Harry Hopkins Democratic Dinner and Celebration

Friday night, the Woodbury County Democrats welcomed Representative Tim Ryan from Ohio at the annual Harry Hopkins Democratic Dinner and Celebration. Along with Representative Ryan was Iowa Secretary of State candidate Deidre DeJear, State Auditor candidate Rob Sand, and Candidate for Iowa Congressional District 4, J.D. Scholten.

Tim Ryan Hints of Paving Way for Rep. Clyburn to Challenge Pelosi

Rep. Tim Ryan says he has not "closed the door" on a challenge to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi post-midterms while also talking up the bonafides of current No. 3 Democrat, Rep. Jim Clyburn, the Washington Examiner reported.

The Democratic Party doesn’t need unifying, factions are fine

It is an assumption about the nature of political parties that they must have a direction, and that direction must speak for most candidates and politicians within the party family. But why? Why can't there be factions, as there most assuredly are in the Democratic Party ? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is going to run in November as a Democratic Socialist regardless of what direction, if any, the Democratic Party takes in the months ahead.

A Tale of Two Ryans

Yesterday I noted that Republicans now dominate many old blue collar manufacturing districts that used to tilt decisively Democratic as recently as Bill Clinton's time. And one of the Democrats who has made some noises about how the neglect of the working class in the heartland has been a mistake for Democrats is Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who unsuccessfully challenged Nancy Pelosi for the leadership of the House Democratic caucus after the last election.

No more babies dying in hot cars: editorial

One and a half years ago, after another tragic death in blistering heat of a baby forgotten in the back seat of a family car, our editorial board called for rear-seat sensors to be mandated in all new cars . After all, we reasoned, carmakers already install devices to remind drivers to fasten their seat belts or turn off their headlights and take their keys when they leave their cars.

Tim Ryan comes out in support for legal marijuana

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat from Niles, announced Friday his support for legalized recreational marijuana nationwide, becoming one of the few congressional members to openly endorse the idea. Once taboo, the idea of legalizing marijuana has become more accepted among politicians - especially within the Democratic Party.

Dark money groups spent millions on Ohio legislative races

Four secretive political groups raised more than $2.6 million for ads targeting Republican primaries for Ohio House of Representative seats in the lead up to last May's election, new campaign finance filings show. The money was spent in roughly a dozen state legislative races that were a proxy fight to be Ohio's next House speaker.

For Democrats, Pragmatists Are Still Trumping Progressives Where It Counts

Despite all the Democrats' special election wins, high voter turnout in primaries and polls showing strong party enthusiasm heading into the midterms, the fact remains that Democrats are still stuck at their lowest level of power in nearly a century. Even as President Trump's poll numbers have stabilized, party leaders see 2018 as a chance to seize back one key lever of government: The House of Representatives.

Ohio’s House of Representatives gets back to work

Last Wednesday, June 6, State Representative Ryan Smith of southeast Ohio was selected as the Speaker of the House following a grueling 11 rounds of voting by the legislature. The political jockeying among Republicans, who hold the majority in the state's legislature, began on Tuesday, April 10, when former Speaker Cliff Rosenberger announced his resignation amid an FBI probe into alleged favors given to Rosenberger by representatives of Ohio's payday loan industry.

Congressman Ryan to help introduce act to ‘crack down’ on Chinese trade practices

Congressman Tim Ryan has partnered with Congressman Mike Conaway and Senator Rubio to introduce the Fair Trade With China Enforcement Act. On Tuesday, Ryan announced the legislation that he says will take steps to safeguard American economic and national security interests against "abusive" Chinese trade practices.

The GOP’s fear factor

To continue reading this premium story, you need to become a member. Click below to take advantage of an exclusive offer for new members: When President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," he could not have foreseen today's Republican Party.  A bill authored by Sen. Rand Paul that would require the federal government to balance the budget each year was soundly defeated last week in the Senate.

EPA’s Pruitt admits role in aide’s pay raise but calls attacks on him politically motivated

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt during an interview in his office at the EPA headquarters in Washington on Oct. 25, 2017. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt during an interview in his office at the EPA headquarters in Washington on Oct. 25, 2017.

GOP keeps up hope in California battleground

U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, an Ohio Republican, Chair of National Republican Congressional Committee, speaks during a news briefing at the 2018 House and Senate Republican Member Conference Feb. 1, 2018, at the Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. IRVINE, Calif.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., speaks to the media during a news…

Nearly two dozen House Republicans are pushing Speaker Paul D. Ryan for a quick vote on a bill to get more records into the national instant check system, as lawmakers search for a legislative response to the most recent mass shooting that has a realistic shot at passing Congress . The Republicans pushing for the vote say Sen. John Cornyn's "Fix NICS" bill could help the system flag more people who show signs of violent mental behavior, without infringing on Second Amendment rights.

U.S. nears decision on Ravenna as missile defense site

WASHINGTON  If the state's congressional delegation has its way, one of the first lines of defense against incoming ballistic missiles would be an Ohio Army National Guard base in a northeast Ohio city of 11,533. Ohio's congressional delegation is in the midst of what one congressman calls a "full court press" to land an East Coast Missile Defense site in Ravenna, Ohio - a site that would, along with bases in California and Alaska, be capable of fending off long- and intermediate-range missiles, presumably from Iran or North Korea.

Congressional map raises Democrats’ hopes, legal test ahead Source: AP

The map of congressional districts imposed by Pennsylvania's high court for the state's 2018 elections will set off a new legal battle, reconfigure perhaps dozens of campaigns and give Democrats a boost in their mission to wrest control of the U.S. House. The map of Pennsylvania's 18 congressional districts is to be in effect for the May 15 primary and substantially overhauls a Republican-drawn congressional map widely viewed as among the nation's most gerrymandered.

Pelosi’s Doomsday Scenario: Dem leader could face rebellion if House takeover fails

House Democrats see a big opportunity this year to seize control of the chamber after years in the wilderness, but the favorable landscape has emerged as a double-edged sword for Nancy Pelosi - putting high expectations on the House minority leader to deliver or face a resurgent effort to unseat her. The California Democrat has held onto her leadership post for roughly a dozen years, brushing aside past challenges and touting her political acumen all along, despite her party being relegated to the minority since the 2010 midterms.