USPS commits to rerouting Reno-area mail despite bipartisan pushback and mail ballot concerns

LAS VEGAS -- The USPS announced on Tuesday it will follow through with its plan to reroute Reno-area mail processing to Sacramento, a move that drew bipartisan ire from Nevada lawmakers while raising questions about the rate at which mail ballots can be processed in a populous part of a crucial swing state.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has cast the permanent measure as a cost saving move, but federal, state and local lawmakers have complained about a lack of transparency in the process that could slow mail throughout the region.

Under the plan, all mail from the Reno area will pass through Sacramento before reaching its destination — even from one side of the city to the other.

Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, the state’s top election official, previously said moving operations could slow the processing of mail ballots, and “has the potential to disenfranchise thousands of Nevada voters and would unquestionably impact the results of Nevada’s elections.”





https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/usps-commits-rerouting-reno-area-mail-despite-bipartisan-109554531

Many Michigan congressional races thin out as candidate filing deadline passes

With the window for ballot access applications coming to a close on Tuesday, the last candidates submitted their filings for the Aug. 6 primary.

Candidates for the U.S. House and Senate had until 4 p.m. Tuesday to submit documents needed to appear on the ballot. Petition signatures have not yet been verified, so there is not yet an official candidate list. And candidates have until 4 p.m. Friday to withdraw.

With U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) announcing her retirement, more than 10 candidates announced their intent to seek the Republican nomination. But on Tuesday, the field winnowed, with five submitting the nominating petitions needed to appear on the ballot: Former U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-White Lake), Peter Meijer (R-Grand Rapids) and Justin Amash (I-Cascade Twp.), physician Sherry O’Donnell and businessman Sandy Pensler.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), actor Hill Harper and businessman Nasser Beydoun all filed in the Aug. 6 primary.




https://michiganadvance.com/2024/04/23/many-michigan-congressional-races-thin-out-as-candidate-filing-deadline-passes/

Erin McClelland wins Pennsylvania Treasurer Democratic primary, AP projects

(WHTM) — Allegheny County Democrat Erin McClelland has won the Democratic primary race for Treasurer in an upset victory over State Representative Ryan Bizzarro, who received the state party’s endorsement last year.

McClelland has worked as a substance use/mental health counselor and a policy advisor for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.

In 2014 and 2016, McClelland was the Democratic Party nominee for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District covering Cambria, Somerset, Beaver, Westmoreland, Lawrence, and Allegheny Counties. She lost the 2014 race by about 40,000 votes and the 2016 race by more than 84,000 votes.

“Being on the ballot with Donald Trump and seeing first-hand the issues of rural and working-class voters ignored by my own party was an experience and a conscious awareness that I carry with me to this day,” says McClelland on her campaign website.




https://www.abc27.com/pacounts/pennsylvania-treasurer/erin-mcclelland-wins-pennsylvania-treasurer-democratic-primary-ap-projects/

Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Auditor General

Malcolm Kenyatta has secured the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Auditor General.

Kenyatta, a Philadelphia native, has served as a state representative for the past five years.

He’ll face Republican incumbent Tim DeFoor in the general election in November.

DeFoor ran unopposed.




https://www.wgal.com/article/kenyatta-wins-democratic-nomination-for-pennsylvania-auditor-general/60578312

Pennsylvania Attorney General: Eugene DePasquale wins Democratic nomination

Eugene DePasquale has won the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania Attorney General.

DePasquale is a former Pennsylvania legislator and also served two terms as the commonwealth’s Auditor General.

DePasquale will face the Republican nominee, current York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024.

Incumbent Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, who was appointed to the post by Gov. Josh Shapiro after he left the office to assume his role as governor, did not seek re-election.


https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-attorney-general-eugene-depasquale-wins-democratic-primary/60578203

PA-10: Ex-news anchor Janelle Stelson (D) to take on GOP Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania

Former local news anchor Janelle Stelson has won the Democratic primary to take on Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) this November, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Stelson, once a news anchor for WGAL-TV 8, defeated five other Democratic challengers in the crowded field to take on Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District. She was previously a Republican, according to Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and currently lives outside of the district, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Among those who endorsed Stelson’s bid are the campaign arm of the center-left New Democrat Coalition, EMILY’s List and United Mine Workers of America.

Her most prominent challengers included Mike O’Brien, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. Punchbowl News reported O’Brien received endorsements from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) and former Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.). He also received the backing of organizations and unions including Teamsters Local 776 in Harrisburg, the largest union office in the state.


https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4616614-ex-news-anchor-janelle-stelson-to-take-on-gop-rep-scott-perry-in-pennsylvania/

Biden scores major union backing as its leaders attack Trump

CNN — Joe Biden will land a major union endorsement Wednesday from North America’s Building Trades Unions, whose leaders say the president has his infrastructure bill largely to thank for it.

In making one of their earliest ever presidential endorsements, NABTU leaders are kickstarting an eight-figure organizing program to try to deliver their 250,000 members in the battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin for Biden.

The Teamsters, whose endorsement is being pursued by both Biden and Donald Trump, are members of NABTU but abstained from Tuesday’s board vote, according to people briefed on the proceedings. They will endorse after their own upcoming convention.

The backing from NABTU, which has 3 million members nationwide, is more enthusiastic than its 2020 backing of Biden. And it comes at a moment when a significant slice of union rank-and-file has split from traditionally Democratic-aligned union leadership in ways that are reverberating through elections. That’s raised questions about the political future of the next generation of union members.





https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/23/politics/biden-building-trades-union-endorsement/index.html

PA-12: Summer Lee (D) easily wins her primary for a second term.

President Joe Biden challenges Florida's 6-week abortion ban in Tampa during campaign event

TAMPA, Fla. (WCJB) - With Florida’s 6-week abortion ban set to go into effect next week, President Joe Biden focused on the issue during his visit to the Sunshine State on Tuesday as he campaigns for a second term in office. Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee, spent the day in court in New York City.

Biden held a reproductive freedom campaign event at Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus. In November, voters will decide on a ballot measure aimed at protecting access to abortion. Democrats hope the issue of abortion will make Florida competitive.

During the campaign event, the president placed blame on Trump for overturning Roe v. Wade. The former president appointed three of the U.S. Supreme Court justices that ruled to overturn the 50-year precedent and send the issue to the states. Trump has stated he believes the issue of abortion should be left to the states.

“For 50 years, the court ruled that there was a fundamental constitutional right to privacy, but two years ago that was taken away,” said Biden. “Let’s be real clear. There’s one person responsible for this nightmare and he’s acknowledged and he brags about it, Donald Trump. Now, Trump says the law is, ‘working the way it’s supposed to.’ Trump goes on to say, individual state laws are working, his words, ‘brilliantly, brilliantly.’ It’s a six-week ban in Florida. It’s really brilliant, isn’t it?”




https://www.wcjb.com/2024/04/23/president-joe-biden-challenges-floridas-6-week-abortion-ban-tampa-during-campaign-event/

Uber defends Nevada ballot petition to cap all contingency fees at 20%

April 23 (Reuters) - In a new brief, opens new tab defending a ballot initiative to cap contingency fees in all civil litigation in Nevada at 20%, ridesharing company Uber argued that the petition meets all of Nevada’s statutory requirements for court approval.

Uber, which is the lead sponsor of the Nevada initiative, said its ballot petition, opens new tab addresses only one issue – the 20% contingency fee cap – and includes a clear, succinct description of the direct effect of the proposal, which is to change Nevada law to limit the fees that lawyers can collect in civil litigation.




https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/uber-defends-nevada-ballot-petition-cap-all-contingency-fees-20-2024-04-23/