Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has repeatedly drawn the ire of those on the left while being widely praised by those on right as he is viewed as a potential frontrunner for the GOP's presidential nomination in 2024 —making the incumbent a target for Democrats to attempt to unseat in the November midterm election. While Florida has been viewed as a swing state in recent elections, the state has been leaning Republican, with polling and news analysis site FiveThirtyEight assessing that it has a 7.6 percent partisan lean in favor of the GOP. Recent polls show that DeSantis is largely popular, with a majority of Floridians approving of his leadership. At the same time, he has been viewed by many as polarizing, repeatedly drawing substantial backlash from Democrats in the state and on the national stage. It's still undetermined which Democrat will face off against DeSantis on November 8. The two leading candidates are Representative Charlie Crist from the 13th District and … [Read more...] about Democrats’ chances of beating Ron DeSantis in midterm, according to polls
Florida
Anti-gun protesters stage “die-in” outside of Trump Tower
A group of protesters gathered peacefully Wednesday in front of one of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump's New York City skyscrapers to protest his comment from January that he "could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" without losing support from voters. About 40 people from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and other gun-control advocates gathered outside of the candidate's headquarters for the so called die-in demonstration. On the stretch in front of the building, they briefly laid down and covered themselves in white sheets to represent the 90 Americas who are killed by gun violence each day. Then they stood up and repeatedly chanted, "Ninety a day, no more, no way!" Some held signs that read, "Hey Trump, gun violence is not a joke," "Not one more [gun death]" and "Love Trumps hate." The entire event lasted just 10 minutes, but the participants said they hope Trump hears their message. "We don't think talking about killing people … [Read more...] about Anti-gun protesters stage “die-in” outside of Trump Tower
Meghan “did what she felt she had to” in Uvalde despite “cynical” critics
Meghan Markle "did what she felt she had to" in traveling to Uvalde, Texas following the shooting at Robb Elementary School which saw 19 children and two teachers lose their lives, a royal commentator told Newsweek . Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said that the duchess' "expression of personal sorrow" was marked with the "paying of respects" on Thursday when she was photographed laying flowers at a memorial to the victims outside the Uvalde County Courthouse. On May 24, 18-year-old gunman Salvador Ramos opened fire in Robb Elementary School, killing 2 1 before police officers intervened and shot and killed Ramos. The attack is the deadliest school shooting in the U.S. since a shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School killed 26 people in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012. In 2018, a shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida killed 17. A spokesperson for Meghan told Newsweek that the duchess made her visit to Uvalde in a personal capacity … [Read more...] about Meghan “did what she felt she had to” in Uvalde despite “cynical” critics
What Donald Trump has said about gun control as he heads to NRA convention
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Association ( NRA ) annual meeting in Houston, which is taking place just days after a mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas. Trump confirmed he would be appearing at the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) Leadership Forum despite the fact that the event was occurring just days after 19 children and two teachers were shot dead at Uvalde's Robb Elementary School. Trump, who got an early endorsement from the NRA before he was nominated as the Republican presidential candidate in 2016, gave mixed signals over his views on gun reform in the U.S. while in the White House During Trump's time as president, the U.S. saw a number of high-profile mass shootings, including a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida , attacks in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, and in Las Vegas, where a gunman killed 60 people after opening fire at a country music festival, … [Read more...] about What Donald Trump has said about gun control as he heads to NRA convention
Donald Trump Announces 2016 Presidential Bid
Updated | Real estate mogul Donald Trump announced his intent to run for president in the 2016 election on Tuesday morning at a self-named skyscraper in New York City. The 69-year-old reality TV star has flirted with a presidential bid on multiple occasions in the past several decades, before ultimately changing his mind. This election cycle looks different, though. He recently began hiring staff in early voting states, and in March he publicly announced he would form a presidential exploratory committee, which is typically the first step for candidates who want to raise money without the constraints of officially being in the race. The businessman and Celebrity Apprentice host has visited early voting states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. He has been a member of both the Democratic and Republican parties, as well as declared himself an independent. But he endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for president in the 2012 election against … [Read more...] about Donald Trump Announces 2016 Presidential Bid
What to expect tonight from the Republican Nevada caucuses
Updated | Nevada is the fourth state to host a Republican presidential caucus or primary since the nominating events began earlier this month. The GOP field dwindled to five candidates over the weekend after former Florida Governor Jeb Bush suspended his campaign following a weak turnout in the party's South Carolina primary. Nevada Republicans will suggest who they want to succeed Barack Obama to become the 45th president of the United States—real estate mogul Donald Trump, senators Marco Rubio of Florida or Ted Cruz of Texas, Ohio Governor John Kasich or retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Front-runner Trump seems poised to land his third consecutive win, following his victories in the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries . But the battle for second remains to be known. Rubio and Cruz are vying to become their party's alternative to the former reality TV star, following close finishes in South Carolina. Some polls show they also are running close in Nevada. How Do the … [Read more...] about What to expect tonight from the Republican Nevada caucuses
Donald Trump is facing increasing opposition from within the Republican Party he represents
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is coming under assault from some prominent members of his own party, who are using multiple advertisements among their efforts to prevent him from racking up delegates and clinching the nomination over GOP rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich. More than 120 members of the GOP foreign policy establishment, including former advisers to President George W. Bush, have signed an open letter declaring the billionaire unfit for the highest office of the United States. Some said they are instead open to supporting Cruz, Trump's closest rival, or even the Democratic Party front-runner, Hillary Clinton, according to The Hill . Several admitted they would vote for Clinton if the general election match-up pits her against Trump. Cruz this month has received endorsements from ex-GOP rivals Jeb Bush, Lindsey Graham and Carly Fiorina . Even Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, publicly shared that he would support Cruz in Utah's … [Read more...] about Donald Trump is facing increasing opposition from within the Republican Party he represents
Ben Carson Passes Front-Runner Donald Trump in Iowa
GOP presidential candidate and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has surpassed general front-runner Donald Trump among likely Republican voters in Iowa, according to a Quinnipiac University poll published Thursday. The retired neurosurgeon leads the 15-candidate Republican field with 28 percent of support in the state, followed by the real estate mogul with 20 percent. In a September Quinnipiac poll of Iowa voters, Trump led with 27 percent and Carson trailed in second place with 21 percent. Iowa is significant for campaigns because it holds the first major electoral event of the nominating process in the presidential election for both parties. The first votes of the campaign will be cast there on February 1. Carson leads Trump 33 percent to 13 percent among women in Iowa; men are divided, with 25 percent favoring Carson and 24 percent backing Trump. Related: Dr. Ben Carson's Life Story Rests on a Deep Adventist Faith Thirty-percent of likely GOP voters in Iowa said they … [Read more...] about Ben Carson Passes Front-Runner Donald Trump in Iowa
Jeb Bush ends 2016 presidential campaign
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush said on Saturday he was suspending his campaign after a disappointing finish in the South Carolina primary. Bush, who also fared poorly in earlier contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, said the race had been "hard fought" but that voters of those three states had spoken. In what appeared to be a jab at Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, whom Bush has accused of lacking ideas, the former Florida Governor said, "ideas matter, policy matters." Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother to former President George W.Bush, entered the 2016 campaign as the favorite, but was unable to convert a sizable fundraising advantage into success at the polls. … [Read more...] about Jeb Bush ends 2016 presidential campaign