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 Democratic National Committee announced it is placing operatives in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to focus exclusively on attacking President Donald Trump and driving local conversation about his policies ahead of the 2020 election. (Politico, 8/5/19)
PRESIDENTIAL
Sen. Kamala Harris’ campaign made a five-figure ad buy in Iowa set to air while she is in the state for the Iowa State Fair. (The Washington Examiner, 8/7/19)
POLL: This week’s national Morning Consult poll of Democratic primary voters found former Vice President Joe Biden leading the field for President with support from 33% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (19%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (15%), Sen. Kamala Harris (9%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (5%). (Morning Consult, 8/6/19)
POLL: A national Quinnipiac poll showed Biden leading with support from 32% of primary voters followed by Warren (21%), Sanders (14%), Harris (7%), and Buttigieg (5%). (Quinnipiac, 8/6/19)
POLL: This week’s Economist/YouGov poll shows Biden leading the field (25%) followed by Warren (18%), Sanders (13%), Harris (8%), and Buttigieg (7%). (YouGov, 8/7/19)
SENATE ALABAMA
The NRSC has put up two new billboards in Alabama highlighting Senator Doug Jones’ (D-AL) commitment to oppose President Donald Trump and support the national Democratic Party. (Yellow Hammer, 8/6/19)
SENATE ARIZONA
Federal appellate judges have agreed to expedite the decision on whether Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) can continue to serve as a U.S. senator at least through the 2020 election. (Arizona Daily Star, 8/7/19)
Daniel McCarthy, a conservative business owner, said he’s starting a “listening tour” around Arizona as he considers whether to challenge McSally in the Republican primary. (The Associated Press, 8/8/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Arizona will be a pivotal race in the battle for the Senate. Make sure you’re up to speed on all the latest candidate developments here.
SENATE COLORADO
The Hill: “Hickenlooper Hasn’t ‘Ruled Out’ Possible Senate Bid” (The Hill, 8/6/19)
Michelle Ferrigno Warren, a Denver immigration advocate and nonprofit leader, announced she is entering the crowded 2020 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Colorado. (The Denver Post, 8/6/19)
SENATE GEORGIA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Georgia Democratic Socialists Pledge To Step It Up In 2020” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 8/4/19)
SENATE MAINE
Senate Democrat candidate Sara Gideon admitted she violated campaign finance law when she used her state leadership political action committee to reimburse herself for political contributions in 2015 and 2016. (The Associated Press, 8/2/19)
- Maine Business Daily: “Maine GOP Calls For Investigation Of Sara Gideon, Cites Illegal Reimbursements” (Maine Business Daily, 8/7/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Gideon’s misstep has created opportunities for Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and the other Democrats running for Senate in Maine. Brush up on the state of the race with our updated Race Brief.
SENATE NEBRASKA
Roll Call: “Ben Sasse, One Of The Senate’s Last Remaining Republican Trump Critics, To Seek Reelection” (Roll Call, 8/5/19)
Lancaster County Republican Matt Innis announced that he was launching a Republican challenge to Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE). (Omaha World Herald, 8/2/19)
SENATE NORTH CAROLINA
A new internal poll released by Republican challenger Garland Tucker shows him gaining ground on Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). Before he ran for Senate, Tucker commissioned a poll of Republican primary voters. He found Tillis in a strong position, with 63%. Only 7% of GOP voters said they would back Tucker if he ran, and 30% said they were undecided. In a follow-up poll earlier this month, Tillis’ support had dropped to 40%, while Tucker’s rose to 30%, leaving another 30% still undecided. (PJ Media, 8/2/19)
SENATE TEXAS
A new Emerson College poll conducted for Dallas Morning News showed a wide-open field for the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). Army helicopter pilot MJ Hegar was the choice of 10% of those polled, followed by state Sen. Royce West at 8%, former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell at 7% and Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards at 5%. 51% of respondents were unsure. (Dallas Morning News, 8/6/19)
- The poll also showed Cornyn’s approval 37% while 31% disapproved and 33% were neutral or had no opinion. (Dallas Morning News, 8/6/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
The Washington Examiner: “Former AOC Chief Of Staff Under Investigation For Alleged Campaign Finance Misconduct” (The Washington Examiner, 8/4/19)
The Hill: “Justice Democrats Endorses Two Progressives Challenging Democratic Incumbents” (The Hill, 8/7/19)
HOUSE ALABAMA
AL-01: The Club for Growth endorsed former state Sen. Bill Hightower (R-AL) in the race to replace Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL). (Alabama Political Reporter, 8/6/19)
HOUSE CALIFORNIA
According to recently released data, Orange County, CA now has slightly more registered Democrats than Republicans. (CBS-Santa Ana, 8/7/19)
CA-50: Former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio announced he will mount a primary challenge to Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), the fourth to announce a primary challenge for the California congressman so far. (The Hill, 8/5/19)
HOUSE IOWA
IA-04: J.D. Scholten, the Democrat who challenged Rep. Steve King (R-IA) last year and only lost by 3-points, announced that he is running for the seat again in 2020. (The Atlantic, 8/5/19)
HOUSE FLORIDA
FL-27: Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), a former Spanish-language broadcast journalist who lost a Congressional election to Rep. Donna Shalala in 2018, announced that she intends to run again in 2020. (The Miami Herald, 8/1/19)
HOUSE MAINE
ME-02: Former Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), who lost his reelection campaign in 2018, announced that he won’t run again in 2020. (WGME, 8/4/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: With Poliquin out, click here to get the skinny on who Republicans may turn to challenge Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME).
HOUSE NEBRASKA
NE-02: Justice Democrats, the progressive group that helped elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), announced they were endorsing Kara Eastman (D-NE) in her bid to unseat Rep. Don Bacon. (The Hill, 8/7/19)
HOUSE NEW JERSEY
NJ-07: Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr., a Republican running to challenge freshman Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N), received an endorsement from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy this week. (New Jersey Globe, 8/7/19)
HOUSE NEW YORK
NY-27: Federal prosecutors in New York have dropped some charges against Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY), who was indicted in a federal insider trading case. (The Associated Press, 8/6/19)
HOUSE PENNSYLVANIA
PA-08: Teddy Daniels, a former police officer and wounded combat Army veteran, became the first Republican to enter the race to challenge Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA). (Politics PA, 8/6/19)
HOUSE TEXAS
The Washington Post: “‘Take Texas Seriously’: GOP Anxiety Spikes After Retirements, Democratic Gains” (The Washington Post, 8/2/19)
- CNN: “From A Former Disbeliever: Why Texas Could Go Blue In 2020” (CNN, 8/8/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: From the presidential election to Senate and House races – Texas could be extremely competitive next year. Get up to speed on all the races here.
TX-04: President Donald Trump announced that Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) was out of the running to be the director of national intelligence. (Politico, 8/2/19)
TX-10: According to The Houston Chronicle, Democrats are trying to scare U.S. Rep. Mike McCaul into retirement, warning they have dirt on the Republican congressman that they’ll release if he sticks around. (The Houston Chronicle, 8/7/19)
TX-22: Greg Hill, a Brazoria County judge, became the first Republican to announce they are running to replace Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX). (The Houston Chronicle, 8/7/19)
TX-23: Following Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2020, Inside Elections changed the rating of the race from “toss up” to “lean Democrat.” (Inside Elections, 8/2/19)
- TX-23: The Cook Political Report also changed the rating of the race from “toss up” to “lean Democrat.” (The Hill, 8/2/19)
TX-24: Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX) announced that he will not seek reelection in 2020. (The New York Times, 8/5/19)
- TX-24: Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant Retires. Now Who Will Run To Replace Him In Congress?” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8/5/19)
HOUSE WISCONSIN
WI-01: Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Pade announced plans to challenge freshman Republican Rep. Bryan Steil in next year’s election. (US News & World Report, 8/7/19)