Elections

Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a campaign event in Conway, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthew Kelley)

Nikki Haley’s dilemma in South Carolina: winning over voters who like her, but love Trump

For South Carolina’s conservatives, deciding whether Nikki Haley’s record warrants a promotion to the Oval Office seems less about her experience and abilities and more about the man standing in her way: Donald Trump.

Opposition coalition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado gives a press conference outside her campaign headquarters in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, days after the country's highest court upheld a ban on her presidential candidacy. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Venezuelan opposition candidate blocked by court calls it ‘judicial criminality,’ won’t abandon race

FILE - Former South African President Jacob Zuma speaks during a press conference in Soweto, South Africa, on Dec. 16, 2023. The ruling African National Congress party has suspended Zuma on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, pending a disciplinary process after he gave his backing to a new party for this year's national elections. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

South Africa’s ruling ANC suspends former president Zuma for backing a new party in elections

FILE Georgian Dream party Prime Irakli Garibashvili speaks at the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia, Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. The prime minister of the country of Georgia resigned on Monday, Jan 29, 2024 and said he had accepted an offer to become chairman of the Georgian Dream ruling party ahead of national elections in the autumn. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov, File)

Georgia’s prime minister steps down to prepare for national elections this fall

The two candidates with the most preliminary votes, National Coalition Party candidate Alexander Stubb, right, and Social Movement candidate Pekka Haavisto shake hands during a Presidential election event, at the Helsinki City Hall, in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. A projection in Finland says Alexander Stubb has won the first round of the presidential election to set up a Feb 11 runoff. ((Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP)

Finland’s presidential election runoff to feature former prime minister and ex-top diplomat

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, center, visit the SKA Arena sports and concert complex in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian election officials register Putin to run in March election he’s all but certain to win

Russia’s election commission on Monday formally registered President Vladimir Putin as a candidate for the March presidential election, a vote in which he’s all but certain to win another six-year term in office.

FILE - Rioters loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. On Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024, a retired judge recommended to Illinois election officials that former President Trump's name should be removed from the Illinois primary ballot, but the decision should be left to the courts. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Illinois election officials to weigh recommendation to remove Trump’s name from March primary ballot

A retired judge has recommended to an Illinois election board that former President Donald Trump’s name should be removed from the Illinois primary ballot, but he says the decision should be left to the courts.

FILE - Opposition coalition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. Condemnation against the government of Venezuela for its decision to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado continues to strengthen. On Sunday, Jan. 28, the Organization of American States declared that the move eliminates any possibility of a free election this year. (AP Photo/Jesus Vargas, File)

Regional group says Venezuela’s move against opposition candidate ends possibility of free election

Condemnation against the government of Venezuela for its decision to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado continues to strengthen.

People walk through downtown Skopje, North Macedonia, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. North Macedonia's parliament has approved on Sunday a new caretaker government installed ahead of general elections this May. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

North Macedonia parliament approves caretaker cabinet with first-ever ethnic Albanian premier

North Macedonia’s parliament has approved a caretaker government with a mandate to organize a general election in May.

Arizona Republicans choose Trump favorite Gina Swoboda as party chair

The Arizona Republican Party is getting a new leader. Gina Swoboda, an election activist endorsed by former President Donald Trump, will take over after winning 67% of the vote at a party meeting Saturday night in Phoenix.

FILE - This combo image shows President Joe Biden, left, Jan. 5, 2024 and Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, right, Jan. 19, 2024. Black voters support the reelection of President Joe Biden at a surprisingly low level, according to recent AP polling. For Republican strategists and former President Donald Trump, that's an opportunity to make inroads into the Democratic Party's most loyal voting bloc. Both parties are fine-tuning efforts to win over Black voters. (AP Photo, File)

Republicans see an opportunity with Black voters, prompting mobilization in Biden campaign

Black voters support the reelection of President Joe Biden at a surprisingly low level, according to recent AP polling.

FILE - Protestors against the Israel-Hamas war chant "cease-fire now" as President Joe Biden delivers his speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., Jan. 8, 2024. Biden is increasingly contending with protests inside and outside his events from progressives upset about U.S. support for Israel in its offensive in Gaza. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

Biden is trying to balance Gaza protests and free speech rights as demonstrators disrupt his events

President Joe Biden is increasingly contending with protests inside and outside his events from progressives upset about U.S. support for Israel in its offensive in Gaza.

National Coalition Party candidate Alexander Stubb smiles, during a Presidential election event, at the Helsinki City Hall, in Helsinki, Finland, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. A projection in Finland says Alexander Stubb has won the first round of the presidential election to set up a Feb 11 runoff. (Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva via AP)

Ex-Prime Minister Alexander Stubb wins first round of Finland’s presidential vote to set up a runoff

Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb has won the first round of Finland’s presidential election and will face runner-up ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in a runoff next month.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Trump praises Texas governor as border state clashes with Biden administration over immigration

Former President Donald Trump has praised Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for defying the Biden administration over immigration. Texas has restricted U.S.

Opposition coalition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. An election date has not been set yet, when the opposition's one candidate, Machado, will run against current President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Jesus Vargas)

US condemns ban on Venezuelan opposition leader’s candidacy and puts sanctions relief under review

The U.S. government has condemned the decision of Venezuela’s highest court to block the presidential candidacy of opposition leader María Corina Machado.

FILE - Polling officers count votes in New Taipei City, Taiwan, Jan. 13, 2024. Voters in Taiwan recently repelled a wave of disinformation seeking to undermine their democracy ahead of this month's recent election. Experts say Taiwan was able to rebuff China's efforts to meddle with their democracy by taking the challenge of disinformation seriously. In doing so, the island can offer lessons to the U.S. and other nations holding their own elections amid the threat of foreign disinformation. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

How Taiwan beat back disinformation and preserved the integrity of its election

Voters in Taiwan recently repelled a wave of disinformation seeking to undermine their democracy ahead of the election earlier this month.

Chynna Phillips, left, owner of the Regal Lounge barber shop and spa, greets President Joe Biden in Columbia, S.C. Saturday Jan. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Biden returns to South Carolina to show his determination to win back Black voters in 2024

President Joe Biden is spending the weekend in South Carolina, intent on driving home two messages: He’s loyal to the state that saved his campaign in 2020 and he’s determined to win back Black voters here and elsewhere who were central to his election last time but are less enthused this go-round.

FILE - Former coal executive Don Blankenship waits outside the West Virginia Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, after the Capitol was evacuated due to a fire alarm in Charleston, W.Va. Blankenship filed paperwork Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, to run for the seat being vacated by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, this time as a Democrat. (AP Photo/John Raby, File)

Ex-coal CEO Don Blankenship couldn’t win a Senate seat with the GOP. He’s trying now as a Democrat

Former West Virginia coal executive Don Blankenship has filed paperwork to run for Joe Manchin’s U.S. Senate seat.

Opposition coalition presidential hopeful Maria Corina Machado speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. An election date has not been set yet, when the opposition's one candidate, Machado, will run against current President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Jesus Vargas)

Venezuela’s highest court upholds ban on opposition presidential candidate

Venezuela’s highest court has upheld a ban on the presidential candidacy of María Corina Machado, a longtime government foe whose opposition faction is backed by the United States.

Imam Omar Suleiman speaks at the Islamic Center of Detroit in Detroit, Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. President Joe Biden's campaign manager has traveled to Michigan, where many Arab American leaders are enraged over the administration's policy toward Israel, and found some top activists unwilling to meet. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Biden reelection campaign team gets shunned by some Arab American leaders while visiting Michigan

President Joe Biden’s campaign manager traveled to Michigan and found some top activists unwilling to meet with her.

President Joe Biden walks with Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., during U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson's wake at Concord Church in Dallas on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Johnson, a trailblazing North Texas Democrat who served 15 terms in Congress, died on Dec. 31. (Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News via AP, Pool)

Pro-Biden super PAC launches ad featuring Rep. Clyburn ahead of South Carolina’s lead-off primary

A super political action committee supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection is aiming to boost the Democrat’s primary campaign in lead-off South Carolina with a television ad featuring Rep.

FILE - Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger attends the National Association of Secretaries of State winter meeting, Feb. 16, 2023, in Washington. Georgia state senators voted Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, to allow the State Election Board to investigate Raffensperger, including his handling of an audit after Georgia's 2020 presidential election. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

Georgia senators vote for board to oversee secretary of state despite constitutional questions

Georgia’s Senate is backing a plan to give the state’s appointed election board the power to investigate Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s handling of elections.

Kentucky Democratic Party leader stepping down to take new role in Gov. Beshear’s administration

Sebastian Kitchen is stepping down from his job as executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party. He will assume a new role in Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration.

FILE – Liberal Russian politician Boris Nadezhdin speaks to journalists in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, after submitting documents to Russia's Central Election Committee for the March 17 presidential election. Thousands of people across Russia are signing petitions to support Nadezhdin’s the longshot candidacy as he challenges President Vladimir Putin. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

An unlikely challenger to Putin brings a rare show of defiance, creating a dilemma for the Kremlin

Thousands of people across Russia are signing petitions to support the longshot candidacy of Boris Nadezhdin.

FILE - Funafuti, the main island nation state Tuvalu, is seen from a Royal New Zealand airforce C130 aircraft as it approaches at Funafuti, Tuvalu, South Pacific, on Oct. 13, 2011. Voting started Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, in the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, in a national election that could reverberate from China to Australia. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Voting begins in tiny Tuvalu in election that reverberates from China to Australia

Voting has started in the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, in a national election that could reverberate from China to Australia.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in Nashua, N.H., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Republican National Committee pulls resolution declaring Trump as the ‘presumptive 2024 nominee’

The Republican National Committee has pulled a resolution to consider declaring Donald Trump the party’s “presumptive 2024 nominee” before he formally clinches the requisite number of delegates.

Gov. Tony Evers, D-Wis., speaks before President Joe Biden at the Earth Rider Brewery, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, in Superior, Wis. Biden is returning to the swing state of Wisconsin to announce $5 billion in federal funding for upgrading the Blatnik Bridge and for dozens of similar infrastructure projects nationwide. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Judge says Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers can be questioned in Trump fake electors lawsuit

A judge has ruled that Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers can be asked questions related to his role serving as a Democratic elector in the 2020 presidential election as part of an ongoing lawsuit against former President Donald Trump’s attorneys.

President Joe Biden waves as he boards Air Force One upon departure, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. Biden is headed to Wisconsin.(AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

AP VoteCast: What the first contests tell us about the Trump and Biden coalitions

With momentum from this month’s presidential contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, Joe Biden and Donald Trump appear poised to give the nation a sequel to the 2020 election — but even strong victories this week for both men highlighted weak spots for each of them.

FILE— In this Dec. 8, 2019, file photo, the then Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks at the parliament in Tehran, Iran. Iran's former moderate President Hassan Rouhani says he has been disqualified from running for reelection to the country's influential Assembly of Experts, late Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, calling it a move to limit the people's participation in elections, official state media reported. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)

Iran disqualifies former moderate president from running for reelection to influential assembly

Iran’s moderate former President Hassan Rouhani announced that he was disqualified from running in an upcoming election for the Assembly of Experts in March, media reported late Wednesday.

North Macedonia’s government resigns ahead of general elections

North Macedonia’s prime minister and his cabinet have formally submitted their resignations to parliament, paving the way for a caretaker government to prepare for general elections planned this May.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, right, Chairman of Pakistan People's Party addresses supporters at a election campaign rally, in Bhalwal, Pakistan, Wednesday, Jan. 24,2024. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Pakistani Taliban pledge not to attack election rallies ahead of Feb. 8 vote

The Pakistani Taliban have pledged not to attack election rallies, saying their targets are limited to the military and security forces, as political parties and independent candidates ramp up their campaigns ahead of the Feb. 8 vote.

In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, center exchange gifts with U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., left and Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif, right in Taipei, Taiwan on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. The co-chairs of the U.S. Congressional Taiwan Caucus are making their first trip to the island after an independence-leaning party won a third straight term in the island's presidential elections this month. arrived Wednesday. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

A US congressional delegation affirms bipartisan support for Taiwan in first visit since election

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — A bipartisan delegation from the United States Congress reaffirmed support for Taiwan during a visit Thursday following its election of a new president.

FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a primary election night party in Nashua, N.H., Jan. 23, 2024. A thinned-out primary field and a group of Nevada Republicans loyal to Trump have put the former president on an easy path to sweep the state's Republican delegates and made the third state in the GOP primary calendar a national non-factor. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

A thinned-out primary and friendly voting structure clear an easy path for Trump in Nevada

Nevada’s Republican delegates are essentially locked in for Donald Trump weeks before voters make their choice.

FILE - House Speaker Mike Johnson of La., walks on Capitol Hill, Jan. 18, 2024, in Washington. Former President Donald Trump is racking up Republican endorsements in Congress for his 2024 presidential campaign. On Jan. 24, after Trump won the New Hampshire primary, the number of endorsements climbed even higher, a solid majority of the Republicans in Congress. "It's past time for the Republican Party to unite around President Trump," said Johnson, setting the tone. (AP Photo/Yuri Gripas)

Trump’s quiet campaign to rack up Republican endorsements is working

After Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden and inspired a mob of supporters to attack the Capitol trying to overturn the 2020 election, the defeated president started laying the groundwork for the support in Congress he would need for a return.

President Joe Biden speaks during a United Auto Workers' political convention, Jan. 24, 2024, in Washington. Biden travels to Superior, Wisconsin., on Thursday.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Biden, eager for a 2020 rematch in November, is quick to anoint Trump as his 2024 rival

President Joe Biden is zeroing in on an expected rematch against Donald Trump after this week’s New Hampshire primaries.