Latest news with #politicalaffiliations
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
EXCLUSIVE: Duncan says Trump's attacks justify his switch from GOP to Democratic Party: 'He's making my case for me'
EXCLUSIVE – Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan says President Donald Trump's social media attacks criticizing his move from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party validates his major switch in political affiliations. "Failed former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, of Georgia, is a total loser," Trump wrote early Friday on his Truth Social platform. The president charged that Duncan was "never able to get anything done, all he ever did was complain. We didn't want him in the Republican Party any longer, so I'm told he became a Democrat. Good riddance Geoff. You don't even have a chance!!!" Asked about the criticisms, Duncan told Fox News Digital in an exclusive national interview hours later, "I think he's making my case for me that the Republican Party no longer wants to love their neighbor. There's nothing in that tweet or Truth Social post or whatever that shows any sort of attitude that I want to be a part of." Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan Abandons Gop To Join Democratic Party "So I wish him the best of luck. I hope he figures out how to run this country better than he is now for the next couple of years. But I'm proud to not be a Republican, especially with him at the tip of the spear," Duncan highlighted. Read On The Fox News App In announcing his decision, Duncan cited several policy issues that played a part in his decision to change parties, including health care, Medicaid, gun safety, immigration and poverty. He wrote that his time in office taught him the best way to "love my neighbor" is through public policy. Duncan told Fox News, "I find it easier to love my neighbor as a Democrat It's not a perfect landing spot, but it gives me a better opportunity each day when I wake up to love my neighbor." Georgia Gop Expels Former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan From Party, Citing Alleged Disloyalty Duncan, a former health care executive and minor league baseball player, served in Georgia's legislature for four years before running and winning election as lieutenant governor in 2018. He decided against seeking re-election in 2022. After leaving office, Duncan – who was a vocal GOP critic of Trump's repeated efforts to reverse his razor-thin November 2020 election defeat in battleground Georgia to former President Joe Biden – worked towards what he said was "healing and rebuilding a Republican Party that is damaged but not destroyed." Duncan endorsed Biden in the 2024 presidential race and later supported Vice President Kamala Harris after she replaced Biden at the top of the Democrats' 2024 ticket. Duncan spoke in a high-profile speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last August. The Georgia Republican Party expelled him from the GOP earlier this year. "Neither party is hitting it out of the park. You don't have to look any further than the stats to see that Republicans have their issues. Democrats certainly have their issues," Duncan told Fox News. "I've tried this reform thing before on the Republican side, and Donald Trump has sucked the life and future out of the Republican Party, in my opinion." Duncan's old boss, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election next year. Duncan confirmed to Fox News that he's considering a 2026 run for governor. "My family and I are certainly not ready to make that big of a decision right here, right now. But it is something that we're considering for sure. I mean, my phone has continued to ring for months on end, from Democrats, independents and even some folks on the right that want us to consider this," Duncan said. Asked about his timetable, Duncan said "2026 is coming like a freight train. And certainly, if this is a decision that we go forward with, it'll have to be within, within a few months." Duncan emphasized that "if Democrats, especially in Georgia, want to be successful, they're going to have to live in the middle and not the fringes. They're going to have to have a moderate slate of candidates that are able to use common sense to provide their leadership. And I think there's a gravitational pull in that direction." Nearly half-a-dozen Democrats in Georgia have already launched gubernatorial campaigns, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who later worked in the Biden administration. Pointing to the two leading Republicans running for governor, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and state Attorney General Chris Carr, Duncan said "I hope we're able to sit back and find a Democratic candidate that can win the governorship and not allow a governor Trump to show up for four years in the state, because that's exactly what's going to happen." "The Republican slate is going to be dominated by whoever Donald Trump endorses, and that person is going to be a sock puppet for Donald Trump," Duncan argued. "And no Georgian wants that. No Georgian wants the inconsistencies of Donald Trump to manage how their kids are educated, how their streets are kept safe and how government interacts with those that need it the most." Looking ahead to next year's elections, when Georgia will once again be in the national spotlight, Duncan said "Georgia is going to continue to be the political center of the universe, as we watch the Senate race shape up. As we watch this governor's race shape up. I do think Georgia has an opportunity to lead the rest of the country, and I hope we take advantage of that." Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this article source: EXCLUSIVE: Duncan says Trump's attacks justify his switch from GOP to Democratic Party: 'He's making my case for me'
Fox News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
EXCLUSIVE: Duncan says Trump's attacks justify his switch from GOP to Democratic Party: 'He's making my case for me'
EXCLUSIVE – Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan says President Donald Trump's social media attacks criticizing his move from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party validates his major switch in political affiliations. "Failed former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, of Georgia, is a total loser," Trump wrote early Friday on his Truth Social platform. The president charged that Duncan was "never able to get anything done, all he ever did was complain. We didn't want him in the Republican Party any longer, so I'm told he became a Democrat. Good riddance Geoff. You don't even have a chance!!!" Asked about the criticisms, Duncan told Fox News Digital in an exclusive national interview hours later, "I think he's making my case for me that the Republican Party no longer wants to love their neighbor. There's nothing in that tweet or Truth Social post or whatever that shows any sort of attitude that I want to be a part of." "So I wish him the best of luck. I hope he figures out how to run this country better than he is now for the next couple of years. But I'm proud to not be a Republican, especially with him at the tip of the spear," Duncan highlighted. In announcing his decision, Duncan cited several policy issues that played a part in his decision to change parties, including health care, Medicaid, gun safety, immigration and poverty. He wrote that his time in office taught him the best way to "love my neighbor" is through public policy. Duncan told Fox News, "I find it easier to love my neighbor as a Democrat It's not a perfect landing spot, but it gives me a better opportunity each day when I wake up to love my neighbor." Duncan, a former health care executive and minor league baseball player, served in Georgia's legislature for four years before running and winning election as lieutenant governor in 2018. He decided against seeking re-election in 2022. After leaving office, Duncan – who was a vocal GOP critic of Trump's repeated efforts to reverse his razor-thin November 2020 election defeat in battleground Georgia to former President Joe Biden – worked towards what he said was "healing and rebuilding a Republican Party that is damaged but not destroyed." Duncan endorsed Biden in the 2024 presidential race and later supported Vice President Kamala Harris after she replaced Biden at the top of the Democrats' 2024 ticket. Duncan spoke in a high-profile speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last August. The Georgia Republican Party expelled him from the GOP earlier this year. "Neither party is hitting it out of the park. You don't have to look any further than the stats to see that Republicans have their issues. Democrats certainly have their issues," Duncan told Fox News. "I've tried this reform thing before on the Republican side, and Donald Trump has sucked the life and future out of the Republican Party, in my opinion." Duncan's old boss, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia, is term-limited and cannot seek re-election next year. Duncan confirmed to Fox News that he's considering a 2026 run for governor. "My family and I are certainly not ready to make that big of a decision right here, right now. But it is something that we're considering for sure. I mean, my phone has continued to ring for months on end, from Democrats, independents and even some folks on the right that want us to consider this," Duncan said. Asked about his timetable, Duncan said "2026 is coming like a freight train. And certainly, if this is a decision that we go forward with, it'll have to be within, within a few months." Duncan emphasized that "if Democrats, especially in Georgia, want to be successful, they're going to have to live in the middle and not the fringes. They're going to have to have a moderate slate of candidates that are able to use common sense to provide their leadership. And I think there's a gravitational pull in that direction." Nearly half-a-dozen Democrats in Georgia have already launched gubernatorial campaigns, including former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, who later worked in the Biden administration. Pointing to the two leading Republicans running for governor, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and state Attorney General Chris Carr, Duncan said "I hope we're able to sit back and find a Democratic candidate that can win the governorship and not allow a governor Trump to show up for four years in the state, because that's exactly what's going to happen." "The Republican slate is going to be dominated by whoever Donald Trump endorses, and that person is going to be a sock puppet for Donald Trump," Duncan argued. "And no Georgian wants that. No Georgian wants the inconsistencies of Donald Trump to manage how their kids are educated, how their streets are kept safe and how government interacts with those that need it the most." Looking ahead to next year's elections, when Georgia will once again be in the national spotlight, Duncan said "Georgia is going to continue to be the political center of the universe, as we watch the Senate race shape up. As we watch this governor's race shape up. I do think Georgia has an opportunity to lead the rest of the country, and I hope we take advantage of that."
Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Unite's doing an astounding PR job for Reform
Unite's shock decision to suspend Angela Rayner's membership and re-examine its relationship with Labour on Friday left the trade union community aghast. As senior union officials messaged each other in shock, political rivals were left salivating. This is just the kind of shake-it-up drama they were hankering for. 'This is an odd hill to die on,' one bemused union insider says of Unite chief Sharon Graham's decision. 'It's bonkers – what's their endgame here? Your average union member doesn't give a f--- about political affiliations, but this is damaging for Labour and now is not a good time to damage them.' Unite, Labour's biggest union backer, should be very careful what it wishes for. When it ran a private poll of its members before last year's general election, insiders were alarmed to discover growing support for Nigel Farage's Reform. Clearly concerned about the shift in political tone among its membership, a Unite insider told me earlier this year that Reform was simply an example of 'very wealthy people plugging into the zeitgeist of workers. Is Reform a friend to workers? No'. So it seems odd that the very same union is now doing some pretty astounding PR for Reform, knowing from their own membership base exactly how effective ex-City trader Farage's efforts have been (the union never revealed the results of the poll). If the gameplan here is to shift funds to Jeremy Corbyn's new Left-wing party, it's unlikely to work – those union members who have been caught up by Farage's razzle dazzle won't suddenly become Corbynites just because Sharon Graham says so. While it's younger voters who are more likely to vote for the Corbyn-led party, it's older workers who are more likely to join a union. According to official data, 40pc of union members are over 50 years old while just 3.7pc are under the age of 24. Gen Z might have a reputation for demanding change, but very few are actually unionised. Meanwhile older, unionised workers who have lost faith in mainstream politics have been listening to Farage for months. From Reform's local election launch rally at JCB where Farage declared that he was 'on the side of working people' to his message in a working men's club in Durham, when he said Reform was parking its 'tanks' on Labour's lawn in Red Wall areas, Farage's charm offensive has paid off. Union chiefs have been working hard to convince any won-over members to rethink. Tackling Reform's rise was a major focus at a lunch hosted by the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents almost 200,000 civil servants, earlier this year while the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has been promoting clips on social media of workers asking why Farage wants them to lose their jobs. When I asked a union boss about all of this recently, he acknowledged that members were frustrated and angry, living in a country that feels 'broken and beaten'. Reform has tapped into this feeling. But unions have a job to do, he continued – 'remind our members that the reason we have a historic relationship with Labour is that working people need a voice. We still feel that is best served by Labour'. Maybe so, but Unite just bulldozed that message. Despite vowing to spend less of members' time and money on Westminster politics, Sharon Graham has been attacking government policies for months. Going 10 steps further with a formal split from the party and a withdrawal of funding would mark a landmark political moment – one which as well as damaging Labour could serve as a boost for corporate Britain and the wealthy, instead of the workers unions are fighting for. If Labour falls out with its union paymasters, ministers might be more likely to listen to the needs of the executive class. The government may reconsider its tax raids on the rich amid accusations that it is driving the wealthy away, or it might soften the looming Employment Rights Bill - which is set to give unions far more power – in order to appease UK plc. Both issues are at a crunch point. As the Bill makes its way to the final stages of the parliamentary process, bosses will be raising the volume on their long-running concerns. Meanwhile billionaires who swung behind Labour in the lead-up to the election are losing patience. Sir Keir refused to rule out introducing a new wealth tax, a move which unions back, earlier this week after former Labour leader Lord Kinnock suggested the party was 'willing to explore' a tax on assets worth more than £10m. One of Labour's richest supporters, Phones4U founder and former Tory John Caudwell, has said he is growing 'increasingly nervous' about the Government's direction and argued that a wealth tax would be 'very destructive' to growth. Labour knows it can't ignore these concerns. Sir Keir's pro-business party looked beyond the unions who traditionally bankroll it in the run-up to the election, accepting nearly £13m in private donations in 2023 versus £5.8m from unions. It is clear that divisions on the Left will not only benefit Reform but also drive Labour into the arms of billionaires and big business. Unite, which has donated £19m to Labour since 2019, is not as in control as it might think.
Associated Press
28-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Fired federal tech staffers file retaliation claim to a panel whose chairwoman Trump also fired
WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of roughly 80 fired federal employees on Wednesday appealed their terminations to an administrative body in charge of protecting the rights of federal employees from partisan political practices. Notably, that board's chairwoman was also recently fired by President Donald Trump. The 18F employees, who worked on technology projects such as the IRS' Direct File, filed an appeal at the Merit Systems Protection Board against the General Services Administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. They claim they were identified in February for a reduction-in-force because of their 'perceived political affiliations or beliefs,' as well as 'protected speech and actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and actions to resist and blow the whistle on management's improper handling and transition of control concerning sensitive data and systems.' In February, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk posted on his social media site that he had 'deleted' 18F. Musk was responding to a post by an X user who called 18F 'far left' and mused that Direct File 'puts the government in charge' of preparing people's taxes. 'That group has been deleted,' Musk wrote. The appeal documents state that the employees were removed from federal service 'through a purported RIF because they were perceived to be left-wing, radical, or affiliated with DEI activities,' which 'abuses the laws and regulations governing RIFs to punish perceived political opponents and to coerce conformity with their values and political positions, and violates federal civil rights statutes.' One of the MSPB's primary functions is to protect federal workers against partisan politics and other prohibited personnel practices by adjudicating employee appeals, according to the board's website. The workers' complaint comes after the Supreme Court cleared the way for Trump to fire the head of the board, Cathy Harris, while a lawsuit plays out. According to the MSPB website, as of April 9, Acting Chairman Henry Kerner is the sole serving board member, and the board is currently without a quorum to vote on petitions for review. A White House official did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
