WASHINGTON (AP) — The political schism in the Democratic Party is playing out in the confirmation vote for Gina Haspel as CIA director, as support from red-state senators facing re-election bumps up against a more liberal flank eyeing potential 2020 presidential bids and rejecting the nominee over the agency's clouded history of torture.Haspel's confirmation became all but certain with a favorable 10-5 vote Wednesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee. Yet the division in the Senate is set in large part by the election calendar, home-state geography and personal views — and it may define Democrats for years to come.On one side is a growing list of a half-dozen Democrats whom many see as the future of the big-tent party. They are rural, noncoastal representatives of states won by President Donald Trump, places where some say the party needs to win back voters to grow beyond its urban core. Several of them have supported many of Trump's nominees.On the other side are those … [Read more...] about Confirmation vote for CIA nominee exposes Democratic rift
Democrats
Liberal wins in primaries cheer some Democrats, worry others
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Primary election season is still young, but the liberal wing of the Democratic Party is already celebrating.Democratic primary voters have chosen decidedly liberal candidates in several closely watched congressional primary elections, a sign that the left is driving much of Democrats' enthusiasm and may be winning the tug of war with moderates over the direction of the party.Primary voters' embrace of liberal candidates in Nebraska and Pennsylvania on Tuesday underscored the trend and demonstrated the risks.In Omaha, Democrat Kara Eastman edged out veteran moderate Brad Ashford by casting herself as a progressive in Nebraska's lone urban district, supporting single-payer, government-run health insurance and a ban on assault weapons.But some Democrats argue candidates like Eastman are pulling the party too far to the left for a district that, except for Ashford's lone term two years ago, has been held for more than 20 years by Republicans in the heart of a … [Read more...] about Liberal wins in primaries cheer some Democrats, worry others
Democrats hope net neutrality issue will win votes this fall
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats, joined by three Republicans, pushed through a measure intended to revive Obama-era internet rules that ensured equal treatment for all web traffic, though opposition in the House and the White House seems insurmountable.Republicans on the short end of the 52-47 vote described the effort to reinstate "net neutrality" rules as "political theater" because the GOP-controlled House is not expected to take up the issue and the Senate's margin could not overcome a presidential veto.Democrats, however, were undeterred, saying their push would energize young voters who are tech savvy and value unfettered access to the internet. "This is a defining vote. The most important vote we're going to have in this generation on the internet," said Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, who sponsored the measure.At issue are rules that the Federal Communications Commission repealed in December that prevented providers such as AT&T, Comcast and Verizon … [Read more...] about Democrats hope net neutrality issue will win votes this fall
Joe Kennedy III explains why he’s one of the few Democrats not so hot about pot
Over the past decade, Massachusetts has been one of the states at the forefront of the pro-marijuana movement. But one of the state’s rising political stars is not on board. “This one is a tough one for me, because my views do not exactly line up with my own state, and it’s something that I’m struggling with,” Rep. Joe Kennedy III said in a podcast interview this week with Vox.com’s Ezra Klein. Even as he has seen his national profile continue to rise, the 37-year-old Democratic congressman has taken heat from the left over his opposition to marijuana legalization (including for medical purposes), which has become increasingly popular both within his party and across the country. After he was tagged to deliver his party’s response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address in January, pro-marijuana outlets scoured Kennedy’s voting history in the House and found that he was among the few Democratic … [Read more...] about Joe Kennedy III explains why he’s one of the few Democrats not so hot about pot
Can Democrats win a seat on the all-Republican O.C. board? Steel fending off 2 challengers, 6 candidates run for Nelson’s open seat
By Jordan Graham | [email protected] | Orange County RegisterPUBLISHED: May 16, 2018 at 7:01 pm | UPDATED: May 16, 2018 at 7:02 pm In a county with a nearly equal number of registered Republicans and Democrats, it might be surprising to some that the board of supervisors has been all-GOP for a decade. During this year’s elections for the Orange County Board of Supervisors’, the biggest question is whether that will change. Nine candidates, a mix of Democrats and Republicans, are competing for two available board seats, each of which draws a base salary of about $156,500. The Democratic-leaning 4th District features six candidates hoping to fill a seat held by soon-to-be-termed-out Shawn Nelson. The big field isn’t likely to produce a majority winner in the June 5 primary, meaning the top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, probably will face off in November. And in the GOP-leaning 2nd District, incumbent Michelle Steel is fending off two challengers in a … [Read more...] about Can Democrats win a seat on the all-Republican O.C. board? Steel fending off 2 challengers, 6 candidates run for Nelson’s open seat