14:56
Shontel Brown defeats progressive Nina Turner in Ohio primary
In case you missed it last night: The Democratic establishment scored a major victory over the party’s progressive wing on Tuesday when Shontel Brown defeated Nina Turner in a primary election in Ohio.
Conceding defeat, Turner told supporters: “Tonight my friends, we have looked across the promised land, but for this campaign, on this night, we will not cross the river.”
The contest was seen as a bellwether for the party six months into Joe Biden’s presidency and 15 months ahead of the midterm elections for Congress.
Brown was endorsed by Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and presidential nominee, and James Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in the House of Representatives.
Turner had the backing of senator Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist who twice ran for president, and congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leading member of “the squad” of progressives.
The campaign in Ohio’s 11th congressional district, triggered by the resignation of Marcia Fudge to become housing secretary, had turned increasingly nasty in recent weeks with money pouring in from outside groups and both candidates under attack from negative TV ads.
But 46-year-old Brown’s victory in the safe Democratic district will be interpreted by moderates as proof that the party should hold the centre ground and not shift to the left.
14:23
Joe Biden has led calls from both parties for New York governor Andrew Cuomo to resign after an investigation found he had sexually harassed 11 women.
“I think he should resign,” the president told reporters at the White House hours after the results of the investigation were published.
“I understand that the state legislature may decide to impeach. I don’t know that for a fact. I’ve not read all that data.”
Asked about Cuomo’s attempt to defend himself by using an image in which he is making physical contact with Biden himself, the president said: “Look, I’m not going to flyspeck this. I am sure there were some embraces that were totally innocent, but apparently the attorney general decided there were things that weren’t.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said the findings were “abhorrent” .
“I don’t know that anyone could have watched this morning and not found the allegations to be abhorrent. I know I certainly did,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.