Race Rundown: With Hickenlooper Out Of Presidential Race, All Eyes On Colorado Senate

NATIONAL

PRESIDENTIAL

John Hickenlooper, the former Colorado governor, announced on Thursday that he was ending his presidential campaign. (The New York Times, 8/15/19)

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 (20%), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (14%), Sen. Kamala Harris (9%), and Mayor Pete Buttigieg (5%). (Morning Consult, 8/13/19)

POLL: A national Fox News poll shows Biden leading the nomination race with the support of 31% of Democratic primary voters. Next is Warren at 20%, Bernie Sanders at 10%, and Kamala Harris at 8%. (Fox News, 8/15/19)

POLL: This week’s national Economist/YouGov poll shows Biden leading the field (23%) followed by Warren (20%), Sanders (16%), Harris (8%), and Buttigieg (6%). (YouGov, 8/14/19)

SENATE NATIONAL

The Wall Street Journal: “Low-Polling Presidential Candidates Would Face Headwinds In Senate Races” (The Wall Street Journal, 8/15/19)

Los Angeles Times: “All Those Presidential Promises? Democrats Better Win The Senate Too” (Los Angeles Times, 8/15/19)

Open Secrets: “Leadership PACs Place Early Bets On Hot Races” (Open Secrets, 8/15/19)

The Intercept: “Progressive Candidates Are Carving A Path To The Senate In 2020 — No Thanks To Chuck Schumer” (The Intercept, 8/15/19)

SENATE COLORADO

The New York Times: “John Hickenlooper Mulling Ending Presidential Bid To Run For Senate” (The New York Times, 8/13/19)

• A new poll of Colorado primary voters from Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group found Hickenlooper would have a massive lead in the Senate race if the jumped in. The poll showed Hickenlooper leading the field with 61% support compared to 10% for Mike Johnston (D-CO) and 8% for Andrew Romanoff (D-CO). (The Denver Post, 8/12/19)
• The Morning Consult: “Colorado Democrats Sour Slightly On Hickenlooper Amid Presidential Run” (The Morning Consult, 8/15/19)

Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced she is not running for U.S. Senate, ending months of speculation that she would join a large Democratic field against Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO). (The Denver Post, 8/9/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: What does the field look like in the Colorado Senate race? Find out with our Colorado Senate Race Brief.

SENATE IOWA

The Washington Free Beacon: “Iowa Democrat Stacey Walker Not Running For Senate, Blames National Democrats” (The Washington Free Beacon, 8/13/19)

SENATE MAINE

Bangor Daily News: “Maine Is Expected To See Unprecedented Political Ad Spending In 2020” (Bangor Daily News, 8/12/19)

SENATE NEW HAMPSHIRE

A survey conducted by several Trump campaign pollsters found former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski leading the 2020 Republican U.S. Senate field in New Hampshire. Lewandowski was the choice of 30% of those surveyed, with retired Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc at 11% and former New Hampshire House Speaker Bill O’Brien at 10%. (WMUR, 8/14/19)

• A poll from Bolduc’s campaign, however, showed him tied with Lewandowski in a hypothetical matchup at 21% with 47% of Republican primary voters undecided. (WMUR, 8/14/19)

Politico: “Trump Touts Potential Lewandowski Senate Bid Ahead Of New Hampshire Rally” (Politico, 8/15/19)

SENATE SOUTH CAROLINA

Sen. Tim Scott said that his 2022 reelection campaign will be his final Senate bid. (The Hill, 8/9/19)

SENATE TEXAS

Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez (D-TX), a longtime workers rights advocate who launched a nonprofit that champions Latino voters, announced Monday she is running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Sen. John Cornyn. (Houston Chronicle, 8/12/19)

• Houston Chronicle: “Progressive Tzintzún Ramirez Raises $200,000 In First Day Of U.S. Senate Campaign” (Houston Chronicle, 8/13/19)

AR/Intel Insiders: Tzintzún Ramirez’s entrance into the Texas Senate race could setup an interesting progressive vs. establishment battle. Read up on the latest Texas developments here.

HOUSE NATIONAL

The DCCC announced it was adding six more districts to the list of seats it’s targeting in 2020: Reps. Vern Buchanan (FL-16), Dave Loebsack (IA-02), Justin Amash (MI-03), Greg Gianforte (MT-AL), Troy Balderson (OH-12), and Denver Riggleman (VA-05). (Roll Call, 8/15/19)

HOUSE NEW JERSEY

NJ-02: Former Hill International CEO David Richter (R-NJ) announced he will challenge freshman Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) next year. (New Jersey Globe, 8/12/19)

HOUSE NEW YORK

NY-03: Melanie D’Arrigo, Long Island-based progressive activist and wellness professional, announced she is challenging two-term centrist incumbent Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY) in a Democratic primary. She is the second Democrat to announce a 2020 challenge to Suozzi. (Queens Chronicle, 8/15/19)

NY-19: Anthony German, the former Adjutant General of the New York National Guard, announced he plans to challenge Rep. Antonio Delgado for his 19th Congressional District seat next year. (NBC-Utica, 8/14/19)

NY-24: The Auburn Public Citizen: “Democrats Think Rep. John Katko Will Retire, Despite 2020 Re-Election Plans” (The Auburn Public Citizen, 8/12/19)

• NY-24: The Auburn Public Citizen: “National GOP: Democrats Chasing Rep. John Katko ‘Retirement Fantasy’” (The Auburn Public Citizen, 8/14/19)

NY-27: Nate McMurray (D-NY), the Grand Island Supervisor who lost to Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) by just over 1,000 votes last year, announced that he is running again in 2020. (CBS-Buffalo, 8/12/19)

NY-27: A new poll published from Tel Opinion Research showed Rep. Chris Collins leading the GOP primary with support from 34% of those polled followed by 21% who supported state Senator Chris Jacobs. (Spectrum News, 8/9/19)