Welcome to the Democratic Governors Association’s Friday newsletter, the Weekender.
Let’s get started.
Nevada: New campaign finance reports reveal that Joe Lombardo is still being fueled by billionaire real estate mogul Robert Bigelow, who’s poured a whopping $10 million into propping up Lombardo’s candidacy. He’s also given $4 million to Stronger Nevada PAC and $9 million to the RGA, which has spent $12 million in Nevada, adding up to over $20 million. The cozy Bigelow-Lombardo relationship was previously reported on by the Associated Press, which noted that Bigelow had gone to court to evict families “at the height of the pandemic” despite eviction moratoriums. As Lombardo and his backers rake in millions from Bigelow, he has conveniently failed to answer how he’ll expand affordable housing or stop wealthy folks like Bigelow from raising rents on properties and taking advantage of low-income or middle-class families.Wisconsin: After Tim Michels tried yet again to hide his extreme stance on abortion, his campaign clarified this week that Michels would allow DAs to enforce Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban that would throw women and doctors behind bars.“The [district attorneys] should enforce all laws,” said Michels’ spokesperson Anna Kelly when asked for clarification on Michels’ flip-flopping stance. Michels, a self-described “man who doesn’t waffle,” has said he would support an “exact mirror” of Wisconsin’s 1849 law but has tried to back off from this out-of-touch position since winning the GOP nomination. But his campaign’s latest comments confirm that Michels would stand by and allow the dangerous abortion ban to be enforced. Under the ban, doctors who perform abortions could be found guilty of a felony, punishable by up to six years in prison.
After Supporting Law to Jail Doctors, Tudor Dixon Called Doctor’s Medical Advice “The Devil’s Lie”In a video newly unearthed by VICE News, Michigan GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon — who backs a dangerous 1931 abortion ban that would criminalize and jail medical providers — called legitimate medical advice from doctors “the devil’s lie.”“I have so many people in my life who, if the doctors looked at that ultrasound, they would have said, ‘You’d be better off not having this child,’” Dixon said. “And that’s just the devil’s lie.”“Dixon’s comment raises questions about whether the candidate trusts doctors’ medical opinions when it comes to abortions, regardless of whether a patient’s health or life is at stake,” VICE reported.Dixon has made headlines throughout her campaign for her dangerous plans to ban abortion. She’s said that a 14-year-old victim of incest is a “perfect example” of why she opposes exceptions to an abortion ban and said forcing a teenage victim of rape to give birth is “healing.”
Katie Hobbs Outlines Plans to Deliver for Arizonans During In-Depth Interview with Arizona PBSThis week, Katie Hobbs sat down for an in-depth conversation on Arizona PBS at Arizona State University about her plans to lower costs, invest in public education, defend reproductive rights, and deliver real results for families. Watch the interview here.With families continuing to struggle with rising prices, Hobbs talked about her plans to cut taxes on everyday items like baby formula, school supplies, and over-the-counter medication, as well as offer tax credits for pursuing career and technical education. The interview dove into Katie’s plan to raise the average teacher salary in the state and make sure every child has access to a quality education.Lake was also offered an interview with Arizona PBS but refused to attend, accusing PBS of corruption and suggesting they should be defunded after finding out Hobbs would have an interview with them too. Lake’s temper tantrum even led to death threats and racial slurs against ASU staff. A school dean had to warn faculty and students to avoid the building where the interview was filming because of her dangerous rhetoric.
Pennsylvania Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro on MSNBC with Lawrence O’Donnell discussing Doug Mastriano’s recent antisemitic rhetoric and extremism on the campaign trail.Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams on MSNBC with Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski discussing the economic impact of limiting abortion access.
We've talked a lot about what we accomplished. So this is what comes next: bringing more new businesses to Kansas, keeping our schools fully funded, and responsibly cutting more taxes for Kansas families and seniors. Here's our road ahead. pic.twitter.com/1ckiuvNHxd
“Last year, I repealed New Mexico’s outdated abortion bans. When re-elected, I will push to codify reproductive rights into New Mexico’s state law.”
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pledging to defend abortion rights.
“If MLK, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive today, if JFK were alive today, if our founding fathers were alive today, they would be America first Republicans.”Who said it? Send your answer to press@dga.net, and we’ll reveal the answer in the next Weekender!If you guessed Michigan GOP gubernatorial nominee Tudor Dixon last week, you were right! During a gubernatorial debate, when asked about election integrity, Dixon said it was ok to question the outcome of an election.
