RandySF
RandySF's JournalTrump in Charlottesville, to try to cock block congressional redistricting
Donald Trump will be in Charlottesville later today for a closed-door fundraiser, which brings up the question – what does this supposed billionaire who can’t run for political office anymore need to raise funds for?
The closed-door event is at the Trump Winery, which, do you need to close the doors to a place that nobody goes to anyway?
Seems like much ado about nothing, especially when you find out that it’s an event for allies for the Vote “No” campaign, which is the effort of MAGAs to try to cock block Virginia from balancing out the gerrymandering they’ve been doing in places like Texas, Missouri and North Carolina.
“Trump and MAGA Republicans know what’s at stake — and they’re trying to rig the system before the midterms even begin,” said Dan Gottlieb, spokesperson for the Vote “Yes” campaign
https://augustafreepress.com/news/trump-in-charlottesville-to-try-to-cock-block-congressional-redistricting/
President Donald Trump calls for repeal of ranked choice voting in Alaska
President Donald Trump on Friday called on Alaska voters to repeal ranked choice voting at the November election.
“The Wonderful People of Alaska desperately want to restore Free, Fair, and Honest Elections in their Great State, and get rid of their disastrous, and very fraudulent, “Ranked-Choice Voting,” Trump said on Truth Social.
An effort to repeal ranked choice voting in 2024 failed by just 737 votes. A separate repeal initiative, sponsored by figures aligned with the Alaska Republican Party, is set to appear on the 2026 general election ballot.
Trump gave his “complete and total support” to supporters of the repeal effort, including U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich, both Alaska Republicans running for reelection in November.
https://alaskabeacon.com/briefs/president-donald-trump-calls-for-repeal-of-ranked-choice-voting-in-alaska/
NH Supreme Court overturns conviction of man for voting in two states in 2016 election
CONCORD, N.H. — The New Hampshire Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of a man who prosecutors say voted in the 2016 general election in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Richard Rosen was convicted in 2024 on a felony count of wrongful voting.
Thursday's ruling concluded that the trial court made a mistake by excluding evidence about another man who allegedly confessed to repeatedly casting votes in Rosen's name in Massachusetts.
Prosecutors were allowed to mention evidence of six prior instances in which votes were cast in Rosen's name in both states.
https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-supreme-court-overturn-conviction-voting-41026/70989443
NJ-05: Gottheimer now has $11 million in campaign warchest
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) raised just over $1 million – $1,004,716, to be exact – in the 1st quarter of 2026, his second straight quarter posting a seven-figure fundraising haul.
Gottheimer has raised around $2.9 million since the beginning of the 2026 cycle and now has an astounding warchest of $11.1 million – by far the most money any New Jersey House member has on-hand, though it’s down from Gottheimer’s peak of around $21 million prior to last year’s gubernatorial election.
What will the five-term Democratic congressman spend all of that money on? Probably not this year’s race for the 5th congressional district, which Democrats and Republicans alike consider to be uncompetitive despite the fact that the district only narrowly supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Gottheimer’s lone Republican foe, corporate consultant Sean Kirrane, entered the race last fall but has yet to file any campaign fundraising reports. The moderate Gottheimer also has no Democratic primary opponents for the third cycle in a row.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/gottheimer-now-has-11-million-in-campaign-warchest/
NYJ12: Scutari, Union County elected Dems coalesce behind Mapp for Congress
The leader of the state Senate is officially taking sides in the race to succeed Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), joining other Union County Democrats to endorse Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp for Congress.
Senate President Nicholas Scutari, also the Democratic chair of Union County, announced his endorsement of Mapp on Friday. Mapp is one of 13 Democrats seeking the nomination in the 12th congressional district.
“Adrian Mapp is a proven executive leader who understands how government works and how to deliver results,” Scutari said. “He has demonstrated that he can lead with discipline, vision, and a deep commitment to the people of his community. I am proud to support his candidacy for Congress because I believe he has the experience, judgment, and strength to serve the people of the 12th District well in Washington.”
A plethora of other Union County legislators and officials also endorsed Mapp: Assemblyman James Kennedy (D-Rahway), Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter (D-Plainfield), Clerk Joanne Rajoppi, Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Commissioner Chairman Joseph Bodek, and Commissioners James Baker Jr., Michele S. Delisfort, Lourdes Leon, Alexander Mirabella, Stanley Neron, Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Joseph Signorello III, and Rebecca Williams.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/scutari-union-county-elected-dems-coalesce-behind-mapp-for-congress/
NJ-11: Mejia (D), Hathaway (R) hit the campaign trail, and one another, in final week of special
Regardless of who wins next week’s special election in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, voters are in for a change.
11th district Democrats, though satisfied with their representation by now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill for seven years, have nominated a staunch progressive, Analilia Mejia, to succeed her. While the moderate Sherrill came from an apolitical military background, Mejia cut her teeth in the trenches of New Jersey progressive politics, and has promised to bring a new energy to what’s long been seen as more of a centrist district.
Hoping to halt Mejia’s rise is Joe Hathaway, a Republican councilman and former mayor in the Morris County suburb of Randolph. Hathaway has been more willing than many GOP politicians to break with President Donald Trump and promote a more bipartisan image, but he remains a loyal Republican who says Democrats have veered far off course.
By any measure, Mejia is the favorite to win. The 11th district includes a mix of left- and right-leaning North Jersey suburbs, but the left-leaning ones have a mathematical advantage; in the 2024 presidential race, Kamala Harris carried the district by a 53%-44% margin, and the political environment has only improved for Democrats since then.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/mejia-hathaway-hit-the-campaign-trail-and-one-another-in-final-week-of-nj-11-special/
NY-12: This race ain't big enough for two Micahs
The Democratic field for New York’s 12th Congressional District may be big, but apparently, it’s not big enough for two Micahs.
Assembly Member Micah Lasher’s campaign is trying to boot longshot candidate Micah Bergdale from the ballot because they share the same first name.
A dispute to Bergdale’s petitions was filed Thursday, records show, with Suzanne Jacobson, vice president of fundraising for the West Side Democrats, listed as the challenger. Lasher has deep ties to the club, which endorsed him in the June 23 Democratic primary. His mother, Stephanie Lasher, is a member of its board, and his campaign treasurer, Robert Gottheim, is also the club’s treasurer – and chief of staff to outgoing Rep. Jerry Nadler too.
On top of that, an election attorney for a competing campaign told City & State they ran into members of Lasher’s team Tuesday night at the Board of Elections office in lower Manhattan. When the lawyer told them they were there on behalf of another client in another race, Gottheim said they were looking to contest Bergdale’s petitions because of the confusion their shared first names might pose.
https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2026/04/race-aint-big-enough-two-micahs/412760/?oref=csny-homepage-river
NY-07: Dems compete to carry on Nydia Velazquez's progressive fight
The top Democrats running to succeed Rep. Nydia Velázquez in the House are fundraising and building their campaigns to convince voters they can carry on Velázquez's progressive fight.
Antonio Reynoso, the Brooklyn borough president, met with volunteers to doorknock around Sunnyside, Queens.
"It's very simple. Abolish ICE, tax the rich and no more wars. That's what you tell people," Reynoso told the volunteers before they spread out around the neighborhood.
Progressive institutions, like major unions, the Working Families Party and the immigrant advocacy group Make the Road back Reynoso.
https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2026/04/10/ny7-primary-reynoso-valdez-won
NY-06: Rep. Meng racks up endorsements from labor unions ahead of Democratic primary
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng continues to earn endorsements by labor unions ahead of the Democratic primary in June, adding key endorsements from the New York State Association of Letter Carriers (NYSALC) — including its Local 294 chapter in Flushing — and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation (SMART) Workers Local 28.
Just last week, Meng was endorsed by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East — New York’s largest union and the largest healthcare union in the nation
According to a news release from Meng’s office, these endorsements reflect Meng’s commitment to workers’ rights and union advocacy from the floor of Congress.
“Queens’ unions are an essential part of that strong labor community,” Meng said. “Because of their tireless work, our friends, families, and neighbors have gotten to experience safer and happier workplaces.”
https://qns.com/2026/04/meng-labor-union-endorsements-2026-election/
PA-01: Meet Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli, the Democrats fighting to unseat Brian Fitzpatrick in Congress
Bob Harvie and Lucia Simonelli are facing off in the May 19 Democratic primary in a bid to unseat Republican incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick in November and represent Pennsylvania’s first congressional district.
Fitzpatrick, who often touts a commitment to bipartisanship, is running unopposed in the Republican primary. He was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2016, to represent the eighth congressional district. After the state’s congressional districts were redrawn in 2018, Fitzpatrick was reelected to represent what is now the 1st congressional district.
In 2018, Scott Wallace came the closest of any Democratic candidate to unseating Fitzpatrick, capturing 48.7% of the vote. Ashley Ehasz was the Democratic candidate challenging Fitzpatrick in both 2022 and 2024, and was defeated both times.
This fall, Democrats are aiming to flip this and three other seats in Pennsylvania to take control of the House.
https://whyy.org/articles/election-2026-pennsylvania-bucks-county-1st-congressional-district-harvie-simonelli/
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