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 RNC announced they raised $15.9M in April, the greatest amount raised in that month in the party’s history. (The Hill, 5/17/19)
- The DNC raised $6.6 million. (Politico, 5/21/19)
- The majority of donations to the RNC came from small donors who donated up to $200. According to the disclosures, nearly $9 million in donations came from such donors, while just over $4 million were from large donors. (Fox News, 5/21/19)
The Associated Press: “Democratic Pledges Against Big Money Come With An Asterisk” (The Associated Press, 5/23/19)
Roll Call: “Abortion-Rights Groups Lay Out 2020 Races They Plan To Target” (Roll Call, 5/22/19)
PRESIDENTIAL
Politico: “How Much Political Experience Does It Take To Be Elected President?” (Politico, 5/23/19)
POLL: The latest Morning Consult poll of Democratic primary voters found former Vice President Joe Biden leading the field for President with support from 39% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (19%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (9%), Sen. Kamala Harris (8%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (6%). (Morning Consult, 5/20/19)
POLL: A new Quinnipiac poll shows former Biden leading the field for President with support from 35% of primary voters. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (16%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (13%), Sen. Kamala Harris (8%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (5%). (Quinnipiac University, 5/21/19)
SENATE NATIONAL
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: “Notes On The State Of The Senate” (Sabato’s Crystal Ball, 5/23/19)
Filings show that the NRSC raised $4.5 million in April and the DSCC raised $4.4 million. (Politico, 5/21/19)
SENATE COLORADO
AR/Intel: “Get To Know The Democrats Running To Challenge Cory Gardner” (AR/Intel, 5/23/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: For information on possible candidates, polling, the latest news, and more, check out our new Colorado Senate Race Brief.
SENATE GEORGIA
Sarah Riggs Amico, a former Democratic candidate for Georgia lieutenant governor, said Monday that she’s seriously considering running for Senate in 2020. (The Hill, 5/20/19)
The Washington Examiner: “Abrams Decision To Forgo Senate Race Positions Trump To Win In Georgia” (The Washington Examiner, 5/19/19)
SENATE IOWA
Des Moines coach and businessman Eddie Mauro launched his run for the U.S. Senate, aiming to be Democrats’ nominee to take on Senator Joni Ernst next year. (Iowa Starting Line, 5/20/19)
SENATE KANSAS
The Kansas City Star: “Kansas’ Kobach Is Weighing A Senate Bid. National Republicans Are Ready To Stop Him.” (The Kansas City Star, 5/17/19)
SENATE MAINE
Freshman Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) said he would not run against GOP Sen. Susan Collins in 2020. (Politico, 5/22/19)
SENATE NORTH CAROLINA
The Washington Examiner: “GOP Leaders Back North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis By Bloodying His Primary Challenger” (The Washington Examiner, 5/22/19)
Vice President Mike Pence attended a fundraiser for Sen. Tillis earlier this week. (Greensboro News & Record, 5/22/19)
The Club for Growth appears to be trying to nudge Rep. Mark Walker, a third-term evangelical pastor, into a 2020 primary challenge to Sen. Thom Tillis. A poll from the group suggested that Tillis would be vulnerable to a challenge from the right — particularly against Walker. (Politico, 5/23/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Our updated Race Brief for the North Carolina senate race has all information you need to know about this contentious election.
SENATE SOUTH CAROLINA
McClatchy: “Establishment Democrats Pick Sides In Party’s Fight To Take On Lindsey Graham” (McClatchy, 5/21/19)
SENATE WYOMING
Foster Friess, a wealthy Republican political donor from Wyoming, says he’s thinking about running for Senate in 2020. (The Associated Press, 5/23/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
The DCCC announced that it raised $7.85 million in April. (The Hill, 5/20/19)
- The NRCC raised $5.5 million. (Politico, 5/21/19)
Protect Our Care, a pro-ObamaCare group, announced it is launching a seven-figure advertising campaign aimed at protecting 20 House Democrats. (The Hill, 5/20/19)
Politico: “Pelosi Clashes With Fellow Dems In Closed-Door Debate On Impeachment” (Politico, 5/20/19)
HOUSE CALIFORNIA
San Francisco Chronicle: “California GOP Picks Favorites For Re-Flipping Seats Democrats Won In Midterms” (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/21/19)
CA-10: Per the Turlock Journal, “San Joaquin County Supervisor Bob Elliott and California Strawberry Commission regulatory affairs manager Marla Livengood have both announced their intent to run for Congress in California’s 10th District, joining the two other Republicans in the race: former Turlock City Council member and 2018 Congressional candidate Ted Howze and Modesto engineer Charles Dossett.” (Turlock Journal, 5/21/19)
HOUSE GEORGIA
GA-07: Republican Rich McCormick, a physician and veteran, announced that he is running for the open seat in Georgia’s 7th district. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/20/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: For more information on all the competitive Georgia race, click here. Looking for on a race in a different state? Our growing list of briefs can be accessed here.
HOUSE ILLINOIS
IL-03: Rep. Cheri Bustos pulled out of a fundraiser with Rep. Dan Lipinski, who is facing a primary challenge. (The Huffington Post, 5/22/19)
HOUSE IOWA
Sioux City Journal: “Iowa Gearing Up For All Four House Races To Be Competitive In 2020 Election” (Sioux City Journal, 5/20/19)
IA-03: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) endorsed former U.S. Rep. David Young for the 2020 Republican primary in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. (Caffeinated Thoughts, 5/20/19)
HOUSE MAINE
ME-02: Former state Sen. Eric Brakey, who ran an unsuccessful U.S. Senate run last year, has been in Washington, D.C., for meetings about a prospective run against Rep. Jared Golden this week. (Bangor Daily News, 5/23/19)
HOUSE MICHIGAN
MI-03: Rep. Justin Amash became the first Republican congressman to say the president “engaged in impeachable conduct.” (The Washington Post, 5/18/19)
- MI-03: Following Amash’s comments, state Rep. Jim Lower announced his candidacy for Amash’s seat. Lower said he had been organizing his campaign for months but did not plan on announcing his candidacy until the summer. He moved his timetable up after reading Amash’s tweets. (CBS-Kalamazoo, 5/20/19)
HOUSE NEW MEXICO
NM-02: Carlsbad Current Argus: “Republicans Prepare To Challenge Xochitl Torres Small For Congress In 2020” (Carlsbad Current Argus, 5/23/19)
HOUSE NEW YORK
NY-19: John Faso, the former Republican congressman defeated last year by Democrat Antonio Delgado, says he will not try to win back the seat in 2020. (Albany Times Union, 5/20/19)
NY-27: Former Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo is eyeing a bid for Congress in New York’s 27th district if Rep. Chris Collins “will not run, or cannot win.” Collins has been under investigation for insider trading since shortly before his successful reelection to the House last year. (The Hill, 5/22/19)
- NY-27: Republican state Sen. Chris Jacobs filed paperwork with the FEC to run for the seat in 2020. (Lancaster Bee, 5/22/19)
HOUSE PENNSYLVANIA
PA-12: Republican state lawmaker Fred Keller won Tuesday’s special election to replace Republican Rep. Tom Marino. (The Associated Press, 5/21/19)
- PA-12: The Washington Free Beacon: “GOP Sees Positive Signs For 2020 In Pa. Special Election Win” (The Washington Free Beacon, 5/23/19)
HOUSE TEXAS
TX-23: EMILY’s List announced that it is endorsing Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones in her rematch against Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX). (San Antonio Express-News, 5/22/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Check out our updated TX-23 brief here.
HOUSE UTAH
UT-04: Kathleen Anderson, who previously worked as the communications director for the Utah Republican Party and served as the President of the Utah Federation of Republican Women, is preparing to launch a campaign challenging freshman Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) next year. (UtahPolicy.com, 5/24/19)
UT-04: UtahPolicy.com: “Nearly A Dozen Republicans Are Being Linked To A Possible Run Against Democrat Ben McAdams In 2020” (UtahPolicy.com, 5/20/19)