#midterm rental | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

strangermarvelss · 2 years

Text

professor munson's guide to passing the class- e.m (pt 6)

Pairing: Professor!Eddie Munson x Student!AFAB!Female!Reader

Summary: you visit eddie during office hours for an unexpected lesson

Warnings: SMUT 18+ MINORS DNI (blowjob, p in v, creampie, little degradation, little praise, professor kink), angst, cliffhanger

Word Count: 3k

A/N: here is part 6 of my professor eddie series! can’t believe this series is half way over, but it’s just now getting good, i promise hehe :) enjoy! -sava

thank you to my shrexy love @myobmaya for beta reading :)

Tying the two strings together, you pull the coat tight on your body, creating a second knot when you fasten the straps together initially. Finding the outfit currently underneath the thick coat wasn’t as easy as you thought it might be, and you wanted to keep the surprise in tact for Eddie, whom you’d be seeing in just a few minutes.

Things between the two of you have been great since your Valentine’s Day meal together. He cooked some spaghetti for you with fresh made breadsticks he picked up at the local bakery on campus, toasting them up and adding what he calls some “Munson Magic” to the bread, which just meant garlic salt and butter, but still delicious nonetheless. The two of you really connected that night, learning more about one another and for a moment, really taking the time to appreciate one another without thinking about just fucking each others brains out…even if it did happen later that night.

Within the past three weeks, you’ve been going out on dates, both secluded to the confines of Eddie’s apartment with home cooked meals and rentals from Blockbuster, but you were also venturing out in public even, with going out to a few towns over and walking around the the park, going out to eat, and even seeing a movie in the theaters. Sure, it was a risk, but the two of you have been able to successfully keep things under wraps for nearly three months now. Not to mention, the past two times you’ve seen one another you didn’t even have sex with one another, just having the other person being right beside you being enough to keep you both satisfied. You both have matured over this arrangement, impressed with yourself with this success you've found in the dating world.

So, you thought giving Eddie a little surprise visit wouldn’t hurt anything.

Grabbing your backpack, you sling it over your shoulder and pull your bedroom door open, walking out into the open space of your apartment and flashing Nadia a smile once you get within eyesight of her. She sends you a smile back from her position on the couch, before taking in your appearance and quirking a brow your way.

“Where are you going dressed in a big trench coat in the middle of March? It’s not even that cold outside,” she questions, crossing her arms in front of her figure after tossing the remote to the side.

“Last office hours before midterms. Thought I’d bundle up since it gets cold in that building,” you reply her, your hand resting on the door knob. She nods, squinting her eyes at you as she crosses her arms in front of her chest, shifting slightly.

“Is it for your music class?”

“Yep! Trying to get the best grade possible, you know,” you chuckle out, turning the knob slowly. You’re about to pull the door open when you hear a sigh come from Nadia’s mouth, making you turn back to her. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just want you to be careful going there, okay? I know that finals are approaching and that you really enjoy the class, but stuff can always change in an instant,” She tells you. Unable to stop yourself, you shoot her a confused expression, eyebrows furrowing slightly.

“I always am,“ you laugh out, shaking your head. "What's going on? You've been acting really weird lately?"

"I'm not the one acting weird," she mutters under her breath.

"What was that?" You question, leaning a bit closer and flashing your ear to her.

“Nothing! It's just, I care about you is all. Have fun at your office hours,” she says before fumbling around for the remote and hitting play on the movie she was watching. You hesitate a moment before walking out the door, shaking out of yet another weird encounter with your roommate. You weren’t sure what was going on with her lately, but you’re sure there isn’t much to worry about there.

Knocking on the wooden door that leads into Eddie’s office, smiling when he makes eye contact with you and welcomes you inside. Shutting the door, you come around his desk and plant a kiss to his cheek. Trying to pull away, his hand maneuvers to the back of your neck, pulling you back and moving his lips against yours. His scent is even more intoxicating than usual, but that may just be your heightened desires trying to escape with the surprise you have planned.

"Hey you," he breathes out for moment, separating from your figure ever so slightly and glancing up to your eyes.

"Hi Professor Munson," you let out, before dipping your head back down and taking his lips in yours once more.

Finally pulling away after a few minutes, you take a few deep breaths as you stand, smirking at him as he finally looks you up and down. “Are you becoming a professional flasher or something? That’s pretty frowned upon now-a-days.”

“No silly, just wanted to keep warm for the ride over. And I just thought I'd come surprise you during office hours since no one ever takes the opportunity to come and see you during this time...except me, of course,” you tell him, fingers dancing along the strings of the jacket.

Carefully, you begin to undo them, taking the knot apart before shimmying out of the oversized coat. Eddie’s eyes widen as he drinks in your appearance: Simple sneakers and knee-high socks adorn the bottom half of your legs, and a short pleaded skirt with a blue and black plaid design that shows your thighs off covering the top of your lower half, finishing it off with a tight white shirt clinging to your upper half, cleavage nearing busting at the seams with multiple buttons undone, showing the tops of your bra cups. Suddenly, your white shirt isn’t the only thing feeling tight within the small room.

“Fuck,” he breathes out, unable to take his eyes off the outfit. He can't help how sexy you look, but also can't fight the urge to tease you about the scenario.“You do know that Halloween isn’t for another 7 months though, right?”

Shooting his a glare, you turn your back and begin walking towards the door, making sure to shake your ass a with a bit of drama as you do so. “I thought it would be cute, but if you don’t like it, then I can just go home and change. Put some sweatpants on and a big sweater-“

“If you don’t bend over this desk in the next 5 seconds you’re going to regret it,” he lets out, voice stern and low. Biting your lip, you rush over to his desk, watching with careful eyes as he works around to meet you around the front side. His hands rest on your hips for a minute, before sliding up and down your sides, landing on your covered breasts.

“You see what you do to me? Coming in my office dressing like a school girl. Very taboo sweetheart,” he breathes out, inching closer to your neck. His breath fans over your neck, the hot air making heat travel to your cheeks. “Such a naughty little thing, aren’t you? Trying to fuck your professor in his office like the little whore you are?”

You can’t help but moan at his words and at the feeling of his hands migrating down your body. Cupping one hand on your heat, he takes one of the hands that was propping you up against the desk and rests it on his crotch, feeling his bulge through his black slacks. “You see what you do to me baby? ‘Ya feel the effect you have on me?”

Nodding, you trail your hand up to the top of his pants, popping the button and gliding the zipper down the tracks to free him of the tight confines. Dipping your hand into the waistband of his boxers, you feel his hot hard member make contact against your cold hand. You pull it out, watching it smack against his lower stomach before looking at him with innocent eyes. He smirks at you, nodding towards his cock before letting his deep brown and lust filled eyes bore into yours.

“Think you can help your professor out with his little situation?” He questions mockingly. Nodding once more, you sink to your knees and pull his slacks down to his ankles, resting your hands on his thighs as you lick a thick stripe from the curve of his sack to his leaky red tip.

Eddie’s hands grip the edge of the desk, looking up to see his bottom lip caught between his teeth as small grunts come from his mouth here and there. You circle your tongue around the tip before taking it into your mouth, bobbing your head shallowly as you begin working down his shaft.

He moves one hand to rest on the back of your head, guiding you down inch by inch until the tip begins hitting the back of your throat and your nose brushes against the thick corse hairs that sit at the base of his cock, tickling you a bit. You moan around him, hollowing your cheeks as you move back up towards the tip, and slowly sinking down the length again.

“Such a good fucking whore for me. C’mon baby, take me just a little deeper. I know you can do it,” he coos, pushing your head down for you. You feel yourself gagging around his length when your nose presses firmly into the skin of his lower stomach, taking him down your throat. “That’s it, there you go sweetheart.”

You glide your mouth back up, releasing him from your mouth with a wet popping sound. Drooling some spit onto his dick, your wrap your hand around it and stroke up and down, smiling up at him as you look into his eyes through your lashes.

“Look at you on your knees for your professor. What a naughty thing you are,” he lets out, bringing his head down your face to rest on your cheek. You feel heat creep onto your cheeks again, moving your free hand to massage his heavy cum filled sack and making him tilt his head back and moan. “C’mon sweetheart, need to be inside you. Come bend over the desk for me and let me see that cute little ass of yours.”

Without wasting a moment, you hop up front your position on the floor and move to the desk, leaning your body over and resting both hands on the shiny mahogany surface. Eddie’s body presses against yours, lips traveling to your neck and biting the skin gently before soothing it over with his tongue. You sigh at the feeling, his lips suckling the area and sending more pleasure down to your wanton cunt.

You feel his slender fingers toying with your panties, slipping under the band and gathering the slick that was nearly pouring out of you. He shimmies his index fingers between your skin and the fabric, pulling down the thin cotton material until it pools at your ankles, feeling the cool air of his office hit your wet heat.

“Wet already I see? Who knew sucking my cock could turn you on so badly, huh?” He asks mockingly. “Guess you really are a little whore, aren’t you?”

All you do is moan in response, feeling one of his calloused fingertips circle around your hardened nub and making you squirm. His fingers leave you, making you turn back to see his fist around his cock, pumping it a few times before lining up with your entrance.

You both sigh as he begins pushing into you, the slight sting of him stretching your walls feeling so good. Eddie’s hand grips at the base of your neck, using it as leverage as he lets go of his cock with his other hand, resting it on your hip as he bottoms out inside you. Your hands cling to the desk, finding purchase on the edge as he begins pulling out, only to thrust back inside you quickly.

“Fuck sweetheart, you’re so fucking tight. Love when you grip me like this,” he moans out, beginning to set a pace with his thrusts. You sigh, the sensation of his cock dragging along your walls sending jolts of pleasure throughout your cunt.

Reaching down, you start rubbing your clit with two fingers, moaning loudly. You feel Eddie smack your hand away, his fingers quickly replacing yours as he begins making fast and tight circles. The coil inside you is building faster, each smack his cum heavy sack makes against your ass which causes the tip of his cock to brush against the sweet spot inside you sending you further over the edge.

“Eddie, M’close,” you whine out, body rubbing against the desk as he pounds into relentlessly. Eddie smirks to himself, moving faster against your clit and keeping his pace steady with his thrusts.

“Make a mess on my cock sweetheart. Wanna see how good I make you feel.”

You walls convulse around him, moaning into the shoulder you’re biting at as pleasure washes over you. His thrusts begin to slow, becoming sloppier with each smack his balls make against you. You can tell he’s close just by the slowing of his pace, having memorized all his quirks when it comes to being intimate with Eddie.

“M’gonna cum. Where do you want m-“

“Cum inside me Eddie, I’m on the pill. Need to feel you fill me up, please Eds,” you beg, reaching around to hold him. He laces his fingers with yours with one hand, while the other grips at the base of your neck and pushing himself in and out of you with small grunts leaving his mouth.

The warm feeling inside sends aftershocks shooting throughout your spent cunt, Eddie’s thrusts halting as he moans out loudly, spurting thick white ropes of cum deep inside you. As he tries to come down from his high, he’s mutter out obscenities when he pulls out of you, chest rising and falling rapidly as he breathes heavily.

Feeling spent, you let your weight fall onto the desk, legs trembling from such an intense high. You feel a wet sensation on your shoulder blade, looking back to see Eddie’s lip planted there, eyes looking into yours. You can’t help but smile at the cute image.

While directing your attention backwards, you also notice the door knob turning slightly, freezing in place as satisfaction is quickly replaced by terror.

“Hey Eddie, I was hoping we could talk-what the hell,” Dean Harrington says, walking into the room and stopping dead in his tracks, like a deer caught in headlights. Eddie’s eyes widen as he turns his head, looking at his friend and colleague in the eyes as he mentally beats himself up for the predicament he’s been caught in.

The dean looks to you for a split second, before directing his attention back to Eddie's whose body has becoming completely rigid above you. Dean Harrington's cheek slowly begin turning bright red, blinking as he tries to look anywhere but at the two of you. Opening and closing his mouth a few times, you can tell he's at a loss for words, unable to think of just how he's going to break this surprising tension.

Eddie shifts slightly, turning to a better angle to look at his colleague. His features are also bright red, sweat beginning to pile under his bangs and drip down his porcelain skin. He was scared, and he could tell you were too by how silent and still you were being. He had to try and explain himself, for both of your sakes.

“Uh, hey Steve. I can explain-“

“No, don’t bother," he finally lets out, turning his back to the both of you breathing out a heavy sigh. "Meet me in my office in 10 minutes. Alone. That gives you two enough time to get dressed and vacate this office,” Dean Harrington replies, making a hast exit of the office. Eddie wastes no time retreating from your figure, quickly redressing himself as he mutters more obscenities under his breath. You follow suit, pulling your panties up from their spot around your ankles and tucking your shirt into your skirt, hands shaking with fear.

You try looking up at Eddie, but his eyes are on everything but you. He’s reaching over for his hair tie, gathering his long luscious mane and pulling it back into a low bun. He walks around his room, gathering his things as he prepares to walk out. Opening the office door, he waits for you to exit, tapping his foot impatiently.

Finishing up, you tie the strings to your jacket to hide your outfit before grabbing your backpack. You walk towards the door, turning back to try and look at him once more. With his eyes planted to the floor, his pokes his tongue out of his mouth, looking lost in thought. Funny how attitudes can change on a dime like this.

“Eddie, can we talk about this?”

“No. At least, not right now. I’ve gotta get to his office, so, uh... I’ll see you in class, Miss Y/L/N.”

The formal farewell struck you, sending a wave of hurt throughout your chest and down your spine. With a heavy heart, you turn your back to him and begin walking out of the lecture hall as you feel your eyes grow heavy with tears. You hear the door to his office close abruptly, making you wince a little. What the fuck did you just get yourself in to?

352 notes · View notes

dontcallmecarrie · 9 months

Text

Warnings: NHDD!Justin's dysfunctional family, financial abuse. Set in the late 80s/very early 1990s. Not a happy installment this time- most of NHDD is what happens when things are going well, this is a moment when that is not the case. .

Deep breath, and let it out. Justin Hammer's greatest strength was their self-control, they couldn't afford to lose it— no matter how much they wanted to.

Even if Justin really, really wanted to. Like right now, when his latest bank statement proudly declared he officially had all of one dollar to his name. Ugh, figured that the one time their parents were paying attention to them, it was for shit like this.

What was it, that last not-fight with the old man, or the fact that they’d been late to Thanksgiving due to midterms? Oh, who was he even kidding, it was the latter— mother dearest just hated anytime their ‘happy family’ facade showed the slightest crack.

So emptying out Justin's bank account? Part retaliation for dragging his feet when scheduling his trip home last time, and part warning to not do the same for winter break. Even if finals were right before Christmas this year, because of course they were.

Justin tamped down on that frustration and helplessness and rage, and focused on what they needed to do next.

Okay.

They were officially broke for the foreseeable future, but they could work with what they had.

Utilities were covered in the year-long rental contract they’d prepaid at the start of the term, it was the phone cutting off and his main card being declined while grocery shopping that had tipped Justin off to what was going on. They were screwed on the latter, but if this hissy fit went as expected, then they'd give it a few days for their parents to "let it sink in", and a handful more before their spite was outweighed by their need for convenience and they reinstated his phone because neither of his parents could stand each other for more than five minutes these days.

If things continued like previous fights, and knowing his parents the way he did, then the next step would be to play along and once the situation had blown over, they’d put half of the money back, keeping the rest as punishment. As if Justin was the one acting like an unruly child, and not their parents who threw honest to goodness temper tantrums the moment things didn’t go their way, or discovered that their children had their own independent thoughts and feelings.

At the moment, Steph was really stomping on their parents’ latest nerves with her hopes for art school and Justin’s Econ major could only do so much damage control, especially with their father.

They’d seen the writing on the wall, they knew what was coming: but the breaking point wasn’t quite yet, and they’d be able to do so much more to at least get Steph out of this mess if they just gritted their teeth during moments like these, and stuck with the plan. It was at a delicate stage at the moment, and they couldn’t afford to touch any of those funds for another three years at least if they wanted any of it was to work.

Even if that meant enduring moments like these, carefully going through their apartment and dipping into their emergency stash to last the end of the quarter.

Really, Justin was lucky they even had that much— even if something deep inside them nearly cried, because they shouldn’t have had to do this ever again.

Justin Hammer couldn’t remember it, but they knew, as sure as the sun rose in the east and taxes were due on April 15, that surviving in winter on a shoestring budget was a miserable experience. Especially when they had a next to empty pantry, and the only saving grace to this mess is that the end date was roughly three weeks away, and at least didn’t have to worry about electricity or running water this time— and wow, that bar wasn’t on the goddamn ground.

Okay, so, that was where they were at the moment. Not great, but they could work with this.

Their emergency cash would get them several pounds of rice and beans for the apartment, and on campus there would soon be dozens of RSOs holding celebrations for either the holidays, end of term, or both. Justin liked to think they were fairly well-liked, it shouldn’t be too hard to secure an invite or five to something with free food. As a bonus, they’d be able to network and set out feelers for people interested in tutoring; Justin might not be a genius, but they were studious and if even one person was up for it, they’d be able to supplement their emergency cash for future situations.

Okay, that’d work, and with the bonus of not needing to go to the pawn shop. Off the top of their head, Justin had a few first editions and a few other things lying around that would probably get them through a few months, but they'd rather avoid that route if possible.

Okay. They could do this.

#no hero [downward descending]#3 am musings #because writer's block apparently works like that for me

15 notes · View notes

bighermie · 2 years

Link

25 notes · View notes

spiriteddreams · 1 year

Text

skip class for one day bc you’re burnt out and of course we happen to watch an impromptu documentary that day and we have a midterm tmrw and i need to watch it in case it’s an essay question and OF COURSE the only way i can watch it is paying for a 24hr digital rental bc I CANT FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE

#the things i do for my education.#stupid documentary stupid class stupid me ugh #spirit rambles

4 notes · View notes

monsterkong · 1 month

Text

youtube

Becky Nova's Journey to Real Estate Success

Hey Tumblr fam! 🌟

Today, I’m super excited to share an amazing story with you—a story of resilience, determination, and living life on your own terms. This is the story of Becky Nova, a real estate investor who went from losing everything to living her dream life on the beaches of the Dominican Republic. 🏝️

From Cancer Research to Real Estate: Meet Becky Nova

Becky’s journey didn’t start with real estate. She spent over 15 years working in cancer research, but after becoming disillusioned with the industry, she knew she needed a change. So, what did she do? She moved to Europe and started a tour company in Spain, expanded into Portugal, and even bought a restaurant.

But life threw her a major curveball. After a bad business decision, Becky lost over $100,000 and had to return to the U.S. with nothing but a few pennies to her name. 😱

The Real Estate Game Changer

Back in the States, Becky met her now-husband, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. While Becky was recovering from her financial losses, her husband was saving every penny with the dream of owning a home in the U.S. It was his idea to buy real estate, but Becky had a twist—she suggested buying a multifamily property, living in one unit, and renting out the other. Little did they know, this strategy, known as “house hacking,” would set the stage for their real estate empire.

In 2018, they bought their first duplex in New York, and from that moment on, Becky was hooked. She dove headfirst into the world of real estate, learning everything she could. And within a year, she had purchased another property—a four-family home with a parking lot, a rare gem in New York!

Living the Dream: From New York to the Dominican Republic

Fast forward to today, Becky’s real estate portfolio includes multiple properties in New York and the Dominican Republic. She has long-term and midterm rentals, generating passive income that allows her to live life on her own terms.

One of Becky’s biggest achievements? Buying her dream home in the Dominican Republic. Now, she spends several months each year enjoying the beach life. And guess what? She’s not stopping there! Becky is planning to expand her portfolio even further, with plans to buy another short-term rental property in Europe later this year. 🌍

The Power of Community and Goal Setting

One of the biggest takeaways from Becky’s journey is the importance of community and setting clear goals. Surrounding yourself with people who support your dreams and staying focused on your goals can make all the difference. Becky’s story is proof that no matter where you start, with the right mindset and determination, you can achieve the life you’ve always wanted.

Lightning Round Fun with Becky Nova

Before we wrapped up our chat, I hit Becky with some quickfire questions:

Favorite Vacation Spot: Any beach! 🏖️

Bucket List Destination: Russia—for its unique history and architecture.

Best Advice Ever Received: Just do it! Take action and don’t look back.

Becky’s journey is incredibly inspiring, and it’s a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to start chasing your dreams. Whether you’re interested in real estate or just looking for a way to live life on your own terms, Becky’s story is a blueprint for success.

Thank you, Becky, for sharing your story with us! If you want to keep up with her journey, follow her on Facebook at Lady Landlords or on Instagram at @TheBeckyNova.

That’s all for today, Tumblr fam! Remember, life is what you make of it, so keep dreaming big and taking action. Until next time! ✌️

#Books #Book Reviews #Book Review #Thriller #Review #Youtube

0 notes

gabkyun · 4 months

Text

W11: Midterm Pitching Experience

Our recent research into Cagayan de Oro's rental market culminated in a successful midterm presentation. Through interviews with landlords at boarding houses and apartments, we gained insights into the often-overlooked challenges they face. Presenting these perspectives, we aim to raise awareness about the complexities of managing rental properties in the city.

This research isn't just about landlords. By understanding their challenges, we can create a more balanced rental ecosystem for both landlords and tenants in Cagayan de Oro. Stay tuned for future posts where we delve deeper into specific aspects of the market, offering valuable tips for both parties.

0 notes

you10tubesworld · 4 months

Text

How to Boost ROI Using Mid-Term Rentals with Jesse Vasquez

youtube

In this exciting episode of the Rent To Retirement Podcast, hosts Adam Schroeder and Zach Lemaster dive deep into the world of midterm rentals with expert Jesse Vasquez. Discover how midterm rentals can significantly boost your cash flow and provide a stable income stream. Jesse shares his journey from healthcare to real estate, the secrets to his success, and actionable tips for getting started with midterm rentals.

#Real Estate Investing #Rental Income #Property Management #Real Estate Tips #Maximize Income #Investment Strategies #Jesse Vasquez #Rent To Retirement #Youtube

0 notes

greydiminishing · 7 months

Text

spring break is next week (but really it starts Friday 😉), and I just had my last midterm, actually my biggest midterm, that I've been studying hard for nonstop for the past few days, and now I'm in that post-exam haze where it's like, that giant pressure that was on me, that one thing that was my entire purpose for four days is over now. It feels like I can relax now..

except it's only Tuesday and I still have plenty of assignments due, not to mention the CAREER FAIR tomorrow??? I didn't prepare for it as much as I wanted to over the weekend because I was so focused on the midterm. I barely got it together enough to last-minute edit my resume tonight, but.. career fair is tomorrow morning. Editing my resume now doesn't do me any good if I can't get it printed 😭. I'm sure the library is gonna be SLAMMED tomorrow with every student on campus printing their last-minute resumes too.

I considered not even going, everyone is telling me its a waste of time, its crowded and sweaty and stinky and you stand in a line for 25 minutes just to get 30 seconds to handoff your resume and elevator pitch yourself to some recruiter who's brain numb from hearing 80 elevator pitches before you, and do that as many times as you can bear, only to never hear a word from anyone. It's gonna be cold and rainy tomorrow so I'll have to change into my nice shoes when I get there and carry my muddy, wet sneakers, and my wet, bulky jacket around the entire time (unless I stand in an even longer line for a locker rental). My two morning classes are canceled for career fair, and that would be such a great opportunity for me to catch up on the sleep I've been missing. And yeah I'm not looking forward to figuring out how to get my resume copies printed, or what that line to the printer is gonna look like.

But I have to go, on the slim, slim chance that I can make a just memorable enough impression on a recruiter who needs butts to fill spots. I NEED an internship. It would be stupid of me not to go.

It would be so so stupid of me not to go but oh my god i do not want to go.

0 notes

freelancerpalash · 2 years

Link

How My Lease Addendum Is Protecting Me In Rental Arbitrage I am sharing my recent experience with an HOA and a city that don’t understand midterm rentals. Click Here:- https://youtu.be/p3csZefyYSU

2 notes · View notes

shortandmidtermrentals · 10 months

Text

Houses for rent near Atlanta GA

Welcome to shortandmidtermrentals, your premier destination for vacation villa rentals in the pictorical state of Georgia, USA. Immerse yourself in the attractive of the South with our carefully curated selection of houses for rent near Atlanta, GA. Whether you are seeking a weekend getaway or a more extended stay, we are offers a diverse range of short and midterm rental options to suit every traveler's needs. Experience the perfect blend of Southern hospitality and modern comfort as you explore the vibrant culture and scenic landscapes of Georgia. Discover your ideal home away from home with shortandmidtermrentals.com – where unforgettable vacations begin.

#atlanta homes for rent #vacation rentals atlanta ga #pool house #rental #beach house

0 notes

tofufactorynightschool · 1 year

Text

滔滔不绝; Chatterbox

好久不见！It's been a while; my bad! Things have been so busy here I can barely find the time to finish my homework, text my friends/family/etc back, check emails, and get a good night's rest. Several times, I meant to write an update, but I guess I never found the time til now--over a month! Oops. So here goes!

The update I wanted to write almost a month ago was:

It's been a crazy first week in Taipei! During the first weekend, I (along with five of my other housemates) got locked out by another housemate. (She deadbolted the door by accident.) Call after call did nothing to awaken her, but the program director got us hotel rooms for the night. Then the next day I almost got heat stroke, I was so dehydrated and overheated and sleep-deprived. I met my language partner (the first and so far the only time I've met her, which will hopefully change soon), and we walked around Taida's campus, darting into AC-bubble after AC-bubble. It was graduation season, and we saw swarms of black-cloaked grads with their colorful hoods on campus, drifting between the palm trees and the stone buildings. The heat and the light makes the memory feel hazy, light-dappled.

Then I had my first Chinese classes, which were a huge wake-up call, because I could barely keep up (or more simply/accurately, was not keeping up). I almost changed out of the class after the first test, but I decided to hang in there. We're now about 4 or 5 tests in, still not sure if I made the right decision! We're almost at the 期中考 midterm point (worth 20% of the final grade), so I guess we'll see soon. (Though I'm writing this post instead of studying for the midterm ...) My 老师 is a funny, charming Japanese woman, who seems to be a little harder on us than my housemates' 老师 are on them ... but I guess maybe that's for the best for my learning style.

I've had some embarrassing language learning mishaps: saying 准备奶茶 instead of 珍珠奶茶 in class, accidentally ordering two milk teas, 什么的。。。In my day to day life, I can get by okay; but to be fair, I mostly talk with my housemates, all of whom are either American or speak English very well. (Not sure how much good that's doing for my language learning, but I think it has made it a less lonely experience--not being fluent, you really feel the gap between what you want to, or need to, express and what you are able to express. It is a fundamentally lonely feeling.) But sometimes I think I've been too busy to feel lonely...there's a few things I miss, sure, a few people I miss intensely, but I feel like I am surprised by how little I feel the urge to go home. Rather, I am nervous for the day that time comes.

There's so much to love here. Almost every morning, I bike to class with a YouBike, which is a convenient bike rental system. The campus is gorgeous; it's like a tropical forest is embracing the school. The birds, turtles, butterflies ... The food ... I feel like anything I say might come across as understatement. It's so delicious. It's also very affordable. I've had so many different things here: qingrenguo, danbing, sooo much milk tea, etc. etc. I can count on one hand the number of times I've even glanced at the stove since arriving. Taipei is so exciting and, somehow, peaceful at the same time -- I don't know if that makes sense. People have been so friendly, things are so beautiful, even the metro has all these cute little cartoons (Taiwan is big on cute culture, and I can't lie, I do love it). Convenience is the order of the day: the transit system, the 7/24 (to use the local notation) convenience stores, the air conditioning, etc. I overall feel incredibly safe here, even at night. There's a lot I wish we had in the states like this There's a lot to do, too. (I'm going to write a list of my activities in another post, otherwise it might get too long.)

To be honest, my days are so full I can barely introspect (my most common pastime back home) and I've also hardly thought about research at all; I'm a little nervous. I can hardly believe that we're halfway through...

滔滔不绝 (tāo tāo bù jué) - unceasing torrent, a torrent (of words)

#travel

0 notes

keywestlou · 2 years

Text

ONLY IN AMERICA

ONLY IN AMERICA - https://keywestlou.com/only-in-america/Credit rating systems, banks, prospective creditors - are not necessarily the best measure of a person's ability to pay. What follows is a perfect example of the statement. It represents an "only in America" happening. Maxwell Frost received national recollection following the November midterm elections. Twenty five years old, he ran for Congress as a Democrat in Republican Florida and won. He will be sworn in January 3. As a Congressman, he will be paid $174,000 a year. Frost obviously in need of a place to live in Washington. He applied for a rental. He told the rental agent he had "really bad" credit. The agent said no problem. Soon thereafter Frost was advised his application had been rejected because of "really bad" credit. Frost claims his credit was bad because he could not work full time and run for Congress. He ran for Congress because he could not get a decent job. In the 1 1/2 years prior to the election, things got so bad he slept in his car for a month. He worked as much as he could while campaigning as a Uber driver. The fact he would begin earning $174,000 immediately after the first of the year was immaterial. Arrest Donald! Throw him in jail! The man is a thief! Forget classified documents, forget his tax cheating. The most recent news re his misappropriations involves one of the United States' most precious documents: The original Declaration of Independence. The document was found in a Trump storage rental in Queens, N.Y. What was it doing there? What motivated Trump to take it? What was his game plan for it? The Declaration of Independence belongs to the people of the United States. Absolutely no question about it. The American people will find his theft of the Declaration of Independence more personally offensive than the classified documents. I repeat, arrest the bastard! Brittany Riner is breathing American air again. Her plane landed early this morning in San Antonio. She is scheduled for a quick medical examination. Then a return to her wife and friends. Welcome home, Brittany! Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema continues her wacky ways. She is no longer a Democrat. She announced she has reregistered as an Independent. Whether she will caucus with the Democrats is unclear. I am sure by the end of this day she will be asked that question by reporters and we will know. I did not like her when she and Joe Manchin danced together the past two years. I still do not like her. She is unreliable. Makes governing difficult. The Senate held a roll call approval vote on a piece of Democratic legislation. An item Democrats and Republicans alike supported. One Republican did not. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. The legislation was called the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. It provided basic protections like bathroom breaks, bottled water, and stools for pregnant workers. Tillis is against the legislation. Claims it amounts to funded "abortion on demand." Abortion not even mentioned in the bill. No one except Tillis conceived of a connection. Asinine stupidity continues re the abortion issue. People like Tillis see a problem where none exists. Christmas means Nutcracker Key West. This week today, tomorrow and Sunday at the Tennessee Williams Theater. If you have never enjoyed the show, see it! The Nutcracker is world famous. I first watched it in Utica many years ago. I made a habit of taking each of my three daughters separately when they were young. Probably 8-10 years old. On a Sunday afternoon. It was dress up time. Date time. Following the show, we would go out for hot chocolate. I continued the experience with my granddaughters. Took Ally years ago to see Nutcracker Key West. Those were the days. Nutcracker Key West is unique. The animals, etc. in the original presentation are replaced by fish, chickens and conch shells. The Key West flavor an appropriate substitute. A holiday classic not to be missed. Two Big East rivals of yesteryear meet tomorrow. Syracuse and Georgetown. One pm. Enjoy your day!

0 notes

cyarskj1899 · 2 years

Text

MIDTERMS 2022

Latest news & analysis

● LIVE COVERAGE

JERRY SEIB

● LIVE COVERAGE

Election Results 2022 Live: Democrats Get Boost for Senate Control; GOP Inches Closer to Narrow House Majority

Full coverage of the midterm elections.

How to use Live Coverage

To see new updates, reopen this article. You can add it to your saved stories by tapping 

Latest Developments, Analysis and Results

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto was re-elected to a second term representing Nevada, giving Democrats continued control of the chamber and disappointing Republicans who believed they had a strong chance to seize the majority.

Sen. Mark Kelly re-election win in Arizona bolstered Democrats’ prospects of keeping the Senate. Republicans remained on track to take the House majority, but their expected gains had narrowed significantly. Nevada's key Senate race remained too close to call with Democrats one seat away from control. Arizona's governor race remained tight as well.

Why Independent Voters Broke for Democrats

Graphics: Midterms Point to Closely Divided House

How Different Groups Voted

Democrats Keep Senate Majority as Catherine Cortez Masto Wins Re-Election in Nevada

Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto was re-elected to a second term representing Nevada in the U.S. Senate, giving Democrats continued control of the chamber and disappointing Republicans who believed they had a strong chance to seize the majority in the midterm elections

Ms. Cortez Masto, 58 years old, had 48.7% of the votes with 97% counted when the Associated Press called the race, compared with 48.2% for Republican Adam Laxalt, a former state attorney general. Her win gives Democrats control of 50 seats, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking ties, even without a result yet from the Dec. 6 Senate runoff in Georgia.

Democrats will now retain the power to confirm Mr. Biden’s nominees without help from the GOP, extending a string of judicial confirmations that he pushed through over the past two years. Senate control will also allow Democrats to more easily confirm any new executive-branch appointees, including cabinet officials, who may have faced long odds if Republicans took control.

Republicans had banked on a late breaking “red wave” to catapult them to a majority of at least a few seats in the Senate, which has stood at 50-50 for the past two years. Ahead of Election Day, nonpartisan analysts had favored Republicans to win back the House, while considering Senate control a tossup.

It was one of four Senate seats rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report, an independent arbiter of elections. Democrats had prioritized defending the seat, which was widely considered to be the Republicans’ best chance to flip a Democratic-held Senate seat and help deliver the chamber into GOP control.

Democrats had jumped into the race early to paint the vastly underfunded Mr. Laxalt as a corrupt politician more interested in serving his own interests than those of the state. They hit him for his pro-life stance, asserting against his denials that he would vote for a nationwide abortion ban, for his personal investments in oil and drug companies, and for his efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results.

That was just enough to outmaneuver Republicans, who had tried to benefit from a political environment in which voters have been dissatisfied with high inflation and crime. Over the past year, Nevada has had some of the highest gasoline prices in the nation, based on data from the American Automobile Association, and sharpest rental increases, according to research firm HelpAdvisor. Republicans tied her to the price increases by pointing to her vote for a $1.9 trillion stimulus package shortly after President Biden took office.

Nevada

Catherine Cortez Masto

wins Senate race

AP Race Calls

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez Wins in Washington District Carried by Trump in 2020

Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defeated Republican Joe Kent, the Associated Press said late Saturday, flipping a House seat in Washington state previously held by a Republican and chalking up one of the biggest upsets of the cycle.

With 70% of the estimated vote counted, Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez had 50.8% to Mr. Kent’s 49.2%.

The win gives Democrats a boost in their narrow but still possible path to retaining control of the House. Heading into the midterms, nonpartisan analysis had favored Republicans to hold Washington’s 3rd District, where voters had picked former President Donald Trump over President Biden in the 2020 presidential election by 4 percentage points.

The race became more competitive when the incumbent GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler was defeated in her primary by Mr. Kent, in part for voting to impeach Mr. Trump.

Dave Wasserman of race analyst Cook Political Report called it a "big upset," saying it is the only race that Cook ranked "lean" or "likely" Republican or Democrat to be won by the other party so far.

Washington 3rd District

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

wins House race

AP Race Calls

Smart. Compelling. Essential.

Kari Lake - Katie Hobbs Race Remains Tight for Arizona Governor After New Batch of Votes

A new batch of votes released in Arizona's most populous county saw Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for governor, close the gap slightly with her Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs. However, if Ms. Lake is going to win she will need to do better in remaining batches.

Ms. Lake won the roughly 85,000 votes released Saturday 52% to 48%, however in order to overtake Ms. Hobbs she will need to draw in higher percentages in the remaining 190,000 ballots that still need to be tabulated.

Ms. Hobbs currently leads Ms. Lake by 35,000 votes.

All eyes are on Maricopa County as Arizona continues to tally ballots in the only remaining competitive governors' race in the country. Ms. Lake is seen as the most prominent ally this election of former president Donald Trump and surrogate for his false claims of election fraud.

On Friday, the Associated Press projected Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly would win reelection against Blake Masters, and former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes was projected to beat state Rep. Mark Finchem, both of whom are allies of Mr. Trump.

Bill Gates, the Republican chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, said on CNN Saturday night nearly all of the remaining ballots are mail-in ballots that were dropped off or arrived on Election Day.

Republicans had been hopeful that those ballots would favor them because their candidates had urged people to wait until Election Day to vote. So far, the ballots have not been as friendly to Republicans as ballots cast in person on Election Day. Ballots that were mailed before Election Day have favored Democrats.

Two Arizona House seats also remain too close to call.

Senate Majority Rests on Nevada, Georgia as Results Trickle In

WASHINGTON—The battle over party control of both chambers of Congress was extremely tight on Saturday as more ballots were counted and the focus turned to races in the Western U.S. that will determine the agenda in Washington for the next two years.

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly won a hard-fought re-election bid against Republican challenger Blake Masters, according to the Associated Press call on Friday night, boosting Democrats’ prospects of maintaining their Senate majority.

With the Arizona race called, Democrats have 49 seats and need to win one of two outstanding Senate races in Nevada and Georgia to keep their majority. Republicans, with 49 seats, must win both races to take control of the chamber, because the Democratic Party controls the White House and the vice president casts a tiebreaking vote.

Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto trailed GOP challenger Adam Laxalt by fewer than a thousand votes Saturday as the state continued counting ballots.

Pivotal results are expected later Saturday from Nevada’s Clark County, the state’s most populous. Joe Gloria, the county’s registrar of voters, told reporters that he expected to have within hours the tallies of all the mail-in ballots received by Saturday’s deadline. He said that number totaled more than 22,000.

Mr. Laxalt suggested that those results could mean his defeat. “Multiple days in a row, the mostly mail in ballots counted continue to break in higher DEM margins than we calculated,” he said on Twitter. “This has narrowed our victory window. The race will come down to 20-30k Election Day Clark drop off ballots.”

In addition, the county must process provisional ballots and ballots with problems like missing signatures that can be “cured” — fixed by voters — or discarded. The deadline for correcting a challenged ballot is Monday.

Read the full article

Lauren Boebert's Lead Over Democrat Adam Frisch Widens in Colorado House Race

First-term Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert’s lead over Democratic challenger Adam Frisch has widened in her surprisingly tight Colorado House race.

With about 99% of the vote counted as of Friday evening, Ms. Boebert had 50.2% of the vote to 49.8% for Mr. Frisch, and her lead had grown to more than 1,100 votes from less than 900 votes that morning. The Associated Press has not made a call in the race.

Colorado state election rules require an automatic recount when a candidate wins by 0.5% or less of the winner's total vote count.

The race’s competitiveness caught many political analysts off guard. No mainstream polling group ever surveyed voters in the race, a sign that it was thought unlikely to be close.

Ms. Boebert, a Republican and gun rights activist, was elected to represent Colorado’s third congressional district in 2020. The district runs along the western side of the state, encompassing cities such as Grand Junction and Pueblo. Voters have favored Republican presidential candidates for at least two decades.

In her two short years on the Hill, Ms. Boebert has made headlines as a House Freedom Caucus member aligned with former President Donald Trump. She has challenged Republican leadership at times and become a frequent critic of the Biden administration’s military vaccine mandates.

Rocket Man Mark Kelly Still Standing in Arizona

Mark Kelly, an astronaut turned Arizona Democratic Senator, said he was at the Elton John concert when he learned he had won his competitive Senate race against Republican Blake Masters. The Associated Press called it for Mr. Kelly on Friday evening.

Speaking to supporters in Phoenix, he celebrated winning a six-year term. "It was a great night last night -- Gabby and I were at the Elton John concert," he said with a smile.

Mr. Kelly thanked Arizona election officials and supporters. He also said he never forgets that he filled the seat vacated by the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Republican.

"When we come together and focus on solutions, we can make progress," he said.

Mr. Masters said on Twitter he wouldn’t concede until all ballots were tallied, adding that “voters decide, not the media; let’s count the votes.”

Trusted Insights. Global Impact.

Democrats Have Very Narrow Path to a House Majority

Republicans officially have 211 seats and Democrats have 201, according to AP calls. Democrats are expected to prevail in several more seats, but the odds appear slim that they can hold onto the 218 needed for the majority.

Dave Wasserman of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report said Saturday he sees about six genuine toss-up House races where the expected winner is unclear. Democrats need to win all of those, as well as several races where he sees them having an advantage to keep the majority. Also possible is that Republicans end up close to Democrats’ current margin in the House, which stands at 220-212, with three absences.

Mr. Wasserman identified 11 seats in California that were unresolved. Of those, Cook Political Report rated the GOP as favored in four, Democrats favored in three, and four as tossups.

On Thursday, President Biden termed the Democrats' chances as "still alive. But it’s like drawing an inside straight," referring to a low-odds poker hand.

Democrats have picked up more seats this year in the midterms when they were expected to do poorly. Democrats are currently ahead in an Arizona seat where Jevin Hodge is leading Rep. David Schweikert, who has served in Congress since 2011. In Washington state, Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is ahead of Republican Joe Kent in a race that became more competitive when the incumbent GOP Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler was defeated in her primary, in part for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump.

Election, Inflation and Don't Forget the Debt Ceiling — Three Questions for Natalie Andrews

Q: High inflation and economic anxiety were key themes during the election. Why weren't Republicans able to engineer more of a "red wave?"

Natalie: The short answer is that it looks like a lot of independent voters swung Democrats' way. So even in areas that had polls that showed Republicans leading or tied—a House district in Rhode Island, for example—the independents swung to Democrats. Voter surveys show that abortion rights was an important issue as was a concern over democracy, which could relate to Republicans' response to the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.

Q: It's looking like the GOP will take a narrow majority in the House and the Senate is still up for grabs. If we end up with a split government, are there areas of economic policy where Congress and the White House will be able to get anything done?

Natalie: Bipartisan agreement is tough these days, but there are sometimes areas where compromise can happen—especially if lawmakers are united in other ways, like geography. For example, we saw more Republicans win seats in New York and New Jersey. Is there a chance they join with Democrats on addressing the cap on deducting state and local taxes that Republicans put in place in their 2017 tax bill? Possibly. Also, several Republicans have talked about wanting to address energy policy in some way, and perhaps they could strike a deal for more oil drilling permits and for more green energy as well.

Q: When Republicans retook the House during Obama's first term, we ended up with a debt-ceiling showdown. Should we worry about a possible default on U.S. government debt?

Natalie: We will be watching every spending deadline and debt limit date closely. It will likely depend on what tactic Republican leaders take here with a slim majority in the House. Will they work with Democrats and cut off the members on the far right who are willing to risk default? Or will the leaders join with them? Senate control is also unknown but given that legislation needs 60 votes to pass there, enough lawmakers in that chamber are often more open to compromise.

Natalie reports on the U.S. Congress and national politics from the WSJ's Washington, D.C., bureau. You can follow her on Twitter here and read her articles here.

Democrats Need One More Win to Clinch Senate; Slow March to 218 Continues in House

As the weekend kicks off, Democrats are one win away from securing the 50 seats needed to keep their Senate majority, while prospects for a GOP takeover have dimmed.

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly won his race late Friday, dashing Republican hopes for a pickup in the state. Now, just two Senate races remain: Nevada, which is too close to call; and Georgia, which will be decided in a runoff next month.

In Nevada, Republican Adam Laxalt has a slight lead over incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto – and she has been closing the gap.

Republicans would need to win both Nevada and Georgia to get to the 51 seats to take the majority. Democrats only need one, as they can keep control with just 50 seats; Vice President Kamala Harris would break any ties.

Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.), the head of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, Friday night called the results a “complete disappointment,” as the showing fell short of GOP hopes for picking up multiple Democratic seats.

On the House side, Republicans lead 211 to 201, with the focus now centering on competitive seats in California, Arizona and Oregon among others. Republicans are heavily favored to win the chamber based on the results so far, but analysts say a Democratic win remains plausible.

Video: Where Trump-Backed Election Skeptics Stand in Key Midterm Races

In the key swing states of Arizona, Nevada, Michigan and Pennsylvania, candidates who made false claims about the 2020 election ran for positions that can exert great influence over election administration. Here’s a look at some of the results of those midterm races, and what it means for future elections.

Stay Informed. Get Ahead.

Why Independent Voters Broke for Democrats in the Midterms

Lisa Ghelfi, a 58-year-old registered Republican in Arizona, voted for Donald Trump for president two years ago but has grown tired of his election-fraud claims. It is the main reason she voted for Democrats for governor, senator, secretary of state and attorney general this fall and plans to change her registration to independent.

“Not allowing the election to be settled, it’s very divisive,” Ms. Ghelfi, a semiretired attorney from Paradise Valley, said of the 2020 race. “I think the election spoke for itself.” She said she voted for Republicans down-ballot who weren’t as vocal about election fraud or as closely tied to Mr. Trump, yet couldn’t support Arizona’s four major Republican candidates because they echoed Mr. Trump’s false claims.

Republicans succeeded in one of their top goals this year: They brought more of their party’s voters to the polls than did Democrats. But in the course of energizing their core voters, Republicans in many states lost voters in the political center—both independents and many Republicans who are uneasy with elements of the party’s focus under Mr. Trump.

Read the full article

School Board Candidates Who Pushed ‘Parental Rights’ See Mixed Results

Conservative candidates who ran for school boards saying they would change what students learn about race, sex and gender, or who opposed Covid protocols, saw mixed results in Tuesday’s election, according to supporters and a sampling of nationwide results.

Ballotpedia, a nonpartisan election site, analyzed 361 races and found that about 36% of candidates who opposed school Covid protocols, diversity initiatives or the use of gender-neutral learning materials, won their elections.

About 28% of winning candidates in the analysis supported those policies or efforts. That percentage is down from elections in April and November 2021, according to Ballotpedia. About a third of candidates in Tuesday’s election analysis didn’t not take clear positions on these issues, according to the site.

Read the full article

Mark Kelly Wins in Arizona, Boosting Democrats’ Prospects of Keeping Senate Majority

Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly prevailed in a closely fought re-election bid against Republican challenger Blake Masters, according to the Associated Press, boosting Democrats’ prospects of maintaining their Senate majority.

Mr. Kelly’s victory, which the AP called Friday night, means that Democrats need to win one of two outstanding Senate races to keep their majority, while Republicans must win both races to take control of the chamber.

In the House of Representatives, the GOP remained on track toward winning a narrow majority, outside analysts said, but the final outcome still hinged on races that were too close to call as of Friday, and both parties were girding for results that might not be known for days.

Read the full article

Democrat Katie Hobbs Leads Kari Lake in Arizona’s Race for Governor

PHOENIX—A Friday evening dump of ballots from the state’s largest county broke in favor of Democrats, giving Secretary of State Katie Hobbs a little more breathing room against her opponent Kari Lake.

Ms. Hobbs now leads by 31,000 votes. The race remains too close to call.

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly was projected to win his re-election, the Associated Press said, after the ballot release Friday.

He leads his opponent Blake Masters, a venture capitalist, by roughly 124,000. The Democratic candidate for secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, the former Maricopa County recorder, also was projected to win after his lead grew to 118,000 votes.

He beat Republican Mark Finchem, a State House member, who supported former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.

Maricopa County officials said there are 265,000-275,000 remaining ballots. Other smaller counties continue to release ballots as they are counted.

Two Arizona House races remained too close to call. In Phoenix, GOP Rep. David Schweikert, who is seeking re-election, is behind his Democratic opponent Jevin Hodge by 4,000 votes. In Tucson, Republican Juan Ciscomani, a former aide to Gov. Doug Ducey, led Democratic Kirsten Engel, a former state senator, by 2,900 votes.

News Doesn't Wait

GOP Sen. Rick Scott Calls Midterm Results ‘Complete Disappointment’

Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.), the head of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, called the party’s showing in the midterms disappointing and said the results suffered from the lack of a clear GOP message to voters.

“As we got closer, the polls got better. But here’s what happened to us: Election Day, our voters didn't show up. … It was a complete disappointment,” he said Friday on Fox News.

“I think we have to reflect on what didn't happen. I think we didn't have enough of a positive message. We said everything about how bad the Biden agenda was,” he said. “We have to have a plan of what we stand for.”

Ahead of the election, Mr. Scott projected the Republicans would end up in the majority with 52 or more seats in the Senate, amid growing GOP confidence due to voters’ worries about inflation and crime – as well as President Biden’s weak approval numbers. Now, the GOP's chances of reaching the 51 seats needed for a majority are hanging by a thread.

After Arizona was called for incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly late Friday, the Senate stands at 49 Democratic wins and 49 Republican wins, with Nevada still to be called and Georgia to be decided in a runoff next month. The Democrats need just 50 seats to control the Senate, as Vice President Kamala Harris would break any ties.

Earlier this year, Mr. Scott released a policy agenda that suggested tax increases for some households, saying all Americans should have “skin in the game.” He later backed away from that proposal.

The tax idea drew a rebuke from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), who also criticized Mr. Scott’s proposal to require programs such as Medicare and Social Security to be reviewed every five years.

Earlier: Rick Scott Revises Tax-Increase Proposal After Facing Criticism

Democrat Adrian Fontes Wins Race for Arizona Secretary of State

Democrat Adrian Fontes was elected as Arizona’s Secretary of State, according to the Associated Press.

He beat Republican Mark Finchem, a State House member, who supported former President Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.

Mr. Fontes, a former Maricopa County Recorder, succeeds Katie Hobbs, a fellow Democrat who is in a close race for governor.

Mr. Fontes has said he would increase transparency of the office’s work and make it easier for registered voters to vote.

Arizona

Adrian Fontes

wins Secretary of State race

AP Race Calls

Arizona

Mark Kelly

wins Senate race

AP Race Calls

Read earlier posts at WSJ.com

To see new updates, reopen this article. You can add it to your saved stories by tapping 

0 notes