Governor

• De stap van Brian Kemp maakt Georgia de nieuwste zuidelijke staat die overgaat tot het opnieuw maken van kaarten na de ontmanteling van de Voting Rights Act. • De Republikeinse gouverneur van Georgia heeft een speciale sessie voor volgende maand bijeengeroepen om de kiesdistricten te hertekenen; hij is hiermee de laatste zuidelijke staat die een nieuw proces van kaart maken start na de beslissing van het Amerikaanse Hooggerechtshof over de Voting Rights Act. • Brian Kemp kondigde woensdag de speciale sessie aan, die op 17 juni zal beginnen. Het zal zich richten op het "uitvaardigen, herzienen, intrekken of wijzigen" van de districtslijnen voor de wetgevende macht van de staat en het congresdistrict, in het licht van de uitspraak van het Hooggerechtshof in Louisiana v Callais. Lees verder...

• Tate Reeves gaf woensdagochtend aan dat hij een speciale wetgevende sessie annuleert die volgende week gepland stond om de districten van de Hoge Raad van de staat te hertekenen. • De Republikein Reeves merkte echter op dat hij verwacht dat de staat op korte termijn de vier congresdistricten zal herzien voor de verkiezingen van 2027. • Tijdens een optreden op SuperTalk radio, een conservatief radionetwerk, zei Reeves ook dat het voor de staat moeilijk zou zijn om de congresdistricten tijdig in het voordeel van de Republikeinen te hertekenen voor de komende tussentijdse verkiezingen in november.

Former David Cameron adviser says a vote for him will make California ‘Califordable’ – not everyone is convinced He “knows how to wind people up like Trump”, according to friends, and made his name in the UK with zany policy ideas including making the country sunnier using state-owned cloud busters.Now the controversial strategist Steve Hilton, named the “pint-sized Rasputin” of Conservative politics, has become an unlikely frontrunner in the primary race for California governor. Continue reading...

• Tennessee's governor signed a new congressional redistricting map into law on May 7, 2026, that eliminates a Democratic House seat, according to PBS NewsHour reporting. • The redistricting decision reduces Democratic representation in the state's delegation and reflects ongoing partisan conflicts over congressional boundaries across multiple states. • Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) reacted to the Tennessee map and New York's own redistricting initiative, highlighting how redistricting battles continue to reshape electoral landscapes nationwide.

• Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Vijay, secured 107 seats and gained 5 from Congress, totaling 112, but remains 6 short of the 118 needed for majority. • Governor Rajendra Arlekar is not convinced of TVK's numbers, delaying Vijay's swearing-in as Chief Minister despite his request for time to prove majority. • VCK remains undecided on support, while Left parties and IUML have declined, heightening political uncertainty in the state.

The Trump-backed biotech entrepreneur will face Democrat Amy Acton in a competitive November contestUS politics live – latest updatesVivek Ramaswamy, a Republican former presidential candidate, won his primary race for Ohio governor on Tuesday, setting up a closely-watched contest in November’s election.The biotech entrepreneur, who was endorsed by Donald Trump and briefly co-led Trump’s so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) with Elon Musk at the start of the president’s second term, beat Casey Putsch, the internet personality, to land the nomination. Continue reading...

Louise Arbour will serve as Canada’s representative of King Charles and carry out ceremonial and constitutional dutiesCanada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, has appointed a former supreme court justice and war crimes prosecutor as the country’s new governor general, saying her appointment would reflect the importance of global institutions.Louise Arbour, a celebrated jurist, served as United Nations commissioner and prosecuted war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, will serve as Canada’s representative of King Charles III. Continue reading...

Trump-endorsed candidate facing a long-shot challenge from car designer and YouTube provocateur Casey PutschHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.Former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is hoping to lock in his position as candidate in the race to become Ohio governor.Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be “blown off the face of the earth” if it attacks US vessels trying to reopen a route through the strait of Hormuz. The US launched an operation to help hundreds of ships trapped with their crews in the Gulf, dragging the region back to the brink of full-scale war. While the US military claimed to have destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted both Iranian cruise missiles and drones, this was denied by Iran. More here.The Trump administration moved to block a lawsuit Minnesota officials filed almost six years ago alleging oil companies and a petroleum trade group deceived state residents about climate change. The justice department, the administration’s law enforcement arm, filed an action in federal court in Minneapolis arguing that the federal government has the authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, not states, and that Minnesota officials are trying to improperly impose their policy preferences on the rest of the country.The US supreme court went out of its way to help Louisiana Republicans redraw their congressional maps ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The procedural move comes less than a week after the court’s landmark decision striking down Louisiana’s congressional map and gutting section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.The Trump administration is continuing to pressure the United Nations and the international aid sector more broadly to adopt trade-focused policies to benefit US firms – or face the threat of further budget cuts. Donald Trump’s second term has already seen USAID suffer mass layoffs and have its remaining operations folded into the state department, with a ripple effect across the globe that has many experts warning will cost thousands of lives as vital programs are cut. More here.The Trump administration’s attack on the 87-year-old food aid program that supports tens of millions of low-income Americans escalated last week as the agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, claimed that 14,000 Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (Snap) recipients included owners of luxury vehicles such as Ferraris, Bentleys and Teslas. More here. Continue reading...

Ron DeSantis approves maps that give Republicans an advantage in four more races in November’s midtermsUS politics live – latest updatesFlorida governor Ron DeSantis signed a new gerrymandered congressional district map into law Monday which gives Republicans an electoral advantage in four additional races in November’s midterm elections.“Signed, Sealed, and Delivered,” DeSantis said in a post on X, with a map of the new districts attached. Continue reading...

• The Government of India appointed Rohit Jain as RBI Deputy Governor, filling a key monetary policy role. • Jain's tenure begins immediately, bringing expertise in banking regulation and financial stability. • The move strengthens RBI's leadership amid economic uncertainties and inflation management challenges.

• Maine Governor Janet Mills announced she is suspending her bid for the US Senate in 2026, allowing Democrat Graham Platner to run unopposed in the primary. • Mills' decision consolidates Democratic efforts in the state and removes a potential divisive primary battle within the party. • The move signals party unity heading into the 2026 midterm elections, a critical cycle for Senate control.

The race to succeed Gavin Newsom has teetered wildly, and with Democrats in disarray, the Republican ex-Downing Street adviser is leading in the polls. Can he really pull it off?Few political aspirations have proved more futile over the past two decades than running as a Republican for statewide office in California. Yet Steve Hilton – transplanted Brit, erstwhile business entrepreneur, a former Downing Street adviser to David Cameron and a former Fox News host who says he is friends with half of Donald Trump’s cabinet – is having a remarkably good time of it.With less than six weeks to go before a primary election that has proved to be both dramatic and wildly unpredictable, most polls put Hilton narrowly ahead of a fractured field of Democrats in the race to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor. It is an astonishing turn of events in a state where Democrats enjoy supermajorities in the state legislature and a two-to-one advantage over the Republicans in voter registration. Continue reading...

Rusty Hicks concerned that Democrats could crowd each other out in ‘open’ system and hand victory to RepublicansThe chair of the California Democratic party says he wants to get rid of the state’s idiosyncratic “open primary”, calling it a failure that risks pitting a crowded field of Democratic candidates against each other to the point where a Republican can be elected governor of one of the bluest states in the US.“The current system we have does not work,” Rusty Hicks said in an interview. “It needs to be revised or repealed.” Continue reading...

• Maine Governor Janet Mills announced on Thursday that she will withdraw her planned Senate bid, removing herself from the Democratic primary and effectively clearing the way for state Senator Ben Chipman to enter an open contest. • Mills cited family considerations and the toll of a high‑profile Senate race as key reasons, saying that Maine “needs steady leadership” in the governor’s office as she continues her second term. • Her exit reshapes the state’s political map, likely sparing Democrats from a bruising intra‑party primary in a state that has recently trended purple in national elections.

Mills cites lack of funds as rival to unseat Susan Collins fuels Democratic rift under Donald TrumpSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxJanet Mills, the Maine governor, on Thursday dropped her bid for the US Senate just weeks before the Democratic primary in a race that reflected an internal party debate over how to win one of this year’s most competitive Senate seats.“While I have the drive and passion, commitment and experience, and above all else – the fight – to continue on, I very simply do not have the one thing that political campaigns unfortunately require today: the financial resources,” Mills said in a statement. “That is why today I have made the incredibly difficult decision to suspend my campaign for the United States Senate.” Continue reading...

• The U.S. Justice Department charged Sinaloa state Governor Ruben Rocha Moya and nine other current and former Mexican officials with aiding the Sinaloa drug cartel on April 29, 2026. • Indictments allege corruption including money laundering and protection rackets, marking a major blow to cartel operations. • This escalates U.S.-Mexico tensions on fentanyl crisis and border security, with potential extradition battles ahead.

• Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced plans on April 29, 2026, to suspend House primaries after a court ruling on congressional maps intensified redistricting fights. • The decision stems from ongoing battles over racial gerrymandering, with dozens more cases looming before midterms. • Suspension could delay elections and reshape GOP strategies in the state.

Indictment accuses high-level officials in Sinaloa of offences such as drug trafficking, weapons offences and kidnapping The US justice department has charged the governor of Sinaloa and nine other current and former officials for alleged ties to the Sinaloa cartel, accusing them of aiding in the massive importation of illicit narcotics into the United States .Some officials were members of Mexico’s progressive ruling party, Morena, posing a political conundrum for Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum as she seeks to offset mounting pressures from the Trump administration. Continue reading...

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled new congressional district maps that could eliminate additional Democratic seats in the House. • The redistricting proposal targets areas with Democratic incumbents, intensifying battles ahead of the 2026 midterms. • Republicans see this as key to maintaining House majority, while Democrats warn of voter suppression tactics.

• Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed HB 5044 into law on April 28, 2026, expanding the state health commissioner's authority to issue vaccine recommendations independent of federal guidance. • The bill includes provisions clarifying the state's Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which had sparked significant controversy during legislative debates. • The law also prevents insurance companies from penalizing clinicians who treat patients declining vaccines, protecting physician practice autonomy.

Attack in Adamawa state continues wave of violence across the country, including armed raid on orphanage in KogiGunmen have killed at least 29 people in north-east Nigeria, a state governor said on Monday, with local people saying the attackers targeted young people gathered at a football pitch, the latest bout of deadly unrest in Africa’s most populous nation.The attack on Sunday occurred in Adamawa state, which borders Cameroon, and is a hotspot for violence by jihadists and criminal gangs. Communal violence over conflict for land is also rife in the state. Continue reading...

Proposal from Ron DeSantis would net Republicans up to four additional US House seats ahead of midterm electionsRon DeSantis, Florida’s Republican governor, on Monday unveiled his proposal for redistricting his state’s congressional maps, a move he hopes will net his party up to four additional House seats in November’s midterm elections.The long-awaited reveal, which will be debated during a special session of Florida’s legislature called by DeSantis beginning Tuesday, is the latest, and possibly final, act of a nationwide “gerrymandering” battle for control of Congress sparked by Donald Trump that looks increasingly to be moving back in Republicans’ favor. Continue reading...

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is urging the state House to approve a revived AI Bill of Rights before a special session, following Senate passage of sweeping AI restrictions. • The legislation would remove from office local officials violating the rules and prohibit companion chatbots from interacting with minors without parental consent. • This move addresses rising concerns over AI safety, governance, and potential misuse in public and private sectors amid generative AI's rapid adoption.

Janet Mills says moratorium would’ve been ‘appropriate’ if it didn’t interfere with ongoing datacenter project in MaineThe Democratic governor of Maine on Friday vetoed a bill that would have made it the first US state to impose a moratorium on large new datacenters, even as local opposition to the electricity-hungry facilities grows.The decision reflects the difficult trade-off facing political leaders, who must weigh the impact of datacenters on the environment and household energy bills against the millions of dollars in investment and tax revenue they can bring. Continue reading...

Sarah Breeden predicts ‘adjustment’ due to elevated risk including private credit and highly valued AI stocksBusiness live – latest updatesRecord-high global stock markets do not reflect the risks in the global economy, and will fall back, a deputy governor at the Bank of England has warned.Sarah Breeden, deputy governor for financial stability at the Bank, fears that macroeconomic risks are not fully priced into equity markets. Continue reading...

Six candidates clashed over homelessness and cost of living crisis in first debate since Eric Swalwell’s exit – with a clear frontrunner still yet to emergeSix candidates vying to become the next governor of California sparred on Wednesday in the first debate since the already topsy-turvy race was plunged into upheaval by the sudden collapse of former congressman Eric Swalwell’s campaign after sexual assault and misconduct allegations.With a clear frontrunner still yet to emerge, the unusually wide-open race to replace the outgoing governor Gavin Newsom in the heavily Democratic state has left nearly a quarter of voters undecided ahead of the 2 June primary. Continue reading...

Democrat led Hawaii from 1973 to 1986, coinciding with the party’s rise to power in the stateGeorge R Ariyoshi – Hawaii’s former governor and the nation’s first Asian American governor – has died at age 100.Ariyoshi, a Democrat who led the state from 1973 to 1986, died peacefully while surrounded by family on Sunday night, according to a statement Monday from the current governor, Josh Green. Continue reading...

Police say the couple’s teenage children called 911 after a domestic dispute at their Annandale home during divorceSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxJustin Fairfax, a former lieutenant governor of Virginia whose tenure was upended by allegations of sexual assault, shot and killed his wife Cerina Fairfax on Thursday before killing himself, police said.Kevin Davis, the chief of the Fairfax county police department in Virginia, said at a press conference that the murder-suicide took place in the context of “an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or or messy divorce”. The shooting took place at the Fairfax’s residence in Annandale, Virginia, and police arrived on the scene after receiving a 911 call from one of their teenage children shortly after midnight. Continue reading...