Neb. governor vies for Senate appointment after Sasse departure

Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse has announced that effective January 8, 2023, he will resign from the U.S. Senate as he preps to take over the presidency of the University of Florida. Gov.-elect Jim Pillen will appoint his successor, who will serve until a 2024 special election. Incumbent Gov. Pete Ricketts, who had endorsed Pillen for governor, has announced that he will seek that appointment. 

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Here’s how Peru’s Pedro Castillo went from president to prisoner in one day 

Recently, U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called on the Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, to resign or face impeachment. McCarthy claimed that Mayorkas had failed to secure the border. McCarthy has said this in the hope that he can draw support from the House Freedman Caucus in his quest to become House speaker. 

Peru, on the other hand, had to impeach to save their democracy: President Pedro Castillo had called for the dissolution of Congress so he could rule by decree. That same day, however, he was set to face his third impeachment vote, which, most predicted, Castillo would have survived. However, 101 out of 107 voted to impeach him. Castillo had attempted to seek asylum at the Mexican embassy. That was unsuccessful, and now, he is in preliminary detention. Immediately after, Vice President Dina Boluarte succeeded Castillo, becoming the first female president of Peru. 

Sinema switches to independent, shaking up the Senate

Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced that she has left the Democratic Party and has registered as an independent. Now, Sinema, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Angus King of Maine caucus with Democrats, which, in no shape, or form, changes the balance of power within the U.S. Senate. In 2024, when Sinema would be up for reelection, she was predicted to have a primary challenger, possibly Rep. Ruben Gallego. However, as an independent, she can avoid the primary process, but if the Democratic and Republican parties run their candidates, a three-way race can and possibly will be messy.