Politics
Democrats loved hating on Devin Nunes. Now there’s a six-way race to replace him
Voters within the Central Valley will solid their ballots Tuesday in a particular election to fill the congressional seat left vacant when Republican Rep. Devin Nunes resigned in January to move Donald Trump’s new social media firm.
The highest candidate will signify the previous twenty second Congressional District, which covers a majority of Fresno County and parts of Tulare County, by way of early January 2023.
“It’s a one-time seat for anyone to win and be in Congress for a really quick time frame,” mentioned Paul Mitchell, a Democratic redistricting skilled.
Listed here are 5 issues to know concerning the race:
Why is that this election occurring?
Nunes’ abrupt retirement triggered a expensive recreation of musical chairs within the San Joaquin Valley. It occurred shortly after the once-every-decade redrawing of congressional district strains. Had Nunes not stepped down, he would have confronted reelection in a district extra Democratic than the strongly Republican ones he had represented for almost twenty years. Or, as a result of members of Congress aren’t required to reside of their districts, Nunes may have run in one other district towards a fellow GOP incumbent.
Gov. Gavin Newsom known as for a particular election on April 5 to fill the rest of Nunes’ time period.
The particular election is anticipated to value Fresno and Tulare counties’ taxpayers between $1.4 million and $1.6 million, based on the Fresno County Registrar of Voters and the Solar-Gazette newspaper.
Who’s Nunes?
Nunes was first elected to Congress in 2002. The son of a longtime dairy farm household, Nunes has loudly denounced efforts to battle local weather change and environmental rules that he claimed harmed the area’s agriculture trade.
Locals appreciated his efforts to extend water provides for farmers, although his proposals have been typically stymied within the nation’s capital. Nunes took motion to assist the drought-stricken. When a whole bunch of wells ran dry in East Porterville, the then-congressman helped organize water deliveries. Nonetheless, even a few of his allies frightened that his give attention to valley points was diverted by his subsequent function: Nunes turned one in every of Trump’s most loyal and fierce defenders, particularly in the course of the president’s two impeachments. He was the main target of nationwide scorn from Democrats.
Nunes, 48, additionally drew headlines for a number of lawsuits he filed in an try and quash criticism, notably an unsuccessful 2019 effort towards Twitter and a Republican strategist over parody accounts named @DevinNunesMom and @DevinCow. He mentioned the accounts defamed him, costing him political help in his 2018 reelection.
Who desires to interchange him?
4 Republicans and two Democrats have been courting voters.
Political analysts say Republican Connie Conway, a former state legislative chief, has emerged because the front-runner. Elizabeth Heng, a GOP candidate from Fresno who has additionally obtained consideration within the race, is the daughter of Chinese language and Cambodian immigrants who fled the Khmer Rouge. After graduate college, she began an encrypted web browser, and in 2018 unsuccessfully ran towards Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno).
“Connie has the very best likelihood as a result of folks know her identify,” mentioned Amanda Renteria, a Democratic Central Valley native who unsuccessfully ran for Congress and governor. “Individuals will bear in mind Elizabeth Heng simply because she went towards Costa not too way back. She’s kind of introduced a youthful, newer viewers.”
Conway entered the race late and raised $82,893 from January to March 16, based on the Federal Election Fee. The 71-year-old has described herself as a “caretaker” for the seat with no plans to hunt reelection.
“If there was a spot to go on, I feel Congressman Nunes most likely would have taken that chance and we wouldn’t be having this particular election,” she mentioned. “However then I’ve to even ask myself, ‘Would I search it even when there was?’ and at this level in my life, it appealed to me to simply end this job.”
When Heng first ran for Congress in 2018, she mentioned constituents made it clear that water, immigration and schooling have been among the many greatest points going through the valley.
“We’re nonetheless speaking about the identical points. They’re simply a lot, a lot worse,” mentioned Heng, 37. “We’d like the subsequent era to step up, communicate out and battle for our future.”
Heng has raised extra money than every other candidate, accumulating $214,900 by way of March 16, based on the FEC. Eric Garcia, a Democrat from Clovis and a former Marine, was second, with $205,715.
Garcia, 34, mentioned he at all times supposed to run towards Nunes, and his resignation didn’t change his plan.
“I went ahead with it so I may lastly give our district, earlier than it disappears the best way it’s now, precise illustration versus the dearth thereof when Devin was within the seat for over 10-plus years,” he mentioned.
Different candidates on the poll are Republican enterprise house owners Michael Maher, 38, and Matt Stoll, 44, and Democratic water useful resource supervisor Lourin Hubbard, 33.
Why is that this an uncommon election?
That’s as a result of the twenty second Congressional District, as at present constituted, will not exist after this 12 months.
Beneath new district maps, Nunes’ Republican voter base bought pushed into surrounding districts. Practically half of Nunes’ district was mixed with about half of Costa’s district to create the brand new twenty first Congressional District. Costa, a Fresno native, is working for reelection on this district.
A small a part of Nunes’ district was positioned into the brand new twenty second District, which encompasses an enormous chunk of Kern County and parts of Tulare and Kings counties. Incumbent Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford) introduced his run for reelection on this district.
What occurs subsequent?
Voters can mail of their ballots or present up in particular person at voting facilities on April 5.
If a candidate doesn’t win a majority of votes, the highest two candidates will transfer onto the June 7 election, the identical day as statewide major elections. This implies candidates who run to fill Nunes’ seat may additionally discover themselves campaigning for an additional congressional district concurrently.
Maher, Stoll and Garcia have all been licensed to run towards Costa within the new twenty first District, based on the secretary of state’s workplace.
“Speak about a complicated poll,” Conway mentioned. “It will be my hope that it’s reduce and dry on April 5, nevertheless it’s an enormous ask with six candidates.”
Occasions workers writers Seema Mehta and Jennifer Haberkorn contributed to this report.
Politics
Dem leader condemns Thanksgiving bomb threats against liberal lawmakers after Team Trump targeted
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned several threats, mostly focused on lawmakers from Connecticut, targeting members of his caucus, just days after numerous threats were made against President-elect Trump’s cabinet selections.
Jeffries, D-N.Y., confirmed in a statement Friday that several Democrats were targeted with threats ranging from pipe bombs in their mailboxes to “swatting” — or filing a false police report on another person’s behalf that often results in a SWAT team being dispatched.
All of the threatening messages were signed “MAGA,” Jeffries said, adding law enforcement found no ordnance at any of the targeted lawmakers’ homes.
“America is a democracy. Threats of violence against elected officials are unacceptable, unconscionable and have no place in a civilized society. All perpetrators of political violence directed at any party must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” he said.
TOP DEM: ‘UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION’ IS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY
“House Democrats will not be deterred or intimidated from serving the people by violent threats. We have been in close communication with the Sergeant at Arms office and it is imperative that Congress provide maximum protection for all Members and their families moving forward.”
After Jeffries spoke out, Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat from neighboring Rhode Island, announced on Friday afternoon that his home had been targeted, as well. Magaziner said Providence police responded quickly and no one was harmed.
Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., had his home targeted by a bomb threat. A spokesperson said it appeared to be part of a “coordinated effort.”
Five other Democrats from the Constitution State received similar threats, including Reps. Joe Courtney, John Larson, Rosa DeLauro, Jahana Hayes and James Himes.
CT DEM SAYS IT’S CLEAR HUNTER BIDEN BROKE THE LAW
“There is no place for political violence in this country, and I hope that we may all continue through the holiday season with peace and civility,” said Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee who replaced Sen.-elect Adam Schiff, D-Calif.
Prior to that spate of threats, Trump’s U.N. ambassador-designate Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., said she was traveling home to her North Country district for Thanksgiving when she was informed of a threat against her home.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. — Trump’s initial choice for attorney general — also received a threat.
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y. — Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency — said his home was subjected to a “pro-Palestinian-themed” pipe bomb threat. Zeldin is Jewish.
Former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., whom the president-elect tapped for Labor secretary, said her Oregon home was targeted, as was that of former San Diego Chargers cornerback Scott Turner, whom Trump named to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Trump nominees including Cantor-Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick, America First Policy Institute President Brooke Rollins and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth also received threats.
In a statement, the FBI said it is aware of “numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees, and we are working with our law enforcement partners.”
“We take all potential threats seriously and, as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement,” it said.
Fox News’ Kevin Ward contributed to this report.
Politics
Capitol rioter's defamation suit against Fox News is dismissed
A Delaware court judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News filed by a Jan. 6 rioter who said the network falsely identified him as an FBI informant.
U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer L. Hall granted Fox News’ motion to dismiss the suit filed last year by Ray Epps.
Now based in Utah, Epps alleged his life was upended after former Fox host Tucker Carlson repeatedly described him as a federal agent who helped instigate the attack on the Capitol, which was an attempt to stop the certification of the election of Joe Biden.
Carlson described Epps as a principal in a false flag operation in which the government incited the Jan. 6 riot, an unfounded conspiracy theory. He made the false comments about Epps on his program over a period of nearly two years and in a series called “Patriot Purge” that streamed on Fox Nation in 2022.
In her remarks from the bench, Hall said Carlson did not act with malicious intent.
Fox News welcomed the judge’s decision, which is the third consecutive defamation case to be decided in favor of the network after the record $787-million settlement it paid to Dominion Voting Systems in April 2024.
Dominion said its business was damaged by false claims Fox News presented regarding voting fraud in the 2020 election. Fox News chose to settle the case rather than have its executives and on-air talent take the witness stand in a trial.
A separate defamation suit filed by Nina Jankowicz, the former head of the federal Disinformation Governance Board, was dismissed in July. Another case brought by Tony Bobulinski, a former business partner of Hunter Biden, was thrown out on Tuesday.
“Fox News is pleased with these back-to-back decisions from federal courts preserving the press freedoms of the First Amendment,” the network said in a statement.
Epps was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor charge for his role in the riot.
Epps testified under oath to the House committee investigating the attack that he had no involvement with the FBI, which has also stated publicly that he had no association with the bureau.
The lawsuit claimed Epps and his wife received threatening voice mails, emails and text messages because of Carlson‘s comments. Epps told the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes” that the lies ruined his Arizona-based business and led to death threats.
Carlson’s prime-time program was pulled from the Fox News lineup on April 24, 2023, the day after Epps appeared on “60 Minutes.”
Politics
Political betting markets still have plenty of action despite end of election season
The end of the election season does not mean the end of political betting, with many platforms allowing users to place wagers on everything from the 2028 election to who will be confirmed to President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
“Some people will be amazed by this, but people are already betting on 2026 and 2028,” Maxim Lott, the founder of ElectionBettingOdds.com, told Fox News Digital. “There’s been about a quarter million dollars bet already.”
The comments come after the 2024 election produced plenty of betting action, with users across multiple platforms wagering over $2 billion on the outcome of the latest race.
WHAT ARE ELECTION BETTING ODDS? EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY TRUMP IS CURRENT FAVORITE
While mega sporting events, such as the Super Bowl and the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight, gives gamblers plenty to wager on after the election, those looking for something political to bet on will still have plenty of options.
One of the most popular topics is who will be the nominees for both major parties in 2028, with ElectionBettingOdds.com showing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Vice President-elect JD Vance being the current leaders for Democrats and Republicans, respectively.
Other names with a significant amount of attention for betters include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for the Democratic nomination, while Vance is trailed by names like entrepreneur and future head of the new Department of Government Efficiency Vivek Ramaswamy and Donald Trump Jr. on the Republican side.
“The big Democratic governors are favored to be the next nominee,” Lott said, noting that Vance currently holds a sizable lead over other options on the GOP side.
TRUMP OPENS UP LARGEST BETTING LEAD SINCE DAYS AFTER BIDEN’S DROPOUT
Vance is also the current betting leader on who will win the 2028 presidential election, ElectionBettingOdds.com shows, followed by Newson and Shapiro as the next two likely options.
However, Lott warned it is still too early to tell what the future holds, noting that the markets will start to provide more clarity as more information becomes known over the next few years.
“As the future becomes clearer… as we get closer to 2026, 2028, these odds will change,” Lott said. “So if the Trump administration is doing really well, the economy is booming, inflation is not out of control, wars are ending, Vance’s odds will certainly go up.”
Bettors also are not limited to wagering on elections, with platforms such as Polymarket allowing users to place bets on Trump’s picks to serve in his Cabinet and whether they will be confirmed. Bettors can also place wagers on questions such as if they believe the war in Ukraine will end in Trump’s first 90 days or if there will be a cease-fire in Gaza in 2024.
According to Lott, taking a look at the current betting odds for many scenarios can help inform you about what is going on in the world, even if you do not place bets yourself.
“People often ask… is there any value to this… it’s just gambling. It’s silly,” Lott said. “But actually it’s very useful… if you want to know what’s going to happen in 2028 or if the Trump administration is going to be a success, you could read 100 news articles on it. Some will misinform you. Or, you can just go to the prediction markets and see… is Vance a 20% chance of becoming the next Republican nominee or is he a 90% chance? That tells you a lot.”
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