RandySF
RandySF's JournalTX-HD28: Early voting in Fort Bend County opens Jan. 21 for District 28 runoff
In January, voters will pick the successor to John Zerwas, the Republican who served a dozen years as state representative for District 28 that includes northwest Fort Bend County.
Gary Gates, a Rosenberg Republican, has won the endorsement of District 22 U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, and Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls among others in the special Jan. 28 runoff.
Gates is running against the top vote-getter in the Nov. 5 special election for the District 28 position — Democrat Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz. The only Democrat in the election, she received 39.05 percent of the turnout for a total of 11,356 votes. Gates topped the field of six Republican candidates with 8,275 votes or 28.46 percent of the turnout.
Gary Gates, a Rosenberg Republican, has won the endorsement of District 22 U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, and Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls among others in the special Jan. 28 runoff.
Gates is running against the top vote-getter in the Nov. 5 special election for the District 28 position — Democrat Elizabeth “Eliz” Markowitz. The only Democrat in the election, she received 39.05 percent of the turnout for a total of 11,356 votes. Gates topped the field of six Republican candidates with 8,275 votes or 28.46 percent of the turnout.
On Dec. 23, Markowitz released an internal poll that shows she and Gates are in a dead heat in the special election.
In a Dec. 23 interview, Fort Bend County Democratic Party Chair Cynthia M. Ginyard said, “We’re 150 percent behind that candidate (Markowitz). We’re working feverishly to flip that seat.”
Fort Bend County Republican Party Katy Campaign HQ contact Jason Walker, party vice chairman; and Sugar Land Campaign HQ contact Linda Howell, party chairwoman, also were called for comment about the runoff.
https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/news/article/Early-voting-in-Fort-Bend-County-opens-Jan-21-14932925.php
TX-HD28: Bloomberg to knock on doors with Texas State House candidate Eliz Markowitz.
In an announcement first shared with The Texas Tribune, his campaign said it will open a Texas headquarters in Houston and 16 field offices throughout the rest of the state between now and the March 3 primary. The offices will be spread across the Houston area, the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Austin, East Texas, the San Antonio area, El Paso, Laredo, McAllen and the Killeen area.
The campaign also named its first Texas hires:
Carla Brailey, vice chair of the Texas Democratic Party, will serve as Bloomberg’s senior advisor.
Ashlea Turner, a government relations consultant who worked on Bill White’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign, will serve as Bloomberg’s state director.
Kevin Lo, who worked on presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ Iowa campaign before she ended her campaign earlier this month, will serve as Bloomberg’s organizing director.
Lizzie Lewis, communications director for 2018 gubernatorial nominee Lupe Valdez, will be Bloomberg’s press secretary.
The moves by Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor and billionaire businessman, are the latest developments in a campaign strategy to skip the first early voting states after his late entry into the race and instead focus on the delegate-rich Super Tuesday states, which include Texas.
Bloomberg is headed to Texas on Sunday for his second trip to the state since launching his campaign in late November. He is set to visit increasingly competitive Fort Bend County to meet with community leaders and elected officials and attend a block walk for state House candidate Eliz Markowitz. She is in a Jan. 28 special election runoff for a seat that Democrats are aiming to flip as they enter 2020 with hopes of capturing the lower-chamber majority.
Bloomberg is the third remaining Democratic presidential hopeful to name a Texas state director, following Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden. Beto O’Rourke, the former El Paso congressman, had one before he dropped out of the race in early November.
https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/michael-bloomberg-revs-up-texas-campaign-with-big-plans
Kansas cop off force after fake claim McDonald's workers wrote 'pig' on coffee cup
A Kansas police officer resigned Monday after fabricating a story that employees at a local McDonald’s wrote the words “F---ing Pig” on his coffee cup.
Herington Police Chief Brian Hornaday said on Saturday that one of his officers went to McDonald’s in Junction City, Kansas, before work and was given the cup in question, NBC affiliate KSNT reports. After further investigation, the department discovered the unidentified Herington officer made the story up.
"This was completely and solely fabricated by a Herington police officer no longer employed with the agency," Hornaday told reporters Monday.
The chief said that the McDonald's employees had nothing to do with the hoax and were incredibly cooperative during the investigation.
The ex-officer, who remained unidentified, was a former military police officer in the army and had been on the small town’s force for two months. He told Hornaday the incident was supposedly intended to be a joke.
"I truly hope the former officer of the Herington Police Department that did this understands the magnitude of the black eye this gives the law enforcement profession from coast to coast," Hornaday said.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/kansas-mcdonald-s-denies-employees-wrote-expletive-filled-message-cop-n1108476?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma
Southern, Western States Set to Gain Congressional Seats
“New state population totals released Monday offer fresh signs of how southern and western states will gain political power after the 2020 census,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Based on Monday’s figures, Texas is poised to gain two congressional seats, and Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon are expected to gain one. Eight states are expected to lose one seat: California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.”
https://politicalwire.com/2019/12/30/southern-western-states-set-to-gain-seats/
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige Says 'Shang-Chi' Cast Will Be '98% Asian'
Much has been said about the lack of diversity in modern-day blockbusters, but all of that seems to be changing as we enter the next decade. Studio heads like Kevin Feige have been making a continuous effort to make their films more diverse so everyone can see a part of themselves on the big screen. With films like Black Panther and Captain Marvel, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has proven to the world that superhero films can have diverse casts and voices and still be billion dollar successes.
Now, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has revealed that the upcoming Shang-Chi film will feature a cast that is predominantly Asian. Speaking to students at the New York Film Academy, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige commented on how important diversity is and how the upcoming Shang-Chi will be a film that further explores the various characters that Marvel has.
Black Panther was a cultural triumph and was widely praised for being a beacon for young, black viewers. Shang-Chi is expected to do the same for younger Asian viewers who will finally have a hero in the name of Shang-Chi to look up to. The cast for the upcoming Shang-Chi is already stacked with Asian actors, with more sure to be announced as the film nears its production start date.
/revision/latest?cb=20170822180446
https://heroichollywood.com/marvel-studios-kevin-feige-shang-chi-cast/
NC-11: Mark Meadows accused of timing retirement to help elect wife's friend
Rep. Mark Meadows' shock retirement — revealed just 30 hours before the filing deadline in North Carolina — has roiled some Republicans in the state who suspect he timed his announcement to benefit a friend of his wife.
The four-term congressman will depart the House for an as-yet-undefined role with President Donald Trump, a decision he disclosed in an interview with POLITICO Playbook that published around 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 19, ahead of the filing deadline at noon on Dec. 20.
Later that day came a campaign launch by Lynda Bennett, a local GOP activist and real estate agent who is friendly with Debbie Meadows, the congressman's wife, according to sources who know both women.
Story Continued Below
Wary Republicans in the state quickly speculated that she had advance notice of Meadows' retirement.
Online records revealed her campaign website domain had been registered on Oct. 28 by a Scott Meadows, who appears to be the brother of the congressman. The campaign's Facebook page was created on Dec. 18, a day before the retirement. And shortly after midnight on Dec. 19 — about five hours before Meadows announced — Bennett posted photos of herself with the congressman and his wife at local GOP events in the state.
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/30/mark-meadows-retirement-elect-wife-friend-090838
Gabbard says impeachment will only 'embolden' Trump
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), a 2020 presidential candidate, elaborated on her rationale for voting "present" on articles of impeachment against President Trump, telling ABC News impeachment proceedings will only "embolden" the president.
"I think impeachment, unfortunately, will only further embolden Donald Trump, increase his support and the likelihood that he'll have a better shot at getting elected while also seeing the likelihood that the House will lose a lot of seats to Republicans," Gabbard told ABC in New Hampshire on Saturday.
Gabbard, who has announced she will not seek reelection to her House seat, said she was concerned Trump’s all but inevitable acquittal in the Republican Senate could ensure “lasting damage” in the event Trump is reelected and the GOP regains control of the House.
Gabbard was the only Democrat to vote “present” on the articles. Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) voted no, while Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-N.J.), who also voted against them, made his plans to switch parties from Democratic to Republican official a day later.
Gabbard has previously talked about her intention to introduce a resolution censuring the president.
Immediately after the vote, she blasted the "zero sum mindset" of both parties, saying, "I am standing in the center and have decided to vote present, because I could not in good conscience vote against impeachment because I believe President Trump is guilty of wrongdoing."
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/476146-gabbard-says-impeachment-will-only-embolden-trump
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