Valerie Richardson

Secession petitions boosting spirits on right wing

November 6 was a rough day for the normally peppy Cathy Cloud. Like many voters, she truly believed it was the most important presidential election of her lifetime. Then Mitt Romney lost.

November 15, 2012

Inclusion key in anti-suicide drive

The anti-euthanasia movement found new life last week after voters in Massachusetts defied the conventional wisdom by rejecting a physician-assisted suicide initiative.

November 14, 2012

Petitions to secede are filed for 23 states since election

It's traditional for Americans to threaten to move to France or Canada when their candidate loses, but this year some disappointed voters are implementing a different plan. In the wake of the Nov. 6 election, petitions seeking to secede from the union have been filed on behalf of 23 states on the White House website.

November 12, 2012

Tax-initiative passage opens floodgates in California

After decades of fighting with tight-fisted taxpayers and Republicans for more money, California's Democrats finally saw the revenue floodgates open Tuesday.

November 8, 2012

Health care law wins reprieve with Obama re-election

Like a sick patient who somehow always rallies, President Obama's health care law survived another scare Tuesday with Mr. Obama's defeat of Republican challenger Mitt Romney on Tuesday.

November 7, 2012

ELECTION 2012: Sen. Dean Heller retains seat in Nevada

Republican Sen. Dean Heller has won a re-election squeaker in Nevada, besting Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley by just 12,137 votes.

November 7, 2012

ELECTION 2012: Colorado, Washington legalize pot for adult recreational use

Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for adult recreational use, setting up a showdown with federal authorities over the enforcement of national drug laws.

November 6, 2012

Partisans brace for worst-case scenarios

Both presidential candidates can't win Tuesday, which means somebody's got to lose. What if it's your guy?

November 5, 2012

Election 2012: First the voting, then counting, then challenges

For those who can't wait until the 2012 presidential election is finally over on Wednesday: not so fast.

November 4, 2012

176 initiatives on ballots on Election Day

Ballot measures on marijuana and marriage are drawing the lion's share of media attention across the country, but other propositions included on this year's ballot could affect everything from the food you eat to how much you pay in taxes.

October 31, 2012

Governor fights legalizing of pot in Colorado

Ordinarily Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Democrat, enjoys being ahead of the curve — but not when it comes to being the first state to legalize marijuana for nonmedical use.

October 30, 2012

Despite ground support, Berkley struggles to soar in Nevada

Democratic operatives in Nevada are pumping voters here to the polls like nickels into a slot machine, and yet their efforts may not be enough for Senate candidate Shelley Berkley.

October 27, 2012

Poll sees rising resistance to California tax hike

California Gov. Jerry Brown's $6 billion tax-increase initiative is losing steam as it enters the final stretch of the race, according to a poll released Thursday.

October 25, 2012

California governor takes risk with proposal to raise taxes

There's something cruel yet comical in the way that California voters continually elect Democrats and then forbid them from raising taxes.

October 23, 2012

Calif.’s Democrat-vs.-Democrat, Berman-Sherman contest may be nation’s nastiest

A U.S. House contest in Southern California may be the country's most bitter — even though both candidates are Democrats and respected, longtime incumbents.

October 20, 2012

Montana’s Tester says he’s not Obama’s ‘twin’ in tight Senate race

President Obama hasn't visited Montana in years, but he's casting a long shadow over Democratic Sen. Jon Tester's re-election chances.

October 10, 2012

Denver schools’ attempt to spur student ‘revolution’ backfires

Students in the Denver Public Schools need to know reading, writing and 'rithmetic, but what about the fourth "r" — revolution?

October 8, 2012

Campaign surrogates still dissecting Obama-Romney debate

Obama campaign strategists aren't ready to hand over the 2012 election to Mitt Romney after his strong debate showing, but they do want to give him an Academy Award.

October 7, 2012

Romney adviser says jobless report ‘damning’

Senior Romney campaign adviser Ed Gillespie dismissed questions Sunday about whether the Labor Department's unemployment figures have been manipulated for political purposes, saying, "The numbers themselves are very damning."