Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) launched his presidential bid this morning, becoming the 22nd Democrat in the party’s presidential field. He can, however, make a boast his rivals can’t: Bullock is the only candidate who’s won statewide races in a red state. (Donald Trump won Montana by 20 points — on the same day the state’s Democratic governor won re-election.)
* On a related note, this morning’s news means the Democratic presidential field now includes Biden, Bernie, Booker, Buttigieg, Beto, Bennet, and Bullock.
* Speaking of Montana, Bullock apparently doesn’t want to run against Sen. Steve Daines (R) in Big Sky Country next year, but Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins (D), two years into his term, kicked off his Senate campaign yesterday.
* Today is Election Day in North Carolina’s 9th congressional district, where Republicans will choose a rival for Dan McCready (D) in the district’s do-over race. State Sen. Dan Bishop (R), the principal author of North Carolina’s so-called “bathroom bill,” is generally seen as the top GOP contender.
* Presidential hopeful Julian Castro unveiled an ambitious education plan yesterday, featuring, among other elements, a universal pre-K proposal. * Last fall, Rep Will Hurd (R-Texas) narrowly defeated Gina Ortiz Jones (D) in one of the nation’s closest congressional contests. This morning, Ortiz Jones delighted the DCCC by announcing a rematch. * Joe Biden yesterday defended his role in helping craft the controversial 1994 crime bill, emphasizing that the law included some progressive priorities, including an assault-weapons ban and the original iteration of the Violence Against Women Act. * And the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported yesterday that the Wisconsin Republican Party was so determined to help former Gov. Scott Walker (R) win re-election, the state GOP fell far behind on its finances: “[I]t missed payments to insurers and racked up nearly $600 a month in interest on a maxed-out credit card, according to a draft of an internal report.” Walker narrowly lost his bid for a third term last fall.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
