Australians start voting in general elections as pope's death overshadows campaigning

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australians began voting Tuesday in general elections as the death of Pope Francis led to a cancellation of campaign events.

Polling stations opened to voters who, for a variety of reasons, will be unable to vote on May 3. Around half the votes are expected to be cast before then.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton canceled events out of respect for the late pontiff. Flags were flown at half-staff at government buildings across the country, where a 2021 census found 20% of the population was Catholic.

Albanese, who has described himself as a “flawed Catholic,” attended Mass in honor of the pope in Melbourne’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“I try not to talk about my faith in public,” he said. “At times like this, I think what people do is, they draw on who they are, and certainly my Catholicism is just a part of me."

Dutton, raised by a Catholic father and Protestant mother, attended Mass at Sydney's St. Mary's Cathedral.

“I don’t think it’s a day for overt politicking at all. I think that the day is best spent reflecting,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a place for the body blows of politics today. I think it’s a very different day from that."

But Albanese and Dutton, who leads the conservative Liberal Party, met in Sydney Tuesday night for the third televised leaders’ debate of the campaign.

Dutton accused Albanese of being a “weak leader” who was “loose with the truth” during the hour-long debate.

Albanese told Dutton: “You can go to personal abuse; that's a sign of desperation."

A fourth debate is planned Sunday.

Albanese’s center-left Labor Party is seeking a second three-year term.

The government held a narrow majority of 78 seats out of 151 in the House of Representatives, where parties form administrations during their first term. The lower chamber will shrink to 150 seats after the election due to redistributions.

The major parties are both predicting a close election result.

A sign is displayed at a polling place as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a national election to be held on May 3. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

An election official hangs a sign outside a polling place as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a national election to be held on May 3. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

People arrive at a polling place as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a national election to be held on May 3. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

People cast there ballots at a polling place as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a national election to be held on May 3. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

A ballot is dropped into a a box as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a national election to be held on May 3. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

People arrive at a polling place as early voting begins in Sydney, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, for a national election to be held on May 3. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state of the battleground state.

Gilchrist, a progressive Democrat from Detroit, did not cite a specific reason for the change in his video announcement, but said he is not finished being a “public servant.” His departure clears up the Democratic primary and benefits the frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, who is the current Secretary of State, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The secretary of state is Michigan's top election official, a highly politicized and visible role since the 2020 presidential election.

“Michigan has been ground zero in the battle for free and fair elections before, and it will be again,” Gilchrist said.

As Whitmer’s second in command and her running mate in two elections, Gilchrist struggled to match Benson’s name recognition and fundraising. He reported having around $378,000 of cash on hand as of October compared to Benson’s $2.98 million.

Benson is now set to face only Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary in August.

The inclusion of a well-known independent candidate has created a new problem for Democrats this year. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is avoiding costly primaries altogether by running as an independent. The Michigan Democratic Party slammed the former Democrat last week for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s second term policies.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt and former Michigan House speaker Tom Leonard are jockeying for the nomination.

In his bid to become secretary of state, Gilchrist will face four other Democrats: Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk; Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state; Suzanna Shkreli, a former Whitmer aide and commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery; and Adam Hollier, a former state senator from Detroit.

Michigan does not hold primary elections for the secretary of state position; the nominee is chosen by precinct delegates during party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled for April 19.

State Republicans plan to hold their nominating convention March 28 and GOP figures chasing the party's nomination for secretary of state include Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk, and Monica Yatooma, an Oakland County executive.

In addition to the office of the governor and secretary of state, Michigan voters will be selecting a new state attorney general and a U.S. senator in November.

FILE - Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II waits before the State of the State address, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, file)