Page 2 - aruba-today-20220923

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 23 September 2022
Governor’s races take on new prominence, with higher stakes

Continued from Front Sheriff Joe Lombardo is
among Republicans’ most
And their powers over abor- prized recruits this election
tion rights increased greatly cycle and is challenging
when the U.S. Supreme Gov. Steve Sisolak.
Court in June left the ques- In Oregon, GOP hopes rest
tion to states to decide. on an independent can-
“Governor’s races matter didate siphoning enough
more than ever,” said North support from the Democrat
Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and allowing the Republi-
chair of the Democratic can to pull out a victory.
Governors Association, Democrats, meanwhile,
the group working to elect are confident they will take
Democrats to lead states. back governorships in Mas-
For Democrats, Cooper sachusetts and Maryland,
said, governors “are often two blue states currently
the last line of defense” led by moderate Repub-
on issues that have been licans, after far-right Re-
turned over to states, in- publicans won their party’s
cluding gun laws and vot- nominations.
ing rights in addition to Pennsylvania, a top presi-
abortion. That’s been es- dential battleground, is an-
pecially true in places with other state where the GOP
Democratic governors and Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers speaks during an event attended by President Biden at Henry Maier nominee could hurt Re-
Republican-controlled leg- Festival Park in Milwaukee, Sept. 5, 2022. publicans’ chances in No-
islatures, such as Wisconsin Associated Press vember. GOP voters chose
and Kansas — states both Doug Mastriano from a
parties have made top tar- GOP-controlled Legislature Evers faces businessman feuded over the governor’s crowded field, picking a
gets for victory in Novem- to greatly restrict or ban Tim Michels, who was en- refusal to cede to Trump’s Trump-backed candidate
ber. Democrats are lead- abortion. Kelly opposed dorsed by Trump. Michels wishes and overturn the who opposes abortion
ing Republican candidates the measure, though she has claimed the 2020 presi- 2020 election results in his rights without exceptions,
in two important battle- has tried to focus her cam- dential election was rigged state. Lake has said she spread conspiracy theories
ground states with GOP-led paign elsewhere. — a lie Trump has pushed in would not have certified Bi- about the 2020 election
statehouses, Michigan and Schmidt said he respects an effort to overturn his loss den’s victory, even though and organized bus trips to
Pennsylvania. the outcome of the vote to Biden — and supports it has been affirmed by the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6,
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is but that the abortion de- changes to voting and multiple reviews. the day of the violent insur-
the only Democratic gov- bate isn’t over. election laws in the state, a Cooper said the DGA will rection. He faces Demo-
ernor running for reelection “What was not on the bal- perennial presidential bat- be “leaning in hard” in Ari- cratic Attorney General
in a state carried by former lot was Governor Kelly’s po- tleground. zona as well as in a tight Josh Shapiro.
President Donald Trump sition,” he said. Michels is among several contest in Georgia, where Asked about the race dur-
in 2020. The former legisla- Throughout nearly two dec- Trump-backed nominees GOP Gov. Brian Kemp is ing the discussion at Geor-
tor won the office in 2018 ades in elective politics, who emerged from some- facing Democrat Stacey getown, Ducey was blunt.
against a fiery conservative Kelly has opposed nearly times brutal GOP prima- Abrams, a former state “Another axiom that we
after running as a moder- every restriction on abor- ries. In some cases, more legislative leader who lost have at the RGA is that we
ate who promoted biparti- tion now in Kansas law. moderate or establishment a close 2018 race to him. don’t fund lost causes, and
sanship. But asked about Schmidt’s Republicans warned that In the primary, Kemp eas- we don’t fund landslides,”
She now faces three-term characterization of her po- the far-right pick endorsed ily defeated former Sen. he said.
state Attorney General sition on abortion, she said, by Trump would struggle to David Perdue, who was en- In Michigan, a swing state
Derek Schmidt, who has “You know, I have never win in a general election. dorsed by Trump. where Trump and his allies
repeatedly tried to tie her said that.” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, Both the Democratic and also tried unsuccessfully
to President Joe Biden and Kelly hasn’t emphasized chair of the Republican Republican governors as- to overturn his 2020 loss,
criticized her as too liberal abortion as an issue, though Governors Association, ac- sociations entered 2022 Trump-backed nominee
for the red state. Schmidt’s many Democrats think it knowledged the intraparty having raised record Tudor Dixon won a cha-
campaign has been hurt, would help her. Instead, turmoil during a discussion amounts of money — over otic GOP primary. Demo-
however, by a third-party she has been touting the at Georgetown University’s $70 million each — in what crats have repeatedly criti-
bid from a conservative state’s fiscal strength and Institute of Politics and Pub- they say is a sign that voters cized Dixon for her stance
state lawmaker. her work to lure businesses lic Policy last week. are increasingly focused on against abortion, including
During a debate at the and jobs. “We’re a divided nation state races. Cooper attrib- in cases of rape or incest.
Kansas State Fair this “Maybe I’m not flashy, but right now, and it is very trib- uted some of the increased A measure to enshrine
month, Schmidt portrayed I’m effective,” she said at al. And much of that crept interest to Trump’s efforts to abortion rights in the state
Kelly’s position on abortion the end of the state fair de- into this cycle,” said Ducey, overturn the 2020 election constitution also will be on
as too extreme, telling a bate. who is term-limited. results. the November ballot, and
crowd she supports abor- In Wisconsin, Democratic The RGA doesn’t endorse The RGA is bullish about Democrats are hoping it
tion without restrictions. Gov. Tony Evers warns vot- in primaries. But as gover- defending Republican will help their candidates.
Kansas has been the unlike- ers that democracy is on nor, Ducey endorsed busi- governorships in Arizona First-term Democratic Gov.
ly site of Democratic hopes the ballot this fall and notes nesswoman Karrin Taylor and Georgia, and is heav- Gretchen Whitmer has mil-
in regard to abortion rights. he has vetoed more bills Robson for Arizona’s GOP ily focused on picking up lions more in her campaign
In August, Kansas voters than any governor in mod- nomination for governor. a handful of blue states in fund than Dixon, but said
overwhelmingly defeated ern state history, includ- She lost to former TV news the West, including Oregon after an appearance at
a proposed amendment to ing measures Republicans anchor Kari Lake, who had and New Mexico. the Detroit Auto Show that
the state constitution that pushed to change how Trump’s backing. At the top of the list is Ne- she was taking nothing for
would have allowed the elections are conducted. Ducey and Trump have vada, where Clark County granted.q