Welcome to the AR/Intel Race Rundown, our weekly recap of the most important news happening in campaigns across the country. Sign up to get the Race Rundown delivered to your inbox every Friday morning here.
NATIONAL
The Cook Political Report: “The Suburban Vote Isn’t As Blue As It Looks” (The Cook Political Report, 9/12/19)
Former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) announced that he intends seek to the Republican presidential nomination and challenge Pres. Donald Trump. (The New York Times, 9/8/19)
The third quarter report of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Index shows “employers are experiencing high levels of confidence about the state of their local economies and their financial future” during President Donald Trump’s tenure. (The Washington Free Beacon, 9/10/19)
The Washington Post: “Democrats Should Give Trump A Win On His Trade Deal With Mexico And Canada” (The Washington Post, 9/12/19)
PRESIDENTIAL
The Washington Post: “Winners And Losers From The Third Democratic Debate” (The Washington Post, 9/12/19)
Pete Buttigieg began a TV blitz in Iowa on last Friday, starting his first serious paid advertising effort in the first caucus state. (Politico, 9/6/19)
POLL: This week’s national Morning Consult poll of Democratic primary voters found former Vice President Joe Biden (D-DE) leading the field for President with support from 33% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (21%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) (16%), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) (7%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) (5%). (Morning Consult, 9/10/19)
POLL: A national Economist/YouGov poll shows Biden tied with Warren in the primary contest, with each candidate receiving the support of 26% of Democratic primary voters. They are followed by Sanders at 16%, and Harris and Buttigieg who are tied at 6%. (YouGov, 9/11/19)
SENATE NATIONAL
The Daily Beast: “National Dems Quietly Take Sides In Tight Senate Primaries” (The Daily Beast, 9/12/19)
SENATE ALABAMA
Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) officially kicked off his reelection campaign last weekend. (The Associated Press, 9/9/19)
SENATE COLORADO
John Walsh (D-CO), a former U.S. attorney, dropped out of Colorado’s U.S. Senate race and endorsed former Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO). (The Denver Post, 9/11/19)
Dan Baer (D-CO), a former diplomat who was appointed to be executive director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education in 2018, also dropped his Senate bid and endorsed Hickenlooper. (The Denver Post, 9/12/19)
SENATE GEORIGA
Former congressional candidate Jon Ossoff (D-GA) announced that he is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. David Perdue (R-GA). (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/9/19)
- Vice: “Jon Ossoff Is Running For Senate In Georgia, But Some Democrats Worry He Can’t Deliver — Again” (Vice, 9/10/19)
U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) signaled Sunday that she hasn’t ruled out a bid for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA). (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/8/19)
NPR: “Who Is Running For Georgia’s US Senate Seats?” (NPR, 9/9/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: We’ve updated our Race Brief for both the Colorado and Georgia Senate contests to keep you up to speed on the latest developments. Not a subscriber? Access a free preview of the Georgia Senate Brief here.
SENATE KANSAS
U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) officially announced his intent to run for U.S. Senate in 2020, seeking the seat being vacated by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). (Great Bend Tribune, 9/7/19)
SENATE MAINE
Derek Levasseur (R-ME) announced that he was dropping his primary bid against Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). (Maine Sun Journal, 9/9/19)
SENATE MASSACHUSETTS
A new Suffolk University/Boston Globe survey showed Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) leading Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) in a head-to-head hypothetical primary matchup, 42% to 28%. (The Hill, 9/8/19)
Politico: “Senate Dems’ Campaign Arm Backs Ed Markey Over Joe Kennedy” (Politico, 9/10/19)
SENATE NEBRASKA
President Trump endorsed Sen. Ben Sasse’s (R-NE) reelection campaign this week. (The Washington Post, 9/11/19)
SENATE NEW HAMPSHIRE
A new 3rd party poll from Vote Adjustments, LLC, showed former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski leading a hypothetical primary matchup against three candidates with support from 29% of those polled. His next closest opponent was retired Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc, who received 9%. (WMUR, 9/9/19)
- An Emerson College poll showed Lewandowski leading the Republican primary field with 23% support followed by retired Army Gen. Don Bolduc in second at 9%. The poll also showed Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) leading Lewandowski in a head-to-head matchup 49% to 39%. (Roll Call, 9/11/19)
SENATE TENNESSEE
Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty (R-TN) officially launched a bid to be Tennessee’s next U.S. Senator. (The Tennessean, 9/9/19)
SENATE TEXAS
A new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll showed U.S. Air Force veteran MJ Hegar leading the Democratic primary contest with a paltry 11% support. 66% of potential Democratic primary voters said either that they don’t know who they’ll support or that they haven’t thought about it enough to have an opinion. (The Texas Tribune, 9/11/19)
State Sen. Pat Fallon (R-TX) announced he is exploring a primary challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). (The Texas Tribune, 9/10/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: The Democratic primary remains a toss-up – brush up on all the candidates here to see who could break away from the pack.
SENATE WYOMING
The Hill: “Pressure Rises On Cheney To Make Decision” (The Hill, 9/12/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
Politico: The NRCC added nine candidates to the first stage of its “Young Guns” program, which highlights candidates in open and Democratic-held seats. The nine new additions: Jerry Carl (AL-01), former Rep. David Valadao (CA-21), Claire Chase (NM-02), Dan Rodimer (NV-03), Dan Schwartz (NV-03), Mike Covert (SC-01), Tony Gonzales (TX-23), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) and Dan Hemmert (UT-04). (Politico, 9/12/19)
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) was elected the next chairman of the House Freedom Caucus and will succeed Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC). (Fox News, 9/12/19)
HOUSE ALABAMA
AL-02: Former Alabama Attorney General Troy King announced that he is running for the congressional seat being vacated by Rep. Martha Roby. (Alabama Daily-News, 9/6/19)
HOUSE ARIZONA
AZ-06: The House Ethics Committee released an expanded list of accusations faced by Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), who was accused last year of misusing official funds and receiving improper campaign contributions. (The Hill, 9/5/19)
HOUSE FLORIDA
FL-13: Florida Daily: “Republican Challengers Start Lining Up Against Charlie Crist” (Florida Daily, 9/6/19)
HOUSE ILLINOIS
IL-03: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) endorsed Marie Newman in her primary challenge to Rep. Dan Lipinksi (D-IL). (The Hill, 9/5/19)
HOUSE MARYLAND
MD-05: Brand New Congress, one of the groups that helped catapult Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to victory, is endorsing Mckayla Wilkes (D-MD), a 29-year-old Maryland student who is challenging House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). (BuzzFeed, 9/10/19)
HOUSE MICHIGAN
MI-03: Michigan Advance: “Michigan Trump Republicans Endorse Amash Challenger Langlois” (Michigan Advance, 9/9/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Learn more about Langlois with our MI-03 Race Brief. Not the race you’re looking for? Let us know and we’ll create a custom brief for you.
HOUSE MINNESOTA
MN-07: Dr. Noel Collis, a practicing gastroenterologist, announced he will be running for Congress in the 7th District. (KNSI, 9/9/19)
HOUSE NORTH CAROLINA
NC-03: Republican Greg Murphy defeated Democrat Allen Thomas in the special election to succeed the late GOP Rep. Walter Jones Jr. (The Associated Press, 9/10/19)
NC-09: Republican Dan Bishop defeated Democrat Dan McCready in the special “do-over” election that was called following allegations of fraud in the 2018 contest. (Politico, 9/10/19)
HOUSE TEXAS
TX-28: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) endorsed Jessica Cisneros, a Democratic primary challenger to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX). (The Hill, 9/9/19)