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RandySF's JournalMinnesota Sen. Mitchell (DFL) insists she won't resign as demands for answers about arrest grow
Sen. Nicole Mitchell steered clear of the Capitol again Thursday as colleagues wrestled with how to deal with the Democratic lawmaker’s legal troubles.
Mitchell issued a new statement saying a criminal complaint she faces in an alleged home invasion is incomplete, and she insisted she would not resign.
“I am confident that a much different picture will emerge when all of the facts are known,” Mitchell said in a statement issued through her attorney. “I am as committed to my constituents today as the day I was elected, including important work for veterans and children, and I do not intend to resign."
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz offered his initial comments on her status as a lawmaker, saying he’s reserving judgment pending additional information due soon. Senate Republicans exerted more pressure for a swift ethics investigation, using procedural motions to demonstrate how a 33-33 Senate would go if GOP requests weren’t met.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/04/25/minnesota-senator-nicole-mitchell-insists-she-wont-resign
MN: DFL says Equal Rights Amendment remains a priority, has a murky path forward as opposition organizes
Minnesota Democrats on Thursday said they remain optimistic that an Equal Rights Amendment can pass this year and tee up the question for voters in the 2026 general election.
That’s despite a dwindling clock on the remainder of the legislative session and the arrest of a DFL senator, which has spurred a standstill in the Senate.
Last year, the Senate approved the ballot measure that seeks to guarantee equal rights no matter someone’s race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin. But the House didn’t take it up for a vote.
House Democrats have since put forward an updated version of the proposal that would more explicitly ensure legal protections for reproductive health care — including abortion — and gender-affirming care.
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/04/25/dfl-says-equal-rights-amendment-remains-a-priority-as-opposition-organizes
WI: Kaul argues state law does not prohibit absentee ballot drop boxes
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined an ongoing legal battle over the use of absentee ballot drop boxes in the state’s elections, with the state Department of Justice filing a brief that argues state law does not prohibit their use.
The brief, filed with the state Supreme Court Wednesday, sides with Priorities USA, the national non-profit group that brought the lawsuit against the prohibition. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers also joined the lawsuit earlier this month, arguing for the use of drop boxes.
Drop boxes were banned by the state Supreme Court in 2021 when a group of Waukesha County voters challenged their legality. In a mixed opinion, the then-conservative controlled Court ruled that drop boxes were illegal because they weren’t staffed by municipal clerks or their employees. Prior to the ban, drop boxes had been used for years in 66 of the state’s 72 counties. At the time of that decision, there were 570 operating drop boxes across the state.
The lawsuit asking the now-liberal controlled Court to overturn that decision was filed last July.
https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/kaul-argues-state-law-does-not-prohibit-absentee-ballot-drop-boxes/
Campaigns will spend 'hundreds of millions' in Wisconsin, party chairs say
Political campaigns will likely spend hundreds of millions of dollars on elections in Wisconsin this year, agreed the state chairs of both major political parties at a forum in Madison on Thursday.
Democrat Ben Wikler and Republican Brian Schimming would not commit to a specific dollar amount, but they agreed spending will be high for contests up and down the ballot.
Wisconsin is a pivotal state in the presidential race. There are also competitive races for the U.S. Senate, two congressional seats and new state legislative districts.
“It’s gonna be expensive this time at all levels, I think,” Schimming said.
https://www.wpr.org/news/campaigns-will-spend-hundreds-of-millions-in-wisconsin-party-chairs-say
Battle lines drawn in fight for Michigan House majority: What to know
One of Michigan’s biggest political fights of the year — the battle for control of the state House — is officially underway.
Candidate lists were finalized this week for each 110 House districts, all of which are up for election in November as Democrats seek to defend their narrow, two-seat edge.
Both major parties are targeting swing districts, incumbents are facing primary challenges and term-limit reforms have opened the door for former lawmakers to make another run.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: In 2022, Democrats secured slim majorities in the House and Senate and swept statewide offices for the first time in decades. They worked with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to pass a sweeping legislative agenda.
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/battle-lines-drawn-fight-michigan-house-majority-what-know
Fate of Colorado constitution's same-sex marriage ban could land on November ballot
Colorado voters could be asked to amend the state constitution this fall to remove language against same-sex marriages.
Even though civil unions for same-sex marriage became legal in the state in 2013 — and same-sex marriages became legal nationwide in 2015 with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling — the Colorado constitution retains language that states “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”
Voters narrowly approved that language in 2006 through a ballot initiative, but the Legislature is now considering sending a measure to voters to get rid of the sentence.
“As representatives of the people of Colorado, it is our shared responsibility to uphold the principles of equality and justice for all citizens, regardless of political affiliations,” said state Sen. Joann Ginal, a Fort Collins Democrat. “While we’re protected today, our state constitution still reflects outdated language and values.”
https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/fate-of-colorado-constitutions-same-sex-marriage-ban-could-land-on-november-ballot/
London mayor election: Sadiq Khan's lead smallest over Susan Hall since campaigns started, new poll shows
London’s mayoral race was dramatically stirred up by a new poll showing the smallest lead for Sadiq Khan ahead of Susan Hall since their campaigns got under way.
With just a week to go to polling day, the Savanta survey for the Mile End Institute at Queen Mary University of London put the Labour mayor on 46 per cent, with his Tory challenger on 33 per cent, a lead of 13 points.
The findings suggest the final result may be far closer than earlier polls which put Mr Khan some 24 to 25 points ahead, and even sparked talk that Ms Hall may, possibly be able to pull off a surprise victory.
It is the second one to show a significantly smaller lead for the Labour candidate and pointed to some “key battlegrounds” possibly emerging in South and West London.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-mayor-election-sadiq-khan-susan-hall-poll-b1153729.html
Canada: Mississauga election underway amid affordability crisis
Nominations to become the next mayor of Mississauga close April 26, and whoever takes on the job will be doing so during a period that many candidates, experts and residents are referring to as an affordability crisis.
The city's largest food bank has broken records month after month, with eight per cent of residents relying on food bank services. Many more are struggling with rising housing and other costs, with the average one-bedroom unit now renting for $2,283 a month according to Rentals.ca.
Meghan Nicholls, CEO of Food Banks Mississauga, says some are hoping a new mayor can help.
"People are looking for a lifeline in a lot of places," said Nicholls. "Affordability, affordable housing, cost of living, cost of food are at the very forefront of people's minds right now in Mississauga."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/mississauga-election-underway-amid-affordability-crisis-for-many-residents-1.7183943
GOP ethics complaints target 2 Arizona House Democrats for 'attempted insurrection'
Two House Democrats have been hit with ethics complaints for behavior Republicans characterized as "an attempted insurrection" in the aftermath of an April 10 debate about Arizona's 1864 abortion law.
The complaint names Rep. Oscar de los Santos, the assistant minority leader, and Rep. Analise Ortiz, both Phoenix Democrats. They led fellow Democrats in chants of "shame, shame" after the House abruptly went into a recess rather than consider a motion to repeal the 160-year-old law. They also called out Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix, when he was answering reporters' questions about his attempt to get a repeal vote.
In a statement, the two lawmakers defended their actions, saying they were representing their constituents in decrying what they called "the callous, heartless, and most importantly dangerous actions" of GOP leadership by not allowing a vote on a repeal of the abortion law.
The complaint accuses De Los Santos of disorderly behavior, violation of House decorum rules and impermissible debate.
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2024/04/26/arizona-abortion-ban-ethics-complaints-target-protests-by-2-democrats/73456676007/
Emhoff calls Columbia University leaders amid campus unrest
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff held private calls with two Jewish community leaders at Columbia University earlier this week, as the college grappled with its response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The calls with Rabbi Elie Buechler, who directs the school’s Orthodox Union-Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, and Brian Cohen, executive director of Columbia’s chapter of Hillel, focused largely on addressing antisemitism, a White House official said.
“The Second Gentleman recognized that while every American has the right to freedom of speech and to protest peacefully, hate speech and calls for violence against Jews is both antisemitic and unacceptable,” said the official, who was granted anonymity to describe private conversations.
Emhoff, the nation’s most prominent Jewish official, also emphasized that “no student should feel unsafe on campus and offered his support on behalf of the Administration.”
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/25/white-house-johnson-national-guard-protesters-00154374
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