LATEST COVERAGE
ABRAMS WINS DEMOCRATIC NOD FOR GEORGIA GOVERNOR
Abrams
Democrat Stacey Abrams made history in Georgia’s May 22 Democratic primary for governor, crushing her opponent to become the first African American woman ever nominated by a major political party in a U.S. state. Georgia Republicans will have a July runoff between Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle and Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Meanwhile, in Arkansas, Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson won his primary and will now face Democratic winner Jared Henderson. Texas Democrats picked former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez to face incumbent Republican Governor Greg Abbott. (Posted May 23)
U.S. REP. RON DESANTIS WILL RUN FOR FLORIDA GOVERNOR
Ron DeSantis
DeSantis, a member of the House Freedom Caucus serving his third term in Congress, announced his run for governor on Fox & Friends just two weeks after Trump tweeted that he would “make a GREAT Governor of Florida.” His decision to enter the race sets up an epic primary battle with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a former congressman who has the backing of much of Florida’s GOP establishment. DeSantis is vowing “to drain the swamp in Tallahassee, which needs to be drained just like Washington.” (Posted January 5)
GOP KEEPS WINS DRAWING FOR CONTROL OF VIRGINIA HOUSE
David Yancey
Republicans have retained control of the Virginia House of Delegates after a random drawing to settle a race in Newport News that remained tied after a disputed recount. Republican Delegate David Yancey will get to keep his seat after his name was drawn from a bowl by the chairman of the State Board of Elections. But Yancey’s Democratic challenger, Shelly Simonds, refused to concede and said “all options are on the table,” including possible legal action to contest the outcome. With Yancey’s win, Republicans will hold 51 seats in the House to 49 for Democrats. (Posted January 4)
NORTHAM DEFEATS GILLESPIE IN VIRGINIA GOVERNOR’S RACE
Northam
A Democratic wave in the Washington, D.C. suburbs carried Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam to an easy 9-point win over Republican Ed Gillespie in the Virginia governor’s race. Democrats also won races for lieutenant governor and attorney general and overturned a 32-seat GOP majority in lower house of the legislature. In his victory speech, Northam rebuked President Trump, saying voters were sending a message “to end the politics that have torn this country apart.” Trump took a shot at Gillespie, saying he “did not embrace me or what I stand for.” (Posted November 7)
WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR JIM JUSTICE SWITCHES TO THE GOP
Justice
Just nine months after winning West Virginia’s top job as a Democrat, Justice took center stage as Trump looked on and announced he was switching to the GOP, telling his voters that “I can’t help you anymore being a Democrat governor.” The newly minted Republican — who, like Trump, was a billionaire businessman with no political experience before being elected — sang the president’s praises, saying he has “backbone” and “cares about us in West Virginia.” With Justice’s defection, Democrats hold just three Southern governorships. (Posted August 3)
U.S. REP. DIANE BLACK ANNOUNCES RUN FOR TENNESSEE GOVERNOR
Black
Black, who became chair of the House Budget Committee earlier this year when Tom Price left to join President Trump’s Cabinet, is now the the third Republican woman running for governor in a state that has never had a female chief executive. In her announcement video, Black burnished her conservative bona fides, declaring that people in her state “believe in absolute truths — right is right, wrong is wrong, truth is truth, God is God, and a life is a life. And we don’t back down from any of it.” Black worked as a nurse before entering politics. (Posted August 2)
ROBERT BENTLEY RESIGNS OVER “LUV GUV” SCANDAL
Robert Bentley’s mugshot (From Montgomery Co. Sheriff’s Dept.)
Facing likely impeachment and possible criminal charges, Bentley resigned as governor of Alabama and pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors stemming from his efforts to extricate himself from a scandal over his relationship with former aide Rebekah Mason. Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey was then sworn in as the state’s new chief executive, becoming only the second woman to ever hold Alabama’s highest office. Bentley’s resignation capped a remarkable fall from grace for the dermatologist-turned-governor from Tuscaloosa, whose good name, marriage and political future were all swept aside by the salacious story of a septuagenarian Baptist grandfather of seven carrying on with a married mother of three who is nearly three decades his junior. Under terms of a plea deal, Bentley avoids jail time and keeps his medical license, but he is barred from seeking political office again. Ivey said her first priorities would be to “steady the ship of state and improve Alabama’s image.” (Posted April 11)
REPEAL OF NC BATHROOM LAW COMES WITH SIGNIFICANT STRINGS
Cooper
After a year of turmoil and economic losses, North Carolina legislators have passed a bill that rolls back HB2, which prohibited transgendered people from using restrooms in public facilities that didn’t conform with their their birth gender. However, the compromise hammered out by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper and GOP legislature leaders also forbids local jurisdictions in North Carolina from passing non-discrimination ordinances protecting LGBTQ people until at least 2020, a compromise being criticized by LGBTQ advocates. Cooper, propelled to office on a pledge to repeal HB2, said the compromise wasn’t perfect but “begins to repair our reputation.” (Posted March 30)
MCMASTER SWORN IN AS SOUTH CAROLINA’S NEW GOVERNOR
McMaster
Republican Henry McMaster has taken the reins as the new governor of South Carolina, after outgoing Governor Nikki Haley’s confirmation to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. McMaster, who had served as lieutenant governor since 2011, was sworn in during a brief ceremony inside the South Carolina State House on January 24, shortly after the U.S. Senate voted 96 to 4 to confirm Haley and she resigned the governorship. McMaster, 69, a former U.S. attorney and state attorney general, has been lieutenant governor since 2015. He is expected to seek a full term as governor in 2018. (Posted January 25).
Chicken Fried Politics 