Tag: Martin Heinrich

Democrat Joe Manchin wins re-election in West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin will win re-election in West Virginia, CNN projects, defeating Republican challenger Patrick Morrisey and keeping in Democratic hands a seat in a state that voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump. The state, once a Democratic stronghold, has become so heavily Republican that the sitting governor, Jim Justice, switched to the GOP last year. He broke with the rest of the party to vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, though he waited to announce his position until Kavanaugh’s confirmation was already guaranteed. Barr's win comes in a district President Donald Trump carried by 15 percentage points in 2016. It was seen as a must-win for the GOP's hopes of holding onto control of the House. McGrath, who defeated Lexington Mayor Jim Gray in a Democratic primary, was part of a surprisingly strong crop of Democratic political newcomers, many of whom had military experience. These 4 Democratic senators will win re-election, CNN projects Four Democratic senators will win re-election, CNN projects. They are: Sen. Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota Sen. Martin Heinrich in New Mexico Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in New York Watch below: Latest projections for key Senate seats The mood at Trump’s watch party is "good," source says A White House source described the mood at President Trump’s watch party in the White House as “good,” adding one main reason is because it’s still early in the night. The source echoed what other White House officials are saying tonight — that if anyone learned anything from 2016, it’s to not make assumptions based on exit polls. Melania Trump is watching election results Sen. Sherrod Brown calls his win the "blueprint for our nation in 2020" Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, in his victory speech, referred to his victory as “the blueprint for our nation in 2020” — a line certain to spark 2020 presidential speculation around the populist lawmaker.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Thursday asked for a meeting with Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson over the company’s plans to deny funding for its Southwest Chief route pending additional financial investments. The letter, penned by multiple House and Senate lawmakers in both parties, argues the route that runs through Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico is “vital to the economic well-being of our communities.” “The lack of transparency by Amtrak management about its changing position on the Southwest Chief is troubling, particularly for a Government-Sponsored Enterprise entrusted with an important public transportation mission,” the letter reads. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) signed the document, as did a group of House lawmakers from New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas. Amtrak has put conditions on its decision to contribute funds to a project on the route. The letter comes in response to a message the company sent to Congress responding to questions about plans for the route. “Amtrak will offer a $3 million match towards the project costs if the grant application for the requested amount is successful,” Amtrak CFO William Feidt wrote in the October letter that was submitted with the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant application. “Before Amtrak will fulfill this contribution, a comprehensive financial plan and accompanying commitments by relevant states and BNSF for the remainder of the infrastructure investments and associated additional maintenances costs for this route in New Mexico must be completed,” Feidt added, referring to the BNSF Railway. Democratic lawmakers from New Mexico announced in March that Colfax County had received a $16 million TIGER grant for the project, aimed at rehabilitating the Southwest Chief line, which operates from Chicago, Ill., to Los Angeles, Calif. But Amtrak is insisting the other parties pitch in financially and develop a strategy for “long-term financial commitments” to rebuild the route operating from Hutchinson, Kan., and Albuquerque, N.M. “A piecemeal approach to solving this problem that leads to higher operating costs and new capital obligations for Amtrak’s long distance routes isn’t sustainable, especially as we face vast needs for fleet, station and infrastructure improvements across the National Network,” Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari said in a statement to The Hill. “We stand prepared to consider any such plan as we consider alternatives for this portion of the route.” Reps. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M), Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) and Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) also signed the Thursday letter, in which lawmakers say it’s “essential” that the funding be utilized to sustain “the Southwest Chief on its current route.”

Several Democrats have announced they will donate thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Harvey Weinstein to charity following a slew of sexual harassment allegations against the Hollywood film producer. Sens. Patrick Leahy (D.Vt. ), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said they would give to charity the amount of money equal to that of Weinstein's donations, The New York Times reports. Leahy is expected to donate $5,600, Blumenthal and Heinrich will donate $5,400 and Warren will donate $5,000. Leahy is expected to donate his campaign contributions to the Change the Story Initiative for the Vermont Women's Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation. Other Democratic lawmakers are expected to follow suit in light of The New York Times report on sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein. Weinstein has publicly and financially supported various Democratic lawmakers and causes over the years. He held a fundraiser at his New York City home in 2016 for former presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and endowed a faculty chair at Rutgers University in feminist icon Gloria Steinem's name.