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RandySF's JournalVanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes joins elite company after hitting 1,000 career points
Nashville, Tenn. — A mid-afternoon, mid-week basketball game isn’t necessarily going to bring out the biggest crowds, and that was true Wednesday when the Vanderbilt Commodores defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 81-68 at Memorial Gymnasium. But that didn’t stop the Commodores from playing with grit, and it certainly didn’t stop sophomore guard Mikayla Blakes from putting on a historic performance.
Blakes joined an elite group of nine NCAA women’s basketball players who scored 1,000 career points in 42 games or fewer. The list includes current Indiana Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell, who hit the goal in 41 games, and Caitlin Clark, who made it in 40. Blakes also became the fastest Commodore to achieve that goal since Chantel Anderson did so in 57 games.
Blakes is playing without a ceiling, Coach Shea Ralph told reporters following the game. “When you have a player with that level of talent and skill that also has a heart, a determination, and drive, and competitiveness … there’s a saying, right, ‘God doesn’t give you everything,'” Ralph said.
“He gave her a whole lot,” she continued. “He gave her everything.”
https://www.thenexthoops.com/ncaaw/sec/mikayla-blakes-1000-career-points-vanderbilt/
DE-TREAS: State treasurer (D) will not seek re-election
Delaware Treasurer Colleen Davis announced Dec. 4 she will not seek a third term in 2026.
In a statement, Davis said she reflected for months before making her decision and believes the moment is right for her, personally and professionally.
“I want to make room for a new leader to step up. But in the 13 months ahead, my focus will remain exactly where it has always been: delivering results for the people of Delaware,” she said.
Davis was elected treasurer in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.
https://www.capegazette.com/article/state-treasurer-will-not-seek-re-election/299021
Philadelphia man who made graphic threats to Pennsylvania election official in 2024 pleads guilty
A 63-year-old Philadelphia man who threatened to skin a Pennsylvania election official alive in 2024 pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday, federal officials said.
John Courtney Pollard pleaded guilty to making interstate threats against a poll watcher in the Western District of Pennsylvania, officials said.
On Sept. 6, 2024, the election official, who was working as a regional election integrity director, posted online that they were recruiting volunteers to help "observe polls" on Election Day.
Pollard then sent the poll worker four texts, including three that were threats, according to officials. The first text Pollard sent said he was interested in being a poll watcher. Then, within 10 minutes, he sent three more threatening texts.
https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/philadelphia-john-pollard-election-official/
MI-04: Whitmer endorses state Sen. Sean McCann in 4th Congressional District race
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has endorsed state Sen. Sean McCann, a Kalamazoo Democrat, in the race for Michigan’s 4th Congressional District, which is a target for Democrats to flip in the 2026 midterms.
“From cutting taxes for seniors and families to protecting health care and creating new jobs, Sean McCann has spent his entire career fighting for West Michigan,” Whitmer said in a press release from McCann’s campaign, as well as in a post on X. “I know that Sean McCann has what it takes to stand up for Michiganders in Congress and flip this critical seat.”
The seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Holland Township), who decided in July not to run for U.S. Senate and who has left questions open as to whether he will run for re-election to his seat in the House.
“I am grateful to have the support of my friend, Governor Whitmer,” McCann said in the campaign’s release. “The Governor and I have fought hard together to lower costs for working families, expand access to healthcare, fix the damn roads and deliver tax relief for the people of Michigan, and I will take that fight with me to Congress.
https://michiganadvance.com/briefs/whitmer-endorses-state-sen-sean-mccann-in-4th-congressional-district-race/
Recount affirms winner of contested Hamtramck mayoral race
Detroit — A hand recount of ballots on Tuesday affirmed the winner of Hamtramck's tightly contested mayoral race with Adam Alharbi beating challenger Muhith Mahmood by 11 votes.
Just six votes originally separated winner Alharbi from challenger Mahmood in the Nov. 4 general election. But Tuesday's recount found Alharbi beat Mahmood by 11 votes, 2,071 to 2,060. Mahmood, a Hamtramck City Councilman, paid for the hand recount of ballots.
Wayne County election workers spent nearly all day Tuesday recounting the ballots. The new results were approved by the Wayne County Board of Canvassers Tuesday afternoon.
The next mayor of Hamtramck, a city of 28,000, is scheduled to take office January 1.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2025/12/02/hamtramck-mayor-race-recount-ballots-adam-alharbi-muhith-mahmood/87564719007/
Recall petition sought against Grand Blanc Township trustees over fire chief
Grand Blanc Township — The Genesee County Election Commission will consider petition language on Monday to recall most of Grand Blanc Township Board of Trustees after the community's fire chief was placed on leave in October, a decision multiple board members say they had nothing to do with.
Monica Shapiro, who previously ran to be township supervisor, has filed the petition to recall township Supervisor Scott Bennett; Clerk Dave Robertson; Treasurer Mike Yancho; and trustees Joel Feick, Paul White and Sarah Hugo. Shapiro ran against Bennett in November 2024 and lost.
Shapiro said she didn't include Trustee Damon Brown in the petition because he hasn't yet held office for a year.
The recall petition comes after the township board and Superintendent Dennis Liimatta came under scrutiny in October for a decision to put Grand Blanc Township Fire Chief Jamie Jent on administrative leave following the Sept. 28 attack of the Church of Latter-Day Saints in the township. Four people were killed in the shooting and fire at the church, which authorities have determined was a targeted attack; eight people were injured.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/12/01/recall-petition-filed-against-grand-blanc-trustees-over-fire-chief/87507782007/
PA-07: Lehigh Valley Candidate (D) For Congress Endorsed By Slate Of Latina Congress Members.
“Carol Obando-Derstine, one of five Democratic candidates for Congress in the Lehigh Valley, received endorsements from a slate of Latina politicians Thursday.”
https://www.mcall.com/2025/12/04/lehigh-valley-candidate-for-congress-endorsed-by-slate-of-latina-congress-members/
PA-14: Democrat Alan Bradstock hopes to challenge Reschenthaler in 2026
At least one Democrat is willing to take a shot at toppling U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler in the 14th Congressional District, where Democrats have struggled for years.
Alan Bradstock was launching his own Congressional bid in Washington, Pa. on Thursday evening, hoping to “build that common ground while we're out there and try to represent the whole district. I truly believe we have a lot more common values than the media and social media portray.”
The 14th includes all or part of a half-dozen counties surrounding Allegheny: Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland. Bradstock has called a couple of them home.
A native of the Mon Valley town of Donora, he now lives in Dunbar, Fayette County.
https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2025-12-04/democrat-alan-bradstock-hopes-to-challenge-reschenthaler-in-2026
NJ-11: Mejia (D) endorsed by ex-rival (D) in race for Sherrill seat
Marc Chaaban, who ended his two-week campaign for Mikie Sherrill’s congressional seat yesterday, has endorsed Analilia Mejia for the Democratic nomination in the February 5 special primary election.
“I got in this race because we need someone in Washington who will actually stand up to corporate power and fight for working families. Analilia has spent 25 years doing exactly that, and she’s the only reformer in this race who can win,” said Chaaban. “I have tremendous respect for all the candidates in this race, but with just weeks until Election Day, it’s time for those who really want change to consolidate support. There’s so much at stake in this election, and Analilia is our best chance to send a real fighter to Congress.”
Mejia, a Glen Ridge resident, served as national political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. Sanders has endorsed Mejia, a former New Jersey Working Families director and labor leader.
The 25-year-old Chaaban, a former congressional aide from Pine Brook, raised an impressive $100,000 in his first day as a candidate for Congress.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/mejia-endorsed-by-ex-rival-in-race-for-sherrill-nj-11-seat/
FL House redistricting chair says it would be 'irresponsible' to wait until after session
The Florida House held its first committee meeting on the contentious issue of an unprecedented mid-decade congressional redistricting effort on Thursday.
It lasted less than 25 minutes and featured no public comment.
Rep. Mike Redondo, R-Miami, chairman of the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting, explained to a packed hearing room that the meeting would focus only on an “education and introductory scope,” and it mostly consisted of an explanation about the process by Andy Bardos, an attorney with the Tallahassee office of GrayRobinson.
The hearing took place more than four months after Gov. Ron DeSantis first said it would be “appropriate” for Florida lawmakers to redraw their congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm election, because he believes that the state was “malapportioned” following the 2020 U.S. Census.
https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/12/04/fl-house-redistricting-chair-says-it-would-be-irresponsible-to-wait-until-after-session/
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