October 8, 2023

Bavaria election results: Scholz coalition dealt a blow

But the results are a blow for all three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz' left-wing-led national coalition. The ramifications will be felt across Germany.

A quarter of voters were able to go to the polls in regional elections in two of Germany's largest and wealthiest states, Bavaria and Hesse.

In both regions, conservative and right-wing populist parties used the election campaign to bash Olaf Scholz' national government over migration and energy policy. It paid off.

In Hesse, according to initial predictions, the conservative incumbent CDU scored 34.5% of the vote, a substantial gain on its solid win last time.



https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67049498

October 8, 2023

GREECE: Local elections confirm ND's dominance

It will take next Sunday’s runoff in the regional and municipal contests to determine whether Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will achieve his ambitious goal of “13 and 3,” that is, winning all 13 regions and the three biggest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Piraeus.

What the first round showed is that the conservative New Democracy party’s domination of the political landscape, established in the successive national elections of last May and June, has hardly been dented, even as its second term in government was marked by natural disasters – wildfires and floods – where the state’s response was often roundly criticized. In seven of the 13 regions, the New Democracy-backed candidates were elected Sunday, although this number included socialist Stavros Arnaoutakis, whom New Democracy decided to back this time, and who romped to a fourth term as governor of Crete. As Kathimerini went to press Sunday night, an eighth candidate, Dimitris Ptochos in the Peloponnese, was a fraction of a percentage point short of the 43% threshold required for election in the first round.

More importantly, Sunday’s outright winners included Nikos Hardalias, the former conservative minister who won the country’s most populous region, Attica.

In the capital Athens, the incumbent mayor, Kostas Bakoyannis, came just short of outright victory, polling almost as much as he did in 2019.

Citizens confirmed their trust in New Democracy and its choices of candidates, said Mitsotakis, who notably referred to the outright victories of Hardalias and Apostolos Tzitzikostas in central Macedonia. “Next week, we will fight for our candidates present in the runoffs,” he added.


https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1222000/local-elections-confirm-nds-dominance/

October 8, 2023

LA: Election Day is Saturday, candidates have a few days to make a final push

Election Day is Saturday and candidates are vying for voter’s attention through political ads and technology in the final push. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says more candidates are blowing up voters’ phones with campaign text messages than phone calls.

“If you’re sending them a text and he’s always looking at his phone he or she, then text messaging seems to be the preferred tool right now they’re using to reach more and more people.”

Pinsonat says candidates are more focused on getting their message out to registered voters. He says mudslinging ads towards Jeff Landry this late in the game are less impactful.

“You really need to attack someone starting two or three weeks or four weeks out. But a last-minute attack is generally not that big of a deal to the voters especially when all of the opponents are so far back.”

Pinsonat points out that in this final stretch, registered voters will see more campaign ads, hear more radio ads, and receive more text messages from candidates.



https://louisianaradionetwork.com/2023/10/08/33626/

October 8, 2023

German voters give government parties a drubbing in state elections

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https://www.ft.com/content/d7e95c24-e1a2-49c9-989d-069e7530eaa8

Voters in two German states used a pair of regional elections on Sunday to chastise the three parties in chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, as projections showed an upsurge in support for the radical right.

The centre-right opposition won both elections — in the central state of Hesse and the southern region of Bavaria, but the day’s other big winner was the far-right Alternative for Germany. Its support has surged in recent weeks on a wave of anger over rising refugee numbers.

Projections from Germany’s public broadcasters put the AfD on 15.5 per cent in Bavaria and on 16.9 per cent in Hesse — their best result in a west German state.

Alice Weidel, co-chair of the party, said more and more voters were “dissatisfied with the prohibitionist approach of this government, which enacts policies against its own people”.

“The results for the AfD are really alarming,” said Omid Nouripour, national co-leader of the Greens, “and we have to do everything we can to regain people’s trust.”





https://www.ft.com/content/d7e95c24-e1a2-49c9-989d-069e7530eaa8

October 8, 2023

TIPPING POINT RACE: Josh Thomas (D) For Virginia House District 21

Josh Thomas was born and raised in a small town where most folks, including Josh’s family, worked for the airlines. They instilled in him a deep commitment to community service, and his brother, a Marine, showed him the dedication and sacrifice required to serve our nation.

When the tragedy of September 11th shook the world, even Josh’s small town felt the impact. His community’s safety and sense of security were shattered. So, he answered the call to make a difference in the world and joined the Marine Corps, training at Officer Candidates School in Quantico right here in Prince William County. In the Corps, Josh led Marines on tours in Afghanistan and the Middle East. However, his journey wasn’t just about fighting battles; it was about discovering a passion for service that would shape his life.

After five years of serving his country on active duty, Josh traded his combat boots for books and the pursuit of justice. At the College of William and Mary, he learned how to use the law to help small businesses, build homes and defend those that need it most. (Happily, Josh also met his wife Mahlet when they were both law students at William and Mary.) As an attorney, Josh set his sights on uplifting communities, ensuring affordable housing for all, and helping entrepreneurs and small businesses across Virginia thrive.

When the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the world into chaos again, Josh refused to stand idly by. He answered the call to serve yet again, joining Virginia’s Medical Reserve Corps to help combat the health and economic impacts of the disease.

Josh continues to fight for us every day by advocating for the rights of Veterans, the LGBTA+ community, and helping to secure asylum for those fleeing from Afghanistan. Josh refuses to back down, relentlessly working to bring about positive change.




https://jetforva.com

October 8, 2023

TIPPING POINT RACE: Russet Perry (D) for Virginia State Senate District 31

Russet Perry started working and living in Loudoun County in 2006. After graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with two degrees from The George Washington University, Russet took her first job in Loudoun County, working full time to help fund her schooling at the Georgetown University Law Center. At Georgetown, Russet focused on issues related to advocacy, criminal justice, women, and minorities - ultimately securing a spot in the Georgetown Law Domestic Violence Clinic. In the Clinic, Russet was honored to represent indigent D.C. residents in D.C. Superior Court in mediation and in seeking protective orders from abusive relationships.

Since completing her education, Russet has continued to dedicate her life to public service and helping people. As a prosecutor in the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, Russet successfully prosecuted all manner of charges, including domestic assault, stalking, elder abuse, rape, child exploitation, child abuse, offenses involving firearms, robbery, felony assault, and murder. She also was deeply involved in starting up and serving on the Mental Health and Drug Court Dockets.

Russet also served as a CIA Officer, receiving multiple awards for her work. At CIA, she worked every day, alongside people of various ideologies for a higher cause: protecting American citizens, our nation, and ultimately our democracy.

As a child, Russet's five person family struggled financially. Her father was a public school teacher with chronic illness, and her mother was a student, who returned to school after surviving Stage IV breast cancer. The struggles she encountered as a result of that upbringing made her passionate about issues surrounding the cost of living, families being able to put food on the table, having access to affordable health care, and the necessity for excellent and safe public schools with well paid public school teachers.

Now, Russet seeks to expand her fierce and compassionate advocacy to fight for ALL Virginians; ensuring the protection of our citizens and our rights and making life better, safer, and more secure for everyone- that’s why she’s running for State Senate.

Russet lives with her husband, two children, two dogs, and three cats in Round Hill. In her spare time she particularly enjoys international and domestic travel and exploring locations of historical and/or cultural significance.




https://russetperry.com

October 8, 2023

Hezbollah launching attack on Israel from the north.

Breaking on my phone. Coordinated by Iran?

October 8, 2023

ME: Voters will have eight statewide ballot questions to decide

Residents across Maine have the opportunity to decide on eight statewide ballot questions.

The election is Nov. 7 but absentee ballots can be cast beginning Oct. 11.

The first question (Question 1) is a citizen’s initiative that states:

"Do you want to bar some quasi-governmental entities and all consumer-owned electric utilities from taking on more than $1 billion in debt unless they get statewide voter approval?"

The first question on the November ballot is a utility-sponsored question that was proposed largely in response to Question 3 on this year’s ballot, which is an effort to take the assets of Central Maine Power and Versant Power in order to create the Pine Tree Power Company.

The third question (Question 3) is another citizen’s initiative that has garnered the most attention through massive advertising spending. The question states "Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?"



https://knox.villagesoup.com/news/voters-will-have-eight-statewide-ballot-questions-to-decide/article_b272bf2e-63bc-11ee-a804-c7ffdd1fae75.html

October 8, 2023

PA: County dealing with mail-in ballot issue

An error on Bedford County’s original mail-in ballots for the 2023 general election has caused consternation among some residents.

But once county officials were made aware of the mistake, steps to rectify the situation were immediately taken, according to Director of Elections Deb Brown.

Any county resident who has voted by mail-in, or absentee, in the past or has asked to do so, received a letter and an email notifying them of the problem.

One of the emails sent to a resident and obtained by the Gazette, stated that the corrected ballots will be mailed out shortly.

In addition, the email said if anyone had already cast their ballots, which were first mailed out on Sept. 26, they will be retained by the elections office and not processed for voting.




https://www.bedfordgazette.com/news/county-dealing-with-mail-in-ballot-issue/article_349cfbf5-1aac-5b0b-9613-4744ef9002d9.html

October 8, 2023

West Palm Beach voters could change residency, outside job rules for city mayors

WEST PALM BEACH — A pair of ballot questions next year will give West Palm Beach residents a chance to determine whether they want to prohibit mayors from having outside employment and whether they want to extend the residency requirement for those running for the office from six months to a year.

The West Palm Beach City Commission unanimously approved those ballot questions Monday night. Voters will have a chance to answer them during municipal elections March 19. If a majority of voters approve the changes, they will go into effect 10 days after the certification of the election results.

In addition to approving the ballot questions, City Commission members also changed the city code to require that mayoral and commission candidates provide an affidavit attesting to their residency in the city for at least six months before election day. Candidates must also provide one of three documents — a Florida voter's registration card, a state driver license, or a state identification card along with a recorded deed or title document, a property tax receipt, a lease agreement, a vehicle registration, a utility bill or a homestead exemption document — to back up their claim of residency.


https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/westpb/2023/10/07/west-palm-beach-voters-to-weigh-in-on-residency-job-limits-for-mayors/71031969007/