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VP Kamala Harris says she plans to 'earn and win' Democratic nomination after Joe Biden drops out and endorses her; New Alabama bill threatens voter rights, legal challenge ensues; Fact-checking GOP claims on immigrants; Water contamination a concern in Midwest flood aftermath.

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President Joe Biden drops his 2024 re-election bid. He's endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to take his spot on the ticket, and election experts say they see benefits to this decision.

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It's grass-cutting season and with it, rural lawn mower races, Montana's drive-thru blood project is easing shortages, rural Americans spend more on food when transportation costs are tallied, and a lack of good childcare is thwarting rural business owners.

Local and State Politics Grow Increasingly 'Nationalized'

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Monday, September 11, 2023   

Political candidates running for federal office have grown increasingly reliant on out-of-state donations, according to a new report.

Government transparency group Open Secrets found Senate candidates from less populated states, like Maine, receive more than half their donations from out of state, with only a little more than for House contenders.

Sarah Bryner, director of research for Open Secrets, said social media is boosting candidates' profiles, allowing them to raise funds from people who will likely never vote for them.

"You would just assume that people who are giving to candidates in Maine would be from Maine," Bryner pointed out. "That, over time, has become less and less the case."

Bryner noted Democrats are more reliant on out-state money than Republicans, although the gap has narrowed in recent years.

The report showed ideological donors have increased as a portion of out-of-state contributors. Bryner emphasized political polarization is leading Americans to become more aware of candidates outside their state and how they'd potentially vote on such important matters as climate change or reproductive rights.

"You want people representing us as a nation who are in line with your beliefs, whether or not they're representing your interests specifically, or your district specifically," Bryner observed.

For example, Bryner noted, in the election after Sen. Susan Collins of Maine voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, out-of-state donors flooded her opponent's campaign with donations unprecedented in previous Maine elections.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Carnegie Corporation of New York.


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Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a political event in Grand Rapids, Mich., in early 2024. (The White House/Wikimedia Commons)

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