Valerie Richardson

Primaries engender year of the woman

If California is the bellwether state, then the rest of the nation can expect to see an army of Republican, ex-CEO women taking politics by storm. Published June 9, 2010

Lincoln’s seat in play as 11 states vote on ‘Super Tuesday’

There's nothing secondary about Tuesday's primary. Published June 6, 2010

Greens seeing red over new Gulf oil permit

The Obama administration ran afoul of environmentalists Wednesday by approving a new oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, even as millions of gallons of oil continue to gush from BP's Deepwater Horizon rig and the British oil giant struggled with its latest effort to cap the well. Published June 2, 2010

California GOP: Conservatism, cash

In the battle between Tom Campbell and his conservative foes, score one for the foes as the Republican candidates battle to challenge Democratic stalwart Sen. Barbara Boxer in November. Published May 31, 2010

GOP establishment pick falls in Idaho

This may turn out to be a great election year for Republicans, but it hasn't been a great year for the Republican establishment. Published May 26, 2010

‘Tea party’ favorite surges in Nevada

The Nevada Republican primary battle to challenge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has turned into a three-candidate race with the stunning recent surge of "tea party" favorite Sharron Angle. Published May 24, 2010

Ariz. governor now targets ethnic studies

Gov. Jan Brewer, already under fire for approving the nation's toughest illegal immigration law, has again run afoul of liberal activists, signing a bill that targets ethnic studies programs in schools that critics say unfairly demean white Americans. Published May 13, 2010

Arizona governor now targets ethnic studies

Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, already under fire for approving the nation's toughest illegal immigration law, has again run afoul of liberal activists, signing a bill Wednesday that targets ethnic studies programs in schools that critics say unfairly demean white Americans. Published May 13, 2010

Thieves take Mojave Desert cross

Two weeks after the Supreme Court said it could stay, the Mojave Cross war memorial has been ripped out of and stolen from its rocky embankment in the California desert. Published May 12, 2010

Incumbency encumbers Utah senator

Sometimes politicians just wind up in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think House Democrats running for re-election in 1994, or Senate Republicans in 2008. Published May 7, 2010

Most Arizonans back new immigration law

Opponents of Arizona's tough new immigration law marked Cinco de Mayo with a flurry of protests, boycotts and threatened legal challenges, but a poll released Wednesday found that a majority of Arizonans support the measure. Published May 6, 2010

‘Border hawk’: Will the new McCain fly?

Sen. John McCain of Arizona has been called many things during his lengthy political career: maverick, straight-talker, the White Tornado. But "border hawk" isn't one of them. Until now. Published May 3, 2010

Three states kick-start primary season

Three battleground states that swung for candidate Barack Obama in 2008 are holding closely watched Senate primaries Tuesday that could solidify the Democratic Party's gains or contribute to a Republican rebound in 2010. Published May 3, 2010

Mojave Cross can stay on display in Calif.

An 8-foot cross honoring fallen soldiers in the remote Mojave National Preserve in California can stay where it is, because the Supreme Court said Wednesday that the Constitution nowhere requires the "eradication of all religious symbols in the public realm." Published April 29, 2010

Utah’s Sen. Bennett up against 7 challengers

Utah Sen. Robert F. Bennett is running hard for re-election, but the three-term Republican may also be running out of time. Published April 23, 2010

Abortion issue looms over high court fight

President Obama managed to avoid a full-scale eruption over abortion politics with his first Supreme Court nominee, but he probably won't get that lucky twice. Published April 22, 2010

Ariz. bill cracks down on suspected aliens

Arizona lawmakers are on the cusp of approving one of the toughest measures against illegal immigration in the nation by expanding the authority of local police to check the status of individuals suspected of being in the country unlawfully. Published April 15, 2010

Backers fight for Sioux logo

Hours after the state Board of Higher Education decided to retire the Fighting Sioux name last Thursday, fans of the nickname emerged in full backlash mode. Published April 15, 2010

Judge rules academic writings not protected

Mike Adams isn't exactly the most popular guy on campus. He's an outspoken conservative Christian who cried discrimination when his department refused to promote him to full professor and slapped the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a lawsuit. Published April 15, 2010

Governor’s race could be about illegals

Thirteen years after a federal judge struck down California's Proposition 187, the 1994 initiative banning social services for illegal immigrants, the measure has resurfaced as a top issue in the state's Republican gubernatorial primary. Published April 12, 2010