
Progressive group launches $7 million effort to elect Democratic secretaries of state and attorneys general
CNN
The investment in down-ballot contests comes as election chiefs face growing attacks on their authority to oversee elections.
End Citizens United/Let America Vote on Tuesday will endorse six Democratic incumbents as part of its new "democracy defender" program, shared first with CNN. The group is backing Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. It also intends to engage in races in Florida, Texas, Georgia and Arizona -- states where Republican-controlled legislatures also have passed or advanced bills that reduce access to the ballot or seek to seize power from election officials and put it in the hands of lawmakers or administrators of their choice.
Janet Mills and her allies are counting on a gender gap to narrow Platner’s wide lead ahead of the June 9 primary to decide who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. They are betting that the unfiltered style that has brought Platner widespread attention as someone who could help Democrats reach young men will backfire with women.

As a shrinking number of Transportation Security Administration agents work to keep hourslong security lines moving despite not being paid, President Donald Trump stepped into the fray Saturday, announcing he will send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports by Monday if Congress doesn’t agree to a plan to end the partial government shutdown.











