Author

Ariana Figueroa

Ariana Figueroa

Ariana covers the nation's capital for States Newsroom. Her areas of coverage include politics and policy, lobbying, elections and campaign finance.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Pocketbook issues rank high for Latino voters in 2024 election, survey finds

By: - September 4, 2024

WASHINGTON — Latino voters are concerned with the high cost of living, the minimum wage and rising housing costs heading into the November elections, according to a comprehensive survey released Wednesday by UnidosUS, the largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy center in the nation. “Laying out a coherent economic policy agenda that will resonate with […]

Trump taps into culture war issues, seeks to energize base at Moms for Liberty event

By: - August 31, 2024

WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump late Friday rarely touched on education issues during the third conference of Moms for Liberty, a conservative parental rights group that has ties to Project 2025, the far-right playbookTrump has tried to distance himself from. Instead, in a more than one-hour interview with Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice, […]

Federal judge pauses program that grants protections for undocumented spouses

By: - August 27, 2024

WASHINGTON — A Texas federal judge late Monday sided with 16-Republican led states to temporarily block a Biden administration program that grants deportation protections for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and a potential pathway to citizenship. The ruling by Judge J. Campbell Barker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, is […]

Trump promises mass deportations of undocumented people. How would that work?

By: - August 26, 2024

WASHINGTON — “Mass deportation now!” is a catchphrase for the Trump presidential campaign, as the Republican nominee proposes a crackdown on immigration that would oust thousands of undocumented people. Often citing a deportation operation enacted by former President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s, former President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed in campaign rallies that he […]

‘Let’s fight for it’: Harris vows to chart a new way forward, defeat Trump

By: and - August 23, 2024

CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination for president Thursday evening, pitching her candidacy as an opportunity for the nation to move forward, rather than accept a dark future she said would follow a second election of her Republican opponent. Harris on the last night of the Democratic National Convention took advantage […]

Democrats stress gun violence prevention on convention’s final night

By: - August 22, 2024

CHICAGO — The final night of the Democratic National Convention Thursday included a lineup of lawmakers and others who have long advocated for gun safety and have dealt with the aftermath of gun violence in their communities. “Our losses do not weaken us — they strengthen our resolve,” Georgia U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a longtime […]

Frustrated uncommitted delegates push for Palestinian American speaker as DNC nears end

By: - August 22, 2024

CHICAGO — Uncommitted delegates Thursday said they will continue their sit-in protest outside the United Center to advocate for a Palestinian American speaker at the Democratic National Convention, as Vice President Kamala Harris prepares to deliver her keynote address on the convention’s final night. While Harris will aim to galvanize Democrats to aid her meteoric […]

Bill Clinton urges Democrats to work for Harris, ‘the president of joy’

By: - August 22, 2024

CHICAGO — Former President Bill Clinton, a titan in the Democratic Party with a talent for connecting with rural white voters, Wednesday praised Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris for her ability to move the country forward and touted her middle-class roots. “Kamala Harris is the only candidate in this race with the vision, the experience, […]

Democratic women governors showcased at DNC event with ‘Veep’ star Julia Louis-Dreyfus

By: - August 21, 2024

CHICAGO — Actress and climate activist Julia Louis-Dreyfus asked eight Democratic women governors Wednesday if she would be ready for public office after playing a vice president and president on the hit cable TV show “Veep.” “You’re more qualified than Donald Trump, don’t worry about it,” New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul quickly replied, to […]

Harris campaign launches bilingual WhatsApp channel to draw Latino voters in swing states

By: - August 21, 2024

CHICAGO — Latino lawmakers and organizers Wednesday stressed their voting bloc as key to delivering battleground states to Democrats in November, as the Harris campaign launched a bilingual WhatsApp channel to target Latino voters. “The Latino vote will be the deciding factor in this election,” actress and Democratic surrogate Eva Longoria said during a Hispanic […]

UAW’s Shawn Fain predicts working-class support for Harris-Walz ticket

By: - August 20, 2024

CHICAGO — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain told reporters Tuesday that working-class people can see themselves in the new Democratic presidential ticket. “There’s a very distinct difference in these two people and where they stand with working-class people,” Fain said of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. […]

‘Never, ever give up’: Hillary Clinton urges Democrats to fight for Harris win

By: - August 20, 2024

CHICAGO — Hillary Clinton, the first woman to clinch a major political party’s presidential nomination, on the first night of the Democratic National Convention praised Vice President Kamala Harris — the second woman in U.S. history to be nominated — for her bright vision for the nation and her ability to lead the country forward. […]