The most important Republican in New Jersey’s race for governor this year might well be a part-time resident who burnished his reputation and his brand near the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

New Jersey’s governor’s race this year, one of just two along with Virginia, is emerging as a proving ground for Democrats struggling to find a message that can win over voters.

Three former Environmental Protection Agency leaders say rollbacks proposed by the Trump administration endanger the lives of millions of Americans and abandon the agency’s mission to protect the environment and human health.

Add one more group of contests to the white-hot races for Congress and governor that will dominate this year’s midterm elections: secretaries of state.

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott will face Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke after voters in Texas opened what could be a lengthy, bruising primary season.

More than 150 former Environmental Protection Agency employees are writing to the Virginia Senate, asking the Democrat-controlled chamber to oppose the nomination of former EPA administrator Andrew Wheeler to GOP Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin’s cabinet.

Donald Trump’s excommunication from the Republican Party seemed a near certainty on Jan. 6, 2021, the day a raging band of his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in a bid to overturn his election loss.

As some Republicans in Congress continued to back President Donald Trump's doomed effort to overturn the election, critics — including President-elect Joe Biden — alleged that they had violated their oaths and instead pledged allegiance to Trump. Both Republican and Democratic officials have deemed the election results legitimate and free of any widespread fraud. The oaths were mentioned often Wednesday during a joint session of Congress meant to confirm Biden’s victory. While authorities struggled to regain control, Biden called on Trump to abide by his oath and move to ease tensions. “I believe the Republican members of Congress who have incited this domestic terror attack through their attempts to overturn the election must face consequences,” she tweeted.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)ATLANTA – Even after he exits the White House, President Donald Trump's efforts to challenge the legitimacy of the election and seeking to overturn the will of voters could have staying power. Supporters include congressional candidates, state lawmakers, party chairs, conservative legal groups and appointees to previously little-known state vote-certification boards. Even so, Trump has found friendly lawmakers and party officials willing to bolster his claims and adopt his tactics. The effort then shifted to Michigan, where Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani appeared at a four-hour legislative hearing to argue that fraud had occurred. As Trump hints at running for president again, he will need his supporters to stay energized and on his side.

President Donald Trump listens during an event in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, on prescription drug prices. Experts on Michigan election law said the Board of State Canvassers' authority was limited in scope. The Michigan Legislature would be called on to select electors if Trump succeeded in persuading the board not to certify the results. In two Democratic-leaning counties in Wisconsin that are recounting votes, Trump’s campaign sought to discard tens of thousands of absentee ballots that it alleged should not have been counted. "It’s an open attempt to intimidate election officials, it’s absolutely appalling.

FILE - In this Jan. 23, 2018, file photo Michigan Gov. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)LANSING, Mich. Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder backed Joe Biden for president on Thursday, becoming the latest high-profile Republican to support the Democratic nominee over President Donald Trump. Snyder did not endorse a candidate in that race, when Trump became the first Republican to win Michigan in 28 years. Christine Todd Whitman, who endorsed Biden at the recent Democratic National Convention along with former Ohio Gov.

In this image from video, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., delivers a nominating speech during the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (Democratic National Convention via AP)WASHINGTON For nearly three minutes at this week's Democratic National Convention, Cindy McCain recounted Joe Biden's friendship with her late husband, John McCain, the Arizona senator and former Republican presidential candidate. Meanwhile, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most dynamic young stars of the Democratic Party, spoke for just 60 seconds. California Rep. Ro Khanna, head of the California delegation to the convention, said people need to be inspired to vote. Among those who have addressed the convention is Ady Barkin, a progressive activist who after being diagnosed with A.L.S.

Women say they will fight sexism, 'ugly' attacks on HarrisPublished: August 12, 2020, 12:15 amFILE - In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden at Renaissance High School in Detroit. Before Joe Biden named Harris his running mate, womens groups were readying a campaign of their own: Shutting down sexist coverage and disinformation about a vice presidential nominee they say is headed for months of false smears and brutal attacks from internet haters. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2017, file photo, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Building is shown in Washington. Six former Environmental Protection Agency chiefs are calling for an agency reset after President Donald Trumps regulation-chopping, industry-minded first term. The group is presenting a detailed action plan drafted by former EPA staffers for whoever wins the Nov. 3 presidential election. Most living former EPA heads joined in Wednesday's appeal, with Trumps first EPA chief, Scott Pruitt, being the notable exception. The group said the road map was meant to guide whatever administration the Nov. 3 presidential election puts in place, although many of the proposals are implicitly or explicitly critical of Trump EPA actions.