Welcome to The Hill’s Campaign Report, your daily rundown on all the latest news in the 2020 presidential, Senate and House races. Did someone forward this to you? Click here to subscribe.
We’re Julia Manchester, Max Greenwood and Jonathan Easley. Here’s what we’re watching today on the campaign trail.
BREAKING NEWS: Democratic state Assemblywoman Christy Smith on Wednesday conceded defeat in the special election in California’s 25th District after vote returns showed her opponent, Republican Mike Garcia, with a comfortable lead.
The concession flips the seat that was won by former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill
Katherine (Katie) Lauren HillObamas to attend Biden inauguration Trump pardons George Papadopoulos in latest batch of pardons Former Rep. Katie Hill files lawsuit against ex-husband, Daily Mail over nude photos MORE in 2018. Hill resigned amid a House ethics investigation into an inappropriate relationship between her and one of her congressional staffers.
LEADING THE DAY:
Allies of former Vice President Joe Biden
Joe BidenLawmakers, activists remember civil rights icons to mark 'Bloody Sunday' Fauci predicts high schoolers will receive coronavirus vaccinations this fall Biden nominates female generals whose promotions were reportedly delayed under Trump MORE and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersLawmakers, activists remember civil rights icons to mark 'Bloody Sunday' Progressives' majority delusions politically costly Sinema pushes back on criticism of her vote against minimum wage MORE’s (I-Vt.) are set to form six unity task forces ahead of the Democratic National Convention in August.
Biden’s campaign announced the news on Wednesday, and said the working groups will explore six policy issues — climate change, criminal justice reform, economy, education, health care and immigration. Additionally, each task force will develop recommendations for their policy area.
Analilia Mejia from the Sanders campaign and Carmel Martin from the Biden campaign will lead the initiative. And a number of high-profile names will lead the group’s task forces. Former Secretary of State John Kerry
John KerryEconomic growth in Africa will not be achieved by a blanket ban on fossil fuels Biden can build on Pope Francis's visit to Iraq OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats reintroduce road map to carbon neutrality by 2050 | Kerry presses oil companies to tackle climate change | Biden delays transfer of sacred lands for copper mine MORE and progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezProgressives' majority delusions politically costly Manchin: Every member of the Senate thinks minimum wage should increase Progressives won't oppose bill over limits on stimulus checks MORE will both co-chair the climate task force, while progressive Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Pramila JayapalProgressives won't oppose bill over limits on stimulus checks Democrats snipe on policy, GOP brawls over Trump House Democrats' ambitious agenda set to run into Senate blockade MORE and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Vivek MurthyMurthy vows to focus on mental health effects of pandemic if confirmed as surgeon general The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The AIDS Institute - Senate ref axes minimum wage, House votes today on relief bill Watch live: Biden surgeon general pick testifies at confirmation hearing MORE will lead the health care panel.
On the economy panel, California Rep. Karen Bass
Karen Ruth BassHouse approves George Floyd Justice in Policing Act House sets vote for George Floyd police reform bill Lobbying world MORE and union leader Sara Nelson will lead, while Rep. Marcia Fudge
Marcia FudgeWe need to lay the foundation for meaningful housing policy change Black Caucus members lobby Biden to tap Shalanda Young for OMB head Sanders votes against Biden USDA nominee Vilsack MORE and former Sanders campaign senior policy adviser Heather Gautney will co-chair the education committee. California Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
Lucille Roybal-AllardHouse Democrats introduce bill providing citizenship to Dreamers Overnight Health Care: CDC panel recommends who gets vaccine first | McConnell offering new relief bill | Hahn downplays White House meeting on vaccines Democrats were united on top issues this Congress — but will it hold? MORE and Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, will lead the immigration task force.
This is the strongest effort to unify the centrist and progressive wings of the party, which has been fractured since the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. And the two sides have a lot of work ahead of them.
Progressives have made demands for left-leaning policies, like "Medicare for All" and the Green New Deal. However, the establishment wing of the party, now under Biden’s banner, has warned that these ideas may not be that realistic when Democrats are looking to gain ground in a number of swing states. Additionally, establishment Democrats have cited protecting their House majority in a number of districts they flipped in 2018.
Progressive leaders and their supporters have signaled in the past that they will not be willing to compromise on a number of these issues and remain skeptical of Biden. Ocasio-Cortez told The New York Times last month that bringing the party together behind Biden should be “uncomfortable for everyone involved.”
However, the progressive and establishment figures on the panel appear to be united on at least one front: defeating President Trump
Donald TrumpUS, South Korea reach agreement on cost-sharing for troops Graham: Trump can make GOP bigger, stronger, or he 'could destroy it' Biden nominates female generals whose promotions were reportedly delayed under Trump MORE in November.
“A united party is key to defeating Donald Trump this November and moving our country forward through an unprecedented crisis,” Biden said in a statement. “As we work toward our shared goal, it is especially critical that we not lose sight of the pressing issues facing Americans.”
--Julia Manchester
READ MORE:
Republican flips House seat in California special election, by Max Greenwood.
Biden and Sanders allies create 'unity task forces' to explore policy initiatives, by Justine Coleman.
FROM THE TRAIL:
Biden on Wednesday backed rent and mortgage forgiveness for those struggling to get by during the coronavirus pandemic. Sylvan Lane reports.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday grappled with the issue of “faithless electors,” and many of the justices appeared uncomfortable with the idea of unleashing Electoral College representatives to disregard the popular vote in their states. Harper Neidig reports.
FROM CONGRESS & THE STATES:
Republican Tom Tiffany won the special election in Wisconsin’s 7th District on Tuesday to fill the vacancy left by former Rep. Sean Duffy
Sean DuffyLobbying world CNN's Ana Navarro to host Biden roundtable on making 'Trump a one-term president' Bottom line MORE (R), defeating Democrat Tricia Zunker. Tal Axelrod reports.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska’s 2nd district, liberal Kara Eastman prevailed in the Democratic primary over a centrist challenger and will move on to face Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a poll on Wednesday showing Bacon and Eastman running neck and neck. Tal reports.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocrats near pressure point on nixing filibuster We need a voting rights workaround Biden takes victory lap after Senate passes coronavirus relief package MORE (R-Ky.) on Wednesday acknowledged that Republicans face a “challenging environment” as they battle to protect their Senate majority, Alexander Bolton reports.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by ExxonMobil - Senate begins marathon vote-a-rama before .9T COVID-19 relief passage The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Virus relief bill headed for weekend vote Biden turns focus to next priority with infrastructure talks MORE’s new political action committee rolled out a slate of endorsements Wednesday focusing on local elected positions, J. Edward Moreno reports.
The liberal group Democracy for America (DFA) is backing former public defender Keeda Haynes’s (D) primary challenge against Rep. Jim Cooper
Jim CooperDeJoy apologizes for mail delays while defending Postal Service changes Colorado presses Biden to reverse Trump Space Command move Five centrist Democrats oppose Pelosi for Speaker in tight vote MORE (D-Tenn.) in the race to represent Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, Jonathan Easley reports.
MONEY WATCH:
Phil Arballo, the Democrat challenging Rep. Devin Nunes
Devin Gerald NunesRepublican rips GOP lawmakers for voting by proxy from CPAC What good are the intelligence committees? CPAC, all-in for Trump, is not what it used to be MORE (R-Calif.), has raised more than $2.1 million. Nunes, who received national attention during the Russia investigation as the top ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, will still have a cash advantage, having raised $11.7 million this cycle.
POLL WATCH:
PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES- GEORGIA PRESIDENTIAL
Biden: 47 percent
Trump: 46 percent
PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES- GEORGIA SENATE
PERDUE: 43 percent
OSSOFF: 41 percent
PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES- GEORGIA SENATE SPECIAL
COLLINS: 19 percent
LOEFFLER: 18 percent
LIEBERMAN: 17 percent
WARNOCK: 9 percent
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
(Keep in mind these dates could change because of the outbreak.)
May 19:
Oregon primaries
May 22:
Hawaii Democratic primary
June 2:
Delaware primaries
District of Columbia primaries
Indiana primaries
Maryland primaries
Montana primaries
New Mexico primaries
Pennsylvania primaries
Rhode Island primaries
South Dakota primaries
June 9:
Georgia primaries
West Virginia primaries
June 23:
Kentucky primaries
July 7:
New Jersey primaries
July 11:
Louisiana
July 14:
Alabama Republican Senate primary runoff
August 11:
Connecticut primary
August 17-20:
Democratic National Convention
August 24-27:
Republican National Convention
One hopeful thing
Broadway star Nick Cordero’s wife announced that the performer is awake after going through a medically induced coma due to coronavirus complications.
"He is awake. ... We did it,” Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, announced on Instagram on Tuesday.
Cordero has been hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles since March 30.
While Cordero’s wife says this is certainly good news, she added that the road to a full recovery will be a tough one.
"Even closing his eyes, takes it out of him. They're waiting for him to regain strength. Of course, time and recovery will help with that and then eventually [physical therapy] will help him get stronger," she said. "But he's a true superhero."
We’ll see you tomorrow with more campaign news of the day.
