Other Election Races 2024 (1 Viewer)

[Nebaghead]

Creating this thread to talk about other random races throughout the country that don’t warrant their own thread.

Starting it off with the governor race in NC. The GOP candidate Robinson is ultra MAGA and has made comments like women shouldn’t be allowed to vote. News came out yesterday about his Porn addiction back in the 90’s. He used to visit on a daily basis.

MAGA North Carolina Guv Candidate Was Regular at Porn Shop: Employee

“Every night that I worked, which would have been five nights a week, I saw Mark (Robinson),” Louis Money, who worked at Gents Video & News in Greensboro, North Carolina, said.

www.thedailybeast.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

"“This is not us. These are not our words. And this is not anything that is characteristic of me,” Robinson said. Presented with the litany of evidence connecting him with the minisoldr user name on Nude Africa, Robinson said, “I’m not going to get into the minutia of how somebody manufactured this, these salacious tabloid lies.”"

The man is trying to clam the deep state started framing him nearly 20 years ago. lol

Deep State: Always playing the long game

 

[MT15]

According to Travis Akers this info was leaked by the NC GOP to get him off the ticket. He has until midnight tonight to drop out. Apologies if this was already said.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Sigh

She’ll probably just blame her CPA firm

“You think I do my own taxes with a calculator and a box of receipts?”
================

CNN) — Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maryland, improperly took advantage of tax breaks she did not qualify for, including one meant for low-income senior citizens, saving thousands of dollars in taxes on two properties she owned in Washington, DC, and in Maryland.

A CNN review of property records and tax bills shows that for both properties, Alsobrooks claimed for more than a decade a homestead tax exemption that is meant to apply only to someone’s primary residence, violating state and local tax relief requirements.

She also improperly claimed a senior citizens’ tax break on her Washington property, cutting the tax bill in half. Alsobrooks, 53, never qualified for that tax break, but her grandparents, who owned the property before her, likely did.

A senior adviser for Alsobrooks told CNN that she was unaware of the problem and that her attorneys are working with both Washington and Prince George’s County, Maryland, to resolve the issue.

Alsobrooks saved nearly $14,000 in taxes between 2005 and 2017 on her northeast Washington property by using tax exemptions meant for the district’s primary residents, lower income residents and senior citizens, according to property tax bills reviewed by CNN……..

Angela Alsobrooks improperly claimed tax deductions on DC, Maryland properties, records show | CNN Politics

Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maryland, improperly took advantage of tax breaks she did not qualify for, including one meant for low-income senior citizens, saving thousands of dollars in taxes on two properties she owned in Washington, DC, and in Maryland.

www.cnn.com

 

[MT15]

A CNN review of property records and tax bills shows that for both properties, Alsobrooks claimed for more than a decade a homestead tax exemption that is meant to apply only to someone’s primary residence, violating state and local tax relief requirements.

She also improperly claimed a senior citizens’ tax break on her Washington property, cutting the tax bill in half. Alsobrooks, 53, never qualified for that tax break, but her grandparents, who owned the property before her, likely did.

These are likely to be oversights, IMO. Of course she should immediately pay any taxes due and penalties.

 

[LA - L.A.]

Sigh

She’ll probably just blame her CPA firm

“You think I do my own taxes with a calculator and a box of receipts?”
================

CNN) — Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maryland, improperly took advantage of tax breaks she did not qualify for, including one meant for low-income senior citizens, saving thousands of dollars in taxes on two properties she owned in Washington, DC, and in Maryland.

A CNN review of property records and tax bills shows that for both properties, Alsobrooks claimed for more than a decade a homestead tax exemption that is meant to apply only to someone’s primary residence, violating state and local tax relief requirements.

She also improperly claimed a senior citizens’ tax break on her Washington property, cutting the tax bill in half. Alsobrooks, 53, never qualified for that tax break, but her grandparents, who owned the property before her, likely did.

A senior adviser for Alsobrooks told CNN that she was unaware of the problem and that her attorneys are working with both Washington and Prince George’s County, Maryland, to resolve the issue.

Alsobrooks saved nearly $14,000 in taxes between 2005 and 2017 on her northeast Washington property by using tax exemptions meant for the district’s primary residents, lower income residents and senior citizens, according to property tax bills reviewed by CNN……..

Angela Alsobrooks improperly claimed tax deductions on DC, Maryland properties, records show | CNN Politics

Angela Alsobrooks, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Maryland, improperly took advantage of tax breaks she did not qualify for, including one meant for low-income senior citizens, saving thousands of dollars in taxes on two properties she owned in Washington, DC, and in Maryland.

www.cnn.com

Years ago I had a friend who found out from an IRS audit that his tax accountant was claiming the money he spent on dog food as a security expense. He got audited, because his tax accountant got red flag for fraud. My friend honestly had no clue.

It's the taxpayer's responsibility to know what their tax accountant is doing, but a lot of people just leave it to their tax accountants, because taxes are intentionally complicated and intimidating.

It's everyone's responsibility to know, but most people don't know what their tax accountants are doing. They mistakenly just trust them without verifying.

 

[Taurus]

Years ago I had a friend who found out from an IRS audit that his tax accountant was claiming the money he spent on dog food as a security expense. He got audited, because his tax accountant got red flag for fraud. My friend honestly had no clue.

It's the taxpayer's responsibility to know what their tax accountant is doing, but a lot of people just leave it to their tax accountants, because taxes are intentionally complicated and intimidating.

It's everyone's responsibility to know, but most people don't know what their tax accountants are doing. They mistakenly just trust them without verifying.

Most of us couldn't verify for ourselves if we had to.

 

[Optimus Prime]

TV’s Wonder Woman

Really only noteworthy because the Republican candidate is her sister

 

[SFIDC3]

TV’s Wonder Woman

Really only noteworthy because the Republican candidate is her sister

Met her years ago at Sutton Place Gourmet (in Bethesda, MD), was with a friend that approached her (I typically don't do that) and we wound up talking food and wine with her for a few minutes.....Very kind, gracious, gorgeous and tall woman.....

 

[Optimus Prime]

Guess this can go here

Don't forget about your local sheriff
======================

Many Americans will find on their November 2024 ballot a space to vote for an important office: local sheriff. While there are exceptions, sheriffs have a long history of using their power to maintain a particular, unequal balance of power in society, often along racial and class lines.

A recent example of this arose on Sept. 13, 2024, when Bruce Zuchowski, sheriff of Portage County, Ohio, posted a message on a Facebook page headed by a graphic that included his official portrait and which was labeled with his official title. Zuchowski called for the public to write down the addresses of people who have campaign signs supporting Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in their yards.

That way, he said, when immigrants arrive and need housing, “We’ll already have the addresses of the … families … who supported their arrival.”

The post, which Zuchowski later claimed appeared on his “personal Facebook page,” used derogatory terms for immigrants and for Harris. It also included screenshots of two Fox News stories about migrants in Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, which are both places that former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and his running mate JD Vance have falsely claimed to be sites of dangerous activity by immigrants.

Sheriffs in the U.S. don’t often get national news attention, but Zuchowski’s request was covered in The Washington Post, NBC News and The Guardian, among others.

There are more than 3,000 sheriffs elected at the county level in the United States, each of whom has authority and autonomy to both set and enforce law enforcement policy. For example, sheriffs in many states can decide whether their deputies will wear body cameras and what happens to the footage recorded during routine stops.

In our book, “The Power of the Badge: Sheriffs and Inequality in the United States,” we provide a comprehensive look at this office and detail the history of sheriffs enforcing inequality both by using formal powers of their office, such as cooperating with federal immigration officers, and with informal powers, such as communicating about who belongs in their community.

Zuchowski’s post, which vilifies immigrants and targets people who support immigrant rights, is just part of that long history of sheriffs using their power as a tool of social control, as we document in our book.

Various sheriffs have participated in social control throughout American history. For instance, in the 18th century, an Alabama sheriff ran slave auctions and Georgia sheriffs played a central role in enforcing slave codes. In the 19th century, a Pennsylvania sheriff quashed union efforts to protect workers’ rights against exploitative businesses. In the 20th century, Southern sheriffs’ roles in voter suppression during the Civil Rights Movement are well documented. In the 21st century, racial profiling has been a problem in the enforcement of traffic laws by sheriffs in Arizona and California, among other states. Zuchowski is just one 21st-century sheriff entering the debate over immigration policy and immigrants’ rights................

How sheriffs define law and order for their counties depends a lot on their views − and most are white Republican men

There is a long history of sheriffs reinforcing social inequality − both informally and by using formal powers of their office

theconversation.com

 

[LA - L.A.]

Guess this can go here

Don't forget about your local sheriff
======================

Many Americans will find on their November 2024 ballot a space to vote for an important office: local sheriff. While there are exceptions, sheriffs have a long history of using their power to maintain a particular, unequal balance of power in society, often along racial and class lines.

A recent example of this arose on Sept. 13, 2024, when Bruce Zuchowski, sheriff of Portage County, Ohio, posted a message on a Facebook page headed by a graphic that included his official portrait and which was labeled with his official title. Zuchowski called for the public to write down the addresses of people who have campaign signs supporting Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in their yards.

That way, he said, when immigrants arrive and need housing, “We’ll already have the addresses of the … families … who supported their arrival.”

The post, which Zuchowski later claimed appeared on his “personal Facebook page,” used derogatory terms for immigrants and for Harris. It also included screenshots of two Fox News stories about migrants in Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, which are both places that former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and his running mate JD Vance have falsely claimed to be sites of dangerous activity by immigrants.

Sheriffs in the U.S. don’t often get national news attention, but Zuchowski’s request was covered in The Washington Post, NBC News and The Guardian, among others.

There are more than 3,000 sheriffs elected at the county level in the United States, each of whom has authority and autonomy to both set and enforce law enforcement policy. For example, sheriffs in many states can decide whether their deputies will wear body cameras and what happens to the footage recorded during routine stops.

In our book, “The Power of the Badge: Sheriffs and Inequality in the United States,” we provide a comprehensive look at this office and detail the history of sheriffs enforcing inequality both by using formal powers of their office, such as cooperating with federal immigration officers, and with informal powers, such as communicating about who belongs in their community.

Zuchowski’s post, which vilifies immigrants and targets people who support immigrant rights, is just part of that long history of sheriffs using their power as a tool of social control, as we document in our book.

Various sheriffs have participated in social control throughout American history. For instance, in the 18th century, an Alabama sheriff ran slave auctions and Georgia sheriffs played a central role in enforcing slave codes. In the 19th century, a Pennsylvania sheriff quashed union efforts to protect workers’ rights against exploitative businesses. In the 20th century, Southern sheriffs’ roles in voter suppression during the Civil Rights Movement are well documented. In the 21st century, racial profiling has been a problem in the enforcement of traffic laws by sheriffs in Arizona and California, among other states. Zuchowski is just one 21st-century sheriff entering the debate over immigration policy and immigrants’ rights................

How sheriffs define law and order for their counties depends a lot on their views − and most are white Republican men

There is a long history of sheriffs reinforcing social inequality − both informally and by using formal powers of their office

theconversation.com

They do wear brown khaki uniforms. Not saying, just saying.

 

[Optimus Prime]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats looking to preserve their Senate majority in the face of a difficult election cycle announced Thursday they were making a “multi-million dollar investment” in television advertising in Texas and Florida races with the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee saying he’s “very confident there’s going to be more coming.”

Sen. Gary Peters, chair of the DSCC, discussed the new spending during an appearance at the National Press Club. Peters declined to be more specific about the amount of money the committee will invest in the two Republican-leaning states, but emphasized that the investment won’t come at the expense of Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, who is viewed as the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent seeking office.

“There is no world that you can conceive of that I’m not going to be in the Montana race to the very end,” Peters said. “Jon Tester will have everything that he needs to win.”

The Texas race features Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, who is seeking a third term against Rep. Colin Allred. Cruz won his last race by less than three percentage points with 51% of the vote. The Florida race features Sen. Rick Scott., who is seeking his second term against former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Scott won his race six years ago with 50% of the vote.

Democrats hold a slim majority but are likely to lose a seat in West Virginia now that Sen. Joe Manchin is retiring. Republicans would only need to flip one more seat to take the majority and much of their focus is on Montana, which former President Donald Trump won by more than 16 percentage points four years ago. There, Republican Tim Sheehy is hoping to unseat Tester, who is completing his third term in the Senate.…….

Senate Democrats are making a late push in red-leaning states as they try to hold majority

Democrats looking to stay in the Senate majority are going on the offense in two U.S. Senate races in the Republican-leaning states of Texas and Florida. Sen.

apnews.com

 

[Optimus Prime]

EL PASO, Texas — Sen. Ted Cruz insists he hasn’t changed.

Cruz, the famously sharp-elbowed Texan who was rated among the most hardline members of the Senate in his first and second terms, says that reputation is inaccurate — and he really wants voters to keep that in mind as he seeks another six years in Washington.

“What is new is not that I’m passing bipartisan legislation that helps produce jobs in Texas. I’ve been doing that since the day I arrived in the Senate,” Cruz told POLITICO as he campaigned in El Paso. “What is new is we’re finally getting the press to report on it.”


There are good reasons to doubt his claim of bipartisanship, including the fact that he sounded very much like a culture warrior during a recent campaign stop in an evangelical church housed in a replica of the Alamo on the western fringe of El Paso.

There are even better reasons for Cruz to make that claim. Even if he hasn’t changed, Texas has — and that’s reflected in the fact that he faces what appears to be a tight race for a second cycle in a row.

The second-largest state in the country still leans Republican, but it’s become more diverse, more urban and suburban — demographic shifts that pose a threat to Cruz in his race against Rep. Colin Allred, a Dallas member of Congress who played linebacker at Baylor University and in the NFL.

Allred poses a formidable challenge to Cruz, who squeaked out 3-point victory in 2018 against Beto O’Rourke and, alleged bipartisanship notwithstanding, is a deeply polarizing figure even in Texas, where he became the target of ridicule for vacationing in Cancun during a deadly winter storm that paralyzed the state in 2021..............

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/30/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-00181509

 

[Optimus Prime]

I've said before, I am not and never have been a fan of this
=====================================

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Steinglass, a wealthy donor, has supported scores of Democrats running for office and calls himself an activist for transgender rights.

So his donation earlier this year to a far-right candidate in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race seemed wildly out of character. He gave the maximum $3,300 to help get a man on the ballot who had these items in his background: He was investigated in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, he is a gun rights activist and he has called for banning some gender-affirming treatments for minors.

Far from an anomaly, the donation is part of a larger design. Steinglass’ contribution to “America First” candidate Thomas Leager, and thousands more he and his wife gave to other far-right independents in key congressional races, is supporting a plan to boost Democrats and siphon votes from Republicans, an Associated Press examination found.

As the election cycle enters an urgent, final five weeks, both Democrats and Republicans are engaging in questionable tactics that threaten to subvert the democratic process by trying to shape the ballot through deceptive means.

“Whether it’s congressional or presidential races, this kind of activity is a real problem and it undermines the functioning of democracy,” said Edward B. Foley, a law professor who leads Ohio State University’s election law program.

Leager told the AP he was recruited last year to run by operatives who said they were with the Patriots Run Project. That group promoted itself as a pro-Trump grassroots movement that attacked both parties and urged conservatives to run for office as independents. The AP found the group was supported by Democratic firms and donors who worked to install several pro-Trump independent candidates in key House races. Most of them were disabled, retired or both.

Records show Democrats have given tens of thousands of dollars seeking ballot access for the far-right candidates. The supporters include Steinglass and his wife, Liz, who have given more than $5 million to support Democratic political groups, and others who have contributed to and worked for Democratic candidates.

While the strategy hasn't always worked, Leager is among the candidates who qualified for the Nov. 5 ballot and could complicate Republicans' efforts to reclaim the Senate. He’s running as a right-wing alternative to GOP nominee Eric Hovde, who is challenging two-term Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin..............

Democratic donors prop up far-right candidates including Wisconsin gun activist in Senate race

David Steinglass, a wealthy donor, has supported scores of Democrats running for office and calls himself an activist for transgender rights. So his donation earlier this year to a far-right candidate in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race seemed wildly out of character.

apnews.com

 

[Taurus]

I've said before, I am not and never have been a fan of this
=====================================

WASHINGTON (AP) — David Steinglass, a wealthy donor, has supported scores of Democrats running for office and calls himself an activist for transgender rights.

So his donation earlier this year to a far-right candidate in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race seemed wildly out of character. He gave the maximum $3,300 to help get a man on the ballot who had these items in his background: He was investigated in the plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, he is a gun rights activist and he has called for banning some gender-affirming treatments for minors.

Far from an anomaly, the donation is part of a larger design. Steinglass’ contribution to “America First” candidate Thomas Leager, and thousands more he and his wife gave to other far-right independents in key congressional races, is supporting a plan to boost Democrats and siphon votes from Republicans, an Associated Press examination found.

As the election cycle enters an urgent, final five weeks, both Democrats and Republicans are engaging in questionable tactics that threaten to subvert the democratic process by trying to shape the ballot through deceptive means.

“Whether it’s congressional or presidential races, this kind of activity is a real problem and it undermines the functioning of democracy,” said Edward B. Foley, a law professor who leads Ohio State University’s election law program.

Leager told the AP he was recruited last year to run by operatives who said they were with the Patriots Run Project. That group promoted itself as a pro-Trump grassroots movement that attacked both parties and urged conservatives to run for office as independents. The AP found the group was supported by Democratic firms and donors who worked to install several pro-Trump independent candidates in key House races. Most of them were disabled, retired or both.

Records show Democrats have given tens of thousands of dollars seeking ballot access for the far-right candidates. The supporters include Steinglass and his wife, Liz, who have given more than $5 million to support Democratic political groups, and others who have contributed to and worked for Democratic candidates.

While the strategy hasn't always worked, Leager is among the candidates who qualified for the Nov. 5 ballot and could complicate Republicans' efforts to reclaim the Senate. He’s running as a right-wing alternative to GOP nominee Eric Hovde, who is challenging two-term Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin..............

Democratic donors prop up far-right candidates including Wisconsin gun activist in Senate race

David Steinglass, a wealthy donor, has supported scores of Democrats running for office and calls himself an activist for transgender rights. So his donation earlier this year to a far-right candidate in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race seemed wildly out of character.

apnews.com

About time the Dems started playing hardball.

Also, I'd love to chat with that professor. To my mind, this isn't subverting the process at all. The fact that a candidate needs millionaire backing and that we're trapped in a two-party death spiral is the subversion.

 

[CoolBrees]

I like the chances if California is the decider for the House majority

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/path-control-us-house-runs-through-heavily-democratic-california-2024-09-30/

 

[Optimus Prime]

A Donald Trump-endorsed Senate candidate left debate moderators in shock on Wednesday when he declared that the US military needs to recruit “alpha” men and women into its ranks prepared to tear out and devour their own intestines – and not drag queens.

Hung Cao, a retired US Navy captain, went head-to-head against veteran Democrat Tim Kaine in a debate on Wednesday as they spar over the US senate seat in Virginia.

During the showdown, Cao was asked about the military’s struggles to find sufficient numbers of new recruits and his own past comments blaming diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for the shortfall.

“They kicked out tens of thousands of military people that refused to take a Covid vaccine,” Cao answered.

“So if you’re a military person or a young person wanting to go in the military, would you trust the military or government that would turn your back on them just for an experimental vaccine?”

But from that comparatively normal starting point, he devolved: “When you’re using a, you know, drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that’s not the people we want.

“What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds. Those are young men and women that are gonna win wars.”

Cao’s response drew applause from sections of the audience before the moderators shut him down and invited Kaine to respond.……..

MAGA Republican says military needs ‘alpha’ recruits who will ‘eat their own guts’

Republican Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao went on a wild rant during debate against Democrat Tim Kaine on October 2 2024

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Optimus Prime]

MAGA Republicanism has a pretty simple recipe for success: untested political novice with celebrity appeal, plus right-wing populism, equals election victories.

Herschel Walker. Dr Oz. Kari Lake. Donald Trump. Even Mark Robinson, the embattled GOP candidate for governor in North Carolina, is a product of a viral video who vaulted him to political relevance.

On Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, the local Republican Party is hoping that strategy will deliver a long-awaited victory in a bid to erase Democrats from the region entirely. Their target: Jenn Hill, state house representative for the 109th district, and the last Democrat representing the Upper Peninsula in Lansing, where her party is defending a rare bicameral majority this fall.

Enter Karl Bohnak, MAGA’s latest and greatest shot at taking the district. He fits the mold perfectly — an ex-weatherman, described as a “veteran of a couple marriages”, fired in 2021 after he refused to get the Covid vaccine in violation of Gray Television company policy.

Bohnak is something of a weather fanatic who became regionally famous both for his obsession with Michigan weather patterns, which he would share on air, as well as his broadcasted frustrations with the network’s technical troubles.

A memorable video from his WLUC days still can be found on Google where Bohnak, clearly out of his technological depth, mutters a string of curses as he attempts to operate a Facebook Live……..

In Michigan, a QAnon-adjacent fired weatherman rebrands as a ‘moderate’ Republican

A swing-state candidate reveals the problem at the heart of MAGA Republicanism, John Bowden reports

www.independent.co.uk

 

[Taurus]

A Donald Trump-endorsed Senate candidate left debate moderators in shock on Wednesday when he declared that the US military needs to recruit “alpha” men and women into its ranks prepared to tear out and devour their own intestines – and not drag queens.

Hung Cao, a retired US Navy captain, went head-to-head against veteran Democrat Tim Kaine in a debate on Wednesday as they spar over the US senate seat in Virginia.

During the showdown, Cao was asked about the military’s struggles to find sufficient numbers of new recruits and his own past comments blaming diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies for the shortfall.

“They kicked out tens of thousands of military people that refused to take a Covid vaccine,” Cao answered.

“So if you’re a military person or a young person wanting to go in the military, would you trust the military or government that would turn your back on them just for an experimental vaccine?”

But from that comparatively normal starting point, he devolved: “When you’re using a, you know, drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that’s not the people we want.

“What we need is alpha males and alpha females who are going to rip out their own guts, eat them and ask for seconds. Those are young men and women that are gonna win wars.”

Cao’s response drew applause from sections of the audience before the moderators shut him down and invited Kaine to respond.……..

MAGA Republican says military needs ‘alpha’ recruits who will ‘eat their own guts’

Republican Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao went on a wild rant during debate against Democrat Tim Kaine on October 2 2024

www.independent.co.uk

Good luck finding them, twitwaffle. Those kinds of driven, ambitious people want money.