Some names Trump might consider in picking a new FBI chief

With James Comey ousted as FBI director, President Donald Trump will have an opportunity to select a replacement for a new 10-year term. The FBI in the interim will be led by Comey's top deputy, Andrew McCabe.

Live Blog: Democrats and Republicans Debate for NJ Governorship

A Quinnipiac University poll released last week found that the majority of New Jersey voters - 52 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of Republicans - still don't have a favorite candidate in the gubernatorial primaries, raising the stakes for these debates. Among Democrats who do have an opinion, Murphy is in the lead with 26 percent of the vote, with the other candidates all pulling in less than 10 percent.

Republican super PAC plans $2.6 million ad buy for Strange

" The Senate Leadership Fund on Monday reserved a $2.6 million television ad buy on behalf of U.S. Sen. Luther Strange of Alabama, bidding to ward off challengers for the seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The super political action committee, which has ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, made the show of fiscal force ahead of the August Republican primary in which Strange will face several challengers, including former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.

Senate panel approves Branstad for China post

Gov. Terry Branstad laughs at a joke last week during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on his nomination to become U.S. ambassador to China. Gov. Terry Branstad laughs at a joke last week during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on his nomination to become U.S. ambassador to China.

After Yates, more questions for the Trump White House

Sally Yates didn't bring a smoking gun to the latest episode of the long-running political melodrama entwining the White House and Russia. But in a Senate hearing on Monday, the former acting attorney general produced just enough fresh intrigue to offer Democrats a new opening in the war of attrition they are waging against Donald Trump's presidency.

Senate GOP struggles to find challengers for some Democrats

By THOMAS BEAUMONT, Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa - Senate Republicans landed a top-tier candidate in West Virginia but have struggled to recruit well-known GOP challengers in several states where President Donald Trump romped and Democratic incumbents warily face re-election. Two-term Rep. Evan Jenkins on Monday announced his bid against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, West Virginia's popular former governor whose conservative record often puts him at odds with his party and made him a possible member of Trump's Cabinet.

Florida GOP lawmakers hand Democrats some anti-Rick Scott ammo in budget

The Republican-controlled Florida Legislature approved an $83 billion budget on Monday night that ignores some of Republican Gov. Rick Scott's top priorities - and provides Democrats some ammunition if Scott makes an expected challenge of Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson next year. Scott wanted $100 million for the Visit Florida tourist marketing program; legislators approved $25 million.

Zinke questions monument status as way to save sacred land

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke says he's a "Teddy Roosevelt Republican" who values national monuments. But as he tours America's newest and most hotly contested monument, he questions whether the monument designation by the federal government was the right way to preserve sacred tribal lands.

Gov. Rick Snyder’s statement regarding Michigan Supreme Court Justice …

Gov. Snyder issued the following statement regarding the announcement that President Donald Trump has nominated Michigan Supreme Court Justice Joan Larsen for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals: "Justice Larsen has served the people of Michigan very well as a Supreme Court Justice and is an outstanding choice for President Trump to appoint to the federal appeals court. It is disappointing that we will lose Justice Larsen on the Michigan Supreme Court because her legal expertise has been such a great asset.

Lawmakers bail out Pence with $5.5M for bicentennial projects

Indiana lawmakers are bailing out the state's former governor, Vice President Mike Pence, after the Republican's efforts to pay for now-completed projects celebrating the state's bicentennial foundered. A provision tucked into Indiana's next two-year budget sets aside $5.5 million to pay for an elaborate plaza built outside the Statehouse in Indianapolis and upgrades to the state library to mark last year's state bicentennial.

New school superintendent:Dr. Levett a solid choice

Board members had gone to great lengths to hide the identities of the four people who were vying for the position being vacated by 12-year Superintendent Thomas Lockamy, who is retiring next month. State law allows the board to legally withhold identities in such matters until only three names are on the short list.

Gov. Browna s views on a oesanctuary statesa has varied

SACRAMENTO >> If Gov. Jerry Brown ends up signing a pending bill to make California a “sanctuary state” for undocumented immigrants, it will be an about-face for the governor, who publicly opposed the idea of sanctuary cities several years ago. While it's often difficult to predict Brown's actions, many Capitol observers expect him to approve it, given both California's political landscape and strong Democratic antipathy toward President Donald Trump.

Oklahoma Legislature stumbles in search for new revenues

The Oklahoma Legislature faces political gridlock as lawmakers balk at legislation to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue and close an $878 million hole in next year's budget to avoid catastrophic cuts to state agencies and services. Republican Gov. Mary Fallin has called for a "major overhaul" of the state's tax system and says she is willing to veto any budget that does not include new revenue for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. So far, lawmakers have supported adjusting the state income tax standard deduction and attaching fees to tickets to professional sporting events to raise relatively small amounts of revenue.