Former Democratic congressman charged with "stuffing the ballot box, bribing an elected official, falsifying records, voting multiple times in federal elections." "According to the charges, Myers, who worked as a political consultant in Philadelphia, bribed elections judge Domenick DeMuro to inflate voting results for candidates in Democratic primaries in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The former congressman was charged with stuffing the ballot box, bribing an elected official, falsifying records, voting multiple times in federal elections, and obstructing justice." (Washington Free Beacon) • What's happening: A former Democratic Member of Congress from Pennsylvania has been charged with, among other things, stuffing the ballot box and bribing an elected official. (But remember that charges are allegations; in America, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.) The Washington Free Beacon has the full report here.
• What's at stake: As Democrats push to up-end the voting process in the 2020 election, all stories about voter fraud end up re-sparking that debate.
In recent years, the Democrats have staked out a bizarre rhetorical position that requires them to argue that voter fraud doesn't happen -- and when Republicans raise the issue, Democrats label it a "scare tactic." But voter fraud allegations and charges add up; this is the second we've shared with you in The Vote this week.
This year, Democrats have backed a huge increase in voting by mail due to concerns about COVID-19. But rather than have voters request absentee ballots and mail them in (as is customarily done), Democrats want states to automatically send mail ballots to all registered voters.
President Trump has expressed his concerns about election integrity and voter fraud with this Democratic option. Policy experts agree (check out this report from the Heritage Foundation).
But Democrats have kept up the old, tired argument that voter fraud is a figment of Republicans' imaginations, even when you can see that just isn't so.
• What else to know: If you're looking for issues with all-mail elections specifically, remember yesterday's story in The Vote. The city of Paterson, New Jersey -- the third largest in the state -- had a vote-by-mail election that has produced major problems. Check out the story from Real Clear Politics here.
Meet the potential Biden VP pick -- Rep. Karen Bass of California -- you haven't seen in the news yet. "And yet, the Californians have ended up in a similar spot: On Joe Biden's vice presidential shortlist. While the congresswoman from Los Angeles remains a long shot, her unassuming approach, muted ambitions and decades of advocating on health care and race issues while far outside the national spotlight have captured the interest of the Biden campaign." (POLITICO) • What's happening: Today, POLITICO published a glowing piece about Rep. Karen Bass, a California representative who also serves as head of the Congressional Black Caucus. The article describes her in the opening lines as the "anti-Kamala Harris."
• What's at stake: Cue another around of VP pick speculation. We're just over one week out from Joe Biden's self-imposed August 1 deadline and three weeks out from the Democratic National Convention.
What's worth noting that this POLITICO article is somewhat short on Rep. Bass' biographical details and legislative accomplishments, but very long on public endorsements from a wide variety of public figures.
Consider this line: "she's trusted by progressives but still respected by Republicans." Doesn't that sound like everything that Biden is looking for in a running mate?
• What else to know: The national co-chair of the Bernie Sanders' campaign "told POLITICO he would be thrilled if Bass is selected." In contrast, just a few weeks ago, Sanders supporters in the California delegation to the Democratic National Convention reportedly "snubbed" Kamala Harris when they compiled a list of recommended VP choices.
President Trump says he'll always "protect the American people" as he announces the cancelation of the Republican National Convention. "The Republican Party, which moved its national convention from North Carolina to Florida due to coronavirus concerns, will no longer hold an in-person event in Jacksonville, announced President Donald Trump on Thursday." (Daily Wire) • What's happening: President Trump announced last night that the Republican National Convention events planned for Jacksonville, Florida at the end of August have been canceled. The convention business will still be conducted in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Plans for President Trump's acceptance speech and online events have been referenced but not yet formally announced.
• What's at stake: The mainstream media will try to spin this into a negative story for President Trump, but we see it as proof that the President puts America first.
As President Trump said, according to the Daily Wire, “I looked at my team and I said, ‘the timing for this event is not right.’ It’s just not right with what’s happened recently, the flair-up in Florida, to have a big convention, it’s not the right time. For me, I have to protect the American people. That’s what I’ve always done, that’s what I always will do.”
• What else to know: The Trump campaign has held successful online events already. Just this week, President Trump's campaign held virtual rallies that raised $20 million for the campaign.
We're just over 100 days out from Election Day 2020. Here's what could change in the presidential race. "History says it's premature to assume that the campaign is settled. In three of the past 10 elections, the candidate with at least a narrow lead at the end of July lost the popular vote in November, although two of them carried the Electoral College and won the White House anyway." (USA Today) • What's happening: As of today, we're 102 days out from Election Day 2020 ... which means this weekend we'll cross the 100-day threshold. USA Today has its predictions of what could change the presidential race in the next 100 days; but given the uncertainty of 2020, we don't presume to predict anything.
• What's at stake: Although we're just over 100 days from the 2020 election, it feels like the presidential campaigns are just beginning. President Trump and Joe Biden have been unable to conduct traditional campaigns this spring and summer, and now both parties won't host the time-honored -- and headline-generating -- in-person conventions.
Every political analyst has their prediction of what could decide this election in a year unlike any other in recent history.
We're partial to the view from the Washington Free Beacon: the presidential debates, which start in late September, will be more important than ever -- especially since voters have seen and heard so little of Biden.
• What else to know: And for a fun weekend throwback, remember that in summer 2016, Hillary Clinton led Donald Trump in the polls by 12 points.
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