Welcome to the AR/Intel Race Rundown, our weekly recap of the most important news happening in campaigns across the country.
NATIONAL
FiveThirtyEight: “We Asked Democratic Activists Who They’re Backing — And Who They’d Hate To See Win” (FiveThirtyEight, 4/22/19)
Politico: “How The Intercept Is Fueling The Democratic Civil War” (Politico, 4/24/19)
A new Harvard University Institute of Politics poll showed that more young voters, particularly those who identify as Democrats, plan to vote in the 2020 presidential caucuses and primaries than did four years ago. (USA Today, 4/22/19)
PRESIDENTIAL
Former Vice President Joe Biden formally joined the Democratic presidential contest on Thursday. (The Associated Press, 4/25/19)
- Following the announcement, Biden received endorsements from Sens. Doug Jones (D-AL), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Bob Casey (D-PA). (The Hill, 4/25/19)
- Biden’s announcement was panned by Justice Democrats, the group that helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Justice Democrats said, calling him “out of touch.” (The Hill, 4/25/19)
The Morning Consult: “Joe Biden Is The Front-Runner — Over Democrats, And Donald Trump” (The Morning Consult, 4/24/19)
- A new Monmouth University poll of Democratic primary voters found former Vice President Joe Biden leading the field for President with support from 27% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning voters. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (20%), Mayor Pete Buttigieg (8%), Sen. Kamala Harris (8%) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (6%). (Monmouth University, 4/23/19)
Following the release of the Mueller report last week, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called for the House to start impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. (The Huffington Post, 4/19/19)
- Kamala Harris also called for the House to start impeachment proceedings. (Los Angeles Times, 4/22/19)
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts lawmaker and Iraq War veteran, announced that he is running for president. (The Associated Press, 4/22/19)
SENATE NATIONAL
The Morning Consult released their latest Senator Approval Rankings for the first quarter of 2019. (The Morning Consult, 4/25/19)
The NRSC is targeting a handful of Democratic incumbents and candidates in five key battleground states with a series of billboards zeroing in on Medicare for All and the Green New Deal climate change plan. The billboards specifically target Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Doug Jones (D-AL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), as well as Democrat Mark Kelly (D-AZ). (The Hill, 4/22/19)
The DSCC raised $13.8 million in the first quarter of this year, similar to the $13.9 million raised in the first quarter of 2017. The NRSC raised $19.5 million in the first quarter of this year. (Politico, 4/19/19)
SENATE ALABAMA
Businessman and former television evangelist Stanley Adair (R-AL) announced he is running for U.S. Senate. (CBS-Birmingham, 4/22/19)
- Meanwhile, Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-AL) confirmed that he will not run for the U.S. Senate. (Yellow Hammer, 4/22/19)
- Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said he is “not in a rush to make a decision” on a possible U.S. Senate run. (WTVY, 4/25/19)
SENATE COLORADO
Ellen Burnes, a finance instructor at Colorado State University and a former chair of the Boulder County Democratic Party, announced she’s running in 2020 for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner. (Colorado Politics, 4/19/19)
U.S. Senate candidate Mike Johnston (D-CO) announced he won endorsements from more than a dozen prominent Colorado Democrats, including former U.S. Sen. Gary Hart and former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb. (Colorado Politics, 4/23/19)
FiveThirtyEight: “It’s Early, But Colorado’s Cory Gardner Has A Tough Road To Re-Election In 2020” (FiveThirtyEight, 4/24/19)
SENATE GEORGIA
Sen. David Perdue’s (R-GA) campaign was fined $30,000 for FEC violations from his first Senate campaign in 2014. (The Associated Press, 4/19/19)
SENATE KANSAS
The White House reportedly met with at least three Kansas Republicans this month about potential 2020 runs for the open U.S. Senate seat. Visitors included Wichita oil magnate Wink Hartman, Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, and Alan Cobb, the president of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. (The Kansas City Star, 4/25/19)
Sarah Smarsh, author of a bestselling memoir about growing up poor in rural Kansas, is considering a Democratic candidacy for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2020. According to Smarsh, she met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer last month to discuss the race. (McClatchy, 4/23/19)
SENATE MAINE
A national survey from Morning Consult conducted over the first quarter of 2019 found that 67 percent of Maine Republicans approved of Collins, putting her in the upper half among Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020. (Bangor Daily Record, 4/25/19)
Bre Kidman, a 31-year-old Saco attorney, said she plans to challenge the reelection of Sen. Susan Collins. (Lewiston Sun-Journal, 4/22/19)
SENATE NEW MEXICO
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver (D-NM) announced that she intends to run for the U.S. Senate next year. (The Associated Press, 4/24/19)
SENATE TEXAS
Texas Monthly: “Flush With Cash, Senator John Cornyn Seems To Spur Democrats To Challenge Him” (Texas Monthly, 4/22/19)
MJ Hegar (D-TX), a former Air Force helicopter pilot who mounted an unsuccessful bid to unseat U.S. Rep. John Carter (R-TX) in 2018, announced she is running for Senate in 2020. (The Texas Tribune, 4/23/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
The NRCC rolled out the first 10 members of its “Patriot Program,” identifying the most vulnerable incumbents in the early months of the 2020 election cycle. The list consists of Reps. Fred Upton (MI-06), Don Bacon (NE-02), Lee Zeldin (NY-01), John Katko (NY-24), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Michael McCail (TX-10), Pete Olson (TX-22), Will Hurd (TX-23), John Carter (TX-31) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03). (Politico, 4/19/19)
The NRCC raised $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2019, less than the DCCC’s $32.5 million. However, the NRCC had more than $4 million more in the bank as of March 31. (Politico, 4/20/19)
HOUSE CALIFORNIA
The Associated Press: “Republicans Lining Up For 2020 House Fights In California” (The Associated Press, 4/22/19)
HOUSE GEORGIA
GA-07: Lynne Homrich, a former Home Depot executive and founder of a nonprofit organization, launched her campaign to challenge incumbent Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA). (The Atlanta Journal Constitution, 4/22/19)
HOUSE ILLINOIS
IL-06: Former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti launched her campaign for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Sean Casten in the 6th Congressional District. (Daily Herald, 4/22/19)
IL-14: Ted Gradel, an investment banker and former Notre Dame football player, announced he is running for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) next year. (Chicago Tribune, 4/23/19)
HOUSE IOWA
IA-02: Iowa City business owner and Democratic activist Veronica Tessler was the first candidate to file her candidacy for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District in 2020. (The Daily Iowan, 4/22/19)
IA-02: DeWitt Observer reports that former District 49 senator and rural Wheatland resident Rita Hart may soon announce her candidacy for the open 2nd Congressional District seat. (DeWitt Observer, 4/19/19)
HOUSE MICHIGAN
Federal judges ordered the state of Michigan to draw new legislative districts on Thursday, after finding that a gerrymandered plan enacted by the state’s Republican-dominated legislature in 2011 constituted an “extremely grave” constitutional violation. The state must redraw the districts before the 2020 election. (The Washington Post, 4/26/19)
HOUSE NEW JERSEY
NJ-07: Republican Rosemary Becchi, a former tax counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, has formed an exploratory committee for a possible challenge to freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) next year. (New Jersey Globe, 4/24/19)
HOUSE NEW YORK
Spectrum News: “Some NY House Candidates Hope That Second Time’s The Charm” (Spectrum News, 4/22/19)
NY-11: Newsmax: “Nicole Malliotakis Looks Strong In NY-11” (Newsmax, 4/24/19)
HOUSE NORTH CAROLINA
NC-03: Roll Call: “Could This Be The Primary Where Outside GOP Groups Help Women Win?” (Roll Call, 4/23/19)
NC-03: Winning for Women Action Fund (WFW AF) announced its support for Dr. Joan Perry (R-NC), who is running in the special election to represent North Carolina’s 3rd District. (The Washington Free Beacon, 4/24/19)
NC-09: Republican state Sen. Dan Bishop has won the endorsement of the Club for Growth. (The Charlotte Observer, 4/21/19)
NC-09: Spectrum News-Charlotte: “Low Voter Turnout Expected For District 9 Primary” (Spectrum News-Charlotte, 4/23/19)
NC-09: OpenSecrets: “Outside Groups Spending Big In Crowded North Carolina Special Elections” (OpenSecrets, 4/24/19)
HOUSE OKLAHOMA
Republican Oklahoma state Sen. Stephanie Bice announced she will run for the U.S. House against Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn in 2020. (The Associated Press, 4/24/19)
- Oklahoma City businesswoman and political strategist Terry Neese also announced her candidacy. (CBS-Oklahoma City, 4/25/19)
HOUSE TEXAS
The Statesman: “Democratic Candidates Jockey To Run In Texas Districts Once Considered GOP Locks” (The Statesman, 4/20/19)