WISCONSIN DEMS REJOICE: WALKER IS FINALLY GONE

WIS.» Wisconsin Gov. MADISON,

Scott Walker, beloved by Republicans for pushing through a conservative revolution but so reviled by liberals that they tried to recall him from office, warned for months that he was at risk of being overwhelmed by Democratic anger.

He was right.

The tide that swept him out Tuesday stalled a political career that radically transformed the purple state and helped bring about President Donald Trump’s narrow victory there in 2016. For nearly eight years, Walker delighted conservatives and frustrated liberal opponents who could never figure out the right recipe to knock him off. At one point, he was seen as a potential presidential front-runner.

Kemp’s campaign declares victory in Georgia’s governor race.

ATLANTA» Republican Brian Kemp’s campaign declared victory Wednesday in the Georgia governor’s race, though Democrat Stacey Abrams insists that enough ballots remain to leave open the possibility of a runoff in a race that Kemp oversees as secretary of state.

The Associated Press has not called the contest.

Ryan Mahoney, a top Kemp campaign adviser, told reporters in a conference call that the numbers show Abrams can’t win and a runoff won’t happen — but stopped short of declaring victory until pressed by an Associated Press reporter. Only then did Mahoney say Kemp is certain of victory and preparing to take office in January.

Michigan eyed as bellwether for legal pot in Midwest.

DETROIT» Michigan is aiming to build a potentially lucrative industry from the ground up with passage of a ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana.

It could do more by serving as a model for the rest of the Midwest — and possibly beyond.

Michigan is the first Midwestern state to legalize recreational marijuana, with voters Tuesday passing a ballot measure that will allow people 21 or older to buy and use the drug. Including Michigan, 10 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana; North Dakota voters decided this week that recreational pot wasn’t for them.

White House strips reporter of his credentials.

The White House suspended the press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta on Wednesday, hours after Acosta tangled with President Donald Trump during a televised news conference at the White House.

The move to punish Acosta by removing his access to the White House is believed to be unprecedented. The Trump administration barred another CNN reporter from attending an open media event in July but until now had not gone as far as removing a credential, known as a “hard pass,” which enables journalists to enter the White House grounds.

Press secretary Sarah Sanders cited Acosta’s brief confrontation with a White House press aide during Trump’s news conference as the reason for suspending his press pass “until further notice.”

During the news conference, Trump snapped at Acosta after he asked why the president had called the Central American migrant caravan “an invasion” and “demonized immigrants.” Following a tense back-andforth, in which Trump called Acosta “a rude, terrible person,” a female White House intern tried to take the microphone from Acosta. Acosta raised his arm to stop the aide from taking it, in the process making contact with her.