Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* It’s Primary Day in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and the state of Washington, and arguably the most closely watched race is Kansas’ U.S. Senate Republican primary, in which GOP leaders hope Rep. Roger Marshall can get past Kris Koback. Also keep an eye on Rep. Steve Watkins’ GOP primary in Kansas, which is coming on the heels of the congressman facing voter-fraud charges.
* In Missouri, Medicaid expansion will be on the ballot today — if it passes, 460,000 low-income Missourians will gain coverage — as will Rep. Lacy Clay, who’s facing a tough Democratic primary race in the 1st congressional district against Cori Bush, a progressive pastor and registered nurse.
* In Michigan, keep an eye on the 13th congressional district, where incumbent Rep. Rashida Tlaib is facing a Democratic challenge from Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones.
* In Arizona, where Rep. David Schweikert (R) was recently slammed for ethics violations, a large group of Democrats are vying for the party’s nod in the 6th congressional district, which has gradually moved in a competitive direction in recent years.
* Former President Barack Obama issued a slate of endorsements yesterday, throwing his support behind 118 candidates in 17 states. The Obama-backed candidates include Democrats running for statewide offices, but they also include plenty of down-ballot candidates, and including Dems running for state legislatures. * As expected, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) yesterday signed a measure to expand mail-in voting in his home state. Donald Trump has already threatened to sue, hoping to make the process more difficult. * In North Carolina, the National Republican Senatorial Committee launched an attack ad targeting Cal Cunningham (D) that was so dishonest, several local stations refused to air it. The NRSC agreed to alter the spot. * And for the second time in recent weeks, the Washington Post has caught a Republican U.S. Senate candidate misstating the details of his military record. In this case, it’s Michigan’s John James (R), whose advertising describes him as an “Army Ranger,” which isn’t quite right: he’s “Ranger-qualified,” though that isn’t exactly the same thing.
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."
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