Latest news with #RepublicanStateCommittee
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Albany Republican Headquarters vandalised with swastikas
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Police are investigating after a vandal taped three swastikas to the front of the New York State Republican Party headquarters in Albany overnight. The incident took place at 315 State Street, where the Republican State Committee is based. More Local News Albany Police Department Public Information Officer Megan Craft said officers responded to the scene around 9:30 a.m. and confirmed a report had been filed. No arrests have been announced, but Craft said the investigation is ongoing. The swastikas were apparently printed on standard letter-sized paper and duct-taped to the front window, the front door, and the building's front sign. A sign taped below the swastika on the door read, 'If this is not what you stand for, prove it.' A chalk message written on the sidewalk in front of the building read, 'Return Kilmar Now!' With no apparent ties to New York, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a Maryland man mistakenly deported to a prison in El Salvador under the Trump administration. The Supreme Court directed the administration to facilitate his return, though the administration insists his gang affiliations made the deportation legitimate. Abrego Garcia's lawyers argued that there is no evidence of him breaking any law. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State The New York Republican Party has called it a vile act of political vandalism. 'We must ensure this vicious criminal who perpetrated this heinous crime be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,' said House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, rumored to be pursuing the Republican nomination for governor. 'New Yorkers haven't forgotten that New York Democrats viciously compared last year's successful Trump Madison Square Garden Rally to Nazis and called President Trump 'Hitler. Americans rejected this dangerous rhetoric and overwhelmingly elected President Trump at the ballot box. And now, less than a year later, the New York GOP Albany State headquarters was criminally vandalized with Nazi symbols.' 'This is not only an attack on our party, it is also an attack on the values of civil discourse, democracy, and decency,' party chair Ed Cox said. 'Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand must speak out clearly and unequivocally regarding the rising danger of left-wing violence.' Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt condemned the act and the message behind it. 'The cowards who defaced Republican Party Headquarters with swastikas aren't just hateful—they're historically illiterate,' he said. Like Stefanik, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay linked the vandalism to political rhetoric during the 2024 presidential campaign. 'Democrats spent months and millions calling Donald Trump 'Hitler' and predicting the end of America,' he said. 'Their strategy failed miserably at the ballot box but unfortunately managed to inspire this kind of inexcusable behavior.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rothman named chair of Pennsylvania Republican committee
CAMP HILL, Pa. (WHTM) — State Senator Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) has been tapped to lead the Republican State Committee of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. He was named chairman of the committee at the winter meeting of the party in Camp Hill. 'I am deeply honored to serve as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party,' said Rothman in a press release. 'Together with our dedicated team, we will work to advance the values that make Pennsylvania strong, ensure our voices are heard, and empower our grassroots.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE > Pennsylvania Republicans to elect new chair this weekend Berandette 'Bernie' Comfort of Lehigh County was re-elected vice chair. Rothman is a former county chairman and has experience in both public service and private sector leadership. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ayotte's campaign field boss named NHGOP executive director
Feb. 4—The field director of Gov. Kelly Ayotte's 2024 campaign is taking over the staffing reins of the New Hampshire Republican Party Jimmy Thompson of Dover is the new executive director for the Republican State Committee and will serve under Derry's Jim MacEachern, who was recently elected chairman of the party. Last year, Thompson was Ayotte's director of field operations and credited with building a ground game that contributed to Ayotte's 9-point victory over Democratic nominee and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig. "Jimmy's grassroots experience and organizational leadership skills are going to be a great asset to the NHGOP," MacEachern said in a statement. "He'll be ready to go on day one, continuing our mission of party unity and electing Republicans up and down the ticket." Thompson's other campaign work in the past has been as a senior political advisor to retired Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc of Stratham, who won the 2022 U.S. Senate Republican primary before losing to Sen. Maggie Hassan. He also did field work in 2020 for both GOP congressional candidate Lynne Blankenbeker of Concord in the 2nd Congressional District and state Senate candidate Lou Gargiulo of Hampton Falls. "Jimmy Thompson will continue the important work of building out the statewide grassroots operation that led to victories across the state in 2024 — Governor Ayotte looks forward to partnering with the Republican majorities in Concord to deliver for all of New Hampshire," said John Corbett, who managed Ayotte's campaign last fall and is now a senior adviser to the governor. "When it's time for Granite Staters to head back to the ballot box, we'll work hard, knock doors, and win." For the past four years, Thompson has run Forza Strategies LLC, a public relations and communications firm. He's a University of New Hampshire graduate with a degree in political science and government. Last month, MacEachern easily defeated radio talk show host Keith Hanson of Tilton to become chairman and replace Chris Ager of Amherst, who decided not to seek another two-year term. klandrigan@
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate advances two Ayotte priority causes
Jan. 30—The state Senate advanced two of Gov. Kelly Ayotte's priority causes Thursday: a ban on so-called sanctuary city policies and a dramatic increase in prison time for those convicted of dealing deadly drugs. Largely along party lines, the Senate approved two bills on illegal immigration and two that increase minimum mandatory prison terms for for fentanyl-related offenses. During a speech to the Republican State Committee annual meeting last week, Ayotte made clear what's atop her wish list. "I want you to send me a ban on sanctuary city policies and I want you to send me tougher penalties for fentanyl dealers," Ayotte said. Senators jousted over whether New Hampshire communities actively refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, pointed to "welcoming ordinances" in Hanover and Lebanon in the Upper Valley. "The Lebanon ordinance states, 'No agent shall participate in immigration enforcement actions,'" said Gannon. "My friends, that's a sanctuary city policy and it has no place in New Hampshire." Sen. Suzanne Prentiss, D-Lebanon, said over the past five years, law enforcement in her hometown has worked with federal officials to detain and prosecute three illegal immigrants who had committed crimes. "We don't just open the door and set them free," Prentiss said. The New Hampshire Association of Counties has raised concern the anti-sanctuary bill could force property taxpayers to foot the bill to care for illegal immigrants in county jails beyond existing reimbursement agreements that counties have with the U.S. Marshal's Office. One bill (SB 71) passed and sent to the Senate Finance Committee would prevent any city or town from having a policy that declines to work with federal immigration officials. The other that cleared the Senate (SB 62) expressly permits local cities and towns to sign agreements with federal officials to proactively work with Immigration Customs Enforcement on these matters. Both passed on 15-8 votes, with all Republicans present in support and all Democrats against. The 16th Republican senator, Kevin Avard, R-Nashua, was absent for Thursday's session. The House debates its own anti-sanctuary bill (HB 511) next week. That bill cleared a House committee by a 16-0 vote. Drug sentencing The two fentanyl bills that passed Thursday increase the minimum mandatory sentences for anyone who possesses fentanyl with the intent to sell (SB 14) or who knowingly gives a person a drug that causes death (SB 15). Gannon said he amended SB 14 in response to defense lawyers and police chiefs. Anyone caught possessing 20 grams of fentanyl could face at least a 3 1/2 -year prison term; the minimum goes up to 7 years for anyone with 50 grams. Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, of Portsmouth, said there's no evidence that mandatory minimums reduce overdoses and lawmakers should not "legislate headlines." "In fact, we heard several studies that mandatory minimums are not an effective deterrent of crime and are expensive. There are better ways to properly crack down on the distribution of fentanyl — one without the severe consequences this bill carries," Perkins Kwoka said. Sen. Daryl Abbas, R-Salem, and a defense lawyer, said dealers won't sell as many drugs in states that carry automatic jail time. "Twenty grams of fentanyl is 10,000 lethal doses; that is not a personal dosage," Abbas said. "I think that is a good headline for you to send to the people who are selling fentanyl." klandrigan@
