The latest on politics

Denver

Mayor Bows Out of Race for Superdelegate Seat

Rocky Mountain News

Mayor John Hickenlooper withdrew his name from consideration to be an at-large superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention, saying he wanted to remain neutral as head of the host city. Hickenlooper was to square off against former Denver Mayor Federico Pena at the state party convention for the at-large position, but with the mayor bowing out, it paves the way for Pena to grab that uncommitted slot.

Maryland

State Senate President May Seek Re-election

Baltimore Sun

State Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who has been a dominant fixture in Maryland politics for four decades, strongly indicated that he plans to run for re-election in two years. The Democrat's political future has long been the subject of speculation since he indicated a while back that his current term would be his last.

Ex-Judge to Run for Delaware Governor Wilmington News Journal

Retired Superior Court judge Bill Lee said "yes" to the state Republican Party, reversing his earlier ruling -- the one made in mid-March, when he said he would not run, having seen no evidence of sufficient financial support. The Republican ran in 2000 and 2004, and faces two other challengers.

West Virginia

Incumbent Upset in Supreme Court Race

Charleston Gazette

Supreme Court Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard lost his re-election bid, as former Justice Margaret Workman and lawyer Menis Ketchum captured the Democratic nominations for two open state Supreme Court seats. Just months ago Maynard was expected to easily win re-election to another 12-year term. But in December, pictures surfaced of him vacationing on the French Riviera with Massey Energy chief executive Don Blankenship.

West Virginia Governor Glides to Easy Victory Charleston Gazette

Democratic Gov. Joe Manchin easily fended off his primary opponent freshman Delegate Mel Kessler with 75 percent of the vote. Running on a record of tax cuts, insurance relief and privatized workers' compensation, the governor also amassed more than $2.4 million in contributions.

Muskogee, Okla.

19-Year-Old Wins Mayoral Race

The Oklahoman

A 19-year-old student at the University of Oklahoma was elected mayor of Muskogee in Tuesday's elections. John Tyler Hammons handily beat city government veteran Hershel Ray McBride in the race for mayor in this eastern Oklahoma community of 40,000. Hammons received about 70 percent to McBride's 30 percent of the vote.

Vermont

Former Ambassador Will Not Run for Governor

Rutland Herald

Former diplomat Peter Galbraith says he will not run for governor. The Democrat had been considering challenging Republican incumbent Gov. Jim Douglas, who plans to seek re-election to a fourth term, but decided to back outgoing House Speaker Gaye Symington after she announced her candidacy Monday.

California

Governor Proposes Borrowing Against Lottery

Los Angeles Times

In his latest plan for closing a budget shortfall now estimated at $17.2 billion, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will propose giving voters a choice between borrowing against the state lottery and paying more sales tax. Under the plan, if voters rejected the borrowing, or if the proposal fell through for any other reason, the state sales taxes would automatically increase by 1 cent to cover the loss.

Washington State

Gregoire Backers Up Ante by $1.3M in April

Seattle Times

Gov. Christine Gregoire's supporters flooded the Democrat with campaign contributions in April, injecting more than $1.3 million into her rematch against Republican challenger Dino Rossi. With about six months until Election Day, Gregoire's hot fundraising pace in April already has made her re-election bid the third most-expensive governor's campaign in state history, behind her and Rossi's 2004 efforts.

Orange County, Calif.

Acting Sheriff Orders Opponent's Fundraising E-Mails Deleted

Los Angeles Times

In yet another political skirmish within the Orange County Sheriff's Department, acting Sheriff Jack Anderson ordered his staff to delete an e-mail sent to hundreds of deputies inviting them to a fundraiser for Anderson's political rival. Anderson said he made the decision because he believed the e-mail violated department policy — and perhaps state law — that prohibits the use of county resources for political campaigns.

Oakland County, Mich.

County Executive Off and Running for Fifth Term

Detroit Free Press

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has announced his candidacy for a fifth term as the county's top elected leader. The Republican Patterson won election four times, but this year he confronts one of his toughest opponents — Democratic Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence — in what is expected to be a good year nationally for Democrats.

Missouri

Voter ID Battle Shifts to Proof of Citizenship

New York Times

The battle over voting rights will expand this week as lawmakers in Missouri are expected to support a proposed constitutional amendment to enable election officials to require proof of citizenship from anyone registering to vote. The measure would allow far more rigorous demands than the voter ID requirement recently upheld by the Supreme Court, in which voters had to prove their identity with a government-issued card.

Ohio

A.G. Gets Another Demand to Resign

Columbus Dispatch

The Ohio Democratic Party has officially defrocked Attorney General Marc Dann, rescinding its endorsement and denying him participation in party functions. The party's state executive committee almost unanimously passed a resolution calling upon Dann to resign immediately, further ostracizing him in the wake of a sexual-harrassment scandal that has rocked Capitol Square.

Galveston, Texas

Election Winners Want to Rein in Developers

Houston Chronicle

Three of four controlled-growth candidates won in Galveston City Council races Saturday, two defeating incumbents in hard-fought races. Victories by the three candidates, who have criticized the city council as subservient to developers, serve as a public rejection of council policy and a victory for environmentalists and controlled-growth advocates on this storm-battered island.

The Nation

Some Governors Still Neutral on White House Pick

Stateline.org

Democratic governors in three of the five states yet to have their presidential primaries—Kentucky, Montana and West Virginia—are staying out of the fray and letting their voters decide on their own whether Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton should be the party’s nominee. Idaho's Republican governor, C.L. “Butch” Otter, says he intends to endorse John McCain after his state votes May 27.

Denver Mayor May Not Be Superdelegate Denver Post

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's pledged neutrality in the Democratic race could cost him a chance to become one of the state's superdelegates as Obama backers try to lock in one of their own. Obama's Colorado organization is backing former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, a national co-chair for the Obama campaign.