Alt Timeline - President Clinton in the Middle

[Pollster]

I've been thoroughly enjoying reading all of the alt timelines on this board and have decided to start my own. Please bear with me, I'm new to this and have a lot of ideas. Here we go!

AP: MINNESOTA PUTS CLINTON OVER THE TOP, CLINTON DEFEATS TRUMP

At 12:37 AM, The Associated Press is projecting that Hillary Clinton will carry the state of Minnesota, putting her at 276 electoral votes, more than the 270 needed to secure the Presidency.
 The Democratic former Secretary of State, U.S. Senator, and First Lady will defeat Republican businessman Donald Trump and become the first woman to be elected President of the United States.

The election, which was preceded by one of the longest and most unorthodox campaigns in the history of the nation, was marked by both candidates showing strength in unexpected areas of the country and among various demographic groups. Final exit poll data is not yet available, but preliminary data indicates that Trump built upon Mitt Romney's 2012 margins with non-college educated white voters,
 while Mrs. Clinton defied expectations among white voters with college degrees, winning the demographic 49-44. Minority turnout was slightly higher than expected - especially among Hispanic/Latino voters - and Clinton managed to build slightly upon Obama's lead with the group
 while performing only slightly worse among African Americans. Mrs. Clinton also narrowed Obama's margins among typically Republican-leaning groups such as higher income Americans as well as Mormons.

As a result of these demographic realignments, Mr. Trump managed to stun pundits and observers by scoring unexpected victories throughout the midwest, narrowly winning the largely uncontested states of Michigan and Wisconsin by narrow margins. He narrowly carried the battleground state of Pennsylvania, while the traditional swing states of Ohio and Iowa were both called for him at poll closings.

With the morning of November 9th quickly approaching, an unexpected Trump victory was looking more and more likely, but Clinton managed a literal eleventh-hour rebound, with a last-minute vote dump in Broward County propelling her to victory in the state of Florida, carrying the state's coveted 29 electoral votes. Mrs. Clinton showed unexpected strength in the typically Republican south, winning Virginia comfortably and North Carolina by a 4 point margin. She held Mr. Trump to single-digit victories in the historically red states of Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, losing the latter by only 5 points (President Obama lost the state by 16 points in 2012). She came within only a handful of votes of carrying the state of Georgia, which was not projected for Mr. Trump until 96% of the vote had been counted. Mrs. Clinton's most unexpected victory came in the state of Nevada, which she won by 7 points despite polls indicating a tight race, largely due to unexpectedly high turnout among Latinos.

The only state yet to be called is Arizona, where Mrs. Clinton leads by 3 points with 90% of the vote counted. Polling in the state indicated a tight race with a small Trump lead. Should Mrs. Clinton's margin in the Grand Canyon State hold, she will win the election with 287 electoral votes.

At press time, Mr. Trump, who had publicly floated the possibility of refusing to accept the results of the election, has yet to concede.


AP: CLINTON PROJECTED TO WIN ARIZONA
At 1:04 AM, The Associated Press projects that Hillary Clinton will carry the state of Arizona. With 95% of precincts reporting, Mrs. Clinton holds a 49-47 lead, with only historically Democratic-leaning precincts yet to be counted. With no outstanding states remaining, The Associated Press projects Hillary Clinton will win the election, 287-251. With millions of votes yet to be counted in states such as California and Washington, Mrs. Clinton leads in the national popular vote with 49%
 to Mr. Trump's 45%.


BREAKING: Trump calls Bill Clinton, "Tell your wife congratulations," Ivanka calls Chelsea

(NBC News) 1:12 AM - NBC News has confirmed that Donald Trump has called former President Bill Clinton to concede the election and congratulate him on his wife's victory. In a stunning breach of precedent, Mr. Trump reportedly refused to speak to Mrs. Clinton directly, despite the urging of both his family and campaign advisers to do so.

"Tell your wife congratulations," the real-estate mogul and former reality TV host reportedly told the former President. Sources within the campaign told NBC News that when the former President asked the Republican nominee if he wanted to speak to Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Trump declined and ended the call. The call reportedly angered both Clintons, with the President-elect reportedly stating that Trump "has no decency whatsoever" and the former President referring to him as "a bag of sh-t with a fake tan."

NBC News has also confirmed that Ivanka Trump has privately called her longtime friend Chelsea Clinton to congratulate her on her mother's victory, in a conversation reported to be "much more cordial, much more respectful."

A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign confirmed that both calls occurred but would not confirm any details of the conversations.


Pence addresses Trump supporters: "This defeat is the gateway to many victories"

1:30 AM - Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence took the stage at Trump headquarters to formally concede the election to Hillary Clinton early Wednesday morning. The event broke with decades of precedent, as Pence became the first losing Vice Presidential nominee to concede the election in place of the candidate at the top of the ticket. Governor Pence notably did not mention Mr.
 Trump by name at any point in the speech, and did not congratulate Hillary Clinton specifically.

"We congratulate the Clintons on this victory, and we thank every single one of you who came out today with the shared goal of making America great again," Pence said, surrounded by his wife and family. Pence struck a more positive tone for the end of the speech, referencing the many Senate and House races that remain too close to call despite Clinton capturing the White House, and pointing out the favorable maps the GOP foresees for 2018.

"If you are one of the millions who connected with politics for the first time because of our campaign,
 we strongly urge you to take it one step further: run for office," Pence exclaimed, eliciting cheers from the audience. "Your time is now. This defeat is the gateway to many victories!"

Democrats were quick to criticize the spectacle, with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) lambasting Trump for "being too afraid to tell his supporters he lost to a girl."

Clinton claims victory: "An era of healing is upon us"

1:40 AM - Taking the stage almost immediately following Mike Pence's remarks, President-elect Hillary Clinton was welcomed to the Javits Center by thunderous cheers as Alicia Keys' "Girl on Fire" blared on the speakers and the stage lit up a patriotic red, white and blue beneath her. She was followed onto the stage by daughter Chelsea, husband Bill and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in a surprise appearance.

"Tonight, America was presented with a torrent of forces," Clinton began. "The forces of hate, the forces of bigotry, of racism, sexism, xenophobia. Tonight, Donald Trump asked America what kind of country it wanted to be, and America answered loudly and clearly." Clinton made no further acknowledgment of her opponent, who less than an hour earlier phoned her husband rather than her to concede defeat.

Clinton called for unity, stating that an "era of healing is upon us" and calling for every American to do their part to "bridge the toxic gaps we currently face." In a surprising move, Clinton acknowledged her historic unpopularity, stating bluntly that "I'm well aware that my haters outnumber my fans," to loud boos from the audience. Clinton continued by asking for open-mindedness, "if any of you are listening right now, I know that I probably won't change your mind overnight. All I ask is for a fair shot and an honest second chance."

The remainder of the speech was largely positive, ending with a humorous reference to the historic nature of Clinton's victory. "Now I have to go get some sleep, because I promised Charlotte I would take her to see "Trolls" today," Clinton said, to laughs. "And by the way, make sure you watch where you step, because tonight, America is covered in shattered glass," Clinton exclaimed, as cheers erupted in the event center. Balloons and confetti rained down as Katy Perry's "Roar" played Clinton off and fireworks were launched off the Hudson River.

[Blackacre]

What happened in the Senate? I'm guessing NH/IL/NV remained the same, as did WI/PA. But what about AZ/GA/FL/NC?

[Illini Moderate]

I really wish this happened. But I doubt her Presidency would have turned out great (due to congressional obstructionism)

[Pollster]

Battle for the Senate Rages On


(Politico) 11/10/16 - Election Day 2016 is now in the rear view mirror, but there are still some races that have yet to conclude. Despite Hillary Clinton's comfortable victory over Donald Trump on Tuesday night, control of the Senate hangs in the balance as five decisive races remain undecided.

Democrats successfully picked up two seats on election night, with challengers Tammy Duckworth in Illinois and Maggie Hassan in New Hampshire unseating incumbents Mark Kirk and Kelly Ayotte, respectively. Democrats also successfully defended the seat of retiring majority leader Harry Reid in Nevada, where Republican challenger Joe Heck's dismissal of Trump, mixed with Clinton's unexpected 7-point victory in the state allowed the Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto to win a comfortable 8-point victory, almost double what the polls predicted.

For their part, Republicans successfully defended the seats of incumbents Marco Rubio in Florida, who defeated Democratic challenger Patrick Murphy 51-45, and John McCain of Arizona, who turned back a challenge from Ann Kirkpatrick, 53-44. Both Republicans represent states that Clinton carried.

In many other battleground states, the results remain uncertain. Following the pickups in Illinois and New Hampshire, Democrats need two more seats to hold a majority, with Vice President-elect Tim Kaine providing the tie-breaking vote. Here's where they can get them:

Indiana - Former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh made a late jump into this open-seat race against Rep. Todd Young and started off with a massive lead that gradually evaporated as Bayh weathered relentless attacks and oppo dumps. Polling indicated that the race was a tie going into election day. Bayh leads 50-48 in the current vote count, but the Secretary of State of Indiana has refused to certify the vote count on the ground that a large amount of provisional and military overseas ballots have yet to be counted. Young has yet to formally concede the race, and the Bayh campaign has released a statement saying that they believe the majority of provisional ballots reside in Gary County and that they anticipate their lead will grow if and when they are counted. Donald Trump carried the state of Indiana handily on election night.

Missouri - Democrat Jason Kander enjoyed a last-minute surge against incumbent Republican Roy Blunt, and until late on election night, it looked as though the young rising star was going to oust the powerful Republican incumbent by an impressive margin. But as the rural vote, which propelled Trump to a 55-40 victory in the state, began to come in, Blunt narrowed the margin considerably. With 100% of precincts reporting, Kander leads Blunt by just 189 votes. Blunt's team has, as expected, filed for a full-state recount. Kander told local radio that he is cautiously optimistic about the recount, citing Democrat Chris Koster's victory over Republican Eric Greitens in the state's concurrent gubernatorial contest as proof that Democrats performed well down-ballot in the Show-Me State.

North Carolina - Incumbent Republican Richard Burr led in all polling of his race against Democrat Deborah Ross throughout the Summer, but stopped campaigning when Fall rolled around, allowing Ross to close the gap with the aid of national Democrats. Ross continued to trail up until election day, but she managed to ride Hillary Clinton;s unexpectedly strong coattails in the state and currently leads in the final tally by 0.4%, just enough for Burr to request a recount under North Carolina state law, which he is expected to do later today.

Pennsylvania - Polling indicated a tight race for Pennsylvania's Senate seat, and Donald Trump's narrow 49-48 victory over Clinton did not bode well for Democratic challenger Katie McGinty. However, Republican incumbent Pat Toomey's confusing position on Trump led to a lack of down-ballot support that allowed McGinty to flip the results; she holds a 49-48 lead over the incumbent in the final count. Pennsylvania's recount laws are a tad grey, and Toomey, who has yet to concede, has not announced whether or not he will request a recount.

Wisconsin - Former Sen. Russ Feingold sought a rematch against Republican incumbent Ron Johnson, and polling indicated he was headed for a massive win up until the very end when national Republicans swept in and the gap narrowed considerably. Feingold foresaw the GOP surge in his home state, and claimed the day after the election that he tried to warn the Clinton campaign about Donald Trump's strength among the cheeseheads, which was proven by his narrow 49-47 victory in the Badger State. Johnson leads narrowly in the final count by about 3,700 votes (Feingold successfully held many eastern Wisconsin counties that were ancestrally Democratic but flipped to Trump) and has declared victory, but Feingold is filing for a recount and has lobbed accusations of voter fraud by Governor Scott Walker, who in return referred to Feingold as a "sore loser." Feingold will appear on "The Rachel Maddow Show" tomorrow night, claiming to have evidence of voter fraud by the Walker administration.

[Blackacre]

Thanks! Itd be nice to see a Dem sweep of those races, but my current guess is that the current numbers hold despite recounts. RIP Russ, yay everyone else!

What about the House?

[Pollster]

From here on out, all updates will be written in the style of The Hill unless otherwise noted.

Clinton has first meeting with Obama as President-elect


11/10/16 - President Obama hosted President-elect Clinton in the White House this morning for the duo's first meeting since Clinton won the Presidential election held on Tuesday. Obama congratulated Clinton on her victory and commended her on her refusal to bow to the negativity and hate-infused rhetoric utilized by her opponent. Clinton in return thanked Obama for his efforts on the campaign trail and commended him for his "dignified and principled leadership," which she claims "made the rare third Democratic term attainable." According to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest, the two spoke at length about the transition, the lame-duck period and the outstanding Senate races.

Speaking to reporters in the Roosevelt Room, the former rivals appeared friendly and warm with each other.

When pressed on the topic of the Senate races yet to be called, both the President and the President-elect spoke optimistically, with Obama saying "it looks like a few more Democratic pickups are coming." When asked about cabinet picks, Clinton said that she had begun working closely with transition leader and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to identify and vet the best candidates.

Spokespeople for both the White House and the Clinton campaign reiterated both parties' commitment to a smooth and peaceful transition of power.


AP: Comstock narrowly reelected in VA-10

(AP) 11/10/16 - The Associated Press is projecting that Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock has been reelected to her seat representing Virginia's 10th Congressional district. The battleground race, which attracted millions of dollars in outside spending, is the last House race to be called of the 2016 cycle. Comstock trailed her Democratic challenger LuAnn Bennett in the initial count but managed to retake the lead as military overseas ballots were received and counted. We project she will receive 50.08% of the vote to Bennett's 49.41%, with write-in candidates taking the remaining percentage. Comstock's victory gives the GOP a 235-200 seat majority in the lower chamber of Congress.


Sanders: We won't give Clinton a "free pass" on progressive issues


11/11/16 - Speaking to CNN's Anderson Cooper, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) declared that he and his fellow progressives would not give the newly elected President Clinton a "free pass" on progressive issues throughout her Presidency.

"Complacency is not an option," the 74-year old Senator, who challenged Clinton for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, sternly told Cooper. "We have got to make sure that a Democratic President is standing for traditional Democratic values and defending working people."

Sanders later stated that he believes Clinton did not focus enough on working people in her campaign and that she nearly lost the Presidency because of it. "Many historically Democratic states that are anchored by working people voted for Donald Trump because he spoke more to them." When pressed by Cooper if he believes he would have carried those states if he were the Democratic nominee, Sanders replied that he "thinks it certainly is possible."

A spokesperson for Clinton refused a request for comment.


Feingold tells Maddow his dead aunt "voted" in 2016 election


11/11/16 - In a sit-down interview on The Rachel Maddow Show, Russ Feingold, the former Senator and Democratic challenger in the still-contested Senate election in Wisconsin, revealed that he has uncovered evidence of potential voter fraud which he claims was carried out by Wisconsin's Republican governor, Scott Walker.

Feingold told Maddow that, while investigating precinct data in preparation for the recount he requested in his Senate race, he discovered that his aunt, Rona Feingold, who passed away in early 2015, was publicly recorded to have voted in his Senate race. Feingold stated that his campaign's legal team is investigating for any further instances of deceased Wisconsin citizens having voted, and has reported the instance to the United States Department of Justice.

Feingold joked that his aunt, a lifelong Republican, "probably voted for Ron Johnson."

Maddow commented that the story, if proven true, has the makings of a "political blockbuster." Governor Walker's office did not respond to a request for comment.

[Don Vito Corleone]

Sounds very interesting.
I wonder what the "middle" refers to.

[Pollster]

Poll: Clinton approval on the rise, majority willing to give her "fair shot"


11/12/16 - Gallup's daily tracking poll of President-elect Hillary Clinton's approval rating is officially live, and the first results show good news for the first woman elected to the nation's highest office. 53% of registered voters view Clinton favorably while 42% view her unfavorably. This represents a massive improvement for Clinton, who was plagued by historic unpopularity throughout her Presidential campaign.

The results come as a double-edged sword; however, as Clinton's 53% favorability is the lowest ever recorded for a President-elect since Gallup began polling. Successful candidates typically see a sharp spike in approval following their victories as they begin a honeymoon phase with the public. The extreme national political polarization, heightened by the contentious 2016 election, in addition to Clinton's historically difficult relationship with the public since her rise to prominence as First Lady in the 1990's, all likely contribute to her lower than average ratings.

Gallup also tested whether or not voters were willing to give Clinton the "fair shot" that she famously asked for in her victory speech Wednesday morning. 64% of voters said they were willing to give her a fair shot, including 96% of Democrats, 58% of independents, and a 45% plurality of Republicans. 31% of voters said they were not willing to give her a fair shot, including 3% of Democrats, 35% of independents and 44% of Republicans. 5% said they were unsure: 1% of Democrats, 7% of independents and 11% of Republicans.

The same poll found that voters approve of Bill Clinton, 55-39, a slight improvement over his wife, while President Obama outranks both Clintons with an approval rating of 58-38.

Report: Warren vigorously lobbying Clinton to drop Garland SCOTUS nomination


11/12/16 - Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is putting immense pressure on President-elect Clinton and her transition team to appoint somebody else to the Supreme Court rather than renominate President Obama's choice of Merrick Garland, sources close to both women tell us this morning.

Warren, a top surrogate for Clinton during the general election who reportedly made the campaign's short list of potential Vice Presidential candidates, is said to believe that Garland is a "compromise candidate" that she no longer thinks is necessary since she expects Democrats will regain control of the Senate. Clinton has been mum on her plans to fill the Supreme Court seat kept vacant for months by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Whoever Clinton nominates is likely to be the subject of a tense confirmation battle within a Senate where partisan control still hangs in the balance.

Warren represents the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, a faction with which Clinton has had a strained relationship as evidenced by her unexpectedly competitive primary race against Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), another prominent leader of the wing. Clinton is rumored to harbor negative feelings toward Warren, claiming that Warren's refusal to endorse her contributed to the length of her primary battle against Sanders.

Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon declined a request for comment. A spokesperson for Warren's office refused to confirm or deny the story, but stated that Warren is "committed to accomplishing progressive goals in every way possible."

BREAKING: Toomey won't request recount, concedes PA Senate race to McGinty


11/12/16 - Senator Pat Toomey will not request a recount in his reelection race against Democratic challenger Katie McGinty, his campaign announced this morning. Multiple sources have confirmed that Toomey called McGinty to concede shortly before the announcement, and his campaign subsequently released a statement from Toomey which stated: "To all of my fellow Pennsylvanians, serving you in the Senate has been my greatest privilege. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I'll see you soon." The final line caught the attention of observers and pundits alike, as Toomey has long been rumored to be interested in challenging Democratic Governor Tom Wolf in 2018.

Toomey trailed McGinty in the final vote count by 0.9% of the vote, despite Donald Trump carrying Pennsylvania on election night by a narrow 0.6% margin. Toomey notably underperformed Trump's vote total statewide while McGinty retained most of Clinton's.

The seat is a pickup for Democrats, who are now just one seat away from winning control of the Senate, with Vice President-elect Tim Kaine serving as the tie-breaking vote. Four Senate races remain outstanding.

McGinty has yet to make any public remarks.

Trump breaks Twitter silence, blasts "terrible" campaign advisers


11/13/16 - Donald Trump is back on Twitter early Sunday morning for the first time since his election loss to Hillary Clinton on Tuesday night.

In the tweet, Trump blasts his "terrible campaign advisers" who told him to spend time competing in traditionally Democratic Midwestern states at the expense of campaigning in North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, three states where Clinton performed better than polls indicated she would. Trump managed to narrowly carry a slew of Midwestern states to the surprise of many prognosticators, but his gains were offset by Clinton's unexpectedly strong showing along the nation's southern coast.

The tweet is notable since, of the three states Trump mentions, he only failed to carry North Carolina. Had Trump won the Tar Heel State, he would still have been defeated by Clinton.

Perhaps more notably, the tweet serves as Mr. Trump's first public acknowledgment of his loss to Hillary Clinton. On election night, he broke with decades of precedent and sent out Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence to give the campaign's formal concession speech.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, who campaigned for Trump during the general election, commented that "Mr. Trump can point as many fingers as he wants, but what he fails to understand is that he bears the majority of the blame for his defeat." Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a former primary opponent and vocal Trump critic throughout the election, commented that Mr. Trump "needs to take responsibility for his loss."

Report: Clinton removed conciliatory mention of Trump from victory speech following Bill Clinton call


11/13/16 - A source within the Clinton campaign reports that Clinton's initial draft of her victory speech included a conciliatory message to Donald Trump, something standard of victory addresses in American politics. The source claims that Clinton forcefully demanded the removal of the line after Trump infamously called Bill Clinton to concede and refused to speak to the candidate herself.

"There's no way I'm going out there and thanking him," the infuriated President-elect reportedly exclaimed.

The former President reportedly supported the decision.

Mr. Trump sent Vice Presidential candidate Mike Pence out to give a concession speech on election night - breaking with decades of precedent - and did not publicly acknowledge his defeat until an early morning tweet posted just hours ago.

McAuliffe: "Likely" that Clinton will appoint a Republican to cabinet


11/13/16 - Speaking to Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press," Virginia Governor and head of the Clinton transition team Terry McAuliffe said it was "likely" that President-elect Clinton would appoint a Republican to a position in her cabinet.

"Despite what they might want you to think, the President-elect has good relationships with many Republicans and believes there are quite a few who are worthy and qualified to serve in the administration," McAuliffe told Todd.

Cabinet appointments across party lines are a common move for a newly elected President seeking to reach across the aisle. Democrats, in particular, have a history of appointing Republicans to be the Secretary of Defense: President Obama retained Republican Robert Gates, a Bush appointee, as Secretary of Defense, replacing him with fellow Republican Chuck Hagel in his second term. President Bill Clinton nominated Republican William Cohen to the post in his second term, as well.

President-elect Clinton's historically hostile relationship with the Republican Party, in addition to the extreme partisan polarization that defined this past election, led many to believe Clinton would forgo including Republicans in her administration. The announcement was met with praise by members of both parties within Congress.

When pressed for comment, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon stated: "The President-elect and her transition team are committed to assembling the most qualified Cabinet, regardless of party affiliation."

[Illini Moderate]

Very good read so far!!!

[_]

I'm curious to who she picks from the Rs, and it seems like she might be attempting to be Bill Clinton 2.0.

Great Job!

[Pollster]

Thank you all for the kind words. I'm having a great time writing this.

BREAKING: Clinton will retain Lynch as AG


11/14/16 - The Clinton transition team announced this morning that President-elect Clinton has asked Attorney General Loretta Lynch to remain in her position at the head of the Department of Justice during Clinton's tenure and that Lynch has accepted.

"Attorney General Lynch has proven herself to be an asset to the Justice Department, and I'm proud that she will continue to serve in her capacity in my administration," Clinton told reporters. Lynch added that she is "humbled and honored" to have been asked to remain in her role.

The decision to retain Lynch was reportedly pushed by former President Bill Clinton, who argued that keeping Lynch would prevent a contentious confirmation battle in the Senate that would cost the administration unnecessary political capital. Republicans previously raised concerns about a potential Clinton AG appointment, citing Clinton's history of FBI investigation as an impediment on her potential pick's impartiality.

Lynch and the former President were themselves the subject of controversy when their infamous prolonged meeting on the tarmac raised doubts about Lynch's credibility in the DOJ's investigation of Clinton's private email server.

Others reportedly considered for the job were Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez.

Republicans were quick to criticize the announcement, especially Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), who called the decision "an example of political cronyism at its very worst."

Feingold: More fraudulent ballots discovered in Wisconsin Senate race


11/15/16 - In an appearance on a local radio show in southeastern Wisconsin, Russ Feingold told interviewers that his campaign's legal team has uncovered "over 900" fraudulently cast ballots in his Senate race this year. "And we haven't even made it through half of all the precincts yet," he added.

Feingold, who challenged Republican Senator Ron Johnson to a rematch this year, currently trails in the official vote count by slightly less than 2,000 votes. He made headlines when he appeared on "The Rachel Maddow Show" shortly after the election to report evidence of voter fraud, claiming that his aunt who passed away in February 2015 was on record to have cast a ballot in a Senate election.

Feingold claims that none of the fraudulent ballots contained votes for any other contest besides his Senate race. "It certainly looks like it was a deliberate and concerted effort to defeat me."

The recount that Feingold requested is set to begin on Friday. In addition to conducting the recount, Wisconsin Secretary of State Robert La Follette has announced that his office will conduct an investigation of Feingold's claims of fraud.

Politico: Race for New Jersey Governor slow to take shape


11/16/16 - The election to succeed Chris Christie as the Governor of New Jersey is less than a year away, but the field of candidates for the governor's mansion is slow to take shape. Not a single Republican has entered the race yet, and the only Democrat to declare so far is Phil Murphy, the former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and a former Goldman Sachs executive who has lent his campaign $10 million. Christie, whose approval rating was a toxic 20% in the latest statewide poll, is term-limited.

"There's a lot of uncertainty of the directions that the political winds are blowing," said a New Jersey Republican legislator, who spoke to Politico on the condition of anonymity. "Republicans are scared of being tied to Christie, and Democrats are scared of being tied to Clinton." The sentiment of uncertainty was echoed by numerous other prognosticators, all of whom said that Christie's toxicity presents a Democratic opening, but that even predictably safe races can be made competitive by an unpopular President in a midterm year. "If Hillary's numbers plummet," one veteran Democratic pollster said, "a solid Republican candidate may start to look much more appealing."

While overcoming Christie has turned back many potential Republican candidates, Murphy's abundant wealth and his willingness to spend it on his campaign have given many Democratic contenders pause. An aid to Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who just yesterday announced that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for Governor, told local reporters that his boss "was strongly considering running, but believed fundraising would be tough." Fulop ultimately announced that he would instead seek re-election to the mayor's post, and has already received Murphy's endorsement.

Likewise, a report in NJ.com this morning detailed that powerful State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, long considered a likely candidate for Governor, is having trouble fundraising for his bid, as many of the state's largest Democratic donors believe that Murphy's self-funding has effectively anointed him the nominee. Sweeney's office declined a request for comment.

Not everybody is ceding to Murphy, however. John Wisniewski, a progressive from Central Jersey who chaired Bernie Sanders' unsuccessful primary campaign in the state this Summer, is reportedly thinking about a bid, and blasted Murphy while speaking to Politico: "The wealthy purchasing political offices to advance the interests of the wealthy is supposed to be what Democrats are against," Wisniewski said. When asked if he would run against Murphy for the nomination, Wisniewski responded that "if nobody else does, I might have no choice."

On the Republican side, potential candidates include Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno, who is a prominent Christie critic, and Rep. Tom MacArthur, a South Jersey moderate who has long been rumored to hold statewide ambitions. Neither official's office responded to a request for comment.

Anthony Weiner: "I thought I was going to cost Hillary the election"


11/18/16 - Embattled former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner sat down for an interview with the NY Daily News today, where he discussed his scandals, his marriage, his future and his unexpected eleventh-hour role in the Presidential campaign that he thought might just have thrown the election to Donald Trump.

"I woke up that day in late October, and I had, like, 8 million text messages, and I remember thinking to myself...what the f--k?" Weiner told the Daily News. Earlier that day, the New York Times published a story saying that a source within the FBI confirmed that the investigation of Clinton's emails was back on thanks to the discovery of more emails on Weiner's laptop.

"I turned on the TV, and it was all anyone was talking about. No matter what channel I went to, there was my face next to hers. I thought I was going to cost Hillary the election. I thought I was going to give America President Donald Trump. I felt sick," Weiner relayed.

FBI Director James Comey forcefully denied the story. Two days later, the source was exposed to be a low-ranking FBI agent with a personal hatred of the Clintons who fabricated the leak and lied to the Times about his standing in the organization. The Times was forced to retract the story shortly after.

"I called Hillary to apologize as soon as I could. I contacted the campaign to ask what I could do to help." When asked what the campaign's response was, Weiner said that "Robby [Mook] told me not to touch them with a 50-foot pole."

Weiner recalled that he was "relieved beyond understanding" when he watched CNN's Wolf Blitzer announce that Clinton won the election, and told the Daily News that he "sobbed like a baby" while watching Clinton deliver her victory speech just a short Subway ride away from his apartment in Union Square. Weiner, a longtime Clinton ally and loyal supporter of both of her Presidential campaigns, had nothing but positive words for Clinton.

"Hillary is a force of nature. She always has been. I think she'll be a behemoth of a President." Weiner added that he feels a unique bond with Clinton, due to their shared difficult relationship with the public and the press. "I feel like Hillary and I understand each others' positions. We're easy targets because people tend to believe every negative thing they read about us, and negative stories about us get lots of clicks and increase viewership." Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon did not respond to a request for comment.

Weiner is married to top Clinton aid Huma Abedin, who is rumored to be Clinton's top pick for White House Chief of Staff. Abedin would be the first woman to serve in the role.

"Huma is amazing," Weiner stated. "She's my rock and I don't deserve her loyal support." Weiner and Abedin's marriage has been plagued by Weiner's proneness to scandals, particularly the multiple revelations that he has been involved in "sexting" with underage women. The first sexting revelation forced his resignation from Congress, while the second derailed his comeback bid for Mayor of New York City in 2013. The FBI investigation of Weiner's potential violation of child pornography laws was the source of the fabricated Times story that intertwined Weiner with the Clinton email scandal.

Weiner, who enjoys universal name recognition in New York City thanks to his controversial past, remains committed to liberal causes and is unafraid to show it. He gained recognition before the rise of his scandals by being the rare liberal Democrat who would go on conservative media outlets to defend liberal ideology. "I love the Democratic party," Weiner said. "I believe Democrats stand between the people and the certain plague that conservative politics bring on this country."

Weiner was coy when asked if he would ever run for office again. "The strategists and prognosticators would immediately tell me no, and probably laugh in my face," Weiner said with a smirk. But in a statement that irked Democrats, Weiner added that "Donald Trump has proven that voters are willing to overlook a lot if the candidate is saying things they agree with. So I don't know, you might just see me on the ballot again soon."

[MAINEiac4434]

This is really, really, really good. I wish this happened. Honestly, this feels kinda like what really happened, and the reality we're living in is some deranged alt-history timeline.

I can totally see all of this happening...Trump calling Bill and not talking to Hillary, Pence giving the concession speech with no sign of the Trumps, and Pence congratulating the Clintons instead of Hillary specifically.

[Pollster]

BREAKING: Clinton picks Murphy for Secretary of State


11/19/16 - In an early Saturday morning announcement, the Clinton transition team announced that the President-elect will nominate Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut to serve as Secretary of State, the country's top diplomat and one of the most important roles in the executive branch. Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, stated that the nomination is a "great honor" which he "gladly accepts." Clinton reportedly considered Murphy for multiple posts - including U.N. Ambassador and Health & Human Services - before deciding on the State Department.

Bill Clinton, who is carving out a major role in shaping his wife's administration, was reportedly against the pick, preferring somebody older and with more diplomatic experience. The President-elect, in a rare rebuke of her husband's advising, was steadfast in her decision on Murphy. Sources say that Clinton's decision was made in part to give Murphy a platform from which to launch a national run. One top Democrat involved with the pick, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told reporters that "[Clinton] sees him as a suitable heir to her legacy," adding that "she's basically doing for him what Obama did for her."

Murphy's nomination drew praise from Democrats and even some Republicans but did draw criticism from liberal groups. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released a statement criticizing the pick, saying that "While we have no doubt that Senator Murphy will serve this body with distinction, we are incredibly disheartened to see President-elect Clinton remove a leading voice for common sense gun control reform from the United States Senate." Murphy made national headlines during the Summer for his marathon filibuster in support of gun control reform. The Brady Campaign endorsed Clinton for President early in January 2016.

Secretary of State John Kerry released a statement praising the pick, calling Murphy a "worthy successor" and calling for a swift confirmation in the Senate. Should Murphy be confirmed, Connecticut state law requires that a special election be held on the 160th day following the vacancy to fill his seat. Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy is allowed to appoint an interim replacement, something his office has stated he "will do swiftly."

NJ legislature overrides Christie veto to change Senate vacancy rules


11/19/16 - In a specially scheduled Saturday night session with little fanfare, the New Jersey State Legislature voted to override Governor Chris Christie's veto of a bill changing the state's procedures for filling a vacancy in the United States Senate. Three Republicans in the State Senate and five in the State Assembly broke with their party to support the override.

New Jersey's vacancy filling procedures caused confusion in 2013 following the death of longtime Sen. Frank Lautenberg. Christie drew criticism for scheduling a special election on a Wednesday in the middle of September, which many claim was an effort by Christie to avoid sharing a ballot that November in his reelection bid with popular Democrat Cory Booker, who was elected to Lautenberg's seat in a landslide in the special election which was marked by low voter turnout.

The new bill strips the Governor of the power to appoint an interim replacement and mandates that a special election be held within 100 days of the vacancy occurring unless the 100th day falls within the two months preceding or the month following the next regularly scheduled election, in which case the special election will be held on the regularly scheduled election day.

Christie called the bill "a gross example of impulse politics" and cautioned the legislature not to override the veto. Observers believe that the new law, particularly the language stripping Christie's appointment power, will increase calls from state and national Democrats for Sen. Robert Menendez, who faces indictment on corruption charges, to resign his seat before his reelection race in 2018.

BREAKING: Indiana SOS certifies Senate election for Bayh, Democrats win Senate control


11/21/16 - The office of Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson has announced that all outstanding ballots have been counted in the state's heavily contested Senate race and that the results will be certified in favor of Democratic challenger Evan Bayh. The final certified results show Bayh with 50% of the vote to Young's 47%.

In prepared statements, Bayh declared victory and pledged to work "with both parties to produce results for Hoosiers." Young congratulated Bayh and thanked his supporters for "refusing to go down without a fight." Bayh made a late entry to the race and opened a massive polling lead over Young, but Young fought the race to a draw in the final weeks of the campaign.

The result comes with national implications, as it means that Democrats now control 50 Senate seats, giving them de facto control with Vice President-elect Tim Kaine's tie-breaking vote. A spokesman for Mitch McConnell (R-KY), the soon-to-be former Senate Majority Leader declined a request for comment, while a spokesman for Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the presumptive leader of Senate Democrats in the wake of Harry Reid's (D-NV) retirement, called the victory "terrific news for the American people." The victory is sure to cause a major sigh of relief in Clintonworld, where fears began to arise that the incoming President would be forced to govern with a Congress controlled by Republicans.

Report: Clinton has not spoken to Kaine since day after election


11/25/16 - President-elect Hillary Clinton has not spoken to Vice President-elect Tim Kaine since the morning after the election, according to sources close to both of the nation's soon-to-be top executives in a scoop reported by Fox News.

"Tim's called Hillary multiple times, but every time he's been told she's too busy to talk," a longtime Kaine aide told Fox News. A source from Clinton's corner reports that the President-elect has "buyer's remorse" from naming Kaine to the ticket, saying that she believes Kaine "added nothing" to the ticket and that she regrets not making "a more strategic pick."

The Kaine aide added that Kaine is believed to be "incredibly frustrated" with the powerful role being carved out by Bill Clinton in the administration, saying that "he [Kaine] feels feels like he is being relegated to a 'seen and not heard' role as VP, while Bill gets all the power."

Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon, who was named this morning to be Clinton's choice for White House Press Secretary, denied the reports, telling Fox News in a written statement that "The PEOTUS a VPEOTUS are working closely to deliver on their promises to the American people." A Kaine spokesman denied the story without providing a comment.

Kellyanne Conway inks deal with CNN, will get own primetime show


11/27/16 - CNN announced this morning that Kellyanne Conway, one of Donald Trump's multiple campaign managers and a frequent and notable television surrogate for the Republican nominee, has inked a deal with the network to host her own nightly primetime show on the program, which is slated to begin this Monday immediately following "Anderson Cooper 360." Conway drew the ire of cable news viewers, particularly liberals, during the campaign for her frequent appearances across multiple networks that were marked by frequent fabrications and spin in defense of the controversy-plagued Mr. Trump.

In an official statement, CNN stated that the program, which will be titled "The Spin Room with Kellyanne Conway," is intended to add "another diverse political voice to CNN's esteemed lineup." The decision to add Conway to the nightly lineup was condemned by liberal groups, particularly Media Matters for America, which released a statement accusing the network of "reaching for ratings," adding that "Throughout the 2016 election, Ms. Conway demonstrated a lack of credibility through her seemingly endless fabrications and defended a man who expressed disdain for the free press. She does not belong on a network as widely watched as CNN."

Conway stated that she is "elated to have this opportunity to add her voice to the political climate in a constructive way." A spokesman for Mr. Trump declined a request for comment.

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

This is a wonderful and intelligently written timeline. Keep it up! I'll be following it.

[NHI]

This is a wonderful and intelligently written timeline. Keep it up! I'll be following it.

[Pollster]

Thank you all!

BREAKING: Blunt wins Missouri Senate recount


11/29/16 - Incumbent Republican Senator Roy Blunt has won the recount in the Missouri Senate election by slightly less than 700 votes, the Missouri Secretary of State's office announced today. Blunt trailed in the initial count by a similar margin, but the lengthy recount - election day was three weeks ago - flipped the results in his favor. Democratic challenger Jason Kander has declined to request a second recount and, as the state's Secretary of State, certified his own defeat earlier this morning.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference shortly after certifying the results, Kander congratulated Blunt on his victory and urged his supporters not to put politics in the rear view mirror because of his defeat: "If I hear that any of you have given up just because we didn't win this one, you won't get a pass from me." At press time, Blunt had yet to comment publicly on the results.

The result leaves Republicans with 48 Senate seats to Democrats' 50. Two races in North Carolina and Wisconsin remain undecided, with contentious recounts underway in both states. The recount in Wisconsin has received national attention due to evidence of voter fraud reported by Democratic challenger Russ Feingold. With VP Tim Kaine's tie-breaking vote, Democrats will control the Senate in the 115th Congress.

Clinton names Beshear, Lincoln to cabinet posts


11/30/16 - With November coming to a close, Hillary Clinton's transition team has announced two more picks that Clinton will nominate to her Cabinet as she prepares to take office this coming January.

Former Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is Clinton's pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, while former Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln has been named to the post of Secretary of Agriculture. As Governor, Beshear oversaw an incredibly successful expansion of Medicaid in Kentucky under the Affordable Care Act, while Lincoln was the first woman to serve as chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry during her tenure in the Senate. Both are well-known Clinton allies and were early endorsers of Clinton's Presidential campaign.

Both nominations were announced with little fanfare and drew few reactions from Congress. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) did offer praise for his fellow Kentuckian, calling Beshear "a good man and a respectable pick."

BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi to step down as Dem leader, will retire in 2018


12/2/16 - Nancy Pelosi will not lead the House Democrats in the 115th Congress and will retire at the end of her current term in 2018, her office announced today. Citing the election of Hillary Clinton and the need for "a new generation of leadership" in the Democratic party as reasons for her retirement, Pelosi stated that she leaves her post "with pride and with [her] head held high."

The first woman to be elected Speaker of the House, Pelosi was the highest ranking woman in American political history before Clinton's election to the Presidency last month. Her greatest accomplishment as Speaker was the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the largest piece of national legislation of the decade so far and the anchor of President Obama's legacy.

The White House released a statement from President Obama honoring Pelosi's achievements, calling her departure "the end of an era." Hillary Clinton released a similar statement, saying that she is "saddened to have to miss the opportunity to work with her as President, but optimistic to see what her future holds."

Republicans, who have famously used the polarizing Pelosi against Democratic congressional candidates in competitive races, reacted with mixed emotions. "This is certainly a bittersweet moment for our party," current House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters upon learning of the news. "I don't believe I've ever had an adversary for whom I've had more respect or admiration."

With no clear successor to Pelosi in the Democratic caucus (Democratic whip Steny Hoyer said in a statement responding to the announcement that he would not run for the post), the news could potentially set up a competitive battle for the critical position.

Liberal groups encouraging DeLauro to run for Murphy's Senate seat as Shays expresses interest


12/4/16 - Numerous liberal groups and activists are publicly working to recruit Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) to run in the special election to replace Senator Chris Murphy after Murphy is confirmed by the Senate to serve as President-elect Hillary Clinton's Secretary of State.

EMILY's List, an organization for which DeLauro once served as Director, has delivered a petition to the long-serving Congresswoman's office containing over 100,000 signatures urging her to seek the open seat. Additionally, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards, speaking to the Hartford Courant, said that DeLauro would be the well-known organization's "absolute, top choice" for the seat. Shortly after Richards' remarks, Planned Parenthood released a poll conducted by Public Policy Polling showing DeLauro defeating a "generic Republican opponent" in a general election matchup 49-37.

As the pressure mounts on DeLauro to launch a bid, a prominent Republican has expressed interest in running for the seat. Former Republican Congressman Chris Shays, who lost his House seat to Democrat Jim Himes in 2008, has told reporters that he will "probably" make a run for the seat. Shays, a moderate who endorsed Hillary Clinton for President over Donald Trump, ran for this seat in 2012 but lost the Republican primary to businesswoman Linda McMahon, who has reportedly told friends and family that she would not run in the special election. If he can make it past the primary, Shays is believed to be one of the few Republicans who could put this seat in play despite Hillary Clinton's 16-point victory in the state last month.

DeLauro's office could not be reached for comment.

NYT: Pence "Plagued by Uncertainty" as He Navigates Post-Trump Career, Considering Challenging Donnelly in 2018


12/5/16 - Outgoing Indiana Governor and defeated Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence is working closely with advisers to carefully plot his next move as he enters an uncertain political future in which he will forever be remembered for his role in the surreal Donald Trump Presidential campaign, according to multiple Pence aides who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity.

"Right now, he's plagued by uncertainty," one aide said when asked to describe Pence's current position. "It isn't clear yet whether he should strengthen his ties to Trump or if he should just attempt to distance himself from his role in 2016 altogether." Pence, who was the only name on either 2016 ticket to consistently score positive favorability ratings among voters, has many ripe opportunities in the near future but is unsure how to proceed.

"His eyes are definitely on the 2018 Senate race," another aide relayed, "but he's conflicted about what style campaign to run: a Trumpy one or a traditional one." While the Trump-Pence ticket carried Indiana by a large margin last month, the aide said that Pence "is not sure how much of that had to do with Trump versus how much of that had to do with the Democrat being Hillary Clinton." He added that "Obama winning the state in 2008 really irked him, and he knows that running against Donnelly will be harder than running against a generic Democrat."

If Pence does launch a campaign for the Senate, he could have a fight on his hands for the GOP nomination. Rep. Todd Young, who fell just short of winning Indiana's open Senate seat this year, has made plenty of noise about running again and has indicated to the Times that he wouldn't step aside for Pence. "I like Mike, and I voted for him to be our Vice President, but after a defeat like the one he was handed on November 8th I think he should take more time before making another run for office." In addition, Pence's tenure as Governor was rocky at best and he appeared to be headed for a difficult reelection race in 2016 before he withdrew from the race to join the Trump ticket. "It's certainly a bad look," another Pence aide commented, "to leave your job only to be publicly rejected for the promotion you quit it for."

While many options are on the table, for now, Pence is conflicted, uncertain, unsure, and soon to be unemployed. It's certainly a strange and unexpected place to be for the man who was only 140,000 votes in Florida away from being the Vice President of the United States.

[Edgeofnight]

BREAKING: Blunt wins Missouri Senate recount

*cries*

[America Needs R'hllor]

BREAKING: Blunt wins Missouri Senate recount

*cries*

[Deblano]

Seems like Kaine is getting snubbed.

SAD!

[Pollster]

Report: Obama urging Clinton to pick "more liberal" SCOTUS nominee following Dem Senate takeover


12/6/16 - President Obama has turned on Merrick Garland, his nominee to fill the Supreme Court seat made vacant by the death of Antonin Scalia earlier this year, according to sources close to the outgoing President. The sources told The Washington Examiner that Obama is urging Clinton to pick a "more liberal" nominee in the wake of the Democrats winning control of the Senate, with two races -
 potential pickups - yet to be determined. The same sources say that Obama believes the incoming Democratic majority will use the "nuclear option" to eliminate the filibuster on Supreme Court nominees, allowing Clinton's pick to be confirmed with a simple majority.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who will be the presumptive Minority Leader in the 115th Congress, famously refused to allow the Senate to consider Garland's nomination. Some pundits have speculated that McConnell may use the lame duck period to quickly confirm Garland - whose nomination does not expire until January 3rd - in an effort to prevent Clinton from selecting a more liberal nominee.

Both the White House and the office of the Majority Leader did not respond to a request for comment.

Malloy, McAuliffe begin interviewing candidates for Senate appointments


12/7/16 - Dannel Malloy and Terry McAuliffe, both Democratic Governors of Connecticut and Virginia, respectively, have begun the process of interviewing candidates for appointment to the vacant Senate seats their states will soon have. Virginia's Senator Tim Kaine will leave his seat open following his inauguration as Vice President on January 21st, while the confirmation of Connecticut's Chris Murphy to be the next Secretary of State is widely expected to occur within the new administration's first days.

Malloy is allowed to appoint an interim replacement for 160 days, after which a special election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term must be held. McAuliffe's pick, on the other hand, is allowed to serve until the next regularly scheduled election for the seat (a special election may be called if the Governor wishes, but this is not mandated by law).

McAuliffe, who is also the head of President-elect Clinton's transition team, has conducted interviews with Rep. Bobby Scott and Charlottesville mayor Michael Signer, though sources close to Scott reported that he has told McAuliffe he is not interested in the appointment. McAuliffe is also said to be considering state party chairwoman Susan Swecker for the job, though the Governor's office has said she has not been interviewed. Some pundits have floated the possibility that McAuliffe - who is term-limited out of office next year - could appoint himself to the seat as well.

Malloy, who faces sinking approval ratings at home, is facing pressure to appoint somebody who will not run in the special election as some Democrats believe that being tied to Malloy will be a drag on the candidate's chances.  The Governor is reportedly leaning towards tapping State Comptroller Kevin Lembo, a staunch critic of his who is believed to be mulling a primary challenge to Malloy in 2018. Sources close to the Governor say that he believes sending Lembo to the Senate will eliminate him as a threat to his reelection bid.

Both seats are up for regular election in 2018.

BREAKING: Ross wins recount in NC, defeats Burr


12/8/16 - Democrat Deborah Ross has won the recount in the race for Senate in the state of North Carolina. Ross, who led in the initial count by 0.4%, expanded her lead to a margin of 1.1% in the recount as thousands of provisional ballots in the Raleigh-Durham area were deemed valid.

Republican incumbent Richard Burr called Ross to concede the race late last night, his office confirmed this morning. Ross, addressing a small gathering of supporters following the announcement, declared that her victory, in addition to the election of Democrat Roy Cooper to the state governorship and Hillary Clinton's statewide victory at the Presidential level, indicates that "North Carolinians have taken their state back."

Ross will be the Senate's 51st Democrat in the 115th Congress.

DeLauro announces candidacy for House Democratic Leader


12/10/16 - Long-serving Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has announced that she is running to lead the House Democrats in the 115h Congress this morning, quashing rumors that she was interested in running for Chris Murphy's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat.

Liberal groups reacted joyously to the news, with EMILY's List (of which DeLauro is a former Director) and Planned Parenthood immediately issuing enthusiastic endorsements. DeLauro, who touted the support of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (of which she is a founding member) is her announcement, stated that she "plans to bring her decades of legislative experience to the forefront of the battle against Speaker Ryan."

Outgoing leader Nancy Pelosi stated that she was "happy" to see DeLauro enter the race but stopped short of issuing an endorsement. Spokespeople for President Obama and President-elect Clinton made similar statements.

Iowa gov Terry Branstad arrested, charged with DUI


12/13/16 - Republican Governor of Iowa Terry Branstad was arrested and charged with a DUI last night, local law enforcement confirmed. The unforced error is yet another drag on the nation's longest-serving Governor, who is experiencing difficulty at home as he heads into what is shaping up to be a tough reelection battle.

Branstad, who supported Trump throughout the general election, recently told the Des Moines Register that he thought Trump was a "terrible nominee and terrible candidate" who "lost an election that was essentially handed to us on a silver platter." The statement drew blowback from Republicans in a state where Donald Trump won by 9% even as President-elect Clinton was comfortably winning the national popular vote (the final popular vote margin is still not known as many ballots remain uncounted on the West coast).

A subsequent Des Moines Register poll of Iowa voters had Branstad at an ugly 40% approval rating statewide, with only 70% of Trump voters approving of the Governor. The poll found that in a hypothetical matchup, voters sided with "someone else" over Branstad by a margin of 51-44. "Someone else" won the support of 92% of Democrats, 55% of independents and a worrisome 35% of Republicans. The poll was conducted before news of the DUI charge broke.

The news comes as Nate Boulton, a prominent young Democrat in the Iowa State Senate, is being heavily recruited by state and national Democrats to mount a run against Branstad in 2018. Boulton, considered a rising star within the party, has reportedly been speaking to donors about a potential run for the Governor's mansion.

Losing the Iowa governorship in a midterm election with Hillary Clinton in the White House would be a major embarrassment for the GOP following the state's sharp rightward turn in the 2016 election.

[Pollster]

BREAKING: Blunt wins Missouri Senate recount

*cries*

Don't be sad! I've got big plans for Jason .

[Pollster]

Going to try to move this along.

BREAKING: Clinton nominates Sandberg for Treasury Sec


12/16/16 - President-elect Clinton's transition team announced today that Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg is Clinton's pick to head the Treasury department in her administration when she is inaugurated as President next month. Though the announcement comes late in the transition game, sources close to the selection process tell The Hill that the decision to tap Sandberg was made early on and that hers was the only name considered for the job. If confirmed, Sandberg will be the first woman to serve in the role.

Sandberg spent years at Treasury before trading D.C. for Silicon Valley to take the COO role at Facebook. In the announcement, Clinton was quoted as calling Sandberg "a trailblazing woman with the experience to lead the Treasury department boldly and intelligently." Sandberg released a statement thanking Clinton for the nomination and declaring herself "ready to serve."

Sanders "skeptical" of Sandberg nomination


12/18/16 - Speaking to Chuck Todd on NBC's "Meet the Press," Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the progressive who mounted a surprise challenge to Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Presidential nomination, stated that he is "skeptical" of Sheryl Sandberg's nomination to head the Treasury department in Clinton's cabinet.

"As I understand it, her record does not indicate that she has a strong history of supporting people over profits in regard to financial regulation and practice," Sanders told Todd. "I find that incredibly, incredibly concerning." Sanders followed up by saying that he plans to pay "close attention" to Sanberg's confirmation hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

Democrats have little room for error in the closely divided and highly polarized Senate in the 115th Congress. A "no" vote from Sanders could jeopardize Sandberg's confirmation.

Buttigieg enters race for DNC chair


12/20/16 - The Democratic mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, is the first candidate to throw his hat into the ring in the battle for DNC chairman. The DNC will elect a new chairman in February 2017 to replace interim chair Donna Brazile, who was appointed to the post in July to replace Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who resigned following a scandal related to leaked emails.

The DNC faces lagging fundraising and a sinking public image following the 2016 election, in which the committee weathered relentless attacks from Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his supporters, as well as from the aforementioned email leaks. In his announcement, Buttigieg promised "a clean slate and a fresh face" for the committee. Buttigieg, an Afghanistan vet, is considered a rising star in the party and is Indiana's first openly gay executive.

Report: Challenge to McConnell for Senate GOP leader "imminent"


12/21/16 - A prominent Republican Senator is plotting an "imminent" challenge to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for the post of Senate Republican Leader in the 115th Congress, The Wall Street Journal reported today.

Sources tell WSJ that there is anger at McConnell within the Senate GOP conference, especially following the party's loss of control of the Senate and the Presidency for the third straight election. Much of the anger is centered around McConnell's obstruction of Barack Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, especially after reports that President-elect Clinton is being pressured to pick a more liberal nominee for the Court from even the outgoing President himself. "Republican Senators believe that a Clinton nominee getting confirmed could do serious damage to the party for a long time," a source said.

While none of the sources would confirm a name, suspicion has fallen on Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the GOP conference's most moderate member and a long-serving Senator who has been known to spar with McConnell on various issues. Collins' office was quick to push back against the rumors, stating that "Senator Collins is not thinking about running for Senate Republican Leader at this time."

BREAKING: Wisconsin SOS confirms "egregious" voter fraud occurred, Feingold won Senate election


12/26/16 - In a shocking press conference that is attracting national attention, Wisconsin's Democratic Secretary of State Doug La Follette announced that "a thorough, around-the-clock investigation by the office of the Secretary of State of Wisconsin has discovered that an egregious case of voter fraud occurred in our state during the 2016 election." La Follette said that the fraudulent ballots total almost 9,000 and that all of them were cast in the state's election for United States Senate, while the department is "looking into" whether or not other elections were targeted as well. La Follette also stated that his office has been in contact with the United States Department of Justice, which is reviewing the case. After the press conference, La Follette certified the Senate election for Democrat Russ Feingold, who led incumbent Senator Ron Johnson in the vote count by almost 7,000 votes once the fraudulent ballots were thrown out.

Feingold, who was the first to sound the alarm on the potential voter fraud in the Badger State, released a statement that read: "While I am proud to have been re-elected to serve Wisconsin once again in the Senate, I am infuriated at the sickening news that was announced today. A full DOJ investigation is needed." Johnson released a statement congratulating Feingold and calling for "unity as we brace for what is going to be a very, very difficult next few months for our state." Johnson also denied any knowledge of or role in the voter fraud operation.

With Feingold's victory, Senate Democrats will control 52 seats in the 115th Congress.

The office of Governor Scott Walker, whom Feingold previously blamed for perpetrating the fraud, released a statement shortly after the press conference stating that "The announcement made today by our Secretary of State should sicken every Wisconsinite. This was an attack on the integrity of our great state, and we must work together to ensure that the criminals who committed this high crime are swiftly found and brought to justice."

[emcee0]

this is really interesting, keep it up!

[Pollster]

BREAKING: Jeff Flake to challenge McConnell for Senate GOP leader, vote postponed


1/3/17 - With the exception of the role of Senate Minority Leader, the 115th Congress elected its party leaders today with little fanfare or surprise.

On the Republican side, Kevin McCarthy of California was re-elected House Majority Leader and Steve Scalise of Louisiana was re-elected House Majority Whip. Neither faced any intra-party opposition. The party also renominated Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin for the job.

The Democrats elected Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut to succeed Nancy Pelosi as House Minority Leader over Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio by a vote of 140 to 60. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland was unopposed in his bid for re-election to the post of House Minority Whip.

Ryan defeated DeLauro in the vote for Speaker of the House on a party-line vote, 235-200.

In the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York was elected unanimously to succeed the retiring Harry Reid as Democratic leader, subsequently making him the Senate Majority Leader as well. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois was re-elected without opposition to the post of Democratic Whip.

Republicans re-elected John Cornyn of Texas' to the Whip position, but the party's vote for Senate Leader has been postponed to January 25th in the wake of Jeff Flake's challenge to Mitch McConnell.

[Confused Democrat]

This is the best TL I've read in a while. Keep it up!