*By Christian Smith*
The longtime Republican Richard Painter said he is running for Senate in Minnesota as a Democrat because the party he stood by for decades has been hijacked by President Trump and his uncompromising supporters on the far right.
"No one is allowed to run for elected office at the federal level who does not really swear allegiance to Donald Trump," said Painter in an interview Monday with Cheddar. "The Republican party has moved steadily to the right, and is rejecting policies and programs that used to be supported by moderate Republicans as well as some Democrats."
A former ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration, Painter, is running for the seat that had been held by the Democrat Al Franken, who resigned in January after being accused by six women of sexual harassment. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton tapped the state's Democratic Lieutenant Governor, Tina Smith, to replace Franken until the special election in November.
In explaining his decision to switch parties, Painter said the Republican party is not the party he once knew, and his moderate views and disagreements with Trump are no longer tolerated.
"I am very, very concerned about President Trump's conduct in office," Painter said.
He pointed to two Republicans more conservative than he is ー Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee and Jeff Flake of Arizona ー who were pushed aside because they wouldn't tolerate Trump's "obstruction of justice."
The announcement that Painter would run as a Democrat isn't entirely surprising. He has been a vocal critic of Trump, his conduct, and his administration.
"We've got a revolving door between big companies and lobbying shops and this administration," said Painter, who was an ethics lawyer in the Bush administration. "We have violations of the constitutional prohibition of receiving profits and benefits from foreign governments. The president has been sued over that. And we of course have obstruction of justice that is unparalleled to anything we've had since Richard Nixon."
Painter will challenge Smith, who replaced Franken in January, and the progressive activist Nick Leonard in the Minnesota Democratic Farm and Labor Party primary on August 14.
In discussing his campaign, Painter said he won't accept donations from political action committees, and will focus on issues on which he said most Americans agree: universal health care, strengthening environmental regulations, and addressing climate change.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face on the winner of the Republican primary, as well as the independent candidate Jerry Trooien who [officially launched his campaign](https://www.inforum.com/news/government-and-politics/4432636-real-estate-developer-jerry-trooien-joins-minnesota-senate-race) Monday.
Minnesota's senior Senator, Amy Klobuchar, is also up for re-election in November. The two-term Democrat is [expected to hold her seat](https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2018/04/minnesota-will-see-many-competitive-races-election-why-isn-t-amy-klobuchar-s.) with a steady advantage even as competition for Franken's old seat is intensifying.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/why-longtime-republican-richard-painter-is-running-for-al-frankens-seat-as-a-democrat).
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts, in sharp contrast with other Fed officials who have called for a more urgent approach. In remarks in Providence, Rhode Island, Powell noted that there are risks to both of the Fed’s goals of seeking maximum employment and stable prices. His approach is in sharp contrast to some members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee who are pushing for faster cuts.
President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape the American media landscape have led to the suspension of late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield is leaving the ice cream brand after 47 years. He says the freedom the company used to have to speak up on social issues has been stifled
The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday and projected it would do so twice more this year as concern grows at the central bank about the health of the nation’s labor market. The move is the Fed’s first cut since December and lowered its short-term rate to about 4.1%, down from 4.3%. Fed officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, had kept their rate unchanged this year as they evaluated the impact of tariffs, tighter immigration enforcement, and other Trump administration policies on inflation and the economy. The only dissenter was Stephen Miran, the recent Trump-appointee.
After a late-night vote and last-minute ruling, the Federal Reserve began a key meeting on interest rate policy Tuesday with both a new Trump administration appointee and an official the White House has targeted for removal.
The Trump administration has issued its first warnings to online services that offer unofficial versions of popular drugs like the blockbuster obesity treatment Wegovy.
Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama says his new Cabinet will include an artificial intelligence “minister” in charge of fighting corruption. The AI, named Diella, will oversee public funding projects and combat corruption in public tenders. Diella was launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the government's public service platform. Corruption has been a persistent issue in Albania since 1990. Rama's Socialist Party won a fourth consecutive term in May. It aims to deliver EU membership for Albania in five years, but the opposition Democratic Party remains skeptical.
The Trump administration has asked an appeals court to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s board of governors by Monday, before the central bank’s next vote on interest rates. Trump sought to fire Cook Aug. 25, but a federal judge ruled late Tuesday that the removal was illegal and reinstated her to the Fed’s board.
President Donald Trump's administration is appealing a ruling blocking him from immediately firing Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook as he seeks more control over the traditionally independent board. The notice of appeal was filed Wednesday, hours after U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb handed down the ruling. The White House insists the Republican president had the right to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations involving properties in Michigan and Georgia from before she joined the Fed. Cook's lawsuit denies the allegations and says the firing was unlawful. The case could soon reach the Supreme Court, which has allowed Trump to fire members of other independent agencies but suggested that power has limitations at the Fed.
Chief Justice John Roberts has let President Donald Trump remove a member of the Federal Trade Commission, the latest in a string of high-profile firings allowed for now by the Supreme Court.
