Latest news with #Democrat-turned-independent
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election analysis: A look at primary outcomes, implications
Two women will battle for Scranton mayor just six years after city voters swept incumbent Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti into office as a Democrat-turned-independent running as an alternative to the city's entrenched Democratic political establishment. Cognetti's historic 2019 special election victory to fill the unexpired term of corrupt former Mayor Bill Courtright was in the minds of many a rejection of Scranton's old-guard Democratic politics — a symbolic turning of the page that opened the door for Cognetti to become the city's first female mayor and shatter a longstanding glass ceiling without the support of traditional city Democratic power brokers. * Patricia 'Trish' Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON) * Scranton Mayor-Elect Paige Gebhardt Cognetti at Scranton City Hall in Scranton on Nov. 7, 2019. * A voter walks into the polls in John G. Whittier Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into Charles Sumner Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into the polls as they take literature from candidates and volunteers at John G. Whittier Elementary School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters gather outside of Green Ridge Assembly of God Church in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * Voters walk into Scranton High School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A voter walks into Scranton High School in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) * A volunteer waits for voters to enter the polls in Jackson Heights Apartments in Scranton Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Show Caption 1 of 9 Patricia 'Trish' Beynon, Republican candidate for Scranton mayor in 2025 primary and general elections. (PHOTO PROVIDED / COURTESY OF PATRICIA BEYNON) Expand After sailing to reelection as a Democrat in 2021 and dominating a contested Democratic primary Tuesday with more than 75% of the vote, Cognetti now faces another potential glass-ceiling-breaker in Republican mayoral candidate Patricia 'Trish' Beynon. The accounting executive defeated business owner Lynn Labrosky by 118 votes in Tuesday's GOP primary, securing the Republican nomination for mayor in November's municipal election, according to unofficial election results. If elected, Beynon would become the first Republican woman to take City Hall and Scranton's first elected GOP mayor since the late Jimmy Connors, a Democrat who switched parties and won the office as a Republican in 1989 before switching back in 2000 during his third term. Then-Republican City Councilman Wayne Evans was appointed interim mayor after Courtright resigned in disgrace, serving for several months until Cognetti succeeded him in January of 2020. Patricia Beynon celebrates with supporters at Cooper's Seafood House in Scranton on Tuesday night after capturing the Republican nomination for Scranton mayor. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Beynon will have to overcome a considerable Democratic voter-registration advantage to make that history, which will require defeating Cognetti and a possible field of independent candidates for mayor in November. The entrance of would-be independent mayoral candidate Gene Barrett, the former Scranton Sewer Authority executive director and a former city councilman who originally announced plans to challenge Cognetti in the Democratic primary but ultimately didn't file paperwork to appear on the ballot, would certainly change the dynamic of the race. Barrett forecasted his potential independent run in March after Democratic former Scranton School Board President Bob Sheridan filed to challenge Cognetti, telling The Times-Tribune on the day of the filing deadline that a three-person Democratic primary would only split up votes to the advantage of the incumbent mayor. Cognetti didn't ultimately need that advantage, earning 6,264 votes Tuesday to Sheridan's 1,864, but Barrett could prove a more formidable challenger if he mounts a meaningful independent campaign. Reached last week, he didn't commit to an independent run but didn't rule one out. 'We're looking at it,' Barrett said. 'It will be a practical and common-sense decision. Certainly the incumbent mayor won convincingly in the Democratic primary, but on the other hand it wasn't a very strong candidate that she ran against.' Even if Barrett runs and doesn't defeat Cognetti himself, his possible independent candidacy, that of independent mayoral candidate Mike Mancini and potential others would likely siphon votes away from Cognetti to Beynon's advantage. It's an advantage she could use in a city where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by a more than 2-1 margin and hold the registration advantage in every one of Scranton's 48 precincts. Mayor Paige Cognetti enters her campaign headquarters after winning the Democratic primary mayoral election in Scranton on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Running for mayor as a Democrat, Cognetti has never failed to garner at least 70% of the vote. She earned 71.36% in her 2021 municipal primary victory over Democratic City Controller John Murray, 72.51% in the 2021 municipal election where she defeated longshot Republican candidate Darwin Lee Shaw II and 75.51% to Sheridan's 22.47% Tuesday. But despite that success, Cognetti's endorsement wasn't enough to get her preferred city council candidate, Democratic city planning commissioner member Todd Pousley, over the finish line in the Democratic primary for city council. It was a defeat that could hamper Cognetti's ability to enact her legislative agenda should she win another four-year term this fall. City council The dynamic of city council was going to change regardless of Tuesday's outcomes, as two of the three Democratic council members who most frequently align with Cognetti on legislative matters — Council President Gerald Smurl, Councilman Bill King and Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild — are set to leave office after this year. King didn't seek reelection, and Smurl withdrew from Democratic primary contention in March amid issues with certain signatures on his nomination petitions. His withdrawal left a field of six Democratic candidates — Pousley, incumbent Councilman Tom Schuster, Scranton School Director Sean McAndrew, former state House candidate Patrick Flynn, political organizer Frankie Malacaria and vocal Cognetti critic Virgil Argenta — vying for three Democratic nominations to advance to November's municipal election, when three seats on the five-member council are up for grabs. Flynn, McAndrew and Schuster won nominations Tuesday, with Flynn finishing as the top vote-getter. They'll appear on November's ballot alongside Republican Marc Pane, who was the lone candidate in the GOP primary. Whoever wins the three council seats in November will serve alongside Rothchild and Democratic Councilman Mark McAndrew, Sean McAndrew's uncle, when council reorganizes. Patrick Flynn, who captured a Democratic nomination for Scranton City Council on Tuesday night, celebrates with his wife, Kate, at Benny's on Green Ridge Street in Scranton. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO) Smurl said last week he doesn't currently intend to seek reelection as an independent, but left open the possibility that he'll reconsider. Nonetheless, Tuesday's council outcome was a blow for Cognetti who, should she win reelection, stands to lose two often reliable votes on the five-member legislative body. The administration's legislative proposals require the majority support of three council members to pass, assuming all members are voting, and a supermajority of four can override the mayor's veto. In past votes where council split and Cognetti's proposed legislation narrowly passed 3-2, Smurl, King and Rothchild often voted together in support of her proposals with Schuster and Mark McAndrew opposed. That's not to say Smurl, King and Rothchild always align with the mayor or that Schuster and Mark McAndrew never do — council members are free agents and the body often votes unanimously. Flynn, Sean McAndrew and Pane could also find common ground with the mayor if she's reelected and they secure council seats. But the defeat of Pousley, who finished fourth despite Cognetti's backing, means one less likely ally on council for the mayor should she retain City Hall. Cognetti acknowledged the harder road ahead in her victory speech Tuesday. 'We have a real fight on our hands for city council,' she told her supporters, Pousley among them. 'We will continue to fight to make sure that we have a city council, with Dr. Rothchild, that can continue to help us make this progress and not try to tear down everything that we've built. So, it's going to be a slog. We've got a long way to go until November.' Schuster took umbrage with those remarks at Thursday's council meeting. 'I saw comments in the paper by the mayor and if I don't question things while on this council I'm not doing my job as a councilman, so I'd just like to put that out there,' he said. 'I think a lot of progress is made and this council passes most things that come from down from this mayor.' School district The race for Scranton School Board lacked the political acrimony that often marks primary elections. City voters backed experience. Incumbent board Vice President Danielle Chesek led the field in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. In Pennsylvania school board candidates can cross-file, meaning they can seek both Democratic and Republican nominations to secure spots on the November ballot. In the school board race all but one of the six candidates cross-filed and all but one, 22-year-old political newcomer Julien M. Wells, secured either a Democratic nomination, a GOP nomination or both. Chesek, recently appointed school Director Jenna Strzelecki and retired district Chief Information Officer Joe Brazil won nominations on both the Democratic and Republican ballots. Former school Director Carol J. Cleary, running only as a Democrat, won a Democratic nomination, while former Scranton City Council candidate John Howe won a nomination on the Republican ballot. From left: Scranton School Board candidates Joe Brazil, Danielle Chesek, Carol Cleary, John Howe and Jenna Strzelecki. (Chad Sebring / Staff Photos) Howe is the only of the winning primary candidates not to have worked for the district, served on the board or currently serve in that capacity. Strzelecki, the board's newest member, was appointed to a vacant board seat in late April. Tuesday's results suggest voters put stock in experience. And with four seats on the nine-member school board up for grabs this year, the majority of the five candidates that secured nominations Tuesday seem likely to win or maintain board seats. Several of the candidates who won nominations in the primary complimented the other candidates in the field after the polls closed. And while all candidates for school director are focused on the challenges ahead for the district — from improving educational outcomes and bolstering curriculums to providing the best possible education for the district's roughly 9,300 students amid the looming threat of federal funding cuts — the Scranton School Board has proven a reliable pipeline for city offices. Cognetti, Schuster and Mark McAndrew all previously served on the school board, Sean McAndrew is a current school director and King, the outgoing city councilman, is the district's former superintendent. The window for individuals who plan to run as independent or third-party candidates in November's municipal election to begin circulating nomination papers opened March 12. The last day to file those papers is Aug. 1. The municipal election itself is Nov. 4.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
President Trump gives West Virginia's Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ‘complete and total endorsement'
CHARLESTON, (WBOY) — Ahead of her likely bid for reelection in 2026, President Donald Trump has already endorsed Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). In a post on Truth Social on Friday, President Donald Trump said that Capito 'is doing a tremendous job representing the Wonderful People of West Virginia, a State I love and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024!' Capito, who has been a Republican representing West Virginia in the U.S. Senate since 2015, won her Senate elections by large margins in 2014 and 2020. She was not up for election in 2024 as President Trump said, but West Virginia's other Senate seat which was held by Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin, did switch parties when Republican Jim Justice won the seat. 'Shelley is fighting tirelessly to Grow the Economy, Secure the Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Great Military/Vets, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,' Trump said. 46% of West Virginia households fall below threshold of financial survival, data says Top issues listed on Capito's website are homeland security, veterans, connecting West Virginia with broadband, transportation & infrastructure, energy and environment, fighting the drug epidemic, health care, education and economic development. Capito said on social media that she was 'honored' to have President Trump's support. Capito has expressed her approval and support of President Trump throughout his first and the beginning of his current term, although she has questioned certain recent changes relating to West Virginia, including the DOGE cuts of workers at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). She was also one of several Republican senators who expressed concerns with the possible legal ramifications of Trump accepting new luxury jet as a gift from Qatar. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Marco Rubio sparks outrage by revealing Biden kept secret files on top Trump official AND everyday Americans
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said his team found a dossier that the previous administration was keeping on one of President Donald Trump 's top officials. The public revelation made at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting sparked immediate outrage over those furious over what the claim was former President Joe Biden 's 'spy' activity on American citizens and Trump allies. Rubio said that there was a whole office dedicated within Biden's State Department to monitoring Americans public and social media activity with the purpose of identifying individuals as 'vectors of misinformation.' 'We had an office in the Department of State whose job it was to censor Americans,' Rubio said. 'There's at least one person at this table today who had a dossier in that building of social media posts to identify them as purveyors of disinformation,' he added. Secretary Rubio did not identify the individual on whom the State Department compiled a dossier – but said they would be informed after the meeting and could share with the public if they felt compelled. 'I'm not gonna say who it is, I'll leave it up to them.' Vice President J.D. Vance suggested in jest at Wednesday's meeting that the dossier was like kept on him or 'first buddy' and DOGE boss Elon Musk. 'Was it me or Elon?' he quipped, sparking laughter around the table. Rubio replied with: 'Well, we are going to turn over these dossiers to the individuals and they'll decide whether they want to disclose it or not.' While the Cabinet official who was targeted by the issuer is still not known a day after the meeting, there were previous reports claiming the Biden administration was spying on Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Additionally, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) claimed in August – three months before the 2024 election – that the former congresswoman and Democrat-turned-independent was on a TSA list that identifies potential flight threats. 'I have been told Mrs. Gabbard has been placed on a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) watchlist under a program known as 'Quiet Skies'. I find this profoundly troubling for a number of reasons,' Burchett in the letter last year. Reports emerged in early August 2024 that whistleblowers with the Federal Air Marshal Service came forward with information claiming Gabbard, who was running for president and later aligned herself with Trump, was enrolled in the TSA's Quiet Skies program. 'Quiet Skies' is a suspected terrorist watchlist that flags these fliers even if they aren't on the 'No Fly' list. A spokesperson for Gabbard did not reply to Daily Mail's request for comment on whether the dossier was in regards to Trump's Director of National Intelligence. Some on social media expressed their shock over Rubio's disclosure of the secretive office. 'Holy s***,' one wrote, with another adding: 'SHOCKING.' One user speculated: 'I think every Trump supporter has been censored at some point.' Another pro-Trump X account wrote 'scary stuff.' 'The Democrats do not care about your Constitutional rights,' the same user added, writing: 'Meanwhile, they were perfectly fine violating US citizen's rights over J6 and ruining lives, simply because they don't agree with your politics.' 'The Constitution only matters when they think it benefits them politically. Don't ever forget that.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Karoline Leavitt Is Hosting Fake White House Press Briefings for Pro-Trump Influencers Like 'MAGA Malfoy'
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took the podium on Monday, April 28, for a new kind of briefing — this one to a room full of "new media" MAGA influencers eager to get social media soundbites. 'This is our first influencer briefing,' Leavitt announced. 'As I promised in my first briefing as press secretary back in January, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who traditionally has covered this institution,' she said. 'All journalists, outlets and voices have a seat at the table now.' Related: White House Says It Shuts Out Journalists Who Put Pronouns in Email Signature The first new media briefing came just over two weeks after Donald Trump's administration removed the designated position for wire services in the daily press pool rotation — its latest strike against The Associated Press. Trump banned the AP from White House coverage in February for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' in its coverage. Pro-Trump influencer Arynne Wexler got the very first question during Monday's briefing. But before she asked her question about trans athletes, Wexler thanked Leavitt and the Trump administration both for her White House access and their immigration crackdown. 'I can attest to the deportations in Florida, my Uber drivers finally speak English again,' she quipped. A followup influencer briefing on Tuesday, April 29, continued in the same vein, including plenty of fawning questions about President Trump and even the press secretary herself. One conservative personality, Link Lauren, drew plenty of attention due to his gushy opening line and distinctive appearance, earning him the nickname 'MAGA Malfoy.' Lauren formerly served as an adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the Democrat-turned-independent's failed presidential bid. He got the job at just 25, having gained a following on TikTok. Now, however, Lauren is a big fan of the Trump White House. He posed a fawning 'question' to Leavitt about being a 'very high-profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully,' and even filmed a TikTok from the White House lawn. 'The White House is a lot nicer than it used to be than the last four years under Joe Biden, where it was a cesspool, with topless trans people on the White House lawn, cocaine everywhere, and Jill Biden's self tanner ruining every single chair in the Oval Office,' Lauren said in his video. Related: A Dozen Philadelphia Eagles Players Skip White House Visit with Donald Trump Monday's influencer briefing was also attended by former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who now hosts a podcast following a canceled Newsmax show and a stint on Dancing With the Stars. 'A lot of conservatives will ask me 'Why does [Trump] sit down with people like Terry Moran of ABC or Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic?' What is the rationale behind that rewarding people who have very vehemently expressed disdain for him personally?' Spicer asked Leavitt. 'The president is unafraid,' she replied, 'and he is inspired by competition.' Related: Trump White House Bans Associated Press from Oval Office, Air Force One for Using These 'Divisive' 3 Words Rogan O'Handley, also known as 'DC Draino,' did ask a pointed question of Leavitt, inquiring about the long-promised Department of Justice files on Jeffrey Epstein. 'Do you have any updates from the DOJ or the FBI on when those files are expected to be released?' he asked. 'And also, when we might start seeing some arrests of the client list?' However, he asked no follow-ups when the press secretary failed to answer his questions. 'I will tell you the attorney general is a bulldog,' Leavitt said simply, praising AG Pam Bondi. 'She is someone you want on your team. And when she wants to get something done, she gets it done. I've seen her do it in various instances already in her time as attorney general. And when she makes a promise, she keeps it.' Related: Al Gore Attacks Trump in Fiery Speech, Says He Sees Parallels to Early Nazi Germany for This Reason Leavitt also used the influencer briefing to once again tout Trump's flirtation with an unconstitutional third term as president, telling the assembled group that the administration is working to 'ensure the president's executive actions can remain long after his tenure so you don't have another president coming in here in eight years and undo some of the executive work the president has worked so hard on." Her added emphasis on 'eight' is just the latest indication that the Trump administration is making plans behind the scenes for the president to find a way to stay in office beyond what the Constitution allows. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Last week, Trump's official online store began selling "Trump 2028" hats, and the president has previously insisted he was "not joking" about seeking a third term. In a March 18 interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon said he was "working on" ideas to get the president elected again. "I think we'll have a couple of alternatives,' Bannon said. 'We'll see what the definition of term limit is.' 'I'm a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028,' he added. 'We've had greater long shots than Trump 2028.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Karoline Leavitt Is Hosting Fake White House Press Briefings for Pro-Trump Influencers Like 'MAGA Malfoy'
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt took the podium on Monday, April 28, for a new kind of briefing — this one to a room full of "new media" MAGA influencers eager to get social media soundbites. 'This is our first influencer briefing,' Leavitt announced. 'As I promised in my first briefing as press secretary back in January, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who traditionally has covered this institution,' she said. 'All journalists, outlets and voices have a seat at the table now.' Related: White House Says It Shuts Out Journalists Who Put Pronouns in Email Signature The first new media briefing came just over two weeks after Donald Trump's administration removed the designated position for wire services in the daily press pool rotation — its latest strike against The Associated Press. Trump banned the AP from White House coverage in February for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the 'Gulf of America' in its coverage. Pro-Trump influencer Arynne Wexler got the very first question during Monday's briefing. But before she asked her question about trans athletes, Wexler thanked Leavitt and the Trump administration both for her White House access and their immigration crackdown. 'I can attest to the deportations in Florida, my Uber drivers finally speak English again,' she quipped. A followup influencer briefing on Tuesday, April 29, continued in the same vein, including plenty of fawning questions about President Trump and even the press secretary herself. One conservative personality, Link Lauren, drew plenty of attention due to his gushy opening line and distinctive appearance, earning him the nickname 'MAGA Malfoy.' Lauren formerly served as an adviser to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the Democrat-turned-independent's failed presidential bid. He got the job at just 25, having gained a following on TikTok. Now, however, Lauren is a big fan of the Trump White House. He posed a fawning 'question' to Leavitt about being a 'very high-profile young mother who seems to juggle and balance it all beautifully,' and even filmed a TikTok from the White House lawn. 'The White House is a lot nicer than it used to be than the last four years under Joe Biden, where it was a cesspool, with topless trans people on the White House lawn, cocaine everywhere, and Jill Biden's self tanner ruining every single chair in the Oval Office,' Lauren said in his video. Related: A Dozen Philadelphia Eagles Players Skip White House Visit with Donald Trump Monday's influencer briefing was also attended by former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who now hosts a podcast following a canceled Newsmax show and a stint on Dancing With the Stars. 'A lot of conservatives will ask me 'Why does [Trump] sit down with people like Terry Moran of ABC or Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic?' What is the rationale behind that rewarding people who have very vehemently expressed disdain for him personally?' Spicer asked Leavitt. 'The president is unafraid,' she replied, 'and he is inspired by competition.' Related: Trump White House Bans Associated Press from Oval Office, Air Force One for Using These 'Divisive' 3 Words Rogan O'Handley, also known as 'DC Draino,' did ask a pointed question of Leavitt, inquiring about the long-promised Department of Justice files on Jeffrey Epstein. 'Do you have any updates from the DOJ or the FBI on when those files are expected to be released?' he asked. 'And also, when we might start seeing some arrests of the client list?' However, he asked no follow-ups when the press secretary failed to answer his questions. 'I will tell you the attorney general is a bulldog,' Leavitt said simply, praising AG Pam Bondi. 'She is someone you want on your team. And when she wants to get something done, she gets it done. I've seen her do it in various instances already in her time as attorney general. And when she makes a promise, she keeps it.' Related: Al Gore Attacks Trump in Fiery Speech, Says He Sees Parallels to Early Nazi Germany for This Reason Leavitt also used the influencer briefing to once again tout Trump's flirtation with an unconstitutional third term as president, telling the assembled group that the administration is working to 'ensure the president's executive actions can remain long after his tenure so you don't have another president coming in here in eight years and undo some of the executive work the president has worked so hard on." Her added emphasis on 'eight' is just the latest indication that the Trump administration is making plans behind the scenes for the president to find a way to stay in office beyond what the Constitution allows. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Last week, Trump's official online store began selling "Trump 2028" hats, and the president has previously insisted he was "not joking" about seeking a third term. In a March 18 interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon said he was "working on" ideas to get the president elected again. "I think we'll have a couple of alternatives,' Bannon said. 'We'll see what the definition of term limit is.' 'I'm a firm believer that President Trump will run and win again in 2028,' he added. 'We've had greater long shots than Trump 2028.' Read the original article on People
