MT: Democratic AG challenger Alke calls on Knudsen (R) to disgorge funds, cooperate with COPP

Ben Alke, the Bozeman-based attorney and Democrat who will likely face incumbent Republican Attorney General Austin Knudsen in the general election, is calling for Montana’s top law enforcement officer to return campaign donations he’s raised above the minimum in the primary because of Knudsen’s comments at a recent fundraising event in Dillon.

During a May 11 event meant to support conservative candidates, Knudsen told the crowd that he had recruited fellow Republican and Daniels County Attorney Logan Olson to run against him, but that Olson wasn’t campaigning or fundraising, rather just playing the role of primary challenger so that Knudsen could raise more funds. During the same meeting, Knudsen called Montana’s political fundraising laws “ridiculous.”

The Montana Commissioner of Political Practices has accepted complaints from Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Sheila Hogan, who filed two separate but related complaints against Knudsen and Olson.

In addition to Alke calling for the return of excessive campaign donations, he also called for Knudsen to work quickly and cooperatively with the Commissioner of Political Practices Chris Gallus.


https://dailymontanan.com/2024/05/20/democrat-ag-challenger-alke-calls-on-knudsen-to-disgorge-funds-cooperate-with-copp/

Right-wing group files lawsuit challenging the maintenance of the Washoe County Nevada's voter rolls.

House Dems outraise House GOP with record April fundraising month

The House Democrats’ campaign arm outraised their Republican counterpart in April with a record $12.4 million brought in during the month.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) total is the highest ever in the month of April and contributed to the $57.8 million raised so far this calendar year to date, the most for the committee in a presidential election year.

Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) raised just more than $10 million during April, the second-best such month in an election year. That gives the committee $59.8 million cash on hand, the second-highest amount it has had at the end of April in an election year.

But the DCCC is still ahead with cash in the bank, wielding a total of $75.9 million




https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4675268-house-dems-outraise-house-gop-april/

Nevada abortion rights groups submit signatures to advance ballot measure

A proposed amendment to enshrine access to abortion in Nevada’s constitution is one step closer to appearing on the November 2024 ballot, after a coalition of reproductive rights advocates on Monday submitted to state officials the required number of signatures.

State officials will now review the signatures and have until July 8 to fully certify the proposed amendment for the ballot.

Nevadans for Reproductive Freedom, the group leading the effort, announced it had collected more than 200,000 signatures of registered voters — far more than the 103,000 it needed to move forward with the process of qualifying their proposal on the ballot.

The group said that it also met the requirement that the total surpass a certain amount of signatures in each of the state's four congressional districts.


https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/nevada-abortion-rights-groups-signatures-ballot-measure-rcna146116

DOJ files brief accusing right wing Georgia group of voter intimidation.

Merchan just cleared the courtroom.

GA: Supreme Court race highlights primaries statewide

ATLANTA – In an election year without either of Georgia’s U.S. senators or Gov. Brian Kemp on the ballot, a rare contest for a state Supreme Court seat is garnering what little statewide attention is focused on primary season.

Former U.S. Rep. John Barrow (D) is challenging incumbent Justice Andrew Pinson (R) tomorrow in a nonpartisan primary race that’s been laser-focused on abortion.

Otherwise, Georgia voters will be choosing party nominees for Congress and the General Assembly in a landscape where — thanks to redistricting — competitive contests are few.

The Barrow-Pinson race is unusual in that Supreme Court justices typically run for reelection unopposed. In fact, three other justices — including Chief Justice Michael Boggs — are on the ballot without opposition.

“The pattern is you get to the Supreme Court because you’re appointed by the governor to fill a vacancy,” said Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia. “Then, you run unopposed or with token opposition.”





https://www.dailycitizen.news/news/supreme-court-race-highlights-primaries-statewide/article_60533fee-16c6-11ef-93b7-b7dc2fb67769.html

The Senate filibuster is a hurdle to any national abortion bill. Democrats are campaigning on it

CHICAGO (AP) — Sen. Tammy Baldwin, facing a tough reelection fight in one of the races that will determine control of Congress, has made protecting reproductive rights a cornerstone of her campaign, and she's willing to back that up by pledging to change the Senate filibuster rules if Democrats retain control of the chamber.

The Wisconsin Democrat said taking that step is necessary to ensure that women in every state -– not the government -– can decide for themselves whether to have an abortion. As part of her campaign, she warns that Republicans might also target the filibuster to impose a national abortion ban if they prevail in November.

“Republicans have shown time and again that they will stop at nothing in their pursuit of controlling women’s bodies – and I believe them,” she said.

Democratic incumbents and challengers running for the Senate this year say they want to restore a national right to abortion, and many, like Baldwin, openly say they would support suspending the filibuster to do so. It’s become a key talking point as they try to capitalize on the nationwide battle over abortion rights that has generally helped Democratic candidates since the Supreme Court overturned constitutional protections two years ago.



https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/the-senate-filibuster-is-a-hurdle-to-any-national-abortion-bill-democrats-are-campaigning-on-it/

UK: Labour MP Stella Creasy targeted with graphic and 'misleading' anti-abortion leaflets

An MP’s constituency has been targeted by an anti-abortion organisation with graphic leaflets, The Independent has learned.

The Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform UK, which has compared abortion to the holocaust, is behind the campaign in Walthamstow – and the Advertising Standards Agency says there is nothing it can do about it.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, Labour MP Stella Creasy said the leaflets “shocked” and “distressed” her constituents. She has raised concerns that the leaflets showing an image of an embryo are misleading.

“Children and women who experienced miscarriage picked them up,” she added. “There have to be ways in which we protect people’s personal spaces.”




https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-abortion-leaflets-stella-creasy-walthamstow-b2542883.html

Gov. Hobbs issues executive order expanding access to contraception in Arizona

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has issued an executive order designed to expand access to contraception.

On Monday, the governor said she is working to provide free and affordable birth control in the wake of the uncertainty in regards to the state’s territorial abortion ban.

“Access to contraception is a right,” Gov. Hobbs said in an emailed statement. “While members of our legislature tell Arizona women to put aspirin between their knees instead of taking action to pass the Arizona Right to Contraception Act, I will continue to do everything in my power to protect our reproductive freedom and ensure every Arizonan can access contraception.”

In a news release, the governor noted that the order makes over-the-counter birth control available to state employees at no cost and expands coverage to those under other health insurance plans in the state. Additionally, it requires AHCCCS, the state’s Medicaid provider, to consider ways it can expand access to contraception for its members.




https://www.azfamily.com/2024/05/20/gov-hobbs-issues-executive-order-expanding-access-contraception-arizona/