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 New York Times: “Huge Turnout Is Expected In 2020. So Which Party Would Benefit?” (The New York Times, 7/15/19)
Axios: “Exclusive Poll: AOC Defining Dems In Swing States” (Axios, 7/14/19)
ActBlue, the online fundraising platform for Democrats, took in $246 million in contributions to Democratic candidates in the second quarter of 2019. (The Hill, 7/17/19)
PRESIDENTIAL
The DNC announced the lineups for the next set of primary debates to be held on July 30 and 31 in Detroit, Michigan. (CNN, 7/18/19)
Axios published a tracker of all the 2020 Democrats fundraising totals for the second quarter. (Axios, 7/16/19)
- Politico: “‘Doomsday Scenario’: Cash Shortage Squeezes Huge Democratic Field” (Politico, 7/16/19)
The Atlantic: “The Activist Left Already Knows Who It Wants For President” (The Atlantic, 7/14/19)
BuzzFeed: “Elizabeth Warren’s Campaign Turned To A Big Donor To Pay For The DNC Voter Database, Despite Her Fundraising Pledge” (BuzzFeed, 7/15/19)
This week, former Vice President Joe Biden announced a health care plan that would add a public option to ObamaCare. (Vox, 7/16/19)
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 32% of those polled. He is followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (19%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (14%), Sen. Kamala Harris (13%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (5%). (Morning Consult, 7/15/19)
- POLL: An Economist/YouGov poll showed Biden leading with 25% followed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (16%), Sen. Bernie Sanders (12%), Sen. Kamala Harris (11%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (6%). (YouGov, 7/17/19)
SENATE NATIONAL
Morning Consult released their quarterly Senator approval ranking this week. (The Morning Consult, 7/18/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: The second quarter of 2019 is in the books, and U.S. Senate candidates have filed their fundraising reports with the FEC. AR/Intel pulled together all the top-line numbers for every candidate and incumbent running in 2020.
SENATE ALABAMA
Yellow Hammer: “Jones Latest Finance Report: 88% Of Funds From Out-Of-State Again” (Yellow Hammer, 7/16/19)
SENATE COLORADO
Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D-CO) is reportedly contemplating a run for the U.S. Senate. (Fox-Denver, 7/16/19)
SENATE GEORGIA
Democrat Sarah Riggs Amico, a logistics executive who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2018, filed paperwork to form an exploratory committee for a possible Senate campaign. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/15/19)
Matt Lieberman (D-GA), the son of former U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman and owner of Compass Benefits, a group benefits and insurance company, is reportedly contemplating a run for Senate. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/15/19)
Following a disappointing fundraising quarter, there appears to be heat on Democrat Teresa Tomlinson (D-GA), and new candidates are reportedly preparing for a run-in. Enjoy a free preview of our updated GA Senate Race Brief to learn all about who is considering jumping in.
SENATE KANSAS
Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS) is expected to announce that he is running for the open Kansas Senate seat in the near future. (The Hutchinson News, 7/16/19)
Politico: “Pompeo Leaves The Door Open To Kansas Senate Run” (Politico, 7/17/19)
SENATE KENTUCKY
Matt Jones, host of a local television show, has been pulled from his weeknight program as he considers mounting a Democratic challenge to Sen. Mitch McConnell. (The Associated Press, 7/17/19)
Farmer and retired Marine Mike Broihier (D-KY) announced that he is running for the Democratic Senate nomination. (The Louisville Courier-Journal, 7/18/19)
SENATE MAINE
New York Magazine: “Susan Collins’s Approval Rating Dives As Reelection Contest Approaches” (New York Magazine, 7/18/19)
SENATE SOUTH CAROLINA
McClatchy: “Jaime Harrison Builds Small-Donor Army In U.S. Senate Bid Against SC’s Lindsey Graham” (McClatchy, 7/15/19)
SENATE TENNESSEE
Although he has not announced that he intends to run, this week President Trump endorsed Bill Hagerty, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, for the open Tennessee Senate seat. (Politico, 7/12/19)
Republican Jamie Woodsen, who served in the state House and Senate before stepping down in 2011 to become CEO of the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE), confirmed to The Tennessean that she is interested in running for Senate. (The Tennessean, 7/12/19)
SENATE TEXAS
Progressive operatives in Texas are reportedly trying to recruit Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez to run for U.S. Senate. Tzintzún Ramirez is the founder and executive director of Jolt, a nonprofit she started three years ago to mobilize young Latinos in Texas politics. She is also a co-founder of the Workers Defense Project, an older Austin-based group that fights for labor rights. (The Texas Tribune, 7/12/19)
Houston City Councilwoman Amanda Edwards (D-TX) announced she is running for U.S. Senate. (The Texas Tribune, 7/18/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
Roll Call: “Targeted House Members Boost Fundraising, As Democrats’ Dominance Continues” (Roll Call, 7/16/19)
HOUSE CALIFORNIA
CA-21: David Valadao, the former Republican congressman who lost his reelection campaign last year, filed a Statement of Candidacy with the FEC to challenge Democratic incumbent T.J. Cox in 2020. (NBC-Bakersfield, 7/18/19)
HOUSE GEORGIA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “After Bruising Midyear Elections, Georgia Republicans Refill Coffers” (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/15/19)
GA-07: Former Democratic U.S. Senator Sam Nunn endorsed former Georgia state representative Carolyn Bourdeaux in her second run for the 7th Congressional District. (NBC-Atlanta, 7/15/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: We’ve updated our GA-07 Race Brief to get you up to speed on who’s-who in the growing field of candidates.
SENATE ILLINOIS
IL-06: Former state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-IL), who narrowly lost her bid to unseat then Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the GOP primary just over a year ago, is joining the GOP primary to take on Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL). Ives is poised to face Evelyn Sanguinetti, who served as Rauner’s lieutenant governor running mate in the 2020 GOP primary. (DuPage Policy Journal, 7/19/19)
HOUSE IOWA
IA-02: Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann announced that State Senator Marianette Miller-Meeks is considering running for the Republican nomination in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District. (Caffeinated Thoughts, 7/16/19)
IA-03: A new poll commissioned by the NRCC shows Rep. Cindy Axne (D-IA) trailing a “named” Republican challenger 48% to 42% (with 11% undecided). (Caffeinated Thoughts, 7/15/19)
HOUSE NORTH CAROLINA
NC-09: With less than two months until the special election in North Carolina’s 9th District, Democrat Dan McCready has a 5-1 financial edge over Republican Dan Bishop. (Charlotte Observer, 7/16/19)
HOUSE PENNSYLVANIA
PA-01: Debbie Wachspress, a Democratic member of the Pennsbury School Board, has announced plans to run for Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick’s seat in Congress. (Patch, 7/12/19)
HOUSE TEXAS
The Statesman: “GOP Incumbents Outraise Challengers In 5 Of 6 Texas Congressional Districts Targeted By Democrats” (The Statesman, 7/16/19)
TX-21: The Texas Tribune reported that Wendy Davis is getting support from some high ranking Democrats in Congress — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — as she appears to move closer to run for Texas’ 21st Congressional District. (The Texas Tribune, 7/18/19)