State and Local Update
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State and Local Update
January 13, 2020 4:43 pm | By 73273The Blue Wave and a Day Full of Firsts at the Virginia Capitol
It was a day full of firsts at the Virginia Capitol on January 8, 2020 as 23 newly elected members of the General Assembly were sworn in as legislators and the year’s first session convened. People For the American Way’s…
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State and Local Update
October 31, 2019 5:49 pm | By 41753Help Danica Roem Beat Back the Bigots
The Republican Party of Virginia is on the verge of losing its legislative majorities, and in desperation the party and its far-right allies are wallowing in the ugliness and bigotry that are at the heart of today’s GOP. Delegate Danica…
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State and Local Update
October 2, 2019 2:50 pm | By 28178An Urgent Opportunity to Make Political History — and Chart a New Future — in Montgomery, Alabama
This post originally appeared on Medium. The voters of Montgomery, Ala. have an opportunity to create history, and chart a new future, by electing Probate Judge Steven Reed as the first African American mayor in the city’s 200-year history. Reed…
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State and Local Update
May 29, 2019 5:36 pm | ByNext Up Victory Fund Celebrates 11 Endorsee Wins
This May, 11 young, progressive candidates and Next Up endorsees won big in primary and special elections in New York, Pennsylvania, and Arizona. Among these notable wins is Korin Kirk’s re-election to the Binghamton School District Board of Education in Binghamton,…
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State and Local Update
April 10, 2019 6:07 pm | By 41753Texas Bill Could Lead to Women Being Executed for Having an Abortion
This post originally appeared on Right Wing Watch. A Texas house committee heard testimony this week on a bill that would allow women who have abortions to be convicted of homicide and executed. The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Tony Tinderholt, told…
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State and Local Update
January 31, 2019 5:23 pm | By 41734PFAW and AAMIA Oppose “Project Blitz” Campaign to Undermine Church-State Separation
People For the American Way and PFAW's African American Ministers In Action are deeply troubled by a national Religious Right campaign to undermine church-state separation. "Project Blitz" is based on an escalating series of state legislation that proponents believe will…
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State and Local Update
August 21, 2018 8:11 am | By 62609Maine Officials Demand ‘Due Diligence’ from Senators in Evaluating Kavanaugh Nomination in Telebriefing
On August 14, Maine state and local officials, in partnership with People For the American Way, held a telebriefing for members of the media on Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Maine State Senator Justin Chenette, City of…
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State and Local Update
May 9, 2018 2:44 pm | ByRight Wing Watch Report: Far-Right Candidates in the 2018 Elections
On April 30, Right Wing Watch released a report on 12 extreme and fringe candidates that are exercising influence in the 2018 elections by attempting to pull their races to the far right. Find highlights here on 12 of the…
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State and Local Update
May 1, 2018 2:36 pm | By 535619 Major Legislative Actions Taken By Young Women in Elected Office
Women are running for office in record numbers, and it's a massive win not just for women but for the entire country. Women serving on our school boards, in our state houses, and on the Hill are already improving the…
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State and Local Update
February 15, 2018 3:52 pm | By 53562PFAW Announces Endorsements of History-Making Candidates for Governor
People For the American Way is proud to endorse three dynamic 2018 gubernatorial candidates—all young, all people of color, and all running in winnable states against right-wing Republicans (who all, unsurprisingly, happen to be white men). The endorsements were announced…
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State and Local Update
January 5, 2018 11:53 am | By 53562After the Landslide: The Latest in the Fight Over the Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is set to convene on January 10 after the landmark election in 2017 that flipped 15 seats in the legislature and brought the Democrats close to a tie. But two Republican-held seats are still in…
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State and Local Update
September 28, 2017 2:30 pm | By 535615 Virginia Bills That Would Be Law If It Weren’t For a Democratic Governor
On November 7, Virginia voters will head to the polls to decide who will take the governor's seat after Governor Terry McAuliffe's term comes to an end: Democrat Ralph Northam or Republican Ed Gillespie. Traditionally, progressive voter turnout is suppressed…
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State and Local Update
June 22, 2017 2:14 pm | By 55623In Georgia Special Election, Negative Out Of State Money Dominated
Much has been made of the amount of money raised by Democrat Jon Ossoff, who lost on Tuesday night to Republican Karen Handel in a special election to represent Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District. But while Ossoff raised much more money…
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State and Local Update
May 31, 2017 3:17 pm | By 55374Big Resistance Wins in New York and New Hampshire: Republicans Lose Their First Two Seats
Last week, progressives scored two key victories in New Hampshire and New York. Two Republican districts that Donald Trump won flipped, with Democrats winning these crucial state legislative seats. These are the first two Republican seats to switch since 2016…
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State and Local Update
May 26, 2017 2:13 pm | By 44533Montana Special Election Shows Outsized Impact of Money in Politics
This week, despite being charged for assaulting a reporter who was asking about the American Health Care Act, Republican candidate Greg Gianforte came out on top in the special election to fill the Montana congressional seat vacated by Interior Secretary…
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State and Local Update
May 26, 2017 1:29 pm | By 44533Amendment to Overturn Citizens United Reaches New Milestone
This week Nevada became the 19th state to officially call for a constitutional amendment to overturn Supreme Court decisions, such as Citizens United, which have led to an explosion of political spending by powerful special interests seeking to advance their…
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State and Local Update
January 27, 2017 5:52 pm | By 44533South Dakota Lawmakers Declare ‘State of Emergency’ to Block Reform
This week state legislators in South Dakota declared a ‘state of emergency’ in order to try and repeal a campaign finance and ethics reform initiative that won at the ballot box last November. However, after significant public outcry and national…
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State and Local Update
November 21, 2016 5:06 pm | By 45589First Win in a Trump Era: Georgia Rejects Anti-Muslim Bigotry
Following the shocking election results, hate, bigotry, and xenophobia are now on the rise again, and American Muslims, and those perceived to be Muslims, have become some of the first targets. President-elect Trump appears to be seriously considering a registry…
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State and Local UpdateNovember 10, 2016 11:19 pm | By 44533
Local and State Ballot Victories for Democracy
While the outcome of the election this week is deeply troubling on many levels, there were a number of important ballot initiative victories that will ultimately help pave the way for a democracy that is truly of, by and for…
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State and Local UpdateOctober 31, 2016 2:40 pm | By 44533
Proposed Local Ban on Super PACs Considered in St. Petersburg, FL
The fight to create a democracy that stands up to wealthy special interests is a battle that must be fought on many fronts—and much of the progress is occurring on the local level. All around the country towns and cities…