Race Rundown: Big Senate Developments In ‘Bama

PRESIDENTIAL

CNN: “2020 Democrats’ Tax Returns In Three Charts” (CNN, 5/4/19)

A new report from BuzzFeed found that presidential campaigns seeking to gain access to the Democratic Party 50-state voter file will have to pay $175,000 and agree to a strict set of terms requiring candidates to raise money for the Democratic National Committee. (BuzzFeed, 5/4/19)

This week Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign became the first unionized presidential campaign in history. (Roll Call, 5/8/19)

POLL: The latest Morning Consult poll of Democratic primary voters found former Vice President Joe Biden leading the field for President with support from 40% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (19%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (8%), Sen. Kamala Harris (7%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (6%). (Morning Consult, 5/6/19)

POLL: A new Harvard CAPS/Harris poll shows former Vice President Joe Biden leading the field for President with support from 44% of primary voters. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (14%), Sen. Kamala Harris (9%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (5%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (2%). (The Hill, 5/3/19)

SENATE NATIONAL

U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL)

FiveThirtyEight: “How Every Senator Ranks According To ‘Popularity Above Replacement Senator’” (FiveThirtyEight, 5/8/19)

The New York Times: “As Democrats Eye Flipping Senate, Top-Tier Candidates Decide To Pass” (The New York Times, 5/3/19)

SENATE ALABAMA

State Rep. John Rogers (D-AL) delivered a House floor speech on Tuesday asserting that he is running for the United States Senate against Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) in 2020. Rogers has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding recent comments related to abortion. Jones publicly condemned the remarks but was recorded during a private conversation with Rogers saying he agreed with his views. (Yellow Hammer, 5/7/19)

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) shut the door on a potential Senate bid last during a radio interview last Friday. (Politico, 5/3/19)

• During the interview, Brooks newly introduced the possibility of State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-AL) or former State Sen. Trip Pittman (R-AL) running. Pittman later confirmed that he was “considering it.” (Yellow Hammer, 5/3/19; Yellow Hammer, 5/8/19)

State Rep. Arnold Mooney announced he will run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat. Mooney served as Rep. Mo Brooks’ campaign chairman during the 2017 special Senate election. (AL.com, 5/6/19)

State Rep. Will Dismukes is reportedly “seriously weighing” jumping into the senate race and was in Washington, D.C., last week meeting with groups that include the Club for Growth. (Yellow Hammer, 5/3/19)

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions also declined to rule out challenging Jones for his old seat next year. (The Hill, 5/8/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: For a full list of other possible Senate candidates, news archives, and additional analysis, check out our updated Alabama Senate Race Brief.

SENATE COLORADO

Alice Madden, a former Democratic leader in the Colorado House and an unsuccessful 2016 candidate for University of Colorado regent, is jumping into the crowded primary race to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner. (Colorado Sun, 5/9/19)

SENATE GEORGIA

Jon Ossoff said Sunday he will “take a look” at pursuing Georgia’s Democratic U.S. Senate nomination in 2020. (The Washington Free Beacon, 5/6/19)

SENATE MAINE

Democratic attorney James Howaniec, a former two-term mayor, is weighing a possible challenge to U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. (Maine Sun Journal, 5/6/19)

Collins may also face a primary challenge. Derek Levasseur, who runs a small construction company and serves on the Republican State Committee, said he is raising money, rounding up volunteers and intends to appear on the June 2020 primary ballot as a serious contender. (Maine Sun Journal, 5/8/19)

SENATE MICHIGAN

John James, a Republican businessman who lost a U.S. Senate race to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) last year, is reportedly being courted by President Trump to run for Senate again in 2020. Republicans are also recruiting James as a possible candidate in the state’s 11th Congressional District, which is currently held by freshman Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI). (Politico, 5/10/19)

SENATE NORTH CAROLINA

Garland Tucker III, the retired chairman and CEO of Triangle Capital Corporation and an author, filed to run in a Republican primary against Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). (McClatchy, 5/6/19)

• Roll Call: “Trump Loyalty Is Already At The Heart Of North Carolina Senate Primary” (Roll Call, 5/6/19)

Garland has placed a statewide cable TV and radio buy for his campaign that is expected to start today. (McClatchy, 5/9/19)

• Garland also said that he is prepared to spend $1 million of his own money in his primary challenge. (WFAE, 5/10/19)

According to multiple sources, former North Carolina Treasurer Janet Cowell (D-NC) is expected to run for Senate in 2020. The Democrat won two statewide races for treasurer after serving on the Raleigh City Council and state senate. (Twitter, 5/9/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: An updated Race Brief for the North Carolina Senate race is available here. Not the race you’re looking for? Access our growing library of constantly updated Race Briefs here.

HOUSE

U.S. Rep Cindy Axne (D-IA)

HOUSE NATIONAL

The Daily Beast: “Lobbyists And Corporations Are Making It Rain For House Dems” (The Daily Beast, 5/7/19)

HOUSE COLORADO

CO-04: GOP Rep. Ken Buck reportedly told several people at his April weekend fundraiser he is considering not seeking re-election in 2020. (Twitter, 5/8/19)

HOUSE GEORGIA

GA-07: Harrison Floyd, a Republican military veteran, entered the race for Georgia’s 7th District with a promise to combat “domestic socialism” and government overreach. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/6/19)

GA-13: Former Cobb County Democratic Party chairman Michael Owens, a Marine Corps veteran, launched a primary challenge against U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-GA) on Monday with a pledge to be a more visible voice on income inequality, climate change and cybersecurity. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 5/6/19)

HOUSE ILLINOIS

IL-03: EMILY’s List endorsed Marie Newman’s rematch bid against Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) this week, joining five other outside groups who are backing the primary challenge including MoveOn, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. (Politico, 5/6/19)

HOUSE IOWA

IA-02: Last Friday, Veronica Tessler announced an end to her run for Congress. As of that morning, Tessler, was the only candidate to have filed since Rep. Dave Loebsack stated his intention not to run in 2020. Around the time Tessler declared her campaign over, Thomas Kedley (R-IA), the mayor of Osceola, filed his paperwork to run. (Iowa Press Citizen, 5/6/19)

IA-03: Former 3rd District Congressman David Young (R-IA), who was ousted by Democrat Cindy Axne in 2018, will run to reclaim the seat in 2020, he told The Des Moines Register. (The Des Moines Register, 5/6/19)

IA-03: Republican State Senator Zach Nunn announced that he will launch a listening tour of the third district as he decides whether or not to challenge incumbent Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) in 2020. (Caffeinated Thoughts, 5/6/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: All the latest on Iowa’s competitive 2020 races can be found here.

HOUSE KANSAS

KS-03: McClatchy: “Davids Feels Heat From The Left As Activists Push Her To Support Medicare-For-All” (McClatchy, 5/5/19)

HOUSE NEW MEXICO

NM-02: Republican Yvette Herrell, who lost a close race to Democratic Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small in 2018, is seeking the GOP nomination for a rematch with Torres Small. (The Associated Press, 5/7/19)

HOUSE NORTH CAROLINA

NC-09: The Charlotte Observer provided a writeup of the final Republican debate before next Tuesday’s special election primary. (The Charlotte Observer, 5/7/19)

NC-09: A poll from Public Policy Polling showed state Sen. Dan Bishop leading the Republican primary field. The poll showed Bishop with support from 31% of primary voters followed by 17% for Union County Commissioner Stony Rushing. Real estate agent Leigh Brown, who the National Realtors Association has spent $1.3 million supporting, polled at 6%. (The Fayetteville Observer, 5/5/19)

• NC-09: An internal poll obtained by WBTV shows Dan Bishop polling at 36 percent followed by 18% for Stoney Rushing and 13% for Matthew Ridenhour. (CBS-Charlotte, 5/9/19)

NC-09: Stoney Rushing (R-NC) said he will not seek a runoff if he doesn’t get the 30% needed to win the primary outright because he believes a drawn out GOP fight only helps elect Dan McCready (D-NC). (Twitter, 5/9/19)

NC-09: Roll Call: “Will The ‘Bathroom Bill’ Animate Yet Another North Carolina Election?” (Roll Call, 5/7/19)

NC-09: The Charlotte Observer: “Realtors Raise Their Bet In North Carolina’s 9th District, While Bishop Outraises Others” (The Charlotte Observer, 5/3/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: Get up to speed with who’s who in the NC-09 special election before next Tuesday’s primary here.