Race Rundown: McConnell Challenger Stumbles Out Of The Gate

NATIONAL

PRESIDENTIAL

The DNC announced that that the third Democratic presidential primary debate will be held in Houston on Sept. 12 and 13. (Politico, 7/9/19)

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer declared his candidacy for the presidency on Tuesday. (NBC News, 7/9/19)

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) campaign said she raised nearly $19.1 million in the second quarter. (Politico, 7/8/19)

• Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) campaign said she raised nearly $12 million in the second quarter. (The New York Times, 7/5/19)
• Montana Governor Steve Bullock’s (D) campaign said he raised over $2 million in the second quarter. (CBS News, 7/5/19)

POLL: This week’s Morning Consult poll of Democratic primary voters found former Vice President Joe Biden leading the field for President with support from 31% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (19%), Sen. Kamala Harris (14%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (13%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (6%). (Morning Consult, 7/8/19)

• POLL: An NBC/WSJ poll released on Thursday show Biden leading with 26% support followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (19%), Sen. Bernie Sanders (13%), Sen. Kamala Harris (13%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (7%). (NBC News, 7/11/19)

SENATE ALABAMA

Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) announced that he raised more than $2 million in the second quarter this year and has $4.2 million on hand. (Politico, 7/11/19)

Rep. Bradley Byrne raised more than $750,000 for his Alabama Senate campaign in the second quarter and has $2.5 million on hand. (Politico, 7/11/19)

Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) announced that he raised $420,000 from donors and personally loaned his campaign $1 million in the second quarter. He has more than $1.3 million on hand. (Politico, 7/11/19)

SENATE ARIZONA

Democrat Mark Kelly announced that his Senate campaign raised $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2019. (KTAR, 7/6/19)

Ann Griffin, a former teacher and business owner, announced she intends to challenge incumbent Sen. Martha McSally for the Republican ticket in the race for U.S. Senate. (Arizona Daily Sun, 7/10/19)

SENATE COLORADO

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) announced that he raised $2 million in the second quarter of this year and has $4.9 million on hand. (Politico, 7/11/19)

A new Democratic primary poll from Keating Research and Onsight Public Affairs showed former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff leading in the Democratic primary with support from 23% of those surveyed. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who has not said she is running, received 15% support followed by former state Sen. Mike Johnston (12%). 42 percent of those polled were still undecided. (The Denver Post, 7/9/19)

Democratic state Sen. Angela Williams filed paperwork to launch a campaign for U.S. Senate. (Colorado Sun, 7/8/19)

The LGBTQ Victory Fund, a national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ leaders to public office, endorsed Dan Baer (D-CO) for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO). (Metro Weekly, 7/8/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: We’re keeping close tabs on this critical race – make sure you’re up to speed on the latest developments here.

SENATE GEORGIA

Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) announced that he raised nearly $1.9 million in the second quarter for his reelection campaign and has $4.9 million on hand. (Politico, 7/8/19)

Democrat Teresa Tomlinson announced that her Senate campaign raised $520,000 in the second quarter of 2019 and has $330,000 on hand. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/7/19)

• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Tomlinson’s Fundraising Total Could Give Rival Ga. Democrats An Opening” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/9/19)

Ted Terry, the mayor of Clarkston, GA who appeared in an episode of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” show, announced he is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. Perdue. (CNN, 7/10/19)

SENATE IOWA

Sen. Joni Ernst raised $1.1 million in the second quarter and has about $3.4 million on hand. (The Gazette, 7/12/19)

Iowa Voices, a new liberal grassroots organization, launched a six-figure ad buy that will air in media markets across the state claiming Sen. Joni Ernst has repeatedly taken votes to put Iowan’s health insurance in jeopardy. (Iowa Starting Line, 7/9/19)

SENATE KANSAS

Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R-KS) has filed papers to run for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS). (The Hill, 7/8/19)

• The NRSC criticized Kobach’s decision, citing his 2018 defeat to Gov. Laura Kelly (D-KS). (The Hill, 7/8/19)

Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who served as Health and Human Services secretary in the Obama administration, confirmed that she will not run for the Senate seat being vacated by Roberts. (Politico, 7/9/19)

SENATE KENTUCKY

Sen. Mitch McConnell announced his reelection campaign raised $3 million in the second quarter and has $7.9 million on hand. (Politico, 7/10/19)

Democrat Amy McGrath, a former Marine pilot who ran an unsuccessful congressional bid against Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) last year, announced that she is running in the 2020 U.S. Senate race against Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. (The Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/9/19)

• McGrath’s team announced that she raised more than $2.5 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign. (NBC News, 7/10/19)

On Wednesday, McGrath struggled to say whether she would have voted for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, first saying she would have before changing her answer in a matter of hours after being criticized on social media. (The Washington Post, 7/10/19)

• Lexington Herald-Leader: “‘A Bumpy Start.’ Can Amy McGrath Recover From A Rocky Campaign Roll-Out?” (Lexington Herald-Leader, 7/11/19)
• Intercept: “Amy McGrath Is Challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. She’s Everything Wrong With The Democratic Party” (Intercept, 7/11/19)

SENATE MAINE

Justice Democrats, the liberal group that recruited Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, endorsed Betsy Sweet in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The endorsement puts the group at odds with the DSCC, who has endorsed Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon (D-ME). (The Washington Free Beacon, 7/10/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: The Democratic primary for this competitive Senate seat is heating up – Follow the latest developments here.

SENATE MICHIGAN

Sen. Gary Peters’ (D-MI) campaign said that he raised $2.4 million in the second quarter and has $4.7 million on hand. (Politico, 7/8/19)

Republican John James, who joined the Senate race in early June, raised $1.5 million in under four weeks. (Politico, 7/11/19)

SENATE NORTH CAROLINA

Democrat Cal Cunningham, who is running to challenge Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), announced that he raised $520,000 in the second quarter and has $700,00 0n hand. Cunningham also received endorsements from former Sen. Kay Hagan as well as several local politicians. (Fayetteville News & Observer, 7/8/19)

HOUSE ILLINOIS

IL-14: State Sen. Sue Rezin announced that she is running for the Republican nomination to take on Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) next year. (Chicago Sun Times, 7/9/19)

HOUSE INDIANA

IN-05: Former Democratic state Rep. Christina Hale announced she is running to fill Rep. Susan Brooks’ (R-IN) seat. (The Indianapolis Star, 7/11/19)