Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* On the heels of Rep. Chris Collins’ (R-N.Y.) federal indictment, CNBC reported that the Republican congressman has used campaign funds to pay his legal bills. Collins said yesterday he’ll stop doing that.
* There’s some interesting drama in Michigan’s gubernatorial race, where Gov. Rick Snyder (R) wouldn’t say yesterday whether he’ll endorse state Attorney General Bill Schuette (R), his party’s nominee to succeed him. Snyder also wouldn’t say whether he even likes the far-right A.G.
* According to NBC News’ count, at least 50 Democrats running for the House are prepared to oppose Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) if she runs for Speaker in the event of a Democratic majority.
* After falling far short in a Republican Senate primary, West Virginia’s Don Blankenship still wants to defy the state’s “sore-loser” law and run as the Constitution Party’s candidate. He’s now prepared to take the fight to the state Supreme Court.
* In Indiana’s U.S. Senate race, Republican multimillionaire Mike Braun has gone after Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) because he owned stock in his brother’s company, which operates a factory in Mexico. The Associated Press reports today, however, that Braun’s national auto parts company distributes Chinese-made products. * At least for now, Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) intends to ignore calls that he step down as the state’s top elections official during his gubernatorial race. * Confirming what we’re been talking about, Sen. Ted Cruz (R) conceded yesterday he’s in the midst of “a real race” in Texas this year against Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D). * We recently discussed the number of overtly racist candidates running for office as Republicans this year, and we have a new addition to the list: Steve West (R), a Missouri state House candidate, has had quite a bit to say, for example, about “Jewish cabals” and his support for Hitler’s beliefs.
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
