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.
LEADING THE DAY:
Progressives are feeling pretty good right now after elections in New York and Kentucky put some of their fast-rising stars in position to score huge upsets against incumbent lawmakers and candidates backed by Washington Democrats.
There is still a lot of vote counting to be done — results in both states will likely not be official until June 30, when all absentee ballots are in.
But here’s a look at how things have unfolded so far:
- Progressive Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) has a 25-point lead over House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel
Eliot Lance EngelDozens of progressive groups endorse Joaquin Castro for Foreign Affairs chair Castro pledges to term limit himself if elected Foreign Affairs chair Former VOA producer sues US global media agency over termination MORE (D-N.Y.). Bowman has claimed victory, and the left is describing the race as “one of the biggest upsets in recent progressive history.”
- Progressive challenger Charles Booker trails Amy McGrath by about 7 points in the Kentucky Democratic Senate primary. Booker became a national star amid the protests over the death of George Floyd and is very much in the race against McGrath, who had a massive fundraising advantage and help from Washington Democrats.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezGOP congresswoman-elect wants to form Republican 'Squad' called 'The Force' Ocasio-Cortez on controlling COVID-19: 'We need to pay people to stay home' OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden eyes new leadership at troubled public lands agency | House progressives tout their growing numbers in the chamber at climate rally | Trump administration pushes for rollback of Arctic offshore drilling regulations MORE (D-N.Y.) won a landslide victory over Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (D-N.Y.), who raised millions of dollars and had support of the business community.
- Progressive candidates Mondaire Jones, Ritchie Torres and Dana Balter have all built up double-digit leads in their House primary races in New York. Jones and Torres are looking to become the first openly gay black men ever elected to Congress.
- Insurgent Democrat Suraj Patel (D-N.Y.) is running even with House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn Bosher MaloneyHouse committee chairs demand briefing from GSA head on presidential transition HHS scraps celebrity COVID-19 ad campaign aimed at 'defeating despair' Maloney wins reelection in New York MORE (D-N.Y.). Progressives did not rally around Patel the way they did the others, but the contest underscores the volatile landscape incumbents and Washington-backed candidates are facing at the moment.
The Working Families Party said Tuesday’s elections are evidence that the uprising in the streets over the police killing of George Floyd has ushered in a new era of political change in the U.S. that is being led by people of color.
“The rage and mourning we've seen in the streets is making itself felt in elections from New York to Kentucky. A remarkable cadre of candidates — Charles Booker, Jamaal Bowman, and Mondaire Jones — has gained momentum in recent weeks because they are speaking to people's pain and hunger for transformational change. Win or lose, these Black progressive candidates are expanding the scope of the possible and laying the ground for the future of our work … Today we're seeing that they may form the core of a new multiracial coalition that could change the balance of power in this country.” - WFP National Director Maurice Mitchell
READ MORE:
Progressives riding high as vote tabulated in New York and Kentucky, by Jonathan Easley.
FROM THE TRAIL:
A number of high-profile Democrats are slated to hold virtual events for Biden in the coming weeks. Former 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBig Data signaled winner days before Election Day Trump's legal fight targets Black Americans Democrats must turn around MORE, as well as former 2020 Democratic contenders Pete Buttigieg
Pete ButtigiegButtigieg: Denying Biden intelligence briefings is about protecting Trump's 'ego' Biden's win is not a policy mandate — he should govern accordingly Pavlich: Hollow calls for unity MORE, Beto O’Rourke, Andrew Yang
Andrew YangAndrew Yang: Democrats need to adopt message that government is 'working for them' Andrew Yang moving to Georgia to help Democrats in Senate runoffs John Leguizamo: Trump was more 'aggressive' about courting Latino vote MORE and Julián Castro are set to take part in events for Biden in June and July. Julia Manchester reports.
With pressure mounting on Biden to choose a woman of color as his running mate, some Black progressives are urging the former vice president to tap Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Elizabeth WarrenHouse Democrats back slower timeline for changing Confederate base names On The Money: Push for student loan forgiveness puts Biden in tight spot | Trump is wild card as shutdown fears grow | Mnuchin asks Fed to return 5 billion in unspent COVID emergency funds Mnuchin asks Fed to return 5 billion in unspent COVID-19 emergency funds MORE (D-Mass.) for the role. Their preference for Warren is ideological, to be sure, but some also argue that the Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate is best positioned to champion the changes demanded by the Black Lives Matter movement. The Hill’s Amie Parnes reports.
The Trump campaign is suing Priorities USA, the largest Democratic super PAC, for running an ad that they argue misrepresented the president’s remarks on the coronavirus. The complaint was made in conjunction with a lawsuit against a Wisconsin TV station that continued to air the ad after receiving a cease-and-desist letter. The Hill’s Max Greenwood reports.
CONGRESS AND THE STATES:
Confidants of Vice President Mike Pence
Michael (Mike) Richard PencePence campaigns in Georgia as Trump casts shadow on runoffs Overnight Health Care: CDC recommends Americans avoid traveling for Thanksgiving | Health experts call on GSA to recognize Biden victory | White House holds first task force briefing in months President Trump should say 'you're fired' — to himself MORE helped propel 24-year-old Madison Cawthorn to victory in the North Carolina primary to replace White House chief of staff Mark Meadows
Mark Randall MeadowsOvernight Defense: Pentagon set for tighter virus restrictions as top officials tests positive | Military sees 11th COVID-19 death | House Democrats back Senate language on Confederate base names Trump administration revives talk of action on birthright citizenship House Democrats back slower timeline for changing Confederate base names MORE. The Hill’s Scott Wong reports that it has created an awkward dynamic in the White House because Meadows and President Trump
Donald John TrumpBen Carson says he's 'out of the woods' after being 'extremely sick' with COVID-19 Biden will receive @POTUS Twitter account on Jan. 20 even if Trump doesn't concede, company says Trump to participate in virtual G-20 summit amid coronavirus surge MORE endorsed Cawthorn’s challenger.
SCOOP: Conservative women’s group Maggie’s List rolled out its latest round of endorsements to Campaign Report on Wednesday. They include Wyoming Senate candidate Cynthia Lummis
Cynthia Marie LummisNext Congress expected to have record diversity Republican Cynthia Lummis wins Wyoming Senate election Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE, Indiana’s 5th District candidate Victoria Spartz, Michigan’s 3rd District candidate Lynn Afendoulis, and Illinois’s 17th District candidate Esther Joy King. The Cook Political reports rates the Wyoming Senate race as “solid Republican” and the race for Indiana’s 5th District as “lean Republican.” The website also rated Michigan’s 3rd District as “lean Republican,” and Illinois’s 17th District as “likely Democratic.
“The energy from our grassroots network this cycle is palpable. We are excited to support our list of endorsed candidates and we look forward to helping them go on to win their elections in November,” Maggie’s List Chairwoman Sandra Mortham said in a statement.
The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump GOP super PAC, endorsed former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock
Steve BullockOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Down ballot races carry environmental implications | US officially exits Paris climate accord GOP Rep. Greg Gianforte wins Montana governor's race Senate control in flux as counting goes forward in key states MORE in his Senate race against incumbent Sen. Steve Daines
Steven (Steve) David DainesRick Scott tests positive for coronavirus Biden eyes new leadership at troubled public lands agency OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Barrasso to seek top spot on Energy and Natural Resources Committee | Forest Service finalizes rule weakening environmental review of its projects | Biden to enlist Agriculture, Transportation agencies in climate fight MORE on Wednesday. The group marked its endorsement with a new digital ad, titled “Strong.” Julia +.
PERSPECTIVES:
Khalid Pitts: We can't let Georgia's election disaster happen again
Albert Hunt: A new age of lies?
POLL WATCH:
MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL – WISCONSIN PRESIDENTIAL
Biden: 49%
Trump: 41%
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY – OHIO PRESIDENTIAL
Biden: 46%
Trump: 45%
-Everytown in NC
MONEY WATCH:
Everytown for Gun Safety is planning to spend $5 million ahead of the general election in North Carolina, as a part of its $60 million electoral program. The gun control group said in a call with reporters on Wednesday that the initiative will focus on the presidential election in the state, the Senate race between incumbent Republican Sen. Thom Tillis
Thomas (Thom) Roland TillisNorth Carolina's Mark Walker expected to announce Senate bid Rick Scott tests positive for coronavirus Bipartisan pair of Senators call on Egypt to address case of imprisoned human rights advocate MORE and Democrat Cal Cunningham, as well as state legislature races. “It’s not just the presidential [race]. We view the statewide and down ballot races as incredibly important,” said senior political adviser for Everytown Charlie Kelly. “The issue does persuade and mobilize.”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
June 30:
Colorado primaries
Oklahoma primaries
Utah primaries
July 7:
New Jersey primaries
Delaware primaries
July 11:
Louisiana primaries
July 14:
Alabama primary runoffs
Texas primary runoffs
Maine primaries
Aug. 4:
Arizona primaries
Kansas primaries
Michigan primaries
Missouri primaries
Washington primaries
Aug. 11:
Connecticut primaries
Minnesota primaries
Vermont primaries
Wisconsin primaries
Georgia primary runoffs
Aug. 18:
Alaska primaries
Florida primaries
Wyoming primaries
Aug. 17-20:
Democratic National Convention
Aug. 24-27:
Republican National Convention
Sept. 1:
Massachusetts primaries
Sept. 8:
New Hampshire primaries
Rhode Island primaries
Sept. 15:
Delaware primaries
Sept. 29:
First presidential debate
Oct. 7:
Vice presidential debate
Oct. 15:
Second presidential debate
Oct. 22:
Third presidential debate
