Latest news with #elections
Washington Post
25 minutes ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
How Texas could help ensure a GOP House majority in 2026
David Daley is the author of 'Ratf**ked: Why Your Vote Doesn't Count' and 'Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right's 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections.' They were two of the closest congressional races in the country this past November. In Texas's 34th District, between Brownsville and Corpus Christi, Democrat Vicente Gonzalez won by just more than 5,100 votes. Just to the west, in the 28th District, which runs between San Antonio and the Mexican border, voters reelected Henry Cuellar by less than five percentage points.
New York Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Your Questions About the New York City Mayor's Race
Good morning. It's Wednesday. Today we'll answer some reader questions about Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and the New York City mayor's race. We'll also explain why the subway floods so often during rainstorms. Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani stunned New York City, the country and many in his own party when he defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary last month. As voters and political observers digest the primary results and look toward the general election, questions have also arisen: about the candidates, how journalists are covering the race and what it all means. We asked readers for their questions, and more than 100 poured in from all over the world. Our reporters and editors have answered 21 so far, a few of which are below. Read the full article here. We'll keep at it until the November election, sharing selections in this newsletter. Submit your questions here. — Samantha Kaplan, Annapolis, Md. Age distribution of voters in New York City mayoral elections Includes 2025 mail ballots processed through the morning of June 26 Sources: New York City Board of Elections; L2 By Alex Lemonides Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
BBC News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Gnosall and Eccleshall by-election to replace Reform councillor
Voters go to the polls in part of Staffordshire on Thursday to replace a Reform UK councillor who stepped down just two weeks after the local Titley, who was elected in Gnosall and Eccleshall, was part of a wave of councillors that swept the party to power on Staffordshire County Council in May, taking 49 of the 62 seats, and wiping out the previous Tory he faced criticism over a post on Facebook in March that called on the Navy to intercept small boats attempting to reach Britain and use a "volley of gun fire aimed at sinking them".Reform stood by Titley, but said he had stepped down because he had faced personal abuse. Party leader Nigel Farage was asked on a visit to Stafford last month about whether he considered the cost of this by-election, about £27,000 in taxpayers' money, "wasteful spending".He said: "It's unfortunate. This guy said some things on social media he shouldn't have said, as a result of that came under some pretty abusive online pressure, and would rather it hadn't happened."Boundary changes in the Gnosall and Eccleshall ward has meant campaigning in villages rich in Conservative, Reform, and Green voters. Candidates tell me it could be a three-way race. The result is expected to be announced on Friday. Boundary changes in the Gnosall and Eccleshall ward has meant campaigning in villages rich in Conservative, Reform, and Green voters. Candidates tell me it could be a three-way race. The result is expected to be announced on Friday. Who is standing? Reform candidate Ray Barron has previously served as a borough and county councillor. He was a member of the Conservative party until 2022, when he became an independent, then joined Reform last year. Unsuccessful in the county election on 1 May, Barron said he could not have worked harder to campaign for this seat, and that he thought it would be a "coin toss" over who won said if he won the seat he would use his experience as an ex-county councillor to help his politically inexperienced Reform colleagues. While Labour start from a low base on the county council, having just one councillor representing the party in Staffordshire, their candidate Leah Elston-Thompson is hopeful. Following the election of a Labour MP in July 2024 when the party saw a landslide victory, Elston-Thompson said if she was elected in Gnosall and Eccleshall, she would carry on the good work the government does on a local level. Conservative Jeremy Pert is hoping to use this opportunity to win his seat back. There were just 27 votes separating him and Titley in said this by-election was about two things: holding the new Reform administration to account; and providing a strong local advocate to make sure the area "doesn't get overrun" with more than 1,000 houses planned for development. Pert served on the county council for eight years in the Eccleshall ward. Green party councillor Scott Spencer is looking to build on the momentum the Greens have picked up since winning their first ever seat on the county council in May. He said "on a Reform-led council I would bring evidence based solutions, not empty promises." He added, in his view, "Greens can win here".
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
In African politics, the rampant belief in witchcraft fortifies some and vexes others
MBALE, Uganda (AP) — Wilson Watira offered his hand when he met his political rival at a funeral, gesturing for a proper handshake. The man didn't want contact, instead folding a piece of paper that he aimed at Watira. 'He looked at me and picked that piece of paper of the program. He folded it and greeted me,' Watira said. 'He's just afraid of me simply because I am not afraid of him.' Watira, who seeks a seat in Uganda's Parliament, remembered the recent event as a vivid example of the rampant fear of witchcraft as politicians seeking office try to outmaneuver each other in this east African country. In public, political contests often entail spectacles where rivals rent cars to mount raucous processions in the streets, offering cash and other inducements to voters. Behind the scenes, the struggle for victory can be intensely spiritual, with faith figuring in incidents ranging from ritual sacrifice to visits with traditional healers, according to Watira and others who spoke to The Associated Press. Watira, a leader of a group uniting Uganda's Bamasaba people, said the incumbent legislator who refused to shake his hand may have worried that would somehow give Watira the upper hand or provoke misfortune. Watira said he wasn't surprised by the man's behavior. 'The moment your mind is pushed to that level, everything which happens you will always be suspicious,' he said, speaking of overcoming his own fear of witchcraft. 'You will start imagining, and that is the biggest challenge in our society.' Spiritual warfare among politicians is part of a wider struggle over faith in Uganda, where Christianity is the dominant religion. Many who regularly attend church also secretly visit traditional shrines for the occult service they believe can lead them to victory. The syncretism has long confounded church leaders who teach that Christianity is incompatible with any vestiges of traditional religion, which remains widely practiced across sub-Saharan Africa. In African politics, often marked by bitter feuds along class and ethnic lines, fear of witchcraft can prove explosive. In South Sudan, Vice President Riek Machar believes himself to be the left-handed man with gapped teeth prophesied by a tribal seer a century ago as the unifying leader of his nation. There's widespread belief that the superstition fuels Machar's quest for power in South Sudan, which has been wracked by war since independence in 2011 as Machar tried to remove President Salva Kiir. In Kenya, some of the anti-government protesters who gathered last month in the capital, Nairobi, said the disorientation they felt while nearing the presidential residence was likely an evil spell in favor of President William Ruto. He also faces criticism for building a church within the statehouse compound that some critics see as an ominous shrine. In Zambia, two men are on trial for allegedly practicing witchcraft and possessing charms intended to harm President Hakainde Hichilema. Hichilema himself once was accused of practicing witchcraft by his predecessor Michael Sata, who contended the charms from his home region were stronger. In Uganda's capital, Kampala, and other cities, some street poles are plastered with notices by people promising to magically catch thieves or regain lost lovers. Now, many also advertise authority to secure politicians' victory in elections set for January 2026. 'Across all Ugandan communities there is a crazy reliance on the witch doctors, crazy reliance by politicians,' said Steven Masiga, a researcher and cultural leader in the city of Mbale. 'Witch doctors now are reaping money from politicians. Now, as politicians mobilize money, there is a percentage for the witch doctor because the real hope is in the witch doctor.' Many candidates feel that 'voters can oscillate around but the witch doctors never let you down," he said. Masiga cited a politician in his area who years ago, urged on by a witch doctor, skinned a goat alive without slaughtering the animal. The witch doctor's client won the election. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in power for four decades and a candidate for reelection, has previously expressed his respect for African witch doctors, an often pejorative term referring to medicine men and women who prescribe herbs for ailments and others who claim to erase problems by magic. Some of these practitioners prefer to be described as traditional healers. In a speech last year, Museveni recalled jumping over a slaughtered chicken three times in the ritual he performed as the leader of the bush war that propelled him to power in 1986. Museveni said of traditional religion that 'it is very strong' and urged mainstream religious leaders not to antagonize its practitioners. 'We had a very good relationship with them,' he said of traditional healers. Many Ugandan politicians are believed to retain the services of witch doctors, but they rarely admit it in public to avoid ridicule. Some national leaders have been seen entering witch doctors' shrines over the years, drawing criticism from church leaders who condemn such behavior. In 2016, parliamentary speaker Rebecca Kadaga was photographed entering a shrine associated with her clan in eastern Uganda. The Anglican archbishop issued a rebuke; Kadaga, who has since left the speakership, said she sought to inform her ancestors of her political success. 'Who doesn't have an origin? Who doesn't have where they came from? Those are my roots,' she told reporters. In Mbale, where ritualized circumcision of boys underscores widespread belief in age-old customs, traditional healer Rose Mukite said she receives political clients from far outside her region. In her shrine, an igloo-like structure whose small entrance forces clients to kneel or squat to get in, she demonstrated her practice by shaking calabashes and tossing cowrie shells on the floor. A tobacco pipe is another tool of her trade; she blows smoke while divining the future. Mukite's career began in 1980 after being possessed by a spirit that she said she had to overcome to gain the spiritual authority she now claims. She offers her services for a small fee. 'I have many, many (clients)," she said. She said she helps some politicians by administering a tree bark to chew, potentially saving them from calamities such as imprisonment. If her practices were unhelpful, she said, she wouldn't still be at work after so many years. Sometimes it's too late, she said — politicians come to her when already doomed to fail. 'I can't say that I succeed with everything,' she said. 'Just like in the hospital when death comes.' Peace Khalayi, a Catholic running to represent the women of her district in Parliament, has fended off suggestions by supporters who want her to perform rituals they think can help her win. She campaigns among Muslims and Seventh-Day Adventists and would consider paying homage to a village elder. But a classic act in the practice of traditional religion, such as a requirement to sacrifice livestock, is unacceptable to her. She recalled instances where people urged her to consult a witch doctor. 'You tell them, 'We shall go.' You pretend that, yes, you have accepted. But you do not actually show up.' Still, Khalayi said she sometimes worries how her opponents could hurt her if she isn't sufficiently protected. 'Definitely the fear is there. That's no lie,' she said. 'When you have an opponent, you may probably want to be open with them, but it is just in us that you cannot openly engage with your opponent.' ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Times of Oman
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
BNP to work with India in friendship in post-Hasina era, says senior party leader Kayser Kamal
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of the largest political parties in the South Asian country, will work with India with friendship in the post-Hasina era, a senior leader of the party said. "BNP is a party which believes in friendship to all, enemy to none. This is our ideology, which was introduced by former President Shaheed Ziaur Rahman: Friendship to all, enemy to none. India is our big neighbour. So, BNP loves to work with everyone ... with integrity and dignity and with friendship," Kayser Kamal, legal affairs secretary of BNP, told ANI in an interview. Despite the mutual distrust among political parties in Bangladesh, BNP still believes that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus will be able to hold free, fair and inclusive elections, a senior BNP leader said on Tuesday. "Dr Muhammad Yunus is running the government in support of all political parties. After August 5, when Hasina fled the country, all political parties reached a consensus and requested him to join the government as head of the executive. Therefore, we can presume that the political parties, including BNP, have confidence in him that he will conduct an election which will be credible, participatory, and inclusive," he said. "At the same time, Dr Yunus categorically stated many times that this upcoming election will be an example for the country. Therefore, we firmly believe he can conduct an election which will be free, fair and credible," Kamal added. BNP's legal affairs secretary also said that his party believes in a multi-party system despite the ban on Awami League activities by the executive decision of the interim government. "Actually, Awami League activity is currently postponed. Awami League is not banned as far as I know. Their activity is currently postponed. It is the executive decision. As a political party, BNP always believes in democracy and believes in multiparty in the country," Kamal, a Barrister, said. Explaining BNP's policy, he said, "As you know, the founder of BNP, Shahid President Ziaur Rahman, established and introduced the multi-party democracy, multi-party government. The father of Sheikh Hasina, while he was in power, made a one-party system. But Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman came into power and introduced multi-party democracy. Therefore, BNP always believes in multi-party democracy". "However, considering the prevailing situation, the executive took the decision that activities of the Awami League are postponed," he said, without further elaboration. Regarding Khaleda Zia's health and legal status, Kayser Kamal said, "BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia always is in the heart of BNP. Under her leadership, BNP has grown in such a way that it is not only in the country but also around the subcontinent; BNP is one of the biggest political parties. Her health so far, considering her age and previous diseases and everything - a doctor is in a better position to say about her health." "Her legal position is quite good. She was unfortunately illegally convicted due to the personal grudge of Sheikh Hasina. After the 5th of August, through the court of law, she is now free. There is no case pending," he added. BNP leader alleged that Sheikh Hasina ordered the killing of the civilians and urged her to face the trial. "This is not only BNP; all the people of Bangladesh want Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh and face the charges that were brought against her. Of course, under her leadership, under her direction, I mention Hasina; 2,000 innocent civilians were killed brutally, which was a targeted killing under the direction of Sheikh Hasina. Therefore, she must face the justice in the judicial system and face the allegations brought against her," he said. "In that view, BNP always wants to prevail in the justice system and believes in the rule of law. Therefore, we want Sheikh Hasina to return back and face the music," he said. Kayser Kamal believes that Hindus were more vulnerable during the Awami League regime. "The level of minority atrocities, whatever it is stated, is not the case. When the Awami regime was in power, minorities were rather more vulnerable than now. So, some of the Hindu leaders not only belong to the Awami League; they are leaders of the Awami League. They have done many wrong things, so people are angry and frustrated with them, just like other Awami League leaders. They are not regarded as Hindus. They were regarded as Awami League leaders," he said. "For example, in my constituency, there are mostly five per cent Hindus. You can not give a simple example where none of the minorities were being harassed. Across the country, there were some, I believe, but those incidents were political matters, not a Hindu-Muslim issue," Kamal said. Earlier in June, Yunus hinted that national elections would be held in early February the following year. In June, Muhammad Yunus held talks with Acting BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman in London. Rahman proposed to the Chief Adviser that the elections be held before the fasting month of Ramadan next year in the Muslim-majority country of 170 million people. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a student-led uprising in August last year. After Sheikh Hasina's fall, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate.
