
The Latest: Booker talks policy, plays Pac-Man at barcade
The Latest on the Democratic presidential candidates (all times EST):11:15 p.m.Amid music from video games and the ringing of pinball machines and the sound of cans of domestic and craft beers cracking open, Booker talked policy with local Democrats at a "barcade" in Manchester, New Hampshire.

2020 Dems hit early voting states; Weld explores GOP bid
Several Democratic presidential candidates are spending the long holiday weekend on the campaign trail, while a Republican has announced he's creating an exploratory committee for a possible 2020 run.

Democrats to launch new voter database with Dean at the helm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez is declaring a major victory ahead of the 2020 presidential election, with the help of one of his most well-known predecessors.

McConnell wields Green New Deal as bludgeon against Dems
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate will vote on the Green New Deal, a moonshot plan by Democrats to combat climate change, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday, announcing a move designed to force Senate Democrats — including a cast of presidential candidates — into a political bind.

Parkland anniversary highlights Democratic shift on guns
In the final weeks before the 2008 election, Barack Obama's campaign sent mailers to Florida voters reassuring them that he supported the Second Amendment.

Liberals eye 2020 takeover of Wisconsin Supreme Court
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin liberals hope to take a key step this spring toward breaking a long conservative stranglehold on the state's Supreme Court, in an election that could also serve as a barometer of the political mood in a key presidential swing state.

Virginia Dems brace for 2020 political fallout from scandal
The political crisis in Virginia threatens to turn a state that has trended Democratic back into a battleground, a development that could complicate the party's effort to defeat President Donald Trump next year.

Indicted political operative popped up in unlikely places
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Paul Erickson, the boyfriend of admitted Russian covert agent Maria Butina accused this week of fraud, has turned up in the unlikeliest of places — from landing a top spot on Pat Buchanan's 1992 presidential campaign to representing a man involved in one of the most salacious trials of the 1990s.

Democrats and GOP square off over Trump's tax returns
WASHINGTON (AP) — With Democrats now controlling the House and holding the legal key to seeking President Donald Trump's tax returns, Republican lawmakers are invoking privacy in defending Trump's flank.
Top DNC official considers challenging Graham in S. Carolina
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — With confidence in his national connections and fundraising ability, a top official with the Democratic National Committee said Thursday that he is launching an exploratory committee with the goal of replacing Republican Sen.

Abrams rebuts Trump: 'We do not succeed alone'
ATLANTA (AP) — Stacey Abrams stepped onto the biggest stage of her political career Tuesday and accused President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans of abandoning working Americans and fomenting partisan and cultural discord.

Trump campaign takes steps to prevent a challenge within GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Worried about a potential Republican primary challenge, President Donald Trump's campaign has launched a state-by-state effort to prevent an intraparty fight that could spill over into the general-election campaign.

South Carolina Dems overwhelmed by flood of 2020 contenders
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Democrats are feeling overwhelmed.Sens. Cory Booker and Bernie Sanders, who are potential presidential contenders, were just in town.

Stacey Abrams to give Democrats' response to State of Union
WASHINGTON (AP) — Stacey Abrams, the rising political star who marshaled the power of black women voters but narrowly lost the Georgia governor's race, will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, congressional Democrats said Tuesday.

GOP courtship of Pompeo clouds 2020 Senate primary in Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — At least eight Kansas Republicans have expressed interest in running for the Senate seat Pat Roberts will be leaving after four terms, but a big cloud hovers over the potential 2020 field as some in the party nudge U.

GOP senators try to figure how out closely to run with Trump
DENVER (AP) — Republican Sen. Cory Gardner helped mastermind the GOP's midterm strategy of pushing Senate candidates closer to President Donald Trump.

After years of King's remarks, why now for the GOP response?
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Why now?Despite his seemingly endless string of racist comments and insults about immigrants, Iowa Rep.

With Trump's nominee in limbo, envoy post in UAE stays empty
WASHINGTON (AP) — When Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, no U.

Wisconsin's ousted Gov. Scott Walker says he may run again
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Ousted Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker said Friday that he would be interested in running for public office again, maybe even for governor in four years.

The Latest: Youngsters join in as Pelosi takes speaker oath
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the 116th Congress (all times local):3:10 p.m.Nancy Pelosi (puh-LOH'-see) called for kids to join her as she was sworn into as House speaker.

Republicans worry a primary challenge would hurt Trump
NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump declared himself "the most popular president in the history of the Republican Party" on Wednesday.

Women changing makeup of military, and perhaps its politics
WASHINGTON (AP) — It had been months since retired Lt. Cmdr. Michele Fitzpatrick paid attention to news coverage.

Military women, female veterans are shifting away from GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) — It had been months since retired Lt. Cmdr. Michele Fitzpatrick paid attention to news coverage.

Latino support for GOP steady despite Trump immigration talk
LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Pedro Gonzalez has faith in Donald Trump and his party.The 55-year-old Colombian immigrant is a pastor at an evangelical church in suburban Denver.

Trump's coalition cracking over his policies and personality
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Jill Mott doesn't like the tweets. The hard line on the border is too hard.

GOP leaders weigh protecting Trump from primary challenge
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Republicans in early voting states are grappling with how — and whether — to protect President Donald Trump from a potential primary challenger in 2020.

Their numbers growing, Latinos gain clout in new Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — A record 43 Latinos elected to Congress are set to take the oath of office in January, including the youngest woman ever elected, two Latinas from Texas, the first Latino to represent Ohio and a woman born in Ecuador.

Effort to put New Hampshire GOP behind Trump faces pushback
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — An effort to put the New Hampshire Republican Party in President Donald Trump's corner ahead of the state's leadoff presidential primary is facing both private and public pushback.

Pelosi's triumph: A reminder why she's set to be speaker
WASHINGTON (AP) — It has been quite a week for Nancy Pelosi.The televised meeting with President Donald Trump.

Some Trump allies starting to worry about investigations
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's intensifying legal troubles are unnerving some of his fellow Republicans.

Comey faces off with GOP over Clinton emails, alleged bias
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Director James Comey spoke to House investigators behind closed doors for almost seven hours Friday, begrudgingly answering questions about the Justice Department's decisions during the 2016 presidential election.

The Latest: House Republicans interview Comey
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on former FBI Director James Comey's closed-door interview by House Republicans (all times local):10 a.

GOP support for Pelosi as speaker? Don't hold your breath
WASHINGTON (AP) — Wondering if Republicans will push Nancy Pelosi over the top in her drive to become House speaker next year? Despite supportive words from President Donald Trump, it's implausible.

GOP tries to hamstring incoming Democratic attorneys general
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans pushing to hang on to power in Wisconsin and Michigan aren't stopping at curbing the authority of incoming Democratic governors.

Thousands of emails stolen from Republican committee's aides
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of emails were stolen from aides to the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2018 midterm campaign, a major breach exposing vulnerabilities that have kept cybersecurity experts on edge since the 2016 presidential race.

House GOP campaign arm targeted by 'unknown entity' in 2018
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of emails were stolen from aides to the National Republican Congressional Committee during the 2018 midterm campaign, a major breach exposing vulnerabilities that have kept cybersecurity experts on edge since the 2016 presidential race.

Cohen confesses to lying about Trump Tower Moscow deal
WASHINGTON (AP) — The surprise plea agreement with President Donald Trump's former lawyer made clear that prosecutors believe Michael Cohen was continuing to pursue the Trump Tower Moscow project weeks after his boss had clinched the Republican nomination for president and while investigators believe Russians were meddling in the 2016 election on his behalf.

AP Exclusive: Most Mormons back GOP, but fewer support Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — About two-thirds of Mormon voters nationwide favored Republicans in the midterm elections, but President Donald Trump's approval rating among members of the faith lagged behind, according to a nationwide survey of midterm voters.

Divisive race ends with win for Republican Sen. Hyde-Smith
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith returns to Washington as a solidly loyal supporter of President Donald Trump after he stumped for her in a divisive Mississippi runoff shaped by her video-recorded remark about "public hanging.

The Latest: Man dies before voting, wife returns to vote
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Latest on a U.S. Senate runoff election in Mississippi (all times local):11:20 p.

GOP US Sen. Hyde-Smith wins divisive runoff, keeps her seat
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith won a divisive Mississippi runoff Tuesday, surviving a video-recorded remark decried as racist and defeating a former federal official who hoped to become the state's first African-American senator since Reconstruction.

Midterms reveal South split along urban, rural differences
ATLANTA (AP) — The Solid South is no more.A century of rule by "Southern Democrats" followed by a generation of Republican domination is evolving into something more complex.