew Cuomo, actively worked against the New York City Mayor, and even his traditional allies, the Clintons, who still hold considerable sway in the city's politics, didn't provide much support, only issuing a tepid endorsement of de Blasio two weeks before the primary. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump's son won with a large margin as expected, and will face Shaun Donovan in November. And, of course, Donald Trump the father himself didn't keep silent, loudly congratulating his son on twitter before attacking Donovan and the President.

()

However, Donovan is not considered particularly vulnerable against Trump Jr, considering he's a fresh face and virtually represents a President who holds strong approvals in the city.

New York City Mayoral Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan- 45.4% ✓
Mayor Bill de Blasio*- 42.8%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr- 4.9%
Fmr. Detective Bo Dietl- 2.3%
State Sen. Tony Avella- 1.5%
Fmr. City Councilman Sal Albanese- 0.6%
Other- 2.5% 14 left

New York City Mayoral Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Businessman Donald Trump Jr- 52.1% ✓
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis- 31.7%
Businessman Rocky De La Fuente- 10.4%
Pastor Michel Faulkner- 5.2%
Undecided/Other- 0.6%

New York City Mayoral Election- Polling
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan (D)- 53%
Businessman Donald Trump Jr- 34%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Cool!

Run Rand run!

He'll definitely have a role, as you can see by his very vocal presence ;)

Also, important note: I forgot to mention McCain's brain cancer diagnosis, and it's an important piece of news which will have effect in this timeline, so I edited it in:

Those Virginia Gov. polls make it look like the Democrats aren't completely screwed in midterms... Really like this!

That's the Charlottesville bump. Give it a couple weeks and it'll go back to normal levels.

I really like how this is going, New York will be fun to see!

September 22nd, 2017

Hurricane Maria hits Puerto Rico in full force; Obama administration approves massive aid package

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SAN JUAN - Another hurricane has swept through the Caribbean Sea, this time hitting Puerto Rico, a major U.S. territory, in full force. The damage was huge- dozens of deaths were reported, in addition to damage to property and infaustracture worth hundreds of millions, and harsh humanitarian conditions including widespread electric shortages, food shortages and many cases of hypothermia. President Obama urged congress to quickly pass a major package to aid the territory, and it happened in less than two days- a massive package of hundreds of millions was passed through congress, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as Republican leaders who joined the bipartisan effort, were praised for the quick package. FEMA and army forces were deployed to aid the relief efforts, and today even President Obama himself made the journey to San Juan, Puerto Rico, accompanied by First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Tammy Baldwin and Health and Human Services Secretary Howard Dean. Obama appeared with the city's popular mayor, Carmen Yulín Cruz, before a crowd of Puerto Ricans, and observed the relief efforts. The President's handling of the recent hurricanes was widely praised, and with the national spotlight turned to consensus issues such as natural disasters and North Korean agression, his approvals are seeing a considerable rise. This is worrying for Republicans, so close to the first test of their attempt at a wave in 2018- the Virginia Gubernatorial election, where their nominee, Ed Gillespie, has been struggling to keep up with Democrat Tom Perriello.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 56% () (+3)
Disapprove- 37% () (-2)
Not Sure- 5% () (-1)

New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 2017- General Election Polling
Fmr. Ambassador Phil Murphy- 54%
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno- 37%
Undecided- 9%

New York City Mayoral Election, 2017- Polling
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan (D)- 55%
Businessman Donald Trump Jr- 34%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017- General Election Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello - 49%
Fmr. RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie- 45%
Undecided- 6%

September 24th, 2017

Merkel wins uneasy victory in German Federal election, alliance with FDP likely

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BERLING - The bad news for Chancellor Angela Merkel is that she lost 49 Bundestag Seats in last night's German Federal Election. The good news? Her main rival, SPD's Martin Schulz, lost even more. After an intensive election season, Germans made their choice known, and chose to let Angela Merkel's party, the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) retain a plurality of the parliament seats, despite heavy losses. Both major parties- the CDU and the Social Democratic Party (SPD)- have bled a large number of seats, over a hundred, to the smaller parties. These parties, which will take up over half of the Bundestag, have all gained seats, but some performed better and some were disappointed by the results. The trend of declining performances for far-right parties following the landslide election loss of Donald Trump in 2016 seems to continue, as the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party could not become the third biggest party as they had hoped, and will instead have to settle on fourth place. Meanwhile, the Left Party managed to gain an impressive number of seats from the declining SPD, while the Greens gained a disappointing number of two seats only. The real winners of the election came third- Christian Lindner's Free Democratic Party (FDP) managed to present themselves as the alternative to the disappointing major party's, as many voters were turned off by the radical politics of the AfD and the Left, and by the Greens' overly-liberal immigration views. From no seats at all due to not passing the thershold in the last election, FDP became the third biggest party in the Bundestag. Now, with Schulz refusing to commit the SPD to another national coalition, the centrist, pro-EU Lindner has become the kingmaker, and will likely be Merkel's partner in the next government, with significant leeway in the negotiations to come- together, the CDU and FDP make up 362 Seats, a narrow but sufficient majority.

German Federal Election, 2017
Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (Angela Merkel)- 262 Seats () (-49)
Social Democratic Party (Martin Schulz)- 135 Seats () (-58)
Free Democratic Party (Christian Lindner)- 97 Seats () (+97)
Alternative for Germany (Alice Weidel & Alexander Gauland)- 79 Seats () (+79)
The Left (Sahra Wagenknecht & Dietmar Bartsch)- 71 Seats () (+7)
Alliance 90/The Greens (Katrin Göring-Eckardt & Cem Özdemir)- 65 Seats () (+2)

October 2nd, 2017

Mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada kills fifty-eight people to become deadliest shooting by lone gunman in U.S. history; Obama, Democrats calls for gun control

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LAS VEGAS - Tragedy struck the U.S. yesterday night, when a gunman opened heavy fire on a large crowd of concertgoers attending a musical festival. The attack left 58 people dead and 851 injured, making it the single deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman in American history, surpassing the Orlando Nightclub shooting last year. The shooter, 64-years-old Stephen Paddock, whose motive is unknown as of now and who commited suicide after the act, used semi automatic rifles equipped with bump fire stocks- making them fire at a rate similar to that of a fully automatic rifle. Following the shooting, Democrats begun calling for gun control measures, including the banning of bump stocks, with President Obama saying that "action must be taken to prevent such horrible tragedies in the future" and Speaker Pelosi calling her colleagues to "get [their] act together and start passing meaningful reforms". The Democrats found an unlikely ally on this issue- Brian Sandoval, Nevada's Republican Governor rumoured to be considering a Senate run in 2018, has officially announced his support for a bill banning bump stocks which already begun making its way through the state's legislature.

October 5th, 2017

Feinstein, Collins introduce bumpstock ban in Senate; Obama urges congress to pass bill

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WASHINGTON, D.C - Several days after the Las Vegas shooting, with the national mood souring on gun control activists, the first sign of action appeared on Capitol Hill. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) have officially drafted a bill that will regulate bump stocks just like all other fully automatic weapons- which means that bump stocks will be banned for civilian use, with heavy sanctions for those who try to sell them to customers without a license. President Obama immediatley announced his support for the bill, calling it "an important first step", and urged congress to pass it swiftly. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined the call, promising to "work hard on ushering this through the Senate as quickly as possible". But conservative Republicans were less supportive, with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) calling the bill "an atrocious and unnecessary attack on the second amendment". The measure is expected to face a rock road ahead, with some Democrats from conservative-leaning states likely to oppose it, and Senators Paul and Cruz (R-TX) already promising to filibuster it, meaning that it will have to win at leasy 60 votes in the Senate.

October 11th, 2017

Biden, Gore meet with global leaders, renewed environmental flash talks begin in Paris

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PARIS - Accompanied by EPA Administrator and former Vice President Al Gore, Secretary of State Joe Biden has arrived to Paris, France today to begin the first round of negotiations for a new multileteral climate deal with Foreign Affairs Ministers from many important countries. The new talks are expected to be quick and to result in an agreement that bolsters and strengthens the Paris Agreement rather than a brand new one. In a busy day, Biden held meetings with many important figures- Nicolas Hulot, French Minister of the Ecology and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sir Vince Cable, new Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party and British Minister of Foreign Affairs following the Conservative-Social Democratic coalition after the last election, and Michael Gove, British Minister of the Environment; Sigmar Gabriel, German Minister of Foreign Affairs; Sergei Lavrov, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Wang Yi, China's Foreign Affairs Minister; Angelino Alfano, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs; Aloysio Nunes, Brazil's Foreign Affairs Minister; and others. According to spokespersons, the main issues in the talks were similar environmental laws agreed to be passed by all the involved governments in each individual country, as well as ways to bolster the Paris Agreement and increase its efficiency in halting climate change.

October 17th, 2017

In a major setback for the Obama administration's agenda, bumpstock bill fails in the Senate

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama's third term agenda, so far advancing fairly smoothly, has received a major blow today, as the bill banning bump stocks for civilian use, introduced by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to bypass a determined filibuster in the Senate. While the bill did gain support from several moderate Republicans, namely Susan Collins (R-ME), one of its main sponsors, Joe Heck (R-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and John McCain (R-AZ), it also received opposition in a group of Democrats from conservative-leaning states- Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), who participated in the filibuster against it, Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO). The opposition of these Democrats, as well as most Republicans, ended the chances for the bump stock ban's passage. Asked for the reasons to their votes, Senator Manchin said that the bill was "an unnecessary restriction on the Second Amendment that would not help anyone", and Senator McCaskill reasoned that it would "do an injustice to a great many good, law-abiding citizens in Missouri and elsewhere". Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), a notable gun control advocate, expressed his disappointment that congress could not pass "common sense reforms that harm nobody and could potentially save many lives" despite Democratic majorities, while others seemed to get increasingly pessimistic after even the national mood following the Las Vegas shooting couldn't push gun control through, with U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings saying that he does not believe "common sense gun restrictions will be passed in the coming years if this trend goes on". Asked for a comment on the bill's failure, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the President Obama was "very disappointed", but that the administration's eyes were already set on their next focus- combating climate change.

DAMN IT MANCHIN

The FDP rising into 3rd makes me very happy :P

Why not just ban bump stocks via executive order?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nepg69ysfTI

October 21st, 2017

As mayoral race between Obama ally, Trump son approaches finish line, 2016 campaign is repeated in New York City

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NEW YORK CITY - With the November elections less than three weeks away, New York City's mayoral race is heating up, and it's shaping up to be especially interesting. Businessman Donald Trump Jr., son of the 2016 Republican nominee, is running an insurgent, populist campaign endorsed by the state's Republican and Conservative parties, and is campaigning as a social and economic moderate, while taking after his father's campaign flanks as an immigration and law-and-order hawk. Meanwhile, Shaun Donovan, a close Obama ally who served under him as Budget Director and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, is heavily favoured in the Democratic-leaning city where the President is very popular. Trump has been releasing scathing attacks on his opponent, dubbing him "a low-energy puppet of a corrupt President" and positioning himself as the only one "standing between the corrupt Democratic political machine and the power they want", promising to "drain the swamp" if elected. He has been joined by his father, who called New Yorkers to vote for his son and repeatedly launched into Tweeter attacks similar to his style during the 2016 campaign.

()

Meanwhile, Donovan had an ally of his own campaign for him- President Obama, who dismissed the Republican nominee as "a joke and an old face New Yorkers are tired of seeing and rejected en-masse last November". The former HUD Secretary echoed the President's sentiments, saying that he represents "clean, competent politics against the corrupt and shady dealings of my opponent." Additionally, Donovan rejected the claim that he would be the President's puppet, claiming that he will be "a mayor for New Yorkers from New Yorkers" and deflecting the attack by calling Trump Jr. "a lightweight who would just be his father's puppet". Political observers have curiously noted that this dynamic seems to repeat the 2016 Presidential race, when Obama and Trump were running against each other, but in the minimized stage of New York City- so far, it looks like the President is heading for another victory against the man who started a political career by trying to delegitimize him.

New York City Mayoral Election, 2017- Polling
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan (D)- 50%
Businessman Donald Trump Jr (R)- 41%
Undecided/Other- 9%

October 29th, 2017

Virginia Gubernatorial race a dead heat, Murphy decisively leading in New Jersey

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NORFOLK - Though the New York City proxy war between the 2016 major party nominees has been sucking up a great deal of attention, two more consequential races are about to reach their conclusion- the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. In New Jersey, outgoing Governor and 2016 Republican Vice Presidential nominee Chris Christie is deeply unpopular after a bunch of scandals, government shutdowns and tasteless gaffes, sinking him to a shockingly low 15% approval rating, a huge decline for a former rising star who once held an approval of 80% in the state. Thus, it's unsurprising that, despite her attempts to distance herself from him and run for the governorship as a fresh, moderate Republican, Christie's Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno is far behind the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, former Ambassador to Germany and Goldman Sachs employee Phil Murphy. Running as a progressive and rejecting that his past will influence his policies, Murphy seems almost assured victory in the state, where President Obama is popular and Christie is a heavy weight on Guadagno's ankles.

New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 2017- General Election Polling
Fmr. Ambassador Phil Murphy (D)- 52%
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R)- 40%
Undecided- 8%

But in the other race, the Virginia gubernatorial election, the situation is much closer. The Democratic nominee, fmr. Rep. Tom Perriello, another close Obama ally, is running a strong campaign after upsetting Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam in the primary. However, the national environment naturally favours Republicans, and the enthusiasm of his party's activists seems to be propelling former RNC Chairman and Republican nominee Ed Gillespie up in the polls, making it essentially a dead heat, with Perriello only narrowly in the lead. Both parties are heavily investing in this race and marking it as an important landmark before the 2018 midterms- Republicans like House Minority Leader Paul Ryan (R-WI), former Governor and later Senator George Allen (R-VA), 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney (R-MA), Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Governor John Kasich (R-OH), Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and others came to campaign with and for Gillespie in an attempt to rally the base for him and appeal to independents. Meanwhile, Democrats deployed their heaviest guns with local politicians like popular Governor Terry McAuliffe, Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and former Senator Chuck Robb, as well as national politics like Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jason Kander (D-MO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Jason Carter (D-GA) and, of course, President Barack Obama himself. Democrats have high hopes of keeping the governor's mansion in the state to help prevent another midterm disaster.

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017- General Election Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello (D)- 48%
Fmr. RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie (R)- 47%
Undecided- 5%

November 3rd, 2017

Al Gore arrives at Capitol Hill again, reportedly seeks to form bipartisan group of Senators to help draft environmental bill

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Former Vice President Al Gore continues being one of the most activist Environmental Protection Agencies to date, and is now reportedly working on forming a bipartisan group of Senators, that pundits now dub "An Inconvenient Gang". The group of lawmakers will work with Gore to draft a comprehensive, ambitious environmental bill that will combat climate change and promote green sources of energy, with the hope that the bipartisan manner of its drafting will allow it to achieve consensus in Congress. This is yet another result of Secretary Biden's work in Paris, where he agreed with several high-profile Foreign Affairs Ministers that they will work on passing such a bill in each of their respective states, thus creating a balance between the Paris partners and preventing, in Biden's words, "a situation where just a few more countries pass such laws, and rightfully feel like the rest don't pay their fair share to the combined efforts." According to sources on the Hill, Gore interviewed a large number of Senators from both parties to decide who will join the Inconvinient Gang and work with him on the climate change bill. In his long day on Capitol Hill, from morning to evening, Gore was constantly busy with his interviews, displaying impressive political capital as Senators pilgrimaged to his rented office in impressive numbers, especially Democrats, who were seemingly eager to join the high-profile environmental effort. The ailing Senator John McCain blessed the efforts as "the bipartisanship I want to see in the Senate", but took himself out of considerations due to his lack of availability. Gore is expected to make his decision in the coming weeks and start working on the draft of the ambitious bill.

Senators interviewed by EPA Administrator Al Gore to potentially join the Inconvinient Gang:
Democrats

• Jason Kander (D-MO)
• Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
• Cory Booker (D-NJ)
• Evan Bayh (D-IN)
• Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
• Chris Murphy (D-CT)
• Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
• Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
• Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
• Ron Wyden (D-OR)
• Patty Murray (D-WA)
• Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
• Kamala Harris (D-CA)
• Jason Carter (D-GA)
• Betty Sutton (D-OH)
• Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
• Bill Nelson (D-FL)
• Gwen Graham (D-FL)
• Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
• Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
• Russ Feingold (D-WI)
• Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
• Al Franken (D-MN)
• Brian Schatz (D-HI)
• Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
• Joe Sestak (D-PA)
• Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
• Ben Cardin (D-MD)
• Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
• Angus King (I-ME)
• Mark Warner (D-VA)
• Tim Kaine (D-VA)
• Martin Heinrich (D-NM)

Republicans

• Susan Collins (R-ME)
• Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
• Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
• Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
• Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
• Tim Scott (R-SC)
• Joe Heck (R-NV)
• Thom Tillis (R-NC)
• Cory Gardener (R-CO)
• John Thune (R-SD)
• Mike Rounds (R-SD)
• Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
• Ben Sasse (R-NE)
• Richard Shelby (R-AL)
• John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
• Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
• Jerry Moran (R-KS)
• Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
• Bob Corker (R-TN)

November 7th, 2017

ELECTION NIGHT 2017: Perriello wins Virginia governorship by surprisingly strong margin; Murphy coasts to New Jersey governor's mansion; Donovan defeats Trump Jr. to become next NYC Mayor

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RICHMOND - Several major elections finally came to their conclusion in election night 2017- and the President's party can celebrate an important electoral victory. All three closely-watched elections resulted in a Democratic victory, with new governors for Virginia and New Jersey, as well as a New York City mayor allied to the President, being elected from their party against high-profile Republican challengers. In New Jersey, the least watched race tonight, former Ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy, the Democrat, easily defeated Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, the Republican, who was bogged down by the deeply unpopular Governor Chris Christie, with a healthy margin of over 12%. Meanwhile, in New York City, Donald Trump Jr, the son of the 2016 Republican Presidential nominee, was unable to win the upset he was hoping for, and was instead trounced by former HUD Secretary and Obama ally Shaun Donovan, by an impressive 10% margin. But the biggest race tonight, expected to be the closest, was no doubt the Virginia gubernatorial election. There, the Democratic nominee, former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello, outperformed the polls and defeated the Republican nominee, former RNC Chairman Ed Gillsepie, by over 4%. This is despite Gillespie being considered a strong candidate after nearly beating popular Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) in 2014, a divisive Democratic primary setting different segements of the Democratic Party against each other, and the national environment, usually favouring the opposition party. Thus, Virginia was definitely the biggest surprise of the night, as Democrats easily won the Governor's Mansion and made impressive gains in the state's House of Delegates, showing that the state might just be getting more and more Democratic. President Obama congratulated the victors, calling them "good friends and advisors who will be the best executives possible for their constituents", while the new Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA), said that the people of Virginia, New Jersey and New York "have proved the pundits wrong and showed their support for the President's progressive agenda". Now, the two parties brace for their biggest test since the 2016 election- the 2018 midterms, where Democrats afraid of large losses will try to look at 2017 and tell themselves there's a place for optimism.

New Jersey Gubernatorial Election, 2017 (99% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC GAIN
Fmr. Ambassador Phil Murphy (D)- 55.4% ✓
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R)- 43.3%
Others- 1.3%

New York City Mayoral Election, 2017 (100% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Fmr. Secretary of HUD Shaun Donovan (D)- 52.6% ✓
Businessman Donald Trump Jr (R)- 42.2%
Fmr. City Councilman Sal Albanese (RE)- 2.5%
Others- 2.7%

Virginia Gubernatorial Election, 2017 (99% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello (D)- 51.4% ✓
Fmr. RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie (R)- 46.8%
Attorney Clifford Hyra (L)- 1.7%
Write-in- 0.1%

Now Don Jr. can go back to his true love, killing elephants

GOVERNOR PERRIELLO!!!

Senator Tom Kean Jr. please! :D

November 16th, 2017

As worldwide #MeToo movement gains traction, Sen. Al Franken accused of sexual misconduct

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ST. PAUL - The United States, and the whole world with it, are engulfed by a new movement called #MeToo after a Tweeter hashtag started by actress Alyssa Milano, encouraging women (or men) to stand up and tell their stories of sexual assault and harrassment by powerful figures. Triggered by the sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, the movement had been wildly successful, and lead to allegations of sexual assault against actor Kevin Spacey by fellow actor Anthony Rapp and others, causing Netflix to terminate their relations with him, allegations against Bill O'Reilly which lead to his firing from Fox News, comedian Louis C.K., Israeli media mogul Alex Giladi, USA Gymnastic national team doctor Larry Nassar who was accused of child molestation, and many others. But the movement had major impact on politics, too- dozens of political candidates, state legislators and 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump were already accused, many of them forced to resign or drop out of their races, and now they were joined by another big name. Senator Al Franken (D-MN), a popular politician and former comedian who many Democrats were cheering as a possible Presidential contender, was accused today by radio host Leeann Tweeden of forcibly kissing her during a skit rehearsal. A picture also surfaced of Franken putting his hands on or above her breasts while she was asleep. The Minnesota Senator issued an apology, though claiming that he does not recall the skit rehearsal like that. High profile Democrats seem reluctant to comment on the story- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) became the first Democrat to do so and said that if the allegations were true it was "very serious and disappointing", while White House Press Secretary said that the Obama administration "hopes Franken has a good explanation to this".

November 21st, 2017

The flood continues- longtime U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) accused of sexual assault, resigns under pressure from President, Democratic leadership

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DETROIT - The waves made by the #MeToo worldwide movement of women revealing stories of sexual assault continues to make waves, this time felling one of the most respected and revered members of congress coming from the civil rights movement. A story first reported on Buzzfeed asserts that longtime U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) settled a wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015, leveled by a former staffer who said she was fired for refusing his sexual advances. Shortly after the story was reported, several other women accused Conyers of inappropriate sexual conduct, leading top Democratic leaders to start pressuring him to resign his seat, as Democrats nationwide embrace the #MeToo movement. The Michigan representative reportedly resisted calls to resign from Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Majority Leader Tim Ryan (D-OH) at first, but when President Barack Obama personally called him to ask for his resignation, he finally agreed to step down. Conyers, who served in congress for over 50 years, and has the distinguished title of the longest-serving African American there and an activist in the civil rights movement, is considered an icon, and Democratic leaders were praised by feminist activists for acting despite that. In a statemnet, President Obama said that Conyers is "an icon with years of distinguished service", but added that "the allegations are credible and disappointing, and he was right to resign".

November 26th, 2017

As Washington is engulfed by #MeToo, EPA Administrator Gore reportedly removes Franken from consideration to join "Inconvenient Gang"

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MINNEAPOLIS - Initially considered likely to begin working on an environmental bill this week, EPA Administrator Al Gore has reportedly delayed forming his bipartisan team of Senators in light of the recent turmoil caused by sexual misconduct allegations against major political figures. Notable, sources confirm that Gore was ready to choose Senator Al Franken (D-MN) to take part in the group, called by pundits "an Inconvenient Gang" after Gore's famous documentary film about climate change. Now, the former Vice President has reportedly ruled out Franken's participation and will choose a different Democrat to join the group. A spokeswoman for Gore confirmed that the EPA Administrator will make his choice "in the coming weeks" and immediately begin work on "the most ambitious bill to combat climate change that we have seen in America".

November 30th, 2017

As more sexual misconduct claims surface, Sen. Gillibrand says "enough is enough", calls for Franken to resign; Pres. Obama, White House officials and dozens of Democratic Senators quickly join her

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - After more and more women came forward to accuse Senator Al Franken of problematic conduct- with the most prominent accusations being that the Minnesota Senator groped them when taking photos, and today an allegation of an unwanted kiss when appearing at his radio show- the back of many Democratic lawmakers has finally snapped. The first to call for Franken's resignation was Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a longtime crusader against rampant sexual misconduct, who said that "enough is enough" and that Franken "should not continue to serve, because we can't let anything go unanswered- not sexual assault and not sexual harrassment of any type". She seemed to have opened the floodgates, because later that day dozens of other lawmakers joined her, including women like Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO). They were joined by President Obama himself, who stated that "with all of these credible allegations, Senator Franken cannot continue to serve, and should resign". According to a spokesman, Senator Franken will be making an announcement in the coming days.

December 4th, 2017

Franken to resign from congress "effective immediately" after successor is chosen, apologizes for any "grief" caused

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Minnesota Senator Al Franken, accused by several women of inappropriate sexual conduct and harrassment, has made a speech on the Senate floor officially announcing his resignation "effective immediately" after his replacement is chosen. In his address, Franken apologized for "letting down my constituents" and for "any grief caused by my actions and this recent episode". This is considered a relief for Democrats, who hoped not to appear hypocrticial in their support of the #MeToo movement, and a show of strength by President Obama, who called for Franken to resign, as well as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who was the first to make the call and put herself in the forefront of the political support for #MeToo. Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton will now have to choose a replacement for Senator Franken.

December 8th, 2017

U.S. Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ), accused of sexual misconduct, to resign from House seat

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PHOENIX - Yet another politician was taken down by sexual harrassment allegations, as U.S. Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) resigned his seat after pressure from family and Minority Leader Paul Ryan (R-WI). According to the allegations by two women who worked as staffers for Franks, he repeatedly asked them to carry his children as surrogate mothers, retaliating against one of them when she refused. The two woman feared that the suggestion was of a sexual nature. Minority Leader Ryan was praised for quickly acting on the allegations, saying that they were "credible claims of misconduct" and pressing Franks to step down. The pressure worked and, after his wife was admitted to the hospital, the Arizona congressman resigned his seat.

December 10th, 2017

Gov. Dayton appoints his Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to Franken's seat; special election scheduled for 2018

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ST. PAUL - Following embattled Senator Al Franken's resignation from the Senate, pending an appointed replacement, due to sexual harrassment accusations, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton (D) has finally made the choice of Franken's replacement. Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith, who previously served at Planned Parenthood and later as Dayton's Chief of Staff, will be appointed to Franken's seat after his resignation- and have to face a potentially tough reelection in 2018's special election. Despite Franken's seat only being up for election in 2020, a special election will be held in next year's midterms due to Minnesota Senate vacancy laws, and Republicans see a potential pickup opportunity, with the national climate favouring them and Smith holding low name recognition in her state. Several high-profile Republicans in the state are rumoured to be considering a run, including former Governor Tim Pawlenty, U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen, U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, and former Senator Norm Coleman, who previously held the seat before Franken ousted him in 2008. But with a gubernatorial election and the other Minnesota Senator, Amy Klobucher (D), running for reelection in 2018, Republicans will have to spread their bench thin in the state.

He already did that metaphorically.

There is no way that Kander,Bayh and other Democratic Senators from the rust belt would support the TPP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTQPIjkWpYY

"This is a bad deal for Missouri, which is why I oppose it."
"and that’s one of many reasons why I oppose the Trans Pacific-Partnership."
This video proves my point.

Yes, but you see, politicians don't always vote according to what they've said.
Let's start with Evan Bayh- I do not believe he's a protectionist by any measure, and most of his trade views seem to concetrate on opposing China- which would make the TPP an attractive deal for him.
As for Kander- he just seemed to me like someone who could break from the traditional dogma of "I I won't be a blue-dog protectionst, I'll lose". And there's another thing- I've already been pretty generous to Democrats with the whole voting against the President issue. Most of the times, especially in our polarized era, pressure from the White House and leadership can be very effective in whipping Senate votes. Look at how Rand Paul, for example, straightened up and voted for the Republican healthcare bills each time, and how only 3 Seantros could find it in them to break the line. This time, due to Republican support, the White House could let Senators up in 2018 vote against it, but Kander is up in 2022 so I could definitely see him shifting to support the TPP after its new form was presented. It was actually a smart move from the Obama administration- not that much was changed in the deal, but enough changed to allow people like Kander and Bayh to say that they now support it.

I think Kander would come around to support it. Since it's good policy. And he has a history of not being subject to things because they'll help him win an election, like in 2012 or 2016.

Even HRC withdrew from her support to the TPP,TPP was a dead deal long before Trump won.

https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/32295/20160728/schumer-trashes-tpp-trade-policy-in-talk-to-ny-delegates

TPP isn't "a good policy",there is a reason why Trump won.

Bayh voted against CAPTA so he wouldn't vote in favor of the TPP either.

Ok but it's an alternative timeline and not reality so you could 1. concentrate your arguments in one post 2. not get worked out over an alternative timeline lol :P
And my previous line of argument stands- the White House has considerable power over Senators, and if anything, Senators like Gary Peters, Debbie Stabenow and others would likely vote for the re-negotiated TPP due to this sheer pressure.

Your timeline,do whatever you want.
I just really don't like the TPP.

What is Obama’s Approval Rating?

Soon. In the post after next, he'll have his first year "celebration". Also, I can confirm that the next few months will pass fairly quickly, with the environmental bill and foreign policy being the major issues, before we delve into the really interesting part- the midterms. I promise they'll be eventful :P

December 11th, 2017

Al Gore makes final selection for Inconvenient Gang- 5 Democrats, 5 Republicans to help draft ambitious climate change legislation

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Finally, after weeks of deliberations, the work on the drafting of an ambitious environmental bill can begin- EPA Administrator Al Gore has made his choice for an unprecedented bipartisan group of Senators who will help him brainstorm, write and then, presumably, push the bill through the Senate. The group consists of 5 Democrats and 5 Republicans, and According to an EPA spokeswoman, it deliberately includes both young, new Senators who can "provide vigour, enthusiasm, fresh ideas and new insight" and older Senators who've been on Capitol Hill for years and have "a deep knowledge of the issues and the ins and outs of the legislative process". Thus, from the Democratic side of the aisle, Gore and his team have chosen Senators from different wings of the party. One is Senator Jason Kander (D-MO), a young, popular and relatively moderate politician elected in 2016 after running a widely-praised campaign, remaining true to his progressive ideals while appealing to the people of the conservative Missouri. There is the very liberal Senator Kamala Harris (D-MO), also elected in 2016 but with a lengthy law experience as a prosecutor, district attorney and then Attorney General of California. Senator Gwen Graham (D-FL), also elected in 2016 but with experience as a congresswoman, and coming from a state which is projected to be deeply impacted by climate change, was also chosen by Gore to join the group. From the progressive wing of the party, Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), who is very popular with progressives and has a long record in the Senate, was chosen. Lastly, centrist Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), who has many years of experience as Governor and later Senator from the Hoosier State and usually puts strong emphasis on bipartisanship, joined the group.

On the Republican side it's more compliacted- due to the low amount of Republicans who support environmental legislation, Gore had to choose members from the more moderate wing of the party. The first obvious choice was Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), considered the most moderate member of the Republican Caucus and who is usually supportive of Gore's agenda. Also chosen was Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), another Senator open to environmental legislation who is known for his ability to work on compromises. Another obvious choice was Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), a famously pragmatist Senator and a relative environmentalist from Gore's original home state who has known the former Vice President for decades. Another choice was Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ)- originally, Gore hoped to choose Flake's senior Senator, John McCain, but the ailing Senator could not join. Thus, with McCain's blessing, Flake was chosen. Lastly, Gore also chose Senator Cory Gardener (R-CO), a fairly controversial choise due to the Colorado Senator's past tedency to oppose environmental legislation. However, sources around the EPA Administrator hope Gardener will tack left on the issue to increase his reelection chances in 2020. With these choices made, Gore is expected to begin the work on his ambitious environmental bill, meant to honour an agreement made between Secretary of State Joe Biden and other Foreign Affairs Ministers in Paris, in the coming days.

December 16th, 2017

U.S. Reps. Ruben Kihuen (D-NV) and Blake Farenthold (D-TX) won't seek reelection in 2018 after sexual misconduct scandals; Sec. Bobby Scott denies allegations against him

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LAS VEGAS - #MeToo continues to make waves in political world, sparing neither Democrats nor Republicans. In the past few days, following mounting pressure from party leaders lead to announcements from two congressmen that while they won't resign from congress, they will forego their plans to seek reelection in 2018. Kihuen is a freshman Democrat from Nevada elected in 2016, and was considered a rising star before a former campaign staffer accused him of sexual harrassment and unwanted touching. Meanwhile, Farenthold took office as representative from Texas' 27th district back in 2011, and was accused by a former staffer of sexual harrassment, inappropriate behaviour and gender discrimination in his office. Now, both will end their political career in shame. Meanwhile, the waves reached the White House, as a woman accused Education Secretary Bobby Scott of sexual harrassment. However, Scott said the allegations were "completely false and fabricated", and pointed to the woman, Marsheri Everson, former congressial fellow, appearing with attorney Jack Burkman, who is a Republican party lobbyst, an anti-gay activist and a conspiracy theorist. Details from Everson's past and her giving several versions of the events also lead many to question the allegations, to the point that President Barack Obama, asked for a comment, said that he will "reserve judgement" but that the allegations "have a certain stench to them". Secretary cott thanked the President for backing him up and called Everson's attorney "a renowned homophobe, extremist and liar". Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) echoed the President's sentiments, saying that "clearly, the case here is less straightforward and Ms. Everson's choice of attorney speaks volumes."

January 1st, 2018

As midterm year arrives, candidates start entering key races; Manchin, Nelson, Flake reportedly pondering retirement

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - As 2017 passed and 2018 begun, people around the world celebrated the New Year's Eve. But in America's political world, the preperations begin for a different event- the 2018 midterm elections. With Democrats scrambling to defend many vulnerable seats and Republicans hoping for a comeback after two bad years, it seems like there are many dramatic races to watch. Candidates are already starting to run campaigns around the country, challenging incumbents or aiming to fill open seats. In three key races, Democratic incumbents facint a potentially tough reelection are pondering retirement. Senator Joe Manchin, 70 years old from West Virginia, a state that trended hard to the Republicans in recent years, is being challenged by several strong Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and young West Virginia Delegate Pat McGeehan, endorsed by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and other libertarian-leaning Republicans. Polls have been showing Manchin consistently struggling against his opponents, and sources around him report that he's seriously considering retirement, which could strike a blow againt Democrats' efforts to keep the Senate.

West Virginia Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
State Att. Gen. Patrick Morrisey- 25%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins- 24%
Businessman Don Blankenship- 19%
State Delegate Pat McGeehan- 15%
Undecided/Other- 17%

West Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 46%
Senator Joe Manchin*- 40%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Meanwhile, in Florida, Republican leaders are trying to convince former Senator Marco Rubio, defeated by Gwen Graham in 201 and reportedly considering a Senate comeback, to run for Governor instead and let the term-limited Governor Rick Scott run for Senate, thus running two very high-profile and strong recruits in both races. But already, moderate former U.S. Rep. David Jolly and   State Attorney General Pam Bondy are running in the Florida Senate race, promising a competitive primary. Nontheless, with both Rubio and Scott considering, 75 years old Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson is facing a tough race, and is reportedly considering retirement, too. If that happens, Democrats will have a hard time finding a good candidate in this race, which could jeopardize their chances in the Senate.

Florida Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor Rick Scott- 27%
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 25%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. David Jolly- 14%
State Att. Gen. Pam Bondy- 13%
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis- 5%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Florida Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 44%
Senator Bill Nelson*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 13%

The last incumbent pondering retirement is 55 years old Republican Jeff Flake in Arizona- despite his young age, Flake is fairly unpopular in the state, with low approval ratings, and is facing both a strong Democratic opponent- popular U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema is likely to run unopposed- and a very hard Republican primary, with radical conservative Kelli Ward running against him and, right now, leading the polls. The controversial Former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, despite a criminal conviction, is also considering a run, and could gain right-wing support. If Flake retires or loses the primary to Ward or Arpaio, and even if he wins the primary, it could be a prime pick-up opportunity for Demorcats in an otherwise tough map for them. Additionally, there's an increasing possibility that Senator John McCain would retire in 2018, opening up another possible seat in Arizona.

Arizona Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. State Sen. Kelli Ward- 35%
Senator Jeff Flake*- 30%
Fmr. Sheriff Joe Arpaip- 18%
Undecided/Other- 17%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Sinema vs Flake Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 46%
Senator Jeff Flake*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Sinema vs Ward Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 49%
Fmr. State Sen. Kelly Ward- 38%
Undecided/Other- 13%

January 10th, 2018

Feingold says work on environmental bill "going well", final draft to be submitted soon

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), one of the ten members of the 'Inconvenient Gang', a bipartisan group of Senators helping EPA Administrator Al Gore draft his ambitious environmental bill, has given an interview yesterday, confirming that the work is "going very well", and that the final draft will most likely be released and submitted very soon, in January. Asked how it is to work with five Republcian Senators, Feingold, who worked with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) on campaign finance reform, said that he's "not unaccustomed to the feeling", and praised the five Republicans, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Cory Gardener (R-CO) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) for their "great spirit of unity and great ability to work together and hammer out agreements". Feingold also said that he's very "enthusiastic and optimistic" about the bill, claiming that it will be "the largest and most substantial legislation to protect our planet ever". Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), another member of the group, agreed with Feingold and said that he believes it will be "a tremendous piece of legislation". Senator Alexander echoed the sentiments, saying that he's "really enjoying the work with each and every one of them", despite "obvious disagreements". The bill is expected to leave the five Republicans in a tough place, clearly favouring Gore's strong approach against climate change, and has been a central point of attacks from State Senator Kelli Ward, Flake's primary opponent, against him.

If Kelli Ward wins the primary, than Democrats could actually pick-up a seat in an R wave year.

Excited about this "Inconvenient Gang"... also nice to hear Senator Kander, Senator Gwen Graham, and Senator Feingold :)

I feel like 2018 will be 1994 again

January 20th, 2018

Obama's first year as a third-term President: with a strongly Democratic congress, the President finally enjoys success

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today marks President Barack Obama's first year in office of his historic third term. It was an eventful year and, according to most pundits, also likely Obama's most successful year yet, marked by legislative success thanks to congressial majorities and a strong economy. The President's biggest achievement this year was, undoubtedly, the Guaranteed Healthcare Act, a very ambitious bill that entirely reformed the country's healthcare system by merging medicare and medicaid, cutting beaurocracy and waste, establishing a healthcare tax and creating the National American Health Insurance company, which provides quality health insurance for very low costs. As the months turn and the plan is quickly implemented, premiums have seen a sharp decline while the percentage of insured Americans sharply increased, making the plan largely successful. On the other hand, conservative Governors have been protesting the implemention of the plan and the establishment of NAHI in their state with, for example, Republican Governors Matt Bevin of Kentucky and Bill Cole of West Virginia instructing their Attorney Generals to (unsuccessfully) appeal against the federal government to the Supreme Court. But healthcare wasn't the Obama administration's only achievement this year- successfully passing the TPP and a budget with less deficits than in the previous one, President Obama can be fairly satisfied on the domestic field, save for one major disappointment- his failure to pass any measure of gun control. Another achievement seems to be getting closer and closer, with EPA Administrator Al Gore primed to release the draft of an ambitious environmental bill. On the foreign policy front, President Obama enjoyed a strong team helmed by Secretary of State Joe Biden, Defence Secretary Ash Carter, National Security Advisor James Stavridis and UN Ambassador Olympia Snowe, and save for increased tensions with North Korea it was a fairly peaceful year that has seen increased cooperation between America and its allies on issues like trade and the environment. For the occassion, a large number of polls were released, testing Americans' approval of the Obama administration in different fields, of its major achievements and of a few key figures taking part in its major initiatives this year.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 51%
Disapprove- 42%
Not Sure- 7%

Do you approve of the Guaranteed Healthcare Act?
Yes- 58%
No- 31%
Not sure- 11%

Do you approve of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement?
Yes- 52%
No- 34%
Not sure- 14%

Do you approve of the Obama Administration's economic policies?
Yes- 56%
No- 34%
Not sure- 10%

Do you approve of the Obama Administration's foreign policy?
Yes- 58%
No- 29%
Not sure- 13%

Vice President Tammy Baldwin Job Approval
Approve- 48%
Disapprove- 40%
Not Sure- 12%

Secretary of State Joe Biden Job Approval
Approve- 65%
Disapprove- 26%
Not Sure- 9%

Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen Job Approval
Approve- 60%
Disapprove- 25%
Not Sure- 15%

UN Ambassador Olympia Snowe Job Approval
Approve- 61%
Disapprove- 19%
Not Sure- 20%

Secretary of Health and Human Services Howard Dean Job Approval
Approve- 56%
Disapprove- 33%
Not Sure- 11%

Secretary of Education Bobby Scott Job Approval
Approve- 45%
Disapprove- 40%
Not Sure- 15%

Secretary of Commerce Dean Heller Job Approval
Approve- 53%
Disapprove- 32%
Not Sure- 15%

Trade Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Job Approval
Approve- 52%
Disapprove- 25%
Not Sure- 23%

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Al Gore Job Approval
Approve- 53%
Disapprove- 37%
Not Sure- 10%

January 22nd, 2018

President Obama gives 2018 State of the Union Address, touts achievements and calls for environmental legislation, immigration reform, gun control and advancement of world peace

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama gave the first State of the Union address of his third term this evening, appearing before a joint session of congress, the Supreme Court judges, army generals, the Cabinet and other distinguished guests. The President used much of his speech to tout the achievements of the last year- he spoke a lot about the GHA, which he said is "being quickly implemented across our country by Secretary Dean and his talented team", and is already "seeing success and results, as more and more Americans are insured and the costs go down". He also earned a bipartisan standing ovation proclaiming that "we will continue cooperating with allies and partners around the world, to bring a better, more prosperous and peaceful world". Addressing congress directly, Obama called Senators and Representatives to "end the gruelling polarization that Americans are so tired of and work harder for the American people", asking them to "start advancing important causes like substantial reforms to our criminal justice system; a real bipartisan change in our immigration system; and important restrictions on guns to protect innocent people". The speech was well-received, with the President having a fairly large amount of achievements to bolster it. The Republican response was given by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and was considered decent, bolstering her name recognition ahead of a possible 2020 candidacy.

Janurary 24th 2018

In the midst of sanctions and threats, North and South Korea reportedly begin backchannel talks

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SEOUL - On the outside, it appears like tensions between the North Korean regime and the U.S. is growing, with Kim Jong-Un conducting more and more ballistic missile tests to threaten America and its allies, while the Obama administration increases the volume of its threats- National Security Advisor James Stavridis said recently that America is ready to "bring fury upon the bloodthirsty North Korean regime"- and pushes for more sanctions. Recently, UN Ambassador Olympia Snowe managed to push through another round of sanctions through the Security Council, including a heavy slash in North Korean petroleum exports and an almost complete shutdown of their technological exports. But, it seems, the pressure might be working- recent reports indicate that the North Korean regime, pushed into the corner by the sanctions and threats, has begun backchannel talks with South Korean officials, with a meeting between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a real possibility. It remains to be seen whether this can result in anything real.

January 25th, 2018

Al Gore, Inconvenient Gang finally present draft of environmental bill; Democrats hope to have "swift process"

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - After weeks of work, EPA Administrator and the 10 Senators taking part of the Inconvenient Gang have presented the final draft of their climate bill, called the "Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Act. The EPCEA includes both hard measures, discouraging companies and individuals from actions that harm the climate, and soft measures that encourage environmental protection and alternative energy. The hard measures include increased regulations on factories and stronger taxation on various problematic materials such as carbon and disel, while the soft measures include tax relief for companies using alternative energy, decreased funding for fossil fuel in exchange for much more funding towards the building and sustanining of alternative, clean sources of energy. The bill is expected to bring an overall decrease in deficits due to the taxation, and will create tens of thousands of jobs in alternative energy, especially directed to states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ohio, where the dying coal industry is leaving thousands unemployed and there are many natural sources of energy. The Obama administration and Democratic leadership are hoping to have a swift process of passing the bill, as the midterm elections are getting into gears. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised to bring the bill to a vote in "a few weeks at most", and said that he hopes the Senate can "act in a bipartisan manner and bring a swift passage for such a crucial measure".

January 28th, 2018

Obama, Gore gearing for a fight on passing the EPCEA; conservatives attempt forming a united front

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DENVER - While liberals praised the Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Act, many conservatives had sharp criticisms against it, and against those who participated in its creation. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) called it "a perfect display of bloated government and federal invasion of Americans' freedom and lives", while Senator Jim Inhofe, a known climate change denier, said that it was "a waste of money and an attack on businesses, all for a total hoax" and Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) proclaimed that the five Republican Senators who helped draft it are "traitors to the conservative movement". One of them, Senator Cory Gardener (R-CO), who was generally a conservative on environmental issues before, explained that his change of heart came from the realization that "climate change is very real and we have to act in order to stop it", but added that he has "some disagreements with the EPCEA", and was rumoured to be the least enthusiastic supporter in the Inconvenient Gang. Meanwhile, the rest of the group mostly praised the bill, with Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) calling it "a great and balanced measure", Senator Jason Kander (D-MO) saying that it would "protect the planet and provide and a stimulous for Missouri's economy", and Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) called it "an important first step". Senator Gwen Graham (D-FL) held a rally in her home state, and promised Floridans that the bill would "protect our state and our wonderful cities from an impending disaster". Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) appeared with Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to praise the bill as a "bipartisan creation that will protect our planet from a big scientifically proven problem". President Barack Obama also had praise for the bill, congratulating Gore for "a wonderful job" and saying that he chose "the absolute best person to lead the EPA and act for our planet's well-being". But with conservative opposition and a likely problem securing the votes of applachian Democratic Senators, with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) already leaning against it, the Obama administration's ability to reach 60 votes in the Senate is in doubt, and Administrator Gore said that and the President are "gearing up for a fight". At the same time, Secretary of State Joe Biden is reportedly getting closer to reaching a deal with dozens of foreign ministers on a bolstering of the Paris Agreement.

January 31st, 2018

Reports: almost all Democrats on board for EPCEA, fight for swing votes continues; Schumer to bring bill to a floor vote "in few days"

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MIAMI - The battle for the EPCEA, Al Gore's ambitious environmental protection bill, continues. As the Obama administration rushes for an attempt to quickly pass it through congress, in time for the signing of a deal bolstering the Paris Agreement currently being negotiated by Secretary of State Biden, the battle lines are starting to form. With strong efforts and pushing from President Obama, Vice President Baldwin, Administrator Gore, Majority Leader Schumer and Majority Whip Durbin, most Senate Democrats have rallied around the flag, pledging to support the bipartisan legislation. While most conservative Republicans announced opposition to the bill, which includes increased regulation and taxation in addition to tax relief for "green" companies, at least six Republicans have already announced their support- Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Cory Gardener (R-CO), Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who are five of the original authors of the bill, as well as Senator Joe Heck (R-NV), a moderate appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to replace Secretary of Commerce Dean Heller. Additionally, the ailing Senator John McCain (R-AZ), undergoing treatment at his home in Arizona and unable to vote, is also supporting the bill, while Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), whose state might be hurt by the bill's increased taxation of fossil fuels, is undecided. But while the Republican support would be enough to give the bill more than 60 votes necessary to bypass a filibuster (already announced by Senators Cruz (R-TX), Paul (R-KY) and Inhofe (R-OK), it's not a sure thing, as some Democrats are also undecided. Already, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), a supporter of the coal industry, is leaning against the EPCEA, while Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN), whose states are supportive of fossil fuels, are undecided. Yesterday, Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Evan Bayh (D-IN), supporters of the bill, met with the three undecided Democrats to try and convince them to support it too. Indeed, Democrats are determined the pass the bill quickly- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said that the bill will be brought to a vote "in a few days". It remains to be seen whether the efforts will succeed, but what's certain is that a failure would be a huge embarrassment for President Obama, former Vice President Gore and the involved Senators.

February 4th, 2018

Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Act passes Senate in 61-38 vote; Biden signs agreement with foreign ministers in Paris in the same day

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - A big victory for the Obama administration was achieved today, as the EPCEA passed the higher chamber of congress with 61 Senators supporting and 38 opposing, bypassing a possible filibuster which would've caused the failure of the bill. It's the largest and more comprehensive piece of environmental legislation passed in the last decades, and the victory was received with celebration amongst Democrats and green groups. It's also a big victory for Gore himself, who came out of the status of a has-been and became a hero amongst Democrats, and is now one of the most talked-about names for the 2020 Demcoratic primary. The Senate vote was mostly as expected- most Democrats supporting, as well as six Republican Senators, five of whom helped draft the bill, and all other Republicans opposing, except for John McCain who isn't in the capital to vote. However, the single biggest surprise of the evening came when only one Democrat voted Nay- and that Senator wasn't Joe Manchin (D-WV), but Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). While Heitkamp's opposition was not surprising, given that North Dakota is heavily dependant on oil, Manchin's vote was a shock to many. Usually supportive of the coal industry and rated as the most conservative Democratic Senator, Manchin voted for the bill against all expectations and has not yet given a rationale for his action, avoiding media question. Meanwhile, in Paris, Secretary of State Joe Biden finished his flash negotiations with diplomats and foreign ministers from dozens of nations, signing a small deal bolstering the Paris Agreement by reducing deadlines for various goals and imposing stricter limits on pollution. The deal also included a promise to attempt passing environmental bills in each country, and indeed, like in the U.S., many other such deals appear likely to pass- namely in Russia, Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Brazil and maybe even China. This combination of events makes today a joyful one for all environmental activists around the world.

AYE: 61 Senators ✓
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Jason Carter (D-GA)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Angus King (I-ME)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
Al Franken (D-MN)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jason Kander (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Joe Heck (R-NV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Safe NAY: 38 Senators
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Stever Daines (R-MT)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
John Thune (R-SD)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
John Barrasso (R-WY)

February 5th, 2018

After EPCEA vote, Joe Manchin gives heartfelt, emotional speech announcing retirement

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CHARLESTON - After shocking the political world by voting for the EPCEA, the Obama Administration's landmark environmental protection bill which is extremely unpopular in his state, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) sent a powerful aftershock. In a heartfelt speech before a crowd of supporters and journalists outside Capitol Hill, Manchin explained the motives for his vote, saying that he "just couldn't let the opportunity to create thousands of new jobs in my state pass for electoral reasons". The Senator somberly proclaimed that "no matter what we want to believe, the coal industry is slowly dying, and it hurts to see it leaving so many in my state unemployed", so he "had to vote for this bill, with all its flaws, because it will bring jobs and new industries to West Virginia". Manchin admitted that "I know this vote is very unpopular with the people of my state", and vowed that he did it "only for their good". However, Manchin said, "after much consideration, prayer and consultations with family and friends, I have decided that I will not be seeking another term in the Senate this year, and want to apologize if my vote has hurt anyone in West Virginia". The emotional speech was widely praised on both sides of the aisle, with President Obama calling Manchin "a brave man" and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell saying that he's "a friend who I admire and respect". However, Manchin's retirement strikes a heavy blow on Democrats' hopes of keeping the Senate, as Republicans, who would have a hard time to unseat the popular Manchin, will now have a very good chance to win his seat in the deeply conservative state of West Virginia. Democrats are now scrambling to find a recruit before it's too late, and according to inside sources Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is zeroing in on one man- former Senator Carte Goodwin, who lost the 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election to Bill Cole but is still considered popular, if too liberal, for the state. Polls are showing that Republicans are heavily favoured in the race, but that conservative firebrand Don Blankenship, who's very unpopular in the state, could win the primary and potentially sabotage their chances.

West Virginia Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
State Att. Gen. Patrick Morrisey- 25%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins- 23%
Businessman Don Blankenship- 21%
State Delegate Pat McGeehan- 18%
Undecided/Other- 13%

West Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 54%
Democratic Candidate- 37%
Undecided/Other- 9%

February 10th, 2018

BREAKING NEWS: plane carrying Sen. Casey Jr. crashes in Colorado; officials proclaim "no survivors found"

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COLORADO SPRINGS - Tragedy hit Washington today, as news arrived that an airplane carrying Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) has crashed on an open plane in Colorado, enroute from D.C. to San Diego, California, where Casey was to attend a fundraiser for a local congressial candidate. Officials at the scene quickly issued a statement proclaiming that no survivors were found in the tragic crash, which means that the accident has left 58 people dead, including airplane staff, many of Casey's aides and the Senator himself. According to a perliminary investigation, the crash seemed to have occured because of an engine failure. Politicians from across the aisle have already issued statements mourning the popular Senator, with President Obama calling him "an amazing public servant who served the people of his state like no other" and ordering the flags at the White House to be flown at half mast, Senator Joe Sestak (D-PA) saying that "it's a very tragic day for our state- Bob was an amazing human being and one of the best Senators we ever had", and former Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) adding that "we all mourn Bob and wish that this never happened". This is a developing story.

Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...

encironmental is a typo

Fixed

Jesus Bob Casey...

Well, that's a really somber note to end a good period overall on.  On Manchin, I like how he went out, recognizing Coal is dying and moving towards the future.  I hope for the Rs Evan Jenkins wins, please god not Blankenship or stupid Morissey.

I'd be down for Goodwin v Blankenship

RIP Bob Casey.

Dying is the most exciting moment of Casey's career

Conor Lamb....for Senate?

February 14th, 2018

Mass shooting in Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida leaves fourteen students and three staff members dead

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PARKLAND - Another tragic mass shooting occured today, when a shooter entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and begun a massacre that resulted in the deaths of fourteen students and three staff members, as well as wounding seventeen others, making it one of the deadliest school massacres in U.S. history. 19-year-old Nicolas Cruz, arrested after the massacre, confessed to being the shooter, though his motives are unknown yet. While politicians across the spectrum have obviously called the event "a great tragedy" and offered their prayers, many voices begun rising again to call for gun control, like after the recent Las Vegas shooting. Only that this time, the national mood seems to be even stronger, and according to sources inside the NRA, the gun loby is fearful of what it might cause in the coming weeks.

February 18th, 2018

Parkland survivors urge passage of gun control, promise future activism; President Obama says they are "brave and absolutely correct"

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PARKLAND - Just a few days after surviving the mass shooting in their school, several Stoneman Douglas HS students have formed an activist group calling for more gun control. Emma Gonzales, one of the leaders of the student group, said that "enough is enough and we're going to fight for a change", with David Hogg, another student leader, adding that "we know what a horrible experience it is and we're in this fight to save the next bunch of teenagers from a shooting". President Obama himself addressed the issue, calling the students "brave and absolutely correct" and vowing that his administration will "encourage and actively fight for the passage of a comprehensive gun control measure through congress". Spekaer Nancy Pelosi echoed the sentiments, promising to "start working on a bill with my colleagues in the House and Senate very soon", and Senators Gwen Greaham and Bill Nelson (D-FL) issued a joint statement praising the teenagers for "getting involved and fighting for justive, making our state proud". But not everyone was so supportive- Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a known opponent of gun control, said that the survivors "went through a terrible experience and mean well, but they're advocating an ineffective measure that hurts decent Americans", while Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) went even further, slamming them as "kids who just don't know what's best for the country". This, in turn, was condemned by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) who called Cruz "an extremist who'd disparage and attack anyone, even shooting survivors, for political purposes". It remains to be seen whether the group's activism will have any result, but they're already promising a march for gun control in several weeks, and begun planning the event.

February 21st, 2018

Gov. Tom Wolf appoints fmr. Gov. Edd Rendell to Casey Jr.'s seat, announces Senate run after urging from Democratic leaders; McGinty to run for Governor instead

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PHILADELPHIA - The March 6th filing deadline for the Pennsylvania primaries didn't leave Democrats much time to mourn the tragic death of the late Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) in a plane crash less than two weeks ago. After strong recruiting efforts from Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Vice President Tammy Baldwin and President Obama, who believe that he's the only one they can trust to safely keep the seat, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has announced that he'll be running for Senate in 2018 rather than a second term in the Governorship. Wolf said that he did not, initially, want to do it, but that "it's crucial that we uphold Bob's legacy and keep this seat". Additionally, the Governor made an appointment to the Senate seat for the remainder of the year, choosing the 74 year-old former Governor Ed Rendell (D-PA), who thanked Wolf for the choice and said that he'll treat the responsibility "very seriously" and vote "like I'd think Bob would until, hopefully, I'm replaced by Tom, our wonderful Governor". This opens up a gubernatorial race in the state, too, and the primary seems likely to be between Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack, who had a falling-out with Governor Wolf and was considered likely to lose the primary for his own position to one of his challengers, and Katie McGinty, former Chief of Staff to Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection, who lost the Senate primary in 2016 to Joe Sestak and who Wolf is likely to endorse. A third candidate, fmr. U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, is also likely to jump in.

February 22nd, 2018

CNN holds guncontrol townhall with Parkland survivors, Florida politicians and NRA spokeswoman

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PARKLAND - CNN held a panel on gun control yesterday in Parkland, Florida, with the Parkland shooting survivors and their family in attendance. The participators were major Florida politicians, those representing the state in congress or rumoured to be vying for that job- Senators Bill Nelson (D) and Gwen Graham (D), U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch who represents Parkland in the House, and former Senator Marco Rubio (R), rumoured to be considering a bid for the Senate or for Governor this year, and basically confirming one of the options is true with his attendance. NRA Spokeswoman Dana Loesch also participated, receiving booes and criticisms of a "cold performance", and Governor Rick Scott (R), another rumoured Senate candidate, declined to attend. Senator Bill Nelson attacked Scott for "showing utter disregard for his constituents" during the event, praising Rubio for "at least showing up". However, Rubio's night wasn't great. The hightlight of the event was likely a moment reminding many of his disastrous New Hampshire debate- when Parkland survivor Cameron Kasky asked Rubio again and again whether he'll continue receiving NRA donations, the former Senator repeated a line about taking money from those "buying into [his] agenda", receiving booes from the audience. The bad performance will likely hurt Rubio's chances at a 2018 comeback, though sources close to the former Senator say that he will make his decision about which race to join soon. Gun control continues to remain the hottest issue in the national spotlight, and lawmakers from both parties are beginning to work on comprehensive legislation regarding it.

February 25th, 2018

Former Governor Ridge running for Senate in Pennsylvania, calling Republicans to reject Rick Santorum; two U.S. Reps. join the now-open gubernatorial race

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PHILADELPHIA - The Republican primary in the Pennsylvania Senate race seems like it's going to be intensive- former Senator Rick Santorum, an ultra conservative, was already running against U.S. Rep. Lou Berletta and State Rep. Rick Sacone, but now former Governor Tom Ridge, a moderate who was wildly popular in the state as its chief executive, has also jumped into the race, citing the need to stop "a man like Santorum, who has no real solutions save for extremism and homophobia", from "spoiling our chances here". This will now become a closely-watched battle between the extreme and moderate wings of the Republican party, and the battle-lines are already being formed, with Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsing Santorum and former Governor Jon Huntsman (R-UT) endorsing Ridge. On the gubernatorial side, State Senator Scott Wagner was considered the likely nominee, but now that it's an open seat, he's challenged by two candidates with a higher profile, moderate U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent and his more conservative colleague, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, jumping in. This makes the gubernatorial race another proxy war between these two wings, as Dent is considered even more moderate than Ridge, while Kelly is, like Santorum, an ally of the Christian Right. Polls are showing close Republican primaries and strong leads for the Democrats in the general, likely thanks to sympathy from the recent tragedy.

Pennsylvania Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum- 33%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 32%
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta- 15%
State Rep. Rick Saccone- 4%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Wolf vs Santorum Polling
Governor Tom Wolf- 51%
Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum- 36%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Wolf vs Ridge Polling
Governor Tom Wolf- 47%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 39%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent- 25%
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly- 22%
State Sen. Scott Wagner- 18%
Businessman Paul Mango- 11%
State House Speaker Mike Turzai- 6%
Undecided/Other- 18%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty- 42%
Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack- 24%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz- 13%
Undecided/Other- 21%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty- 49%
Republican Candidate- 37%
Undecided/Other- 14%

February 30th, 2018

Mitt Romney passes on Utah Senate race; Huntsman officially enters race, will be challenged by Chaffetz

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SALT LAKE CITY - Following Senator Orrin Hatch's announcement that he will finally retire from the Senate, the Utah Senate race received another shakeup- former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has officially announced that he will not run for the now-open seat. Instead, former Governor and 2016 independent candidate Jon Huntsman (R-UT) will run for the seat, hoping to use his popularity in the state, which he won by a landslide in 2016, to add his independent-minded voice to the Senate. He's challenged in the primary by conservative U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who, interestingly, is also Huntsman's former campaign manager who rose in power thanks to his former boss but fell out with him. Chaffetz endorsed Romney in the 2012 Republican primary, and Huntsman previously called him "power hungry and a self-promoter". According to inside sources, Romney polls showed him having a hard time to beat Huntsman, and many Utah politicians like Governor Gary Herbert, who served as Huntsman' Lieutenant Governor, indicated support for the former independent candidate, prompting Romney to decline another grueling political campaign. This is considered a huge victory for Huntsman in an ongoing Romney vs Huntsman feud in the Mormin political arena, since he's now considered an almost certain victor in Utah's Senate race.

Utah Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.- 55%
U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz- 29%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Utah Senate Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.- 59%
County Councillor Jenny Wilson- 28%
Undecided/Other- 13%

FETTERMAN FOR GOVERNOR

Pennsylvania politics is getting crazy

GO RIDGE, DENT, AND HUNTSMAN!!!!

March 4th, 2018

Brian Sandoval officially announces U.S. Senate bid; Heck declares surprise run for Governor

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LAS VEGAS - The race for the Senate seat once held by Commerce Secretary Dean Heller, and now by his appointed replacement, Joe Heck, just got a high-profile candidate- after months of speculation, Nevada's popular Governor, Brian Sandoval (R), officially announced today that he will be running for the Senate. Sandoval, a moderate, pro-choice Republican, will be facing conservative businessman Danny Tarkanian in a potentially challenging primary, trying to win over an increasingly hardline voter base, but if he wins the primary, the Governor is expected to win the general election with his statewide popularity and the anti-Democratic national midterm environment. On the Democratic side, former gubernatorial nominee Rory Reid is running virtually unopposed in the primary after higher-profile potential candidate, U.S. Rep. Jacky Rosen, declined to run. Meanwhile, current Senator Joe Heck, who was likely appointed by Sandoval with the promise not to run for the seat, declared a bid for Governor, where he will be facing the more-conservative State Treasurer Dan Schwartz and the current, more-conservative frontrunner, Attorney General Adam Laxalt in what is promising to be a close Republican primary. Heck had been a very moderate Senator, moreso than when he served as U.S. Representative, likely because of his appointment by the moderate Nevada Governor, and will be facing an uphill battle against a popular Nevada politician from a conservative dynasty. On the Democratic side, Clark County Commission Chair Steve Sisolak is facing his Vice Chair, Chris Giunchigliani.

Nevada Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor Brian Sandoval- 48%
Businessman Danny Tarkanian- 33%
Undecided/Other- 19%

Nevada Senate Election (General)- Reid vs Sandoval Polling
Governor Brian Sandoval- 51%
Fmr. County Commissioner Rory Reid- 37%
Undecided/Other- 12%

Nevada Senate Election (General)- Reid vs Tarkanian Polling
Fmr. County Commissioner Rory Reid- 45%
Businessman Danny Tarkanian- 38%
Undecided/Other- 17%

Nevada Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
State Attorney General Adam Laxalt- 37%
Senator Joe Heck- 29%
State Treasurer Dan Schwartz- 19%
Undecided/Other- 15%

Nevada Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Polling
County Commissioner Steve Sisolak- 41%
County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani- 36%
Undecided/Other- 23%

Nevada Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 44%
Democratic Candidate- 43%
Undecided/Other- 13%

March 6th, 2018

Lupe Valdez to face Ted Cruz in Texas Senate race; Andrew White will run against Gov. Abbott

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AUSTIN - The first set of primaries leading up to the 2018 midterm elections was held today in Texas, where voters voted in the first rounds of Gubernatorial, Senate, House and local races. However, most races were decided in the first round, with only some House and local primaries going to the 2nd round in May 22nd. Incumbent Senator Ted Cruz (R) and Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) both easily won their party's nominations for their positions, with the controversial Cruz defeating a minor primary challenge. Meanwhile, Democratic former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez won the Democratic primary to face Cruz with little opposition, becoming the first Latina and first openly lgbt person to win a major party's nomination to such a position in Texas, while Andrew White, entrepreneur and son of former Governor Mark White, won the Democratic nomination for the Gubernatorial race. Both are considered mid-level recruits, bracing for a Gubernatorial primary race before Valdez decided to run for Senate, following the announcement of U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a rumoured candidate, that he won't run. The Republicans are very unlikely to lose any of these two races in November, but Valdez and White are hoping to pose a challenge and force national Republicans to spend money on Texas, a still-conservative state, but one President Obama won in his 2016 landslide.

Texas Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Ted Cruz*- 52%
Fmr. Sherriff Lupe Valdez- 34%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Texas Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Greg Abbott*- 57%
Entrepreneur Andrew White- 28%
Undecided/Other- 15%

Marth 13th, 2018

President Obama, Democratic leaders tell Parkland survivors gun control is "on top of the agenda"

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a press conference held on Capitol Hill today, President Barack Obama, Vice President Tammy Baldwin, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi directly addressed the Parkland shooting survivors, fiercely advocating for gun control, and told them that the issue is "on top of the agenda". President Obama called them "brave teenagers who are fighting for the right cause", Vice President Baldwin said that she admires their "resolve and will so soon after going through such a horrible event", while Pelosi claimed that "make no mistake, these teens will change America". Senator Schumer promised that legislators in both houses of Congress are working "very hard" on a "comprehensive gun control legislation". Vice President Baldwin also announced an interesting piece of news- she will be "heading a bipartisan negotiation on the issue" with"a group of like-minded Senators who "truly want to work for change on the issue", reminding of the successful Inconvenient Gang lead by EPA Administrator Al Gore that recently passed the biggest environmental reform in decades. This will finally allow Baldwin a spotlight and a leadership position in the Obama administration. But there are some critics within the party for the new efforts- Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) said that targeting gun control before the midterms will "cause headaches for many of us".

March 20th, 2018

Gov. Rauner crushes primary challenge in Illinois, will face J.B. Pritzket in general election

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CHICAGO - Another set of primaries were held before the 2018 midterms tonight, this time in the state of Illinois. There, in addition to all the House seats and local races, a high profile gubernatorial race will be held. Democrats are hoping to unseat the moderate Governor Bruce Rauner (R) in President Obama's state, and it appears like one of their best chances at a gubernatorial gain this year. However, it won't be a cakewalk with a problematic national environment, and Rauner is poised to put up a fierce fight- today, he defeated a conservative primary challenge from State Representative Jeanne Ives, running on a pro-life, social conservative platform, by a wide margin. With this primary victory, Rauner will go to the general election with a mostly unified Republican base. On the Democratic side, billionaire venture capitalist J.B. Pritzker handily defeated opponents Chris Kennedy and Daniel Biss, and many in the party worry that despite his ability to self-fund, he'll be a problematic candidate. Already, the Rauner campaign has released a bombshell recording where Pritzker appears to be discussing appointments to statewide offices with former Governor Rod Blagojevich, who's in jail for corruption, and the Governor's aides promise that there are more to come, including recordings involving the extrmeley unpopular long-time State House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Illinois Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Governor Bruce Rauner*- 73.8% ✓
State Rep. Jeanne Ives- 26.2%

Illinois Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Businessman J.B. Pritzker- 36.2% ✓
State Senator Daniel Biss- 31.4%
Businessman Christopher G. Kennedy- 27.6%
Others- 4.8%

IllinoisGubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Businessman J.B. Pritzker- 44%
Governor Bruce Rauner*- 37%
Undecided/Other- 19%

March 24th, 2018

Gun control activists, lead by Parkland survivors, lead massive "March for Our Lives"

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Parkland shooting, increasingly described by many as a tipping point for gun legislation in the United States, continues to hit waves. Demonstrations lead and organized by students, including the Parkland survivors and others, were held today in Washington D.C., other American cities and even in cities abroad, such as London, Paris, Berlin and Tel Aviv, where three Jewish Parkland survivors spoke near the U.S. embassy. It was considered a wild success, as tens of thousands attended the marches overall, and will continue to put strong pressure on lawmakers to act. Vice President Tammy Baldwin spoke at the D.C. march, and promised that she will "make the utmost efforts to pass a comprehensive reform soon, because kids and teens shouldn't ever be afraid to go to school". Tomorrow, Baldwin is scheduled to go to Capitol Hill and hold meetings with many legislators from both parties.

On an unrelated note, what would have the electoral map looked like without huntsman?

Go Sandoval and Heck obviously, and LET'S GO RAUNER!

Likely something like that (I'm assuming someone like McMullin runs):

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In the Senate, due to higher turnout from Republicans, the Democrats likely lose in Ohio, but otherwise it remains the same (Dems had strong recruits in 2016, like Vilsack in Iowa).

When's the next update?

March 30th, 2018

Baldwin begins work with lawmakers on gun control bill; Senators Collins, Graham and Nelson to co-sponsor

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a series of meetings and discussions from Democratic and Republican lawmakers, Vice President Tammy Baldwin begun work on the comprehensive gun control reform promised by the Obama administration. Baldwin aides said that the work will be "more flexible" than Gore's Inconvenient Gang, which had very particular Senators taking part- this time Baldwin and her allies will invite all lawmakers who wish to contribute to give their ideas. However, the co-sponsors of the bill were already decided- in the Senate, where the legislation is expected to be introduced first, it'll be Senators Gwen Graham (D-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Susan Collins (R-ME). The Florida Senators have become strong champions for gun control following the shooting in their state, and Collins will bring bipartisanship and crucial Republican support to the efforts. This is a particular risk for Nelson, who's running for reelection in a potentially tough race this year. Meanwhile, in the House, U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) will be the co-sponsors of the bill, promising a bipartisan effort with probably support from most of the moderate Republican Tuesday Group. Gun control activist Cameron Kasky said that the work is "a good step forward", and fellow Parkland survivor Emma Gonzales agreed, and added that "we'll be waiting to see how well it actually goes, and will not remain silent".

April 4th, 2018

West Virginia Republican Senate primary in uncertain state; Republican leaders worry about Blankenship

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CHARLESTON - One of the most exciting and confusing primaries of the midterm session is probably the one in West Virginia, where four Republicans are vying for their party's nomination to face former Senator Carte Goodwin (D) in what is considered a very likely Republican pickup. However, that may be in danger of being sabotaged, as former business executive and convicted felon Don Blankenship appears to be gaining steam. As U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey fight for establishment support and the Rand Paul-endorsed libertarian-Republican State Delegate Pat McGeehan chips away at them and gains strength too. If Blankenship, who was convicted of willfully violating mine safety standards following the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster in which 29 miners were killed, somehow squeaks by his stronger opponents and win the Republican nomination, this could endaner Republicans' chances in this race. Thus, Republican leaders started pushing against him, and a PAC affilliated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell already released ads attacking the far-right businessman for his felonies. Blankenship is pushing against them, dubbing McConnell "Cocaine Mitch" and trying to claim the mantle of a local West Virginian fighting against the establishment. Whether he's successful remains to be seen.

West Virginia Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
State Att. Gen. Patrick Morrisey- 25%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins- 22%
Businessman Don Blankenship- 22%
State Delegate Pat McGeehan- 20%
Undecided/Other- 11%

West Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 51%
Fmr. Senator Carte Goodwin- 39%
Undecided/Other- 10%

April 14th, 2018

U.S., Britain and France conduct joint attack on Syrian military bases; Stavridis says Russia, Iran must dramatically reduce forces "soon"

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DAMASCUS - Following another chemical attack of the Assad regime on Syrian citizens, killing more than a hundred with Sarin gas, the Obama administration is ramping up its involvement in Syria. Last night, the American airforce, joined by those of France and Britain, conducted extensive airstrikes in Syria, destroying several military and airforce bases and reportedly destroying some chemical weapons sites. The strikes lead to confusion, since Israel had been conducting similar strikes just a day before against Iranian targets, but Defence Secretary Ash Carter confirmed that the U.S. and its allies conducted the strikes, as did French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May. However, it looks like the West is losing patience with Assad and his allies- National Security Advisor James Stavridis said in a recent interview that Russia and Iran defending Assad is "complicit with his monstrous actions", and added an explicit threat, claiming that the U.S. will "not be afraid" to directly engage in Syria if Russia and Iran do not withdraw substantial forces "very soon". Asked whether that could involve boots on the ground, Stavridis said that it will "definitely not be a full-scale involvement", but confirmed that there are "many military options on the table". Stavridis further added that Russian-Iranian withdrawal from southern Syria, where Iranian involvement threatens American ally Israel, which causes "instability in the region" due to Israeli strikes in response, would be "a good start".

April 21st, 2018

Republicans land two key recruitments as fmr. Sen. Coleman, fmr. Gov. Pawlenty declare bids to return to their previous offices in Minnesota

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MINNEAPOLIS - The 2018 midterms appear to be getting more and more difficult for President Obama's party. In Minnesota, where former Senator Al Franken's resignation due to sexual harrassment allegations triggered a 2018 special election, Democrats now have to defend both the Governor's Mansion and a Senate seat. Now, the Republicans have landed two strong recruits for the seats- former Governor Tim Pawlenty, a major figure of the Minnesota GOP who still has popularity in the state, declared a bid to return to his old job, claiming that it's time to change the "stagnation and taxation of the Democratic policies". However, he's facing a potentially strong opponent in the Republican primary- former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann who, like him, ran for President in 2012, is running as a firebrand conservative, and is supported by the more radical parts of the base, which makes her a strong candidate in the primary despite very controversial comments in the past. Additionally, former Senator Norm Coleman, a moderate defeated by Al Franken back in 2008, surprised everyone by announcing that he, too, will run for his old seat against appointed incumbent Tina Smith. Coleman, 68, touted his bipartisan record, claiming that Smith is a "puppet of the Democratic establishment that does not contribute Minnesota's unique, independent voice" and pledging to represent "Minnesota values" in the Senate. Asked about previous socially conservative positions, Coleman said that he "obviously evolved" on issues such as same-sex marriage, a clear attempt to keep himself at pace with the changing times. Polls are showing tight races in the general election, with Pawlenty favoured in the Republican gubernatorial primary and Coleman virtually unopposed in the Senate primary.

Minnesota Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Tina Smith*- 43%
Fmr. Senator Norm Coleman- 41%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Tim Pawlenty- 35%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann- 31%
Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens- 11%
County Commissioner Jeff Johnson- 9%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Mayor Chris Coleman- 22%
State Rep. Erin Murphy- 19%
State Auditor Rebecca Otto- 15%
Fmr. Mayor R. T. Rybak-  12%
State Rep. Paul Thissen- 6%
Undecided/Other- 26%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (General)- Pawlenty vs Democrat Polling
Democratic Candidate- 45%
Fmr. Governor Tim Pawlenty- 42%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (General)- Bachmann vs Democrat Polling
Democratic Candidate- 49%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann- 34%
Undecided/Other- 17%

April 27th, 2018

Following continuous pressure form U.S. and allies, Kim Jong Un crosses DMZ for historic meeting with Southern counterpart

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SEOUL - History was made today in the Korean Peninsula. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un crossed the demilitarized zone, becoming the first leader of his country to do so, and met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The meeting of the two enemies is a surprising turnaround for Kim, consdiering the recent increase in ballistic missile tests by the North, and even more surprising is his reported willingness in the meeting to negotiate a de-nuclearization. Most pundits speculate that the heavy economic sanctions passed through the UN by U.S. Ambassador Olympia Snow, as well as the military threats should the North Koreans continue their tests, have pressured Kim into his newfound wish to compromise. However, U.S. officials didn't show much excitement- Secretary of State Joe Biden applauded the meeting as a "good step for peace", but added that "we will need more from the Kim Regime to show that they're actually willing to cease being a threat to U.S. allies and to change their horrible domestic behaviour and human rights abuses", and NSA James Stavridis said that America will "continue standing vigil".

May 2nd, 2018

Democrats reportedly worried about open elections in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and the Ohio race, where Brown prepares to face Gov. Kasich

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COLUMBUS - In 2018, Democrats are bracing for a tough battle to defend several Senate seats in deeply Republican territory, such as West Virginia, North Dakota, Indiana, Missouri and Montana. However, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee, headed by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), is worried that the party's losses could be expanded to other places such as swing states or even Democratic-leaning states. Their biggest worry, according to sources inside the DSCC, appears to be the Ohio Senate race, where incumbent Senator Sherrod Brown (D) was considered favoured for reelection until the state's popular governor, John Kasich, announced his own Senate run. A popular two-term Governor and former 2016 Republican Presidential candidate, Kasich is a powerful challenger to the popular Senator Brown, especially in an unfavourable environment for Democrats, and the DSCC sees it as one of the closest races in the country. Additionally, two unexpectedly open seats are causing stress amongst Democratic leaders. In Minnesota, incumbent Tina Smith, appointed after the resignation of scandal-ridden Seantor Al Franken, is little-known and facing a well-known, popular former Senator. Demcorats are hoping that painting Coleman as a conservative flip-flopper trying to appear moderate and a lobbyist, but they're still afraid that with a fairly weak incumbent, they could lose this crucial seat. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, the tragic death of Senator Bob Casey Jr. lead to widespread sympathy for state Democrats, and Governor Tom Wolf is a strong candidate for the seat, but the DSCC is afraid that, without the powerful incumbency of Casey Jr., this race could also get competitive. Democrats are especially afraid of Tom Ridge, a former moderate and popular Governor, beating the controversial, almost unelectable Rick Santorum for the nomination and becoming a real challenge to Wolf in November. they're also afraid that Wolf's depature to the Senate race could lead to a loss of the state's Governor's Mansion. Losing these three seats could prove very problematic for Democratic chances to keep the Senate, even with a currently strong 56-44 majority.

Ohio Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor John Kasich- 48%
State Treasurer Josh Mandel- 27%
Businesswoman Melissa Ackison- 5%
Undecided/Other- 20%

Ohio Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Sherrod Brown*- 46%
Governor John Kasich- 43%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum- 36%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 35%
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta- 14%
State Rep. Rick Saccone- 2%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Wolf vs Santorum Polling
Governor Tom Wolf- 49%
Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum- 37%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Wolf vs Ridge Polling
Governor Tom Wolf- 46%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 41%
Undecided/Other- 13%

GO BLANKENSHIP!!!

May 3rd, 2018

Former Senator Rubio declares last-minute Senate bid, upending the race and challenging Governor Scott; Huckabee, Jolly to run for Governor

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MIAMI - Florida's political scene is in turmoil after a last-minute Senate bid announced by Marco Rubio, a former Senator and Presidential candidate who lost reelection to Senator Gwen Graham (D) in 2016. Rubio, who was pondering whether to run for Governor instead, reportedly decided in favour of an attempt to return to the Senate because he wanted to "have a voice in the national stage" which a governor's mansion did not provide. He was also fueled by an increasingly frosty, and even hostile relationship with Governor Scott- when Rubio attended CNN's gun control townhall, Scott reportedly privately lashed out at him for "playing into the hands of the liberals and hurting us all", and the two seem to be sparring for political power in the state, so Rubio did not wish to give his rival a Senate seat. In his announcement, Rubio said that he wants to continue fighting for "conservative and Florida values in Washington" and warned that "the other candidates" will not be able to defeat popular incumbent Bill Nelson (D). The former Senator will be challenging Governor Rick Scott (R) in what is likely to be a close and high-spending primary race, in which the rich Governor will try to counter Rubio's name recognition and popularity in the state. This also puts Republican leaders, who hoped Rubio would run for Governor, in a tough spot. Scott did not give Rubio a warm welcome, instead saying that "Floridans will choose a proven reformer over a failed candidate". The move opened up the Governor's race for a new flock of Republican candidates to challenge Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who are already running. And indeed, two new candidates quickly entered the race- moderate former U.S. Rep. David Jolly dropped down from the Senate race to run for Governor, and he was joined by the conservative former Arkansas Governor and Presidential candidate in 2008 and 2016, Mike Huckabee, who moved to northern Florida years ago and is popular in the area. The race is expected to get even more crowded in the coming month. The gubernatorial race is expected to lean towards the Republican nominee, especially with renowned lawyer and marijuanna legalization advocate John Morgan running as an independent.

Florida Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor Rick Scott- 36%
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 36%
State Att. Gen. Pam Bondy- 19%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Florida Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bill Nelson*- 45%
Republican Candidate- 44%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
AG Commissioner Adam Putnam- 27%
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee- 24%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. David Jolly- 18%
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis- 16%
Undecided/Other- 15%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Polling
Mayor Philip Levine- 35%
Businessman Jeff Greene- 18%
Mayor Andrew Gillum- 16%
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle- 8%
Entrepreneur Chris King- 5%
Undecided/Other- 17%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 34%
Democratic Candidate- 31%
Lawyer John Morgan- 22%
Undecided/Other- 13%

May 8th, 2018

Don Blankenship scores shocking upset for West Virginia Republican Senate nomination, will face Goodwin in general election as first multi-state midterm primaries are held; Kasich, Young win Senate nominations in Ohio, Indiana

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CHARLESTON - The first set of multi-state midterm primaries for this year's midterm election was held tonight in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia, deciding the nominees of the major parties for key Governor, Senate and House races. The biggest shock and most important story of the night was the West Virignia Republican primary for retiring Joe Manchin's Senate seat, considered a key pickup opportunity for Republicans- there, in a blow to Mitch McConnell and Republican leaders, far-right controversial businessman Don Blankenship scored a shocking upset, using the split in the "establishment" vote in order to win a narrow plurality. Meanwhile, young State Delegate Pat McGeehan, endorsed by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) came a surprising strong third, beating establishment favourite U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and showing an increasing strength of the Republican Libertarian wing. Blankenship is very unpopular in West Virginia due to his death-causing felonies, and thus, his victory in the primary is considered a potential good news for Democrats. Their candidate, the young former Senator Carte Goodwin who was reportedly recruited by President Obama, is a failed gubernatorial candidate from 2016 whose family is popular in the state, and could put the seat back in play for them. Polls are showing a tight race for Goodwin against Blankenship, while the other Republican candidates would've easily won.

West Virginia Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Businessman Don Blankenship- 26.1% ✓
State Att. Gen. Patrick Morrisey- 23.6%
State Delegate Pat McGeehan- 22.7%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins- 21.2%
Others- 6.4%

West Virginia Senate Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Fmr. Senator Carte Goodwin- 86.5% ✓
Activist Paula Jean Swearengin- 13.5%

West Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Businessman Don Blankenship- 39%
Fmr. Senator Carte Goodwin- 36%
Undecided/Other- 25%

Meanwhile, in the other key races of the night, fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young, who lost the 2016 Senate race to Senator Evan Bayh (D), managed to get the support of Republican voters again, defeating a wide field to face incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly in November. Young, a fairly moderate and popular figure who gave an admirable challenge to a popular Indiana politician less than two years ago, is favoured in the race against Donnelly, who's facing a tough national environment and criticism for his votes for Al Gore's Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Act. Right now, with Senators Bayh and Donnelly, as well as Governor Buttigieg, the conservative Indiana has a Democratic trifecta. In Ohio, following a surprising late entry to the race, Governor John Kasich (R), a wildly popular figure in the state, handily won the Republican Senate nomination to face another Ohio political titan, Senator Sherrod Brown (D). This race is likely to be one of the most closely-watched and tight Senate elections in the country. For the gubernatorial race, Ohio Attorney General and former Senator Mike Dewine won the Republican nomination and will be facing State Senator Joe Schiavoni, who won the Democratic nomination after CFPB Director Richard Cordray declined to run.

Indiana Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young- 33.8% ✓
Fmr. State Rep. Mike Braun- 27.5%
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita- 21.3%
U.S. Rep. Luke Messer- 17.4%

Indiana Senate Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young- 48%
Senator Joe Donnelly*- 40%
Undecided/Other- 12%

Ohio Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Governor John Kasich- 55.2% ✓
State Treasurer Josh Mandel- 31.8%
Businesswoman Melissa Ackison- 7.5%
Others- 5.5%

Ohio Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Sherrod Brown*- 46%
Governor John Kasich- 45%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Ohio Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Attorney General Mike DeWine- 38.4% ✓
Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor- 35.7%
U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci- 25.9%

Ohio Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni- 30.3% ✓
Mayor Nan Whaley- 23.8%
Fmr. State Rep. Connie Pillich- 22.6%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich- 19.8%
State Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill- 1.9%
Others- 1.6%

Ohio Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
State Attorney General Mike DeWine- 47%
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni- 42%
Undecided/Other- 11%

May 11th, 2018

Following homophobic remark, Vice President Baldwin joins Gov. Buttigieg, Rep. Polis in harsh condemnation of Santorum

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PHILADELPHIA - The Pennsylvania Senate race for the open seat of late Senatoe Bob Casey Jr. and the retiring appointed incumbent, Ed Rendell (D), continues gaining national attention as Republican candidate Rick Santorum sparked controversy yesterday with homophobic comments. Santorum, a renowned social conservative, is a former Senator unseated by Casey Jr. in 2006 and was the runner-up of the Republican presidential primary in 2012, is running to reclaim his old seat and is currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination. Asked whether he changed his views from his staunch opposition to same-sex marriage, Santorum said that he "definitely" did not change his opinion and that "these people shouldn't be allowed to marry because it goes against god and marriage". He also called for a "national standard of marriage" which defines marriage as "a normal, natural union between a man and a woman". The comments sparked outrage across the political spectrum- Vice President Tammy Baldwin, a lesbian woman, said that they were "a frightening show of bigotry and homophobia" and urged the people of Pennsylvania to "reject these disgusting views". She was joined by the popular Indiana Governor Pete Buttigieg (D), who said that Santorum's comments were "repugnant and hateful", and called the former Senator "a sad man from a long-gone era who will not be able to stop people like me from marrying our beloved partners". U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), a candidate for Colorado Governor, who said that Santorum should "be ashamed of himself and withdraw from the race" and that "he should have no place on Capitol Hill". Santorum's main opponent in the Republican primary, former Governor Tom Ridge (R), condemned the comments too, saying that they were "very unfortunate, disrespectful and disqualifying".

May 15th, 2018

Ridge narrowly defeats Santorum in Pennsylvania Senate primary, will face Wolf in November; Rep. Denton wins plurality in Gubernatorial GOP primary to face Democrat McGinty

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HARRISBURG - A major shakeup occured tonight in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Former Governor Tom Ridge, a moderate Republican, scored an upset in the Republican primary tonight, defeating the ultra-conservative former Senator Rick Santorum by a close but safe margin. Santorum conceded the race and reluctantly endorsed Ridge, but said that he only lost because "the conservative vote was split". He could be right, as Ridge won a plurality and U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta appeared to gain some of Santorum's support following his homophobic comments. Ridge, who promised to bring "the independent, common-sense voice of Pennsylvania to Washington," will face the moderately popular Governor Tom Wolf in the general election, in a closely-watched race currently leaning towards Wolf. Meanwhile, in the state's gubernatorial primaries, moderate Republicans scored another victory as U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, a political centrist, won a narrow plurality over his more conservative opponents. Dent will face Kathy McGinty, a Wolf ally who served as his Chief of Staff and, before that, the Pennsylvania Environment Secretary, in what is considered a very close race. Primaries were also held tonight in Oregon and Nebraska, where there were little surprises, and in Idaho, where Lieutenant Governor Brad Little defeated the more hardline U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

Pennsylvania Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 38.2% ✓
Fmr. Senator Rick Santorum- 34.8%
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta- 24.5%
State Rep. Rick Saccone- 1.7%
Others- 0.8%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Governor Tom Wolf- 58.1% ✓
Fmr. State Treasurer Barbara Hafer- 27.9%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Joe Hoeffel- 9.3%
Senator Ed Rendell (Write-in)- 3.7%
Others- 1.0%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Polling
Governor Tom Wolf*- 47%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 43%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent- 26.5% ✓
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly- 25.7%
Businessman Paul Mango- 18.7%
State Sen. Scott Wagner- 17.3%
State House Speaker Mike Turzai- 11.2%
Others- 0.6%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Fmr. Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty- 52.9% ✓
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz- 23.3%
Lieutenant Governor Mike Stack- 22.5%
Others- 1.3%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty- 45%
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent- 43%
Undecided/Other- 12%

May 22nd, 2018

Abrams Democratic nominee in Georgia Gubernatorial race, Cagle, Cain go to a runoff for Republican nomination

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ATLANTA - The 2018 midterm race is gaining steam, as another bunch of state held primaries for Senate, Governor, House and local races. In Georgia, former State House Minority leader Stacey Abrams easily won the Democratic nomination for Governor, and is considered a strong candidate but very unlikely to win the general election, despite President Obama's victory in Georgia in 2016 and the state's continuing Democratic trend. On the Republican side it was much more messy as a crowded race, the winner of which is likely to be the next Governor, will go to a runoff between after two candidates narrowly prevailed over the crowded field filled with high-profile names- Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and controversial businessman Herman Cain, who ran a high-profile Presidential campaign in 2012 before he sunk due to sexual harrassment allegations. Now, despite the #Metoo movement, Cain is claiming innocence and trying to return to politics, and he already managed to upset high-profile U.S. Rep. Tom Price, who came third. Primary elections were also held in Arkanasas and Kentucky, as well as runoffs in Texas, without many surprises.

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle- 23.1% ✓
Businessman Herman Cain- 21.3% ✓
U.S. Rep. Tom Price- 20.8%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland- 17.6%
Fmr. State Sen. Hunter Hill- 13.5%
State Sen. Michael Williams- 2.9%
Others- 0.8%

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams- 68.4% ✓
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Evans- 31.6%

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary Runoff)- Polling
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle- 46%
Businessman Herman Cain- 43%
Undecided- 11%

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (General)- Abrams vs Cagle Polling
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle- 52%
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams- 39%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (General)- Abrams vs Cain Polling
Businessman Herman Cain- 45%
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams- 41%
Undecided/Other- 14%

May 23rd, 2018

McCain gives announces resignation on Senate floor, to concentrate on combating cancer and writing memoir; seat to be filled with wife Cindy McCain until November election

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PHOENIX - The political world was shook this week, when one of its giants, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), gave an emotional speech on the Senate floor, announcing his immediate resignation from his Senate seat to concentrate on fighting his cancer and writing his memoirs. In the speech, McCain called for "bipartisan work in this august chamber" and asked lawmakers to "stop this bitterness and hyper-partisanship plaguing our nation". McCain, the Republican Presidential nominee in 2008 and a war hero respected accross the political world for his maverick stands, received bipartisan applause from the entire Senate chamber, from progressive Senators like Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to far-right Senators like Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and Ted Cruz (R-TX). Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona announced that McCain's replacement will be his wife, Cindy McCain, who's considered a moderate Republican, even more-so than her husband. Ms. McCain already said that she will not run for reelection in this November, when a special election will be held for the seat, prompting the announcement of several Republican candidates- U.S. Rep. Martha McSally will be running for McCain's seat, as will former U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle, son of former Vice President Dan Quayle, former U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, former Arizona GOP Chairman Robert Graham and former Maricopa County Sherriff Joe Arpaio, a conservative immigration hawk and a convicted felon. On the Democratic side, the field seems to be clearing for U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, a young veteran who could definitely make the seat competitive, after another rumoured candidate, astronaut Mark Kelly who's known for his gun control activism, declined to run.

Arizona Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. State Sen. Kelli Ward- 46%
Senator Jeff Flake*- 40%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Sinema vs Flake Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 45%
Senator Jeff Flake*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 12%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Sinema vs Ward Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 48%
Fmr. State Sen. Kelly Ward- 39%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Arizona Senate Special Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Sheriff Joe Arpaio- 26%
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally- 19%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle- 16%
Fmr. Chairman Robert Graham- 11%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Matt Solomon- 7%
Undecided/Other- 21%

B I G D O N

Please, please, please let Herman Cain be the GOP nominee for Governor in Georgia. #999

Hopefully Fake Moderate Sandoval goes down in flames.

-_-

May 25th, 2018

Baldwin, lawmakers holds high-profile meeting with Parkland survivors, report progress; conservatives condemn 'submission' and 'weakness' to teenagers

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - A group of Parkland survivors, who lead the "Never Again" gun control movement, have arrived at Capitol Hill today for meetings with lawmakers, trying to lobby them to move towards a comprehensive, tough gun control law. The survivors met with Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who's leading the Obama administration's efforts to draft and advance the gun control bill, and received some updates from her, along with a formal invintation to visit the White House and meet President Obama himself. They also met with lawmakers who take part of the gun control efforts including Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Joe Heck (R-NV) and Jason Kander (D-MO), Representatives Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Elsie Stefanik (R-NY) and others as well as most of the Florida congressial delegation. According to Emma Gonzales, one of the student leaders, the meetings were "productive and encouraging" and there is "substantial progress", Cameron Kasky called Vice President Baldwin "very kind and helpful" and said that he was "deeply thankful for her and the President's invitation to the White House", and David Hogg said that it was "exciting and heart-warming" to meet "so many of my state's congressmen and women". But not everyone was happy- some conservatives criticized the Obama administration and lawmakers for the meetings. Senator Jim Inhofe called out Vice President Baldwin and President Obama for "weakness" before "an interest group of teenagers", and Senate candidate Rick Scott (R-FL) said the President was "submitting to children rather than governing", earning criticism in his own state. But making the most waves was Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who lambasted the administration for "bowing and kowtowing before a bunch of teenagers who haven't experienced much", prompting outrage. The Vice President attacked Cruz in an interview, calling his remarks "disgusting and soulless", and saying that the Parkland survivors "experienced more than Senator Cruz ever will".

June 1st, 2018

Obama to hold talks with Kim Jong Un, Moon and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Singapore

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SEOUL - Following Kim Jong Un's historic meeting with South Korean leader Moon Jae-in, another major diplomatic breakthrough was announced yesterday by Secretary of State Joe Biden. According to Biden, the U.S. has reached an agreement with North Korean and Chinese officials on a summit in Singapore where President Obama and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and, historically, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Originally planned as a summit only between the President and the North Korean leader, Obama and Biden decided to change course and make it a multi-day summit between the four major leaders in the conflict, because, as Biden said today, "only with all the sides having a seat around the table actual progress can be achieved". According to sources, Obama plans to not only present de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula as a demand, but also a betterment of the human rights situation in North Korea, and hopes to achieve cooperation with the Chinese. Accompanying Obama to the meetings will be Secretary Biden and National Security Advisor James Stavridis.

June 6th, 2018

Eight states hold high profile primaries, Democrats face high-profile battle for retiring Feinstein's seat; DNC Chair Perez says party "cautiously optimistic" about results

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SACRAMENTO - In what many are calling the "Super Tuesday" of the 2018 midterm primaries, contests for the nominations of the major parties were held in eight states. In California, the most watched state last night, Democrats can breath a sigh of relief- they avoided a lockout in most major congressial races, and their endangered incumbents who unseated Republican Representatives in 2016 received robust primary numbers. Several races to watch, where Democratic freshment will try to hold their seats, will be between U.S. Rep. Michael Eggman (CD-10) and fmr. U.S. Rep. Jeff Dunham whom he unseated in 2016, U.S. Rep. Bryan Caforio (CD-25) and fmr. State Sen. Tony Strickland, U.S. Rep. Doug Applegate (CD-49) and fmr. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, U.S. Rep. Hans Keirstead (CD-48) and the controversial ousted fmr. U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, and others. In the state's gubernatorial race, Republicans managed to avoid a dangerous lockout as Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom will face Republican businessman John Cox in the runoff, in a race where Democrats are heavily favoured. However, the race receiving the most attention was the Senate race, where 84 years old incumbent Senator Dianne Feinstein announced her retirement following a meeting with President Obama where he asked her to retire so that new faces could emerge. Instead, Feinstein will likely be appointed Ambassador to Canada to replace the retiring Bruce Heyman. Feinstein's retirement invigourated the California political scene, and a slew of candidates entered the race to replace her, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (D), former U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D), State Senate President Kevin de León (D), hedge fund manager and environmental activist Tom Steyer (D), TYT Host and progressive activist Cenk Uygur (D), former State Controller Steve Westly, former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin (R), former U.S. Rep. Doug Ose (R) and conservative radio host Michael Savage (R). The end result was a disappointment to Republicans, and pitted two Democrats in the runoff- Garcetti and Steyer. It's considered a big relief for Democrats, who feared a doomsday scenario where the controversial Uygur advances to the runoff against one of the Republicans.

California Senate Election (Jungle Primary)- Results
Mayor Eric Garcetti- 19.3% ✓
Hedge Fund Manager Tom Steyer- 17.1% ✓
Fmr. Mayor Ashley Swearengin- 16.4%
State Sen. Kevin de León- 11.7%
Mr. Cenk Uygur- 10.5%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Doug Ose- 8.4%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez- 5.2%
Mr. Michael Savage- 4.8%
Fmr. State Controller Steve Westly- 2.6%
Others- 4.0%

California Senate Election (General)- Polling
Mayor Eric Garcetti- 37%
Hedge Fund Manager Tom Steyer- 35%
Undecided/Other- 28%

California Gubernatorial Election (Jungle Primary)- Results
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom- 26.0% ✓
Businessman John Cox- 21.4% ✓
State Treasurer John Chiang- 20.9%
Fmr. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa- 15.5%
State Assemblyman Travis Allen- 8.3%
Fmr. Superintendant Delaine Eastin- 3.2%
Transhumanist Zoltan Istvan- 1.1%
Others- 3.6%

California Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom- 62%
Businessman John Cox- 25%
Undecided/Other- 13%

But California wasn't the only state to hold its primaries last night. Seven other states with high profile races also held their contests, and in each of them there is at least one Senate or Governor's race at stake, making it an especially high-profile day. In Mississippi there was no surprise, as Democrats Howard Sherman and David Baria will go to a runoff to face Republican incumbent Senator Roger Wicker, in a race where he's heavily favoured. In Montana, endangered Democratic Senator Jon Tester will face Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, who defeated a slew of more-conservative opponents such as Rob O'Neill, a former navy SEAL who claimed to have killed Bin Laden, Christian fundamentalist Chuck Baldwin and State Auditor Matt Rosendale. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) won his party's nomination for Senate in New Jersey despite corruption allegations, but will face a tough challenge from moderate Republican State Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr., son of the former Governor of the same name, who defeated the socially conservative U.S. Rep. Chris Smith for the Republican nomination. This is considered a closely-watched race where the incumbent Democrat could lose a crucial seat for his party. And in New Mexico, another high-profile Senate race will pit Governor Susana Martinez (R) against incumbent Senator Martin Heinrich (D) and Public Lands Commissioner Aubrey Dunn, Jr. (L), forcing Democrats to spend money in a favourable state.

Montana Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke- 28.8% ✓
Former Navy SEAL Robert J. O'Neill- 23.5%
State Auditor Matt Rosendale- 19.5%
Baptist Pastor Chuck Baldwin- 17.1%
Fmr. District Judge Russell Fagg- 7.3%
State Senator Albert Olszewski- 3.8%

Montana Senate Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke- 46%
Senator Jon Tester*- 44%
Undecided/Other- 10%

New Jersey Senate Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Senator Bob Menendez*- 47.9% ✓
Fmr. State Assemblyman John Wisniewski- 38.7%
Activist Lisa McCormick- 13.4%

New Jersey Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Sen. Thomas Kean Jr.- 44.8% ✓
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith- 37.9%
Fmr. State Sen. Joe Kyrillos- 11.2%
Businessman Bob Hugin- 5.6%
Others- 0.5%

New Jersey Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bob Menendez*- 47%
State Sen. Thomas Kean Jr.- 41%
Undecided/Other- 13%

New Mexico Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Governor Susana Martinez- 63.6% ✓
Businessman Mick Rich- 36.4%

New Mexico Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Martin Heinrich*- 45%
Governor Susana Martinez- 36%
Public Lands Commissioner Aubrey Dunn, Jr.- 10%
Undecided/Other- 9%

There were also some interesting gubernatorial primaries. In Alabama, incumbent Governor Kay Ivey (R) will face former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, a conservative Democrat. Meanwhile, in Iowa's gubernatorial race, following sexual harrassment allegations against Democratic frontrunner and State Senator Nate Boulton, Union Leader and nurse Cathy Glasson, supported by progressives, narrowly won the party's nomination to face Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds in the general election. New Mexico is also holding a gubernatorial race, where U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), who ran unopposed for her party's nomination, will face U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R) and former Governor Gary Johnson (L) in a high-profile three-way battle in which Johnson, a two-time Presidential candidate, will try to make a political comeback and has the potential to win a governorship for the Libertarian Party. Finally, in South Dakota, U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R) defeated favourite Attorney General Marty Jackley (R) by a large margin following allegations that he treated sexual misconduct in his office lightly, and will face Democrat Billie Sutton in the gubernatorial race. This is a showing of strength for the #Metoo movement in the Republican party.

Iowa Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Union Leader Cathy Glasson- 29.0% ✓
Fmr. Chief of Staff John Norris- 28.3%
Fmr. Party Chairwoman Andy McGuire- 24.5%
State Rep. Todd Prichard- 6.9%
State Sen. Nate Boulton- 6.7%
Fmr. Mayor Ross Wilburn- 4.6%

Iowa Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds- 49.8% ✓
Activist Bob Vander Plaats- 36.3%
Mayor Ron Corbett- 13.9%

Iowa Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds- 51%
Union Leader Cathy Glasson- 36%
Undecided/Other- 13%

New Mexico Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce- 51.9% ✓
Lt. Gov. John Sanchez- 45.1%
Fmr. State Sen. Ted Barela- 3.0%

New Mexico Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham- 39%
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce- 32%
Fmr. Governor Gary Johnson- 21%
Undecided/Other- 8%

South Dakota Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem- 61.3% ✓
Attorney General Marty Jackley- 38.7%

South Dakota Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem- 58%
State Sen. Billie Sutton- 29%
Undecided/Other- 13%

June 13th, 2018

Senate, Governor primaries held in five states; Sandoval Republican nominee in Nevada, Maine's gubernatorial race remains uncertain

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PORTLAND - Following the contests held last week, the midterm primaries continue in full steam. Last night, primaries were held for the nominations of the major parties in various crucial, closely-watched races for Senate and Governor. Maine's Senator, Angus King (I), who caucuses with the Democrats, will be facing Democratic teacher Zak Ringlestein, a token candidate, and Republican controversial Governor Paul LePage, who coasted to his party's nomination and makes this a high-profile race despite racist past comments. Another Republican Governor is running for the Senate, with the centrist Brian Sandoval of Nevada defeating right-wing challenges for his party's nomination for the Senate seat vacated by Commerce Secretary Dean Heller and his own appointed incumbent, Senator Joe Heck. Now, Sandoval will face Democrat Rory Reid in a key race for both parties. In North Dakota, Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp is facing a hard reelection battle in a very Republican state and an unfavourable national environment, and will be running against U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer who emerged out of a crowded field of Republican candidates. Meanwhile, in Virginia, Senator Tim Kaine is considered a strong and popular incumbent and, especially after Governor Perriello's victory last year, the state seems favourable to Democrats. The Republican primary to face him was close, and resulted in a narrow victory for Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO and 2016 Presidential candidate. She defeated former Governor and Presidential candidate Jim Gilmore, County Supervisor Corey Stewart, conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham and Rand Paul-endorsed "Liberty Republican" State Delegate Nick Freitas, who had a better-than-expected showing, in the primary.

Maine Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Angus King*- 41%
Governor Paul LePage- 34%
Mr. Zak Ringelstein- 11%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Nevada Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Governor Brian Sandoval- 54.5% ✓
Businessman Danny Tarkanian- 38.1%
Others- 7.4%

Nevada Senate Election (General)- Polling
Governor Brian Sandoval- 49%
Fmr. County Commissioner Rory Reid- 41%
Undecided/Other- 10%

North Dakota Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer- 31.8% ✓
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Rick Berg- 27.3%
State Sen. Tom Campbell- 25.4%
Businessman Gary Emineth- 12.9%
Fmr. Mayor Thomas O'Neill- 2.6%

North Dakota Senate Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer- 45%
Senator Heidi Heitkamp*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 12%

Virginia Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. CEO Carly Fiorina- 22.6% ✓
State Del. Nick Freitas- 20.8%
Ms. Laura Ingraham- 19.1%
Fmr. Governor Jim Gilmore- 16.4%
County Supervisor Corey Stewart- 16.2%
State Del. James Massie- 4.2%
Others- 0.7%

Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Tim Kaine*- 50%
Fmr. CEO Carly Fiorina- 40%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Maine also held a high-profile Gubernatorial primary last night, with a first use of the Ranked Choice Voting system and results still inconclusive for the Democratic nomination. Attorney General Janet Mills came first but did not win a majority, and the second-place finisher, former Maine Women's Lobby director Betsy Sweet, appears strong enough to possibly bypass her. Former State House Speaker, Mark Eves, finished third and is considered a Sweet ally, making it likely that she earns most of his second-choice preferences, and a fellow progressive, State Rep. Diane Russell, came fourth. On the Republican side, Businessman Shawn Moody narrowly came first, upsetting U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, but the results could still change because of RCV. Coming third and fourth, Senate President Mike Thibodeau and former Health Commissioner Mary Mayhew have a substantial chunk of the vote, and pundits are speculating that the former's voters would lean to Poliquin, while the latter's voters would lean towards Moody. There was also a guberantorial primary in Nevada, where Democratic County Commissioner Steve Sisolak will be facing Senator Joe Heck, a moderate Sandoval ally who narrowly defeated the more conservative State Attorney General Adam Laxalt. Lastly, in South Carolina, Democratic businessman Phil Noble won his party's nomination for Governor, but the Republican primary will go to a runoff between Lieutenant Governor Henry McMaster and U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy, who came ahead of a large field of candidates and will face each other in the runoff. Gowdy, who has more name recognition, is considered favoured.

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
State Att. Gen. Janet Mills- 35.3%
Activist Betsy Sweet- 24.5%
Fmr. State House Speaker Mark Eves- 20.4%
Fmr. State Rep. Diane Russell- 7.3%
State Sen. Mark Dion- 5.5%
Fmr. Mayor Sean Faircloth- 3.8%
Fmr. Mayor Donna Dion- 3.2%%

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Businessman Shawn Moody- 32.3%
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 29.1%
State Senate Pres. Mike Thibodeau- 18.6%
Fmr. Commissioner Mary Mayhew- 16.3%
State House Minority Leader Ken Fredette- 3.7%

Maine Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Democratic Candidate- 38%
Republican Candidate- 34%
State Treasurer Terry Hayes- 16%
Fmr. Mayor John Jenkins- 5%
Undecided/Other- 7%

Nevada Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Senator Joe Heck- 44.5% ✓
State Attorney General Adam Laxalt- 41.6%
State Treasurer Dan Schwartz- 6.5%
Others- 7.4%

Nevada Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
County Commissioner Steve Sisolak- 49.6% ✓
County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani- 43.6%
Others- 6.8%

Nevada Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Senator Joe Heck- 48%
County Commissioner Steve Sisolak- 42%
Undecided/Other- 10%

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster- 37.8% ✓
U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy- 36.4% ✓
State Rep. Tom Davis- 14.4%
Businessman John Warren- 9.1%
Fmr. Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill- 2.3%

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 55%
Businessman Phil Noble- 31%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Go Eric Garcetti! Brian Sandoval would also be nice.

Yeah, it's going to be a Republican bloodbath.

If Obama’s approval rating is under 50%

Wow this is nuts.  Go Ridge, Sandoval, Tom Kean, Susana Martinez, Rauner, and Betsy Sweet!

Whoops, I once again forgot a major event concerning John McCain :P So for those of you (aka everyone) who hasn't seen the late edit:

June 14th, 2018

Singapore summit begins with Obama-Kim Biden; Moon, Jinping to join for extensive talks on Korean peninsula, cooperation and trade

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SINGAPORE - History was made today in the city-state of Singapore, the neutral ground decided for the major east Asian summit between U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. It begun with a major meeting between Obama and Un, where the two leaders posed before American and North Korean flag in what is the first summit between the leaders of the two hostile countries. According to spokespeople, the two leaders discussed the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula, the human rights situation in North Korea and the American sanctions on the Kim regime, and had civil and productive discussions. Inside sources indicate that Obama was willing to loosen some of the sanctions in exchange for a real process of nuclear disarmament by the Kim regime, but that he was adamant about keeping many of the sanctions due to the harsh human rights condition on the country. President Obama reportedly agreed to allow American companies to open businesses in North Korea, an idea Kim found appealing, in exchange for guarantees that American business executives will not be harmed. Some experts lauded the decision, saying that projecting American soft power into North Korea could have powerful long term effects. In the coming week, Obama and Kim will hold more meetings, along with the two other leaders, in an attempt to reach real agreements.

June 20th, 2018

As RCV results come in, Sweet wins shocking upset in Maine Democratic primary; Poliquin edges out Moody for Republican nomination

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PORTLAND - Maine's Ranked Choice Voting process presented a first surprising result in the Democratic and Republican primaries for the gubernatorial nomination tonight. For the Democrats, progressive activist and former Maine Women's Lobby director Betsy Sweet won a narrow victory, bypassing the frontrunner, State Attorney General Janet Mills, by less than 1% when all the votes were counted. The victory is attributed to the late alliance forged between Sweet and third-place finisher Mark Eves, as well as Dianne Russell, who came fourth and ran a progressive campaign aking to Sweet's. Following her victory, Sweet was endorsed by all Democratic candidates, including Mills, and held a joint rally with them. She will face U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who narrowly beat out insurgent businessman Shawn Moody in the GOP primary's RCV count after coming second in the first round. Poliquin is considered more conservative than Moody, which makes it a close race between two ideologues, with many feeling State Treasurer Terry Hayes, an independent running for Governor, could have a strong showing.

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results, ROUND 1 (D. Dion, Faircloth eliminated)
State Att. Gen. Janet Mills- 35.3%
Activist Betsy Sweet- 24.5%
Fmr. State House Speaker Mark Eves- 20.4%
Fmr. State Rep. Diane Russell- 7.3%
State Sen. Mark Dion- 5.5%
Fmr. Mayor Sean Faircloth- 3.8%
Fmr. Mayor Donna Dion- 3.2%%

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results, ROUND 2 (M. Dion eliminated)
State Att. Gen. Janet Mills- 37.2% (+1.9%)
Activist Betsy Sweet- 26.0% (+1.5%)
Fmr. State House Speaker Mark Eves- 23.5% (+3.1%)
Fmr. State Rep. Diane Russell- 7.4% (+0.1%)
State Sen. Mark Dion- 5.9% (+0.4%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results, ROUND 3 (Russell eliminated)
State Att. Gen. Janet Mills- 39.0% (+1.8%)
Activist Betsy Sweet- 27.1% (+1.1%)
Fmr. State House Speaker Mark Eves- 26.2% (+2.7%)
Fmr. State Rep. Diane Russell- 7.7% (+0.3%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results, ROUND 4 (Eves eliminated)
State Att. Gen. Janet Mills- 39.6% (+0.6%)
Activist Betsy Sweet- 31.9% (+4.8%)
Fmr. State House Speaker Mark Eves- 28.5% (+2.3%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results, ROUND 5 (Sweet victorious)
Activist Betsy Sweet- 50.2% (+18.3%) ✓
State Att. Gen. Janet Mills- 49.8% (+10.2%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results ROUND 1 (Fredette eliminated)
Businessman Shawn Moody- 32.3%
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 29.1%
State Senate Pres. Mike Thibodeau- 18.6%
Fmr. Commissioner Mary Mayhew- 16.3%
State House Minority Leader Ken Fredette- 3.7%

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results ROUND 2 (Thibodeau eliminated)
Businessman Shawn Moody- 32.6% (+0.3%)
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 29.9% (+0.8%)
Fmr. Commissioner Mary Mayhew- 18.8% (+2.5%)
State Senate Pres. Mike Thibodeau- 18.7% (+0.1%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results ROUND 3 (Mayhew eliminated)
Businessman Shawn Moody- 36.7% (+4.1%)
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 35.1% (+5.2%)
Fmr. Commissioner Mary Mayhew- 28.2% (+9.4%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results ROUND 4 (Poliquin victorious)
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 51.9% (+16.8%) ✓
Businessman Shawn Moody- 48.1% (+11.4%)

Maine Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Activist Betsy Sweet- 35%
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 32%
State Treasurer Terry Hayes- 19%
Fmr. Mayor John Jenkins- 6%
Undecided/Other- 8%

June 22nd, 2018

Singapore summit concludes with signing of major unofficial agreements between the nations; McDonald’s to open North Korea branch in coming months

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SINGAPORE - The grand East Asian Summit in Singapore closed yesterday, following days of meetings and discussions between American, South Korean, Chinese and North Korean officials. The summit appears to have been extremely constructive, with the four leaders reaching some agreements to advance peace, cooperation and lessening of tensions between them. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have reportedly agreed on substantial scaling back of military forces around the Demilitarized Zone, as well as the signing of an official peace agreement to end the Korean War. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping reached agreements with President Obama and President Moon to bolster trade and economic ties between the three nations, as well as continued cooperation on climate change and Chinese pressure on North Korea to keep to the agreements. The most important part, however, was the agreement reached with Kim Jong Un after meetings with President Obama and Secretary Biden, who also attended the summit. North Korea agreed to completely disarm of nuclear weapons in exchange for reduction in sanctions and a pledge to not try regime change in the country, with international inspectors sent to make sure it was being followed. According to sources, an unofficial agreement was also reached, with President Obama promising the U.S. will reduce sanctions if inspectors report an improvement of the human rights situation in the country. The two leaders also officially agreed on the opening of commercial relations, with American businesses finally allowed in the isolated country and North Korean businessmen allowed to open businesses in the United States, with a guarantee that American business executives are not harmed, and that such a harming by North Korean officials would be grounds for an American attack. McDonald's already announced on the opening of a North Korean branch, signaling a historic change. President Obama and Secretary Biden received bipartisan praise for the efforts, with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-MD) calling the agreements "a massive, historic success", Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) saying that she was "enthusiastic about the prospect of peace and improvement of human rights", Senate candidate Tom Ridge (R-PA) stating that "seeing a McDonald's opening in North Korea will be a potentially pivotal moment in Korean history", and even Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a frequent Obama critic, calling the agreement "a positive development that will hopefully prevent future American involvement in east Asia". Following the summit, the President's approval ratings saw a substantial rise.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 53%
Disapprove- 41%
Not Sure- 6%

June 26th, 2018

More primaries held before midterms; Polis to face Stapelton in Colorado, Huntsman Republican nominee for Utah Senate

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SALT LAKE CITY - The last batch of midterm primaries was held tonight, with a key Senate primary in Utah, as well as important gubernatorial primaries in Colorado, Maryland, Oklahoma and South Carolina. In a continue of a trend favouring moderate Republicans this cycle, former Governor and 2016 independent Presidential candiate Jon Huntsman soundly defeated conservative U.S. Rep. in Utah's Senate Republican primary, and is almost assured an easy victory in the general election against Democrat Jenny Wilson. There is also a Senate election in New York, where private equity executive Chele Farly was chosen by Republicans to face U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in a race Republicans hold no hopes of winning.

Utah Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.- 69.3%% ✓
U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz- 30.7%

Utah Senate Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Jon Huntsman Jr.- 66%
County Councillor Jenny Wilson- 26%
Undecided/Other- 8%

Meanwhile, in the Colorado Gubernatorial race, U.S. Rep. Jared Polis managed to defeat an impressive field of Democrats by a solid margin. This race was initially expected to be a battle between him and former State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, but she was since appointed as Secretary of the Interior by President Obama, giving Polis an easier race. On the Republican side, State Treasurer Walker Stapleton averted disaster for his party by narrowly winning over a tradical conservative and immigration hawk, former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, despite a split field. While Polis is considered favoured, Stapelton still has a chance to finally win the Colorado governorship for Republicans. In Maryland, Democrats chose former NAACP President Ben Jealous to face the Governor Larry Hogan (R) in November. Hogan, who's considered a popular moderate, is currently favoured to win reelection. In Oklahoma, meanwhile, the Republican primary for Governor will be going to a runoff between State Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who managed to use his conservative credentials and popularity from anti-environmentalist activities, noteably suing and opposing the Obama administration's acts and especially Al Gore's EPA, and the more moderate Mayor Mick Cornett of Oklahoma City. If elected Governor, Pruitt is likely to become a high-profile opponent of the Obama administration, already promising to do everything not to implement the "destructive, delusional green agenda" and the "disastrous law passed recently". Al Gore already spoke out against Pruitt, calling him "a man who'd see our planet die to grab a bit more donor money into his pockets". Finally, in South Carolina, the gubernatorial runoff resulted in U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy winning over Lieutenant Governor Henry McMaster, earning himself the exit from congress he reportedly craved.

Colorado Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Tres. Walker Stapleton- 39.4% ✓
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo- 38.6%
State Att. Gen. Cynthia Coffman- 14.0%
Fmr. Mayor Greg Lopez- 4.7%
Fmr. State Rep. Victor Mitchell- 3.3%

Colorado Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis- 42.7% ✓
Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne- 35.5%
Fmr. State Rep. Mike Johnston- 18.6%
Businessman Noel Ginsburg- 3.2%

Colorado Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis- 48%
State Tres. Walker Stapelton- 43%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Maryland Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Fmr. NAACP President Ben Jealous- 43.1% ✓
State Sen. Richard Madaleno- 41.9%
Author Alec Ross- 11.4%
Others- 3.6%

Maryland Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Larry Hogan*- 54%
Fmr. NAACP President Ben Jealous- 35%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Oklahoma Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Att. Gen. Scott Pruitt- 33.5% ✓
Fmr. Mayor Mick Cornett- 30.9% ✓
Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb- 22.3%
Fmr. Attorney Gary Richardson- 6.8%
Fmr. State Rep. Dan Fisher- 3.4%
State Auditor Gary Jones- 2.2%
Others- 0.9%

Oklahoma Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 51%
Fmr. State Sen. Connie Johnson- 34%
Undecided/Other- 15%

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary Runoff)- Results
U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy- 53.2% ✓
Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster- 46.8%

South Carolina Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy- 58%
Businessman Phil Noble- 30%
Undecided/Other- 12%

July 3rd, 2018

Baldwin, lawmakers present first draft of gun control law; Save Our Children Act will be sent to committee

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The gun control debate continues to dominate the political scene, with the Parkland survivors continuing a public push and a recent school shooting in Texas souring the national mood even further on the NRA and pro-gun activists. Today, Vice President Tammy Baldwin joined Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Gwen Graham (D-FL) and Susan Collins (R-ME), as well as U.S. Reps. Ted Deutsch (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Elsie Stefanik (R-NY) and Charlie Dent (R-PA), in a press conference announcing the main points of the bill. The Save Our Children Act, as it was named by its co-sponsors, will include many extensive measures of gun control, including a band on bump-stocks, some semi-automatic weapons classified as military-level, a raise of the age requirement to buy a gun to 21 (the same age to buy an alcoholic beverage) save for soldiers, a restriction on magazines any gun can carry, restrictions on gun trafficking and of course, universal and extensive background checks. However, the bill states that the new restrictions will only apply on new purchases and manufactures, and will include no confiscation of guns from any owners, includuing those below 21 years old. The SOCA was praised by gun control activists, including Parkland survivors like Emma Gonzales, who called it "an amazing change that I hope will pass". With the national environment favouring gun controls, many moderate Republicans hoping to win reelection have already announced support for the bipartisan bill, and the Obama administration is likely to aggressively push for it to pass. If all 56 Democrats vote for the bill- what is considered unlikely- the Obama administration would need at least four Republican votes. Co-sponsor Susan Collins and Senator Joe Heck (R-NV) are considered likely to support the bill, but others, like Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Cindy McCain (R-AZ), are still on the fence and say they have "reservations" about the bill's restrictions.

July 11th, 2018

Conservative Republicans attack Save Our Children Act, plan to use gun control issue extensively in midterm campaign

()

AUSTIN - As expected, the SOCA gun control bill came under heavy fire by conservatives and pro-gun activists. NRA Spokeswoman Dana Loesch called it "a monstrous attack on our freedom, reeking of fascism", drawing criticism to her use of "hyperboles and lack of any decency", as worded by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) came on many morning and late night shows to attack the bill as "a historic infringement on personal freedoms in America", and confirmed that he will "absolutely do everything I can to oppose it". He was joined by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT), who, in a joint press conference, said that the Obama administrator was using "worrying authoritative measures that show a decline in our democracy". Hitting back, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) said that "Australia passed gun control measures and is perfectly democratic", mocking Cruz's and Lee's statement as "a ridiculous misunderstanding of the meaning of democracy". Not all conservatives opposed the bill, however. Senate candidates Brian Sandoval (R-NV) and Jon Huntsman (R-UT) all said that the SOCA was "better than the statuse quo, when we have children being murdered every other week". Surprisingly, Senator Cindy McCain (R-AZ) echoed similar statements, explaining that "the shootings don't happen in the rest of the western world" and "we need to think about these kids with empathy- they're far more important than gun interests". This even lead to a joke by U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-NY), a supporter of the bill who claimed that "Obama should wait until after the midterms so that he can get Sandoval, Huntsman and Ridge instead of Manchin, Heitkamp and Donnelly". According to polls, the support for gun control is historically high after the recent shootings, making the national environment ripe for reform, so it's unsurprising that many moderate Republicans would turn to support it to help their electoral chances.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 52%
Disapprove- 41%
Not Sure- 7%

Do you think there should be more gun control?
Yes- 70%
No- 22%
Not Sure- 8%

Do you support the SOCA?
Yes- 53%
No- 32%
Not Sure- 15%

When's the next update?

Finally got time to read through this, fantastic TL

Very soon. I had the inspiration to write a chapter in a potential book I'm working on, but soon enough I'll make the last finishes of the next TL update.
A small hint- Haslam vs Blackburn ;)

Great TL! Curious to see the midterms.

Third term fatigue is going to hurt Obama hard in the midterms. He won a landslide because of the Trump/Romney GOP split

July 19th, 2018

Moderates flooded with constituent letters demanding they vote for SOCA

()

BISMARCK - As the Save Our Children Act, a bipartisan but extensive bill prompted by the national mood after the Parkland shooting, makes its way through committee, many Senators are facing a tough dilemma about it. For red state Democrats up for reelection this year, the gun control bill is  a double-edged sword, as they need the votes of pro-gun conservatives and moderates in their states, while at the same time the support of their Democratic base, if they want to be reelected. Recently, Democrats like Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN) have received large amounts of constituent mail, most of it overwhelmingly favouring the SOCA. According to various sources, many constituents, mainly Democrats and independents, demand their Senators "protect [their] children" and vote for the bill. Still, the SOCA is facing an uphill battle. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, considered the most pro-gun Democrat in the caucus, has already announced opposition for it, while Senators Manchin and Donnelly, as well as others like Evan Bayh (D-IN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Jon Tester (D-MT) are reluctant. On the Republican side, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) is co-sponsoring the bill, while Joe Heck (R-NV) and Cindy McCain (R-AZ) are considered likely to support it. But others are not so sure- Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), hailing from a usually pro-gun state, stated that the bill needs to see "some change" if she were to support it, especially targeting the ban on semi-automatic weapons, which she called "unnecessary and restrictive". However, Murkowski did endorse raising the age on buying guns, universal background checks and a bump stock ban, a move to the left from her previous positions reportedly aided by an internal poll in Alaska showing a change on the issue. The New York Times has complied a comprehensive list, showing the tough road of the SOCA to victory in the Senate.

Safe AYE: 49 Senators
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Ben Nelson (D-FL)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Angus King (I-ME)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
Tina Smith (D-MN)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Ed Rendell (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Likely AYE: 2 Senators
Jason Carter (D-GA)
Jason Kander (D-MO)

Lean AYE: 5 Senators
Cindy McCain (R-AZ)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Joe Heck (R-NV)

TOSSUP: 3 Senators
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)

Lean NAY: 2 Senators
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)

Likely NAY: 7 Senators
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

Safe NAY: 33 Senators
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Stever Daines (R-MT)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
John Thune (R-SD)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
John Barrasso (R-WY)

July 24th, 2018

Controversial Herman Cain wins Georgia Republican gubernatorial runoff, will face Abrams (D) in the general election

()

ATLANTA - This year's gubernatorial election in Georgia was considered a straightforward affair- Republicans would nominate a mainstream conservative candidate like Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle or State Attorney General Brian Kemp, and easily defeat the Democratic nominee, former State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, in the general election to earn another term in the state's executive office. But today, the race received a shocking twist- following several corruption scandals, and after the Lieutenant Governor admitted on audio that he pushed a bill for political reasons, he was defeated in the runoff by controversial tea-party businessman Herman Cain. A former 2012 Presidential candidate who dropped out after sexual misconduct allegations, Cain has his own share of scandals and some of his extreme plans, like the famous "999 tax plan" replacing the current tax code with simple 9% percentages, are derided by many. Still, Cain is currently leading the polls against Abrams, prompted by an anti-Obama environment in Georgia as the gun control bill causes waves and by his support among conservatives. Cain's victory did make history- it'll be the first time both major party's nominate an African-American gubernatorial candidate in Georgia.

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary Runoff)- Polling
Businessman Herman Cain- 53.2% ✓
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle- 45.8%

Georgia Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Businessman Herman Cain- 46%
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams- 43%
Undecided/Other- 11%

August 2nd, 2018

Governor Haslam narrowly beats Blackburn for Tennessee Senate nomination; Sen. Corker Republican nominee for Governor

()

NASHVILLE - A changing of the guards occured tonight in Tennessee's Republican party- with many of the same faces remaining in the scene. Tennessee's junior Senator, Bob Corker, has announced that he will retire back in 2017, reasoning that he did not want to serve more than two consecutive terms. The Republican primary to replace him, likely to decide the conservative state's next Senator, was fairly crowded, with the hardline U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn running against the more moderate retiring Governor Bill Haslam, former Tea Party favourite and Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey and U.S. Rep. Dianne Black. Though Blackburn was considered the favourite initially, she eventually lost steam due to a campaign without much energy and various gaffes, and the conservative vote was split with Ramsey and Black, leading to the victory of Haslam, who was considered the moderate in the race, with past support for moderate social and healthcare positions, despite being a generally staunch conservative. Governor Haslam will face Democrat Karl Dean, the former Mayor of Nashville, in the general election and is considered very unlikely to lose. The gubernatorial race was upended when the retiring Senator Bob Corker stepped in, saying that he wishes to continue "serving the people of Tennessee". Corker's entrance resulted in Rep. Black, who was the frontrunner, switching to the Senate race, and he ran against a weaker field consisting of former U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, State Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, former State Sen. Jamie Woodson and State House Speaker Beth Harwell, from which he emerged victorious by a comfortable margin. He will face Democratic Mayor of Chattanooga, Andy Berke.

Tennessee Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Governor Bill Haslam- 34.2% ✓
U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn- 32.9%
U.S. Rep. Dianne Black- 19.2%
Fmr. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey- 11.7%
Others- 2.0%

Tennessee Senate Election (General)- Polling
Governor Bill Haslam- 51%
Fmr. Mayor Karl Dean- 36%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Tennessee Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Senator Bob Corker- 43.8% ✓
State Sen. Mark Norris- 17.3%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher- 15.7%
Speaker Beth Harwell- 11.5%
Fmr. State Sen. Jamie Woodson- 8.9%
Others- 2.8%

Tennessee Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bob Corker- 50%
Mayor Andy Berke- 35%
Undecided/Other- 15%

August 7th, 2018

Hawley wins Republican nomination to challenge McCaskill in Missouri, runner-up Petersen to run as libertarian; Kobach to face independent Orman in Kansas, with Democrat Svaty joining the ticket; Whitmer to face off against Schutte in Michigan

()

JEFFERSON CITY - In a bunch of high-profile primary races for the Senate and Governor races of several states, there were some expected results and some surprising upsets. In Missouri's key Senate race, State Attorney General Josh Hawley narrowly won against a crowded field, a result which was an expected result ever since U.S. Rep. and former Ambassador to Luxembourg Ann Wagner dropped out of the race due to declining support. But what was surprising is the second-place finisher, businessman, activist and former Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee, who was strongly supported by Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and the Republican Liberty Caucus, and came very close to winning the nomination, yet another midterm show of strength for Paul. But instead of conceding, Petersen announced that he will be running on the Libertarian Party ticket, which could dangerously split the vote for Republicans. Former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, who was a frontrunner in the guberntorial primary of 2016, but was bogged down by scandals, including an affair and domestic violence, came third. In Michigan, popular Senator Debbie Stabenow (D) will be facing Republican former Governor John Engler, a strong challenge that will face Democrats to invest in the race. And in Washington, Senator Maria Cantwell (D) will be challenged by former State Attorney General and Gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna.

Missouri Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Att. Gen. Josh Hawley- 36.2% ✓
Businessman Austin Petersen- 34.9%
Fmr. Navy SEAL Eric Greitens- 14.7%
Businessman John Brunner- 8.6%
Fmr. Speaker Catherine Hanaway- 3.5%
Others- 2.1%

Missouri Senate Election (General)- Polling
State Att. Gen. Josh Hawley- 36%
Senator Claire McCaskill- 34%
Businessman Austin Petersen- 16%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Michigan Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Debbie Stabenow*- 48%
Fmr. Gov. John Engler- 44%
Undecided/Other- 8%

Washington Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Maria Cantwell*- 49%
Fmr. State Att. Gen. Rob McKenna- 41%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Two important gubernatorial primaries were also held tonight. In Kansas, Republicans nominated former Secretary of State and controversial anti-immigrant advocate Kris Kobach, who defeated Lieutenant Governor Jeff Coyler in the primary. Democrats nominated former State Secretary of Agriculture Josh Svaty, a young rising star, who promised before the primary to drop out and join the ticket with independent businessman Greg Orman, in a model similar to independent Governor Bill Walker and Democratic Lieutenant Governor Brian Mallott in Alaska. After winning the nomination he dropped out as promised, effectively uniting the opposition to Kobach, who will now face the Orman\Svaty independent ticket. Democrats are on-board with the decision, endorsing Orman, who's considered a political centrist who can win in Kansas due to his lack of connection to the President's party and the deep unpopularity of Governor Sam Brownback (R). Meanwhile, in Michigan, Democratic former State Senator Gretchen Whitmer won her party's nomination and will face Republican State Attorney General Bill Schutte in what will be a closely-watched race- the national environment favours Republicans and Donald Trump performed surprisingly strongly in this state in 2016, despite President Obama easily winning it, but Governor Rick Snyder is deeply unpopular after failing in the handling of the Flint Water Crisis.

Kansas Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Sec. of State Kris Kobach- 46.6% ✓
Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer- 33.2%
Fmr. State Sen. Jim Barnett- 7.4%
KLC Pres. Ed O'Malley- 6.8%
Insurance Comis. Ken Selzer- 4.2%
Fmr. State Rep. Mark Hutton- 1.8%
Others- 0.5%

Kansas Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Businessman Greg Orman\Fmr. Sec. of Agriculture Josh Svaty- 42%
Sec. of State Kris Kobach- 40%
Undecided/Other- 18%

Michigan Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Att. Gen. Bill Schutte- 56.4% ✓
Lt. Gov. Brian Calley- 29.6%
State Sen. Patrick Colbeck- 13.4%
Others- 0.6%

Michigan Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Fmr. State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer- 35.4% ✓
Businessman Shri Thanedar- 27.9%
Attorney Geoffrey Fieger- 26.7%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak- 11.0%

Michigan Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer- 47%
State Att. Gen. Bill Schutte- 44%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Petersen is running and McCaskill is still losing? RIP the Dems.

August 9th, 2018

Polls show SOCA with high support in key states, putting pressure on reluctant lawmakers

()

DENVER - As part of an aggressive public push to convince Republican lawmakers to support the Save Our Children Act, pro-gun control and Democratic groups, as well as neutral organizations, have been investing in polls to gauge the support of voters in key states for the signature gun control bill. Some of the particular states polled were Colorado, where Democrats are hoping to scare Senator Cory Gardener (R-CO) to support the bill in order to increase his chances for reelection in 2020, Florida, represented by two Democrats but holding high-profile Senate and Governor races this year, Maine, where Senator Susans Collins (R-ME) is co-sponsoring the bill, and Arizona, where two Republican Senators, Cindy McCain and Jeff Flake, are mulling their support for the bill. Results were encouraging for Democrats in most polls- Colorado voters showed overwhelming support for gun control, putting strong pressure on Gardener, while Maine and Florida voters showed clear support for the efforts of their Senators and Arizona voters surprisingly shifted in favour of gun control. Governor and Senate races in these states were also polled. Meanwhile, Republicans in conservative states such as West Virginia, Indiana and Montana, where Democratic Senators are contemplating or leaning towards support for the bill, are aggressively using the issue in the midterm campaigns.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 49%
Disapprove- 43%
Not Sure- 8%

Do you support the SOCA? (Arizona)
Yes- 49%
No- 39%
Not Sure- 12%

Arizona Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. State Sen. Kelli Ward- 48%
Senator Jeff Flake*- 41%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Sinema vs Flake Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 47%
Senator Jeff Flake*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Sinema vs Ward Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 51%
Fmr. State Sen. Kelly Ward- 40%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Arizona Senate Special Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Sheriff Joe Arpaio- 27%
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally- 23%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle- 18%
Fmr. Chairman Robert Graham- 12%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Matt Solomon- 6%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Arizona Senate Special Election (General)- Gallego vs Arpaio Polling
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego- 55%
Fmr. Sheriff Joe Arpaio- 32%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Arizona Senate Special Election (General)- Gallego vs McSally Polling
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego- 45%
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally- 43%
Undecided/Other- 12%

Arizona Senate Special Election (General)- Gallego vs Quayle Polling
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego- 45%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle- 45%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Do you support the SOCA? (Colorado)
Yes- 61%
No- 30%
Not Sure- 9%

Colorado Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis- 48%
State Tres. Walker Stapelton- 45%
Undecided/Other- 7%

Do you support the SOCA? (Florida)
Yes- 57%
No- 32%
Not Sure- 11%

Florida Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Governor Rick Scott- 38%
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 36%
State Att. Gen. Pam Bondy- 20%
Undecided/Other- 6%

Florida Senate Election (General)- Nelson vs Scott Polling
Governor Rick Scott- 47%
Senator Bill Nelson*- 45%
Undecided/Other- 8%

Florida Senate Election (General)- Nelson vs Rubio Polling
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 47%
Senator Bill Nelson*- 44%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
AG Commissioner Adam Putnam- 28%
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee- 26%
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis- 18%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. David Jolly- 17%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Polling
Businessman Jeff Greene- 32%
Mayor Andrew Gillum- 31%
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle- 14%
Entrepreneur Chris King- 9%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Republican Candidate- 35%
Democratic Candidate- 30%
Lawyer John Morgan- 24%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Do you support the SOCA? (Maine)
Yes- 64%
No- 26%
Not Sure- 10%

Maine Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Activist Betsy Sweet- 34%
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin- 33%
State Treasurer Terry Hayes- 20%
Fmr. Mayor John Jenkins- 4%
Undecided/Other- 9%

August 11th, 2018

Powered by Obama endorsement, David Ige narrowly defeats primary challenge in Hawaii

()

HONOLULU - Midterm primaries were held in Hawaii today, putting President Obama's influence in his original home state in the spotlight. In the state's Democratic gubernatorial primaries, very likely to decide the next Governor of Hawaii, incumbent David Ige was challenged by U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa. Initially, Hanabusa was heavily favoured, leading some polls by over 20 points, but then President Obama stepped in, shocking the state's political scene with an endorsement of the Governor. He even campaigned for Ige, calling him "an excellent executive for Hawaii who doesn't budge from his duty in favour of other positions". This is a subtle criticism of Hanabusa, which was aggressively used by the Ige campaign- the Governor painted his challenger as an opportunist, who just won a House seat in 2016 and already jumped to the next race, and all of this after challenging Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in the 2014 Special Election for his Senate seat. The attacks and the President's support seemed to work, and Ige defeated Hanabusa by a small margin. He'll face perenniel candidate John Carroll in the general, and is widely expected to win easily.

Hawaii Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Governor David Ige*- 48.7% ✓
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa- 47.1%
Fmr. State Sen. Clayton Hee- 3.4%
Others- 0.8%

Hawaii Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor David Ige*- 62%
Fmr. State Sen. John Carroll- 28%
Undecided/Other- 10%

August 14th, 2018

Pawlenty beats Bachmann to win Republican nod for Governor in Minnesota, Coleman to face Smith for old Senate seat; Republican Stewart will run against Democrat Kennedy in Connecticut, Walker challenged by Kind in Wisconsin reelection bid, Sen. Duffy faces Democrat Mitchell for Vice President's seat

()

SAINT PAUL - Key primaries for several Senate and Gubernatorial races were held tonight in several states in the northeast and the midwest. In Connecticut, Senator Chris Murphy (D) will be challenged by Republican businesswoman and 2012 Senate nominee Linda McMahon, in a race Democrats are expected to have no problems winning. Minnesota will hold two Senate races this year- the Special Election for the seat of former Senator Al Franken (D), where appointed incumbent Senator Tina Smith (D) will be challenged by moderate former Senator Norm Coleman (R), who's running in a bid to return to his old seat and is expected to make it a very close race, especially with Smith having little name recognition. Senator Amy Klobucher (D) is much safer, and is expected to easily triumph over her challenger, State Senator Karin Housley. In Vermont, businessman and perenniel candidate Rocky De La Fuente won the GOP nomination to face Senator Bernie Sanders (I) due to a lack of candidates running, and in Wisconsin, Senator Sean Duffy (R), elected in 2017 to Vice President Tammy Baldwin's seat is running for a full term and facing a considerably weaker challenger than he did in the Special Election- progressive activist Mahlon Mitchell, who defeated several candidates to win the Democratic nomination.

Minnesota Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Amy Klobucher*- 49%
State Sen. Karin Housley- 38%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Minnesota Senate Special Election (General)- Polling
Senator Tina Smith*- 43%
Fmr. Sen. Norm Coleman- 43%
Undecided/Other- 14%

Vermont Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bernie Sanders*- 68%
Businessman Rocky De La Fuente- 17%
Undecided/Other- 15%

Wisconsin Senate Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Activist Mahon Mitchell- 37.8% ✓
State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout- 34.6%
County Exec. Chris Abele- 21.3%
Others- 6.3%

Wisconsin Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Sean Duffy*- 48%
Activist Mahon Mitchell- 39%
Undecided/Other- 13%

All of the aforementioned states will also hold gubernatorial races in 2018. In Connecticut, incumbent Democrat Dan Malloy announced that he will not be running for a third term. However, his deep unpopularity is bogging State Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. (D) down, making his race against the Republican nominee, Erin Stewart, much harder. Stewart is a young, popular Mayor and a socially moderate to progressive candidate, one who could win in a northeastern liberal state, and many Democrats feel there is a real threat of her defeating Kennedy. In Minnesota, the race is expected the be tight and high profile as former Governor Tim Pawlenty defeated ultra conservative, controversial former U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann in the Republican primary, and will go on to face progressive State Rep. Erin Murphy in the general election. Vermont will pit incumbent Governor Phil Scott, a popular centrist, against Democratic CEO Christine Hallquist, in a race Republicans are expected to win easily. Finally, Wisconsin will have a high-profile Gubernatorial race as Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, the nominee for Senate in 2017 who's still very popular in the state, was reportedly recruited by heavy efforts of the Obama administration to face the polarizing, union-busting Governor Scott Walker (R).

Connecticut Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Mayor Erin Stewart- 28.4% ✓
Mayor Mark Boughton- 23.9%
Businessman Stephen Obsitnik- 12.7%
State Rep. Prasad Srinivasan- 11.4%
Fmr. U.S. Comptroller General David Walker- 9.0%
Fmr. First Selectman Tim Herbst- 8.1%
Businessman Bob Stefanowski- 5.3%
Hedge Fun Manager David Stemerman- 1.2%

Connecticut Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
State Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Jr.- 41.2% ✓
Mayor Dan Drew- 32.8%
Mayor Joe Ganim- 16.4%
Fmr. Sec. of State Susan Bysiewicz- 9.6%

Connecticut Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
State Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Jr.- 44%
Mayor Erin Stewart- 40%
Undecided/Other- 16%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. Governor Tim Pawlenty- 43.9% ✓
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann- 38.4%
County Commis. Jeff Johnson- 11.7%
Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens- 4.7%
Others- 1.3%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
State Rep. Erin Murphy- 43.1% ✓
Fmr. Mayor Chris Coleman- 32.6%
State Auditor Rebecca Otto- 12.8%
Fmr. Mayor R. T. Rybak-  7.4%
State Rep. Paul Thissen- 3.3%
Others- 0.8%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Tim Pawlenty- 46%
State Rep. Erin Murphy- 45%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Vermont Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Phil Scott*- 52%
CEO Christine Hallquist- 31%
Undecided/Other- 17%

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind- 52.6% ✓
State Superintendant Tony Evers- 32.1%
Fmr. State Rep. Kelda Roys- 7.6%
Activist Mike McCabe- 3.5%
Fmr. Chairman Matt Flynn- 2.9%
Others- 1.3%

Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Scott Walker*- 48%
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind- 47%
Undecided/Other- 5%

August 18th, 2018

Lawmakers, Vice President Baldwin present final draft of SOCA; changes include softer magazine limit and no blanket semi-automatic ban

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After long work in the House Oversight Committee, lead by U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and the Senate Judiciary Committee, lead by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), as well as negotiations with Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), representing the White House, and various lawmakers, a final version of the Save Our Children Act was presented before congress and the press. Supported by a bipartisan coalition of liberals and moderate Republicans, the bill rides on the wave of anti-gun sentiments in the U.S. following two deadly shootings this year, but is expected to have a tough road towards the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate without a filibuster. However, with the moderate Republican Tuesday Group endorsing it in the House, it's expected to pass there quite easily. The changes to the initial bill include a reduction and softening in restrictions, including magazine and bullet limits, as well as a removal of the blanket ban of semi-automatic rifles in favour of selective banning of several rifles deemed "military-rank". The changes are touted by several moderates as making the bill "much more reasonable", as Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said, and, according to a statement by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), make him "likelier to support it". Following the changes, the NYT complied a list of the previously swinging Senators according to their new classification after new media statements.

Safe AYE: 52 Senators
46 Previous Democrats confirming support
Jason Carter (D-GA) (Likely to Safe, announced that he's "enthusiastically endorsing" the bill after the changes)
Evan Bayh (D-IN) (Lean to Safe, praised the bill as a "great bipartisan effort" and announced his support)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Angus King (I-ME)
Jason Kander (D-MO) (Likely to Safe, announced two weeks ago that the bill is "good and fair for Missouri")
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Likely AYE: 3 Senators
Cindy McCain (R-AZ) (Lean Aye to Likely Aye, both she and husband spoke favourably of the bill)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO) (Lean Aye to Likely Aye, speaks increasingly favourably of the bill)
Joe Heck (R-NV) (Lean Aye to Likely Aye, both he and Gov. Sandoval announced that the changes make the bill "a positive reform")

Lean AYE: 4 Senators
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (Tossup to Lean Aye, spoke favourably of the bill)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN) (Tossup to Lean Aye, spoke favourably of the bill)
Jon Tester (D-MT) (no change of position, pressured from voters at home)
Joe Manchin (D-WV) (Tossup to Lean Aye, spoke favourably of the bill)

TOSSUP: 2 Senators
Jeff Flake (R-AZ) (said he respects the work on the bill)
Cory Gardner (R-CO) (is under heavy pressure from home state voters)

Lean NAY: 2 Senators
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) (no change in position, remains staunchly against gun control)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN) (no change)

Likely NAY: 3 Senators
Dan Sullivan (R-AK) (no change)
Bob Corker (R-TN)(no change)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)(no change)

Safe NAY: 33 Senators
33 Previous Republicans confirming opposition

How does de la Fuente manage to get literally everywhere

He's the saviour we need, but not the one we deserve.

Great developments. I hope Stacy Abrams badly beats Herman Cain.

August 21st, 2018

Dunleavy to face Walker in Alaska as Democrats get behind independent Governor again

()

ANCHORAGE - Alaska's gubernatorial race will see a battle between Republican conservative former State Senator Mike Dunleavy, who won the Republican nomination, and the state's independent incumbent Governor, Bill Walker, who's running again with his Democratic Lieutenant Governor, Byron Mallot. This comes after former Senator Mark Begich, a Democrat, was rumourd to be interested in entering the race as a Democrat, but then reportedly dissuaded by Democratic leaders and the White House, as President Obama thought Walker would have the best chance to prevent the state from falling into Republican hands. Walker ran for the Democratic nomination too, hoping to prevent a candidate from the party splitting the vote, but was still challenged by State Senator Bill Wielechowski and State Representative Les Gara. Walker edged them out for the Democratic nomination, and so he will be facing Republican nominee Mike Dunleavy and Libertarian nominee    Cean Stevens. It's expected to be a close race, with Walker having declining approvals.

Alaska Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. State Sen. Mike Dunleavy- 41.0% ✓
Fmr. Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell- 36.8%
State Rep. Mike Chenault- 14.9%
Others- 7.3%

Alaska Gubernatorial Election (Democratic-Libertarian-Independence Primary)- Results
Governor Bill Walker*- 37.6% ✓
State Rep. Les Gara- 25.5%
State Sen. Bill Wielechowski- 20.6%
Ms. Cean Stevens- 16.3% ✓

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. State Sen. Mike Dunleavy- 42%
Governor Bill Walker\Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott- 41%
Ms. Cean Stevens- 5%
Undecided/Other- 12%

August 25th, 2018

Democrats, moderate Republicans ready to put gun control bill before Senate in "beginning of September", Nelson says

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) confirmed today that the work on the Save Our Children Act is fully complete, and that it will be presented before the Senate chamber in the "beginning of September, likely the 5th" by its co-sponsors, Nelson, Senator Gwen Graham (D-FL) and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). The vote on the bill is expected to be close, with several Senators still on the fence, and White House sources confirmed that Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) will arrive on Capitol Hill early in the morning to support the bill and, possibly, cast a tie-breaking vote in its favour if it comes to that. Several legislators opposed to the bill, including Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT) and, notably, Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) already promised to filibuster SOCA if it fails to reach the 60 votes required to bypass a filibuster, with the addition of Baldwin's vote. Pundits are closely watching Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Cory Gardener (R-CO) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) as important swing votes.

August 28th, 2018

Arizona, Florida select candidates for Senate and Governor in last multi-state primary of 2018 midterms

()

TALLAHASSEE - Several primaries for very high-profile Senate and Governor elections were held today in Florida and Arizona, two competitive states with high hispanic populations won by President Obama in 2016. Arizona had two closely-watched primaries for Senate- one for the regularly-held election to the seat held by Senator Jeff Flake (R), and the other for a special election to the seat vacated by ill Senator John McCain (R) and his appointed replacement and wife, Cindy McCain (R). Senator Flake, who infamously criticised 2016 Republican nominee Donald Trump and has very low approval ratings in the state, lost the primary to a far-right challenger, former Senator Kelly Ward who's a hard-line pro-Trump conservative accused of supporting the chemtrails conspiracy theory. It's considered a blow to Republican chances of keeping the seat and a rare opportunity for U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, an atheis bisexual woman with a moderate record, to give Democrats a midterm pickup. The other primary race resulted in a narrow victory for U.S. Rep. Martha McSally over the convicted felon and immigration hardliner former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was running a campaign accusing the Obama administration of conspiring against him. It's considered a sigh of relief for Republican leaders, who were afraid of losing this seat too because of Arpaio's deep unpopularity, but the far-right challenge forced McSally to move to the right as well, so that she praised Trump and controversially called for the "dismantling of DACA" in the campaign trail. The rightward move caused many to see her as a "flip-flopping opportunist", as Arpaio called her on the trail, and the polls between her and Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, a young hispanic veteran who won his party's nomination unopposed, show him with a narrow lead. Lastly, in Florida, a tight race between former Senator Marco Rubio, Governor Rick Scott and state Attorney General Pam Bondy for the right to face vulnerable Senator Bill Nelson (D) in November added with a shocker, as Rubio, who was considered the underdog against the rich, moderately popular Governor, won a narrow victory, attributed to him managing to present himself as the more conservative candidate. Rubio, who was reluctantly endorsed by Scott, who became his political enemy, will be bruised heading to a tough battle against a popular incumbent, despite a favourable national climate. Whether his remarkable comeback bid succeeds remains to be seen.

Arizona Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. State Sen. Kelli Ward- 53.5% ✓
Senator Jeff Flake*- 46.5%

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 48%
Fmr. State Sen. Kelly Ward- 42%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Arizona Senate Special Election (Republican Primary)- Results
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally- 29.4% ✓
Fmr. Sheriff Joe Arpaio- 28.0%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle- 22.9%
Fmr. Chairman Robert Graham- 15.1%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Matt Solomon- 4.6%

Arizona Senate Special Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego- 46%
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally- 45%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Florida Senate Election (Republican Primary)- Polling
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 39.4% ✓
Governor Rick Scott- 38.9%
State Att. Gen. Pam Bondy- 21.4%
Divine God Rocky De La Fuente- 0.3%

Florida Senate Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 45%
Senator Bill Nelson*- 44%
Undecided/Other- 11%

In addition to Senate races, Arizona and Florida also have gubernatorial elections this November. In Arizona, incumbent Governor Doug Ducey (R) is considered popular and fairly safe, as he will face a fairly weak Democratic recruit in November, Professor David Garcia who was the only serious Democrat to file. Meanwhile, Florida's race is considered much more competitive as Republican voters nominated a familiar face for Governor- former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, the runnerup for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2008 and a candidate in 2016, who moved to northern Florida and enjoys strong popularity with evangelicals and conservatives there. The staunchly socially conservative former pastor defeated the more establishment-minded state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who was bogged down by a controversy regarding his enforcement of gun laws and his lack of support for Trump in 2016. Moderate former U.S. Rep. David Jolly came a surprisingly strong third, continuing to show the increasing strength of the centrist wing of the GOP. Meanwhile, Andrew Gillum, the progressive Mayor of Tallahassee, was nominated by Democrats, but is facing rumours of a corruption investigation which could bog him down. The gubernatorial race was upended a few months ago when renowned lawyer and marijuanna legalization advocate John Morgan announced his bid for Governor as an independent. Now, with controversial nominees for the major parties, the famous lawyer could have an opening, but some call him a "spoiler" for Democrats. The state of Oklahoma also held a gubernatorial runoff today, with controversial Attorney General Scott Pruitt easily dispatching the more moderate Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and advancing to a likely win in the general election.

Arizona Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Doug Ducey*- 47%
Professor David Garcia- 41%
Undecided/Other- 12%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee- 30.3% ✓
AG Commissioner Adam Putnam- 25.9%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. David Jolly- 24.0%
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis- 18.6%
Others- 1.2%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Mayor Andrew Gillum- 32.4% ✓
Businessman Jeff Greene- 31.6%
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle- 21.2%
Entrepreneur Chris King- 12.3%
Others- 2.5%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee- 33%
Mayor Andrew Gillum- 29%
Lawyer John Morgan- 25%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Oklahoma Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
State Att. Gen. Scott Pruitt- 61.3% ✓
Fmr. Mayor Mick Cornett- 38.7%

Oklahoma Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
State Att. Gen. Scott Pruitt- 49%
Fmr. State Sen. Connie Johnson- 35%
Undecided/Other- 16%

September 5th, 2018

BREAKING: Save Our Children Act as vote reaches 60-40 count, breaking the filibuster and passing the historic bill as Vice President Baldwin presides over the session

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - It was a historic morning today on Capitol Hill. After long efforts to pass a substantial gun control bill, the Obama Administration finally succeeded, with the Save Our Children Act winning 60 votes for and 40 votes against, breaking the filibuster threatened by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), who lead the efforts to craft and move the bill through congress, appeared teary-eyed and happy as she presided over the Senate session that passed it. SOCA's co-sponsors in the House, U.S. Reps. Ted Deutsch (D-FL), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Elsie Stefanik (R-NY) and Charlie Dent (R-PA) are expected to present the bill before the House of Representatives in the coming days, where it's expected to easily pass, especially with strong support from the Republican moderate Tuesday Group, whose floor leader is co-sponsoring it. The SOCA was carried by the wings of a strong wave in favour of gun control after the Parkland shooting this February, and the public support is attributed by many to a group of young activists who fiercely fought and marched for gun control in the months following the trauma they went through. President Obama celebrated the passage of the measure, calling it "an amazing, historic day" and saying that "America finally managed to break the corporate interests of the gun lobby and care for its children and teenagers".

AYE: 60 Senators ✓
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Cindy McCain (R-AZ)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Cory Gardner (R-CO)
Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Tom Carper (D-DE)
Chris Coons (D-DE)
Ben Nelson (D-FL)
Gwen Graham (D-FL)
Jason Carter (D-GA)
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)
Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Evan Bayh (D-IN)
Tom Vilsack (D-IA)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Angus King (I-ME)
Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Ed Markey (D-MA)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Gary Peters (D-MI)
Amy Klobucher (D-MN)
Tina Smith (D-MN)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Jason Kander (D-MO)
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Joe Heck (R-NV)
Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Tom Udall (D-NM)
Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Kay Hagan (D-NC)
Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Ed Rendell (D-PA)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Mark Warner (D-VA)
Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Patty Murray (D-WA)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Joe Manchin (D-WV)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)

NAY: 40 Senators
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
John Boozman (R-AR)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
David Perdue (R-GA)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim Risch (R-ID)
Joni Ernst (R-IA)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
John Neely Kennedy (R-LA)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Stever Daines (R-MT)
Deb Fischer (R-NE)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Thom Tillis (R-NC)
Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
John Hoeven (R-ND)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Tim Scott (R-SC)
John Thune (R-SD)
Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
John Barrasso (R-WY)

Ok, forgive my ignorance, but why exactly would Baldwin have to cast a tie breaker?

VP only is able to vote to break ties in 50/50 votes

Got it, and it seems 60 votes is enough to break a filibuster. Fixed, thanks!


You're not the ignorant one :)

September 8th, 2018

Surrounded by Parkland survivors and gun control advocates, President Obama officially signs Save Our Children Act

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Hours after it passed through the House of Representatives with a strong majority- some Blue Dog Democrats voted against while the moderate Republican Tuesday Group voter for it- President Barack Obama officially signed the Save Our Children Act into law, marking the passage of the most comprehensive and strict gun control law in American history. Conservatives are protesting the bill, and although a Second Amendment March held in various cities across the country received an embarrassingly poor attendance, the issue is considered a strong weapon for them against Democrats who supported the bill such as Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO). Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said that the GOP will "hammer the people who voted for this horrible attack on our freedom and make sure none of them wins reelection". Nevertheless, liberals celebrated the signing of the SOCA into law, and none more than the group of Parkland shooting survivors who formed a strong national youth movement for gun control. Emma Gonzales, teary-eyed and smiling, appeared in a press conference with her partners and praised the Obama administration for "finally taking a step to protect us" and "helping us prevent the next disaster like we had to experience. David Hogg said in the same conference that it was "the first time I can feel happy after that horrible disaster", and Cameron Kasky thanked "brave lawmakers from left and right who came together to defeat the cold interests of the NRA and protect children and teenagers".

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 51%
Disapprove- 44%
Not Sure- 5%

September 12th, 2018

In New Hampshire, Republican Brown nominated to face Governor Van Ostern; Raimondo to run against Fung in Rhode Island

()

PROVIDENCE - With the GOP seeing openings in gubernatorial races across the left-leaning states of New England, primaries were held in two key races- New Hampshire yesterday and Rhode Island tonight. In the Granite State, Republicans saw a close, high-profile primary between two former Senators- Scott Brown, who won an upset in a 2010 special election in Massachusetts and served as its Senator until 2013, and Kelly Ayotte, the former New Hampshire Senator who was defeated in 2016 by Senator Maggie Hassan (D). Initially, Ayotte was considered heavily favoured, but it seemed like her popularity in the state had slipped, and an endorsement from Donald Trump to the usually moderate Brown helped to shore up his support and grant him an upset victory. Now, he will face Democratic Governor Colin Van Ostern in a closely-watched race. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, the popular Mayor Allan Fung of Cranston won the Republican primary to face the deeply unpopular Governor Ginna Raimondo (D), in a race where the GOP is hopeful they can use a moderate, competent candidate to win a governorship in yet another liberal northeastern state. Further complicating Democratic chances is former Governor and Senator Lincoln Chafee, a Republican-turned-Democrat, who decided to run as the nominee of the Rhode Island Moderate Party after it became clear that Raimondo would not be defeated by her strong primary challenge, former State Secretary of State Matt Brown.

New Hampshire Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Former MA Senator Scott Brown- 40.1% ✓
Former Senator Kelly Ayotte- 38.2%
State Rep. Frank Edelblut- 11.0%
Mayor Ted Gatsas- 8.3%
Others- 2.4%

New Gampshire Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Colin Van Ostern*- 47%
Former MA Senator Scott Brown- 46%
Undecided/Other- 7%

Rhode Island Gubernatorial Election (Republican Primary)- Results
Mayor Allan Fung- 43.5% ✓
Fmr. State Rep. Joe Trillo- 26.5%
Businessman Giovanni Feroce- 15.3%
Minority Leader Patricia Morgan- 14.7%

Rhode Island Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Governor Gina Raimondo*- 51.7% ✓
Fmr. SoS Matt Brown- 48.3%

Rhode Island Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Gina Raimondo*- 32%
Mayor Allan Fung- 30%
Fmr. Governor Lincoln Chafee- 24%
Undecided/Other- 14%

September 13th, 2018

Cuomo nominated by Democrats for New York Governor, Nixon to run as Working Families nominee

()

ALBANY - In the Empire State, New York Democrats voted in their gubernatorial primary to nominate Andrew Cuomo, the controversial incumbent, for a third term in office. He defeated a primary challenger from the left, actress and activist Cynthia Nixon. However, the election is still not completely decided- Nixon was nominated by the Working Families Party, which has ballot access across the state, and her strong performance in the primary will make her a tough candidate in the general election. She was already endorsed by several New York politicians, including U.S. Rep. Zephyr Teachout. There are other candidates running- the Republican Party nominated former U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, a relative moderate who could have a strong showing, while the Libertarian Party has an exceptionally strong candidate in business consultant Larry Sharpe, who has strong fundraising numbers and is taking a lot of conservative support from Gibson, despite the Republican ticket being endorsed by the New York Conservative Party. There's also a strong independent running- former Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner is running as the canddiate of the Serve America Movement, a centrist party aiming to attack the corrupt machine politics of Governor Cuomo, and was endorsed by the New York Reform Party and the New York Liberal Party. Interestingly, Miner was also endorsed by former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was defeated by the Obama and Cuomo endorsed new Mayor Shaun Donovan in the Democratic primary last year. This creates an interesting race between four candidates, and likely the most serious challenge to Cuomo in a long while.

New York Gubernatorial Election (Democratic Primary)- Results
Governor Andrew Cuomo*- 56.1% ✓
Activist Cynthia Nixon- 43.9%

New York Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Andrew Cuomo*- 31%
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson- 19%
Fmr. Mayor Stephanie Miner- 16%
Activist Cynthia Nixon- 12%
Businessman Larry Sharpe- 7%
Undecided/Other- 15%

September 25th, 2018

As Republicans ready to make gains in the midterms, Democrats hope problematic candidates and party splits help them stem the tide

()

KANSAS CITY - With the last primary elections before the 2018 midterms over, the race is shaping to have some interesting dynamics. Republicans, who are targeting a vast number of Democratic seats in conservative areas, as well as open seats, are almost certain to make some gainst and hope that they will be able to reclaim the Senate, resurging after a shaking defeat in 2016, when they lost most competitive races. Democrats are struggling to stem the tide, hoping to prevent another midterm disaster like 2014 and 2010. However, a string of unlikely events altered the map from a straightforward battle between Democrats from conservaitve and swing states and their Republican challengers, into a much wider and more interesting map. Democratic chances to hold the Senate were hurt when popular Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-PA) died in a plane crush, opening his seat and making it a competitive race between Governor Tom Wolf (D) and former Governor Tom Ridge (R). They were also harmed when Senator Al Franken (D-MN) was forced to resign due to sexual harrassment allegations, opening a dangerous special election in his seat between the little-known appointed incumbent Tina Smith (D) and former Senator Norm Coleman (R), and the corruption charges against Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) make him vulnerable to a challenge from moderate State Senator Tom Kean Jr. (R) in an otherwise Democratic state.

Minnesota Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Amy Klobucher*- 49%
State Sen. Karin Housley- 40%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Minnesota Senate Special Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Sen. Norm Coleman- 44%
Senator Tina Smith*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 13%

Minnesota Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Governor Tim Pawlenty- 46%
State Rep. Erin Murphy- 44%
Undecided/Other- 10%

New Jersey Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bob Menendez*- 46%
State Sen. Thomas Kean Jr.- 43%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (General)- Polling
Governor Tom Wolf- 45%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge- 44%
Undecided/Other- 11%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent- 46%
Fmr. Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty- 42%
Undecided/Other- 12%

However, Republicans have problems of their own- convicted felon and controversial hardliner businessman Don Blankenship (R-WV) won his party's nomination to the open seat vacated by Senator Joe Manchin (D), and is in a real danger of losing to former Senator Carte Goodwin (D), a young liberal, in this deep conservative state due to his unpopularity and a write-in campaign from the more moderate U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins. In Arizona, Senator John McCain's resignation forced Republicans to defend yet another seat in a state rapidly moving left, and polls are showing a hard battle for U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R), who had to move right to defeat ultra-conservative Sheriff Joe Arpaio in the primary, struggling to beat the young U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D). Lastly, in Missouri, businessman Austin Petersen was nominated by the Libertarian Party after coming a shockingly close second in the Republican Senate primary, possibly giving Senator Claire McCaskill (D) an opening in her race against State Attorney General Josh Hawley (R). Overall, the 2018 midterms are likely to produce a very curious map.

Arizona Senate Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema- 51%
Fmr. State Sen. Kelly Ward- 41%
Undecided/Other- 8%

Arizona Senate Special Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally- 46%
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego- 45%
Undecided/Other- 9%

Arizona Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Governor Doug Ducey*- 50%
Professor David Garcia- 40%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Missouri Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Claire McCaskill- 37%
State Att. Gen. Josh Hawley- 35%
Businessman Austin Petersen- 17%
Undecided/Other- 11%

West Virginia Senate Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. Senator Carte Goodwin- 42%
Businessman Don Blankenship- 40%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (Write-in)- 4%
Undecided/Other- 14%

October 3rd, 2018

President Obama set to campaign for Democrats across the country, hopes to fix mistakes from previous midterms



MIAMI - The Obama White House claims that it learned from the traumas of 2010 and 2014, when Democrats had suffered large losses to Republicans in the President's midterms. Press Secretary Josh Earnest and Chief of Staff Eric Holder have both claimed that this time, the President will be doing what he can to help Democratic candidates and incumbents, especially in states where he's popular. Thus, while he didn't yet make an appearance in the conservative states were Democrats are trying to hold seats, the President already traveled to make appearances in states like Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Arizona and Maine, campaigning for Democratic Senate and gubernatorial nominees. In Florida, he joined Senator Gwen Graham (D), former Senator Bob Graham (D) and Vice President Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to campaign for Senator Bill Nelson (D), who has a strong challenger in the form of former Senator Marco Rubio (R), and for Mayor Andrew Gillum (D), running for Governor against Republican Mike Huckabee and independent John Morgan. In Ohio, where Governor John Kasich (R), running against Senator Sherrod Brown (D), is endangering a seat Democrats thought would otherwise be easy to defend, Obama made several campaign stops in an effort to boost Democratic enthusiasm to turn out for Brown. Overall, Democrats are satisfied with Obama's midterm performance- DSCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said that the President is "doing a great job, campaigning where we need him and avoiding where we don't", and retiring Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) said that Obama "isn't tone deaf this time, he's definitely listening to local voters and acting by their preferences". The White House confirmed that the President, as well as other members of the administration, will continue campaigning for Democrats through the fall, but whether this will be enough to stem the Red Wave predicted by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) remains to be seen.

Florida Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Bill Nelson*- 48%
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio- 46%
Undecided/Other- 6%

Florida Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee- 33%
Mayor Andrew Gillum- 30%
Lawyer John Morgan- 27%
Undecided/Other- 10%

Ohio Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Sherrod Brown*- 46%
Governor John Kasich- 46%
Undecided/Other- 8%

Ohio Gubernatorial Election (General)- Polling
State Attorney General Mike DeWine- 50%
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni- 43%
Undecided/Other- 7%

Now that we're done with the pre-midterm primaries and the Obama pre-midterm agenda is completed with the passage of the SOCA, the TL will speed up and we're going to reach the midterms in very few updates. So it's time for the inevitable question- how do you all prefer I present the midterm results, through a CNN coverage format (similar to the way I did the 2016 general election in the previous part), or as a few long posts like this part's news article format?

This is easily one of the site's best websites, and your carefulness and detail with the elections and polling is awesome. I really like how you're portraying a split in the GOP by having Trump-aligned candidates succeed in primaries (Blankenship, etc.) along with more establishment or moderate candidates (Dent, etc.).  

As for the coverage of the midterms, assuming it would not be too much work, I would like an instant view of all of the Senate and governorship results with long articles about the races--at least the key ones (Arizona, West Virginia, etc.) or the more interesting ones (New York, etc.).

Side note: I hope the real-life gubernatorial election in New York is as chaotic as this one :P

cnn coverage format

MSNBC Format

Thanks a lot! And this could be a good idea- you'd prefer thos over, say, a gradual CNN reporting and discussion about the races as the prescints report?


As an Israeli, I don't really know pundits other than the well-known CNN ones, so I can't really do that :P

Same exact format that you did the 2016 elections for this timeline.

CNN Format

October 14th, 2018

Democratic incumbents in conservative states face shadows of Obamacare 2.0, EPCEA, SOCA as they try to win reelection against tough odds

()

HELENA - The Guaranteed Healthcare Act, also known as Obamacare 2.0, the Environmental Protection and Clean Energy Act and the Save Our Children Act are the three signature achievements of the Obama administration, passed after hard work and many struggles. They are the three achievements touted by progressives and liberals who increasingly approve of President Obama's three terms. But in states where Republicans have lopsided advantages in federal elections, deeply conservative states, these three achievements are now hounding Democratic incumbents trying to survive and win reelection. Conservatives are pushing the issues hard, accusing the Democrats of supporting the President's agenda to "ruin our healthcare system, hurt businesses and take our guns", as it was phrased by U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R), running against Seantor Jon Tester (D). The Democrats are not only accused of supporting Obama- their pictures with other key figures in these bills, such as Health and Human Services Secretary Howard Dean, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Al Gore and Vice President Tammy Baldwin are also adorning GOP ads attacking these incumbents. On their parts, the Democrats are trying to signal to their record of opposing the President's efforts- Senator Joe Donnelly (D-IN) voted against the GHA but supported the EPCEA and the SOCa, two lines of attack often used by his challenger, former U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R). Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), meanwhile, opposed every single one of the signature bills, giving her a strong line of argument against her opponent, U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), but she's still struggling to hold onto her seat in the face of the President's deep unpopularity in her state. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), on the other hand, supported all three, marking him as the most liberal of the conservative-state Senators. Zinke, his opponent, is using this to hammer Tester and try to turn out enough conservative voters in the traditionally Republican state to unseat the incumbent. If Republicans are unable to claim these seats, their hopes of reclaiming the Senate would be very slim, and so, the RNC and McConnell's Senate Leadership PAC are heavily investing in these races. Whether it'll be enough remains to be seen.

Indiana Senate Election (General)- Polling
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young- 50%
Senator Joe Donnelly*- 43%
Undecided/Other- 7%

Montana Senate Election (General)- Polling
Senator Jon Tester*- 46%
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke- 45%
Undecided/Other- 9%

North Dakota Senate Election (General)- Polling
U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer- 46%
Senator Heidi Heitkamp*- 44%
Undecided/Other- 10%

October 21st, 2018

In symbolic foreign policy victory for Obama, first McDonald's opens in North Korea

()

SEOUL - As efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula continue, with the Kim Regime reluctantly but slowly working to dismantle its nuclear program as agreed in the Singapore Summit, a symbolic but important event in the opening of North Korea to the west occured today- McDonald's, the famous American food corporation, officially opened its North Korean branch with a first store in Pyongyang. The line to the McDonald's branch, like in many other developing countries where a McDonald's was first opened in the past, was huge, going through several streets. Secretary of Commerce Dean Heller said that it was "a historic event" and that "through trade, we will be able to make gradual change in North Korea", while National Security Advisor James Stavridis seemed more reluctant to celebrate, claiming that "we will have to wait and see if the Kim Regime continues to comply by the agreement's terms when it comes to denuclearization and human rights". Secretary of State Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to Pyongyang in late November for a historic meeting with Kim Jong Un.

October 29th, 2018

With midterms a week away, Republicans hold high hopes of taking back the House despite strong Obama approvals

()

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 2018 midterms are just a week away, with pressure reaching a high point in both parties with a large number of Senate races in an uncertain state. President Obama is holding fairly high approvals after passing some major achievements in the first half of his third term- three key bills, the Trans Pacific Pact, international environmental agreements and beginning a normalization with North Korea. However, Republicans are still hopeful, especially about their chances of taking the House- House Minority Leader Paul Ryan (R-WI) said that "we're going to take back the House" and that "Americans know that the Democrats have failed them again and again". Meanwhile, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise reasoned that "in every Obama term, we had great gains in the House, so it's going to be the same now". However, House Majority Leader Steve Israel (D-NY) countered that it's "different", explaining that "the President's approvals are much stronger and the economy is in a fantastic shape". Israel, who was expected to retire in 2016 but decided to remain due to the high chances to advance in leadership, is considered a frontrunner for the position of Democratic leader when Speaker Nancy Pelosi retires.

President Obama Job Approval
Approve- 50%
Disapprove- 43%
Not Sure- 7%

November 6th, 2018

Midterm election day arrives: reports indicate high turnout, both sides extremely energized

()

CHICAGO - Yesterday, the major party nominees in major races across the country held their final rallies to try and shore up as much support as possible for the midterm elections. And now, the day finally came- voters in all of America came out to vote and choose their Senators, Governor, House Representatives, State Legislators, Mayors and many more local offices. President Obama voted this morning in Chicago, presumably supporting Democratic gubernatorial nominee J.B. Pritzker despite his lukewarm support for the rich businessman, and urged all voters across the country to "come out and participate in our great democracy", regardless of their party affiliation. The midterms are a consequential moment for Obama's third term- if his party manages to hold the House and the Senate, he'll be able to keep getting his agenda through. The elections also hold critical importance for the careers of many major politicians such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Paul Ryan and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Right now, most pundits give Republicans a narrow edge for gaining the House and the Senate, though the latter is considered a nearly pure tossup with many close, uncertain races.

I hope Tester survives. Looks like Donnelly and possibly Heitkamp are gone :(

Making a Democrat in a D+1 District (maybe give or take a few because of differences in this timeline) part of the leadership will not end well.

Israel has always been popular and won reelection by wide margins.

When's the next update (midterms election coverage)?

Anderson Cooper: Hello, and welcome to CNN's official coverage of the 2018 midterm election night. We'll be reporting to you immediately when results from each of the many interesting Senate and Governor races today start arriving, and analyzing the data as it arrives.

Wolf Blitzer: Right. And we're already at 6 PM, so we have first results from the first states closing many of their polls- Indiana and Kentucky. CNN will right now classify the Senate race in Indiana, between Republican former U.S. Representative and 2016 Senate nominee Todd Young and incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly as too close to call. In the same time, the race in Kentucky's 6th congreessional district between Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, a Democrat, and Representative Andy Barr, a Republican, is too close to call. In a district where Lexington, as well as other cities, are dominant, this is one of the only pickup opportunities for Democrats in a year favourable for Republicans.

John King: And we can already say that the race in Indiana seems to be favouring Rep. Young- the polls were showing that Donnelly doesn't have much of a chance to hold on, and the data seems to be confirming it. Young is especially overperforming in suburbs and urban areas, though Senator Donnelly is holding on relatively well in rural areas.

Dana Bash: It could be understood politically, actually. Donnelly was very consistent on issues important to these rural voters- he opposed gun control legislation, he opposed environmental intervention, he opposed free trade. He did what he needed to do. But, it seems, in the end it's not really going to matter against the national environment. Let's not eulogize him yet, though, and wait for the results.

2018 U.S. Senate Election Map
()

Indiana Senate Race (4% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R)- 51.9%
Senator Joe Donnelly (D)*- 46.7%

Blitzer: Thank you for tuning in to our coverage of the 2018 midterm elections again. We're now at the 7 PM hour, with a bunch of more states closing their polls, including some very important races. We'll now be able to get first results from the Senate and Governor races in Georgia, Florida, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia, as well as more results from the rest of the polling places in Indiana and Kentucky.

Jake Tapper: Right, and we're now already able to call the Senate race in Vermont, where Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent caucusing with the Democrats who was the runner-up to President Obama in the 2016 Democratic Presidential primary, easily won reelection over his Republican opponent, businessman Rocky De La Fuente. And in South Carolina, we're ready to make an early call in favour of Republican U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy, who easily dispatched his opponent, Democratic businessman Phil Noble.

Cooper: But right now, these are the only races we feel ready to call. The Senate race in Virginia, between Republican businesswoman Carly Fiorina and incumbent Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, is too early to call rather than too close, with a strong advantage for Kaime. Same for the gubernatorial race in Vermont, where Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, is leading his Democratic opponent, CEO Christine Hallquist, but it's too early to call right now.

Bash: And there are several interesting races we're unable to call right now- the Georgia gubernatorial race, between controversial Republican businessman Herman Cain and Demcoratic former State House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, is too close to call. Same for the New Hampshire gubernatorial race, where incumbent Democrat Colin Van Ostern is up against former Republican Massachussetts Senator Scott Brown Also too close to call are the two Florida races- the Senate race, where Democratic Senator Bill Nelson is facing off against Republican former Senator and 2016 Presidential candidate Marco Rubio in his comeback bid, and the gubernatorial race, where Republcian former Arkansas Governor and 2008 and 2016 Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, and independent famous lawyer John Morgan are locked in a tight three-way race.

King: And we also can't call the Indiana Senate race right now, although Senator Donnelly has narrowed Rep. Young's lead for now. Let's take a look at the results so far.

2018 U.S. Senate Election Map
()

Florida Senate Race (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio (R)- 49.8%
Senator Bill Nelson (D)*- 49.6%

Indiana Senate Race (16% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R)- 50.7%
Senator Joe Donnelly (D)*- 47.8%

Vermont Senate Race (2% Reporting)- INDEPENDENT HOLD
Senator Bernie Sanders (D)*- 83.9% ✓
Son of God Rocky De La Fuente (R)- 12.1%

Virginia Senate Race (2% Reporting)- TOO EARLY TO CALL
Senator Tim Kaine (D)*- 51.2%
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina (R)- 47.5%

2018 U.S. Gubernatorial Elections Map
()

Georgia Gubernatorial Race (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Businessman Herman Cain (R)- 50.4%
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D)- 49.4%

Florida Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee (R)- 39.9%
Lawyer John Morgan- 36.3%
Mayor Andrew Gillum (D)- 23.0%

New Hampshire Gubernatorial Race (<1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Governor Colin Van Ostern (D)*- 55.5%
Fmr. MA Senator Scott Brown (R)- 43.5%

South Carolina Gubernatorial Race (3% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy (R)- 58.7% ✓
Businessman Phil Noble (D)- 40.1%

Vermont Gubernatorial Race (2% Reporting)- TOO EARLY TO CALL
Governor Phil Scott (R)*- 54.8%
CEO Christine Hallquist (D)- 41.5%

FL is gonna be a disaster.

"Son of God Rocky de La Fuente"

But seriously, this is an amazing timeline. Keep up the good work!

Kean! Kean! Kean! Kean! Kean!

MOAR

Cooper: ...And we can now finally call the gubernatorial race in Vermont. Phil Scott, the incumbent Republican Governor, will be reelected by a wide margin.

Bash: Not unexpected, considering Scott has been a moderate and popular Governor, and his challenger is a fairly unknown CEO, not exactly enthusing the progressive Democrats in the state.

Tapper: But now, we've reached 7:30 PM, another crucial hour tonight, and as we close the polls in three more states we cannot yet call any of the races there- in Ohio, we cannot call the Senate race between Governor John Kasich and Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, and in West Virginia, the race for Joe Manchin's open seat between Republican Don Blankenship and Democrat Carte Goodwin is also too close to call. As for Ohio's gubernatorial race, we also cannot call it, though trends show that Republican State Attorney General Mike DeWine is holding a healthy advantage against Democratic State Senator Joe Schiavoni. So, John, how's it looking for the two parties right now?

King: Well, it's really quite early to tell. It appears as if Democrats do not have much to worry about in the Virginia Senate race, but that one of their vulnerable incumbents, Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly, is heading towards a painful defeat if the trends hold. However, Demcorats were expecting to suffer some losses tonight and three Senate seats they were really hoping to hold tonight, in Florida, Ohio and West Virginia, will be close. This will likely be a long night.

Blitzer: Yes, and in the latter race, especially, it looks like Democrats got an unexpected gift- after Senator Manchin's retirement, they were expecting to lose the seat handily, but when Republicans nominated businessman Don Blankenship, a felon convicted for misdemeanor in an incident where 29 miners were killed and is very unpopular statewide, and when U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins, who lost the Republican primary, launched a write-in campaign to oppose Blankenship, it looked like the liberal but young former interim Senator and 2016 gubernatorial nominee Carte Goodwin will have a chance. We shall have to see if that materializes or if the U.S. Senate will be home to a convicted felon. Finally, in the Georgia gubernatorial race, the far-right businessman Herman Cain appears to be having trouble against his Democratic challenger, Stacey Abrams, giving Democrats a rare opportunity in what's shaping up to be a tough and long night.

2018 U.S. Senate Election Map
()

Florida Senate Race (8% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio (R)- 50.2%
Senator Bill Nelson (D)*- 49.1%

Indiana Senate Race (23% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R)- 51.9%
Senator Joe Donnelly (D)*- 47.1%

Ohio Senate Election (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Senator Sherrod Brown*- 51.4%
Governor John Kasich- 48.2%

Virginia Senate Race (9% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Senator Tim Kaine (D)*- 52.5%
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina (R)- 46.7%

West Virginia Senate Election (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Businessman Don Blankenship- 47.2%
Fmr. Senator Carte Goodwin- 46.0%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (Write-in)- 5.6%

2018 U.S. Gubernatorial Elections Map
()

Georgia Gubernatorial Race (9% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Businessman Herman Cain (R)- 49.9%
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D)- 49.6%

Florida Gubernatorial Race (8% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee (R)- 41.3%
Lawyer John Morgan- 36.1%
Mayor Andrew Gillum (D)- 21.9%

New Hampshire Gubernatorial Race (5% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Governor Colin Van Ostern (D)*- 51.0%
Fmr. MA Senator Scott Brown (R)- 47.8%

Ohio Gubernatorial Election (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
State Att. Gen. Mike DeWeine- 51.9%
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni- 47.5%

Vermont Gubernatorial Race (10% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Governor Phil Scott (R)*- 58.3% ✓
CEO Christine Hallquist (D)- 38.5%

Is this dead? I love this timeline and am pumped to see how the midterms shape up!

This is not dead, but I nearly am after failing two exams :P I'll get back to it soon enough! :)

Blitzer: Thank you for tuning in to CNN's election night coverage again. It's 8 PM and we're now at a very important moment tonight as the polls have closed in a myriad of states.

Tapper: Indeed. There are Senate and gubernatorial races in many of these states right now, and we can already make some calls. We can call a few Senate races for the Democratic incumbents- Chris Murphy in Connecticut will be reelected safely, as will Tom Carper in Delaware, Ben Cardin in Maryland, Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts and Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island. We can also already say that several Republicans have won reelection tonight- the Senator from Misssissippi, Roger Wicker, and Ted Cruz in Texas. We can also make a surprisingly early call in favour of Republican Governor Bill Haslam, who now won Senator Bob Corker's open seat in the state after his retirement, and kept it in Republican hands.

Bash: Indeed, this is fairly surprising, considering the seat in Tennessee was open and the Democratic candidate, former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, was considered strong. But Haslam, who has support from both moderates and conservatives and the national winds behind him, proved too popular for the Democrats to endanger. The other Senate races where polls are closed cannot be projected- the elections in Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are all too close to call. The last two are especially intersting, pitting moderate Republicans against endangered Democrats in seats the President's party thought were safe. However, the race in Maine is just too early to call, with incumbent Democratic-leaning Independent Angus King leading quite strongly.

Cooper: Indeed, and the race in Michigan, where former Governor John Engler is facing popular Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow, is one to watch- if Republicans can win here, it means they're having a very good night. We also have some calls in the gubernatorial races- in Texas, Republican Governor Greg Abbott will win reelection while another Republican incumbent, Kay Ivey of Aalbama, will win her race tonight. And surprisingly early calls in Massachusetts too, where we can project Republican Governor Charlie Baker will win reelection. Also, we can already say that in Tennessee, retiring Senator Bob Corker will win the governorship against Democratic Mayor Andy Berke.

Blitzer: Of course, there are plenty of races we cannot, at this time, call- the gubernatorial races in Maryland and Oklahoma are too early to call but Republicans Larry Hogan and Scott Pruitt hold strong leads, while we can say that the races in Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are too close to call. In many of these states, Democrats are under assault by a crop of centrist Republicans. But at the same time, we have very conservative candidates like Pruitt in Oklahoma and, likely, Herman Cain in Georgia achieving success, so it remains to be seen what will happen. All we can say for sure is that this is going to be a very long night.

2018 U.S. Senate Election Map
()

Connecticut Senate Race (2% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Senator Chris Murphy (D)*- 60.4% ✓
Businesswoman Linda McMahon (R)- 37.9%

Delaware Senate Race (2% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Senator Tom Carper (D)*- 58.2% ✓
Activist Christine O'Donnell (R)- 39.7%

Florida Senate Race (14% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. Senator Marco Rubio (R)- 49.8%
Senator Bill Nelson (D)*- 49.4%

Indiana Senate Race (29% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. U.S. Rep. Todd Young (R)- 52.1%
Senator Joe Donnelly (D)*- 46.9%

Maine Senate Race (1% Reporting)- TOO EARLY TO CALL
Senator Angus King*- 47.3%
Governor Paul LePage- 35.3%
Mr. Zak Ringelstein- 13.9%

Maryland Senate Race (1% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Senator Ben Cardin (D)*- 62.8% ✓
Mr. Tony Campbell (R)- 35.3%

Massachusetts Senate Race (1% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D)*- 56.1% ✓
Mr. Curt Schilling (R)- 41.2%

Michigan Senate Election (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D)*- 49.8%
Fmr. Governor John Engler (R)- 49.1%

Mississippi Senate Race (2% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Senator Roger Wicker (R)*- 61.6% ✓
Fmr. State Rep. David Baria (D)- 35.9%

Missouri Senate Election (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Senator Claire McCaskill (D)*- 43.7%
State Att. Gen. Josh Hawley (R)- 43.1%
Businessman Austin Petersen (L)- 12.8%

New Jersey Senate Election (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
State Sen. Thomas Kean Jr. (R)- 49.2%
Senator Bob Menendez (D)*- 48.7%

Ohio Senate Election (9% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Senator Sherrod Brown (D)*- 50.8%
Governor John Kasich (R)- 48.7%

Pennsylvania Senate Election (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Governor Tom Wolf (D)- 50.5%
Fmr. Governor Tom Ridge (R)- 48.1%

Rhode Island Senate Race (2% Reporting)- DEMOCRATIC HOLD
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D)*- 61.7% ✓
State Rep. Robert Nardolillo (R)- 37.4%

Tennessee Senate Race (2% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Governor Bill Haslam (R)- 54.8% ✓
Fmr. Mayor Karl Dean (D)- 44.5%

Texas Senate Race (1% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Senator Ted Cruz (R)*- 53.6% ✓
Fmr. Sherriff Lupe Valdez (D)- 45.4%

Virginia Senate Race (15% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Senator Tim Kaine (D)*- 53.0%
Businesswoman Carly Fiorina (R)- 46.1%

West Virginia Senate Election (8% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Businessman Don Blankenship (R)- 46.8%
Fmr. Senator Carte Goodwin (D)- 45.7%
U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins (Write-in)- 6.3%

2018 U.S. Gubernatorial Elections Map
()

Alabama Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Governor Kay Ivey (R)*- 56.5% ✓
Fmr. Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb (D)- 42.2%

Connecticut Gubernatorial Race (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Mayor Erin Stewart (R)- 50.6%
State Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Jr. (D)- 48.5%

Georgia Gubernatorial Race (15% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Businessman Herman Cain (R)- 49.8%
Fmr. State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D)- 49.6%

Florida Gubernatorial Race (14% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. AR Governor Mike Huckabee (R)- 40.8%
Lawyer John Morgan- 34.7%
Mayor Andrew Gillum (D)- 23.9%

Illinois Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Governor Bruce Rauner (R)*- 45.5%
Businessman J.B. Pritzker (D)- 43.9%
Attorney Rich Whitney (G)- 10.3%

Kansas Gubernatorial Race (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Sec. of State Kris Kobach (R)- 48.5%
Businessman Greg Orman\Fmr. Sec. of Agriculture Josh Svaty (I\D)- 47.9%

Maine Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Activist Betsy Sweet (D)- 40.6%
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R)- 39.9%
State Treasurer Terry Hayes (I)- 15.3%
Fmr. Mayor John Jenkins (I)- 4.2%

Maryland Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- TOO EARLY TO CALL
Governor Larry Hogan (R)*- 53.8%
Fmr. NAACP President Ben Jealous (D)- 45.4%

Massachusetts Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Governor Charlie Baker (R)*- 67.8% ✓
Executive Jay Gonzalez (D)- 31.3%

Michigan Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Fmr. State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D)- 51.0%
State Att. Gen. Bill Schutte (R)- 48.7%

New Hampshire Gubernatorial Race (10% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Governor Colin Van Ostern (D)*- 50.2%
Fmr. MA Senator Scott Brown (R)- 48.5%

Ohio Gubernatorial Election (9% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
State Att. Gen. Mike DeWeine- 52.4%
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni- 46.8%

Oklahoma Gubernatorial Race (2% Reporting)- TOO EARLY TO CALL
State Att. Gen. Scott Pruitt (R)*- 54.0%
Fmr. State Sen. Connie Johnson (D)- 45.0%

Pennsylvania Gubernatorial Election (1% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent- 53.6%
Fmr. Chief of Staff Kathleen McGinty- 45.6%

Rhode Island Gubernatorial Election (2% Reporting)- TOO CLOSE TO CALL
Mayor Allan Fung (R)- 40.1%
Governor Gina Raimondo (D)*- 37.0%
Fmr. Governor Lincoln Chafee (M)- 22.9%

Tennessee Gubernatorial Race (2% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Senator Bob Corker (R)- 55.1% ✓
Mayor Andy Berke (D)- 43.8%

Texas Gubernatorial Race (1% Reporting)- REPUBLICAN HOLD
Governor Greg Abbott (R)*- 64.2% ✓
Entrepreneur Andrew White (D)- 35.4%