Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Though July is a pretty slow month for elections, Alabama will host primary run-off elections tomorrow, and the race to watch is Rep. Martha Roby’s (R) contest against party-switching former Rep. Bobby Bright. Roby, having received endorsements from Donald Trump and Mike Pence, is expected to prevail.
* The New York Times reported today on Donald Trump’s re-election campaign committee’s new FEC filing, which shows the Team Trump, combined with two joint committees formed with the Republican Party, has nearly $53.6 million in the bank. That’s quite a haul before the president’s first midterm cycle.
* That said, Trump talked to Piers Morgan the other day, and the British journalist asked if there’s any doubt about whether he’ll run again in 2020. The American president said, “Well, you never know what happens with health and other things,” but added, “It seems like everybody wants me to.” Asked if he sees a likely Democrat who can beat him, Trump said, “No. I don’t see anybody. I know them all and I don’t see anybody.”
* Fueled by progressive activists, the California Democratic Party’s executive committee officially endorsed state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D), incumbent Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s (D) general-election rival, over the weekend. As Politico noted, the move “delivers a lifeline to de Leon’s struggling campaign — and the party’s imprimatur, which is accompanied by valuable access to slate cards, email lists and voter outreach machinery that will allow him to reach an estimated 2 million Democratic voters.”
* House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), one of Congress’ most sycophantic Trump allies, is receiving a fundraising boost from donors who appreciate his pro-Trump efforts: the California Republican raised roughly $5 million in the second quarter. Headed into the cycle’s final four months, Nunes has over $6 million cash on hand. * Elon Musk reportedly contributed $38,900 to the Protect the House PAC, which exists to help Republicans keep control of Congress. The Daily Beast noted that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO joins “the likes of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and Houston Texans owner Robert McNair in the PAC’s top 50 donors.” * Though former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is generally seen as the favorite in the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary, Pawlenty’s first television ad of the primary season goes after his principal rival, Jeff Johnson., which suggests there’s something interesting in Pawlenty’s internal polling. The primary is Aug. 14. * In a move that’s already generating speculation about his future plans, former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) was in Texas over the weekend, campaigning in support of Colin Allred (D), who’s taking on incumbent Rep. Pete Sessions (R) in Texas’ 32nd congressional district.
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
