A TargetPoint poll conducted for “local Republican sources” hostile to northwest Georgia Rep. Margorie Taylor Greene (R-Rome) finds the freshman incumbent opening with a substantial lead over her principal primary challenger, Jennifer Strahan a healthcare company executive.
The survey (1/13-17; 450 GA-14 likely primary voters), as reported in the Jewish Insider publication, shows Rep. Greene holding a 60-30% lead over Ms. Strahan who had raised only $56,000 through the September 30th financial disclosure deadline. New financial numbers should be released this week to provide a better indication of campaigns’ status here and around the country. Through the end of September, Ms. Greene reported gross receipts of more than $6 million. Nebraska Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Lincoln) is now seeing his federal indictment for campaign finance violations and allegedly lying to federal authorities hurt him politically. Last week, state Sen. Mike Flood (R-Norfolk), a former Speaker of the unicameral legislative body, announced that he would challenge the Congressman in this year’s Republican primary. Over the weekend, Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) and former Gov. Dave Heineman (R) both endorsed Mr. Flood’s challenge to Rep. Fortenberry, signaling that this will be a serious challenge.
Ex-Gov. Heineman indicated that he is concerned about the Republicans winning in November against state Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks (D-Lincoln) should a politically crippled Fortenberry again become the party nominee. He also brought attention to the Lincoln Congressman being the only Nebraska member ever indicted. Gov. Ricketts supported his endorsement of Sen. Flood by saying the district would get “…the full-time attention it deserves.” A total of 27 states have now completed their congressional redistricting upon the Kentucky legislature overriding Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto of that state’s six-district map. The new plan will strengthen Rep. Andy Barr’s (R-Lexington) 6th District and likely keep the state’s 5R-1D map constant throughout the decade.
Legislative progress on congressional maps was made in Florida, Kansas, South Carolina and Tennessee. The Mississippi map will become law upon Gov. Tate Reeves’ (R) signature, which is expected this week. US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, the former Boston Mayor, said on Friday that he will not return to Massachusetts to enter the open Democratic gubernatorial primary, choosing to stay in his present position. A day before, Attorney General Maura Healey (D) said she would run. Democrats are favored to convert this Governorship. Incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker (R) is not seeking a third term.
Setting off a game of political musical chairs, eight-term California Democratic US Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) announced yesterday that he will not seek a ninth term later this year.
Originally elected to a Bay Area anchored district in 2006 when he defeated veteran Rep. Richard Pombo (R), Mr. McNerney’s then-11th District was moved into the San Joaquin Valley because of 2011 redistricting. The new 9th District will still be anchored in the city of Stockton, but the updated version is somewhat more Republican than the current CA-9. The Congressman would have been favored for re-election, however. Immediately upon Mr. McNerney announcing his plans, Rep. Josh Harder (D-Turlock), who had decided to seek re-election in the new 13th District after his current 10th District was divided into various parts under the new redistricting plan, declared that he will run to succeed the retiring Congressman. The 9th CD is slightly more Democratic than the 13th, but is still cast as a relatively competitive general election seat. With California Rep. Josh Harder (D-Turlock) abandoning his re-election plans in District 13 to run in the newly open 9th CD, state Assemblyman Adam Gray (D-Merced) quickly announced that he will run for Congress in the suddenly open 13th.
California's Central Valley is in a state of political flux. With the special election for resigned Rep. Devin Nunes’ (R-Tulare) underway in the neighboring current 22nd District and the candidates having no place to run in the regular election, the 13th District could now become an attractive landing spot for one or more of the GOP special election contenders. A Republican will be an underdog in the new 13th, but at least the candidate would have a fighting chance to win a full term and the opportunity of seeking re-election if successful. Bill Schuette, the former Congressman, Michigan Appellate Court Judge, Attorney General, and US Senate and gubernatorial nominee who Republican leaders hoped would challenge US Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flushing/Flint), said yesterday that he will not run for Congress this year. The new 8th CD was made slightly more Republican in redistricting, but Rep. Kildee would have been cast as the favorite even against Mr. Schuette.
Paul Junge, the former US Citizens & Immigration Service official and ex-television news anchor who held Rep. Kildee to a 54-42% re-election victory in 2020, remains in the race. With the district becoming more Republican, Mr. Junge’s chances will improve but he remains a clear underdog to the five-term incumbent. Saying he’s been “burning the candle at both ends and needs a change,” 11-term Rhode Island US Rep. Jim Langevin (D-Warwick) announced that he will not seek re-election later this year. For a long while, it appeared that Rhode Island would lose a congressional seat and revert to at-large status. Instead of running against fellow Democratic Rep. David Cicilline (D-Providence), Mr. Langevin indicated that he would consider a bid for Governor. When reapportionment did not take Rhode Island’s 2nd District, it appeared that the Congressman would again have an easy run for re-election.
Mr. Langevin becomes the 28th House Democrat not to seek re-election, and RI-2 will now be the 49th open seat for the regular election. The open seat number includes incumbents not seeking re-election, new districts through reapportionment, and created seats from various redistricting plans. Democrats will hold this Ocean State congressional seat, but we can expect a competitive party primary late in the year. Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D), who left office at the beginning of this year after serving two four-year terms, announced yesterday that he will not enter the crowded Democratic field for Governor. Early polling showed Mr. de Blasio faring poorly against new incumbent Kathy Hochul, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and US Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove). Attorney General Tish James (D), who was in the gubernatorial primary race dropped out late last year and is seeking re-election to her current position.
US Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley/East Long Island) and former gubernatorial nominee and ex-Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino are the leading Republican candidates. The New York primary is June 28th. Republican Ricky Gill, a former US State Department and National Security Council official who had announced his intention to challenge California Rep. Josh Harder (D-Turlock), has changed his plans. The new Golden State congressional map drastically changed Rep. Harder’s 10th District, forcing him further south and closer to Fresno from his present district’s population anchor.
Mr. Gill first ran for Congress against Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton) in the 9th District back in 2012, losing 56-44%. The new 13th has competitive potential, so we can expect the Republicans to file a credible contender from the heart of the newly-crafted CD. |
The Rundown BlogLearn more about the candidates running in key elections across the United States. Archives
May 2024
Categories
All
|
|
BIPAC© 2022 BIPAC. All rights reserved
|