History was made in several races during the 2017 off-year elections, with minorities, first-timers, and other under-represented candidates winning their campaigns. But it was no easy feat. Some hopefuls were hit with racial epithets and discriminatory advertisements before they won.
And for them, victory sent a clear message: our state is not a state of hate.
At least this was Virginia’s delegate-elect Elizabeth Guzman’s reaction. She and Hala Ayala this year became the first two Latinas ever elected to the state's House of Delegates. In an interview with Cheddar on Tuesday, Guzman said that many Republicans were mimicking the anti-immigration rhetoric exhibited by President Donald Trump. In her case, her opponent accused her of wanting to protect criminals.
“I think it was a huge response from Virginia to Washington, D.C., and also to Richmond, and Prince William County,” she said about winning. “We are not a state of hate. We are a state that is diverse, and we are proud of our diversity.”
Guzman, who began campaigning in October 2016, says her children were a motivating factor for her run for office. The public administrator and social worker was already heavily involved in her community. As a delegate, she hopes to encourage Latin children to feel represented and hopes more people with her background run for office in the future.
President Trump appeared in Wisconsin on Thursday to praise Foxconn for its decision to build a manufacturing plant in the state. But many Wisconsin taxpayers are wary of the $4 billion in tax incentives that Gov. Scott Walker engineered to woo the Taiwan-based company. This comes just days after the president criticized Wisconsin-based Harley Davidson for moving some of its production abroad. "These new taxes on imports ... are driving other businesses away," says Eric Boehm, reporter at Reason.com.
If Republicans are able to force a vote before November on whoever is nominated to fill Justice Anthony Kennedy's seat on the Supreme Court, it still may not affect midterm election results all that much. That's according to Kyle Kondik, managing editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball. “Frankly, if the seat was open, it may be more of a motivator for Republicans to show up.”
The U.S. District Appeals Court Judge has a history of conservative, pro-business rulings and has “Republican partisan chops,” according to Heather Timmons, White House correspondent for Quartz. And while Democrats might try to delay confirming any nomination of another conservative judge, Timmons said “what they can do about it is pretty minimal.”
The White House announced plans to ease restrictions on Chinese investment in U.S. technology companies on Wednesday. The Trump administration won't block companies with 25 percent or more of Chinese ownership from buying into the U.S. tech sector. Markets rebounded on the news.
The results are in from Tuesday's primary elections. Zach Montellaro, campaign reporter at Politico, joins Cheddar to weigh in on the shocking political upset in New York's 14th district. Political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, the fourth most powerful Democrat in the House.
Plus, Conagra Brands is buying Pinnacle Foods in a cash-and-stock deal worth $10.9 billion. The deal will create the second largest frozen food company in the U.S., just behind Nestle. Conagra owns Healthy Choice and Pinnacle owns Birds Eye.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unseated the incumbent Democratic Congressman Joe Crowley in the primary for New York's 14th District Tuesday. The 28-year-old progressive's victory came as a surprise to many, including President Trump who tweeted this was a “big one that nobody saw coming.”
The web hosting company, which in most cases supports a "free and open internet," made the "incredibly difficult" decision to pull the white supremacist organization's site last year. CEO Scott Wagner said it was a rare instance of content that promotes violence. GoDaddy ousted that website in the immediate aftermath of violence in Charlottesville, Vir.
President Trump attacked Harley-Davidson after the company decided to shift some of its motorcycle production overseas to avoid EU tariffs. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) gives us his take on Trump's comments.
The Missouri congressman and former Kansas City mayor said that Harley-Davidson's decision to move some of its motorcycle production abroad is just the first sign of a slowdown in the American economy and that President Trump's tariffs are to blame.
Instagram is now estimated at over $100 billion in value. Venmo rolls out an actual plastic debit card with Mastercard. The FDA approves its first marijuana-derived medication. The newest member of the Bush family is Sully the service dog. The yellow lab has been assigned to President George H.W. Bush, who is 94, and recovering from recent hospitalizations.
A UK court ruled that the company had made "substantial changes" to how it runs its business and is now "fit and proper" to operate in one of its largest markets. The court renewed Uber's license for 15 months, subject to strict conditions. London's transport authority refused to renew Uber's license in September, citing its working conditions and lack of strong safety measures.
