Free Republic

The Senate confirmed 15 more judges late Thursday, all but wrapping up its pre-election work on a top Republican priority days after Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Clearing the judicial nominees provided a signature walk-off for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has focused on reshaping the judiciary with more conservative judges. Once final action was finished later Thursday evening, senators were not expected back to session full-time until after the November election. While many of the judges were approved with bipartisan support, almost half were confirmed on mostly party-line votes. Democratic opponents and their allies swiftly objected...

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick In a move that further consolidates his home-state support, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz has won the backing of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as well as a raft of major financial boosters of former Gov. Rick Perry.Cruz plans to announce Monday that he has secured the endorsement of Patrick, arguably the most powerful elected official in Texas and the third statewide official to back Cruz. Patrick will serve as the Texas chairman of Cruz's campaign.The endorsement marks a reconciliation of sorts between Cruz and Patrick, both darlings of the Tea...

Named Co-chair of Sen. Cruz’s Texas Leadership TeamHOUSTON, Texas — Today, the Cruz for President campaign announced the endorsement of Texas Railroad Commission Chairman David Porter, who will serve as a co-chair to Sen. Cruz’s Texas Leadership Team. A CPA from Midland, Texas, Chairman Porter has been a free market conservative voice on the state’s governing body over the oil and gas industry.“Senator Cruz is a leader on energy issues, and I’ve enjoyed working with him on policies that will make America energy independent and create meaningful jobs in this country,” said Chairman Porter. “He’s a principled conservative who has...

Two former associates of Gov. Chris Christie do not have to hand over documents to a legislative committee investigating the traffic jam scandal engulfing the governor, a New Jersey judge ruled Wednesday. Former Christie loyalists Bridget Kelly and Bill Stepien had been fighting subpoenas calling for them to turn over documents regarding the plot to create traffic jams in Fort Lee to retaliate against the town’s Democratic mayor. The legislative panel asked for the court’s help in getting the two to comply with the subpoenas. Calling the decision one involving “complicated and untested jurisdictional issues,” Judge Mary Jacobson expressed reservations...