Booker wades into Virginia attorney general race
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) endorsed former Virginia Del. Jay Jones (D) for state attorney general Tuesday ahead of the primary this month, becoming the latest national Democrat to wade into Virginia's downballot races this year.
'Jay Jones will be a tireless fighter for Virginia families as Attorney General, and that's why I'm so excited to announce my endorsement today,' Booker said in a statement. 'Jay Jones has the vision, commitment, and integrity to keep families safe and make sure every Virginian gets a fair shake in the justice system. I'll be working every day to ensure Jay wins this race.'
Jones is running against fellow Democrat Shannon Taylor, who serves as the commonwealth's attorney for Henrico County; the primary is June 17.
Jones has shored up a number of endorsements, including former Virginia Govs. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Ralph Northam (D), while Taylor has the backing of former state Attorney General Mark Herring (R) and former Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D), among other Democrats.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will face off against the state's current Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) in November.
Booker is the latest national Democrat to endorse ahead of the state's primaries later this month. On Monday, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg backed Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney (D) in the crowded Democratic primary for Virginia lieutenant governor.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Newsweek
9 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Florida Ally Byron Donalds Skewers 'Woke' David Jolly
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) called David Jolly an "anti-Trump, radical leftist" after the former Republican congressman entered Florida's gubernatorial race as a Democratic candidate. Jolly formally announced his bid Thursday, becoming the latest party convert hoping to wrest back control of what had been the country's premier swing state that in recent years has made a hard shift to the right. Donalds, who is vying for the Republican nomination for the Florida governorship in 2026, took aim at Jolly in a post on X, formerly Twitter, and made support of Trump the key dividing line. "David Jolly is an anti-Trump, radical leftist who wants to raise your taxes, allow illegals to pour across our border, take school choice away from families, ban guns, and bring woke ideology to Florida," Donalds said. "He's completely out of touch with Florida's voters and our values. Florida is Trump Country, and I am proudly endorsed by President Trump to be Florida's next Governor. "As Governor, I will fight side by side with President Trump to protect Florida families and Make America Great Again." Even as Florida serves as a place for the Trump administration to poach staff and test policies, Jolly says he's confident that issues such as affordability, funding public schools, and strengthening campaign finance and ethics laws will resonate with all voters in 2026. He predicts elections next year will herald nationwide change. "I actually think Republicans in Tallahassee have gone too far in dividing us. I think we should get politicians out of the classrooms, out of the doctor's offices," Jolly said. "I think enough people in Florida, even some Republicans, now understand that. That the culture wars have gone too far." This is a developing story. Updates to follow. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.


Politico
23 minutes ago
- Politico
The governor's race wakes up
Presented by MIND YOUR BUSINESS — California is overtaxed, strangled by red tape and too darn pricey — so say prominent Democrats running for governor. Of the six gubernatorial hopefuls (including two Republicans) on stage for the California Business Outlook Dinner last night in Sacramento, the harshest barbs about the state's economic health arguably came from members of the party that has held unfettered power at the Capitol for years. 'This is the worst state for business in the United States of America,' said Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor, landing one of his bigger applause lines of the night. Yes, yes, the audience was a large roomful of Chamber of Commerce members, so denouncing regulations is not exactly going out on a limb. But the way the candidates broached California's affordability crisis and other issues offered some important revelations about the state of this governor's race (at least as it stands with Kamala Harris still undecided on a run): BUH-BYE BERNIECRATS? Raising the minimum wage and increasing taxes on corporations — policies that are typically red meat for Democratic base voters — got a noticeably cool reception from the four Democrats on stage. Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis was the only contender to unabashedly back raising the statewide minimum wage to $20 an hour, arguing that not doing so is akin to 'throw[ing] poor people under the bus.' As for raising taxes to deal with the state's current budget crunch — an option floated by labor groups and some Democratic lawmakers — Toni Atkins, the former legislative leader, was the only Democrat to even consider the possibility, taking pains to specify it was 'absolutely a last option.' It was a notable contrast from last month's gathering at the California Labor Federation, where most Democrats clambered over each other to cozy up to organized labor (one exception: Villaraigosa, who seemed to relish saying no to labor's face and opposing unemployment benefits for striking workers). But it's clear that, so far, no candidate has seized the progressive banner, tapping into the left flank that was galvanized by national figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter, who pundits sometimes place in the progressive lane, seemed eager to shed any perceptions that she was Elizabeth Warren 2.0. She talked about attracting tech jobs and 'winning the AI race,' which would be anathema to labor unions that are leading the charge for more regulation. She spoke sympathetically about the challenges facing businesses, lamenting the 'regulatory death by 1,000 papercuts.' Speaking to Playbook after the forum, Porter pointed to a recent proposal by state Sen. Steve Padilla that would have required plastic bottles to be manufactured with attached caps as an example of small-bore legislating that's missing the forest for the trees. 'LA is literally on fire, and that is what a legislator is working on,' Porter said. 'I would love to work with that legislator on his goal of reducing plastic waste. … He's focusing on the wrong thing. I want him to think bigger.' TRUST THE PROCESS: Despite President Donald Trump's unpopularity in California, Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco didn't appear all that interested in putting daylight between themselves and the Republican in the White House. Hilton, the Fox News personality, defended tariffs as a chance to lure back manufacturing to the U.S., while Bianco, the Riverside County sheriff, offered a full-throated endorsement of Trump's stop-and-go trade policy — reducing concerns to 'fear mongering' and advising people to 'just wait and see what happens.' 'Just buckle down with what we have going on, let the president take care of it,' Bianco said. 'If he fails miserably, then somebody's going to come in and we're going to rescue it.' California's a tough state to make that case. And Democrats on stage all used the setup to tee off in front of the business crowd. Villaraigosa retorted that 'tariffs are taxes' to applause. The other Democrats agreed, with Kounalakis tearing into the duties as hard as anyone. She warned the growing expenses of imported drywall and appliances will jack up home costs and took a direct shot at Bianco. 'You're not a businessman. You're a government employee. You've got a pension. You're going to be just fine,' Kounalakis said, to a chorus of 'ooooo's' from the crowd. REAL TALK: Playbook could hear the candidates salivate over moderator John Myers' prompt to describe an instance when they told 'hard truths' to display leadership. It played right into Villaraigosa's wheelhouse about how he tangled with unions in Los Angeles. It gave Hilton a chance to tout his early activism against Covid-19 lockdown mandates. And it gave Atkins the opportunity to give some blunt talk to her audience about what she cast as a major obstacle to building housing in California — a reality that often gets elided when politicians make sweeping promises about building scores of new units. 'We've done some CEQA reform. We've done zoning regulations … If we could get housing built faster, we would do it,' she said. 'The problem is our communities that do not want density.' GOOD MORNING. Happy Thursday. Thanks for waking up with Playbook. You can text us at 916-562-0685 — save it as 'CA Playbook' in your contacts. Or drop us a line at dgardiner@ and bjones@ or on X — @DustinGardiner and @jonesblakej. WHERE'S GAVIN? In Los Angeles County for a roughly 12:15 p.m. announcement about 'literacy and student success.' Watch the governor's news conference here. STATE CAPITOL DRIVER'S SEAT — California's latest battle over the gig economy will continue after the Assembly narrowly passed legislation to let Uber and Lyft drivers unionize. The measure was expected to pass given the clout of backers like SEIU California and Appropriations Chair Buffy Wicks. But the relatively narrow 44-vote margin, with numerous Democrats holding off, underscored how fights over app-based workers remain contentious years after they first came to dominate Sacramento's agenda. In that time, the struggle shifted from the courts to the Legislature to the ballot to the courts to the Legislature again. Now it moves to the Senate. Per Wicks, there are still 'many conversations to have.' — Jeremy B. White Number of the day 61.2 CENTS — That's how much California's gas tax will increase to per gallon, effective July 1. It's a slight hike from the current rate of 59.6 cents per gallon. The annual inflationary increase is baked into the state's fuel tax that lawmakers approved in 2017, which was signed into law by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. Republicans at the state Capitol tried — once again — this session to freeze the gas tax. They were rebuffed, per usual, by the Democratic supermajority. The tax pays for highway repairs and construction, as well as mass transit projects. CLIMATE AND ENERGY RAILROADED — California Democrats rallied around the state's high-speed rail project Wednesday after Trump announced he'd withhold $4 billion previously allotted for construction. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff in a statement accused Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy of seeking to 'appease President Trump and punish Californians who didn't vote for him.' 'In Donald Trump's corrupt world, there's no need for high-speed rail when you can accept a $400 million jet from a foreign government,' the senators wrote. 'But for the millions of Californians left to pick up the tab for Trump's reckless trade wars and rising costs of living, today's announcement is devastating.' Read last night's California Climate on why Trump's attacks are strengthening Democrats' support for the controversial project. Top Talkers GOING TO THE MATT — San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan defended his Pay for Performance initiative on X after Councilmember David Cohen told the San Jose Spotlight that the effort came 'straight out of the toolkit of authoritarian governments.' Mahan's plan would tie the pay raises of some city employees to performance metrics, like in many private-sector jobs. 'I'm tired of my fellow Democrats crying authoritarianism whenever they disagree with something — that is something that shouldn't be taken lightly or used as a catchall for discontent,' the mayor wrote. PALM SPRINGS UPDATE — U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli says Daniel Park has been charged with providing and attempting to provide material to support a terrorist in connection with the car bombing at a Palm Springs fertility clinic last month, the Los Angeles Times reports. Park is accused of helping Guy Edward Bartkus, the other suspect who died in the attack, secure 270 pounds of ammonium nitrate. AROUND THE STATE — A federal judge ruled that San Diego must allow beach yoga classes to resume immediately after they began cracking down on the practice in 2024. (The San Diego Union-Tribune) — Despite San Francisco's downtown slump, two shopping destinations are booming thanks to Asian retailers and restaurants. (San Francisco Chronicle) — The San Jose City Council will vote next week on Mahan's Responsibility to Shelter proposal, which would allow police to arrest or cite homeless people who repeatedly refuse shelter. (The Mercury News) Compiled by Nicole Norman PLAYBOOKERS PEOPLE MOVES — Louie Kahn of Rep. Ami Bera's office has been promoted from deputy communications director and digital director to communications director. — Joe Arellano is now spokesperson for the Stop the Recall campaign in support of San Francisco Supervisor Joel Engardio. He's a veteran SF comms pro and worked for former Mayors London Breed and Gavin Newsom. BIRTHDAYS — former Assemblymember Evan Low, CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund (favorite cake: rainbow) … actor Mark Wahlberg … musician Kenny G WANT A SHOUT-OUT FEATURED? — Send us a birthday, career move or another special occasion to include in POLITICO's California Playbook. You can now submit a shout-out using this Google form.


Politico
40 minutes ago
- Politico
Joe Walsh might run again — as a Dem
Presented by Happy Thursday, Illinois. The days are getting longer and so are the headlines. TOP TALKER CHANGING SIDES: Joe Walsh, the former Illinois congressman who once aligned himself with the Tea Party, announced Wednesday that he's joining the Democratic Party — and he's considering running for office again, too. 'I left the GOP five years ago because I believed the GOP is a real threat to democracy and the rule of law,' Walsh told your Playbook host. 'When Trump won in 2024, I realized that MAGA was a bigger movement than folks realized, and it confirmed my view that the Democrats had real issues.' Giving Dems a hand: Walsh, who first announced the party switch on Substack, said he joined the Democrats hoping 'to help defeat my former party.' And he's thinking of running, too. 'Yes, I might run again,' he said. Though it wouldn't likely be in Illinois. He and his wife, former state Rep. Helene Miller Walsh, are moving to Aiken, S.C., an area they 'fell in love with' a few years ago. Joe Walsh was elected to the U.S. House in 2010, defeating three-term incumbent Melissa Bean. He was defeated in 2012 by Tammy Duckworth (who held the seat before running for Senate). Walsh went on to host a conservative radio show and for a time supported Donald Trump before making his own short-lived run for president. Walsh has most recently been living on the East Coast. News of the party-switch came the same day Karine Jean-Pierre announced that she's leaving the Democratic Party. Her exit is conveniently timed with the rollout of a new book. POLITICO's Eli Stokols has more. It's not new: Walsh and Jean-Pierre's change-up may cause a jolt, but they're not the first politicians to show disillusionment with party politics. Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Independent a few years ago, and retired Sen. Joe Manchin left the Democratic Party and registered as an Independent, too. We wonder: Will more lawmakers will follow suit as the two main parties become more polarized, drifting farther to their respective left and right? THE BUZZ ROUGH AND TUMBLE: A jury has found that Chicago Ald. Lamont Robinson's campaign and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle's 4th Ward Democratic Organization should pay a total of $1.475 million to a political opponent for defaming her during a political campaign. Some background, via the Tribune's A.D. Quig: Candidate Ebony Lucas, a real estate attorney who lost in the first round of the 2023 aldermanic elections, filed suit over what she described as a 'coordinated smear campaign' in 2023 to defame her. Preckwinkle's organization paid for three mailers alleging Lucas was a 'bad landlord,' who 'can't manage her own business' and 'doesn't care about doing the right thing.' The jury didn't buy it and ruled in Lucas' favor. She called the decision 'a stand for truth in our elections and a message that lies and defamation will not be tolerated in our democracy.' Robinson said he plans to appeal, according to A.D.'s story. In a statement, the alderman said the suit was 'politically motivated,' and that he was focused on public safety and education in the ward. 'My priority is addressing the real challenges we face, not engaging in political theater,' he said. Preckwinkle's team didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. If you are Melissa Bean, Playbook would like to hear from you! Email: skapos@ WHERE'S JB In West Chicago at 10 a.m. for a ribbon-cutting for the expansion of the Jel Sert Company, a food and beverage manufacturer WHERE's BRANDON At Midway airport at 9:15 a.m. to attend the Runway 13C groundbreaking — At Harold Washington Library at 11:15 a.m. to attend the National Immigrant Heritage Month reception Where's Toni At the Cook County Building at 10 a.m. for an update on the Medical Debt Relief Initiative Have a tip, suggestion, birthday, new job or a (gasp!) complaint? Email skapos@ IN THE SPOTLIGHT — Elected officials, protesters clash with ICE outside office over detentions in growing escalation over Trump's immigration tactics: Alds Anthony Quezada (35th), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th) and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd) were among elected officials taking part. 'Quezada and Rodriguez-Sanchez sat down in front of a white van as it attempted to enter the office parking lot. The vans drove away, and then federal immigration officers wearing sunglasses and face coverings suddenly arrived in a large group and began to jostle and push the approximately 30 people who were there,' by the Tribune's y Laura Rodríguez Presa, Nell Salzman and Alice Yin. — Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03) has sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem about the latest ICE activity in Chicago, saying federal agents 'separated multiple immigrants from their attorneys.' She called the tactics 'insidious.' THE STATEWIDES — While Gov. JB Pritzker scored wins during legislative session, cellphone ban, other initiatives fell short, by the Tribune's Olivia Olander and Addison Wright — Federal civil rights case proceeding after a Springfield man's death in the Sangamon County Jail, by the State Journal-Register's Steven Spearie CHICAGO — University of Chicago receives $21M donation to fund quantum engineering and health: The new center will be named the Berggren Center for Quantum Biology & Medicine, a hat tip to philanthropist Thea Berggren, who made the donation, Crain's By Brandon Dupré. — Could the White Sox build a new stadium next to the Fire at The 78? Don't count it out, by the Tribune's Robert Channick COOK COUNTY AND COLLARS — NEW TODAY: Cook County erases nearly $665M in medical debt for more than a half million residents: 'The three-year-old program has relieved the most debt for people on Chicago's South and West sides and in the south and west suburbs,' by WBEZ's Kristen Schorsch. — REPORT CARD: Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke marked six months in office by issuing her administration's transition report, which examines the current state of the office and 'recommendations to improve the wider criminal justice system in Cook County,' according to a memo with the report. 'The final product serves as a compass to chart a path forward, focusing on data-driven and community-informed strategies, to ensure the office achieves its core mission of promoting safety, justice and accountability for the residents of Cook County. The full report is here. TAKING NAMES — Yogesh Raut, a Springfield native, won the Jeopardy! Masters tournament, via the State Journal-Register's Steven Spearie — State. Sen. Robert Peters, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, Cook County Judge Charles Burns, Quincy Chief of Police Adam Yates, advocate Matthew McFarland and TASC employee Clifton R. Bell will be recognized Friday at the 2025 Justice Leadership Awards, hosted by TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities). — Kari Wolfe, the chief benefits officer for the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, has been named to the board of the national State and Local Government Benefits Association. The group advocates for national public employee benefit issues and promotes education. — Jim Di Ciaula has been appointed to the national leadership council of the National CASA/GAL Association (Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardians ad Litem). In his day job, Di Ciaula is executive director of CASA Kane County. Reader Digest We asked about your favorite ballpark food. Joe Moore, the former alderman: 'Chicago-style hot dogs at Wrigley Field.' Kristopher Anderson: 'Nothing beats a warm day baseball game and a Lemon Chill!' Carlton Hull: 'Hot dogs.' Jim Lyons: 'Hot dogs at most ballparks or brats at Brewers games.' Ron Michaelson: 'Filet sandwich at Citi Field in NYC.' Jeff Nathan: 'Sox park hot dogs. Much better than Wrigley.' Joan Pederson: 'Buona's: dipped.' David Prosperi: 'As Humphrey Bogart once said, a hot dog at the ballpark is better than steak at the Ritz.' Raymond Sendejas: 'Polish with grilled onions at Sox Park. I only wish the team gave me more reasons to go there these days.' Steve Sheffey: 'Kosher hot dogs with mustard and relish.' Alexander Sutton: 'Easy: a Chicago dog, everything on it. Probably two of them actually.' Timothy Thomas: 'Buenos Nachos Tex Mex in Sections 123, 154, 159, 550 at Rate Field/Chicago White Sox park. Build your own burrito or nacho helmet.' Angela Waller: 'No other answer but a hot dog.' NEXT QUESTION: If not the Bulls, is there a Midwestern team you're willing to route for? KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION — Congressman Jesus 'Chuy' García is leading a letter with fellow U.S. Reps. Danny Davis and Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) asking the Department of Health and Human Services to explain why it's closing regional Head Start offices across the country, including the Region 5 office in Chicago. The office oversees Head Start in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Signing the letter with Garcia (IL-04) and Davis (IL-07), were fellow Illinois Congress members Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Delia Ramirez (03), Mike Quigley (05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (08), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bill Foster (IL-11), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Eric Sorensen (IL-16). Their letter is here. — Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) questioned the Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau during a House Appropriations Committee hearing about how the FAA is reducing airplane noise and how the agency can function with President Donald Trump's recent reduction in critical safety workers. Watch here — Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) has reintroduced the Save America's Rural Hospitals Act, a bipartisan bill that would reform outdated Medicare repayment structures that have caused many rural hospitals to go under. — Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15)has introduced a resolution to declare June as 'Family Month,' pushing back against 'Pride Month,' which honors the LGBTQ+ community. MEDIA MATTERS — Q&A | Chicago Public Media CEO on Trump's rescissions package to take back NPR federal funds: 'Melissa Bell, CEO of Chicago Public Media — the parent company of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, a National Public Radio member station — talks about the ongoing threat of federal funding cuts to local public media,' by WBEZ's Noah Jennings. THE NATIONAL TAKE — Trump issues new multi-country travel ban, by POLITICO's Myah Ward — Trump halts entry of foreign students seeking to attend Harvard, by POLITICO's Gregory Svirnovskiy — Trump launches investigation into whether Biden aides concealed alleged decline, by POLITICO's Ali Bianco and Kyle Cheney — New York City Democratic mayoral rivals clash in first TV debate, by POLITICO's Nick Reisman IN MEMORIAM — Judith Ann Easton, an Addison political leader, died last month and a memorial service will be held Sunday. Easton was first vice chair of the Addison Township Democratic Organization and was elected as a library trustee for the Village of Addison. Details here — Bishop John R. Gorman, who served at parishes throughout the Chicago area, has died. His obit is here. Transitions — Michele Pankow has been named Illinois state fire marshal, pending Senate confirmation. Pankow has been fire chief of the Rockford Fire Department, where she was the first woman chief in the history of the department. — Alyssa Jaffee has been appointed to the board of the National Venture Capital Association. In her day job, Jaffee works for 7wire Ventures in Chicago. EVENTS — June 24: House Speaker Emanuel 'Chris' Welch is bringing back his annual 'Equality & Pride 365' Pride Month event featuring legendary entertainers from The Baton Show Lounge. Details here TRIVIA WEDNESDAY's ANSWER: Congrats to Ed Mazur and Jarod Hitchings for correctly answering that Dewitt and Clinton counties are named after Dewitt Clinton, governor of New York from 1825-1828. TODAY's QUESTION: Who was the Illinois governor who began his political career as an appointed probate judge in Cook County? Email skapos@ HAPPY BIRTHDAY Ald. Timmy Knudsen, former Illinois House Majority Leader Greg Harris, SPAAN Tech CEO Smita Shah and caseworker for Rep. Lauren Underwood Becky Hooper -30-