'Russian playbook' remains after Mueller report wraps up

ATLANTA (AP) — The collusion question now answered, another one looms ahead of 2020: Will U.S. elections be secure from more Russian interference? The 22-month-long special counsel investigation underscored how vulnerable the U.S. was to a foreign adversary seeking to sow discord on social media, spread...

Investigators followed money in tainted N. Carolina election

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The ballot-rigging investigation that voided a congressional election and forced one of the country's few do-over races simply followed the money, top North Carolina elections officials said Tuesday. Investigators were following tips that a political operative in rural Bladen County...

Tennessee counties eye vote paper trail; state stays neutral

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Amid growing national concerns about election security, Tennessee's three largest counties plan to begin using voting machines that produce a verifiable paper trail in time for the presidential primaries in March 2020, whether the Republican-led state requires it or not. Tennessee...

New Mexico senator, conservationist won't run again in 2020

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Senator Tom Udall announced Monday he will not seek re-election in 2020, opening a secure Democratic seat to competition and ending a chapter in a Western political dynasty built on environmental conservation. The second-term senator and former congressman said he was...

New Mexico Senator Tom Udall will not seek re-election in 2020, opening secure Democratic seat to competition

Surprise? Pennsylvania's 2020 primary could be competitive

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Beto O'Rourke's splashy campaign event in Pennsylvania last week appeared to herald the start of the state's presidential primary season. But if Pennsylvania's Democratic Party faithful are searching for a favorite from among the crowded 2020 primary field, it may be in vain....

Text of letter summarizing special counsel's report

The text of Attorney General William Barr's letter to congressional lawmakers outlining the principal conclusions reached by the special counsel in the Russia probe (with footnotes below): March 24, 2019 Dear Chairman Graham, Chairman Nadler, Ranking Member Feinstein, and Ranking Member Collins: As a supplement...

Voters in New Hampshire fill in blanks on O'Rourke candidacy

CLAREMONT, N.H. (AP) — Beto O'Rourke leaves room for voters to decide for themselves what he is and what he could be. He's Bobby Kennedy and Barack Obama. He's nothing new. He'd be a great vice president. He's a man whose candidacy will be a melted candle in a matter of months. He's exactly what this...

Sanders aims for strong showing in delegate-rich California

LOS ANGELES (AP) — By the time California's presidential primary election arrived in 2016, Bernie Sanders was a beaten man. This time around, everything has changed. The senator from Vermont was an insurgent outsider three years ago in a head-to-head race against Hillary Clinton, the former first lady,...

O'Rourke tackles racial issues in first South Carolina visit

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP) — In the first primary state where Democratic presidential hopefuls can test their mettle before a mostly black audience, Beto O'Rourke took on issues of race Friday, telling South Carolina voters that he might not know their struggles firsthand but wants to be a president who can try...