After Ellison's role in Chauvin trial, Democrats hope for investment in attorney general races
CNN
The role that Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison played in the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for murdering George Floyd has given Democrats a potent argument for redoubling the party's investment in state attorney general races for years to come.
Democrats have long been seen as under-investing in down ballot races, ceding ground to Republicans in races ranging from city council to state representative and state attorney general. Much of the most recent local Republican uprising happened amid former President Barack Obama's administration, with the GOP investing in these lesser-known races and winning hundreds of seats across the country. But Democratic attorneys general across the country, especially those tasked with electing more Democrats to the top law enforcement jobs, believe Ellison's leadership in the Chauvin case -- he managed the team, outlined the strategy early in the case and served as one of the trial's public faces -- could become an inflection point in the way money and attention flow to their races.Elected officials, Jewish advocacy groups and civil rights leaders are vowing to “push back” against the message of a White nationalist group that staged a march last week near downtown Columbus, Ohio, calling the demonstration an act of hate unwelcome in their community – and the United States more broadly.
Senate Democrats have confirmed some of President Joe Biden’s picks for the federal bench this week in the face of President-elect Donald Trump’s calls for a total GOP blockade of judicial nominations – in part because several Republicans involved with the Trump transition process have been missing votes.