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 HillThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The American Investment Council - Trump takes his 'ready to reopen' mantra on the road The Hill's Campaign Report: Democrat concedes in California House race Republican flips House seat in California special election 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 BidenTrump campaign launches Asian Pacific Americans coalition Biden: 'More than one African American woman' being considered for VP Liberal group asks Klobuchar to remove herself from VP consideration because of prosecutorial record MORE and Sen. Bernie Sanders
Bernie SandersThe battle of two Cubas Coronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Rep. Ro Khanna Democrats gear up to hit GOP senators on DACA 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 continuous whipsawing of climate change policy Budowsky: United Democrats and Biden's New Deal Overnight Energy: 600K clean energy jobs lost during pandemic, report finds | Democrats target diseases spread by wildlife | Energy Dept. to buy 1M barrels of oil MORE and progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezThe battle of two Cubas An affordable zero-emissions grid needs new nuclear Recovery First: The American comeback shouldn't hinge on warmed-over policy agendas MORE will both co-chair the climate task force, while progressive Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Pramila JayapalHouse punts on FISA, votes to begin negotiations with Senate Democrats press OSHA official on issuing an Emergency Temporary Standard House cancels planned Thursday vote on FISA MORE and former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
Vivek Hallegere MurthyCoronavirus Report: The Hill's Steve Clemons interviews Jerome Adams The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Former Rep. Harman says Russia is trying to exploit America; Mylan's Heather Bresch says US should make strategic reserve in medicines; Trump unveils leaders of 'Warp Speed' The Hill's Coronavirus Report: Moniz says U.S. needs energy jobs coalition and Manchin says Congress is pushing Wall Street solutions that don't work for Main Street; Burr to step aside MORE will lead the health care panel.
On the economy panel, California Rep. Karen Bass
Karen Ruth BassHouse Democrats unveil measure to condemn police brutality Democrats blast CDC report on minorities and COVID-19 Pelosi: George Floyd death is 'a crime' MORE and union leader Sara Nelson will lead, while Rep. Marcia Fudge
Marcia Louise FudgeThe Hill's Coronavirus Report: Moniz says U.S. needs energy jobs coalition and Manchin says Congress is pushing Wall Street solutions that don't work for Main Street; Burr to step aside Hillicon Valley: Experts raise security concerns about online voting | Musk finds supporter in Trump | Officials warn that Chinese hackers targeting COVID-19 research groups The Hill's Campaign Report: Democrat concedes in California House race MORE and former Sanders campaign senior policy adviser Heather Gautney will co-chair the education committee. California Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
Lucille Roybal-AllardThe Hill's Campaign Report: Democrat concedes in California House race Hispanic Caucus pushes McConnell on 'Dreamer' bill California Rep. Costa endorses Biden 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 TrumpMichael Flynn transcripts reveal plenty except crime or collusion 50 people arrested in Minneapolis as hundreds more National Guard troops deployed Missouri state lawmaker sparks backlash by tweeting 'looters deserve to be shot' 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 DuffyMcCarthy blasts Pelosi's comments on Trump's weight Overnight Health Care: Trump says testing may be 'overrated' | Ousted official warns national virus plan needed | NIH begins studying drug combo touted by Trump Trump hails Wisconsin court overturning governor's stay-at-home order 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 McConnellSchumer to GOP: Cancel 'conspiracy hearings' on origins of Russia probe Overnight Health Care: Trump says US 'terminating' relationship with WHO | Cuomo: NYC on track to start reopening week of June 8 | COVID-19 workplace complaints surge 10 things to know today about coronavirus 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 ButtigiegBiden hopes to pick VP by Aug. 1 It's as if a Trump operative infiltrated the Democratic primary process Here's how Biden can win over the minority vote and the Rust Belt 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
James (Jim) Hayes Shofner CooperTaylor Swift slams Trump tweet: 'You have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence?' Trump to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty Top Democrat to introduce bill to limit Trump's ability to fire IGs 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 NunesThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - George Floyd's death sparks protests, National Guard activation Hillicon Valley: Trump signs order targeting social media legal protections | House requests conference with Senate after FISA vote canceled | Minneapolis systems temporarily brought down by hackers House punts on FISA, votes to begin negotiations with Senate 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.
