Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Preliminary primary results set stage for November races across Columbia Basin
EPHRATA — Initial results from Washington's Aug. 5 primary election show several closely watched races beginning t…
Road to 270: Trump's best path to victory hinges on FL, PA
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump still has a path to the 270 Electoral College votes he needs to win reelection. But it requires everything to break in his direction a second time.
Senators stall bill prohibiting emergency rules on churches
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A proposal to keep Louisiana's emergency orders from governing churches and to upend prosecution of a pastor who violated Gov. John Bel Edwards'
Court turns down request to redo GOP Senate primary race
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey appeals court on Wednesday rejected a losing Republican U.S. Senate candidate's bid to invalidate the primary results and stop the state's mail-in ballot program for the general el…
In pitch for Biden, Obama urges voters to cast Trump out
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former President Barack Obama blasted President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, his culpability in national discord and his overall fitness for the job on Wednesday as he made his fi…
In deep-red Oklahoma, GOP fights to regain lost seat
EDMOND, Okla. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, a lawyer from Oklahoma City, accomplished the most stunning political upset in the nation two years ago when she ousted a two-term GOP incumbent and captured a…
Pappas, Mowers trade barbs on virus response, police reform
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas and Republican challenger Matt Mowers attacked each other Wednesday night over everything from the coronavirus response to health care in a heated debate that was often a shouting …
AP Explains: What's next for the Supreme Court nomination
WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is speeding toward confirmation, with a majority of the Senate supporting her and a final vote expected Monday. She could be sworn in as a justice almost im…
5 questions as Trump and Biden prepare for final debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival, Joe Biden, meet on the debate stage for the second and final time Thursday night in Tennessee. The 90-minute prime-time meeting comes just 12…
Court orders California to cut San Quentin inmates by half
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California appeals court has ordered state corrections officials to cut the population of one of the world's most famous prisons to less than half of its designed capacity, citing offici…
Goodyear man gets probation for disrupting polling place
GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) — A Goodyear man has been sentenced to six months of probation for disrupting a polling place nearly two years ago.
Trump grants clemency to five backed by ally Alice Johnson
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted clemency to five people convicted of committing drug and financial crimes, all of them cases that were pushed by prison reform advocate and Trump ally A…
Court ruling could block thousands of Iowa ballot requests
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A split Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a new Republican-backed law that could bar county elections commissioners from mailing absentee ballots to thousands of people who omitted infor…
Worsening opioid crisis overshadowed in presidential race
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Like millions of Americans, Diane Urban watched the first presidential debate last month at home with her family. When it was over, she turned off the television and climbed into the bed her 2…
Kentucky Democrats outpace Republicans in absentee voting
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Democrats have cast absentee ballots at more than twice the rate as Republicans, but more GOP voters are turning out for early in-person voting, according to voting figures.
Obama endorses Espy in Mississippi; Trump backs Hyde-Smith
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A Democrat trying to unseat a Republican U.S. senator in Mississippi said Wednesday that he has received his “biggest endorsement yet,” from former President Barack Obama.