Page 2 - aruba-today-20221229

A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 29 december 2022
On the ballot in 2023: Southern governors, big-city mayors

Continued from Front and moderates in Demo-
cratic strongholds.
Republicans are expected In Chicago, more than a
to try to tie Kentucky Dem- half-dozen candidates are
ocratic Gov. Andy Beshear trying to oust Lightfoot. A
to President Joe Biden and Feb. 28 election will go to
other national Democrats an April runoff if no candi-
who tend to be more liber- date wins a majority in the
al. Beshear, making his re- officially nonpartisan elec-
election bid in a state that tion.
heavily favors Republicans, Lightfoot became the city’s
gently distanced himself first Black woman and first
from Biden in a recent in- openly gay person to lead
terview with The Associat- Chicago when she was
ed Press, saying, “This race elected in 2019. She first ran
isn’t going to be about the for office as a progressive
White House.” and an outsider who would
“It’s going to be what’s take on corruption at City
going on in the homes of Hall, but her first years in of-
each and every Kentuck- fice also included a global
ian,” Beshear said. “And I pandemic and protests
think this last set of elections against police brutality.
showed that if you want to Lightfoot’s opponents and
be governor, people ex- other critics say her ap-
pect you to have a plan. proach to governing has
People expect you to talk been too confrontational.
to them and not simply She has said the criticism is
use some national talking due mostly to sexism and
points.” racism but has started to
State GOP spokesperson address it in her campaign,
Sean Southard in a state- saying in her first campaign
ment earlier this month ad: “I’m only human. And I
said the party feels that the guess sometimes it shows.
“fundamentals are strong But just because somebody
for a Republican candi- may not always like my de-
date to defeat him” once livery doesn’t mean we’re
the party has a nominee. not delivering.”
About a dozen Republicans Crime, which has played a
have said they are running, substantial role in mayoral
including former U.N. Am- Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks during a press conference in the Greektown neighborhood, and gubernatorial elec-
bassador Kelly Craft, state of Chicago, Sept. 14, 2022. tions around the country
Agriculture Commissioner Associated Press over the past two years, will
Ryan Quarles and Attorney be a major issue. While ho-
General Daniel Cameron, The group made a con- Gov. Tate Reeves will seek further limit abortions in the micides have been down
who has already received troversial but ultimately a second term. He re- state could galvanize Dem- in Chicago in 2022 com-
former President Donald successful move in 2022 cently signed into law the ocratic voters. pared with previous years,
Trump’s endorsement. to boost far-right Republi- state’s largest-ever tax cut Republicans would need the number is still higher
The Republican Governors can candidates in several and plans to push for a full to hold their majority in the than when Lightfoot took
Association did not make states’ GOP races, allowing elimination of the state’s House of Delegates and, office. Concerns have
someone available for an Democratic candidates to income tax in 2023. His re- pending the outcome of a grown about carjackings,
interview but noted in a face easier-to-beat oppo- election bid may be com- January special election, shootings and other vio-
statement that the only in- nents in the general elec- plicated, however, by lin- pick up as many as three lence, particularly near
cumbent governor to lose tion. gering frustrations over the seats for an outright Senate downtown and other busi-
in 2022 was a Democrat, Murphy would not rule out crumbling water system in majority. ness and tourist areas.
Steve Sisolak of Nevada, taking similar steps in 2023, the capital city of Jackson, In New Jersey, a Demo- Crime concerns are also
“and the RGA is ready to saying: “As long as it is ethi- which partially failed in Au- crat-led state where Re- dominating the mayoral
do it again in 2023.” cal and legal, nothing is off gust and left the majority- publicans have been mak- race in Philadelphia, an-
“Democrat Andy Beshear the table.” Black city of about 150,000 ing steady gains in recent other Democratic strong-
does not align with Ken- His party faces a tougher people waiting in lines for years, all 120 seats in the hold. Mayor Jim Kenney is
tucky’s values, and we battle in conservative Loui- water to drink, bathe, cook state legislature will be on term-limited, and a crowd-
know voters are eager for siana, where moderate and flush toilets. the ballot, giving the GOP ed field is shaping up amid
Republican leadership in Democratic Gov. John Bel In Democratic-leaning Vir- a chance to regain con- a surge of gun violence
Frankfort,” RGA spokesper- Edwards is term-limited. It’s ginia, all 140 seats in the trol for the first time in two and a shortage of police
son Joanna Rodriguez said. unclear who will emerge as politically divided General decades. Democrats cur- officers. So far the Demo-
New Jersey Democratic a Democratic candidate, Assembly will be on the rently control 24 of 40 seats cratic primary field includes
Gov. Phil Murphy, who is but a large pool of GOP ballot. Republican Gov. in the state Senate and 46 five former council mem-
taking over as chair of the candidates is expected to Glenn Youngkin, who has of 80 Assembly seats. bers and the city controller,
Democratic Governors As- jump into the race. One of been privately weighing a Intraparty differences will all of whom resigned their
sociation in 2023, said the the highest-profile Repub- 2024 presidential bid, has be the main feature of the seats to run, along with at
group’s “highest priority, licans considering a bid is pledged to help his party biggest mayoral races of least one state lawmaker.
far and away, is to defend U.S. Sen. John Kennedy. win full control of the legis- 2023, showcasing the di- No Republican has an-
and reelect” Beshear. In Mississippi, Republican lature, though his plans to vides between progressives nounced yet.q