Latest news with #TheRecast
Politico
5 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Group urges tactical change to win back Latinos
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: FIRST IN THE RECAST — Campeones PAC blasted Democratic donors today for not doing enough to stem the rightward shift of Hispanic voters, particularly in the South and Southwestern regions of the U.S. 'We must find a way to learn from the mistakes of the past cycle in order to reach Latino men and women who we cannot afford to continue losing support from,' the group wrote in a memo. 'To do this we will utilize narratives focused on the economy to galvanize our community against the Republicans who are destroying economic opportunity for our communities.' Among the action items called for in the memo is ending the 'over-reliance' on polling and analytics that the PAC said has proven ineffective in reaching these targeted communities. Democrats, the memo said, need to increase their focus on younger Latinos under 30 who are more likely to rent, more tech savvy, and more likely to change jobs with regularity. Reached for comment, Chuck Rocha — who launched Campeones PAC along with former Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-Calif.) earlier this year — declined to say how many donors the memo was sent to but said it reached across 'the Democratic donor diaspora … so from everyone from George Soros to Henry R. Muñoz,' name-checking some of the biggest donors in the Democratic Party. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. 'We're sending out a siren,' Rocha told The Recast. 'We have to fix this now or the Democratic Party's gonna be the minority forever, because without the Latino vote, you can't win Arizona, Nevada, Texas.' Not everyone agrees that Campeones has its focus in the right area to win back Latinos. 'If we are going to really be focused on reaching Latinos, let's look at the entire country and not just a segment,' said a longtime Hispanic Democratic strategist who worked on the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. The strategist was granted anonymity to discuss their critiques of the memo. 'This is how we lose — in our silos, with culturally relevant perspectives that only target some of the Latino population.' The strategist continued: 'We lose because no one is listening to each other. Recycled strategies won't get us a win anytime soon.' Rocha pushed back, saying his strategy is focused on winning back first- and second-generation Latinos in the South and Southwest but that it can apply to other regions in some cases. 'Let me eat this elephant one bite at a time,' he said. The memo comes amid apparent shifts in Latino perceptions of Donald Trump's first months back in the White House. Latino voters shifted dramatically to Trump in last fall's elections, but a new survey shows his support has cratered. According to a poll from Global Strategy Group and commissioned by Somos Votantes, a Democratic-leaning group that focuses on Latinos, Trump's approval from February to May dropped 14 points among Latino independents, from 43 percent to 29 percent. Among Latinos overall, the drop was less muted — it fell by just 4 percentage points during that same February-to-May time frame. We'll keep tabs on this issue and see how things change in the coming months. All the best,The Recast Team MOORE'S MEA CULPA Wes Moore is facing new questions about his backstory. The first-term Maryland governor took steps to elevate his national profile at South Carolina Democrats' Blue Palmetto Dinner over the weekend. His keynote address was well-received by the state's party insiders Friday as he exhorted Democrats to become 'the party of action' and take a page out of Trump's playbook. '[It would] be foolish not to learn from his impatience' when enacting their policy agenda when the party returns to power, Moore told the sold-out event. But the governor, who is among the brightest up-and-comers in Democratic politics, made an unforced error when he sought to play up his familial connection to the state. He described his late grandfather, whom he said was born in Charleston, as having 'a deep Jamaican accent his entire life, but had South Carolinian grit in his bones.' But public records indicate Moore's grandfather was born some 200 miles away — in a part of the state that's culturally and politically very different from Charleston. 'I was always told by my mother that my grandfather was born in Charleston, South Carolina. However, this past weekend I was made aware that he was actually born in Greenville County, South Carolina,' Moore said in a statement to The Recast on Monday. 'While this was what was told to me, after doing my due diligence, I can confirm that the information is true.' His office said he learned of the discrepancy in family lore during a private event in Columbia the following day. That event was a gathering hosted at the Columbia-area home of Democratic fundraiser Rick Wade. On the surface, passing along an error in family history isn't a big deal. But for Moore, a potential White House hopeful, it represents a recurrence of awkward questions surrounding the details of his life, which has followed an improbable trajectory — he's gone from being put in handcuffs at 11 years old to becoming the nation's only sitting Black governor. Last year, The New York Times reported that Moore, in an application for a prestigious White House fellowship program in 2006, claimed to have received a Bronze Star for his military service in Afghanistan. He told the newspaper at the time it was 'an honest mistake' and that he did so at the urging of a mentor who assured him the paperwork for the award had been filed and anticipated Moore would have received it before the fellowship began. Moore eventually received the honor several months after the controversy was ignited. He has brushed off questions about why he failed to correct interviewers who introduced him as a 'Bronze Star recipient,' saying in an interview last September with NPR host Michel Martin that he doesn't have time for 'foolishness' and he's working to better the lives of Marylanders. Moore also faced similar criticism during his 2022 gubernatorial campaign about details of his coming-of-age story in Baltimore and receiving a football award in the state that does not exist. Moore is up for reelection next year. And while he repeatedly said he's not running for the White House in 2028, many anticipate that detail about his public life may change, too. TAKING BETS ON 2028 VEEPSTAKES In an early betting line that's sure to raise eyebrows, one bookmaker has a pair of firebrand House members currently tied for the best odds to secure the No. 2 spot on a presidential nominating ticket — some three years before Democratic primary voters have even selected a standard-bearer. Two women of color, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Jasmine Crockett of Texas, are the 'co-favorites' at 7-1 odds to be the next Democratic vice presidential nominee, according to political statline maker BetOnline. 'It's a wide open market,' Paul Krishnamurty, BetOnline's political oddsmaker, told The Recast. He adds that the buzz around the two lawmakers is about their proven ability to raise big money, as well as something else Democratic voters say they value. 'Voters who are open to voting Democrat don't want someone to be timid,' he said. 'They don't want someone to forge alliances or have anything to do with Trump. Trump's the enemy.' Krishnamurty, a British professional gambler by trade who writes about U.S. and U.K. politics, noted that the field of vice presidential picks is fluid given the 2028 presidential nominating contests have yet to get underway. And since, aside from Harris, the leading Democrats thought to be seeking a 2028 White House bid appear to be largely men at the moment, Ocasio-Cortez and Crockett would add the gender diversity that has been a hallmark of the last three Democratic presidential tickets. Rounding out the top Democratic picks for vice president in this early betting line are Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear at 8-1 odds; Govs. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania who are tied at 10-1; and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 12-1. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK Delgado takes on boss for her job — New York's Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado launched an insurgent campaign to topple the woman who appointed him to his job, Gov. Kathy Hochul. Delgado, as POLITICO's Nick Reisman and Emily Ngo point out, has been reaching out to Black elected officials to make his pitch, casting Hochul as a weak top-of-the-ticket candidate who could put down-ballot Democrats at risk. And more: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS NBA Finals stinker — The NBA Finals kick off on Thursday and it's a matchup of two small-market franchises, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. One oddsmaker predicts this finals match up will be among the most lopsided in NBA history. Star Advice — Michael B. Jordan, star of this year's critically acclaimed film 'Sinners' got advice from Denzel Washington about how social media kills movie stars. Cynthia Erivo gets personal — June is Pride Month, and in a recent interview for Billboard, the 'Wicked' star opens up about her queerness.
Politico
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Wes Moore's reparations moment
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore faces an early test of his viability on the national stage as he is set to headline a dinner and fundraiser for South Carolina Democrats on Friday. The opportunity to address party insiders of an early presidential nominating state comes as Moore is facing some headwinds back home — and, perhaps, increasingly from other parts of the Democratic base — over his recent decision to veto a reparations bill in Maryland. The bill called for a study of historic race-based inequality in the state. The veto surprised many of Moore's supporters, especially his fellow Democrats in the state Legislature who presumed Maryland's first, and currently the nation's only, Black governor would sign the bill. It comes at a fraught moment for Moore, as he looks to bolster his national standing within the party and position himself as a potential presidential candidate. (Why else would he be traveling to South Carolina?) That's despite the fact that he's repeatedly said he's not looking to make a White House run, for now. The veto also prompted one South Carolina Democrat, state Rep. John King, to lobby state party officials to disinvite Moore from the Blue Palmetto Dinner. Writing in an open letter on Facebook, King characterized Moore's veto this way: 'It was a rejection of the very acknowledgment that the wounds of slavery still bleed into the lives of our people today.' In an interview with The Recast, King took it a step further, explaining that while he would be open to supporting Moore should he run for president in the future, the governor's veto of a reparations bill sends the message that the historic pain suffered by Black Americans, who make up the base of the Democratic Party, can easily be ignored. 'His decision to veto a bill that simply studies reparations, gives political cover, in my opinion, to opponents of racial justice, not just in Maryland, but across the country,' he said. 'It sends a message that even Black leadership at the highest level sees reparations as politically untenable, and that makes it even harder for us as Black legislators to introduce or defend, and in many cases advance, meaningful legislation on reparational justice.' Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. The reparations issue has gained traction in a handful of states in recent years, including in California, New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia, which have each enacted commissions to study the long-term effects of slavery on Black Americans. Some local municipalities including Providence, Rhode Island, have also established similar bodies. But the issue has gone nowhere on the federal level, having been introduced every session of Congress since 1989 without being passed. Most recently, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) introduced a 'Reparations Now' resolution earlier this month, which is not expected to be taken up by the GOP-controlled House. Reparations remains a politically fraught issue nationally, with Black and white survey respondents expressing markedly different opinions. In a 2022 Pew Research Center survey, some 77 percent of African American respondents supported reparations, while just 18 percent of white respondents said the same. A person familiar with Moore's thinking granted anonymity to speak candidly told The Recast it is unclear to them whether Moore will address the reparations veto directly in his South Carolina remarks but expects the governor to point to efforts during his time as governor that have addressed racial disparities in the state, echoing sentiments in the governor's veto letter. 'Because while I appreciate the work that went into this legislation, I strongly believe now is not the time for another study,' Moore wrote in his May 16 letter, listing items including increasing the number of mortgages to help first-time homeowners, which has helped some 1,500 pursue homeownership, and investing more than $1.3 million in the state's historically Black colleges and universities. 'We've made real progress both to undo bad policies of the past and craft good policies that will lead us toward a brighter future,' Moore continued in his letter, promising to introduce more policies in the next legislative session, which convenes in January 2026. Maryland Democrats, who enjoy a supermajority in the state Legislature, are already floating talks of overriding the governor's veto. We'll continue to monitor this space and report back on how it will be playing out — both in South Carolina and in Maryland. All the best,The Recast Team REMEMBRANCES FOR CHARLES RANGEL The political world continues to mourn the death of the legendary Harlem, New York, Congressman Charles Rangel. During a congressional career that spanned nearly half a century, he came to be known as the 'Lion of Lennox Avenue' and was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, which included other towering political figures like the late Reps. John Conyers of Michigan, Ron Dellums of California and fellow New Yorker Shirley Chisholm. He also became the first Black lawmaker to chair the powerful Ways and Means Committee, first taking the gavel in 2007. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black party leader of either chamber, remembered Rangel as 'friend and mentor,' while also praising him as 'change agent and champion for justice.' He listed numerous accomplishments, including being a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient fighting in the Korean War, establishing the Low Income Housing Tax Credit that helped usher in new and affordable housing units across the country and, in the late 1980s, established the so-called Rangel Amendment, which blocked foreign tax credits to U.S. businesses investing in South Africa, which at the time was ruled by the apartheid system. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who prior to serving in that post was elected twice as New York senator, also praised Rangel for his military service and helping to urge her to enter politics after eight years of being first lady. 'He was a proud veteran who loved serving his Harlem constituents,' Clinton said on X. 'He urged me to run for the Senate and later was an invaluable colleague.' Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also added on X: 'The list of his accomplishments could take pages, but he leaves the world a much better place than he found it.' While many of his mourners focused on his many achievements, there were less rosy moments of his career, including when his colleagues in the U.S. House overwhelmingly voted to censure him in 2010 for several ethics violations, including receiving gifts and improper use of influence. Still, voters in his Harlem district reelected him the following cycle by a wide margin, and he didn't retire until after his 17th term, when he decided not to seek reelection in 2016. Rangel was 94 years old. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK California GOP would love a Harris run — Republicans in the Golden State love to hate the former vice president. But what they would love even more is if she would run for California governor. Kamala Harris is still reportedly months away from a decision on that race — as she mulls a gubernatorial run or a perhaps another go at the White House in 2028 — but for California's GOP the mere prospect of her running for governor is seen as beneficial, as the party expect it to energize donors and the conservative rank and file, reports POLITICO's Jeremy B. White. What else we're watching: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS Hoop Dreams — The NBA's Eastern and Western Conference playoffs have been a ratings bonanza, according to one metric, which is likely making that 'cha-ching' sound' for the league's new partners including NBCU, Amazon and Disney, which inked massive deals set to kick in when the new league season tips off in the fall. Take me back — Every genre has 'em, every decade loves 'em. Rolling Stone is out with their ranking of the 50 best one-hit wonders of the 2000s. See who topped the list and who missed the cut. Janet Jackson takes center stage — The American Music Awards was this past weekend. Didn't watch? No problem. Here's a list of winners, snubs and surprises. And a look at icon Janet Jackson's performance.
Politico
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
This state is making Dems very excited
What up, Recast fam. On today's agenda: Some Democrats can hardly contain their excitement about recent developments they say are the clearest signs yet the party is building toward what could be a generational shift in Georgia politics. Georgia's popular Republican Gov. Brian Kemp set off a wave of exuberance in Democratic circles last week after he announced that he's passing on a bid to challenge the state's incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff for his seat in next year's midterms. Immediate speculation turned to MAGA darling and ally of President Donald Trump Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as the likely pol to step up and challenge Ossoff, a key target to pick off for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP's Senate campaign arm. But on Friday, just days after Kemp's announcement, she laid out in a lengthy social media post her frustrations with the Senate and declined to run. Left unsaid in her post was whether Greene would launch a bid to replace the term-limited Kemp, which has the political left salivating. 'I think she'd be a fantastic choice for the Republicans,' said Democratic pollster Mike Bocian. 'We would love to see that.' He pointed to Georgia voters' increasing willingness to buck MAGA candidates and suggested it would be an uphill climb for Greene. He cited shifting racial demographics in the state, as well as Georgia voters exhibiting a willingness to show an independent streak and even at times bucking the president — including sending both Kemp and the state's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger back to their respective offices after Trump recruited Republicans to run against them after both officials refused to overturn the 2020 election results in their state. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. The midterms will test how much Georgia politics are evolving, but Democrats are already excited by a slate of big changes. Trump won the state in 2024, but before that, former President Joe Biden won it in 2020, becoming the first Democratic presidential nominee to win the state since Bill Clinton did it in 1992. In that same 2020 election, Ossoff won his seat, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Kelly Loeffler. The last time Trump was not on the ballot, Democrats won, with Sen. Raphael Warnock triumphing over Trump's preferred candidate, former NFL star Herschel Walker, in 2022. Still, when it comes to controlling the state Legislature and Governor's Mansion, Democrats have been in the wilderness for a generation. Kemp won narrowly against Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams in 2018, then won by a much wider margin in their rematch four years later. That win continued the GOP dominance of the seat, which has lasted more than 20 years and counting. Georgia's Democrats last held the Governor's Mansion in 2002, the same year the party lost its majority in the state Senate. Republicans took control of the state House of Representatives two years later — and haven't relinquished control since. So having the battle-tested Kemp off the 2026 ballot — he's barred from seeking another term as governor and has now said he is not pursuing a Senate run — is making Democrats even more excited. 'I'm not suggesting that Georgia is now a Democratic state,' Bocian added. 'When you take a state like that and give them an unpopular president in the midterm … and on top of that, they don't have Kemp as the model [candidate] on the ballot … that's just like a little extra touch.' Not everyone is looking at this moment with the same level of exhilaration. 'In no way am I one of the people that's popping champagne bottles right now,' said Hillary Holley, a Democratic strategist based in Atlanta who now leads politics and advocacy for the Women Donors Network, which supports organizations that help elect Democrats in Georgia and nationally. She said the 2026 midterms will come to symbolize 'a new era in Georgia politics,' pointing to a slew of changes both nationally and within the state where fresh, untested leaders are entering a heightened political cycle. This includes Georgia Democrats who elected a new party chair, Charlie Bailey, earlier this month, and national Democrats, who elected Ken Martin to be new Democratic National Committee chair in February. 'I think we are in unknown territory, and that's not a good or a bad thing. So this could be the opportunity where Democrats show that the work that we have been doing in this state for 15 years now can continue,' Holley added. 'Or this could be a moment where it shows we still have a lot of work to do.' Others like Kevin Olasanoye, the executive director of the Georgia Democrats, told The Recast he understands the optimism many feel about the party's prospects in the state next year. But he added that for Democrats to be successful there, they will have to answer lingering questions about why they came up short in the 2024 election . 'In Georgia, you can't win here statewide if … you don't have a plan for how you are going to reduce losses that we have seen amongst Latino men and African American men,' Olasanoye said. 'Those don't go away because Brian Kemp is not running' or Greene may decide to run statewide, he continued. He added that Democrats 'are not off the hook' for answering those questions, so working to drive a cohesive message about why Republicans and Trump are behind the rising cost of eggs and a slowing economy is key if the party wants to win in 2026. All the best,The Recast Team TATE IS LATE, BUT MAKES HIS CASE FOR MICHIGAN SENATE As if the Michigan Democratic Senate field wasn't crowded enough, Joe Tate has decided to enter the chat. The former Michigan House speaker made his intentions official in a video announcement on Mother's Day where he highlighted his military service, including two deployments to Afghanistan as a Marine Corps officer. He later became the first Black person to serve as Democratic leader in the state Legislature. Should he go on to win the general election in next year's midterms, he'd make history as the state's first Black senator. On paper, Tate's resume is immaculate. Like many Black folks in Michigan, he traces lineage to grandparents who fled the Jim Crow south for Detroit during a period known as the Great Migration. He overcame the loss of his father, a firefighter who died on the job when he was a baby, to earn a football scholarship to Michigan State University. He had a brief stint in the NFL before his military service and ultimately served four two-year terms in the state Legislature. He helped Democrats achieve some legislative wins during their short-lived governing trifecta, which they secured in 2022, but lost his gavel earlier this year after Republicans flipped the state House of Representatives in elections last fall. Those wins include helping to pass so-called red-flag gun laws, which allow courts to intervene if there is a plausible threat that a person with a gun could harm themselves or others, repealing the state's 'right-to-work' law and codifying the state's reproductive rights. For him to secure the nomination, Tate will have to win over Democratic primary voters who may fault him for setbacks in the waning days of his speakership. It's a period that saw Democrats' agenda grind to a standstill following the 2024 election after House Republicans refused to show up to work and a member of Tate's own party was also a no-show to give Democrats a quorum because promises to take up certain priorities were not met. Another challenge for Tate to overcome is name ID. 'Nobody knows state lawmakers,' quipped one Michigan-based Democratic strategist granted anonymity to speak about Tate's potential headwinds. 'Can't win if no one knows your name.' Some big names already in the field include Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), seen as a formidable fundraiser, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who made a splash at last summer's Democratic National Convention when she delivered primetime remarks while holding an oversized Project 2025 book that she slammed down on the podium, and former Wayne County health director Abdul El-Sayed, who lost the 2018 gubernatorial primary to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer but who also has a strong following as the host of the podcast 'America Dissected.' The seat is open after incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters announced he would not seek reelection in 2026. Republican Mike Rogers, who narrowly lost a Senate race last year to Democrat Elissa Slotkin, announced he's now running again in 2026. Other prominent Michigan Republicans are also said to be eyeing a run but have not officially launched their bids. WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK Hogg-tied — A DNC panel is recommending that a new election for vice chair be held, paving the way for members to oust the current holder of that position, David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Parkland, Florida, high school shooting. Hogg recently announced plans to challenge elected Democratic House members who are 'asleep at the wheel.' There are several steps that have to take place before the DNC holds a new election, but the door is now open. POLITICO's Andrew Howard has the latest. What else we're watching: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS Diddy's ex, Cassie Ventura set to testify — After opening statements on Monday, the criminal trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs resumes in New York today, with his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie set to testify against him in his sex trafficking case. Odd couple — NBC is launching a new comedy starring an unlikely duo of Tracy Morgan of 'SNL' and '30 Rock' fame alongside the 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe. John Legend weighs in on Ye — R&B crooner John Legend, who has worked closely with the rapper and producer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, shares his thoughts on his friend and collaborator with The Times of London.
Politico
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Activists accuse Schumer of ducking constituents
What up, Recast fam! On today's agenda: Chuck Schumer is resisting the cavalcade of Democrats imploring him to step down from leadership — for now. But there's no question that he's feeling the heat from progressive activists. Last week, Schumer ignited an intraparty civil war after he backed a Republican-led measure to keep the government funded through much of the year — forcing the Senate minority leader to retreat from public view. In what is probably one of the poorest-timed book tours in modern memory, Schumer on Monday canceled several scheduled stops to promote his 'Antisemitism in America: A Warning,' in heavily Democratic cities like Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City. The stated reason for the cancellations: 'security reasons,' as groups like Indivisible were planning protests. 'Those are the same tactics the GOP is doing right now, to cancel their public town hall meetings because they don't want to answer constituents. Chuck Schumer doing the same thing … does not speak highly to the courage or the strength of the Democratic Party leadership,' Tiara Mack tells The Recast. Mack is a member of the steering committee of the group Pass the Torch, a progressive group that formed last year to urge President Joe Biden to drop his reelection bid. The group largely disbanded after he stepped aside to allow Vice President Kamala Harris to run for the presidency. Now it's back in action, urging Schumer to step aside — or more precisely calling on Senate Democrats to ''chuck' Chuck Schumer!' The 31-year-old Mack, who is also a state senator in Rhode Island, says Schumer is not showing he's got the tactics to fight President Donald Trump and his special government employee Elon Musk as they gut the federal bureaucracy, upending the lives of thousands of federal workers. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. 'I think we have to be very clear that there is already a crisis,' Mack said, adding that Schumer's decision to not use the filibuster to hold up the bill was essentially a capitulation to Republicans who never considered Democrats' input on it anyway. 'Playing into the hand of the bullies is never a winning tactic,' she added. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries threw support to Schumer at a Tuesday press conference, saying he believes Schumer should continue on as leader of Senate Democrats. It's a sharp reversal from Friday when he said 'next question' to whether it was time for the longtime Senate leader to be replaced. Progressive groups are forging ahead with their calls for Schumer to step down. Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of the liberal grassroots organization Indivisible, tells The Recast he spoke to the 74-year-old Schumer over the weekend. While he declines to provide details of their conversation, he says he asked to talk to Schumer 'out of respect' for the embattled leader and to give him a heads-up the group was going to publicly call on him to resign as leader. In a statement, Indivisible says Schumer 'surrendered leverage in the Senate' adding as an organization, it is 'ready to do the work' to save democracy and 'it's time for a Senate Democratic Leader who is too.' Another Democratic activist, Charlotte Clymer, started a petition calling for a boycott of donations to Senate Democrats or their campaign arms until Schumer resigns from his leadership post. It's garnered more than 27,000 signatures as of Tuesday morning. One Democratic strategist The Recast granted anonymity to speak candidly about Schumer says the fact that the leader 'ran to' The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal over the weekend to make his case but refused to take tough questioning from the base at public events demonstrates he's not capable of leading the party any longer. 'Now if that's not tone deaf in 2025, I don't know what else is,' the operative says. 'I think he's a good guy. He's just past his time.' POLITICO is also reporting Schumer's damage control efforts do not appear to be working as of yet. All this leaves Schumer and Democrats, still reeling from the stinging 2024 losses that shut them out of power in Washington, even deeper in the wilderness. Instead of focusing on Trump, the party is being outmaneuvered by congressional Republicans that are in lockstep with the president, and amplifying the party's lack of messaging or direction. Recent polling by CNN shows the party has only a 29 percent favorability rating, while 54 percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of Democrats. A survey from NBC News showed much of the same: 27 percent had a positive view of the party, while 55 percent had a negative view of Democrats. Basil Smikle is a longtime Democratic strategist based in New York, where he says the outrage among the grassroots is amplified by Schumer's decision to support the short-term continuing resolution. Still, he doesn't think the blowback represents a death knell. One possible reason why the Senate leader may have backed off progressives' confrontation strategy, he says: Schumer lacked confidence in the party's ability to clearly tie Republicans to a government shutdown. 'If he doesn't believe the [Democrats'] messaging apparatus is strong enough to withstand that kind of pressure that Republicans certainly would have pushed … my guess is that that's why he's making this move,' Smikle tells The Recast. 'I think for him, he's like, 'We can't be the ones that cause any more pain.'' That pain is now being squarely felt by Schumer himself, with a base of the party actively looking to make generational change. We'll keep watching this to see how it all plays out. All the best,The Recast Team SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE GRIJALVA Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced the dates for the state's special primary election and special general election for the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva. July 15 is the date of the primary for Arizona's deep-blue 7th Congressional District. The winner of the Democratic primary will likely be a shoo-in to win the general election on Sept. 3. The Democratic primary is likely to attract a crowded field. Grijalva, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was first elected in 2002 and went on to become one of Arizona's longest-serving representatives in state history. He died last week after battling lung cancer. He was 77. The late congressman's daughter, Adelita Grijalva, who serves as Pima County supervisor, is thought to be considering a run for the seat. (The Tucson Sentinel reports she will not make a decision until after her father's funeral.) Another name being floated: Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, also thought to be eyeing the seat, took herself out of the running, according to The Arizona Republic, saying her current job is 'the best way for me to continue our work on behalf of Tucsonans.' WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK Trump administration officials celebrated their use of an obscure wartime authority, the Alien Enemies Act, to carry out swift mass deportations of Venezuelan nationals to El Salvador. POLITICO's Josh Gerstein has the update, including about why, during Monday's court proceedings, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg 'raised his voice, rejecting the Justice Department's contention that the government had an exceptionally urgent need to move the planes.' What else we're watching: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS Jonathan Majors audio surfaces — Rolling Stone reports the embattled actor admits to strangling his ex in newly unearthed audio. Fresh Prince to drop a new album — Will Smith, aka the Fresh Prince, is slated to drop his first album in 20 years, 'Based on a True Story,' at the end of this month. His most recent album 'Lost and Found' dropped in 2005. Ye and Kim battle over North's rap — Kim Kardashian is reportedly considering trying to strip her ex-husband, the rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, of legal custody of their four kids over Ye's use of their oldest daughter North's rapping in a new song.
Politico
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The race to succeed Gretchen Whitmer heats up
What up, Recast fam! On today's agenda: Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist is trying to do something that hasn't been done in recent memory in the state — be elevated to the Great Lakes State's top office. After serving as the No. 2 to Gretchen Whitmer, the popular but term-limited governor, Gilchrist is banking that Michiganders will vote for him to not just make history as the state's first Black governor, but be the first lieutenant governor to succeed their boss in the governor's mansion since William Milliken succeeded Gov. George Romney in 1969. Gilchrist, who stands 6 feet, 8 inches tall, hopes to become a towering figure in Michigan for his political acumen as well, though he's leaning into his height by utilizing a hashtag that urges voters to #StandTall for Michigan. Aside from stature, he's touting his background as a former software engineer at Microsoft who jokes about himself as self-proclaimed 'nerd' as part of his case for why he's best suited to succeed Whitmer. 'When you've got problems, you get an engineer to come fix them,' Gilchrist told POLITICO. 'When systems are broken you get an engineer to get those systems to work better for people and this is a moment to do that.' His candidacy for governor has been expected for some time. He decided to forgo a run for the open U.S. Senate seat last month and instead focus on the state Legislature where, as the lieutenant governor, he presides over the state Senate. His candidacy sets him on a collision course with another prominent Democrat: Jocelyn Benson, Michigan's secretary of state, who launched her candidacy for governor in January. And Detroit's longtime Mayor Mike Duggan announced he was seeking to replace Whitmer back in December and plans to run as an independent. Other candidates may still enter the race. Was The Recast forwarded to you by a friend? Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter here. You'll get a weekly breakdown of how race and identity are the DNA of American politics and policy. When asked if a Whitmer endorsement would help his prospects in the Democratic primary, Gilchrist demurred, instead focusing on their strong partnership in Lansing. 'I'm proud to continue to stand with her and work with her,' Gilchrist tells The Recast. 'And she's been incredibly supportive of me, because she picked me on purpose. We worked together purposefully to solve important problems.' Whitmer, who notes she knows Benson, Duggan and Gilchrist well, has said she will not endorse in the race. In an interview at the end of last year Whitmer said that 'it's time to break tradition' and not be a sitting governor that endorses their running mate. 'There's also a tradition that none of them end up winning.' A recent poll found Benson trouncing a hypothetical Democratic primary matchup that includes Gilchrist as well as the state's Attorney General Dana Nessel and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, who launched his candidacy last month. Benson lapped the field, garnering 55 percent of the survey's Democratic primary voters, while Gilchrist was tied for second at 12 percent along with Nessel — who has not made any formal plans to run for governor. Gilchrist had little political experience when Whitmer selected him as her running mate in 2018, but he added a progressive bona fides to the ticket and grew up in Detroit, long considered the engine of Michigan Democrats' voter base. The field of Republicans vying for the gubernatorial nomination is also expected to be a crowded one. Michigan's Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt announced a campaign earlier this year, while the state's former Attorney General Mike Cox has formed a candidate committee, but has not formally launched his candidacy. Rep. John James (R-Mich.), the only Black elected official in Michigan's congressional delegation, is also eyeing a statewide run but has not decided if he wants to run for governor or the state's open Senate seat. Michigan presents an important test for Democrats next cycle. It was part of the so-called Blue Wall states that Kamala Harris was relying on but that Donald Trump successfully flipped in the fall. The 2024 election also saw Michigan Democrats cede power in the state, losing their governing trifecta with Republicans in control of the Michigan House of Representatives. 'Folks … were frustrated in 2024 because they haven't gotten the results,' Gilchrist says, rattling off a list of accomplishments from Whitmer's administration, including luring more tech industry jobs to Michigan. In addition to next year's gubernatorial race, Democrats also have their sights on the state's open U.S. Senate race following the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters at the end of his current term. That, too, is attracting a crowded field on both sides of the aisle, including a potential bid by Pete Buttigieg, the former Transportation secretary, who recently met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about a possible run. For his part, Gilchrist bolsters his candidacy by reminding voters he's visited all 83 of the state's counties during his two terms as lieutenant governor and served as a surrogate in the closing stretch of the Harris presidential campaign in Michigan conducting outreach to Black men. Gilchrist has already secured a pledge for financial backing from the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association — a group that is looking to grow its influence by backing preferred candidates in primary elections. The group last month confirmed to POLITICO it was ready to spend roughly $1.5 million to support Gilchrist in his race. We'll certainly be watching how this race plays out. All the best,The Recast Team AL GREEN MAKES POST-CENSURE MEDIA ROUNDS Rep. Al Green, the Texas Democrat who was censured for interrupting Trump during his joint address to Congress last week, has made the media rounds in the days since his formal rebuke, calling his punishment both a 'double standard' and a form of 'invidious definition.' 'I was prepared to suffer the consequences when I decided that I would engage in a peaceful protest,' Green told CNN over the weekend when asked to weigh in on how his outburst was different from former Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) or Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who also shouted at sitting presidents — albeit Democratic ones — but never faced a censure. He added he was raised in the segregated South and he has 'acclimated to this type of behavior, but quite candidly it is a double standard.' Green is Black, while Wilson and Green are white. In an appearance on 'The Breakfast Club' radio program, co-host Charlamagne tha God referred to what Green did as 'good trouble' borrowing the phrase by the late civil rights icon and former Rep. John Lewis to describe peaceful but purposeful agitation and disruption. 'There is invidious discrimination in the House of Representatives,' Green explained. 'When the speaker decided I would be removed and then there was this motion, this resolution to censure me, it became obvious to me that I was not being treated as others were.' He explained that his interruption was not planned, but felt compelled to confront the president to tell him he did not have a mandate to cut Medicaid as Trump professed he did. Green's action has split Democrats, particularly those who felt like his actions were a 'distraction' from the party's strategy to counter Trump's policies, and breach of decorum. Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), one of 10 Democrats who sided with Republicans in approving the censure, suggested in an interview with NewsNation's 'The Hill Sunday' that confrontation was the wrong tactic. 'I'd say we need radical civility,' Bera said. 'Let's not be a distraction, and what Al did — he's a friend — but that was a distraction,' Bera added. Others like Lauren Harper Pope, co-founder of WelcomePAC, which supports center-left candidates, agrees with Bera and the nine others who voted to censure. She added that if Democrats hope to win back the House in 2026, they should listen to 'winners' of competitive districts, not those in deep-blue ones like the one Green represents in Houston. 'The Democrats who voted to censure Rep. Green are the same depolarizers who know what it takes to win over voters in the most competitive districts,' she said in a statement to The Recast. 'Instead of defending polarizers, let's make a habit of listening to these Democrats who know how to win.' WHAT WE'RE WATCHING THIS WEEK The arrest of a Palestinian graduate student by immigration officials marks one of the most serious enforcement actions by the new Trump administration on both the immigration and pro-Palestinian student protester fronts, report POLITICO's Myah Ward and Irie Sentner. The administration had earlier vowed to cancel visas and green cards for anti-war protesters on college campuses. Mahmoud Khalil, a student protest leader at Columbia who also holds a green card, was detained over the weekend, and a federal judge on Monday put his deportation on hold, POLITICO's Amanda Friedman reports. What else we're watching: TODAY'S CULTURE RECS Turner honored in H-town: Rep. Sylvester Turner, who prior to being elected in November was the longtime mayor of Houston, will be remembered at a number of events for the public to pay respects to him in the city following his death on March 5. Wendy Williams to be a guest on 'The View': The former daytime talk show is scheduled to call in to 'The View' this Friday, ABC announced last week. In recent weeks, Williams has been vocal about her fight to end a yearslong court-ordered guardianship and on Monday was taken to the hospital after a welfare check by police. Billboard crowns rapper Doechii 'Woman of the Year': The red-hot rapper who recently added a Grammy and an NAACP Image Award, will be honored at a Billboard Women in Music event later this month.
