If elected, the Democratic House member would be the first female governor of the Keystone State.

“Allyson Schwartz has an incredible track record of fighting for the women and families of Pennsylvania,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “Now it’s time for her to take that experience and dedication all the way to the governor’s mansion, where she will help get Pennsylvanians back to work, protect access to healthcare, and fight for seniors and veterans.”

Corbett, whose approval ratings have been stuck in the 30s or even the high 20s, is one of Democrats’ top gubernatorial targets for next year. A Quinnipiac poll last month found Schwartz leading Corbett by 13 points, 47 percent to 34 percent.

via EMILY’s List endorses Allyson Schwartz for Pennsylvania governor election – Emily Schultheis – POLITICO.com.

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, led by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), has no female members.

via Eight Men Consider House Bill To Restrict Women’s Reproductive Rights (PHOTO).

In case you’ve forgotten, It was Anthony Weiner who Tweeted photos of his own underwear erection and naked torso to several women.  He admitted it and is now asking the public to give him another chance.

This isn’t just some typical affair, where human emotions overtake good judgement.  This is an elected official who was twisted enough to post sexually explicit photos of himself on Twitter. Come on! What kind of person does that? How could that person ever expect to win over the public trust again?

I don’t mean to insult anyone, but I have to show the photo. As the old saying goes, “a picture is worth 1000 words.”

Three-term City Councilman Eric Garcetti’s relentless campaigning paid off early Wednesday as he decisively won a hard-fought race to become Los Angeles’ next mayor, scoring well with voters across the sprawling city and even challenging rival Wendy Greuel on her home turf in the San Fernando Valley.

Garcetti took 54% of the vote compared with 46% for Greuel in preliminary results, ending speculation that the race was so tight that a winner might not be known for weeks. Some mail-in ballots must still be counted, but they are not expected to significantly change the results.

“We have sent a message tonight and that message is that L.A. is ready to put the recession in the rear-view mirror and to become the city of opportunity that I grew up in once again,” Garcetti said early Wednesday in thanking his supporters.

via L.A. mayor’s race: It’s Eric Garcetti by wide margin – latimes.com.

In fact, the only known 501(c)(4) applicant to have its status denied happens to be a progressive group: the Maine chapter of Emerge America, which trains Democratic women to run for office. Although the group did no electoral work, and didn’t participate in independent expenditure campaign activity either, its partisan status apparently disqualified it from being categorized as working for the “common good.”

Ironically, the national organization and its earlier chapters had gotten tax-exempt status by the IRS during the Bush administration in 2006. But it appears as though the Maine group’s rejection triggered a review of the entire organization, and Emerge America and all of its chapters had their tax-exempt status revoked. Emerge reincorporated with 527 status, which requires it to report its donors. You can read the IRS letters explaining its decisions at the bottom of this post.

Here’s what director Karen Middleton has to say:

Emerge America and its initial state programs were granted 501(c)(4) status by the IRS several years ago. Later, when a new state program applied for the same status, it was denied because Emerge works only with women who are in the Democratic Party, so the IRS determined this did not meet the definition of “social welfare” for the common good. We believed this denial triggered a review of the Emerge programs that had already been granted c4 status, and consequently those statuses were revoked. Becoming 527 organizations has not hurt our fundraising or organizational expansion – we report our donors and continue our work fully transparently.

via Meet the group the IRS actually denied: Democrats! – Salon.com.

“The national party is working with Michelle, and I think we will probably have an announcement relatively soon on whether she’s in or not,” Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Mike Berlon said Monday. “We just want to get somebody out there early enough before the election that we can actually get behind them and start putting a structure together.”

The philanthropist and daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., appeared at a Sunday fundraiser in Atlanta for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. President Barack Obama was the featured guest at the event, with DSCC Chairman Michael Bennet and Executive Director Guy Cecil also in attendance.

A DSCC spokesman declined to comment on whether Nunn was preparing to announce a bid.

Democrats have few offensive opportunities in 2014. Meanwhile, Republicans could win the majority by winning only seats in states the president failed to carry in 2012. Picking up even just one GOP-held seat — such as the one in Georgia — could prove crucial for Democrats.

Before introducing the president to the crowd on Sunday, Bennet said, “Georgia provides us with the greatest opportunity for a pickup.”

Earlier this month, Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., announced he would seek re-election rather than vie for the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss. Party officials continued their recruitment efforts with Nunn, who has never run for public office.

Meanwhile, Republicans have the opposite problem: Several GOP candidates are running for Senate in Georgia. Last week, former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel became the fourth candidate to enter the GOP primary field.

Handel joined Reps. Paul Broun, Phil Gingrey and Jack Kingston, while other Republicans are eyeing the race as well.

via Michelle Nunn Senate Announcement Coming Soon | At the Races.

The pair of stay-on-the-sidelines statements came as Weiner is set to declare his candidacy by video this week, likely on Tuesday or Wednesday. But the statements seem aimed at avoiding the appearance of taking sides in a race that includes the potential first female (and first openly gay) Democratic nominee, a potential second black New York mayor, and Hillary Clinton’s own former Senate campaign manager.

“Secretary Clinton knows all of the candidates, she has worked with many of them, and is close with many of them, so won’t be weighing in one way or the other,” Hillary Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill said in a statement to POLITICO.

Likewise, Bill Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said, “President Clinton has too many friends in this race who have been good to him and his family. He wishes them all well, but won’t be getting involved.”

A great deal of attention has been paid to Weiner’s relationship with the Clintons, who have employed Abedin for over 15 years, and who numerous reports pegged as unhappy with the scandal surrounding his resignation.

Hillary Clinton has not spoken out in a political race since leaving the State Department (although there are relatively few this year), and the New York race is taking place a few dozen miles from the couple’s Chappaqua home. Bill Clinton has weighed in on so

via Clintons to stay out of N.Y.C. race – Maggie Haberman – POLITICO.com.

Pillich told The Plain Dealer she officially will declare her candidacy for treasurer Monday.

“I look at this type of office as a natural extension of my lifelong commitment to public service,” she said.

An Air Force veteran and lawyer, Pillich has been a fixture at party dinners this year while working to build support for her campaign. The primary is a year away, but already she is the third Democrat to announce a statewide run.

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald has launched a campaign for governor, and former Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper, the party’s losing candidate for state auditor in 2010, is running for attorney general.

Others could soon join the early-forming Democratic ticket, including Nina Turner, the state senator from Cleveland, who has been open about her interest in a bid for secretary of state. Republicans occupy every administrative office on the statewide ballot next year. Each of them, from Gov. John Kasich on down to Mandel, intends to seek a second term.

Ohio Democratic Party leaders see Mandel as vulnerable after his failed U.S. Senate bid last year against Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. Mandel launched that campaign months into his first term as treasurer and became known for lacking truthfulness and candor. But the Tea Party favorite is a prodigious fundraiser whose national reputation can attract millions of dollars in outside spending.

As he did in his Senate bid, Mandel likely will emphasize economic development. He also will tout a $1 billion investment fund his office manages for local governments and public agencies.

via State Rep. Connie Pillich officially launches campaign against Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel | cleveland.com.

http://video.pbs.org/video/2364994994

Madeleine M. Kunin served as the Governor of Vermont from 1985 to 1991 and went on to serve in President Bill Clinton’s administration.  In 1996  she became the United States Ambassador to Switzerland. Governor Kunin was Vermont’s first and, to date, only female governor and the first woman in U.S. history to be elected governor three times.

The costumed protest, organized by Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, took place at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on a bill that would allow employers and pharmacists to refuse to cover or dispense contraception for moral reasons. If passed, the law would violate President Barack Obamas contraception mandate, which requires employers to cover birth control at no cost to women, and would effectively reverse a 14-year-old state law requiring all employers who cover other prescription drugs to also cover contraception.Planned Parenthood supporters showed up at the hearing wearing 1960s garb to suggest that lawmakers are turning back the clock on womens reproductive rights.“We love a good vintage look — but not when its running the state legislature,” Melissa Reed, Vice President of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood Health Systems, said in a statement. “That is why we are here to remind these politicians and bosses who continue to insist that they should be the ones who decide if and when women can access birth control.”

Read more here:

via North Carolina Birth Control Bill Protested By Women In Mad Men Garb.