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Tag: governor race

  • A new Virginia governor candidate answers one question, but raises another – WTOP News

    A new Virginia governor candidate answers one question, but raises another – WTOP News

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    Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears announced Thursday that she would be seeking the Republican nomination for Virginia governor next year.

    Sign up for WTOP’s Election Desk weekly newsletter to stay up-to-date through Election Day 2024 with the latest developments in this historic presidential election cycle.

    When Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin rose to power by winning the 2021 race for governor, Republicans had not won a statewide race in Virginia since 2009.

    His victory was a huge success for the party, with voters also choosing Republican Winsome Earle-Sears for lieutenant governor and Republican Jason Miyares for attorney general.

    Soon, however, they might be fighting with each other, after Earle-Sears announced Thursday that she would be seeking the Republican nomination for Virginia governor next year.

    “I could have never believed growing up that I could be asking Virginians for their faith and confidence in me to serve them as governor of our great Commonwealth,” Earle-Sears said in the announcement.

    WRIC was first to report that the Virginia Department of Elections accepted the necessary documents from Earle-Sears to run for governor on Wednesday.

    If she wins next year, Earle-Sears, currently the first Black woman to hold statewide office in Virginia, would make history as the first woman to lead Virginia and the first Black woman to serve as governor in the country.

    “This answers one of two questions that people in Virginia Republican circles wanted to know,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political-science professor with the University of Mary Washington. “The other question is whether Miyares is going to seek the Republican nomination as well or consider other options.”

    Attorney General Miyares has long been considered a likely candidate for governor.

    Responding to the announcement by Earle-Sears, Miyares avoided speaking directly about her.

    “My focus right now is on November 2024 and electing as many Republicans in Virginia as we can,” Miyares said in a statement. “We all need to be focused on this November’s elections before even thinking about next year.”

    Youngkin cannot run in 2025, as Virginia governors are not allowed to serve consecutive terms.

    Farnsworth described both Miyares and Earle-Sears as being “conservatives by every stretch of the meaning of the word.” Their styles are different, though, he added.

    Farnsworth called Earle-Sears a “vigorous, visible, Republican conservative” who has a “Trump-like style.”

    “Miyares is a bit less front-and-center is his political efforts, and that may be less noticed among Republican activists in the age of Trump,” he said.

    The front-runner on the Democratic side is also a woman — Rep. Abigail Spanberger. She is the only Democratic candidate to announce a 2025 run for governor so far.

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    Nick Iannelli

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  • Suspect Arrested For Breaking Into Arizona Democratic Gov. Candidate’s Office

    Suspect Arrested For Breaking Into Arizona Democratic Gov. Candidate’s Office

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    Topline

    A suspect was arrested Thursday after allegedly breaking into Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs’ gubernatorial campaign office, police announced Thursday, a crime that the Democratic candidate has linked to ongoing threats of voter intimidation and allegations of fraud in the state ahead of the midterm elections.

    Key Facts

    Phoenix Police said Thursday an arrest has been made regarding a commercial burglary at the address of Hobbs’ campaign headquarters, which the campaign confirmed to CNN was linked to the burglary at its office.

    The campaign and local police announced Wednesday a break-in had taken place on Tuesday, with police saying in a statement only that “items were taken from the property sometime during the night.”

    Hobbs’ campaign blamed supporters of Kari Lake, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, for the break-in in a statement Wednesday, saying Lake and her allies “have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit.”

    Attacks on elected officials and voter intimidation threats “are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation,” the Hobbs campaign said.

    Lake responded to the allegations earlier on Thursday, calling them “absolutely absurd” and “despicable” and that the situation “sounds like a Jussie Smollett part two.”

    Police have not yet named the suspect who was arrested, saying further information would come Thursday afternoon.

    Big Number

    45.7%. That’s the share of voters who say they’ll support Hobbs in the gubernatorial race on average as of Thursday, according to an aggregate of polls in the race compiled by FiveThirtyEight. Lake is leading Hobbs in the polls, earning 48.5% support on average.

    Chief Critic

    “I can’t believe she would blame my amazing people for that, why she would blame me,” Lake said Thursday about Hobbs pointing the finger at her campaign for the burglary. “I don’t even know where her campaign office is.”

    Key Background

    The break-in at Hobbs’ office comes amid concerns about voter intimidation and harassment in Arizona as voting in the midterms has gotten underway, which Hobbs has also overseen in her role as secretary of state. Hobbs has referred at least six cases of alleged voter intimidation and harassment of an election worker to the state Attorney General and U.S. Department of Justice in recent days, her office announced, including reports of voters being recorded, photographed and followed by a vehicle after casting their ballots at a drop box. Two lawsuits have now been separately filed by voter advocacy organizations seeking court orders to stop grassroots groups and individuals from intimidating voters, alleging group members have harassed voters at ballot drop boxes, and in some cases have been “armed and wearing tactical gear.” While no allegations have been directly linked to Lake’s campaign, the right-wing candidate has made false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election and refused to explicitly confirm she’ll accept the results if she loses her race. In a tweet posted in July, Lake posted a photo of a ballot drop box that warned, “We are watching drop boxes throughout the state.”

    Further Reading

    Arrest made in connection to burglary of Arizona gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs’ campaign HQ (CNN)

    Break-in at Arizona governor candidate Katie Hobbs’ campaign office in Phoenix; several items taken (Arizona Republic)

    Top Arizona election official refers more cases of potential voter intimidation to law enforcement (NBC News)

    More Than 40% Of Americans Worried About Voter Intimidation In Midterms, Poll Finds (Forbes)

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    Alison Durkee, Forbes Staff

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