Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Marsy’s Law for crime victims wins big with ballot victories in all six states
Nobody had a better election night than Henry Nicholas III, who won all six of his state campaigns Tuesday for the victims'-rights ballot measures known as Marsy's Law. Published November 7, 2018
Keith Ellison weathers domestic-abuse claims, wins Minnesota AG’s race
Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison eked out a win Tuesday in his bid for Minnesota attorney general, overcoming the domestic-abuse allegations that threatened to derail his political career in the MeToo era. Published November 7, 2018
Pro-life ballot measures win in Alabama, West Virginia
Pro-life ballot measures aimed at preventing public funding of abortion went two for three on Tuesday, winning approval in Alabama and West Virginia while going down to defeat in Oregon. Published November 7, 2018
Dan Crenshaw, target of ‘SNL’ joke, wins Texas House seat
Being mocked on "Saturday Night Live" didn't hurt--and may have helped-- Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw, a retired Navy SEAL and political newcomer who easily won Tuesday his House race. Published November 6, 2018
Jared Polis elected first gay Colorado governor
Democratic Rep. Jared Polis was declared the winner of the Colorado gubernatorial race Tuesday after spending $22 million of his own fortune to defeat Republican state treasurer Walker Stapleton. Published November 6, 2018
Florida votes to restore automatically voting rights of felons
Florida voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday to restore automatically the voting rights of felons who have completed their sentences. Published November 6, 2018
Elizabeth Warren defeats Geoff Diehl to easily win Senate re-election
Published November 6, 2018
Kenan Thompson: ‘SNL’ plans to ‘right that wrong’ by taking action on Crenshaw joke
Comedian Kenan Thompson said Tuesday that "Saturday Night Live" plans to "right that wrong" by addressing the show's widely condemned joke about House candidate Dan Crenshaw's war injury. Published November 6, 2018
Louis Farrakhan under renewed fire for leading ‘Death to America’ chant in Iran
A few weeks after referring to Jews as termites, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has come under renewed fire for leading chants of "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" during a solidarity trip to Iran. Published November 6, 2018
Election reform, tax revolt, marijuana lead hot topics on state ballot questions
Election reform tops the list of 2018 statewide ballot measures, indicating that the 2020 general election could hinge in many states on what happens at the polls Tuesday. Published November 5, 2018
California gas-tax repeal takes lead as race comes down to wire: Poll
The California gas-tax repeal has maneuvered into the lead as the election comes down to the final lap, according to the latest poll. Published November 5, 2018
NBC on ‘SNL’ segment ridiculing veteran Dan Crenshaw: No comment
NBC was tight-lipped Monday about the growing uproar over a Saturday Night Live sketch mocking the appearance of Republican House candidate Dan Crenshaw, a retired Navy SEAL who lost his right eye in Afghanistan. Published November 5, 2018
SNL mocks vet who lost eye in Afghanistan
NBC's "Saturday Night Live" came under fire Sunday for a sketch that mocked the appearance of a Texas House candidate who lost an eye to an IED blast in Afghanistan. Published November 4, 2018
Tom Perez struggles to defend Democrats’ #MeToo record amid Keith Ellison accusations
Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez ran into trouble Sunday after insisting that the party has "never hesitated to take action" on misconduct allegations against Democratic officials, including DNC deputy chair Keith Ellison. Published November 4, 2018
Claire McCaskill wants GOP foe to launch investigation into Project Veritas video sting
Sen. Claire McCaskill, Missouri Democrat, has called for her Senate opponent, Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley, to launch an investigation into Project Veritas after her campaign was targeted this week in hidden-camera videos. Published October 18, 2018
EPA cheers decline in U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions under Trump administration
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 2.7 percent last year, the first year of the Trump presidency, even as the administration slashed environmental regulations and global emissions continued to climb. Published October 17, 2018
Elizabeth Warren DNA test backfires
Sen. Elizabeth Warren became the punchline for more "Pocahontas" jokes Tuesday after her high-profile DNA rollout backfired, angering Native Americans and rekindling questions about her claims to Cherokee ancestry. Published October 16, 2018
Elizabeth Warren DNA test prompts Cherokee backlash
Sen. Elizabeth Warren trumpeted Monday DNA test results showing she has a smidgen of Native American blood, although no more than the average U.S. white person, even as Cherokees accused her of dishonoring them with her dubious claims of tribal ancestry. Published October 15, 2018
Boston Globe issues second correction on Elizabeth Warren DNA story
The Boston Globe issued a second correction Monday about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's DNA results, saying that its previously corrected percentage was also wrong. Published October 15, 2018
Elizabeth Warren may be less Native American than average U.S. white person
Sen. Elizabeth Warren's newly released DNA results show that the Democrat's Native American ancestry is roughly the same as that of the average white American, and may be less. Published October 15, 2018
