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 HillObama counsels NBA players on forming a social justice committee Republicans cast Trump as best choice for women House GOP campaign chairman insists party will win back majority 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 BidenPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Fox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio MORE and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome 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 Forbes KerryThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Divided country, divided church TV ads favored Biden 2-1 in past month MORE and progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline McCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE will both co-chair the climate task force, while progressive Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Pramila JayapalHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Bipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs DHS opens probe into allegations at Georgia ICE facility MORE and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Vivek Hallegere MurthyBill Clinton to launch podcast Buttigieg, former officials added to Biden's transition team The Hill's Convention Report: Biden's big night | Steve Bannon's fall | Pelosi weighs in on Mass. Senate primary MORE will lead the health care panel.
On the economy panel, California Rep. Karen Bass
Karen Ruth BassOutrage erupts over Breonna Taylor grand jury ruling Patients are dying unnecessarily from organ donation policy failures Hispanic caucus report takes stock of accomplishments with eye toward 2021 MORE and union leader Sara Nelson will lead, while Rep. Marcia Fudge
Marcia Louise FudgeThis week: House returns for pre-election sprint House to tackle funding, marijuana in September Honoring John Lewis's voting rights legacy MORE and former Sanders campaign senior policy adviser Heather Gautney will co-chair the education committee. California Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
Lucille Roybal-AllardHispanic Caucus asks for Department of Labor meeting on COVID in meatpacking plants Democrats may bring DHS bill to House floor Texas Democrat proposes legislation requiring masks in federal facilities 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 John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance 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 DuffyCNN's Ana Navarro to host Biden roundtable on making 'Trump a one-term president' Bottom line McCarthy blasts Pelosi's comments on Trump's weight 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 McConnellTrump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power 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 ButtigiegBillionaire who donated to Trump in 2016 donates to Biden The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November Buttigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice 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 CooperHouse Democrat to DeJoy: 'Is your backup plan to be pardoned like Roger Stone?' House Democrats call on State Department for information on Uighur prisoner Ekpar Asat Pelosi weighing bringing House back from August recess early over USPS issues: reports 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 NunesOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Trump nominates former Nunes aide to serve as intel community inspector general Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election 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.
