Morning Digest is edited by David Nir, Jeff Singer and Stephen Wolf, with additional contributions from the Daily Kos Elections team.
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in the lead
● VA-05: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson We used the poorly attended House GOP retreat last week. He told CNN, ““We strongly oppose actions between members in primary elections,” he said. So far, his caucus has not heeded his calls to “let it go.”
There were at least six House Republicans. Listed on invitation for a Wednesday fundraiser to support state senators. John McGuire's campaign against Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good in Virginia's 5th Congressional District primary on June 18 includes fellow Old Dominion Representative Jen Kiggers and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers. Mike Rogers). People who responded well Shout out to the Washington Post.“Most of them should come to my constituency and campaign for my opponent. That would really help me.”
Keegans She said she supports Maguire Because we need more veterans in Congress. “Not only did John share his experience serving in our Navy, but he also shared his experience serving the Commonwealth in the General Assembly.” The statement did not mention Good. This angered party leaders. Last year, he supported Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump and voted to end Kevin McCarthy's term as speaker.
But Kiggans may have a chance to get back at Good for trying to block her from taking a House seat in the first place. They sided well against the Kiganns in the 2022 District 2 primary. Supporting underfunded Big Lie fanatics His name is Jerome Bell. Still Keegans Definitely defeated Bell. before toppling Democratic Rep. Elanie Luria in a tight race.
good maintain the support of Although a House fanatic like fellow Rep. Matt Gaetz, the far-right Floridian is not a model member of Johnson's fantasy caucus, which avoids infighting. Gaetsu is an ardent supporter Former Illinois State Senator. Darren Bailey's primary campaign against Rep. Mike Bost concluded on Tuesday. Tight 51-49 win For incumbents.
Gaetz may not have heard Johnson's argument But his members wanted to be “cool” I skipped the party's West Virginia retreat. That allowed him to campaign in Texas for another primary challenger, gun manufacturer Brandon Herrera. But his House colleagues, who want Gaetz to lose in the Lone State's May 28 runoff election, were unfazed. When CNN asked Rep. Tony Gonzales about the Floridian's involvement, he said: he responded“WHO?”
vote against
● One of the least represented groups in elected office is also one of the least discussed. These are mothers, especially mothers with young children. In this week's episode of 'The Downballot' We're speaking with Liuba Grechen Shirley, founder of Vote Mama, an organization dedicated to electing progressive moms at all levels of voting.
Grechen Shirley describes her groundbreaking success in allowing the FEC to use campaign funds for child care when she ran for Congress on Long Island in 2018, and her subsequent efforts to support candidates like herself. She explains how electing more mothers means more pro-family policies and discusses the major candidates running this fall.
Co-host David Nir and guest co-host Joe Sudbay also recap Tuesday's key primaries in Ohio and Illinois, including the GOP Senate primary in the Buckeye State, where the outcome will be Donald Trump. and The Democratic Party is happy. They also discuss an important new ruling from the Montana Supreme Court that blocked the state's Republican attorney general's attempt to keep an abortion rights amendment off the November ballot.
Subscribe to “The Downballot” on Apple Podcasts Make sure you never miss a show. You can check out the transcript of this week's episode. right here Until Thursday afternoon. New episodes every Thursday morning!
senate
● MD-sen: In a poll conducted by Braun Research targeting the Washington Post and the University of Maryland, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan came out on top. Includes double-digit leads About all of his potential Democratic enemies. Hogan leads Rep. David Trone 49-37 and holds a similar 50-36 lead over Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks.
Respondents gave Hogan a favorable rating of 64-23 14 months after he left office, but were unimpressed with his future rival. Trone had a score of 33-21 while Alsobrooks had a score of 26-15. Democrats hope that will change if they choose a candidate who can tie Hogan to unpopular national Republicans. But such efforts may require outside groups to spend money instead of investing in more competitive states.
Brown also discovered Tron while watching the May 14 Democratic primary election. Reading Alsobrooks 34-27. Trone, a self-funder; TV commercials begin airing in Mayhad Bigger 49-32 Advantage The last survey we saw was conducted by Hickman Analytics internal staff for his campaign a month ago.
● NJ-Sen.: Sen. Bob Menendez, who is scheduled to go on trial May 5 on federal corruption charges, told NJ Spotlight News on Tuesday. “We will make an announcement this week,” he said. About his re-election plans.
It is almost certainly too late for the incumbent. Please collect 1,000 signatures He must run as a Democrat before the filing deadline on Monday, but the deadline to run as an independent is June 4. NBC reported last week that Menendez was considering this very option to continue raising campaign funds. He can use it for his legal bills.
pasha
● MO-Gov: in one of the following: strange tv commercials We'll take a moment to watch Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe's coalition super PAC depict a Chinese-speaking cow branded with a hammer and sickle, and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft's “purchase from the Chinese Communist Party.” “I testified in support of the law allowing it,” he criticized. Land here in Missouri.” SinophobiaBut that's nothing new in GOP primaries. Ashcroft responded quickly: Highlighting Kehoe's photos dressed up all Lunar New Year Event.
● NC government: It has been revealed for the first time that Democrat Josh Stein is ahead of Republican Mark Robinson in Marist College's gubernatorial general election. 49-47 The same goes for respondents preferring Donald Trump 51-48.
Robinson is happily fighting one of his Trump voters who is not his supporter. Lieutenant Governor told a conservative radio host Last week, North Carolina's senior senator said, “I don't care about anything Thom Tillis says. As far as I'm concerned, Thom Tillis has abandoned the base of our party.” Tillis, who supported another candidate in the March 5 primary, responded on wednesday“The feeling is mutual.”
● NH government: Councilor Shinde Warmington revealed that GBAO's late February poll initially showed her trailing former Manchester mayor Joyce Craig. 37-25 In the September Democratic primary, respondents preferred Warmington after hearing positive information about each candidate, the memo said. Craig and Warmington are vying to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who is not seeking a fifth two-year term.
house
● CA-16: Rep. Evan Low 3-vote lead We're talking about current Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian on Thursday morning, two weeks after California's March 5 top-two primaries, but he's up against Sam Liccardo in the former Democratic primary in November. It will likely be several more weeks before we know who will face the former San Jose mayor. General election.
ABC 7 writes that voters now have until April 2 to fix mistakes that are preventing their ballots from being counted. Two days later, election authorities will certify the final results. But until then, we still don't know who won the all-important second spot. pay for review.
And if Rowe and Simisian are tied when all is said and done, both will face Liccardo in the fall primary to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Anna Eshoo. Analyst Rob Pyers said this type of three-way general election It only happened once Since California implemented its top two primary system in 2011, it has been due to very unusual circumstances.
In 2016, Democratic Rep. Autumn Burke was elected. No opposition in primary vote She was seeking reelection, but the Republican and Libertarian candidates each received 32 votes as write-in candidates. Burke continues It's easy to win in the fall To 77%.
● CA-45: Democrats are also still waiting to see which of their candidates will face Republican Rep. Michelle Steele in this competitive Orange County seat. Attorney Derek Tran is leading Garden Grove City Council member Kim Nguyen-Penaloza. 15.8-15.6 From Thursday morningmargin 327 votes.
●FL-13: Liz Dahan, a communications expert who previously served as a partner at the prominent advisory firm Brunswick Group, announced on Monday that she: Join the August Democratic Primary She faces off against freshman GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. field for this 53-46 Trump seats The St. Petersburg district already included Whitney Fox, a former regional transportation director, and Sabrina Bousbar, a former Health and Human Services official.
legislature
● Ohio State Capitol: Four allies of Ohio House Speaker Jason Stevens Lost nomination in Tuesday's Republican primaryBut News 5's Morgan Trau says the defeat won't be enough for Stevens' detractors within his party to strip him of the powerful post in January.
Stevens chaired the 99-member House of Representatives last year. Support from all 32 people The remaining 45 Republicans supported State Rep. Derek Merrin. (Democrats have gotten more representation on committees in return, but Republicans have still pushed a very conservative agenda.)
But can Stevens achieve similar results next year? Five members of the angry conservative faction known as the 'Blue 22' did not (or could not) seek re-election. explain trauBut Stevens appears to have gained more than five Merrin supporters since last year's fight.
But after Tuesday's loss, Stevens' force will be down to 18. But if Democrats retain all 32 seats and ally with Stevens again, the Speaker will have 50 votes. This is the exact minimum number of votes he needs to retain his position. . Democrats are still hoping to expand their convention, but Trau said the Democratic pick shouldn't hurt his calculations because the minority party is likely to back Stevens again.
If anything, it could benefit Stevens if Democrats beat Republicans, who are term-limited on the House of Representatives but may support rival speaker candidates such as state Senate President Matt Huffman, who is running uncontested for a House seat this fall.
All of these machinations hinge on Stephens keeping his supporters in line, but Trau reports that “it's clear they still support the speaker.”
Mayors and County Leaders
● Sacramento, California: As of Thursday morning, about 102,000 ballots had been counted since Sacramento's March 5 nonpartisan primary, leading to the departure of physician Flojaune Cofer. take first place firmly to 29%.
But the fight for second place got much closer. Assemblyman Kevin McCarty holds a 21.6-21.4 lead over former state Sen. Richard Pan., a difference of 212 votes. Councilman Steve Hansen was right behind with 21%. acknowledged on tuesday. The top two vote-getting candidates will face off in November.
The current ranking is almost a complete reversal Although we described what the situation was like immediately after Election Day, votes tabulated over the following days helped drive the process. copper From 4th to 1st place.
All four candidates identify themselves as Democrats, as does retired Mayor Darrell Steinberg, but there are substantive differences between them. Copper, who I support the candidate A member of her local branch of the Democratic Socialists of America, she ran to the left of her rivals. Sacramento Rain Identify McCarty “as Second most progressive.” Fan is to his right. Hansen, who received support from the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and the Sacramento Police Association, was the most moderate of the bunch.
Advertising Cleanup
campaign activities