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 will be running full-page print newspaper ads hitting House Democrats over their continued effort to impeach President Donald Trump. The ads will appear in fifteen 2020 states in target districts held by vulnerable House Democrats. (The Daily Caller, 11/13/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Check out our NEW 2020 election calendar, which lays out every presidential and federal primary across the country along with other helpful information about each state’s election schedule.
PRESIDENTIAL
NBC News: “Line-Up Announced For MSNBC/Washington Post Democratic Debate” (NBC News, 11/14/19)
Bernie Sanders announced that he is nearly doubling his campaign staff in California. (Bloomberg, 11/13/19)
Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick announced he is running for president, making a late entry into the Democratic race less than three months before primary voting begins. (The Associated Press, 11/14/19)
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 32% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (20%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) (19%), Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) (8%), and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) (5%). (Morning Consult, 11/12/19)
POLL: The latest national Economist/YouGov poll shows Warren leading with support from 26% of primary voters followed by Biden (23%), Sanders (17%), Buttigieg (9%), and Harris (5%). (YouGov, 11/13/19)
SENATE ALABAMA
Following the announcement that former Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) announced that he would seek his old senate seat, nearly a dozen GOP Senators signed a letter announcing their support for his candidacy. The letter is signed by GOP Sens. Richard Shelby (AL), Jim Inhofe (OK), Pat Roberts (KS), Mike Enzi (WY), Mike Crapo (ID), Johnny Isakson (GA), John Barrasso (WY), Roy Blunt (MO), John Boozman (AR), Ron Johnson (WI), and Deb Fischer (NE). (Politico, 11/8/19)
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Politico: “Trump Says He Won’t Campaign Against Sessions In Senate Run” (Politico, 11/8/19)
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Sessions launched a $67,000 ad buy on Fox News that praises President Donald Trump and portrays himself as a staunch ally of the president. (Politico, 11/14/19)
SENATE GEORGIA
Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) set a deadline of next Monday (11/18) at 5 p.m. for applications to be considered for appointment to Sen. Johnny Isakson’s (R-GA) soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat. (Politico, 11/13/19)
A new poll of registered Georgia voters conducted for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) leading a Democratic opponent 35% to 21%. Another 41% of those polled may support a Democratic opponent depending on who it is. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11/13/19)
SENATE KANSAS
Steve Roberts, a Republican member of the Kansas State Board of Education announced he is running to replace Sen. Pat Roberts next year. (The Associated Press, 11/12/19)
SENATE KENTUCKY
State Rep. Charles Booker (D-KY) announced that he’s exploring a run for the US Senate to challenge Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY). (ABC-Louisville, 11/13/19)
SENATE MAINE
Politico: “Collins, Gideon Launch New TV Ads In Maine Senate Race” (Politico, 11/12/19)
The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund announced it is endorsing Sara Gideon (D-ME) in her challenge to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). (Politico, 11/14/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Get the latest information on the Maine Senate race and others with our growing library of Race Briefs.
SENATE MISSISSIPPI
Mike Espy, a Mississippi Democrat who ran against Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) last year, announced on that he would seek to challenge her again in 2020. (The New York Times, 11/12/19)
SENATE NORTH CAROLINA
A new Fox News poll shows Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) leading his primary challenger, Garland Tucker, 54% to 11%. The poll also shows Cal Cunningham, a veteran and former state senator who is the preferred candidate of national Democrats, trailing in the Democratic primary. Only 13% of Democratic primary voters back Cunningham while 18% support state Sen. Erica Smith. Half of voters say they had not yet made up their mind. (Fox News, 11/14/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
Axios: “Democrats’ Problem Breaking Through On Impeachment” (Axios, 11/15/19)
The conservative American Action Network (AAN) announced it is launching a $2 million digital ad campaign urging House Democrats in swing districts to vote no on impeaching President Trump. (The Hill, 11/13/19)
The DCCC announced that it raised more than $12.2 million last month, surpassing the $7.68 million they raised in October 2017. (The Hill, 11/14/19)
HOUSE ARIZONA
AZ-01: Oro Valley attorney Nolan Reidhead announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Congressional District 1 seat currently held by Rep. Tom O’Halleran. (ABC-Tucson, 11/12/19)
HOUSE CALIFORNIA
CA-25: Former Rep. Steve Knight (R-CA), who was ousted in 2018 by Katie Hill (D-CA), announced on his website Sunday that he will attempt to win back his old seat. (Fox News, 11/11/19)
CA-25: The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur filed Wednesday to run for the House seat vacated by former Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA). (The Hill, 11/13/19)
HOUSE IOWA
IA-02: Governor Kim Reynolds announced that she would support Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) in her campaign for the Republican nomination in the fight for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. (Iowa City Press-Citizen, 11/8/19)
HOUSE MICHIGAN
MI-08: Kristina Lyke (R-MI), an attorney, announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). (Livingston Daily, 11/14/19)
HOUSE NEW JERSEY
NJ-05: Paul Duggan, who nearly captured the GOP nomination for Bergen County Executive in 2018, announced today that he will run for Congress in New Jersey’s 5th district. He is the fourth Republican to enter the race to challenge Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). (New Jersey Globe, 11/10/19)
HOUSE NEW YORK
NY-02: 14-term Rep. Peter King (R-NY) announced he will not seek reelection in 2020. (Politico, 11/11/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Need a full list of House and Senate retirements? We’ve got you covered.
HOUSE TEXAS
TX-17: Waco Tribune-Herald: “Candidates Line Up For U.S. Rep. Flores’ Seat In First Week Of Filing” (Waco Tribune-Herald, 11/14/19)
TX-22: Houston Chronicle: “Houston-Area Congressional District 22 Has Nation’s Biggest GOP Primary Field” (Houston Chronicle, 11/14/19)
TX-23: Retiring Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) gave his endorsement to Navy veteran Tony Gonzales in the crowded GOP field to replace him next year. (The Texas Tribune, 11/13/19)
HOUSE VIRGINIA
VA-02: Ben Loyola, a U.S. Navy veteran who previously ran for the 2nd Congressional District and for state Senate, announced he’s seeking the Republican nomination for the seat currently held by Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA). (The Virginian-Pilot, 11/12/19)