Outgoing Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal stood before a bank of cameras and welcomed into his office a man he recognized as his successor. "The governor-elect," Deal called Brian Kemp on Thursday, accepting his fellow Republican's resignation as secretary of state and promising the two would begin work immediately on transition business ahead of a January transfer of power. All of it would be a routine scene two days after an election — except that Kemp's opponent, Democrat Stacey Abrams, maintains that enough ballots remain uncounted to force a runoff, and she's dispatched her legal team to explore every option to see if she's right. "We won a clear and convincing victory," Kemp said of returns showing him with 50.3 percent of almost 4 million votes, about a 63,000-vote lead over Abrams. That's a narrow sum considering the near-presidential election year turnout, though sufficient for the majority required for outright victory. Seth Meyers takes a closer look at President Donald … [Read more...] about Kemp Says He’s Georgia’s Next Governor; Democrats Want Him to Prove It
Democrats
Democrats choose Hortman as next House Speaker
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Legislative leadership is changing at the Minnesota Capitol after Democrats wrested control of the state House. Democrats won the House majority in Tuesday's election by flipping 18 mostly suburban districts held by Republicans. It ends the GOP's four-year hold on the House and ushers in a new House Speaker. Democrats chose Rep. Melissa Hortman to be the next Speaker of the House late Thursday. Hortman is an eighth term lawmaker from Brooklyn Park who engineered the House takeover. House Democrats also chose Golden Valley Rep. Ryan Winkler as Majority Leader and Duluth's Rep. Liz Olson as Majority Whip. Senate Republicans are still in control and stuck with Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka. Winona Republican Sen. Jeremy Miller will be Senate President. The Legislative session begins Jan. 8. … [Read more...] about Democrats choose Hortman as next House Speaker
In Arizona Senate race, Democrat takes narrow lead over Republican as vote count continues
John Wagner and Elise Viebeck, The Washington Post Published 5:43 am PST, Friday, November 9, 2018 Democratic Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema has taken a narrow lead over Republican opponent Martha McSally in the Arizona Senate race as officials continue to tally mail-in ballots - a change in fortunes that could narrow the size of the GOP majority next year. Sinema now leads McSally, 49.1 percent to 48.6 percent, according to results provided by election officials at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday. The two congresswomen were separated by just 9,610 ballots cast statewide, with a Green Party candidate lagging far behind. McSally had consistently led in the count since Tuesday's midterm elections, but more than 400,000 ballots remained outstanding as of Thursday night, leaving the race in flux in a state where about three-quarters of voters cast ballots by mail. The contest to replace retiring Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., is one of three that remain unresolved nationwide. … [Read more...] about In Arizona Senate race, Democrat takes narrow lead over Republican as vote count continues
Gavel-wielding Democrats to scrutinize White House efforts to weaken environmental safeguards
Jennifer A. Dlouhy and Ari Natter, Bloomberg Published 5:24 am PST, Friday, November 9, 2018 Robert Murray, founder and chairman of Murray Energy Corp., speaks during the BNEF Future of Energy Global Summit in New York on April 10, 2018. Murray has aggressively pushed Trump administration officials to support coal power plants operated by one of his biggest customers, FirstEnergy Solutions.MUST CREDITr: Alex Flynn/Bloomberg less Robert Murray, founder and chairman of Murray Energy Corp., speaks during the BNEF Future of Energy Global Summit in New York on April 10, 2018. Murray has aggressively pushed Trump administration officials to ... more Photo: Alex FLynn, Bloomberg Ryan Zinke, U.S. secretary of interior, speaks during an event at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 29, 2017. Under Democratic House leadership, the Natural Resources Committee is set to investigate whether Interior … [Read more...] about Gavel-wielding Democrats to scrutinize White House efforts to weaken environmental safeguards
Democrats’ takeover of the House spurs possibility of farm bill compromise
MINNEAPOLIS — Prospects have improved for Congress to pass a bipartisan farm bill before the end of the year after Democrats secured the House majority during the midterm elections, a key lawmaker and other experts said. Work requirements for food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, had been the biggest stumbling block holding up an agreement. The version that narrowly passed the House with no Democratic votes includes the tougher rules. The bipartisan version that won easy Senate approval does not, and few Senate Republicans want them. House fails to pass farm bill because of immigration fight Observers say it's likely that House Republicans will now be ready to pass a compromise in the upcoming lame duck session rather than starting over in a Democratic-controlled House and risking a result they would like even less. "There isn't any reason why this thing can't get done," said Rep. Collin Peterson, of Minnesota, the ranking … [Read more...] about Democrats’ takeover of the House spurs possibility of farm bill compromise