Mike Garcia

After months of dodging the question, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance finally came out and said it: He believes the proven lie that Donald Trump won the 2020 election. And while it’s easy to ridicule Vance for finally falling in line with the desperate GOP nominee, his willingness to do Trump’s bidding is no laughing matter.Vance’s admission came during a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, after a reporter asked the Ohio senator what message it sends to independent voters when he repeatedly refuses to answer questions about whether he believes Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen and that Trump was the rightful winner.“I’ve answered this question directly a million times,” Vance replied. “No, I think there are serious problems in 2020. So did Donald Trump lose the election? Not by the words that I would use.”xxYouTube VideoVance for weeks has been dancing around the question of who he believes won the last election.

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries crisscrossed Southern California over the weekend as his party works to wrest control of the U.S. House from Republicans

Democrats have a fair shot at flipping control of the House — largely because of the boost provided by Vice President Harris at the top of the ticket — but the battle is a horse race that is too close to call heading into the final weeks of the campaign, according to a host of [...]

Aurora’s crime rate has followed a downward trend seen across the country. That’s despite the influx of Venezuelans fleeing their country who have funneled into Colorado and other cities nationwide.

Former President Donald Trump is coming to a Colorado city where crime is down to warn about the danger he says criminal migrants pose to voters

As Election Day approaches, Democratic hopefuls are doing all they can to tie Republican opponents in contested congressional districts to their anti-abortion records.

Taken together, the lack of big-ticket accomplishments is underscoring a volatile November election season, with control of Congress a toss-up.

WASHINGTON — California has several of the most 2024 competitive races for the U.S. House of Representatives, races crucial to deciding who wins control of the chamber..

The DNC said the money is earmarked for additional staff to target key House races, including several in Southern California.

Democrats say House Republicans' ads touting their support of VAWA is deceptive given their record of voting against reauthorizing it.

Former President Trump's latest inflammatory remarks about Jewish voters have Republicans in Congress again trying to perform a careful balancing act.Why it matters: It is a dynamic with which GOP lawmakers will have to familiarize themselves if Trump is elected president in November.Driving the news: Trump said Thursday during an Israeli American Council event on combatting antisemitism, "If I don't win this election — and Jewish people would have a lot to do with that, 60% are voting for the enemy — Israel will cease to exist in two years."He also said that any Jewish voter who supports Vice President Harris "should have their head examined."It's the latest in a series of critical remarks the former president has made towards Jewish voters who support Democrats.What they're saying: A handful of Republicans, asked about Trump's comments, offered what amounted to light pushback against their party's nominee."During this difficult time for Israel, we have to remain focused on supporting our democratic ally and combating all forms of antisemitism to protect our Jewish community," said swing-district Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.).Another vulnerable House Republican, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Trump is "not as smooth as we want," but added that "Jewish voters are supporting him in record numbers."Zoom in: One House Republican close to Trump offered more blistering criticism of the former president's comments, but declined to go on the record."I'm not going to justify his comments," the lawmaker said, arguing that Jewish voters make up a relatively small portion of the electorate and would not be responsible for a Trump loss.Jewish people made up about 2.4% of the U.S. population as of 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.The House Republican added that they "don't like this rhetoric," also citing Trump's comments about Haitian immigrants: "I think it's awful ... I think it's disgusting."Zoom out: Several House Republicans, including those in swing-districts or those with large Jewish populations, simply declined to weigh in."No comment," said Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.)."I didn't hear him say that," said Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.)."I don't even know what you're talking about. No comment," said Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.).The other side: Several other Republicans leapt to Trump's defense or argued that his comments won't hurt Republicans with Jewish voters. Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) argued that Trump was "talking about the fact that the Jewish community is going to have a big voice in this election."Rep. Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) said that he hasn't seen Trump's comments, but "the Republican Conference, and President Trump when he was in office, have stood by Israel every step of the way."Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) said Democrats "have abided antisemitism on our campuses and helped fuel a surge in hate crimes - no matter [what] your religion is, I don't know how you vote for it."

Representatives are elected to two-year terms without term limits, so they're on your ballot a lot. Here's a look the candidates in Los Angeles and Orange counties.

The Senate, scrambling to protect benefits for veterans, on Thursday passed a $3 billion emergency spending bill to plug part of a looming budget shortfall at the VA.

Here are the races and candidates on Palm Beach County ballots for the November 2024 general election, including federal, state and local races.

Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., walks down the House steps after the final vote of the week on Thursday.

WASHINGTON — Members of Congress have added just over $38 billion for 1,499 military research and procurement programs in fiscal 2025 that the president didn’t seek, according to a previously unpublicized database analyzed by CQ Roll Call.

"It makes me happy that he hasn't forgotten about us in California," said Torrance City Councilmember Aurelio Mattucci

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., arrives for the House Republican Conference meeting in the Capitol on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

"It makes me happy that he hasn't forgotten about us in California," said Torrance City Councilmember Aurelio Mattucci

The state House and Senate will welcome at least 11 new faces for the next legislative session, even before the Nov. 5 general election, which could result in more incumbent upsets.

California is home to six bellwether U.S. House races that analysts say could help determine which party controls Congress in 2025.Why it matters: Latinos make up roughly one in four California voters this year — and hold an even larger share in some of the most competitive districts, meaning they're expected to play a crucial role in the six key races.The four main PACs devoted to House races — two Republican and two Democratic — have said they're planning to spend nearly $73 million on ads in California.Zoom in: A rematch between U.S. Rep. John Duarte (R) and former Democratic state lawmaker Adam Gray in California's 13th District in the Central Valley is drawing the most eyeballs since it was decided by just a few hundred votes in 2022.Another rematch pits longtime U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R) against former federal prosecutor Will Rollins (D) in the 41st District in the state's Inland Empire.The 45th Congressional District in Orange Country has incumbent U.S. Michelle Steel (R) pitted against Democratic challenger Derek Tran in a plurality-Asian American district where Democrats have a registration advantage.Another closely watched rematch has U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R), a dairy farmer, facing up against Democratic former state lawmaker Rudy Salas in the San Joaquin Valley, the site of some of the most prominent Chicano farmworkers movements.In the suburbs north of Los Angeles, incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia (R) will compete with Democratic challenger George Whitesides, a former chief executive of space tourism company Virgin Galactic, to represent the 27th Congressional District.State Sen. Dave Min (D) and Scott Baugh, a former GOP state Assembly leader, are facing off to replace U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D) in the 47th District, south of Los Angeles. Between the lines: The races are being closely watched because many of them lean Democratic and are districts President Biden won in 2020, according to an Axios analysis. Thomas Holyoke, a political science professor at California State University, Fresno, tells Axios that turnout in the races, especially among Latinos, will be crucial.Yes, but: Some Democratic-leaning Latino voters, especially in the Central Valley, don't have strong ties to the Democratic Party, making the races even more unpredictable, Holyoke says."The main reason they have leaned Democratic" is because of the party's pro-immigrant stance, but now issues in agriculture, such as access to water, are top priority — and many see Republicans as owning that issue, he adds.What we're watching: Holyoke says Vice President Kamala Harris, a former California attorney general, could give Democrats in close House races a minimal but decisive jolt after entering the presidential race.Subscribe to Axios Latino to get vital news about U.S. Latinos and Latin America.

One election analyst recently changed its rating of California's 45th congressional race to be less favorable for Republicans.

Crews prepare for the balloon drop inside the United Center on Thursday, August 15, as Chicago gears up for the Democratic National Convention. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening.

By The Associated Press The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening. Later this week, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept [...]

By The Associated Press The Democratic National Convention begins Monday in Chicago, with roughly 50,000 people expected to arrive in the Windy City. That includes thousands of anti-war activists demonstrating near the United Center. President Joe Biden is the headline speaker for the first evening. Later this week, Vice President Kamala Harris will officially accept [...]

Keep up with the key races and measures during Washington state's 2024 primary election.

A federal judge said that Rudy Giuliani's bankruptcy has not been officially dismissed because the former New York City mayor has refused to pay administrative expenses — even though he seems to have the funds to do so.In July, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane said he would dismiss the bankruptcy case at the request of Giuliani and two former Georgia election workers, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. Giuliani had initially declared bankruptcy after a court ordered him to pay Freeman and Moss $148 million for defamation.In a five-page order on Thursday, Lane noted that the order to dismiss the case had not been entered into the court record because Giuliani claimed he could not afford to pay related administrative expenses."The administrative expenses in question are the fees for the financial advisors retained by the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors," the judge's Thursday order said. "What little we know about the Debtor's financial situation makes his stance here more troubling.""Even assuming that the Debtor does not have the funds on hand to immediately pay these bankruptcy expenses, he certainly has considerable assets upon which he can draw to pay such expenses," Lane continued. "It is undisputed that he owns two apartments of considerable value."Giuliani's New York apartment was said to be worth $5.6 million, and his Florida apartment was valued at approximately $3.5 million.EXCLUSIVE: Trump ‘secretary of retribution’ won't discuss his ‘target list’ at RNCLane explained that the "most obvious path forward" would be to hold hearings to determine Giuliani's financial conditions and possibly force him to testify."[T]here may come a point when dismissal is no longer an option because the Debtor is unwilling to pay these administrative expenses, a necessary requirement under the law for dismissal of the case," Thursday's order said. "Under such circumstances, the Court may be forced to reevaluate the alternative of a Chapter 11 trustee to supervise the administration of the Debtor's financial affairs and to promptly liquidate assets such as the New York apartment as appropriate."Lane gave Giuliani and his creditors until July 31 to submit proposals for a path forward.

A GOP strategist unleashed an attack on Kamala Harris that was dripping in sarcasm Thursday after losing his cool over positive media coverage of the Democratic Party’s presumed presidential candidate.Doug Heye was on CNN as the vice president finished a rally speech in Houston. As his co-guest, Democratic Party strategist Maria Cordona, finished praising the candidate’s performance, Heye got flustered.Raising his voice, he said, “Everything we heard is 'Oh my god, Kamala Harris is the greatest thing ever. She's the greatest cook that we've ever had near the Oval Office. She knows more about wine than anybody other than maybe Thomas Jefferson. Everything she does is amazing.'“So we should just cancel the election because clearly she's going to win by 25 points?”He then tried to bring the CNN panel back from what he saw as rose-colored adoration.ALSO READ: ‘Creepy weirdos’: Senator fears Trump WH staff would destroy government from ‘inside’“The reality is, i'm not going to get in Donald Trump's head, don't want to be there, don't know what's in there. But he sees the same polling that we do," he said.“Kamala Harris is marginally less unpopular than Joe Biden. She's not winning in the polls. Maybe that changes in a week or two, or six or eight, but at this point, Donald Trump is still winning despite this barrage of nothing but positive press for Kamala Harris and has been marinated in the public's mind.”Cardona had set him off by suggesting that Trump was “going through a mental meltdown” because of his opponent's popularity.“Not just that she is incredibly accomplished as DA, AG, senator, VP,” she said, “but the fact that she is also very attractive. I mean, I have to say it.“...In addition to that, she's not only a woman, she's a woman of African American Asian descent, daughter of immigrants, Jamaican descent.I mean, it's it's this sort of cauldron of all of the things that Trump has nightmares about every single night.”Watch the video below or click the link here.

Paperwork and permitting delays have become the rule, not the exception, to allowing commercial space launches from occurring in a timely manner.

To boycott or not to boycott? That was the devilish question California's Democrats grappled with on Wednesday

A number of Democratic lawmakers, governors and past leaders were quick to rally behind Vice President Harris as she pursues the Democratic Party's presidential nomination following President Biden's withdrawal from the race. Shortly after dropping out of the presidential race, Biden endorsed Harris as his successor, stating it is "time to come together and beat" [...]

A total of 36 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

A total of 36 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

More than 30 congressional Democrats are publicly panicking that he can't defeat Donald Trump and urging the president to "pass the torch."

A total of 34 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

A total of 28 Democrats in Congress have called on Biden to drop out following a rocky debate performance and two gaffe-filled public appearances.

Eight congressional Democrats called on President Joe Biden to step aside as the party’s nominee for the 2024 election on Friday.

Although Biden has made it clear he's staying in the presidential race despite his shaky performance at last month's presidential debate, several Democrats on Capitol Hill have publicly called on him to step aside.

Recently, Rep. Mike Garcia (D-Calif.), alongside seven of his congressional colleagues, took an alarming step by sending a letter to President Biden. The letter calls for the separation of supplemental funding for Israel from a broader financial package that also includes aid for Ukraine. What makes this development particularly troubling is the increasing number of...