Hi everyone,
Several key gubernatorial races are on the horizon, two right in front of us in Virginia and New Jersey, while others are heating up in California and New York. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger is facing off against Winsome Earle-Sears, the current governor Glenn Youngkin's Lt. Governor. Earle-Sears has been holding Spanberger to account for her backing of Jay Jones to be the state's attorney general and last night this face-off hit the debate stage.
Jones is the candidate for AG who came under fire recently for resurfaced remarks he made fantasizing about the murder of his Republican colleague, that colleague's children dying in their mother's arms, and saying that unless politicians don't personally feel pain they don't change their policy. He also said that it's probably a good thing if a few police officers died in the line of duty because it would make them less violent. Spanberger has backed him, as have many other Virginia Democrats, saying basically that the remarks were no big deal.
Last night, Spanberger was asked outright by the moderators: "We just want to clarify. You know what you're saying is that as of now you still endorse Jay Jones as Attorney General." Spanberger said voters should decide for themselves.
“It’s up to every voter to make their own individual decision," Spanberger responded. "I am running for governor. I am accountable for the words that I say, for the acts that I take, for the policies that I have put out. I am responsible for the policies I put out and the work I will endeavor to do tirelessly for the people Virginia." She's actually the frontrunner in this race.
In the debate for New Jersey governor this week, both GOP nom Jack Ciattarelli and opponent Dem Mikie Sherrill were asked what their priorities would be on day one should they each be elected. Ciattarelli promised lower energy costs for New Jerseyans, saying he'd pull out of climate change based carbon tax agreements that have done nothing more than drive up prices for residents of the state.
Sherrill said her first mission would be to sue Trump. Yeah, I'm sure everyone's just loving the extended, state-funded lawfare against the president. Aren't people sick of this already?
California is still a year away from heading to the polls, but as the primary race gets underway, Katie Porter is facing steep criticism. At the beginning of this week, Porter was ahead in polling. She was comfy there, she was happy there, then the clips started.
She went into an interview for CBS News Sacramento and basically threw a temper tantrum. She said she shouldn't have to answer the questions posed, that the reporter was wasting time by asking her follow-up questions, that Trump voters were not part of her winning strategy—in short, she made a complete ass of herself. When reporter Julie Watts tried to press Porter on just answering direct questions, Porter said: "What part of—I'm me," she said. "I'm running for governor because I'm a leader... I don't want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I don't want this all on camera."
Then it turns out she backs men in women's sports, treats her staffers really poorly, and may actually lose that slim lead after all.
I was on Timcast last night, you can watch the whole thing here!