RandySF
RandySF's JournalFederal lawsuit claims SC absentee ballot law makes voting harder for people with disabilities
COLUMBIA — A South Carolina law meant to prevent election fraud makes it harder for people with disabilities to vote, civil rights groups claimed in a federal lawsuit.
Under a 2022 law, anyone can vote early with no excuse necessary or request an absentee ballot to vote by mail. To prevent the possibility of fraud, legislators added a limit of five ballots that any one person could request or submit for someone else.
In nursing homes and residential care settings, where residents often rely on a single staff member to help them vote, that makes voting difficult, attorneys for the state American Civil Liberties Union argued in a lawsuit filed in federal court Friday.
Three nursing home residents sued alongside the state NAACP, contending the law violates the federal Voting Rights Act.
https://scdailygazette.com/2025/12/08/federal-lawsuit-claims-sc-absentee-ballot-law-makes-voting-harder-for-people-with-disabilities/
Georgia lawmaker (D) charged with unemployment fraud
A Georgia state representative is accused of fraudulently collecting $17,811 in unemployment benefits after allegedly applying for a federal program meant to support people who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday.
Rep. Sharon Henderson, a Covington Democrat whose district spans a western portion of Newton County, was charged with two counts of theft of government funds and 10 counts of making false statements.
Henderson was scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin Anand on Monday afternoon. She did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The program, which was established by Congress in 2020, provided cash assistance to those experiencing unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants were required to submit weekly certifications providing the reason they were unemployed and stating that they were actively looking for work.
https://georgiarecorder.com/briefs/georgia-lawmaker-charged-with-unemployment-fraud/
Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey files for Tarrant County judge, forgoing eighth term in Congress
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, is running for Tarrant County judge, according to a source with knowledge of his plans, marking a surprise last-minute pivot for the seven-term congressman who was expected to run for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
Instead, shortly before Monday’s 6 p.m. filing deadline, Veasey decided to seek the Democratic nomination for Tarrant County’s top elected office, bringing an end to his tenure in Congress that began in 2013.
“This decision is about where I can best serve the people of Tarrant County,” Veasey said in a statement. “It’s about strengthening our party, opening the door for new leadership and ensuring that our community continues to thrive.”
The Fort Worth Democrat has represented Texas’ 33rd Congressional District since its creation by court order, becoming the first Black member of Congress from Texas’ third-largest county. But the district, anchored in Veasey’s hometown of Fort Worth, was redrawn by Republicans this summer to cut out all of Tarrant County. The new 33rd District was drawn entirely in Dallas County and contains only about a third of Veasey’s current constituents.
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/marc-veasey-tarrant-county-judge-democratic-primary-2026/
A Democrat takes on Trump-backed candidate for Miami mayor in a key Hispanic battleground
MIAMI (AP) — A candidate backed by President Donald Trump and one supported by national Democratic figures face off Tuesday to be the next Miami mayor, in this sun-kissed city shaped by immigrants where both major parties are watching for a glimpse into their standing ahead of next year's midterms, particularly among Hispanic voters.
If elected, Eileen Higgins would become the first Democrat to lead the city of 487,000 in nearly three decades. A win by Emilio Gonzalez could help calm the GOP as it seeks to maintain a grip in Miami and show its strength in a Hispanic-majority place.
The Miami mayoral runoff — one of the final electoral battles before the 2026 midterms — comes on the heels of Trump’s influence in shifting the city’s political landscape markedly to the right. That has made Higgins’ candidacy a test for Democratic prospects in Florida and among Latinos in other places.
Big-name Florida Republicans such as Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott have weighed in for Gonzalez, the former city manager, in the otherwise nonpartisan race. Well-known Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, have joined the campaign trail to help Higgins, a Democrat who served on the county commission before winning a runoff spot last month.
https://www.ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/a-democrat-takes-on-trump-backed-candidate-for-miami-mayor-in-a-key-hispanic-battleground/article_c8850903-8868-5747-be6f-cd1e9a9fb8fe.html
Women's College Basketball Rankings - Week 6
1 UConn
2 Texas
3 South Carolina
4 UCLA
5 LSU
6 Michigan
7 Maryland
8 TCU
9 Oklahoma
10 Iowa State
11 Iowa
12 North Carolina
13 Baylor
14 Vanderbilt
15 Kentucky
16 USC
17 Ole Miss
18 Tennessee
19 Notre Dame
20 Washington
21 Ohio State
22 Louisville
23 Oklahoma State
24 Nebraska
25 Michigan State
https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/basketball-women/d1/associated-press
Men's College Basketball Rankings - Week 6
1 Arizona
2 Michigan
3 Duke
4 Iowa State
5 UConn
6 Purdue
7 Houston
8 Gonzaga
9 Michigan State
10 BYU
11 Louisville
12 Alabama
13 Illinois
14 North Carolina
15 Vanderbilt
16 Texas Tech
17 Arkansas
18 Florida
19 Kansas
20 Tennessee
21 Auburn
22 St. John's
23 Nebraska
24 Virginia
25 UCLA
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings
Dem governors say party's midterm strategy must focus on pocketbook concerns
Phoenix — Democratic governors met this weekend in Arizona, looking to parlay last month’s big victories for the party in New Jersey and Virginia into campaigns for next year’s midterms, when a majority of governor's seats will be up for election.
Those elections helped Democrats zero in on what they see as a strategy to help grow their ranks in office and recover from big losses in 2024, when voters put Donald Trump back in the White House and gave Republicans majorities in both houses of Congress.
The plan is to focus intently on making life more affordable, a message they hope will work even in some conservative-leaning states.
“We have to be laser focused on people’s everyday concerns and how hard life is right now for the American people,” said Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, the new chairman of the Democratic Governors Association and a possible candidate for president in 2028. “Everybody wants the economy of tomorrow, but paying the bills today is absolutely critical."
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/07/democratic-governors-say-party-midterm-strategy-must-focus-on-pocketbook-concerns/87662628007/
Swing District Republicans in States Like Pennsylvania Brace for Political Fallout if Health Care Subsidies Expire
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Republicans in key battleground U.S. House districts are working to contain the political fallout that may come when thousands of their constituents face higher bills for health insurance coverage obtained through the Affordable Care Act.
For a critical sliver of the Republican majority, the impending expiration of what are called enhanced premium tax credits after Dec. 31 is a pressing concern as they potentially face headwinds in a 2026 midterm election that will be critical to President Donald Trump’s agenda.
One of those is first-term U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pa., whose victory for the Allentown-area seat last year was among the narrowest in the nation.
Mackenzie is part of a bipartisan group that has been pressing for an eleventh-hour compromise, advocating for an extension of the tax credits that tries to fix perceived flaws and bring down health care costs. But the push is a long shot due to entrenched GOP opposition to the health overhaul known as “Obamacare.”
https://buckscountybeacon.com/2025/12/swing-district-republicans-in-states-like-pennsylvania-brace-for-political-fallout-if-health-care-subsidies-expire/
Nancy Mace Says Pelosi Was the Most Effective Speaker
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), writing in the New York Times:
“Here’s a hard truth Republicans don’t want to hear: Nancy Pelosi was a more effective House speaker than any Republican this century. I agree with her on essentially nothing. But she understood something we don’t: No majority is permanent. When Democrats hold the majority, they ram through the most progressive policies they can. They deliver for the coalition that elected them while they are in power.”
“Republicans do the opposite. We get the majority, then become petrified of losing it. We pass the most moderate policies we can pressure conservatives to accept, betraying the coalition that delivered us here. Ms. Pelosi was ruthless, but she got things done. The current House is restrictive and ineffective, control with barely any results. Republican leadership seems intent on replicating her model of consolidation without her bold vision to push through the policies that won us the majority.”
https://politicalwire.com/2025/12/08/nancy-mace-says-pelosi-was-the-most-effective-speaker/
TX-33: Texas Rep. Marc Veasey to drop his reelection bid
Rep. Marc Veasey is set to drop his House bid in a Dallas-area seat and will instead run for Tarrant County judge, according to a person familiar with the situation granted anonymity.
It’s the latest reshuffle brought on by the Texas GOP’s gerrymander, which could yield the party as many as five additional seats in next year’s midterms. Veasey’s north Texas district was redrawn to favor Republicans.
Veasey had been expected to run for the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who launched her Senate campaign on Monday after former Rep. Colin Allred dropped out of that race. Punchbowl News first reported Veasey’s decision.
Allred’s decision to bow out of the Senate race and instead run for a seat in the House sets up yet another primary battle between the former NFL linebacker and Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Texas) in the state’s newly redrawn 33rd Congressional District. Johnson succeeded Allred after he left the House for his first Senate bid in 2024.
https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/12/08/congress/dems-crypto-market-bill-00682090
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