Latest news with #AlexBall
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Jersey's gov hopefuls signal for outside help in final weeks of primary
Democrats running for governor of New Jersey are posting guidance for voter outreach on their campaign websites — an increasingly common campaign tactic that can serve as a signal to outside groups of how to spend their resources in the leadup to the June primary. In a Thursday memo to 'interested parties,' Rep. Mikie Sherrill campaign manager Alex Ball wrote that the 'key factor down the stretch of this race will be face-to-face contact with voters' and outlined who the campaign views as its 'top targets.' That includes Hispanic and Asian voters, as well as white women, on the vote-by-mail list who voted in at least three of the last four Democratic primary elections. The Sherrill campaign's 'next targets' are Asian and white voters who haven't voted or voted one or two times out of the last four Democratic primary elections. The campaign even lists where these voters could be found, broken down by county and municipality. These public instructions come from a page accessed on Sherrill's campaign website found by clicking a tab at the bottom of the site called 'media.' The page also includes materials that could be used when a super PAC is making an ad to boost her, including her prominent talking points about her biography and legislative accomplishments in Congress and photos and videos of her on the trail. This strategy, referred to as 'redboxing' due to the content being highlighted by a literal red box, is a common campaign tactic, though ethics watchdogs have long expressed concerns that it crosses the line of illegally coordinating with super PACs. (The Federal Election Commission has not cracked down on redboxing, reasoning that public statements online do not count as coordination.) Sherrill's campaign had previously posted a redbox memo saying that 'the key group of voters will be Black voters with a history of voting by mail, most especially Black women who receive their political communications in the mail.' Super PACs have an outsized role in the race for governor, giving candidates who have spending limits due to the state's public matching funds program an edge. Any outreach is critical in the closing days of the election, especially considering a large swath of the electorate has not even tuned in. Sherrill is not the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate to signal their messaging preferences on their campaign sites — though other appeals have focused more on advertising rather than canvassing. A Rutgers-Eagleton poll released on Friday found that when respondents were asked "when does the next election take place in New Jersey," 4 percent answered the June 10 primary, 20 percent said some time in June, while more than once-third said is not the only Democratic gubernatorial candidate to signal their messaging preferences on their campaign sites — though other appeals have focused more on advertising rather than canvassing. On a page called 'resources,' former state Senate President Steve Sweeney provides b-roll and lists 'messaging guidance,' saying that 'voters — particularly those in South Jersey — need to hear now on digital/streaming and mail that Steve Sweeney is a working-class, lifelong union ironworker with an agenda to help working-class people.' A previous version of this page also mentioned voters 'in Central/North Jersey who are male or older or non-college,' though that reference has since been removed. The page highlights his policy achievements, being 'outspoken in support of getting tougher on crime' and his senior-focused plan to eliminate state retirement income tax. Rep. Josh Gottheimer's campaign has also posted regular 'campaign updates' on its website. Most recently in a May 4 memo, campaign manager Chelsea Brossard emphasized Gottheimer's tax cut plan and that he'll 'stand up to Trump when he messes with Jersey.' She cautioned that 'TV will be especially crowded the last two weeks of the campaign, and it's important to reserve preferred inventory as soon as possible.' Two super PACs boosting Gottheimer have spent more than $14 million on advertisements, according to ad tracker AdImpact, though they do not have reservations booked in the final weeks of the campaign. In an April 17 update, the campaign also spotlighted broadcast advertising in the New York and Philadelphia media markets, as well as YouTube advertising, noting that the campaign's data 'shows that Democratic primary voters without a college degree, particularly white men and women aged 45 and older, and Hispanic voters and AAPI voters are especially open to Josh's message.' Gottheimer's YouTube page also provides b-roll. Many candidates in races across the country utilize redboxing, which is not outright prohibited by federal regulations. But in New York City, which has stricter guidelines, campaign finance regulators this week warned candidates about coordination between campaigns and super PACs after POLITICO reported on former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's redboxing. New Jersey does not have explicit regulations regarding redboxing. Daniel Han contributed to this report.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make promising discovery while studying elephant DNA: 'We are pleasantly surprised'
A study of elephants in Cambodia had a surprising but welcome outcome: a larger and more robust population than anticipated. A multinational team analysed DNA from dung samples collected by researchers in northern Cambodia, providing a promising glimpse into the health and size of the herds roaming through the wildlife sanctuaries of Prey Lang, Preah Roka, and Chhaeb. According to the Associated Press, the report found evidence of an estimated 51 elephants with enough genetic diversity to sustain future growth. The report concluded: "With sufficient suitable habitat remaining in the region, the population has the potential to grow if properly protected." Like their African cousins, Asian elephants face serious challenges to their long-term survival as a species, but they are in much worse shape overall. Due to habitat destruction, human encroachment, and illegal poaching, only around 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild. As the World Wildlife Fund reports, only about 15% of the elephant's natural range remains. Restoring the depleted population is even more difficult due to the elephant's exceptionally lengthy gestation period of 18 to 22 months, which is the longest of any animal. Elephants play an important role in the ecosystem. Because of their immense size, they spend around 80% of their day eating. With all that gorging comes a hefty amount of dung: 220 pounds every day. Elephant dung is rich in nutrients and fiber, which sustains other species and helps spread seeds from their long journeys in search of more food. Their dietary habits also help clear dense vegetation for more sunlight, and digging creates water holes that other creatures need to survive. In short, an elephant herd is a veritable army of eco engineers on the move. Protecting endangered species is a crucial challenge for conservation efforts worldwide, and it can be successfully addressed through education and international cooperation. With the right management, researchers are hopeful the herd could provide the foundation for a sustainable elephant population for generations to come. Do you think America is in a housing crisis? Definitely Not sure No way Only in some cities Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Alex Ball, conservation manager for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and one of the partners in the research, said: "We are pleasantly surprised by the results of the project. "We now hope to expand this methodology … which will inform how best we can work to help reverse the decline of these spectacular animals." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
