Xavier Becerra, once a member of President Biden’s cabinet, is now set for a high-stakes face-off in November after securing a leading position in California’s gubernatorial primary, as reported by the Associated Press.

The former Health and Human Services Secretary has made notable gains against Republican front-runner Steve Hilton, thanks to the ongoing counting of ballots arriving late from across the state.

With more than 67% of the expected votes counted, Becerra holds a slight edge over Hilton, with 26.7% compared to Hilton’s 26.4%, according to the AP. This slim lead highlights the competitive nature of the race.

As of Friday afternoon, the margin between the two candidates was fewer than 22,000 votes, illustrating the race’s increasing competitiveness since Election Day.

This tightening contest is influenced by the ongoing counting of ballots from Democratic and left-leaning voters, who traditionally submit their votes closer to deadlines—a trend likely to favor Becerra, the former state attorney general.

Meanwhile, Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer remained in third place with 21% of the vote, while Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco held onto fourth place with 10.7% of the vote.

Democrats find themselves in a state of alarm over their embattled candidate in Maine, who has come under fire for a myriad of controversies, including allegations of relationship abuse and inappropriate texting behavior. There are also growing concerns about the potential release of compromising photographs.

Graham Platner, 41, who is currently leading the Democratic charge in Maine’s Senate primary, has been mired in controversy due to reports of a Nazi-related tattoo, engaging in sexting while married, and more recent claims of physical abuse made by a former girlfriend.

Platner is vying for the Senate seat long held by Republican Senator Susan Collins since 1997. Securing this seat is crucial for Democrats as they aim to reclaim control of the Senate in the upcoming November midterm elections.

Some prominent Democrats have already distanced themselves from Platner, a former Marine and oyster farmer. Notably, Democratic Senator John Fetterman has labeled Platner as a ‘creep’ and has refrained from offering any support to the troubled candidate.

Following an exposé by the New York Times that detailed Platner’s alleged abusive behavior towards his ex-girlfriend, Congressman Ro Khanna of California conceded, stating, “The behavior described in the New York Times story was wrong and toxic.”

Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Jeanne Shaheen have also expressed their concerns over Platner publicly. 

But the anxieties over the Maine candidate are also coming from off the Hill, and Democratic strategists are expecting even more scandals to drop before the state’s primary election on Tuesday, including potential naked pictures of Platner. 

‘Bake in right now that we’re eventually going to get a Graham Platner dick pic,’ one top Democratic strategist told the Daily Mail. ‘The guy’s clearly not a good dude, there are so many red flags here … this guy’s just a walking red flag.’

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, who has been hit with several major scandals, is ‘a walking red flag,’ one veteran Democratic strategist told the Daily Mail

Platner is embroiled in a sexting scandal where he admitted to sending nude photos to women on Kik while married. Pictures viewed by the Daily Mail showed the Democratic candidate posing shirtless and in only a towel

Graham Platner with his Totenkopf tattoo, before he covered it up. He claims to have no idea that the image has a long association with Nazis

At the center of the storm is a tattoo that Platner has said he didn’t realize had been associated with Nazis and the SS, the German WWII death squad. 

‘The Nazi tattoo is bad, and it seems to me like there are multiple people saying that he lied about not knowing it was a Nazi tattoo until somebody brought it up. He knew, it’s just not credible to say that he didn’t know at this point,’ the strategist said. 

Insiders say the tattoo scandal crosses a line for key voters in the state, especially Jewish ones. 

‘The Nazi tattoo isn’t great,’ Bennett said. 

‘It’d be one thing if he had it temporarily and realized his mistake and got it removed, but this idea that he spent 18 years with that tattoo and didn’t know that it was a symbol of the Nazis is hard to credit.’ 

Meanwhile, the allegations of Platner’s abuse of women are also sure to impact his support among women voters in Maine. 

Lyndsey Fiefield, shown here with Platner, dated the candidate on and off again from 2013 to 2015. She accused him of physical abuse

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and his wife Amy Gertner

‘They will care if he sexually assaulted or abused or was violent with somebody. I think those are the lines that, I’m gonna be like, “get the f*** out of my party,”‘ the Democratic strategist said. 

Further, the liberal politico argued that while Planter’s extramarital sexting scandal, which took place on Kik – a platform with a history of use by pedophiles, may not be disqualifying, if there’s any indication he was talking to underage women would destroy his chances in the election and tarnish Democrats’ reputation. 

‘The Democratic Party’s in a terrible position here… there’s no one can force him from the race. If he stays in the race, he’s going to be the nominee,’ Bennet said. ‘It’s a rock and a hard place for the party.’ 

The New York Times piece on Platner featured comments from three ex-girlfriends. 

Lyndsey Fifield, who dated the candidate from approximately 2013 to 2015, said that Platner would become aggressive, particularly when drinking. 

Though she said he ‘never hit me,’ she claimed he would regularly grab her by the shoulders, leaving marks, and once pulled her from a taxi by her wrist during an argument.

Fifield, a conservative operative, also recalled an incident in which he twisted her arm behind her back, pushed her into a bedroom, and held the door shut, telling her to stay there until she was ‘calm.’

Senator Bernie Sanders (C) has endorsed Platner and campaigned with him

Platner’s wife reportedly flagged the candidate’s sexual messages to other women to the Democrat’s campaign

Platner’s campaign told the Daily Mail in a statement, ‘Let’s be very clear: This is a lifelong GOP operative who’s dedicated her career to electing Republicans.’

Another ex, Maine Democrat, Jenny Racicot, 41, described Platner’s behavior to the Times as ‘reckless’ and ‘unsettling.’

‘When I saw the old comments that he made online,’ she said, ‘I recognized a version of him that I had experiences with.’

A third woman, a Maine Democrat who asked not to be named, described the candidate as charismatic at times but also prone to heavy bouts of drinking.

She said she felt like ‘collateral damage to the world that is his.’

In a statement shared with the Daily Mail by his campaign, Platner noted, ‘Throughout this campaign, I’ve been open about what was a very dark period of my life where I struggled with undiagnosed PTSD, too often self-medicated with alcohol, and was a far from perfect boyfriend.’

Despite his claims to have cleaned up his act, both liberal operatives warned there could be more coming. 

‘There is apparently a Washington Post article as well, and so the question of like the drip, drip, drip, you know, does that eventually become death by 1000 cuts?’ the Democratic strategist said.

In a heartfelt tribute, the Chicago Police Department honored Officer Krystal Rivera at a memorial roll call on Friday, marking one year since her tragic death while serving in the line of duty.

On the anniversary of her passing, a solemn ceremony was held to remember Rivera’s dedicated service and sacrifice.

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“It’s been a year today, and the pain remains as fresh as ever. It feels like it happened just yesterday,” expressed Yolanda Rivera, Krystal’s mother. “Our entire family continues to grieve deeply.”

Officer Rivera, a 36-year-old single mother, left behind a young daughter. Her family, along with colleagues from the 6th District, gathered in remembrance, supported by the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and other supporters.

“Some individuals leave a lasting impact, resonating long after they’re gone. Officer Krystal Rivera is undeniably one of those individuals,” remarked Cmdr. Andre Poston from the 6th District.

Investigators say the four-year Chicago Police Department veteran was killed when she was unintentionally shot in the back in June of last year by her partner, Carlos Baker, while they were chasing a suspect in the city’s Gresham neighborhood.

Baker’s been relieved of his police powers amid a separate assault investigation, and Rivera’s family has sued both him and the Chicago Police Department, alleging the shooting came after Rivera broke off a romantic relationship with him. Baker’s attorney says his client did nothing wrong.

During the nearly hour-long ceremony, Officer Rivera was celebrated for her love of family, especially her daughter, as well as her dedication to the people she served and protected.

“The name Krystal, it means brilliant, and it means clear. She was clear about what she wanted to do,” 17th Ward Alderman David Moore said.

Two men were charged in connection with Rivera’s death.

One pleaded guilty and is in prison, while the other has not been convicted.

It’s little comfort for those who knew and loved Rivera, as they struggle to accept life without her.

Officers at the 6th District are vowing never to forget their friend or the sacrifice she and her family have made.

Spencer Pratt is making his stance clear to the frustrated residents of Los Angeles who are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the vote count. As the mayoral race lingers on, Pratt took to social media, sharing a series of striking photos on X this Friday. The snapshots show him standing purposefully outside the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office, nestled within the iconic City Hall in downtown LA.

With a succinct caption that read “Patience,” Pratt’s message was both straightforward and intentional, emphasizing the need for calm during this drawn-out electoral process. The images themselves depict a candidate seemingly prepared to tackle the demands of leadership.

In these photos, Pratt is seen wearing a dark blue suit paired with a light blue button-up shirt. His expression is stern and focused as he looks directly into the camera in two of the shots. Another image captures him pacing in front of City Hall, suggesting his readiness to embrace the forthcoming challenges of the race.

The images project a candidate ready for hard work.

Pratt, dressed in a dark blue suit with a light blue button-up shirt, stares straight into the camera in two of the shots, wearing a stern, focused expression. In another frame, he’s seen walking in front of City Hall, appearing to pace as if he’s eager for the next phase of the race. 

American flags line the building behind him, waving beneath a bright blue sky.

The post lands at a pivotal moment in the campaign.

A tragic incident involving a head-on collision that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman has been linked to a peculiar explanation given by a Minnesota driver. According to court documents, the woman, Shauna Rae Dokken, claimed that her dog had seized the steering wheel just before the crash.

On Monday, 43-year-old Dokken faced charges in Roseau County District Court. She has been accused of criminal vehicular homicide, with allegations that she operated the vehicle with gross negligence.

The charge is connected to a devastating accident that occurred on June 27 along Minnesota Highway 11, resulting in the death of Barbara Lee Welberg.

The criminal complaint highlights that several drivers witnessed Dokken’s erratic behavior on the road prior to the collision. One observer reported that he dialed 911 and endeavored to track Dokken’s pickup after it veered completely into the opposite lane of traffic.

Shauna Rae Dokken, captured in a photo provided by the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office, is now facing serious legal consequences for her role in the fatal crash in Roseau County, Minnesota.