Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Democrats continue to rack up wins in U.S. House races in California, with several news outlets last night calling the 45th district for Katie Porter (D), who appears to have defeated incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters (R). It’s the fifth “red” to “blue” flip in the Golden State this year.
* On a related note, thanks to Maine’s system of ranked-choice balloting, Jared Golden (D) has apparently defeated incumbent Rep. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R) in the state’s 2nd congressional district.
* In Georgia’s gubernatorial race, the Associated Press reports that Stacey Abrams’ (D) campaign and legal team is preparing “a longshot strategy relies on a statute that’s never been used in such a high-stakes contest.”
* A hand recount is underway in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, and as things stand, Rick Scott (R) appears to have the edge over incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D).
* The Congressional Black Caucus hasn’t officially thrown its support behind anyone in the race to become the next Speaker of the House, but Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and James Clyburn (D-S.C.) have both endorsed Nancy Pelosi — even as former CBC Chair Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) weighs a possible run for the gavel. * As of this morning, the Democratic lead in the U.S. House popular vote is up to 7.3%, from 7.2% yesterday, though it may yet inch higher. For comparison purposes, note that in 2010 — which was widely seen as a GOP “wave” cycle — Republicans won the U.S. House popular vote by 6.6%. * And for those who argue that one vote can’t make a difference, a state House race in western Kentucky was decided by exactly one vote this year.
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
