Sep 22, 2019

Alaska Republican Party cancels 2020 primary in support of Trump

President Trump during a news conference in the White House Friday. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Alaska Republican Party has become the latest state GOP to cancel its 2020 presidential primary in a show of support for President Trump, the Anchorage Daily News first reported Saturday.

The big picture: The Republican parties in the key early nominating states of Nevada and South Carolina voted this month not to hold contests, as did Kansas and Arizona.

Trump has a near-90% approval rating within the GOP. But he faces challenges for the party's nomination from former congressman Joe Walsh, ex-Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld and former congressman and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.

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Jacob Knutson

Polls show Biden dominating in South Carolina but neck and neck in Nevada

Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden is dominating the Democratic field in South Carolina but is neck and neck with Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in Nevada, according to 2 new CNN polls.

Why it matters: South Carolina and Nevada are key early states, with primaries scheduled for late February after Iowa and New Hampshire. Biden's strong standing in South Carolina is largely the result of support from black voters, 45% of whom back the former vice president. The Nevada poll shows a tighter race with the 2 progressive senators chasing at Biden's heels.

Go deeperSep 29, 2019

Orion Rummler

Joe Walsh on the issues, in under 500 words

Joe Walsh holds a news conference after his election to Congress in November 2010. Photo: Bill Clark/Roll Call)

Editor's Note: Walsh dropped out of the race on Feb. 7, 2020. Below is our original article on his candidacy. He is the second Republican to drop his challenge.

Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh, who claimed he "helped create Trump" while announcing his candidacy in late August, is 1 of 3 long-shot Republicans running against the president for 2020. Walsh is pro-impeachment, but his previous support for Trump could complicate his popularity among "Never Trump" Republicans.

Go deeperUpdated Feb 7, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Rebecca Falconer

Former N.C. GOP chair pleads guilty to making false statement to FBI

Robert "Robin" Hayes. Photo: Douglas Graham/Roll Call/Getty Images

Robert "Robin" Hayes, a former North Carolina congressman and state Republican Party chairman, pleaded guilty Wednesday to making a false statement to the FBI during a federal campaign finance probe, the Justice Department said in a statement.

The big picture: Hayes, 74, was indicted previously along with 3 other men for alleged bribery. They promised to spend "millions of dollars" on the North Carolina insurance commissioner's re-election "if he would remove an insurance regulator that oversaw companies" under the control of a business executive also indicted, Reuters notes.

Go deeperOct 3, 2019