Spain PM’s shock election call brings unruly coalition to heel
May 30, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's snap general election call breaks apart the coalition he built with the far-left United We Can party, marking a line in the sand with a movement born from grassroots activism whose electoral fortunes have nosedived.
Police fire tear gas and protesters burn vehicles near home of Senegal’s main opposition leader
May 30, 2023 GMTDAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Police fired tear gas and demonstrators burned cars Monday near the home of Senegal's main opposition leader, as tensions rise in the capital days before a court verdict is expected on charges against the politician.
With new mandate secured, Turkey’s Erdogan likely to continue engaging with both West and Russia
May 29, 2023 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — After securing a strong new mandate in a runoff presidential election, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan could temper some positions that have irritated his NATO allies.
What 5 more years of Erdogan’s rule means for Turkey
May 29, 2023 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan won reelection in a runoff Sunday, following a nail-biter first round two weeks earlier.
With elections in Mexico’s most populous state, old ruling party may be nearing its end
May 29, 2023 GMTECATEPEC, Mexico (AP) — Mexico’s former ruling party could face near-extinction in Sunday's governorship election in the State of Mexico, the largest of Mexico’s 32 states and the last large one governed by the old Institutional Revolutionary Party, the PRI.
Associated Press (AP) — Bola Tinubu became Nigeria's president on Monday during a period of unprecedented challenges for Africa’s most populous country, leaving some citizens hopeful for a better life and others skeptical that his government would perform better than the one he succeeded.
Spanish prime minister calls early general election after battering in regional vote
May 29, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday called an early general election for July 23 in a surprise move after his Socialist party took a serious battering in local and regional elections.
Spain swings right in local and regional elections
May 28, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain's conservative opposition Popular Party made significant gains in Sunday's local and regional elections, offering a dire assessment of public feeling towards the ruling left-wing coalition ahead of general elections in December.
Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney implored new college graduates to not compromise when it comes to the truth, excoriating her House Republican colleagues for not doing enough to combat former President Donald Trump’s lies that the 2020 election was stolen.
ATHENS (AP) — Newly elected Greek lawmakers were sworn in Sunday but the Parliament in which they sit may be dissolved as early as Monday, ahead of fresh elections on June 25.
Right-wing populist Javier Milei gains support in Argentina by blasting ‘political caste’
May 28, 2023 GMTBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — He believes selling human organs should be legal, climate change is a “socialist lie,” sex education is a ploy to destroy the family and that the Central Bank should be abolished.
There's no Iron Throne, but the stakes feel just as high.
“Succession,” the critically acclaimed drama chronicling a Murdoch-esque feuding billionaire family, wraps its four-season run on Sunday with a highly anticipated 88-minute finale.
Clashes between Senegal’s police and supporters of opposition leader leave one dead, others hurt
May 27, 2023 GMTDAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Clashes between police and supporters of the opposition leader in Senegal left one person dead and several injured, friends of the victim told The Associated Press on Saturday.
FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — In the four years since progressive reform prosecutors swept into office across northern Virginia, they have faced constant criticism, ranging from conservatives who deride them as bleeding-heart “ Soros prosecutors ” to judges who claim they abuse their discretion.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi could have a Democratic primary for governor in August because a judge ruled Friday that the party improperly excluded a candidate from the ballot.
The state Democratic Party immediately filed notice that it will ask the Mississippi Supreme Court to overturn the judge's ruling on the candidacy of Bob Hickingbottom.
Guatemala’s top court ends candidacy of leading presidential hopeful 1 month before vote
May 26, 2023 GMTGUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s top court blocked the candidacy of another presidential hopeful on Friday, this time ending the campaign of poll leader Carlos Pineda for alleged violations of electoral law.
Spanish Socialists under pressure in key regional elections
May 26, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain goes to the polls on Sunday for local and regional elections seen as a bellwether for a national vote in December, with the conservative Popular Party steadily gaining ground on the ruling Socialists in key regions.
GOP field in Pennsylvania Senate race still wide open as hard-right state lawmaker says he won’t run
May 26, 2023 GMTHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A hard-right Pennsylvania state lawmaker said Thursday night that he will not challenge Democratic Sen.
Cambodia’s top opposition party barred from July elections, leaving Hun Sen’s party unchallenged
May 26, 2023 GMTPHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia’s top opposition party was barred Thursday from participating in elections set for July after the Constitutional Council refused to overturn a decision not to register the party over a paperwork issue.
West Virginia man to pay $1,000 fine for casting two mail-in ballots in 2020 election
May 25, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia man will pay $1,000 and serve a year on probation for illegal voting during the 2020 election, Secretary of State Mac Warner announced Thursday.
Richard Fox was sentenced last week in Fayette County Circuit Court for casting two mail-in ballots – one in West Virginia and one in Florida – during Nov.
Republican Karrin Taylor Robson says she won’t run for Sinema’s Senate seat in Arizona
May 25, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Karrin Taylor Robson, a wealthy Republican businessperson who was seen as the likeliest establishment candidate for a crucial Arizona Senate contest, said Thursday that she won't run for the seat now held by independent Kyrsten Sinema.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Two opposing visions for Turkey's future are on the ballot when voters return to the polls Sunday for a runoff presidential election that will decide between an increasingly authoritarian incumbent and a challenger who has pledged to restore democracy.
DeSantis launches GOP presidential campaign in Twitter announcement plagued by glitches
May 25, 2023 GMTMIAMI (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday with firm words but a disastrous Twitter announcement that did little to counter criticism that the 44-year-old Republican may not be ready to take on former President Donald Trump.
After months of anticipation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis formally entered the Republican presidential primary contest on Wednesday.
Spain’s Melilla exclave rocked by alleged vote tampering scheme days before elections
May 24, 2023 GMTMADRID (AP) — Spain’s north African exclave of Melilla has been rocked by an alleged mail-in vote-buying scheme just days before the city goes to the polls in nationwide local elections.
Mohamed Ahmed Al-lal, an official of the city’s government, was fired by its top municipal authority on Wednesday, a day after he publicly acknowledged that he was among 10 people who had been arrested by police for their alleged involvement in an attempt to tamper with Sunday's election.
Greece appoints judge as caretaker PM ahead of new elections
May 24, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Senior judge Ioannis Sarmas was named caretaker prime minister in Greece Wednesday after a general election failed to produce a new government.
Sarmas, 66, will be sworn in Thursday and lead a caretaker government until a new election next month, according to government officials.
Trump’s freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness speaking style draws legal attention amid probes
May 24, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump speaks about his legal woes in a way that would make most defense attorneys wince.
A recent sampling: In a March interview on Fox News Channel, the Republican former president said he had “the right to take” classified documents with him to his Florida resort and wouldn’t say he hadn’t looked at the records since leaving office.
Ecuador election council sets presidential vote for Aug. 20
May 24, 2023 GMTQUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's National Electoral Council announced on Tuesday that early presidential elections would be held on Aug. 20 after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree last week and brought forward the vote scheduled for 2025.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Shaking up elections in Texas' largest county, the GOP-controlled Legislature on Tuesday approved abolishing a position in Harris County that oversees more than 2 million voters around Houston months before the city chooses a new mayor.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs announced plans to run for U.S. Senate next year and challenge first-term Republican Mitt Romney in what could emerge as a competitive primary battle in the deeply conservative state.
Greece heads to new election, after conservatives fail to clinch majority despite landslide win
May 23, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece is heading toward a new general election, two days after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' center-right New Democracy party won a victory in a national vote but failed to clinch a majority in parliament.
DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor’s opposition party won Sunday’s parliamentary election, meaning independence fighter Xanana Gusmao is likely to return as prime minister in Asia’s youngest democracy.
PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Monday dismissed the only remaining legal claim in Republican Kari Lake’s challenge of her loss in last year's race for Arizona governor, affirming the election of Democrat Katie Hobbs.
Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware won’t seek reelection, opening up seat in liberal state
May 23, 2023 GMTDOVER, Del. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware announced Monday that he will not seek reelection to a fifth term in the U.S. Senate.
Carper's announcement paves the way for a wide-open contest for the seat he has held since 2001 in heavily-blue Delaware.
Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential bid seeking optimistic contrast with other top rivals
May 22, 2023 GMTNORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott launched his presidential campaign on Monday, offering an optimistic and compassionate message he's hoping can serve as a contrast with the political combativeness that has dominated the early GOP primary field.
Erdogan wins endorsement for Turkish election runoff from third-place candidate Ogan
May 22, 2023 GMTANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The third-placed contender in the Turkish presidential elections formally endorsed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday for the second-round runoff vote to be held on May 28.
Greece faces new election in weeks, after center right triumphs but falls short of majority
May 22, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece faces new national elections as early as June 25, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confirming Monday he would not try to build a coalition government — despite having dominated the ballot hours earlier by the most decisive margin in half a century.
Conservative party of Greek prime minister in big election lead, to seek outright majority
May 22, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose conservative party scored a landslide election victory Sunday but without the seats in Parliament to win outright, indicated he will seek a second election in a bid to consolidate victory without a coalition partner.
‘They’re opposed to government. But now they are the government.’ One county’s hard-right shift
May 21, 2023 GMTGALLATIN, Tenn. (AP) — Shortly after being sworn in last fall, the new majority of the Sumner County Commission in Tennessee acted to update one of its official documents. The new version said county operations would not only be orderly and efficient, but “most importantly reflective of the Judeo-Christian values inherent in the nation’s founding.”
DILI, East Timor (AP) — Vote counting was underway in East Timor’s parliamentary election Sunday with two former independence fighters considered for the post of prime minister.
Two main political parties — the incumbent Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor, or Fretilin, and opposition National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, or CNRT — are believed to be in a close race for the 65-seat National Parliament.
KERNERSVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Ex-U.S. Rep. Mark Walker formally entered next year’s race for North Carolina governor on Saturday, saying that he's best suited to win the seat that has eluded Republicans for much of the past three decades, by attracting a diverse set of voters in the otherwise closely divided state.
Focus on coalition horse-trading as Greek election looks unlikely to deliver a strong winner
May 20, 2023 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Sunday's Greek parliamentary election looks likely to be a dress rehearsal for a new round of voting in the busy summer tourist season — barring a surprise coalition deal by dissonant opposition parties.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina made it official Friday: He's running for president.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The general election campaign for Kentucky governor got off to a feisty start this week as Democrats worked to link the freshly minted Republican nominee to heavily criticized pardons by the vanquished predecessor of Gov.
Turkey’s electoral board confirms 1st round election results; Erdogan meets 3rd party candidate
May 19, 2023 GMTISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey's Supreme Election Board on Friday confirmed the results of the first round of Turkey's presidential election in which neither incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor his main challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, receiving the majority support needed for an outright victory.
Prosecutor suggests any indictments in Trump election investigation would likely come in August
May 19, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta prosecutor investigating whether then-President Donald Trump and others broke the law while trying to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia seems to be suggesting that any grand jury indictments in the case would likely come in August.
Kosovo’s new mayor takes up post peacefully in minority area as West warns against ethnic violence
May 19, 2023 GMTMITROVICA, Kosovo (AP) — A new mayor has been sworn in in northern Kosovo after a vote in April that was boycotted by the ethnic Serb minority which dominates the area.
Erden Atic, who is from the Bosnian minority, took up his post in the northern, Serb-dominated part of the divided city of Mitrovica on Friday, calling on citizens to cooperate.
Trial over Kari Lake’s last challenge to loss in Arizona governor’s race ends for 2nd day
May 19, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — The trial for Kari Lake's only remaining legal claim in her challenge to the Arizona governor's race ended Thursday without a decision.
Attorneys for Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Maricopa County, who had yet to bring out any of their own witnesses, asked Judge Peter Thompson to go ahead and enter a judgment based on partial findings.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's jobless rate sank to its lowest level ever last month, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday in touting a booming economy at the start of his general election campaign for a second term.
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — One of the remaining registered Democrats on a North Carolina Supreme Court whose new Republican majority recently overturned previous decisions on gerrymandering and voter identification announced Thursday that he won't seek reelection next year.
False claims of a stolen election thrive unchecked on Twitter even as Musk promises otherwise
May 18, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — In an interview this week, Twitter owner Elon Musk said users making false claims of stolen elections “will be corrected” on the platform.
Youngkin endorses 6 candidates in contested Republican primaries
May 18, 2023 GMTRICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued a third round of endorsements Thursday in Virginia legislative races, backing 19 more Republican candidates, including six who are in contested primaries.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden 's reelection campaign is vowing to hold the states that won him the White House in 2020 but also compete in places it lost like North Carolina and increasingly Republican-dominated Florida, providing what it says are “a number of viable pathways to the 270 electoral votes” needed to clinch four more years.
Leader of Thai opposition party that won election announces 8-party coalition plan to take power
May 18, 2023 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — The leader of the progressive opposition party that won a stunning victory in Thailand’s national election said Thursday that eight parties have agreed to form a coalition government with him as prime minister, despite fears among supporters that his military-aligned opponents may use the unelected Senate to block them.