Record absentee votes point to hefty turnout in Iowa primary

Wealthy Des Moines businessman Fred Hubbell easily won the five-way Iowa Democratic primary race Tuesday to run against Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds, who advanced to the fall campaign uncontested in her primary. Hubbell, who provided millions of dollars of his own money to fund a high profile campaign, significantly outperformed competitors including a union local president, a physician, a former party chairman and a mayor.

Democrats launch new group aimed at Republican strongholds

A jury is expected to be seated soon in Taylor Swift's civil trial involving a groping allegation against a former DJ. ATLANTA - Dissatisfied with Democratic fortunes in the era of President Donald Trump, a group of prominent Democrats is forming an organization outside the formal party structure with the goal of winning again in Republican-dominated middle America.

Trump to Nominate Sonny Perdue as Agriculture Secretary

President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Sonny Perdue III, the former governor of Georgia, as his choice for the next U.S. secretary of agriculture. "From growing up on a farm to being governor of a big agriculture state, he has spent his whole life understanding and solving the challenges our farmers face, and he is going to deliver big results for all Americans who earn their living off the land," Trump said in a statement.

Vilsack leaving USDA early, no Trump replacement named

Secretary Tom Vilsack left the Agriculture Department a week before his tenure ends and before President-elect Donald Trump has chosen his replacement. Vilsack, who has led USDA for eight years and was President Barack Obama's longest-serving Cabinet secretary, told employees in an email that Friday is his final day.

Perdue Is Trump’s Lead Pick for Agriculture Secretary

Sonny Perdue III, the former governor of Georgia, is president-elect Donald Trump's leading candidate to be his U.S. secretary of agriculture, according to a person familiar with the matter. Perdue, 70, would succeed secretary Tom Vilsack.

Governor requests drought disaster relief for New Hampshire farmers

In response to a drought-stricken season for New Hampshire farmers, Gov. Maggie Hassan requested Thursday that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issue a drought disaster declaration for three of the state's counties. The USDA Farm Service Agency's State Emergency Board voted Wednesday to seek the disaster declaration.

And then there were two? Hillary Clinton appears to have narrowed down choices for running mate

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senator Timothy Kaine of Virginia have emerged as the leading candidates among a longer list of finalists Hillary Clinton is considering to be her vice-presidential running mate, according to interviews with multiple Democrats with knowledge of her deliberations. Although her list is not limited to those two, Clinton has spoken highly of both in recent days to friends and advisers as she closes in on an announcement that could come as soon as Friday.