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
Fox News: “RNC Raises Record-Setting $23.5M In August, As GOP Momentum Builds” (Fox News, 9/18/19)
The Cook Political Report: “The Suburban Vote Isn’t As Blue As It Looks” (The Cook Political Report, 9/12/19)
PRESIDENTIAL
BuzzFeed: “A New Poll Shows Elizabeth Warren And Joe Biden Leading After The Last Debate. And Warren Has More Support From Other Candidates’ Voters.” (BuzzFeed, 9/18/19)
BuzzFeed: “The Bernie Sanders Campaign Says It Needs A Movement To Win. The Democratic Socialists Of America Are Building One.” (BuzzFeed, 9/16/19)
The Working Families Party (WFP) endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) for the Democratic presidential nomination. The progressive group, which is aligned with unions, had endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders last campaign cycle. (The Huffington Post, 9/16/19)
Bernie Sanders’ campaign announced that one million people have donated to his campaign. (Politico, 9/19/19)
Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. (Colorado Politics, 9/17/19)
- Biden also received endorsements from Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), and Charlie Crist (D-FL). (The Associated Press, 9/19/19)
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 (D-VT) (20%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) (18%), Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) (6%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) (5%). (Morning Consult, 9/16/19)
POLL: A national NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows Biden leading with support from 31% of primary voters followed by Warren (25%), Sanders (14%), Buttigieg (7%), and Harris (5%). (NBC/Wall Street Journal, 9/17/19)
POLL: The latest national Economist/YouGov poll shows Biden leading with 26% of primary voters followed by Warren (21%), Sanders (14%), Buttigieg (9%), and Harris (6%). (YouGov, 9/17/19)
SENATE ARIZONA
Politico: “‘The Ground Is Shifting’: Arizona Emerges As A 2020 Trouble Spot For Trump” (Politico, 9/18/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Get the latest polling, fundraising, and news developments for the Arizona Senate contest with our updated Race Brief.
SENATE GEORGIA
Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp (R-GA) said Tuesday he is taking formal applications for the upcoming vacancy in one of the state’s Senate seats. (Walton Tribune, 9/18/19)
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) ruled out a bid for U.S. Senate on Thursday, telling The Atlanta Journal-Constitution she’s focused on winning a second term in the House of Representatives. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/19/19)
SENATE KANSAS
Internal GOP polling from June showed former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach trailing Democrat Barry Grissom by 10 points in a head-to-head matchup for Kansas’ open Senate seat. (The Wall Street Journal, 9/18/19)
SENATE MAINE
A poll conducted on behalf of AARP shows Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) leading Democratic challenger Sara Gideon among likely voters 52% to 35%. (Newsmax, 9/17/19)
A financial disclosure report filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission shows that a group called 1820 PAC spent $276,780 on “media placement” in support of Collins. (Central Maine, 9/18/19)
Bangor Daily Record: “How The Favorite And An Underdog Are Dividing In The Democratic Race To Face Susan Collins” (Bangor Daily Record, 9/16/19)
SENATE MASSACHUSETTS
Rep. Joe Kennedy III is expected to formally announce on Saturday that he is challenging incumbent Sen. Ed Markey in a Democratic primary. (CBS News, 9/18/19)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) endorsed Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) in his reelection bid. (The Hill, 9/13/19)
Politico: “Looming Kennedy-Markey Dogfight Rattles Massachusetts Dems” (Politico, 9/14/19)
SENATE MICHIGAN
America Rising, a GOP political action committee founded in 2013, launched Michigan Rising Action this week, a political communication organization in Michigan that intends to push back against Democratic activism in the state. The group will be led by Tori Sachs, John James’ 2018 U.S. Senate campaign manager and external affairs director for Gov. Rick Snyder. (Michigan Live, 9/17/19)
SENATE NEW HAMPSHIRE
The Hill: “Lewandowski ‘Very, Very Close To Announcing’ Decision On Senate Run” (The Hill, 9/18/19)
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) endorsed former New Hampshire House speaker Bill O’Brien (R-NH) in the New Hampshire Senate primary. (The Washington Post, 9/19/19)
SENATE NORTH CAROLINA
A poll conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by End Citizens United shows Democrat Cal Cunningham leading Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) 45% to 43% with 12% undecided. (The Hill, 9/18/19)
Sen. Thom Tillis’ launched his first ad for his re-election campaign this week. The ad emphasizes an endorsement from President Donald Trump and immigration-related legislation that he has filed. (The Associated Press, 9/17/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: What does recent polling say about Tillis’ reelection chances? Catch up on all the latest race developments here.
SENATE VIRGINIA
Thomas Speciale, a U.S. Army reservist, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate, joining a crowded field of Republican primary candidates aiming to take down current Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA). (Prince Williams Times, 9/13/19)
HOUSE NATIONAL
The Daily Beast: “AOC-Style Challengers Looking To Unseat The Dems’ Top Brass In 2020” (The Daily Beast, 9/17/19)
Protect Our Care, a Democrat-aligned group focused on health care, announced a new $2 million ad campaign. The ads will support Democrats Colin Allred of Texas; Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer of Iowa; Andy Kim of New Jersey; Katie Porter of California; Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens of Michigan; Abigail Spanberger of Virginia; Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico; and Lauren Underwood of Illinois. (Roll Call, 9/18/19)
HOUSE ALABAMA
AL-02: State Representative Will Dismukes (R-AL) pledged that he will join the House Freedom Caucus if he wins the election for Alabama’s 2nd congressional district next year. (Yellow Hammer, 9/17/19)
HOUSE CALIFORNIA
CA-08: Rep. Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA) announced he will not seek reelection in 2020. (Politico, 9/17/19)
AR/Intel Insiders: Keep track of Congressional retirements with our Retirement Tracker.
HOUSE ILLINOIS
IL-03: Rep. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced her endorsement of Marie Newman, a progressive challenger taking a second shot at unseating Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL). (NBC Chicago, 9/17/19)
HOUSE MAINE
ME-02: Eric Brakey, a 31-year-old former Maine state senator, officially announced a 2020 congressional bid for Maine’s 2nd district Tuesday. (The Daily Caller, 9/17/19)
HOUSE ARIZONA
AZ-06: The House Ethics Committee released an expanded list of accusations faced by Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), who was accused last year of misusing official funds and receiving improper campaign contributions. (The Hill, 9/5/19)
HOUSE NEW YORK
NY-12: Suraj Patel (D-NY), an NYU professor and former Obama campaign staffer, announced he was launching another run for Congress against Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), setting up a rematch of a hard-fought primary race last year. (Politico, 9/18/19)
HOUSE NORTH CAROLINA
NC-03/NC-09: Republicans Dan Bishop and Greg Murphy, who both won their respective special election contests last week, were sworn into office this week. (The Associated Press, 9/17/19)
HOUSE UTAH
UT-04: Chris Biesinger (R-UT), a nurse practitioner, announced that he is running for the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT). (Utah Valley Daily Herald, 9/17/19)