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Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Potential Youngkin successor focused on message in tough race to keep swing-state 'red'
EXCLUSIVE: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears was officially named the Republican Party's gubernatorial nominee on Tuesday evening, and during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, she described herself as "not a very conventional candidate." She said her goal is to reach voters across the political spectrum while working to keep Virginia's historic state capitol – America's oldest – under Republican leadership. She also spoke about her personal story and policy platform, and why they both resonate with voters. Earle-Sears was asked about governing at a time when there is uncertainty and tension both at home and abroad. "When it comes to safety and security, is that not the first real role of the political leader?" she told Fox News Digital. "It is to ensure that everybody is safe [because] we can't talk about economic development, we can't talk about education, we cannot talk about energy, we can't talk about affordable housing, if you're not safe and secure." Virginia Republicans Pick Radio Host To Run Alongside Winsome Sears In Race To Replace Youngkin Read On The Fox News App "[I]f you want to protest, of course. You must exercise your right to protest. But you must do it safely, and you must not threaten others." During her speech at the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond's Jackson Ward, Earle-Sears said she is confident in her quest to keep Richmond in Republican hands. Part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's successful strategy in 2021 was to run up votes in Republican-friendly areas in southwest Virginia, where people also identified with President Donald Trump's message of the "forgotten man and woman." Earle-Sears pointed out that in some parts of the region, residents live closer to as many as six other state capitals than their own – and often feel politicians show up during election season, then disappear. Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Abigail Spanberger Releases First Ad, Slams 'Political Nonsense' In that regard, Earle-Sears pledged her first act as governor would be to open a "second" governor's office in the Old Dominion's rural western expanse. That move, she said, is part of a larger message that needs to be spoken of more in politics. "Everybody wants to be heard," she said. "I made a promise that I would not be one of those kinds of politicians." Conversely, she said, people in blue areas like the Washington, D.C., suburbs also have the right to hear a conservative message and have leaders from all sides responsive to them. "I mean, I look like the kind of people who really do normally vote Democratic, and I'm not. And so I'm appealing to all voters. "My message is a common-sense message that no matter where you came from in life, no matter what color you are, no matter what country you came from, when you came to America and you tried and here you are succeeding, that's what we need." During her speech, she spoke of how her father brought her to the U.S. as a young girl, landing in New York with $1.75 to his name – and how then her father could likely never imagine his daughter in one generation would be primed for a state's highest office. "Here I stand, second-in-command in the former capital of the Confederacy," Earle-Sears said. "Don't tell me America hasn't changed." She also issued a warning to her Democratic opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va. The GOP nominee, currently behind Spanberger by low-single-digits, used the idiom of a car traveling down the road and the driver looking in their side mirror and reading the sticker: "Objects are closer than they appear." Spanberger held a separate event Monday at her high school alma mater in Henrico County, with a crowd of about 400, according to reports. Fox News Digital had reached out to the Spanberger campaign ahead of Election Day as well. At Tucker High School, Spanberger said being back reminded her "why this fight is worth fighting." "I was lucky to have amazing opportunities here. I was lucky to have educators who cared deeply about the future of their students. I was lucky. And now, I want to make sure that every student, every family, and every community in Virginia has those same opportunities…" Spanberger said. State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Short Pump, who also spoke, called Spanberger a "Henrico Hometown Hero."Original article source: Potential Youngkin successor focused on message in tough race to keep swing-state 'red'
Fox News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Potential Youngkin successor focused on message in tough race to keep swing-state 'red'
RICHMOND, Va. – EXCLUSIVE: Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears was officially named the Republican Party's gubernatorial nominee on Tuesday evening, and during an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, she described herself as "not a very conventional candidate." She said her goal is to reach voters across the political spectrum while working to keep Virginia's historic state capitol – America's oldest – under Republican leadership. She also spoke about her personal story and policy platform, and why they both resonate with voters. Earle-Sears was asked about governing at a time when there is uncertainty and tension both at home and abroad. "When it comes to safety and security, is that not the first real role of the political leader?" she told Fox News Digital. "It is to ensure that everybody is safe [because] we can't talk about economic development, we can't talk about education, we cannot talk about energy, we can't talk about affordable housing, if you're not safe and secure." "[I]f you want to protest, of course. You must exercise your right to protest. But you must do it safely, and you must not threaten others." During her speech at the Hippodrome Theater in Richmond's Jackson Ward, Earle-Sears said she is confident in her quest to keep Richmond in Republican hands. Part of Gov. Glenn Youngkin's successful strategy in 2021 was to run up votes in Republican-friendly areas in southwest Virginia, where people also identified with President Donald Trump's message of the "forgotten man and woman." Earle-Sears pointed out that in some parts of the region, residents live closer to as many as six other state capitals than their own – and often feel politicians show up during election season, then disappear. In that regard, Earle-Sears pledged her first act as governor would be to open a "second" governor's office in the Old Dominion's rural western expanse. That move, she said, is part of a larger message that needs to be spoken of more in politics. "Everybody wants to be heard," she said. "I made a promise that I would not be one of those kinds of politicians." Conversely, she said, people in blue areas like the Washington, D.C., suburbs also have the right to hear a conservative message and have leaders from all sides responsive to them. "I mean, I look like the kind of people who really do normally vote Democratic, and I'm not. And so I'm appealing to all voters. "My message is a common-sense message that no matter where you came from in life, no matter what color you are, no matter what country you came from, when you came to America and you tried and here you are succeeding, that's what we need." During her speech, she spoke of how her father brought her to the U.S. as a young girl, landing in New York with $1.75 to his name – and how then her father could likely never imagine his daughter in one generation would be primed for a state's highest office. "Here I stand, second-in-command in the former capital of the Confederacy," Earle-Sears said. "Don't tell me America hasn't changed." She also issued a warning to her Democratic opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va. The GOP nominee, currently behind Spanberger by low-single-digits, used the idiom of a car traveling down the road and the driver looking in their side mirror and reading the sticker: "Objects are closer than they appear." Spanberger held a separate event Monday at her high school alma mater in Henrico County, with a crowd of about 400, according to reports. Fox News Digital had reached out to the Spanberger campaign ahead of Election Day as well. At Tucker High School, Spanberger said being back reminded her "why this fight is worth fighting." "I was lucky to have amazing opportunities here. I was lucky to have educators who cared deeply about the future of their students. I was lucky. And now, I want to make sure that every student, every family, and every community in Virginia has those same opportunities…" Spanberger said. State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Short Pump, who also spoke, called Spanberger a "Henrico Hometown Hero."
The Herald
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
‘If people want to start their own party they should go ahead': Jacob Zuma
MK Party (MKP) leader Jacob Zuma has come out guns blazing at those who have criticised the party's decisions to remove Floyd Shivambu and others from the position of secretary-general. The fledgling political party, formed in December 2023, has seen at least seven secretary-generals. 'We are not playing, even if you deem yourself to be powerful, well-liked or you are everything,' Zuma said. 'There is no one who would occupy a position until such time they go to heaven. There is no such thing.' Zuma was addressing thousands gathered at the launch of the MKP'S youth branch in Claremont, west of Durban, on Monday. The former president turned opposition party leader said he was aware of resistance from some within the party after people were removed from the position. 'Some are wanting to protest the move. This means we have not begun to build party we want. You entertain such things by not only talking about this but you write about it. We want freedom and we are not protecting anyone,' said Zuma. He said despite the MKP experiencing the exit of a succession of leaders, it was not the party's intention to boot them. 'There were wrong things they were getting up to but we did not want to embarrass and humiliate them publicly. We never wanted to tell the nation because they themselves know they had done some wrongs,' said Zuma. He urged followers to steer clear of internal ructions in the party. "If those people want to start their own party they should go ahead. I have full trust and confidence in the youth of this country to build a future. We are not going to be apologetic and bow down to individuals in this party. No matter how good, important and educated you are,' said Zuma. He also issued a stern warning to those who sought to enrich themselves in the party. "Let us not take this organisation as an one in which we want to make money. It's an organisation to liberate South Africans. It is why if we have one of us go astray, we don't tolerate them,' said Zuma. A nine-member youth team headed by Qiniso Cibane was announced. Cibane is the former eThekwini regional convener for the party.
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Aontú Ireland rejects comparison to Farage's Reform UK
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín focused his keynote speech at the party's ardfheis predominantly on Government waste. He went on the offensive against the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leaders, telling delegates ' Government incompetence is incinerating your money and slowing key projects to a halt'. Listing scandal after spending scandal, including the Leinster House €336,000 'Gucci' bike shelter and the €2.4 billion delayed national children's hospital, he took repeated swipes at the Coalition. On immigration, he said Government policy 'has been chaotic and has damaged the cohesion of this country'. Six years ago 'Aontú was alone is stating that we as a country must have an open, respectful conversation about immigration'. READ MORE 'If you don't allow people to discuss immigration you push the discussion underground where it will be harvested and manipulated by bad actors for their own purposes. This is exactly what happened.' It was music to cheering party delegates' ears. This focus on waste of public funds, 'incompetent political leadership' and immigration has clear echoes of Reform UK , Nigel Farage 's party which campaigns on a platform of 'common sense'. Aontú's stance, like Reform's, is about 'not being afraid to stand against the prevailing winds', although Mr Tóibín and party delegates reject the comparison. Maria Byrne, from Kilcullen, Co Kildare joined the party because of 'disillusionment with Fianna Fáil' who were not listening 'to the concerns of ordinary people'. Dismissing any likeness between Aontú and Nigel Farage's populist party in the UK, she says she is 'left-leaning on political issues', adding: 'Some people think that Aontú is a right-wing party because it is pro-life. I'm pro-life in that it is a human rights issue.' Theresa Lynch from Cork North-West traditionally voted Fianna Fáil and joined Aontú 'because I'm pro-life'. She believes Fianna Fáil 'are not listening to any of our concerns', whether about immigration, education or the HSE's vaccination programme. Adam O'Neill (18) from Carnew, Co Wicklow, says Reform is economically a right-wing organisation while 'Aontú is left-wing', and 'we aren't as populist or as driven by the trends of the time'. Delegates at the ardfheis on Saturday backed a motion calling for an 'outright ban' on anyone who 'purposely destroyed their travel documents' entering the State. However, party members at the event in Gormanston, Co Meath, rejected a motion stating that no non-Irish citizen should be allowed to 'enter the State if they have a criminal conviction'. During the first debate at the ardfheis, on the topic of international protection, Meath councillor Emer Tóibín, the leader's sister, said there was 'no long-term plan' for the 'unsustainable' immigration system. Delegates also supported a motion stating that only the national flag should be displayed on public buildings as public spaces should not be aligned 'with any particular ideology or political stance'. Aontú more than doubled its vote share (to 3.9 per cent) in the general election, returning two TDs – Mr Tóibín and Mayo-based Paul Lawless. Critics claim that, like Reform, the party engages in the 'culture wars' on issues like gender recognition but Mr Tóibín says 'we're just standing with the people'. 'Aontú is on the rise' because 'we have a backbone, we are confident to stand against the prevailing winds of the political establishment' and 'puncture the political bubble that exists in Leinster House', says the former Sinn Féin TD. On immigration, 'compassion and common sense is where the vast majority of Irish people exist' but the Government is 'in a bubble' and 'not listening to the people', Mr Tóibín adds.
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Bolivia President Arce says he will not run for re-election
LA PAZ, May 13 (Reuters) - Bolivian President Luis Arce will not run for re-election in elections this August, he said in a public address on Tuesday.
