While President Trump’s impeachment inquiry has dominated news coverage, former Vice President’s involvement in Ukraine has also drawn increased scrutiny. Sen. Kamala Harris doubled down on her calls for impeachment while Sen. Bernie Sanders has elected to stick to the issues, rolling out a pair of proposals that would raise taxes on the wealthy.
Find out what the candidates have been up to in the last week with our 2020 roundup.
Fmr. Vice President Joe Biden
Ukraine Backlash: Although headlines in the last week have mostly focused on President Trump’s impeachment inquiry, Biden is also coming under the microscope for his son’s dealings in Ukraine and China, raising questions as to whether the former vice president improperly used his influence. Last week, the RNC called on Biden to release transcripts of his calls with leaders from Ukraine and China during his time serving as vice president and media outlets are openly speculating that his family could drag down his candidacy.
Sen. Bernie Sanders
New Wealth Tax: Last week, Sanders unveiled a proposal to create a new tax on the wealth of the richest Americans. It’s similar to a proposal released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren earlier this year but it goes further: Sanders’ wealth tax would apply to a larger number of households, impose a higher top rate and theoretically would raise more money.
CEO Taxes: Sanders also released a new plan to raise taxes on businesses whose CEOs make at least 50 times more than their median workers. The boost in corporate taxes would be imposed on companies that bring in $100 million or more in annual revenue.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Early State Ad Blitz: Warren’s campaign announced last week that she is launching an early-state ad campaign of at least $10 million. The campaign told Politico that a digital ad campaign would begin immediately and that the entire buy will ramp up over the next few months. The campaign declined to say when its spending on digital and TV ads would reach eight figures.
Staffing Up: In addition to the new ad blitz, Warren’s campaign also announced it will expand its operations in Illinois, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, and Florida.
Wall Street Warnings: According to sources, Democratic donors on Wall Street and in big business are preparing to sit out the presidential campaign fundraising cycle – or even back President Donald Trump – if Sen. Elizabeth Warren wins the party’s nomination.
Sen. Kamala Harris
Demanding Investigations: Last week, Harris demanded the State Department inspector general open an investigation into efforts by President Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to urge Ukraine to investigate matters that could be politically beneficial to Trump. Harris also called for formal impeachment proceedings against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a lengthy op-ed in Elle magazine.
Campaign Shakeup: Harris is shaking up the top ranks of her presidential campaign. The California senator has decided to elevate her Senate Chief of Staff Rohini Kosoglu and senior adviser Laphonza Butler into new senior management positions in the campaign. Campaign Manager Juan Rodriguez will oversee the budget while focusing on longer-term initiatives.
Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Anti-Medicare For All Ad: Buttigieg began airing a new television ad in Iowa last week taking aim at his Democratic opponents over health care, casting his plan as less restrictive than the “Medicare for All” proposal backed by Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats.