Politics

House Passes Sweeping Voting Rights Bill Over GOP Opposition

Published

6 years ago

March 4, 2021

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Democratic Caucus gather to address reporters on H.R. 1, the For the People Act of 2021, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, March 3, 2021. House Democrats are expected to pass a sweeping elections and ethics bill, offering it up as a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats passed sweeping voting and ethics legislation Wednesday over unanimous Republican opposition, advancing to the Senate what would be the largest overhaul of the U.S. election law in at least a generation.

House Resolution 1, which touches on virtually every aspect of the electoral process, was approved on a near party-line 220-210 vote. It would restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, strike down hurdles to voting and bring transparency to a murky campaign finance system that allows wealthy donors to anonymously bankroll political causes.

The bill is a powerful counterweight to voting rights restrictions advancing in Republican-controlled statehouses across the country in the wake of Donald Trump’s repeated false claims of a stolen 2020 election. Yet it faces an uncertain fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it has little chance of passing without changes to procedural rules that currently allow Republicans to block it.

The stakes in the outcome are monumental, cutting to the foundational idea that one person equals one vote, and carrying with it the potential to shape election outcomes for years to come. It also offers a test of how hard President Joe Biden and his party are willing to fight for their priorities, as well as those of their voters.

This bill “will put a stop at the voter suppression that we’re seeing debated right now,” said Rep. Nikema Williams, a new congresswoman who represents the Georgia district that deceased voting rights champion John Lewis held for years. “This bill is the ‘Good Trouble’ he fought for his entire life.”

To Republicans, however, it would give license to unwanted federal interference in states’ authority to conduct their own elections — ultimately benefiting Democrats through higher turnout, most notably among minorities.

“Democrats want to use their razor-thin majority not to pass bills to earn voters’ trust, but to ensure they don’t lose more seats in the next election,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said from the House floor Tuesday.

The measure has been a priority for Democrats since they won their House majority in 2018. But it has taken on added urgency in the wake of Trump’s false claims, which incited the deadly storming of the U.S. Capitol in January.

Courts and even Trump’s last attorney general, William Barr, found his claims about the election to be without merit. But, spurred on by those lies, state lawmakers across the U.S. have filed more than 200 bills in 43 states that would limit ballot access, according to a tally kept by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

In Iowa, the legislature voted to cut absentee and in-person early voting, while preventing local elections officials from setting up additional locations to make early voting easier. In Georgia, the House on Monday voted for legislation requiring identification to vote by mail that would also allow counties to cancel early in-person voting on Sundays, when many Black voters cast ballots after church.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court appeared ready to uphold voting restrictions in Arizona, which could make it harder to challenge state election laws in the future.

When asked why proponents sought to uphold the Arizona laws, which limit who can turn in absentee ballots and enable ballots to be thrown out if they are cast in the wrong precinct, a lawyer for the state’s Republican Party was stunningly clear.

“Because it puts us at a competitive disadvantage relative to Democrats,” said attorney Michael Carvin. “Politics is a zero-sum game.”

Battle lines are quickly being drawn by outside groups who plan to spend millions of dollars on advertising and outreach campaigns.

Republicans “are not even being coy about it. They are saying the ‘quiet parts’ out loud,” said Tiffany Muller, the president of End Citizens United, a left-leaning group that aims to curtail the influence of corporate money in politics. Her organization has launched a $10 million effort supporting the bill. “For them, this isn’t about protecting our democracy or protecting our elections. This is about pure partisan political gain.”

Conservatives, meanwhile, are mobilizing a $5 million pressure campaign, urging moderate Senate Democrats to oppose rule changes needed to pass the measure.

“H.R. 1 is not about making elections better,” said Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump administration Homeland Security official who is leading the effort. “It’s about the opposite. It’s intended to dirty up elections.”

So what’s actually in the bill?

H.R. 1 would require states to automatically register eligible voters, as well as offer same-day registration. It would limit states’ ability to purge registered voters from their rolls and restore former felons’ voting rights. Among dozens of other provisions, it would also require states to offer 15 days of early voting and allow no-excuse absentee balloting.

On the cusp of a once-in-a-decade redrawing of congressional district boundaries, typically a fiercely partisan affair, the bill would mandate that nonpartisan commissions handle the process instead of state legislatures.

Many Republican opponents in Congress have focused on narrower aspects, like the creation of a public financing system for congressional campaigns that would be funded through fines and settlement proceeds raised from corporate bad actors.

They’ve also attacked an effort to revamp the federal government’s toothless elections cop. That agency, the Federal Election Commission, has been gripped by partisan deadlock for years, allowing campaign finance law violators to go mostly unchecked.

Another section that’s been a focus of Republican ire would force the disclosure of donors to “dark money” political groups, which are a magnet for wealthy interests looking to influence the political process while remaining anonymous.

Still, the biggest obstacles lie ahead in the Senate, which is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats.

On some legislation, it takes only 51 votes to pass, with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tiebreaker. On a deeply divisive bill like this one, they would need 60 votes under the Senate’s rules to overcome a Republican filibuster — a tally they are unlikely to reach.

Some Democrats have discussed options like lowering the threshold to break a filibuster, or creating a workaround that would allow priority legislation, including a separate John Lewis Voting Rights bill, to be exempt. Biden has been cool to filibuster reforms and Democratic congressional aides say the conversations are fluid but underway.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not committed to a timeframe but vowed “to figure out the best way to get big, bold action on a whole lot of fronts.”

He said: “We’re not going to be the legislative graveyard. … People are going to be forced to vote on them, yes or no, on a whole lot of very important and serious issues.”

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Crimes and Courts

DOJ Charges Five in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin in Alleged Illegal Voting, Voter Registration Cases

Published

12 hours ago

September 8, 2026

FNN NEWS

WASHINGTON (FNN) — Five people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Wisconsin face federal charges in separate cases involving alleged illegal voting, false claims of U.S. citizenship or fraudulent voter registration connected to the 2022 or 2024 elections, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Justice Department announced the charges Friday, Sept. 4, saying the defendants include four non-U.S. citizens accused of illegally voting and one U.S. citizen accused of aiding and abetting election-related offenses.

The cases were brought in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, District of New Jersey and Western District of Wisconsin.

DOJ: Election Fraud Will Be Prosecuted

Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the DOJ announcement that election integrity is fundamental to American democracy and emphasized that voting in federal elections is limited to eligible U.S. citizens.

“Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such,” Blanche said.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau considers election integrity a priority and would investigate credible allegations of election fraud and illegal voting.

Federal officials also emphasized that the charges are allegations and have not resulted in findings of guilt.

Pennsylvania: Three People Charged

According to the Justice Department, Thomas Holtzman, 68, and his wife, Marisol Guzman, 50, both of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, were indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with allegations that Guzman illegally voted as a non-U.S. citizen in the 2024 election.

DOJ said Guzman was charged with voting as an alien.

Holtzman, a U.S. citizen, was charged with making a false statement of citizenship in order to vote and aiding and abetting, as well as fraudulent registration and aiding and abetting, according to federal prosecutors.

In a separate Pennsylvania case, Katya Rodriguez, 30, a Mexican national living in Harrisburg, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to alleged illegal voting in the 2024 election.

According to DOJ, Rodriguez was charged with making a false statement of citizenship in order to vote, fraudulent registration and voting as an alien.

If convicted, Holtzman faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, Guzman up to one year and Rodriguez up to 11 years, according to the Justice Department. Any sentence would be determined by a federal judge based on applicable law and federal sentencing guidelines.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Pennsylvania cases, DOJ said.

New Jersey: Federal Complaint Alleges Noncitizen Voted in 2024 Primary

In New Jersey, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso of Union County was charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, according to the Justice Department.

The federal complaint alleges Cardoso was not a U.S. citizen when she registered through the New Jersey Division of Elections’ Online Voter Registration System.

According to prosecutors, Cardoso falsely certified on her voter registration application that she was a U.S. citizen.

DOJ said Cardoso allegedly cast a ballot in the June 2024 primary election, which included candidates seeking federal office.

Federal prosecutors said Cardoso entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa and was not a U.S. citizen when she allegedly voted.

If convicted, Cardoso faces a statutory maximum of one year in prison. Her initial court appearance was scheduled for Sept. 8, according to DOJ.

The FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services investigated the case.

Wisconsin: 2022 Election Vote Leads to Federal Charge

In Wisconsin, Jesus Javier Jurado Garcia, 25, a Mexican national living in Beloit, was charged Sept. 2 with illegally voting as an alien in the November 2022 election, according to the Justice Department.

A federal criminal information alleges Jurado Garcia knew he was not a U.S. citizen when he voted on Nov. 8, 2022, in an election that included races for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

If convicted, Jurado Garcia faces a statutory maximum sentence of one year in prison, DOJ said.

Federal Officials Emphasize Election-Law Enforcement

U.S. attorneys in all three jurisdictions used the announcement to emphasize federal enforcement of election laws.

U.S. Attorney Brian Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said his office would prosecute people accused of illegally voting in federal elections as well as those accused of facilitating illegal voting.

U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey said the federal government has a responsibility to safeguard elections and investigate alleged violations of federal election law.

U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin similarly said his office is committed to enforcing federal election laws.

Homeland Security Investigations also said its agents worked with federal partners to investigate the alleged conduct and support the prosecutions.

Charges Remain Allegations

The cases are at the charging stage.

A criminal complaint, indictment or information contains allegations and does not establish that a defendant committed a crime. All five defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Politics

Eight Black Major-Party Gubernatorial Nominees Head to November Ballot in Historic 2026 Election

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2026

FNN NEWS

Five Democrats and three Republicans are competing across eight states, a remarkable milestone in a nation that has elected only three Black governors

WASHINGTON (FNN) — Eight Black major-party nominees are running for governor across the United States in the 2026 general election, creating an unprecedented moment in American gubernatorial politics.

The field spans both major parties and eight states: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, South Carolina and Wisconsin. Five nominees are Democrats and three are Republicans. Seven are seeking to become the first Black governor elected in their respective states, while Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is seeking reelection.

The number is particularly striking because only three Black Americans have ever been elected governor: Douglas Wilder of Virginia, Deval Patrick of Massachusetts and Moore of Maryland. All three are Democrats and men.

That means more than twice as many Black major-party gubernatorial nominees are competing in 2026 alone as the total number of Black Americans ever elected governor.

Eight Black major-party nominees are running for governor across eight states in the November 2026 general election: Keisha Lance Bottoms (D-Georgia), David Crowley (D-Wisconsin), Byron Donalds (R-Florida), Lisa Demuth (R-Minnesota), Aaron Ford (D-Nevada), John James (R-Michigan), Jermaine Johnson (D-South Carolina) and Wes Moore (D-Maryland). Moore is seeking reelection, while the other seven could become the first Black governors elected in their respective states. Source Florida National News (FNN)

Why It Matters: Eight Nominees, Only Three Black Governors Elected

Governors occupy some of the most powerful elected positions in American government, overseeing state agencies and budgets while exercising authority over legislation, appointments and executive policy.

Yet Black representation in governors’ mansions has remained exceptionally rare.

Wilder became the nation’s first elected Black governor when Virginia voters elected him in 1989. Patrick followed in Massachusetts in 2006. Moore became the third with his Maryland victory in 2022. Moore is currently the nation’s only Black governor.

The 2026 field could significantly expand that history — and potentially establish several additional firsts.

Either Keisha Lance Bottoms or Lisa Demuth could become the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history. Republican nominees Byron Donalds, John James and Demuth also represent the possibility of another gubernatorial milestone.

But the candidates do not represent a single political movement. Their backgrounds, ideologies and policy positions differ substantially.

That distinction is central to understanding the significance of 2026: Black representation at the gubernatorial level is appearing across party and ideological lines.

Meet the Eight Black Major-Party Nominees

Byron Donalds — Florida — Republican

Former U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won Florida’s Republican gubernatorial nomination Aug. 18 and is seeking to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Donalds previously served in the Florida House before his election to Congress representing Southwest Florida. A prominent conservative and ally of President Donald Trump, Donalds faces Democratic nominee and former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly in November. Florida election records confirm the Donalds-Jolly general-election matchup.

If elected, Donalds would become Florida’s first Black governor.

Wes Moore — Maryland — Democrat

Wes Moore is the only incumbent governor among the eight nominees.

An Army veteran, Rhodes Scholar, author and former nonprofit executive, Moore was elected in 2022, becoming Maryland’s first Black governor and only the third Black American elected governor of any state.

He is seeking a second term.

Keisha Lance Bottoms — Georgia — Democrat

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is the Democratic nominee in Georgia.

Bottoms served as Atlanta mayor from 2018 to 2022 and later served in President Joe Biden’s administration. She faces Republican Rick Jackson in November.

A Bottoms victory would make her Georgia’s first Black governor and could make her the nation’s first Black woman elected governor.

John James — Michigan — Republican

John James, a businessman, Army veteran and former member of Congress, is Michigan’s Republican gubernatorial nominee.

James previously mounted two campaigns for the U.S. Senate before winning election to the U.S. House in 2022. He faces Democratic nominee Jocelyn Benson in November.

A James victory would make him Michigan’s first Black governor.

Lisa Demuth — Minnesota — Republican

Minnesota Republican Lisa Demuth entered the 2026 campaign with a history of breaking political barriers in her state.

Demuth, a business owner and state lawmaker, became Minnesota’s first Black House speaker. She defeated a Republican primary field that included MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and now faces Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar in the general election.

If elected, Demuth would become Minnesota’s first Black governor and could become the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.

Aaron Ford — Nevada — Democrat

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is the Democratic nominee for governor.

Ford previously served as majority leader of the Nevada Senate and became Nevada’s first Black attorney general. He is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo.

A victory would make Ford Nevada’s first Black governor.

David Crowley — Wisconsin — Democrat

David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive and a former Wisconsin state representative, won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination after a closely contested primary.

Crowley became the first Black person elected Milwaukee County executive in 2020. He faces Republican Tom Tiffany in November.

If elected, Crowley would become Wisconsin’s first Black governor.

Jermaine Johnson — South Carolina — Democrat

South Carolina state Rep. Jermaine Johnson is the Democratic nominee for governor.

Johnson has served in the South Carolina House since 2020 and is seeking the state’s highest executive office.

If elected, Johnson would become South Carolina’s first Black elected governor.

Five Democrats, Three Republicans — And Different Political Visions

The historic nature of the field should not obscure its political diversity.

Democrats: Wes Moore, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Aaron Ford, David Crowley and Jermaine Johnson.
Republicans: Byron Donalds, John James and Lisa Demuth.

The candidates differ on major questions of taxation, abortion, education, voting laws, health care, economic policy and the role of state government.

AP reported that many of the candidates have not made race the centerpiece of their campaigns, instead emphasizing their qualifications, policies and governing priorities.

Their shared place in history therefore should not be interpreted as shared politics.

Florida’s History: Andrew Gillum Came Close in 2018

Florida has faced the possibility of electing its first Black governor before.

In 2018, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a Democrat, faced Republican Ron DeSantis in the general election.

Gillum came remarkably close to making history. DeSantis ultimately prevailed by roughly 32,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast, a margin of less than half a percentage point.

Gillum’s defeat left Florida without a Black governor.

Eight years later, the possibility has returned from the opposite side of the political aisle.

Donalds won the Republican nomination with 811,131 votes, or 47.79%, in the Aug. 18 primary, according to official Florida election results. Jolly captured 60.95% of the Democratic primary vote.

The historical connection between Gillum and Donalds is narrow but significant: they represent different parties, political philosophies and eras, but both became major-party nominees with an opportunity to become Florida’s first Black governor.

2026 Could Produce Several Historic Firsts

The November elections could substantially rewrite the history of Black gubernatorial representation.

Seven nominees could become the first Black governor elected in their states. Bottoms or Demuth could become America’s first Black woman elected governor. Moore could win another term as Maryland’s first Black governor.

The outcomes will ultimately depend on voters evaluating each candidate individually — their records, policies, qualifications and visions for their states.

Historical significance does not determine an election result.

A National Milestone Before November Votes Are Counted

Whatever voters decide, 2026 has already established a milestone.

Eight Black major-party nominees are competing for governor across eight states in the same general-election cycle — more than twice the number of Black Americans who have ever been elected governor.

They are Democrats and Republicans, incumbents and challengers, veterans, lawmakers, executives and attorneys. Their political philosophies differ, sometimes dramatically.

What connects them historically is much narrower — but consequential.

For the first time, American voters in eight states will simultaneously consider Black major-party nominees for governor, putting the possibility of several new chapters in American political history directly in the hands of voters this November.

Florida

Byron Donalds to Speak at Trump’s Midterm Convention as Florida Democrats Target Their Political Alliance

Published

2 days ago

September 6, 2026

FNN NEWS

Florida Democrats seize on Donalds’ Dallas appearance as the Republican gubernatorial nominee heads into the general election

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds will join President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans at the GOP Midterm Convention in Dallas next week, prompting Florida Democrats to renew attacks on Donalds’ close political alliance with the president.

Donalds is scheduled to speak at the Sept. 9-10 gathering, according to Florida Politics. Republican National Committee Chair Joe Gruters and U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna are among other Florida Republicans scheduled to participate.

The appearance comes as Trump takes an increasingly visible role in Republican efforts ahead of the November midterms. AP reports Trump has promised to campaign extensively for Republican candidates and is urging the party to run on his administration’s record despite political concerns surrounding the economy and other issues.

Florida Democrats Target Donalds’ Trump Ties

The Florida Democratic Party responded to Donalds’ scheduled appearance by seeking to make his relationship with Trump an issue in Florida’s gubernatorial campaign.

“Despite Floridians’ growing disdain for Donald Trump and the pain caused by the Byron-Trump economy, Byron Donalds is ready to remind the state of their close connection by sharing the spotlight with Trump next week,” Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Evan Ecklund said in a party news release.

Ecklund also criticized Donalds over tax and data-center policies and called him Trump’s “most-trusted puppet.”

Those descriptions are partisan characterizations from the Florida Democratic Party. They should not be read as independent findings by FNN.

Trump-Donalds Alliance Has Been Central to the Governor’s Race

Donalds and Trump have maintained a highly visible political alliance.

Trump repeatedly endorsed Donalds during Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary, and Donalds has consistently aligned himself with Trump’s political agenda. Donalds’ appearance in Dallas extends that relationship into the general election campaign.

For Democrats, the convention provides another opportunity to connect Donalds directly to Trump.

For Republicans, the event is an opportunity to mobilize their voters and emphasize their policy agenda ahead of November.

Gruters framed the election around taxes, border security, government regulation and the economy while sharply criticizing Democratic policies.

Trump Takes a Larger Midterm Role

The Dallas gathering also comes as Trump increases his involvement in Republican midterm campaigning.

Trump has pledged to campaign for Republican candidates in competitive races around the country. AP reports that he has encouraged Republican lawmakers to emphasize his administration’s record even as the party confronts voter concerns over the economy and other national issues.

For Donalds, the convention puts Florida’s Republican nominee on a national stage alongside one of his most prominent political supporters.

For Florida Democrats, it provides another opening to argue that Trump’s record should also be part of voters’ assessment of Donalds.

That competing message — Republicans embracing Trump’s record and Democrats seeking to make that association a liability — is likely to remain part of the political debate heading toward November.