James Florio, former New Jersey governor and U.S. House member, dies at 85

Former New Jersey Gov. James Florio, who championed a plan that substantially raised the state’s sales and income taxes leading to his re-election defeat in 1993, died Sunday.

He was 85.

His law partner Doug Steinhardt and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed Florio died in statements Monday.

“Governor Florio was a fighter who never backed down. He was a leader who cared more about the future of New Jersey than his own political fortunes,” Murphy, a fellow Democrat, said in a statement.

Former New Jersey Gov. James Florio, who championed a plan that substantially raised the state’s sales and income taxes leading to his re-election defeat in 1993, died Sunday.

He was 85.

His law partner Doug Steinhardt and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed Florio died in statements Monday.

“Governor Florio was a fighter who never backed down. He was a leader who cared more about the future of New Jersey than his own political fortunes,” Murphy, a fellow Democrat, said in a statement.

Wexton, Spanberger speak truth to Youngkin on anti-trans school policies

The bipartisan monthly meeting between Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Virginia’s congressional delegation this week got heated when Democrats Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger brought up Youngkin’s proposed anti-trans school policies, and Republican Bob Good defended the policies by claiming that schools and teachers are “grooming” children to change their gender.

The bipartisan monthly meeting between Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Virginia’s congressional delegation this week got heated when Democrats Jennifer Wexton and Abigail Spanberger brought up Youngkin’s proposed anti-trans school policies, and Republican Bob Good defended the policies by claiming that schools and teachers are “grooming” children to change their gender.

Pelosi going to Armenia amid renewed clashes with Azerbaijan

Speaker Nancy Pelosi will travel to Armenia this weekend in a show of support for the country, which has been locked in a deadly fight with Azerbaijan. It will be the speaker’s latest dramatic foreign trip following her contentious arrival in Taiwan last month. With the midterms approaching — and the possibility that she will lose the gavel if Republicans return to the majority — the belief in Washington is that Pelosi wants to cement her legacy as a champion of human rights, not only in the United States but around the world.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi will travel to Armenia this weekend in a show of support for the country, which has been locked in a deadly fight with Azerbaijan. It will be the speaker’s latest dramatic foreign trip following her contentious arrival in Taiwan last month. With the midterms approaching — and the possibility that she will lose the gavel if Republicans return to the majority — the belief in Washington is that Pelosi wants to cement her legacy as a champion of human rights, not only in the United States but around the world.

A day on the campaign trail with Tim Ryan features the voices of different voters

There was still dew on the grass — and the Toledo city skyline in clear view — as Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Ryan went on a morning tour of Tatum Park’s urban farm.

This was the first of three stops Ryan had planned for a busy Monday on the campaign trail.

During the tour, Sonia Flunder-McNair, the farm’s founder, welcomed the opportunity to tell Ryan about the government red tape that stands in the way of urban farmers.

There was still dew on the grass — and the Toledo city skyline in clear view — as Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Tim Ryan went on a morning tour of Tatum Park’s urban farm.

This was the first of three stops Ryan had planned for a busy Monday on the campaign trail.

During the tour, Sonia Flunder-McNair, the farm’s founder, welcomed the opportunity to tell Ryan about the government red tape that stands in the way of urban farmers.

Opinion | Rethinking Joe Manchin

Joe Manchin has spent much of the past year as the villain of liberal America, receiving the kind of criticism that’s usually reserved for Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, or a conservative Supreme Court justice. Now that Joe Manchin has saved the Democratic agenda, how should liberals think about him?

Joe Manchin has spent much of the past year as the villain of liberal America, receiving the kind of criticism that’s usually reserved for Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, or a conservative Supreme Court justice. Now that Joe Manchin has saved the Democratic agenda, how should liberals think about him?