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EXCLUSIVE: Top House Republicans have put together a future-forward plan to push law enforcement friendly legislation, in anticipation that the GOP will become the majority party in Congress after the November midterm elections.

Last year, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., established the American Security Task Force, which is headed by House Committee on Homeland Security ranking member John Katko, R-N.Y. Katko met with law enforcement on the front lines of the crime and border crises over the last year as part of the task force, and developed solutions that Republicans plan to implement when back in power.

The final list of four priorities, exclusively shared with Fox News Digital, include ensuring resourcing and funding for law enforcement, addressing and tackling recruitment issues, taking action to stop violence against officers and penalizing "progressive" prosecutors.

NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW COPS WE HAVE THEIR BACKS

"These pillars we came up with are trying to attack the defunding issue, but also the retention issue, and the disrespect to law enforcement issue, which is really terrible and targeted," Katko said.

Another key component of the plan is to stop more liberal district attorneys and other "soft-on-crime" prosecutors, which the GOP plans to do by stripping away federal funding.

Rep. Katko participated in the Back the Blue Bike Tour and visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. (Office of Rep. John Katko)

"These progressives prosecutors are just not prosecuting cases. They're adding to the attrition rates, adding to the danger, they're adding to the animus against police officers. They're adding to the air of lawlessness for bad guys who think they can act with impunity because there are no consequences."

"A lot of them get federal dollarsWe are not going to fund progressive prosecutors' ability to become apologists for criminals anymore. We're just not going to do it," continued Katko.

The Republicans' framework is designed to ensure that law enforcement will receive necessary funding without excessive federal government "red tape" or interference. In addition, the lawmakers reference a survey that noted retirements of police officers were up by 45% in 2021 and departments were finding it difficult to fill empty positions. Their solution is to have Congress direct federal grants for recruitment use.

Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., a former sheriff who has over 40 years of experience in law enforcement, led the police officer pillar of the task force and helped organized listening sessions in New York City, Syracuse, Austin, Portland, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Northeast Florida and Eastern Indiana in order to come up with the GOP framework.

Katko said traveling to all the different task force events revealed the "bleak" state of law enforcement across the country, that is worse than any other point throughout his over two decades working with law enforcement.

"It really was jaw dropping never have I seen law enforcement in such a bad state. From a morale standpoint. From a statistical standpoint. And the picture seems quite bleak going forward," said Katko.

"Law enforcement are very, very supportive of what we want to do," Katko told Fox News Digital, noting that the Republicans didn't just look at statistics they went to "law enforcement representatives, unions, front line people, not to bulls--- politicians" to come up with their plan.

John Katko and Kevin McCarthy address the press during a congressional border delegation visit to El Paso, Texas, on March 15, 2021. (Justin Hamel/AFP)

Large police organization, Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), endorsed the GOP plan.

"The MCCA thanks Leader McCarthy, Rep. Katko, Rep. Rutherford, and the entireAmerican Security Task Forcefor developing this framework that supports law enforcement. The MCCA participated in several of the roundtables that helped inform this work, and it is heartening to see our feedback incorporated into the final product. The legislation that this framework leads to will help address the numerous challenges facing our brave law enforcement officers," MCCA Executive Director Laura Cooper told Fox News Digital.

The lawmakers are unveiling their plan ahead of National Police Week 2022, which is aimed at honoring law enforcement and their contributions to society and recognizing valor and sacrifices of officers. The week full of events begins officially on Sunday.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SKEPTICAL OF BIDEN'S 'ILL-TIMED' PIVOT TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON POLICE REFORM: 'NOT SUSTAINABLE'

"The Democratic Party across this country caused these problems. And the American people are not stupid, they're not going to buy what the administration's laying out," said Katko.

"If the administration was truly sincere and really wanted to fix this problem, they'd call leadership in the Republican Party and sit down with them. They haven't, I haven't received one phone call from anybody in the Biden administration, and they know I'm the head of this task force. They're not interested in trying to find solutions, they're interested in trying to find political solutions. And that's really unfortunate," Katko told Fox News Digital.

Katko says he expects to get support from a "healthy number" of Democrats heading into the midterms because polling indicates Americans are supportive of law enforcement funding.

A few House Democrats on Thursday led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., held a bipartisan press conference expressing displeasure with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for refusing to put their pro-law enforcement bill on the floor.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., delivered remarks on the Senate floor Thursday to kick off Police Week.

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"Yesterday, we observed the beginning of ceremonies honoring National Police Week. Soon we will mark Peace Officers Memorial Day. Tens of thousands of law enforcement personnel from across the country will gather here in our nations capital to honor the service and sacrifice of their fallen brothers and sisters," said McConnell.

"Americas law enforcement personnel are always there when we need them most. The least Congress can do is have their backs."

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Republican leadership unveils 'back the blue' legislative priorities in anticipation of midterms red wave - Fox News

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. When Representative Madison Cawthorns name comes up in this city of 14,000, where he was born and raised and it is not difficult to bump into someone who knew him from his home-schooling days, there tends to be a visceral reaction.

There are sighs from Republicans who elected him to his first term in November 2020 and met his meteoric rise in Washington with the praise and excitement reserved for a hometown hero only to be disappointed by his behavior and bad press ever since.

There are groans and looks of utter disgust from people with Democratic and independent leanings some of whom have chosen to cast a ballot in a Republican primary for the first time in hopes of removing him from office.

And there are eye-rolls and shrugs from his die-hard supporters, America First conservatives after the fashion of Donald J. Trump, who chalk up Mr. Cawthorns controversies to youthful indiscretion and instead reserve their opprobrium for the liberal media, Democrats, his Republican opponents and political groups with deep pockets.

I dont care what hes done, said Moiena Gilbert, 77, a retired certified nursing assistant who pulled up in an old Ford pickup to cast an early vote this week at Henderson Countys Board of Elections. I am going to vote for the man.

What there is not a lot of is indifference. In this southwestern corner of the state, a largely working-class and Republican stronghold set against the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, it seems as if nearly everyone has made up his or her mind on the young firebrand once seen as the future of the Republican Party.

In interviews with more than 30 voters in Mr. Cawthorns 11th Congressional District, including nearly two dozen registered Republicans, it was clear that his support had weakened, even among hard-right Trump followers who said Mr. Cawthorns immaturity and lack of focus on his constituents had led them to disregard his endorsement by the former president and give one of his rivals their vote.

Mr. Cawthorn needs to garner only 30 percent of the vote on Tuesday to avoid a runoff in a crowded field split among seven other challengers. They are led by Chuck Edwards, a state senator who has the endorsements of most members of the Legislature from his district, and Michele Woodhouse, the elected Republican chair of Mr. Cawthorns district who once was among his staunch supporters.

Whether Mr. Cawthorn can dodge a runoff has been a constant source of debate in his hometown among friends, co-workers and in Christian circles.

I think there is a lot of support for Madison they just may be afraid to tell you, said one Baptist deacon leaving the Bethany Bible Church after a Wednesday night Bible study.

Chip Worrell, 62, a charter member of the same church and a woodworker who helped erect its building, disagreed.

I dont think he is going to be re-elected, he said.

Mr. Cawthorn, 26, who was injured in a car crash at 18, has seldom been out of the headlines since making his first run for Congress in 2020, when it emerged that he had made up parts of his autobiography. He falsely claimed his injuries had kept him from attending the Naval Academy, but admitted in court that it had already rejected him. Young women at the conservative Christian college he attended before dropping out accused him of sexual harassment.

Elected in 2020 as the youngest member ever to serve in the House, he helped spread Mr. Trumps stolen-election lies and aligned himself with other incendiary far-right representatives, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado.

But his re-election campaign has been marred by a seemingly endless series of embarrassing reports beginning when he claimed that people he looked up to in Washington had invited him to orgies and used cocaine. (The remark drew a scolding from the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy.)

The revelations ranged from traffic violations, like driving with a revoked license, to two incidents in which he brought a loaded gun to an airport. Politico published photos of Mr. Cawthorn in lingerie. The Washington Examiner reported his involvement in a cryptocurrency scheme and suggested it may have violated federal insider trading laws. And nude photos and videos have circulated showing him in sexually suggestive antics, in what appeared to be attempts to raise questions about Mr. Cawthorns sexuality.

Mr. Cawthorns campaign did not respond to requests for comment. Writing on Twitter, he told supporters that he and a friend had simply been joking around crassly.

I told you there would be a drip drip campaign, he wrote. Blackmail wont win. We will.

Democrats have criticized some of the attacks for stirring homophobia. Supporters in Mr. Cawthorns district see the leaks as the work of his opponents or of G.O.P. leaders like Mr. McCarthy.

But a super PAC created to oust Mr. Cawthorn, which has held itself out as a clearinghouse of damaging information about him, said the tips it has received have largely come from Mr. Cawthorns former aides and supporters.

From the very start, we have been focused on firing Cawthorn, but firing him in a way that was factual and honest, said David Wheeler, a Democrat who co-founded the group, American Muckrakers Inc., with Mr. Cawthorns 2020 Democratic opponent, Moe Davis.

In Henderson, Transylvania and Haywood counties, many voters recalled how Mr. Cawthorn won the seat replacing Mark Meadows, who became chief of staff in the Trump White House by modeling himself after Mr. Trump.

Why are these midterms so important? This years races could tip the balance of power in Congress to Republicans, hobbling President Bidens agenda for the second half of his term. They will also test former President Donald J. Trumps role as a G.O.P. kingmaker. Heres what to know:

What are the midterm elections? Midterms take place two years after a presidential election, at the midpoint of a presidential term hence the name. This year, a lot of seats are up for grabs, including all 435 House seats, 35 of the 100 Senate seats and 36 of 50 governorships.

What do the midterms mean for Biden? With slim majorities in Congress, Democrats have struggled to pass Mr. Bidens agenda. Republican control of the House or Senate would make the presidents legislative goals a near-impossibility.

What are the races to watch? Only a handful of seats will determine if Democrats maintain control of the House over Republicans, and a single state could shift power in the 50-50 Senate. Here are 10 races to watch in the Houseand Senate, as well as several key governors contests.

When are the key races taking place? The primary gauntletis already underway. Closely watched racesin Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia will be held in May, with more taking place through the summer. Primaries run until September before the general election on Nov. 8.

Go deeper. What is redistrictingand how does it affect the midterm elections? How does polling work? How do you register to vote? Weve got more answers to your pressing midterm questions here.

Many compared his brashness to Mr. Trumps and brushed away the photos of him partying or goofing off as the digressions of a young man. Some believed them to be fake.

If I was a young kid with a cellphone, I wouldnt have a job either, said David Roberts, 33, an engineer and unaffiliated voter in Hendersonville who planned to cast a ballot for Mr. Cawthorn on Tuesday. I am not voting for him to be my best friend or date my daughter.

Less easily brushed away were Mr. Cawthorns attempts to bring guns through airport security and his traffic violations, which many saw as irresponsible considering the crash that left him in a wheelchair. Disgrace, immature and embarrassment were common refrains.

Hes broken the law. He hasnt really done anything for this district that I can think of, said Scott Tekavec, 59, a maintenance technician who said he did not usually vote Republican but decided to cast a ballot for Mr. Edwards as an expression of his disdain for Mr. Cawthorn.

Perhaps the most frequently cited objections to Mr. Cawthorn, however, were his track record of missing important votes in Congress and reports that he had moved into a newly-drawn conservative district nearby before deciding to run for re-election to his seat in the 11th District.

He isnt doing his job, Lynn Cagle, 47, a truck driver in Haywood County, said of Mr. Cawthorn as he left a senior center after voting for Mr. Edwards.

Mr. Cawthorns opponents lack his ability to draw attention, but they see an opening nonetheless. At a Hendersonville rally, Ms. Woodhouse presented herself as a true America First conservative and Mr. Cawthorn as unelectable.

And Rodd Honeycutt, a retired Army colonel, said he had voted for Mr. Cawthorn in 2020 but felt the need to challenge him this year over his lack of leadership.

There is a trend line of missteps and indiscipline, Mr. Honeycutt said, adding: Its really a distraction right now when we should be focused on kitchen-table issues like the cost of gas, or inflation, or what is going on with the war in Ukraine.

At Bethany Bible Church, Christine Tuttle, 61, a bookkeeper, and her daughter, Lizzie, 20, said they remembered Mr. Cawthorn as respected, outgoing and popular among the home-school families.

They said their image of him was tainted when young women came forward with accusations that he had forcibly kissed them.

Mrs. Tuttle said she still voted for him in 2020. He had so much promise, she said.

She and her daughter said they would not be voting for Mr. Cawthorn this time. But they said they knew plenty of people who would.

Continued here:

In Madison Cawthorns District, Strong Opinions of Him, For and Against - The New York Times

This piece originally appeared in our Daily newsletter. Sign up to receive the best of The New Yorker every day in your in-box.

The staff writer Benjamin Wallace-Wells recently travelled to Ohio to report on the states contentious, high-stakes Republican Senate primary. Ahead of Tuesdays Election Day, the newsletter editor Ian Crouch spoke to Wallace-Wells about the latest developments in the race and what the outcome might tell us about the midterms, the future of the G.O.P., and the state of Trumpism in America.

After months of speculation, Donald Trump endorsed J. D. Vance in the race. But, as recently as Sunday, during a rally, Trump mentioned that his guy J. D. Mandel was doing greatso maybe hes not so invested in the particulars. But how has his official endorsement changed things?

Its organized the race without deciding it yet. J. D. Vance has very clearly received a bump. Also pretty clearly, the only real Trump-skeptical candidate in the race, a millionaire named Matt Dolan, received a big bump, too, and is now running second or third in recent polls. Broadly, the whole month of primaries is a really high-stakes test for how much control Trump still has over the Partywhich is obviously important for Trump but also important for the rest of us because of how direct his challenge to liberal democracy remains. Right now, this fundamental thing about American democracy is being tested, which is: Is this whole party behind Trump or not? And you can see evidence pointing in both directions.

Have the candidates in Ohio been made to submit to a kind of Trump-2020-election-claims litmus test?

At the debates, all the candidates have been asked in a kind of pro-forma wayand this is true across many different Republican state primarieswhether they agree with some statement about the validity of the 2020 election. Whether Joe Biden won it legitimately or if it needs to be investigatedthat kind of thing. Four of the five major candidates in the Ohio Senate primary said they thought the election was stolen, in various words. Dolan was the only one who said no, and said that this was a very bad direction to be taking the Party and the country in. And I think thats really the thing that has made him stand out.

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I dont want to overstate Dolans chances, but, in a race in which all the other candidates have been falling all over themselves trying to get Trumps endorsement, its interesting that there is still some segment of the Party that is excited by someone who stands up to Trump.

As you write in your article, most of the candidates in the Ohio primary ran as some slightly different version of Trump. From what youve seen, what kind of new hybrid strain of Trumpism is going to be the most effective heading into the midterms this fall?

The idea of what Trump meant that was most popular at the outset of the primary season is the one embodied in Ohio by Josh Mandel. It was the idea that Trumpism represented a license to be cruder and more aggressive and more partisanwithout any particular change in conservative policies or aims. To talk in a more Trumpy way about immigrants and newcomers, toeing the line and sometimes crossing it with racism. To just be more crass in your language and the way you describe your opponents, and to run a nastier campaign.

What Vance represents is perhaps a more interesting proposition, which is to embrace the ideas that Trump sometimes talked about and sometimes didnt, but that got caught up in Trumpism, of anti-litisma politics that organizes itself against corporations rather than for them, against lites here and overseas, against traditional American diplomatic commitments. Vance represents a more doctrinaire America Firstism, which in some ways is traditional Republican politics on steroids and in other ways departs from those traditions. In terms of economic interests and commitments, Vance, even clearer than Trump himself, seeks to break with traditional Republican ideas.

Then there is Mike Gibbons, a candidate whom one opposing political consultant described to me as a sloppy plutocrat, an older businessman who tried to buy his way to the front of the race. He represents the idea that what had been essential about Trump was that he was an outsider and a businessman.

Last of all is Jane Timken, who had a kind of disastrous candidacy and who basically just seemed to understand Trumpism as being about the specific people around Trump. She hired as her consultants Corey Lewandowski, Kellyanne Conway, and David Bossiea bunch of people who were very close to Trump specifically. Thats also a live idea in the Republican Partymaybe Trumpism didnt really mean anything except the ascendancy of a very specific group of people close to this one man.

In different states with different candidates taking up these different strains, you might have a different outcome. What this pattern in this race does show, though, is that the question of what Trumps dominance over the Party has meantand what it derives from and where it goesis still totally up for grabs.

There is special fascination with Vance in the pressin the years leading up to Trump, he was kind of identified as this wise whisperer of the disaffected white, conservative mind. But now hes completed a full heel turn against establishment entities, including the media. What do the Ohioans youve spoken with make of him?

I think the answer might have been a little different before he got Trumps endorsement. Before, he was viewed as something of an interloper. There were attacks on him that noted he hadnt spent a lot of recent time in Ohio. He was branded as a product of Yale Law School and the part of the media that drives book sales. The amount that his reputation seems to have turned after the Trump endorsement is at least some evidence of the power that Trump still has to define who is a conservative and what it means to be one.

Vance himself has become a very effective promoter of his views on conservative media and a pretty adept user of Twitter. It seemed for a while that he was becoming a more generic culture-warrior type, just a version of Tucker Carlson in the race. After seeing him on the stump, I thought that that was not really a complete picture. I think he sees the decay of culture and community in Ohio, specifically in rural Ohio, and places the blame at the feet of powerful economic and cultural institutions. I think thats all there, that its sincere. I dont think its just a type of culture-war posturing. It was interesting for me to see him campaigning and to see that those themes that have been woven through his writing and politics for several years are still present. He hasnt been quite as flattened as you might think from reading Twitter.

Original post:

What Ohios Republican Senate Primary Means for the Future of Trumpism - The New Yorker

Former president Trump has endorsed candidates running in at least 40 primary races in May. Drew Angerer/Getty Images hide caption

Former president Trump has endorsed candidates running in at least 40 primary races in May.

The Ohio primary kicks off a month of similar contests in vital swing states from Pennsylvania to Georgia. And there's one unofficial candidate on the ballot: former President Donald Trump.

According to a New York Times count, the former president has endorsed candidates in at least 40 Republican primaries. His pick for Ohio's crucial open Senate seat is J.D. Vance, author of "Hillbilly Elegy." He's one of seven candidates. Only one candidate in that race has denied Trump's falsehoods about the 2020 election.

It's common theme among a majority of the Republican candidates. According to focus groups conducted by GOP strategist Sarah Longwell, roughly 70 percent of voters are leaning into the "Big Lie" as well.

So what's at stake for the Republican Party in these midterms? And how will Trump's picks fare at the polls?

Gabby Orr, Alison Dagnes, and Sarah Longwell join us for the conversation.

Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online.

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How Republican Primaries Are Testing Trump's Influence : 1A - NPR

CHESTERFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) This is a critical election year. Michigan residents will be deciding who is governor, attorney general and secretary of state for the next four years.

Even if youre passive about politics, whats happening now is driving this election year and your choices.

The stage is set by Former President Donald Trump, who is endorsing Matthew DePerno for attorney general and Kristina Karamo for secretary of state.

That started the wide divide.

"I have not promised President Trump anything," said DePerno.

Karamo said, "President Trump endorsed me; it was not because I was looking or promising to do something immoral, illegal or improper. Nothing like that occurred."

Republican campaign strategist Jamie Roe said we need to have the best team on the field, but added, I think that we could have had a better team."

The wide divide played out big time at the Republican delegates convention with voting for the Trump-backed candidates.

"I've been active in the party for over 25 years," said Chesterfield Township Clerk Cindy Berry.

Berry was Trumps 2016 co-chair in Macomb County. She was a candidate in Michigan for secretary of state.

7 Action News asked Berry why she thinks she was pushed away from the position.

That's a great question. I'd love to know that. I don't see how anyone could have been more Trump than me, Berry said.

It's because she's not all-in that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump.

His two hand-picked candidates are calling for a full investigation even though last year, the Republican-led state Senate Oversight Committee did a thorough review statewide and found no widespread fraud. The committee chair was Senator Ed McBroom.

He's a Republican, he comes out with that and he gets called a RINO? Right? Kiertzner asked. "And I was called the RINO as well simply because I wouldn't get on board with the narrative. And it wasn't that I was opposed to looking at it. I'm certainly not opposed to doing any investigation, Berry said.

"In a nutshell, his investigation was total garbage," said DePerno.

Karamo said, "I feel there's been no meaningful investigation into the 2020 election. And again, there is evidence of election fraud that was ignored, mocked, and demonized. And that's my position."

RINO means Republican In Name Only, a favorite term of Trump and his supporters.

Ive been working to elect conservative Republicans for over 30 years, Roe said. I'm not going to be called a RINO by anybody, particularly people who Id never heard of before a couple of years ago.

DePerno said, "I think all of these incumbents need to put on their big boy pants and come to the table and support the endorsed candidate. Acting like children only means we are going to lose in November. Maybe thats their goal."

Trump has a firm grip on northern Macomb County.

The convention in Grand Rapids was led by Trump loyalist and Republican co-chair Meshawn Maddock.

We asked her for an interview for this report. She said it probably wasnt a good idea.

Trump has a firm grip on northern Macomb County. How will this all play out in the months ahead? We talked with voters at the Jams Restaurant & Bar and found mixed support for Trump and the Stop the Steal movement.

Obviously, him being the last Republican president does have some leeway, but I wouldn't say it's super important, Zack Kaiser, who leans Republican, said.

Carol Russell, who supports Trump, said, I think he has the right to do it.

Russell says that would not determine how she votes.

Its nonsense sheer, unadulterated garbage, Syma Echeandia, who does not support Trump, said.

Party loyalists say Republicans need to be focused on the issues of taxes, roads and inflation.

Re-litigating the 2020 election doesnt help us stop any of the bad things that are going on right now. And in fact, its a distraction from the real problems that were facing in this state and in the country, Roe said.

We reached out to the Democratic party chair to comment but did not hear back.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, is running unopposed.

I know theres been a lot of chaos. I dont pay a whole lot of attention to it, Whitmer said.

The Republican candidate for governor wont be decided by voters until August.

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Wide divide: Split in the Republican party sets tone for upcoming elections - WXYZ 7 Action News Detroit

Former President Donald Trumps lies about widespread election fraud remain the driving force in GOP politics 18 months after his loss, shaping everything from a Senate election in Arizona to state legislative battles in Wisconsin while continuing to sow doubt in American democracy and setting the stage for a possible second attempt to steal the election in 2024.

We cannot move on, Mehmet Oz, the television personality who is Trumps endorsed candidate in Pennsylvanias GOP Senate primary, said during a debate last week when asked about the 2020 election. He noted he had spoken about the election with Trump.

There is no evidence to support Trumps claims of a stolen election, conspiracy theories about mass voter fraud have been repeatedly debunked, and multiple Republican-led reviews of the election across the country have uncovered zero evidence of wrongdoing. Trumps lies have inspired both the Jan. 6 insurrection in the U.S. Capitol and a wave of GOP-backed laws restricting voting rights and giving Republican appointees more power over elections.

As campaign season moves into high gear with a month of primaries starting Tuesday, claims the election were stolen are central to Republican messaging and often receive thunderous applause at GOP events and rallies. Polling indicates a majority of Republican voters continue to believe the election was stolen, and those who do are the most excited to vote in the midterm elections. Trump routinely threatens politicians who resist a complete and total embrace of the lies.

While there are isolated bits of resistance from establishment Republicans, the bulk of the party has embraced candidates who continue to insist Trump won. All but one of the GOP candidates running in a crowded Senate primary in Ohio on Tuesday insist the election was stolen, as do leading Senate candidates in Georgia, Nevada and Arizona. The incumbent governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey, opened one of her television ads by proclaiming: The fake news, big tech and blue state liberals stole the election from Donald Trump.

Scott Olson via Getty Images

Voters concerns about inflation, immigration and crime have created a pro-GOP political environment heading into the midterm elections, where Democrats will need to defend their thin majorities in both chambers of Congress. The party is hopeful, but far from certain, that the all-out GOP embrace of the so-called big lie will cause at least some swing and independent voters to reject Republicans in key races.

I remain very confident that if we can continue to elevate these positions, voters on both sides of the aisle will do the right thing, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in an interview with HuffPost. It just remains to be seen whether or not that message will cut through a lot of the other noise and rhetoric that is percolating in this election cycle.

The most vivid examples of the rise of election denial come from Republican conventions in Michigan and Colorado in recent weeks. GOP activists steeped in election falsehoods dominated both, and both nominated multiple Republicans who falsely claim Trump won the 2020 election.

In Colorados secretary of state race, the GOP convention backed Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters who is facing 10 counts of criminal conspiracy charges related to election tampering after she helped leak election data to a far-right message board. In Michigan, Republicans are nominating Trump-backed Kristina Karamo for the same position. Karamo has repeatedly spread conspiracy theories about the vote count in Michigan, where Biden won by 150,000 votes. (She has also embraced QAnon, among other inflammatory statements.)

This is not just about 2022, Trump said during a rally to support Karamo and Matthew DePerno, another election denialist who won the Michigan GOPs nomination for attorney general. This is about making sure Michigan is not rigged and stolen again in 2024.

Benson has been trying to fend off lies about the election since November 2020, with armed protesters once gathering outside her house to demand she stop the steal. She told HuffPost she was not surprised by Karamos nomination.

To have an opponent who personifies that deceit, that misinformation, those lies, those conspiracy theories, it was inevitable given the way in which the attacks on democracy have played out, Benson said.

Roughly 80% of Republicans believe the election was somehow stolen, despite a complete lack of evidence.

Halfway embraces of Trumps election lies have not been enough for the former president. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, who is now running for the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly, had generally refused to deny Biden won Arizona in 2020. But last week, he released an interim report on the 2020 election that alleged there was fraud in the vote but provided no evidence to support that conclusion. He went on former Trump political guru Steve Bannons radio show to promote the findings.

That wasnt good enough for Trump. He released a statement saying Brnovich wanted to be politically correct, and essentially ruled out endorsing him in the race. (Businessman Jim Lamon and Blake Masters, a venture capitalist backed by tech billionaire and democracy skeptic Peter Thiel, are also running for the GOP nomination to battle Kelly.)

In Wisconsin, Republicans were set to let a state contract for a fruitless search for election fraud led by a retired state Supreme Court justice named Michael Gableman expire. The state had already spent nearly $700,000 on the review, and was paying Gableman $11,000 a month, even as he missed multiple deadlines for finishing the report.

But after Trump not-so-subtly threatened to endorse a primary challenge to the speaker of Wisconsins state Assembly, Robin Vos, Gabelmans contract was extended at a lower salary.

Anyone calling themselves a Republican in Wisconsin should support the continued investigation in Wisconsin without interference, Trump wrote in a statement. I understand some RINOs have primary challengers in Wisconsin. Im sure their primary opponents would get a huge bump in the polls if these RINOs interfere.

The belief the 2020 election was stolen remains a minority view, with polls finding somewhere between one-third and 40% of Americans insisting Biden did not legitimately win the election. But polls also have found roughly 80% of Republicans believe the election was somehow stolen, despite a complete lack of evidence for that position.

That has put Republicans who do maintain Biden won in a difficult spot. Nevada Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, is not running for reelection after the state party censured her for refusing to buy into Trumps tales of voter fraud in the state, which Biden narrowly won. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who has repeatedly publicly clashed with Trump, is trailing in the polls to Trump-endorsed Rep. Jody Hice heading into a May 24 primary.

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The Big Lie Is Still The Driving Force In Republican Politics - HuffPost

The Republican Party has a clear vision for the future of the United States: one thats white, Christian and fundamentally opposed to Western ideals of pluralism.

These goals certainly arent new. Since President Ronald Reagan tethered the Republican Party to the Christian right, the objectives have been obvious and the barriers to realizing them have slowly eroded. Were currently standing at a precipice where the GOP, fully consumed by Trumpism, is closer than ever to codifying this vision.

And ironically, while Republicans have sought to alarm voters with ludicrous fears of Democrats wanting to enact communism, the America they want is much closer to that of Soviet and Putins Russia. In fact, the actions conservatives are embracing and whats happening in Russia are so similar that comparisons cannot be considered hyperbole.

In both the USSR and modern Russia, homophobia is rampant and LGBTQ people are brutally punished for their existence. A common slur for gay men in Russian is the same word as that for pedophile, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has perpetuated the vile trope that gay people abuse children.

Sound familiar? The latest homophobic tactic taken by the American right threatens LGBTQ people, teachers and officials for merely talking about sexuality and gender identity and calls them groomers. The insinuation, just like Putins, is that gay people prey on children. These attacks dont merely remain in the digital realm, as two gay fathers recently found when they were verbally assaulted when taking a trip on Amtrak with their two foster children and called pedophiles by their abuser.

At the same time were seeing Russians being encouraged to turn in their neighbors for talking about the war in Ukraine with any sort of facts, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas is encouraging Texans to report parents who seek gender-affirming care for their transgender children. Its worth remembering that snitching on your neighbors was one of the tactics the Soviet regime used to discourage dissent and keep people living in fear.

Moving down the list, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida recently signed the Dont Say Gay bill into law, which punishes teachers for discussing sexual orientation with students. Likewise, Putin imposed a draconian gay propaganda law in 2013 that punishes the presentation of nontraditional sexual orientations to minors. That law has led to an increase in violence against the LBGTQ community in Russia. And it has significantly eroded progress made for more equal rights, which is exactly the outcome the GOP is seeking in states across the nation.

If the similarities arent eerie enough, Republican-run school districts across the county are busy banning books that promote accurate history, gender equity and other liberal ideals. Its no wonder that book bans were another favorite tool of Soviet authorities as they feared the power of literature to effect social change. The novel Doctor Zhivago was famously banned in the Soviet Union for its depiction of the individual struggle and brutality of the Bolshevik Revolution. Continuing the tradition, mentions of Kyiv and a sovereign Ukrainian state are now being removed from Russian textbooks to support the Putin regimes barbaric invasion of its neighbor.

These actions both in Russia and in the United States are enabled by a relentless propaganda machine that distorts reality and cripples peoples ability to discern facts from falsehoods.

In Russia, theres virtually no independent media left, leaving only state-run TV and print outlets for Russians to receive their news. In the U.S., Fox News has been a powerful propaganda arm for the Republican Party, going so far as to coordinate messaging with the Trump White House. Propaganda channels in both Russia and the U.S. frequently align in the values they promote. You can see almost identical derision of feminism in both Fox News and in Russian state-sponsored outlet Russia Beyond. Both entities promote traditional values, and worked relentlessly to smear Hillary Clinton while promoting Donald Trump to help him win the 2016 presidential election.

Theres an obvious reason why Russia wants candidates like Trump to win elections: Democracy is the only antidote to authoritarianism. Although Republicans fixate on the notions of freedom and liberty, the policies theyve already enacted and want to push in the future are a direct path to authoritarianism. Theyre already setting terms for what Americans can and cannot do in their bedrooms, in their OB-GYNs office, and what children are allowed to learn in the classroom.

Anyone wondering how far todays Republican Party is willing to go to achieve its vision of a monolithic America need only look back at the events of Jan. 6. Just as Russia right now feeds its citizens a daily dose of misinformation about the war it has waged on Ukraine, so have Republicans attempted to whitewash the events of Jan. 6, casting those who ransacked the United States Capitol as patriots.

With Russia as a mirror, Americans have the benefit of seeing the worst-case outcome of authoritarianism. The question is whether they are willing to step up and stop the decline of American democracy and the party driving full speed in that direction.

Kurt Bardella is contributing writer to Opinion. He is an advisor to the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and a former senior advisor for Republicans on the House Oversight Committee. @KurtBardella

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Op-Ed: When the Republican Party uses Russias authoritarian playbook - Los Angeles Times

Republicans applaud McCarthy for audiotape defense

Kevin McCarthy received a standing ovation from Republican congress members this morning as he defended recorded conversations with party leaders following the 6 January insurrection that have threatened to derail his chances of becoming House speaker.

The Associated Press reports that McCarthy, the minority leader, told the House Republican caucus that he never asked then-president Donald Trump to resign over the deadly insurrection by Trumps supporters.

The AP cited two Republicans at the private morning meeting at GOP headquarters, who were granted anonymity to discuss it.

McCarthy, who is in line to become House speaker if Republicans, as predicted, win control in the Novembers midterm elections, received a standing ovation, the lawmakers said, according to the news agency.

Its worth noting here that the allegation against McCarthy, per the damaging tapes released by the New York Times, was not that he lied about directly asking Trump to resign, but rather that he had discussed with other party officials that he would do so, then denied that.

One of the Times audio clips captured him in conversation with the the-third most senior House Republican Liz Cheney, whom he later ousted from her leadership role, saying he would tell Trump he should stand down.

Today, one Republican in the room said the meeting was cathartic for lawmakers, the AP said. Another voiced confidence that McCarthy would be the next speaker.

McCarthy, however, was challenged by two of the partys extremist members, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who said they felt singled out by the Republican leadership team.

One Republican congressman, Wisconsins Glenn Grothman, berated the media as he left the meeting.

You guys obsess over January 6. Nobody cares, he said.

An ABC poll this January found that 72% of Americans think the deadly attack on the Capitol, amid Trumps frantic efforts to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden by more than seven million votes, threatened democracy.

Read more:

Were closing the US politics blog now after a busy day of news, mostly out of Washington DC. Thanks for joining us.

It appears Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, retains the support of congressional Republicans, who applauded his defense of leaked conversations with party leaders following the 6 January Capitol riot in a caucus meeting this morning.

Despite an audio recording published by the New York Times catching him in a lie over whether he would ask then-president Donald Trump to resign, the House GOP caucus gave him a standing ovation, and McCarthy emerged smiling.

Heres what else we were following today:

A reminder that you can follow developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on our live 24-hour blog here.

New Yorks highest court has rejected the states new congressional district maps, which had been widely seen as favoring Democrats, the Associated Press reports.

The legal fight over New Yorks redistricting process could be a factor in the battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of the US House in Novembers midterm elections.

New York is set to lose one seat in Congress in 2021. New Yorks new maps would give Democrats a strong majority of registered voters in 22 of the states 26 congressional districts. Right now, Republicans currently hold eight of the states 27 seats.

Democrats had been hoping that a redistricting map favorable to their party in New York might help offset expected losses in other states where Republicans control state government.

The states court of appeals agreed in a ruling on Wednesday with a group of Republican voters who sued, saying that the district boundaries had been unconstitutionally gerrymandered and that the Legislature hadnt followed proper procedure in passing the maps.

The court said it will likely be necessary to move the congressional and state senate primary elections from June to August.

Read more:

The White House press secretary Jen Psaki is countering the assertion of the governments chief medical adviser Dr Anthony Fauci that the US is out of the Covid-19 pandemic stage.

Fauci made the claim in an interview with PBS NewsHour on Tuesday, citing falling rates of hospitalizations and deaths.

But Psaki, at her afternoon press briefing at the White House, framed the situation somewhat differently:

Theres no question that were in a different moment in our fight against Covid. But we also know Covid isnt over, and the pandemic isnt over.

Weve seen an uptick in some places, driven by the extremely transmissible BA.2 variants. We know the risk of potential surges even as a potential new variant or subvariant remains, so a different phase because were at a much lower level of hospitalizations and deaths, and even nationwide of cases.

But we are still seeing people get very sick from Covid.

Appearing to play down any split in messaging, Psaki said:

What Dr Fauci was saying is that we are in a different phase of this pandemic. And thats absolutely true.

Nationwide cases are relatively low, far below the 900,000 cases a day we saw during the Omicron surge... hospitalizations are about at about the lowest level since the pandemic and deaths are declining.

Homeland security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been telling lawmakers that the Biden administration has effectively managed the flow of migrants at the US-Mexico border with the resources at its disposal, CNN is reporting.

Mayorkas is being questioned by Senate and House committees today, largely about the ending of the Trump-era Title 42 immigration policy next month.

The decision that terminates the policy of blocking refugees at the southern border because of the Covid-19 pandemic is set to end on 23 May, but has drawn an outcry from Republicans and concern among Democrats about an expected surge of migrants.

Mayorkas wasted little time in pinning the blame on the Trump administration, when he testified to the Senate appropriations committee:

We inherited a broken and dismantled system that is already under strain. It is not built to manage the current levels and types of migratory flows. Only Congress can fix this.

Yet, we have effectively managed an unprecedented number of noncitizens seeking to enter the United States and interdicted more drugs and disrupted more smuggling operations than ever before.

Updated at 15.27EDT

A state investigation launched after George Floyds killing has found that the Minneapolis police department engaged in a pattern of race discrimination for at least a decade, including stopping and arresting Black people at a higher rate than white people.

The Associated Press reports that the department also used force more often on people of color and maintained a culture where racist language is tolerated.

The report released Wednesday by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights following a nearly two-year investigation said the agency and the city would negotiate a court-enforceable agreement to address the long list of problems identified in the report, with input from residents, officers, city staff and others.

The report said police department data demonstrates significant racial disparities with respect to officers use of force, traffic stops, searches, citations, and arrests.

And it said officers used covert social media to surveil Black individuals and Black organizations, unrelated to criminal activity, and maintain an organizational culture where some officers and supervisors use racist, misogynistic, and disrespectful language with impunity.

Human rights commissioner Rebecca Lucero said during a news conference that it doesnt single out any officers or city leaders.

This investigation is not about one individual or one incident, Lucero said.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and his partners, who won a $27m settlement from the city for the Floyd family, called the report historic and monumental in its importance. They said they were grateful and deeply hopeful that change is imminent.

Maya Yang

A Florida judge has ordered a man who defaced an LGBTQ+ Pride mural to write a 25-page essay about the 2016 Pulse gay nightclub shooting.

Last June, the city of Delray Beach in south Florida unveiled a rainbow mural at an intersection on the fifth anniversary of the attack, in which a gunman killed 49 people at the club in Orlando.

A few days later, police noticed tire skid marks that were approximately 15 feet across the painting, according to an affidavit.

Cellphone footage sent to authorities showed then 19-year-old Alexander Jerich driving towards the intersection in a white pickup truck with a Donald Trump flag draped over it. According to the police, he had attended a 30-car rally for the former presidents birthday on 14 June.

The video clearly shows a white Chevy truck stopped at the intersection, and then intentionally accelerated the vehicle in an unreasonable unsafe manner in a short amount of time The Chevy truck continues to recklessly skid sideways, the affidavit said.

The video shows that the driver willfully drove the vehicle with disregard for the safety of any other persons or property.

Using the license plate captured in the video, police located Jerich, who agreed to turn himself in. He pleaded guilty to charges of criminal mischief and reckless driving, and agreed to pay $2,003 to repair the mural.

During a hearing last Thursday, Jerich hung his head, cried and apologized for his actions but did not offer any real explanation for them, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Justice Stephen Breyer has heard his last supreme court arguments, Reuters is reporting, ending an almost three decades-long career on the nations highest judicial bench.

Chief Justice John Roberts, his voice trembling, delivered a tribute at the end of the hearing:

The oral argument we have just concluded is the last the court will hear with Justice Breyer on the bench.

For 28 years this has been his arena for remarks profound and moving, questions challenging and insightful, and hypotheticals downright silly.

Roberts, Reuters says, was referring to liberal justice Breyers penchant for peppering attorneys arguing cases before him with queries involving outlandish hypothetical scenarios as he sorted through complex legal matters:

This sitting alone has brought us radioactive muskrats and John the Tiger man.

The justices heard about two hours of arguments in a case involving a Native American tribal authority in Oklahoma that was the last one on the courts calendar for its nine-month term.

Breyer, at 83 the oldest of the nine justices, announced in January he would retire when the court begins its summer recess, typically at the end of June after all the pending rulings are issued.

On 7 April, the US Senate approved Joe Bidens chosen replacement for Breyer, Ketanji Brown Jackson, whose historic confirmation will make her the first Black woman to sit on the supreme court.

There are developments in Florida, where the Trumpist Republican governor Ron DeSantis has been fundraising off his fight with Disney over his controversial dont say gay law that bans classroom discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity.

DeSantis, who is favored to make a run at his partys nomination for president in 2024, has reaped a record windfall from that spat, and other right-wing culture war laws he has enacted, including redrawing Floridas congressional map to eliminate Black voting power, and a 15-week abortion ban with no exception for rape, incest or human trafficking.

Campaign finance records show that DeSantis had amassed a $105m treasure chest by the end of March for his bid to seek reelection later this year, a record amount for any previous Florida politician, the Miami Herald reports.

It includes about $50,000 from two separate days in which the governors campaign sent out fundraising emails chastising Disney for its opposition to the dont say gay bill.

Last week, DeSantis signed into law a bill hastily approved at his behest by Floridas Republican-dominated legislature dissolving Disneys 55-year right to self-governance.

Opponents called the law an act of petty political revenge by DeSantis after the theme park giant, Floridas largest private employer with almost 80,000 cast members, halted political donations and pledged to help overturn the dont say gay law.

Meanwhile, Disney is telling its investors that the state cannot abolish the companys special tax district without first paying off an estimated $1bn in bond debt, per a contract agreed in 1967 when the agreement was enacted.

The move suggests the fight over Disneys special status is about to turn from political to legal. A statement from the governors office has promised more legislation to deal with the issue, but no details have yet been forthcoming, the Herald says.

Heres where were at halfway through a busy Wednesday:

Please stick with us, theres more to come this afternoon.

Kevin McCarthy received a standing ovation from Republican congress members this morning as he defended recorded conversations with party leaders following the 6 January insurrection that have threatened to derail his chances of becoming House speaker.

The Associated Press reports that McCarthy, the minority leader, told the House Republican caucus that he never asked then-president Donald Trump to resign over the deadly insurrection by Trumps supporters.

The AP cited two Republicans at the private morning meeting at GOP headquarters, who were granted anonymity to discuss it.

McCarthy, who is in line to become House speaker if Republicans, as predicted, win control in the Novembers midterm elections, received a standing ovation, the lawmakers said, according to the news agency.

Its worth noting here that the allegation against McCarthy, per the damaging tapes released by the New York Times, was not that he lied about directly asking Trump to resign, but rather that he had discussed with other party officials that he would do so, then denied that.

One of the Times audio clips captured him in conversation with the the-third most senior House Republican Liz Cheney, whom he later ousted from her leadership role, saying he would tell Trump he should stand down.

Today, one Republican in the room said the meeting was cathartic for lawmakers, the AP said. Another voiced confidence that McCarthy would be the next speaker.

McCarthy, however, was challenged by two of the partys extremist members, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who said they felt singled out by the Republican leadership team.

One Republican congressman, Wisconsins Glenn Grothman, berated the media as he left the meeting.

You guys obsess over January 6. Nobody cares, he said.

An ABC poll this January found that 72% of Americans think the deadly attack on the Capitol, amid Trumps frantic efforts to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden by more than seven million votes, threatened democracy.

Read more:

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Republicans in Congress give McCarthy standing ovation for defense of leaked audio as it happened - The Guardian

This week on mypodcastReal America, I sat down with Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) and Rep. Young Kim (R-Calif.), the first two Republican Korean American women to serve in Congress, to discuss how Democrats are leaving Asian Americans behind.

On the eve of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Republican National Committee is highlighting our efforts to reach communities Democrats take for granted. As Democrats run further left, their radical agenda has become out of step with voters. Americans of all backgrounds are discovering that theres never been a better or more important time to vote Republican.

The GOP has been making inroads into the Asian American community for years. Under the Trump administration, Republicans saw a7 percent gainwith Asian Americans from 2016 to 2020. The shift was even greater among Vietnamese Americans, who experienced a14 percent shift towardRepublican candidates. And if that news wasnt bad enough for Democrats,43 percent of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communitysee race relations getting worse under Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, the RNC is building relationships with Asian Americans by opening Asian Pacific American community centers in California, Georgia, Texas and a brand new one in Nevada, with more to come. These grassroots, local offices are part of how were building relationships with Asian Americans and taking our message of law and order, educational opportunity, and economic growth to new voters.

Asian Americans arent the only community where the RNC is making inroads. While Democrats push socialism, radical abortion policies and refer to them as Latinx, Hispanic Americans are concerned about preserving freedoms, raising strong families and putting food on the table. Its no wonder a recent Quinnipiacpollfound that Bidens approval rating with Hispanic voters was lower than any other racial or ethnic group: just 12 percent say they approve strongly of his time in office.

In fact, polls consistently show Hispanics are moving away from the Democratic Party. A Wall Street Journalpollfrom December found that Hispanic voters were equally divided over who they would vote for in the next election. The momentum certainly seems to be with the GOP: A record103 Republican Hispanic candidatesare seeking congressional seats this year. Its an early sign that our efforts to take our message to new voters and investment in Hispanic community centers in states like Texas, Wisconsin and Florida are making an impact.

A similar pattern is playing out among Black voters, who have been particularly hard hit by Democrats destructive agenda. Democratic support for the defund-the-police movement has led to asurge in violent crimethats disproportionately impacting Black Americans. Inflation is hitting Black Americans especially women hardest, with 44 percent saying rising prices pose a serious financial hardship. Thats why Black support for Democrats is quickly eroding: Backing for Democratic Congressional candidates fell from 56 percent in November to only 35 percent in March.

Its no better for Biden, whose approval with Black Americans plummeted 30pointssince he took office. Black GOP Congressional candidates like Texas Wesley Hunt and Michigans John James are proof that skin color doesnt dictate values or political affiliation. Our strategic engagement with Black Republican candidates, elected officials, and community leaders through our RNC Black American community centers are helping Republicans establish a presence in districts previously dominated by Democrats all over the country.

These trends are part of a broader story. For generations, Democrats thought they had a monopoly on minority voters. But now, Democrats failed promises, polarizing agenda and rising prices are catching up with them. Were building relationships and making significant investments in these communities. Were winning over new voters by taking our message of freedom and opportunity to their doorstep. And were identifying and equipping young Republican leaders from minority communities through our RNC Rising Star program.

Democrats are simply doubling down on their failed policies and overplaying their divisive rhetoric without offering solutions or plans to keep families safe, empower entrepreneurs and create opportunities for advancement. Meanwhile, Republicans are committed to enacting policies that will lift all Americans from every background. Come November, Democrats will be in for a rude awakening.

Ronna McDaniel is chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. Follow her on Twitter: @GOPChairwoman.

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Minorities are finding a new political home with the Republican Party - The Hill

Most of the 10 Republican candidates running for governor in Michigan claim to be the most conservative candidate and the biggest Donald Trump supporter of the bunch.

Not Michael Markey Jr.

Markey is one of the lesser known candidates on the ballot. The 38-year-old Grand Haven financial adviser just jumped into the race a few months ago, but gathered more petitions signatures than any candidate outside of Tudor Dixon and Perry Johnson.

Im the only moderate. No one else is running in the moderate lane, Markey said. We need a leader who can listen to both sides, bring ideas in from both sides and I didnt see anybody else running that way. So is it a benefit? Yes. Am I doing it for the benefit? No.

Markey does not consider himself pro-Trump or anti-Trump. Markey says hes somewhere in the middle when it comes to the former president.

I always thought he could have used a secretary of social media, Markey said.

While other candidates repeat disproven claims of election fraud, Markeys top priority is improving Michigans education system, reducing the number of abortions and lowering taxes.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be benched for making too many mistakes, Markey said, but the personal attacks from other Republicans go too far.

People want to demonize the other party, Markey said. Ronald Reagan told us not to do that. He said we should refer to them as our friends on the left.

Markey thinks, as a moderate, he is the only candidate who can pull in votes from Democrats who are unhappy with Whitmer and President Joe Biden.

The Michigan Republican Partys endorsement convention Saturday, April 23, was full of Trump love and Whitmer hate.

Governor candidates had the option of paying $10,000 for a two-minute commercial during the event, Markey said, but were required to talk about Whitmer for 30 seconds of the ad.

Im a finance guy, Markey said. So it bugs me that I was going to spend $2,500 to talk about Governor Whitmer. Simple as that.

Only Perry Johnson and Ryan Kelley took the offer. Johnsons ad never mentioned Whitmer, however.

Kelleys commercial was a simple video of him talking about his political views. Johnsons was a heavily produced TV-style ad with flashy editing, sound effects and graphics and a narrator saying: Perry Johnson is, by far, the most conservative man running for governor.

There are a record 10 candidates in the Republican primary for governor the most ever in Michigan.

Republican voters have 10 governor candidates to choose from: Tudor Dixon, Perry Johnson, Michael Markey Jr., Michael Brown, James Craig, Kevin Rinke, Garrett Soldano, Ryan Kelley, Donna Brandenburg and Ralph Rebandt.

Splitting the vote

The large slate makes for a much different dynamic than if there were only a few candidates, experts say.

Every one of the candidates and their campaigns have to assume that this will be a battle for a plurality, and perhaps one as low as the 30s (% range) or high 20s (% range), said John Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs, a Republican public relations firm.

The only way a candidate might top 50% is if they get the Trump endorsement and it is the right endorsement, Sellek said.

RELATED: Michigan governor candidates cant read Trumps mind, but many think he will endorse them

The question is, will all Trumps supporters coalesce around his pick? And what if he does not endorse anybody in the race?

There are candidates who have really strong followings but their strong followings (include) strong President Trump supporters, Markey said. I dont think all of their followers are going to jump ship and go to wherever he endorses. So it may actually split that vote.

A split vote is the best-case scenario for Markey. And if all the other candidates run in the ultra conservative, Trump lane and Markey is left alone as a more moderate candidate, it could help his chances.

Retired Detroit Police Chief James Craig has been quiet on the campaign trail lately, but could be another challenger in the moderate lane although he has met with Trump and said he would accept the former presidents endorsement.

Raising the funds

While other Republican candidates attended lavish parties around Grand Rapids this weekend during the Republican convention, Markey had a different approach.

We gave pizzas out to everyone, Markey said. We didnt go to the schmoozy parties. We sat there on the street. I cant tell you the number of people who came up and just kept saying, Ive been looking for somebody like this.

Michael Markey Jr., a Republican candidate for governor, hands out pizzas during a campaign event in Grand Rapids.

Markey joined the race so recently, he is not even listed on Michigans last update showing how much candidates have raised. Now that he has gathered enough signatures to get on the ballot, Markey is focused on fundraising and traveling the state to talk to residents.

He has a long way to catch up to Rinke, Craig, Soldano and Johnson, who each have more than $1 million.

RELATED: Self-funded millionaires, small-dollar donors shape Republican race to challenge Whitmer

With so many competitors in the race, experts say money will be key. Johnson and Rinke lead the pack here, pledging millions of their own dollars to get their name out there.

It does give an advantage to those who can self-fund, said John Truscott, former spokesperson for Gov. John Engler and current CEO at public relations firm Truscott-Rossman. This is going to be a very expensive race.

The Aug. 2 primary election will narrow the field of candidates to one per party. Winners of the partys primaries will move on to the general election on Nov. 8.

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Meet the Republican candidate for governor who isnt pro-Trump - MLive.com