Latest news with #specialElection
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Despite scandal and a looming corruption trial, Trayon White wins vote to return to the DC Council
A former D.C. Council member is returning to his seat, five months after he was kicked out for his involvement in a federal bribery investigation. Trayon White defeated three challengers in a special election Tuesday to fill the Ward 8 council seat that has been vacant since his expulsion in February. White, 41, was arrested by the FBI last August. After an internal investigation, the remaining 12 D.C. Council members voted unanimously to oust him from the council. However, White was free to enter the special election because he had not been convicted on a felony. He won reelection just a few months later in an indication of a scandal-proof popularity that echoes his political mentor: former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. His federal trial won't start until January 2026, but preliminary evidence includes videos of White pocketing cash-stuffed envelopes from a city contractor, allegedly in return for securing lucrative city contracts. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. WASHINGTON (AP) — Tuesday's special election for the Ward 8 seat on the D.C. Council will determine whether the council will turn the page on an awkward and embarrassing chapter or remain locked in an uncomfortable dynamic with a political figure whose popularity has rendered him almost impervious to scandal. Trayon White, the former Ward 8 representative, is fighting to return to the same legislative body that expelled him five months ago — and may just expel him again if he wins. White, 41, was arrested by the FBI last August on bribery charges. He won re-election to a third term just a few months later—an indication of a street-level popularity that echoes his political mentor: iconic former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. After an internal investigation, the remaining 12 D.C. Council members voted unanimously to oust White from the council in February. However, White was free to enter the special election because he has not been convicted of a felony. His federal trial won't start until 2026; preliminary evidence includes videos of White pocketing cash-stuffed envelopes from a city contractor, allegedly in return for securing lucrative city contracts. White faces a trio of challengers: Mike Austin, Sheila Bunn and Salim Adofo. All three boast experience either working as staffers for D.C. Council members or in the Advisory Neighborhood Commissions — hyper-local bodies that frequently serve as training grounds for future council members. Adofo lost to White in the 2024 Democratic primary, securing 28% of the vote. All three challengers have pointed to White's legal troubles and emphasized a need to restore credibility and public trust to the Ward 8 council seat. White has done minimal public campaigning or fundraising, skipped multiple candidate debates and left early from a debate. White came up in local politics as a protege of Barry. And he has been channeling his mentor's defiant, populist playbook since his arrest. White refused to cooperate with the internal D.C. Council inquiry. His lawyer, Frederick D. Cooke Jr., also served as Barry's defense attorney. And White has sought to stoke lingering suspicion of the FBI among Black Washingtonians, many of whom believe Barry was unfairly targeted by the 1990 FBI sting that caught him on camera smoking crack cocaine. A White victory would place the D.C. Council in an immediate quandary. They could expel White again, despite the will of the Ward 8 voters, or they could simply carry on with him among their ranks again and wait for the federal corruption trial to begin early next year.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Despite scandal and a looming corruption trial, Trayon White wins vote to return to the DC Council
WASHINGTON — A former D.C. Council member is returning to his seat, five months after he was kicked out for his involvement in a federal bribery investigation. Trayon White defeated three challengers in a special election Tuesday to fill the Ward 8 council seat that has been vacant since his expulsion in February .
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Where to vote, who's on the ballot in Honea Path's special election for mayor
The Town of Honea Path will vote on a new mayor on July 15. The special election was necessary following the resignation of former Mayor Christopher Burton on April 15. Burton was elected in 2019 and won reelection in 2023; his second term would have ended in 2027, but he stepped down due to an increased workload at Greenville Technical College, making it difficult for him to fulfill his duties as mayor. In the interim, town council member Jim Taylor was sworn in as mayor pro tem. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting for this election concluded on July 11. Three candidates are running in the special election: Jimmy Smith, Luther Moon, and Tina Marie Scott. Here is a brief overview of the candidates running in the upcoming special mayoral election. Jimmy Smith was born and raised in the town of Honea Path and has deep roots in the community. He has been married to Marsha (Davis) Smith for 30 years, and together they have been active participants in local events and initiatives. Smith is committed to managing capital assets through a planned, systematic approach, including lease purchases, strict budget planning, and adherence to state compliance regulations. Luther Moon is a combat veteran, horseman, and businessman who is running for mayor with a focus on bringing accountability, smart growth, and respect for Honea Path's roots. As president of the Honea Path Merchants Association and founder of Honea Path Young Entrepreneurs, Moon has played a role in revitalizing Main Street through festivals, local events, and youth mentorship programs. In a statement, Moon stated that his campaign is not about politics. "It's about taking back our voices, building a future with transparency, fairness, and real accountability." "Whether you're a merchant, a parent, a student, or a retiree, your voice matters," Moon said. "As Mayor, I'll work to build a future we can all be proud of by listening to the people, restoring transparency, and bringing the town we love back to life from the inside out." Tina Marie Scott, who has dedicated 32 years to teaching in public schools, is once again vying for the mayoral seat in Honea Path. Previously, she ran against former Mayor Christopher Burton in 2023. During that race, Burton won with 57.8% of the vote, defeating Scott, who received 41.1%, with 1.10% of the vote coming from write-in votes. Despite her previous loss, Scott is back on the ballot for the upcoming special election. "If I'm elected mayor," Scott said, "I'd like to expand our youth programs to include mentoring, community service, town beautification projects, and leadership opportunities. These programs can teach responsibility, build pride in our town, and connect young people with positive role models." Chiquola Mill Precinct, located at Honea Path Elementary School, 806 E. Greer St. The Honea Path Precinct is located at Honea Path Middle School, 107 Brock Avenue. The Barker's Creek-McAdam's Precinct is housed at Barker's Creek Baptist Church, 3207 Hwy 252. The Broadmouth Precinct is also located at Barker's Creek Baptist Church, 3207 Hwy 252, Honea Path. The Keowee Precinct is also situated at Barker's Creek Baptist Church, 3207 Hwy 252, Honea Path. The next Honea Path Town Council Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m.. The meeting will be held at the Watkins Community Center in the Town Hall Courtroom Chamber. The Town of Honea Path also has a Zoning Commission and Board meeting earlier in the same day, starting at 5 p.m. Contact the Anderson County voter registration and elections office at 864-260-4035 or visit the website at Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@ This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: What to know about town of Honea Path's special mayoral election
CNN
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Arizona special election primary roiled by Democratic debates over age, experience and legacy
Tensions within the Democratic Party over age, representation and experience have roiled a special election primary in southwest Arizona, where a young, social media-savvy activist is taking on the daughter of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. Former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, 54, has sought to strike a balance between pitching herself as a continuation of her father's establishment-bucking progressive legacy and embracing the broad support she's received from Democratic groups and leaders. Her two top rivals — 25-year-old activist Deja Foxx and 35-year-old former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez — have sought to turn her last name and endorsements into a liability. 'People are hungry for change candidates, they're tired of legacy last names,' Foxx told CNN earlier this month. 'The political establishment is not as strong as the people who make up this party.' The Tuesday primary has highlighted the ongoing debate over generational change that was further fueled by former President Joe Biden's late decision to exit the 2024 presidential race following questions about his cognitive ability. All of the Democratic candidates have vowed to push back on President Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy law, which narrowly passed while House Democrats had three vacant seats held by lawmakers in their 70s who died this year. The contest — which includes a familiar rivalry between a seemingly inevitable front-runner and a challenger promising generational change — has also drawn some comparisons to last month's New York City mayoral primary, where 33-year-old state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani won a decisive upset victory against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The comparison isn't a clean one. There are no major policy differences between Grijalva and Foxx, who both support progressive policies such as 'Medicare for All' and have vowed to push back on Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration. Grijalva also lacks the political baggage of the former governor, who resigned in disgrace amid a sexual harassment scandal. 'When I started hearing those comparisons, I was like, 'Am I supposed to be Cuomo in this?'' Grijalva said in an interview with CNN. 'That's just crazy.' Grijalva has expressed frustration with what she described as a narrative that she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. That discounts her own political record, she said, which includes nearly two decades on the Tucson Unified School District governing board and four years as a county supervisor, both positions her father held before her. 'Up until the last, what, month and a half, the words 'Grijalva' and 'establishment' have never been used in the same sentence, ever,' she said. 'Unless it's 'Grijalva fights against the establishment.'' The question now is whether voters in the district, who sent former Rep. Grijalva to Congress for more than two decades, want to continue the tradition or shake things up. Whoever wins the Tuesday Democratic primary will be heavily favored to win the September 23 general election. 'If you opened your political science book from 2002, it would have told you that the name ID of Grijalva was enough to carry the race,' said Stacy Pearson, a Phoenix-based Democratic strategist. 'It's just not the case anymore.' Pearson described the race as a jump ball between the three leading candidates, depending on who casts a ballot in what's expected to be a low-turnout election in a district that includes parts of Tucson and nearly all of Arizona's border with Mexico. 'It's going to be such a strange turnout model, and the level of frustration with the status quo is so high that this environment might be absolutely perfect for an underdog to come in and win it,' she said. The three candidates have been making their case on the airwaves. As of Friday, Grijalva and her allies spent $754,000 on TV ads, while Foxx spent $614,000 and Hernandez spent $509,000, according to AdImpact. Hernandez, a former school board member who spent six years in the state Legislature under Republican majorities, has embraced a more centrist lane, particularly when it comes to health care and mining. He has brushed off efforts to label him a moderate, however, and criticized Democrats who he said use being in the political minority as an excuse for not passing legislation. 'I think that's the thing that people have said: 'Well, you work with folks on the other side of the aisle,'' he told CNN in an interview. 'Well, when you're in the minority in the state Legislature, you don't have any options.' Grijalva's ads have emphasized her progressive platform, her endorsements from key figures — including both of Arizona's US senators and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — and her family. 'When you grow up Grijalva, you learn how to fight and who you're fighting for,' she says in one ad that features images and clips of her father and other relatives. 'I know how to fight and win because I learned from the best.' Foxx's most prominent ally, meanwhile, has been former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, who endorsed her this month. Hogg, 25, announced earlier this year that his group, Leaders We Deserve, plans to spend $20 million boosting young candidates, including in primary challenges against incumbents in safe Democratic seats that he deems 'ineffective.' The support from Hogg, who campaigned with Foxx in Tucson on Friday, only further fueled the comparisons to the New York City mayoral race, where Leaders We Deserve endorsed Mamdani. But it also brings to mind another race, last month's Democratic primary to fill the seat of former Rep. Gerry Connolly, who also died earlier this year. Hogg's pick, Virginia state Delegate Irene Shin, lost handily to former Connolly staffer James Walkinshaw. Hogg said in a statement that Foxx brings 'unmatched clarity, conviction, and lived experience' to issues facing working families. Foxx has emphasized her backstory as the daughter of a single mother who relied on programs such as Medicaid, food stamps and Section 8 housing to highlight the urgency she says she would bring to Congress. She has argued that her version of fighting the Trump administration is informed by her decade of experience as an activist. And she's framed herself as the candidate who would break the status quo, frequently ribbing Grijalva for inheriting her father's donor list. Grijalva has pushed back, noting she's not the lead fundraiser in the race. She said that 93% of her donors had never given money to her family before this race and that her father was not a prolific fundraiser. The former county supervisor criticized some of the Foxx campaign's social media content that she said was misleading. 'Talk about what you're going to bring to the table, not disparaging and maligning people who have served this community for decades. I just think that is in really poor taste,' Grijalva said. 'There's a lot of throwing under the bus and a lot of 'look at me.'' Grijalva's allies have also jumped into the race. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which endorsed her, has sought to frame the contest as a fight for representation for the district, which is more than 60% Latino. 'Anyone who sees Arizona's 7th district as anything other than a fight for Latino representation in America is enabling all those who seek to disenfranchise our community and silence our voices,' California Rep. Linda Sánchez, chairwoman of CHC BOLD PAC, the caucus's fundraising arm, said in a statement. A Foxx campaign spokesperson said the insinuation that Foxx is 'anything other than capable of representing the people of this district is frankly gross.' 'We are focused on putting forward policies to make their lives better and fighting back against Trump, not dividing our community,' the spokesperson, Andrew Mamo, told CNN.
CNN
5 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Arizona special election primary roiled by Democratic debates over age, experience and legacy
Tensions within the Democratic Party over age, representation and experience have roiled a special election primary in southwest Arizona, where a young, social media-savvy activist is taking on the daughter of Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March. Former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, 54, has sought to strike a balance between pitching herself as a continuation of her father's establishment-bucking progressive legacy and embracing the broad support she's received from Democratic groups and leaders. Her two top rivals — 25-year-old activist Deja Foxx and 35-year-old former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez — have sought to turn her last name and endorsements into a liability. 'People are hungry for change candidates, they're tired of legacy last names,' Foxx told CNN earlier this month. 'The political establishment is not as strong as the people who make up this party.' The Tuesday primary has highlighted the ongoing debate over generational change that was further fueled by former President Joe Biden's late decision to exit the 2024 presidential race following questions about his cognitive ability. All of the Democratic candidates have vowed to push back on President Donald Trump's sweeping domestic policy law, which narrowly passed while House Democrats had three vacant seats held by lawmakers in their 70s who died this year. The contest — which includes a familiar rivalry between a seemingly inevitable front-runner and a challenger promising generational change — has also drawn some comparisons to last month's New York City mayoral primary, where 33-year-old state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani won a decisive upset victory against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The comparison isn't a clean one. There are no major policy differences between Grijalva and Foxx, who both support progressive policies such as 'Medicare for All' and have vowed to push back on Trump's agenda, particularly on immigration. Grijalva also lacks the political baggage of the former governor, who resigned in disgrace amid a sexual harassment scandal. 'When I started hearing those comparisons, I was like, 'Am I supposed to be Cuomo in this?'' Grijalva said in an interview with CNN. 'That's just crazy.' Grijalva has expressed frustration with what she described as a narrative that she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. That discounts her own political record, she said, which includes nearly two decades on the Tucson Unified School District governing board and four years as a county supervisor, both positions her father held before her. 'Up until the last, what, month and a half, the words 'Grijalva' and 'establishment' have never been used in the same sentence, ever,' she said. 'Unless it's 'Grijalva fights against the establishment.'' The question now is whether voters in the district, who sent former Rep. Grijalva to Congress for more than two decades, want to continue the tradition or shake things up. Whoever wins the Tuesday Democratic primary will be heavily favored to win the September 23 general election. 'If you opened your political science book from 2002, it would have told you that the name ID of Grijalva was enough to carry the race,' said Stacy Pearson, a Phoenix-based Democratic strategist. 'It's just not the case anymore.' Pearson described the race as a jump ball between the three leading candidates, depending on who casts a ballot in what's expected to be a low-turnout election in a district that includes parts of Tucson and nearly all of Arizona's border with Mexico. 'It's going to be such a strange turnout model, and the level of frustration with the status quo is so high that this environment might be absolutely perfect for an underdog to come in and win it,' she said. The three candidates have been making their case on the airwaves. As of Friday, Grijalva and her allies spent $754,000 on TV ads, while Foxx spent $614,000 and Hernandez spent $509,000, according to AdImpact. Hernandez, a former school board member who spent six years in the state Legislature under Republican majorities, has embraced a more centrist lane, particularly when it comes to health care and mining. He has brushed off efforts to label him a moderate, however, and criticized Democrats who he said use being in the political minority as an excuse for not passing legislation. 'I think that's the thing that people have said: 'Well, you work with folks on the other side of the aisle,'' he told CNN in an interview. 'Well, when you're in the minority in the state Legislature, you don't have any options.' Grijalva's ads have emphasized her progressive platform, her endorsements from key figures — including both of Arizona's US senators and independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders — and her family. 'When you grow up Grijalva, you learn how to fight and who you're fighting for,' she says in one ad that features images and clips of her father and other relatives. 'I know how to fight and win because I learned from the best.' Foxx's most prominent ally, meanwhile, has been former Democratic National Committee Vice Chair David Hogg, who endorsed her this month. Hogg, 25, announced earlier this year that his group, Leaders We Deserve, plans to spend $20 million boosting young candidates, including in primary challenges against incumbents in safe Democratic seats that he deems 'ineffective.' The support from Hogg, who campaigned with Foxx in Tucson on Friday, only further fueled the comparisons to the New York City mayoral race, where Leaders We Deserve endorsed Mamdani. But it also brings to mind another race, last month's Democratic primary to fill the seat of former Rep. Gerry Connolly, who also died earlier this year. Hogg's pick, Virginia state Delegate Irene Shin, lost handily to former Connolly staffer James Walkinshaw. Hogg said in a statement that Foxx brings 'unmatched clarity, conviction, and lived experience' to issues facing working families. Foxx has emphasized her backstory as the daughter of a single mother who relied on programs such as Medicaid, food stamps and Section 8 housing to highlight the urgency she says she would bring to Congress. She has argued that her version of fighting the Trump administration is informed by her decade of experience as an activist. And she's framed herself as the candidate who would break the status quo, frequently ribbing Grijalva for inheriting her father's donor list. Grijalva has pushed back, noting she's not the lead fundraiser in the race. She said that 93% of her donors had never given money to her family before this race and that her father was not a prolific fundraiser. The former county supervisor criticized some of the Foxx campaign's social media content that she said was misleading. 'Talk about what you're going to bring to the table, not disparaging and maligning people who have served this community for decades. I just think that is in really poor taste,' Grijalva said. 'There's a lot of throwing under the bus and a lot of 'look at me.'' Grijalva's allies have also jumped into the race. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which endorsed her, has sought to frame the contest as a fight for representation for the district, which is more than 60% Latino. 'Anyone who sees Arizona's 7th district as anything other than a fight for Latino representation in America is enabling all those who seek to disenfranchise our community and silence our voices,' California Rep. Linda Sánchez, chairwoman of CHC BOLD PAC, the caucus's fundraising arm, said in a statement. A Foxx campaign spokesperson said the insinuation that Foxx is 'anything other than capable of representing the people of this district is frankly gross.' 'We are focused on putting forward policies to make their lives better and fighting back against Trump, not dividing our community,' the spokesperson, Andrew Mamo, told CNN.
