Latest news with #politicalstrategy
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Keller: Democrats are already road testing presidential hopefuls for 2028
The opinions expressed below are Jon Keller's, not those of WBZ, CBS News or Paramount Global. When Joe Biden walked away from his campaign one year ago, it opened the door for Kamala Harris, who's still out there raising money. But her loss to Donald Trump has, in turn, opened the gates to a stampede of potential 2028 hopefuls from across the spectrum. Could a young, charismatic leftist - like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - have a chance? After all, she might help generate more turnout among Latinos and young voters. "It's a total jump ball which ideological faction of the party has the upper hand," says Bill Scher, politics editor for the Washington Monthly. "You certainly can't discount the possibility that somebody coming from the Democratic Socialst left could do what Bernie Sanders could not do." What about a moderate who's won in a red state, like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who told an audience in South Carolina (potentially the first Democratic primary state in 2028) recently, "You can be pro-jobs, pro-business and pro-worker all at the same time." "He would come out with a pretty strong calling card: 'I've done it, I've won in a red state with this model,'" Scher said And California Governor Gavin Newsom is already campaigning as a liberal Democrat who's willing to court conservatives. Three different potential answers to the core question facing the Democrats, as Congressman Jim Himes (D-Connecticut) put it on "Face the Nation" last weekend, "What can we do better to appeal to more people, including those people that we have lost time and time again in elections?" Is it too early to talk about the 2028 election? Absolutely, for normal people with lives that don't revolve around politics. After all, the outcome of next year's midterm elections could shakeup the balance of power in Washington and change the way voters view the choice in three years. But presidential candidacies give the party a chance to road-test different messages while the Democrats in Washington, D.C., keep hammering away at the Republicans. That's why it matters who's coming forward, what they're saying, and how it's being received.
Fox News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Obama should be out there more countering Trump in 'moment of crisis,' MSNBC panelist says
An MSNBC panelist urged former President Barack Obama to speak out more often on Saturday after he urged members of his party to "toughen up" at a recent fundraiser. "I know he's done being president, and many will say he doesn't owe us anything else, but I think if we are in a moment of crisis, and you've ever led this country, you should still care about this country enough to be out there. I've had this crazy thought that if every time Donald Trump did something crazy or said something crazy, Barack Obama should have a press conference or something," Shaniqua McClendon, the vice president of political strategy at Crooked Media, said during MSNBC's "The Weekend." McClendon agreed with Obama's recent suggestion that Democrats should "toughen up," but urged the former president to get out there more himself as someone who served as president. "He is someone who can command attention. And so part of where I don't think it's fair is, most Democrats are not Barack Obama. They can't command attention the way he can. And we're in a media environment that even if you are fighting, if no one hears you, it's not worth anything. People listen to him. So I do think it's fair," McClendon continued. During a July fundraiser, Obama suggested members of the party should stop complaining so much. "I think it's going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions. And it's going to require Democrats to just toughen up," Obama said at the fundraiser, according to excerpts obtained by CNN. "Don't tell me you're a Democrat, but you're kind of disappointed right now, so you're not doing anything. No, now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something." MSNBC host Catherine Rampell wondered if Obama would be accused of sucking up all the oxygen if he was out there more. "He probably would be accused of that. But those people are not pushing through right now," McClendon said. She suggested some Democrats, such as Reps. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., were breaking through, but most were not. "The point now is that we are in a really dire situation… Our rights are being taken away every day. And if Barack Obama is someone who can push back on that and at least get people to pay attention to the fact that that's happening, it matters a lot. And so, yeah, I think that is not an argument, I wish that was the thing we had to worry about," she added. Hosts of "The View" criticized Obama's advice, arguing that Democrats had been out there fighting against Trump.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear talks political strategy, flipping seats in visit to Greenville
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear talked political strategy, flipping red states, and building strong support for unionization in an AC Hotel's ballroom in downtown Greenville as he kicked off a tour across the Palmetto State on July 16. More: Two key Democratic politicians turn their focus to South Carolina with upcoming visits Beshear also traveled to Columbia, Charleston, and Georgetown County to connect with Democratic Party leaders and engage with labor movement representatives. He is part of a growing list of Democratic politicians on the national political scene attempting to build ties with South Carolina voters, activists, and politicians. He pointed to several reasons why he made the trip to the Palmetto State without mentioning a possible 2028 presidential campaign. The reasons were an invite from the AFL-CIO, an invite from the Georgetown County Democratic Party, a desire to be a "get things done" voice in politics and his son's baseball game, he said. "I'm traveling more because I'm trying to be a common sense, common ground, get things done type of voice," Beshear said. "My focus is on this year." The Kentucky governor started his tour in Greenville at the state's annual American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) convention. The convention made up leaders from top labor organizations like the Communication Workers of America (CWA), the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), and Southern Workers Assembly. Wire technicians for AT&T and port workers represented by the CWA and ILA, respectively, went on strike last year amid contract negotiations. Beshear referenced similarities between his home state, Kentucky, and South Carolina with their manufacturing base and long-established anti-union sentiments. South Carolina is a right-to-work state, meaning it has laws in place that prevent an employer from requiring union membership or the payment of union dues. Many states with such laws have significantly lower rate of unionization, a comparison based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows. South Carolina has one of the lowest unionization rates in the country with union members making up about 2.8% of the state's workers. "In Kentucky, they passed all of the same anti-union laws and our union membership is going up," Beshear said. "What happens when business is able to take a look at and work with our unions? They find they do really incredible work." AFL-CIO took the time to commend Beshear for his ability to beat Kentucky gubernatorial candidates whom Republican politicians, including President Donald Trump and Sen. Mitch McConnell, backed. He was first elected Kentucky governor in 2019 after he beat Republican Matt Bevin by just under half a percentage point. That margin of victory rose to 5% in 2023, when he won reelection against Republican Daniel Cameron. "People often ask me how you do it?" Beshear said when he took the stage. "You win by staying true to our values of compassion, of empathy, and of doing right by our agents." Beshear connects with Greenville County political leaders Greenville City Councilmember Michelle Shain later hosted Beshear and local political leaders at her home for a reception, where the Kentucky governor discussed the importance of settling political differences and meeting people where they are. More: Greenville won't have a municipal primary election this year, and here's the reason why Numerous local Democratic politicians attended the event, including Greenville City Councilmember Lillian Brock Flemming and city council candidate Tine Belge. State politicians Rep. Chandra Dillard (D-Greenville), Rep. Wendell Jones (D-Greenville) and former South Carolina Gov. Dick Riley also attended. Beshear laid out three ways he thinks the Democratic Party should attract a stronger voter base: focusing on people's everyday needs, meeting people where they are, and explaining the reason behind their beliefs. "The opening is there," Beshear said. "I am living proof that we can and we should win everywhere." Stacey Mars, chair of the Greenville County Democratic Party (GCDP), and Kathryn Harvey, chair of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party (SCDP), helped organize the meeting with Beshear. Mars said local Democratic organizers are strategizing and working to send a message that resonates with voters for the 2026 elections. "The fact that a Democrat was able to win in Kentucky, it gives us hope that we can do the same thing here," Mars said. Harvey is campaigning for Spartanburg County's District 3 seat after longtime councilmember David Britt stepped down. She said focusing on local elections and flipping those seats is just as important as the upcoming 2026 race for U.S. Senate. "Think about how much impact you have as a city council person, a mayor, a county council person," Harvey said. "It's where people can see change." Three Greenville City Council seats are up for election this year, two of which have multiple candidates. There will also be a special election in Spartanburg County to fill Britts' seat. More: Lee Johnson of Greenville drops out Senate race, cites need for Democratic Party unity One of South Carolina's Senate seats, all House seats and the state's governor's office are up for election next year. Numerous Democrats and Republicans have launched campaigns to fill incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham's seat. Lee Johnson of Greenville dropped out of the race for Senate on July 17, citing a need for more unity in the Democratic fight to unseat Graham. Bella Carpentier covers the South Carolina legislature, state, and Greenville County politics. Contact her at bcarpentier@ This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Beshear speaks at AFL-CIO conference, meets with SC politicians Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Democrats Broach Potential Walkout to Block Texas Redistricting
National Democratic leaders are encouraging state Democrats in the Texas House to consider walking out of a special legislative session this month to block Republicans from redrawing the state's congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. At the same time, President Trump held his own call on Tuesday with congressional Republicans in the state, urging them to carve out five new G.O.P. seats from those held by Democrats, according to a person briefed on that call, which was first reported by Punchbowl News. 'Just spoke to our Great Congressmen and women of Texas,' Mr. Trump wrote on social media. He added, 'I keep hearing about Texas 'going Blue,' but it is just another Democrat LIE.' The redistricting of House seats is supposed to come at the beginning of each decade, after new census data shifts populations and changes the number of seats granted to each state. Reapportionment in the middle of the decade is rare and almost always contentious, since it is driven by political considerations, not demographic shifts. In this case, Mr. Trump is openly trying to use new maps to stave off midterm Democratic gains that would potentially cost his party control of the narrowly divided House. 'It is important that we fight back,' said U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat whose Houston district could be affected. 'What is happening is absolutely an unacceptable betrayal of Texans.' During the Democratic call on Monday evening, which lasted for more than two hours, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ken Martin, spoke with about 40 Democrats in the Texas House. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Arab News
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Ex-PM Khan aides rally to Lahore to discuss party's strategy, upcoming protest movement
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan's top aides left for the eastern city of Lahore from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and other parts to discuss the party's political strategy and shape its protest movement against the government. The development comes days after PTI provincial lawmakers protested in the Punjab Assembly during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's speech on June 27, wherein she highlighted her government's achievements and budget priorities, prompting the speaker to suspend 26 PTI members of the provincial assembly (MPAs) for 15 sessions. However, members of the PTI, which plans to launch an anti-government protest movement later this month, maintained on their way to Lahore that the objective of their gathering in the eastern city was to express solidarity with the party's suspended lawmakers, shape their future strategy and discuss matters relating to their upcoming movement. 'We have to take this [movement] up to the maximum till August 5 and for that, this is our first meeting being held in Lahore,' Ali Amin Gandapur, the KP chief minister and a top Khan aide, told reporters in Jhelum. Gandapur didn't offer further details and said their future course of action will be shared in due course. Gohar Khan, another senior PTI member, said they had informed the Punjab government about their meeting in Lahore through a formal letter. 'We will go there today, and tomorrow brief discussion will take place there. But this is not a rally, we are going for a meeting,' he said. 'Our 26 parliamentarians, MPAs, have been suspended... and we have summoned a parliamentary party meeting over there to finalize a future strategy.' The PTI last week announced it would launch a nationwide protest movement against the government after the Islamic month of Muharram, days after Pakistan's top court denied the party reserved parliamentary seats for minorities and women. The party has frequently held protests in recent years, demanding a probe into Feb. 2024 election results and the release of Khan, who has been jailed for nearly two years. Pakistani authorities deny the allegations and accuse the ex-premier and his party of leading violent anti-government protests in the past, particularly in May 2023 and Nov. 2024. The PTI announced the latest round of protests after the Supreme Court's constitutional bench on June 27 ruled that the party was not entitled to reserved seats in the national and provincial assemblies, upholding an earlier verdict by the Peshawar High Court. The dispute arose after the PTI lost its electoral symbol ahead of the February 8, 2024 national polls and its candidates contested as independents. Despite PTI-backed candidates winning the most general seats, the party was denied reserved seats for women and minorities, which are allocated to political parties based on proportional representation, by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
