Austin says no evidence that Israel is committing ‘genocide’ in Gaza Strip war against Hamas
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said there was no evidence that Israeli forces were committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. Austin was asked about Israel’s military operations in Gaza by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., during a hearing on the Pentagon’s 2025 budget request. “Is Israel committing genocide in Gaza?” Cotton asked, referring to protesters’ claims that Israel is indiscriminately targeting civilians. PALESTINIANS RETURNING TO KHAN YOUNIS AFTER ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FIND AN UNRECOGNIZABLE CITY “We don’t have any evidence of genocide being created. We don’t have any evidence of that to my knowledge,” Austin replied. Austin, who has been accused of greenlighting Israeli genocide, said Israel has a right to defend itself. Pro-Palestinian protesters have claimed Israel is committing genocide in Gaza amid its military offense against Hamas after the terror group attacked Israelis on Oct. 7. ISRAEL-IRAN TENSIONS RISING AS IDF PAUSES LEAVE FOR ALL COMBAT UNITS: ‘MORE ALERT, MORE READY’ Israeli officials have said the opposite is happening, with Israel allowing humanitarian aid to flow into the war-torn strip. “Why does Israel have a responsibility to provide aid in Gaza? We didn’t provide aid to Japan and Germany during World War II,” Cotton asked. He noted that the United States provided aid to the Axis nations after the war, not in the middle of the conflict. “It’s not Israel’s responsibility to provide aid. Certainly not our responsibility,” he said. Austin said aid was crucial to the civilians on the ground. “If they want to create a lasting effect in terms of stability, then I think that something needs to be done to help the Palestinian people,” Austin said.
South Korea holds parliamentary elections: All you need to know
South Koreans will head to the polls on Wednesday to choose who will sit in the country’s 300-member parliament in a major political test of conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol. Yoon was elected leader two years ago with the slimmest margin of victory in any presidential election, defeating Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party by 0.73 percent. His approval ratings remain low amid an acrimonious doctors’ strike, rising food prices and allegations of corruption, which could spell trouble for his People Power Party. But the Democratic Party is not much more popular, with Lee facing corruption charges. The National Assembly, as the parliament is known, is currently controlled by the Democrats, and whoever wins the April 10 vote will be in a position to set the tone for domestic politics over its next four-year term. Here is all you need to know about the elections: Why does the election matter? The election comes with Yoon enduring months of low approval ratings, and can be seen as a “half-term assessment” of his administration, according to the US-based Stimson Center. If the PPP performs poorly or is unable to claim a majority in parliament the president is likely to lose further momentum in his final three years in office. South Korean presidents serve only a single term. “With the opposition-led parliament, it has been hard to make a policy push or achievement over the last two years. Without change during the rest of his term, it would be extremely hard to do his job,” said Lee Jun-han, professor of political science at Incheon National University. The election is being seen as a referendum on conservative President Yoon Suk-yeol [Yonhap via Reuters] Whatever the outcome, the election is unlikely to have much of an effect on the country’s foreign policy, however. Yoon has sought to deepen its political and military ties with Japan and the United States amid bellicose talk from Pyongyang, which has been testing new weaponry and developing closer relations with Russia. What are the main parties? The PPP and Democratic Party have dominated South Korean politics for years. As of March 2024, the National Assembly had 297 members out of a total of 300 seats. The DP held the most seats with 160, followed by the PPP with 113. There are also a number of smaller parties, some of them set up by breakaway factions of the established parties. More than 20 percent of voters said they would vote for the newly-launched Reform Korea party under former justice minister Cho Kuk via the proportional representation vote, according to a Gallup poll released on March 29. That could give the party between 10 and 15 seats, and perhaps make them a kingmaker in the new parliament. Democratic Party campaigners perform a dance routine for the crowd at a rally earlier this week [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters] What are the key issues? Opinion polls suggest the cost of living and rising food prices are key issues for voters. Yoon and his party felt the heat after a visit to a supermarket last month when he tried to promote government efforts to tame prices by talking about the price of green onions. Looking at a bundle of onions with a price tag of 875 won ($0.65) – a discounted price as a result of a government subsidy – Yoon said he thought the price was “reasonable”. The comment gave plenty of fodder to the opposition – the average retail price for green onions has been hovering between 3,000 won and 4,000 won ($2.20 to $2.90) – with candidates for the Democratic Party brandishing onions at campaign rallies and accusing Yoon of being out of touch. It is not just onions that have surged in price, either. Prices of agricultural products increased by more than 20 percent in March from the same month last year. The price of apples surged nearly 90 percent, marking the largest one-year jump since 1980. Onions have emerged as an unlikely issue in the election, amid rising frustration over the government’s handling of the economy [File: Kim Daewoung/Reuters] Voters are also concerned about a weeks-long strike by thousands of doctors angry over plans to reform medical education, which has forced operations to be cancelled and increased waiting times. Yoon has refused to budge, but opinion polls suggest increasing public support for a compromise to end the dispute. Corruption also remains a major issue. Yoon is under pressure over the so-called “Dior bag scandal” after footage surfaced last November showing his wife accepting a $2,200 designer handbag. Yoon has dismissed the video as a “political scheme” but such a gift would breach South Korean law banning public officials and their spouses from accepting anything worth more than $750. He is also facing the heat over his decision to appoint former defence minister Lee Jong-sup as the country’s ambassador to Australia while being under investigation for corruption. Lee resigned on March 29 less than a month after an outcry, not only among the opposition but also within the PPP. The Democratic Party also has its own struggles with corruption. Leader Lee is facing trial over charges including bribery. Cho also has baggage. A rising political star during the government of Yoon’s Democratic predecessor, Moon Jae-in, he faced a slew of scandals that undermined his reformist image and sharply split the nation. In February, a court sentenced him to two years in prison for forging documents for his children’s university admission, and he has one last appeal. And what will not be an issue? North Korea. Despite all its weapons tests and moves to end all forms of cooperation with South Korea, most voters are inured to the rumblings from across the border. The “widespread public feeling towards North Korea is pity, not fear,” political consultant Bae Kang-hun told the AFP news agency, noting the South Korean economy is about 40 times larger than North Korea’s. Turnout for early voting was high, suggesting strong interest in Wednesday’s poll [Kim Soo-hyeon/Reuters] How does the election
Photos: Palestinians in Gaza prepare for Eid amid death and destruction
This year, the shadow of continued Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip looms large over Palestinians as they prepare for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The bloodshed in the Gaza Strip, despite the UN Security Council’s demand for an immediate ceasefire and the International Court of Justice’s order for Israel to allow humanitarian relief and prevent genocide, has placed a pall over Eid celebrations. Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed about 33,360 people and wounded 75,993 others, according to Palestinian authorities, has taken a massive toll on the holiday spirit. Despite the devastation, a large number of Palestinians who have been displaced and lost their homes and loved ones as a result of the six-month-long war went shopping for Eid al-Fitr. Thousands of Palestinians throng the markets in some parts of Gaza to try to experience the joy of Eid despite the ongoing war. Adblock test (Why?)
UK will not block arms sales to Israel, says Foreign Minister David Cameron
British government is coming under growing pressure to halt weapons supplies to Israel as it continues its war on Gaza. The United Kingdom will not halt arms sales to Israel by British companies after reviewing the latest legal advice on the matter, Foreign Minister David Cameron has said. Six months into the Israeli assault on Gaza, triggered by the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government has come under heavy pressure to revoke licences that allow arms exports to Israel. “The latest assessment leaves our position on export licences unchanged. This is consistent with the advice that I and other ministers have received,” Cameron said on Tuesday at a press conference with his US counterpart Antony Blinken in Washington, DC. “And as ever, we will keep the position under review.” Britain supplied 42 million pounds ($53m) of arms to Israel in 2022. Last week three former senior UK judges joined more than 600 members of the British legal profession in calling for the government to halt arms sales to Israel, saying it could make Britain complicit in genocide in Gaza. Some opposition political parties in Britain have called for the government to recall Parliament from its current holiday and revoke the export licences, and also to publish the legal advice the government has used to reach its position. “This was yet another missed opportunity from David Cameron to move himself and other UK officials away from their current complicity in Israeli war crimes, apartheid and possible genocide,” said Amnesty International UK’s crisis response manager, Kristyan Benedict. Israel denies it has committed war crimes or genocide in its assault on Gaza, and has rejected the use of the term “apartheid” to describe its treatment of Palestinians. At least 33,360 people have been killed and 75,993 others wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, according to Palestinian authorities. Israel launched the assault after the Palestinian group Hamas led an attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing at least 1,139 people, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on Israeli statistics. Cameron said Britain continued to have “grave concerns around the humanitarian access issue in Gaza”. He defended the decision not to publish the legal advice on arms export licences. He said it was an important principle that ministers act consistently with legal advice without making it public. “The overall judgement is that those export licences will remain open and continue,” he said. His visit to the United States comes as Israel says it has set a date for a military offensive on Rafah in southern Gaza, where more than a million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter from the Israeli assault. Blinken on Tuesday said he expects talks between Israeli and US officials to take place next week on a potential Israeli military operation in Rafah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that victory over Hamas required entry into Rafah and said there was a date for the operation, despite Washington’s warning not to go ahead. Blinken said Washington has not been given a date. “On the contrary, what we have is an ongoing conversation with Israel about any Rafah operation,” Blinken said, adding that he expected the talks would continue next week. “I don’t anticipate any actions being taken before those talks, and for that matter, I don’t see anything imminent. But there’s a lot of work to be done and it remains our conviction that major military operations in Rafah would be extremely dangerous for civilians who would be caught in harm’s way,” he said. Blinken also said the US is continuing to work closely with Qatar and Egypt on a potential ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. He said that 400 trucks were cleared to go into Gaza on Monday, the most since October 7, when the conflict was triggered. Adblock test (Why?)
GOP senators convince Speaker Johnson to delay impeachment article delivery
Republican senators were able to convince House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to delay the delivery of two impeachment articles against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, citing concerns that Senate Democrats will look to quickly dismiss them once a trial begins in the upper chamber. “To ensure the Senate has adequate time to perform its constitutional duty, the House will transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate next week. There is no reason whatsoever for the Senate to abdicate its responsibility to hold an impeachment trial,” a spokesperson for Johnson told Fox News Digital on Tuesday. At least 10 Republican senators said they were actively pressuring the speaker to delay delivering the articles in order to prevent Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democratic caucus from tabling the trial ahead of the weekend and sending senators home shortly after, a source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital. Schumer told senators in a dear colleague letter last week that proceedings would begin Thursday per procedure once the articles are delivered on Wednesday as expected. Speaker Johnson had indicated the delivery date in a letter previously sent to Schumer. READ MORE IMMIGRATION COVERAGE FROM FOX NEWS DIGITAL The GOP senators discussed their attempts to persuade Johnson during a lunch held at the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s headquarters on Tuesday, the source said. Two of the senators actively working to convince the speaker to hold off on delivery are Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Ron Johnson, R-Wis., their offices confirmed. The benefit of a delay for the Republicans, according to the source, is allowing the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas more time for debate without the pressure of the approaching weekend. The Republicans discussed their hope to turn up the pressure on their Democratic colleagues during the lunch, the source added, with numerous senators offering their approval of a plan to halt all legislative business if Democrats tabled the Mayorkas trial. This would include Republicans refusing to provide a quorum or vote, among other measures. HOUSE TO CLEAR MAJOR ROADBLOCK ON DATA PRIVACY AMID SHOWDOWN OVER FEDERAL SURVEILLANCE POWERS GOP senators have reiterated that tabling the trial would be “historic” as such an event hadn’t occurred without the impeached official having left office first. ANTI-ISRAEL AGITATORS SHUT DOWN SENATE CAFETERIA, AROUND 50 ARRESTED “This is our job,” Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., stressed during a press conference Tuesday. Several Senate Republicans slammed Schumer during the press conference over their expectation that he would look to quickly off ramp the trial. However, Schumer has not suggested what Democrats will do. Democratic senators have previously indicated to Fox News Digital that they believe their caucus will seek such a strategic procedural maneuver. “They are nuking a provision of the Constitution,” Lee said during a Republican press conference on Tuesday. The Utah Republican additionally told reporters, “I’m grateful to Speaker Johnson for his bold willingness to delay this.” “He does not want Senate democrats, especially those on the ballot in November, to vote guilty or not guilty” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said. Schumer did not provide comment to Fox News Digital.
Fox News Politics: Pro-life punt
Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail. What’s happening? – Lone Star Republican urges New York law enforcement to come to Texas – McConnell brands himself a ‘Reagan Republican’ in pursuing Ukrainian aid – Child sex predators could face the death penalty under proposed bill Former President Trump disappointed the strongest pro-life voices on the right with his Monday statement that abortion restrictions should be left up to the states. Trump’s former vice president, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, both strongly disagreed with the presumptive GOP nominee’s stance. But despite declining to commit to supporting a 15-week federal abortion ban, pro-life activists still appear to view Trump as their best bet in November. “The reality of a stark choice between President Biden who supports abortion: any number, any reason, up until birth, all paid for by the taxpayer and President Trump: who gave us three Constitutionalist justices, 220 lower court judges, appointees who support life and the overturn of Roe v. Wade has my endorsement and support in November for President,” said Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America (CWA), who said she “favors federal limits on abortion.” Trump told Fox News’ Howard Kurtz that the states should decide what limits (if any) to place on abortion — but he also did not deny reports suggesting that he would consider protecting life after 16-weeks of pregnancy. COURT RULES: Arizona Supreme Court upholds abortion ban …Read more ‘BLIND EYE’: NPR editor blasts outlet’s coverage of Hunter Biden, Russiagate …Read more REFUSING TO BEND: Special Counsel Jack Smith urges Supreme Court to reject Trump immunity claims …Read more LEGACY-BUILDING: McConnell brands himself ‘Reagan Republican’ as he hinges legacy on Ukraine aid …Read more BLINK AND MISS IT: Why Mayorkas’s impeachment may be over in a flash …Read more ‘CAN’T REHABILITATE A PREDATOR’: Child sex offenders could face death penalty, life in prison under new bill …Read more MITCH’S MONEY: McConnell-aligned groups shatter election year fundraising record in pursuit of Senate majority …Read more ‘ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK’: Lone Star rep urges NY’s finest to flee anti-cop pols, head to Texas …Read more TRUMP DENIED: Appeals court judge says no to former president’s request to delay hush money trial …Read more ‘CENSORSHIP’: Major library association worries banning sexually explicit books for children harms LGBTQ people …Read more ‘FORGET THE BORDER’: Maryland Dem claims border crisis is a GOP ‘talking point,’ calls for more immigration …Read more A BRIDGE TOO FAR: Dems mum as group calls for renaming ‘racist’ river crossing …Read more LIST OF DEMANDS: Anti-Israel protesters at Hillary Clinton’s alma mater called for her to use ‘power and influence’ …Read more ‘DIDN’T CHARGE ENOUGH’: Billionaire who helped Trump with $175M bond speaks out: report …Read more ‘PRONOUN RITUALS’: Conservative groups sue Colorado Democrats for allegedly violating First Amendment …Read more GREAT COVID COVER-UP: Shocking truth about Wuhan coronavirus research and 15 federal agencies …Read more APOLITICAL CHURCH: Vatican document shows ‘how stupid it is’ to think of Christianity as ‘left’ or ‘right’: Bishop Barron …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.
Biden could be left off Alabama’s general election ballot if key deadline is missed, election official warns
President Biden’s name may not appear on another state’s general election ballot in November after Alabama’s chief election official warned Democrats about missing a key deadline in the state’s election process. In a letter sent Tuesday to officials of both the Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, said the Democrats’ national convention is scheduled to occur past the deadline for certifying a presidential candidate in Alabama. Allen said the party must provide state officials with a certificate of nomination for president and vice president of the United States no later than Aug. 15 to appear on the Yellowhammer State’s general election ballot. BIDEN MAY BE MISSING FROM OHIO’S GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT DUE TO KEY DEADLINE ISSUE, ELECTION OFFICIAL WARNS “It has recently come to my attention that the Democratic National Convention is currently scheduled to convene on August 19, 2024, which is after the State of Alabama’s statutory deadline for political parties to provide a certificate of nomination for President and Vice President on August 15, 2024,” Allen wrote in the letter. “The certificate of nomination must be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention and by the chair of the state executive committee of the political party making the nomination. “If this Office has not received a valid certificate of nomination from the Democratic Party following its convention by the statutory deadline, I will be unable to certify the names of the Democratic Party’s candidates for President and Vice President for ballot preparation for the 2024 general election.” Allen’s letter was sent to Randy Kelley, chair of the Alabama Democratic Party, as well as Jaime Harrison, chair of the DNC. In his letter, Allen cited Alabama code section 17-14-31(b), which states that the parties must certify their candidates “no later than the 82nd day preceding the day fixed for the election.” BIDEN’S GET-OUT-THE-VOTE EXECUTIVE ORDER CHALLENGED, HEADING TO SUPREME COURT: ‘TARGET WELFARE POPULATIONS’ The general election for president and vice president is scheduled for Nov. 5, 2024, meaning the 82nd day preceding it would be Aug. 15, 2024, four days before the National Democratic Convention is slated to begin. Fox News Digital did not receive an immediate response to Allen’s letter from Biden’s re-election campaign, the Alabama Democratic Party or the DNC. Allen’s letter to Democratic Party officials came after Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, issued a similar warning to party officials Friday. In his letter, LaRose warned the Democrats their party’s national convention is scheduled to occur after Ohio’s deadline for certifying a presidential candidate. “The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to convene on August 19, 2024, which occurs more than a week after the August 7 deadline to certify a presidential candidate to the office,” LaRose wrote to Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters. LaRose’s legal counsel, Paul Disantis, wrote in the letter, “I am left to conclude that the Democratic National Committee must either move up its nominating convention or the Ohio General Assembly must act by May 9, 2024 (90 days prior to a new law’s effective date) to create an exception to this statutory requirement.” Fox News’ Anders Hagstrom and Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
What to know about Biden’s latest attempt at student loan cancellation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is taking another shot at student loan cancellation, hoping to deliver on a key campaign promise that he has so far failed to fulfill. In a visit to Wisconsin on Monday, Biden detailed a proposal that would cancel at least some debt for more than 30 million Americans. It’s been in the works for months after the Supreme Court rejected Biden’s first try at mass cancellation. SEAN HANNITY: DEMOCRATS ARE HAVING TROUBLE STOMACHING BIDEN Biden called the court’s decision a “mistake” but ordered the Education Department to craft a new plan using a different legal authority. The latest proposal is more targeted than his original plan, focusing on those for whom student debt is a major obstacle. Here’s what to know about the new plan: HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM BIDEN’S FIRST PLAN? Biden’s first attempt at widespread student loan cancellation would have erased $10,000 for borrowers with yearly incomes of up to $125,000, plus an additional $10,000 if they received federal Pell grants for low-income students. It was estimated to cost $400 billion and cancel at least some student debt for more than 40 million people. The Supreme Court rejected that plan last year, saying Biden overstepped his authority. The new plan uses a different legal justification — the Higher Education Act, which allows the secretary of education to waive student loan debt in certain cases. The Education Department has been going through a federal rulemaking process to clarify how the secretary can invoke that authority. The new plan targets five categories of borrowers, focusing on those believed to be in the greatest need of help. It would provide relief to an estimated 30 million borrowers. The administration has not said how much the plan would cost. WHO’S ELIGIBLE? Biden’s new proposal would offer cancellation to five categories of borrowers. The widest-reaching provision aims to reset student loan balances for borrowers who have seen their debt grow because of unpaid interest. It would cancel up to $20,000 in interest for Americans who now owe more than they originally borrowed. That cap wouldn’t apply for individuals who make less than $120,000 a year or couples who earn less than $240,000 and also are enrolled in an income-driven repayment plan. The Education Department says 25 million people would be eligible for that relief, including 23 million who would get their interest erased entirely. Borrowers who are eligible for other federal forgiveness programs but haven’t applied would also get their loans canceled under the new proposal. It applies to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and income-driven repayment plans, among others. It’s meant to help people who missed out on forgiveness because of complex paperwork, bad advice or other obstacles. An estimated 2 million people would be eligible for that help. All debt would be canceled for borrowers who have been repaying undergraduate loans for 20 years or more, or 25 years for those with graduate school debt. The Biden administration says it would erase loans for more than 2 million people. Those who attended college programs of “low financial value” would be eligible for forgiveness. The plan would cancel debt for borrowers who went to institutions that lost eligibility for federal education funding because they cheated students. It would also cancel loans for people who went to college programs that left graduates with low incomes compared to their student loans. A final category would cancel loans for Americans facing hardship that prevents them from repaying their student loans. The rule would allow the Education Department to cancel debt for borrowers who are considered highly likely to default on their loans, and it would create an application system for individuals to detail other forms of hardship. DO I NEED TO APPLY? Most of the cancellation would be done automatically with no need to apply. That would be the case for the interest cancellation, borrowers with older loans, those that attended low-value programs, and those eligible for other cancellation programs. There’s one exception: If borrowers want to make a case that they face some sort of hardship that merits cancellation, they would need to apply individually. WHEN WILL I GET RELIEF? The Biden administration says some debt could be canceled as soon as this fall, including interest that has snowballed on top of borrowers’ loans. That timeline would require some maneuvering. The Education Department said it plans to release a formal proposal in the “coming months.” That would usually be followed by a public comment period of 60 days. Then if the rule is finalized by Nov. 1, it would usually take effect the following July — in this case, July 2025. But the Higher Education Act authorizes the education secretary to fast-track rules for “early implementation” in some cases. The Biden administration recently used that power to accelerate student loan cancellation offered through a new federal repayment plan. Invoking that authority could allow Biden to start canceling debt later this year. IS THIS A SURE THING? Anything but. The Biden administration says it’s confident that the plan is allowed by the Higher Education Act. But loan cancellation of this type is uncharted territory, and conservative opponents are expected to challenge Biden’s plan in court. Republicans have repeatedly fought Biden’s plan for student loan cancellation, saying it’s an unfair benefit shouldered by taxpayers who repaid their loans or didn’t go to college. Opponents say the Supreme Court was clear that widespread loan cancellation must come from Congress. If Biden’s plan faces a lawsuit, courts could order the administration to halt cancellation until legal questions are sorted out. That scenario could leave the plan on hold beyond the November presidential election. Even if it survives legal challenges, a Donald Trump victory would spell almost certain doom for Biden’s plan. CAN CANCELLATION BE REVERSED? If Biden’s plan is overturned after the administration starts canceling loans, it would present a thorny question: Can forgiven student loans be unforgiven? Technically, there are ways that canceled student debt can be reinstated.
Georgia holds special election to replace lawmaker who died from the flu
Three Georgia Republicans and an independent are running in a Tuesday special election to replace state Rep. Richard Smith of Columbus, who died Jan. 30 while ill with the flu. JUDGE DENIES DONALD TRUMP’S MOTION TO DISMISS CHARGES IN GEORGIA ELECTION CASE Republicans running for the House District 139 seat include Sean Knox, who owns a pest control company and is a former member of the board of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; oral and facial surgeon Don Moeller, an Army veteran who is both a physician and dentist; and Carmen Rice, a human resources professional who is the first woman to serve as Republican Party chair in Muscogee County. Running as an independent is Robert Mallard, an Army veteran and former real estate broker who owns a beekeeping and honey company. No Democrats qualified in what historically has been a Republican district. The district covers parts of Muscogee and Harris counties. All the candidates are running together in the special election with no primaries to select nominees. If no one wins a majority, the two candidates winning the most votes will advance to a runoff on May 7. The election is only for the remainder of Smith’s term through the end of this year, during a period when legislators are not scheduled to meet. Candidates must run again this year if they want to continue serving past January. Knox, Moeller and Rice all qualified for the Republican primary on May 21. Carl Sprayberry is the lone Democrat to qualify and will be his party’s nominee in November. Mallard could qualify this summer as independent for the November election.
Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Harris County to block program that would give cash to poorest households
The program would give roughly 1,900 households payments of $500 for 18 months with no strings attached. Paxton called it “plainly unconstitutional.”