Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* It’s Primary Day in Delaware. The race to watch is incumbent Sen. Tom Carper’s Democratic primary against Kerri Evelyn Harris, an Air Force veteran and community activist.
* A Virginia judge yesterday ordered Shaun Brown (I) to be removed from the ballot in Virginia’s 2nd congressional district, pointing to the “out and out fraud” surrounding her qualifying petitions. It’s a setback for Rep. Scott Taylor’s (R) campaign, which allegedly participated in the fraud.
* Florida’s closely watched U.S. Senate race couldn’t be much closer: the latest Quinnipiac poll shows incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D) and Gov. Rick Scott (R) tied at 49% each.
* Speaking of the Sunshine State, Rep. Ron DeSantis, the Republicans’ gubernatorial nominee in Florida, is reportedly poised to name state Rep. Jeanette Nuñez (R) as his running mate. Two years ago, the Miami-area state lawmaker described Donald Trump in a tweet as “the biggest con man there is” — but that tweet has since been deleted.
* In Indiana’s closely watched U.S. Senate race, a new NBC News/Marist poll finds incumbent Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) leading Mike Braun (R), 49% to 43%. * As if Rep. Duncan Hunter’s (R-Calif.) criminal indictment weren’t enough, his defense attorney told the San Diego Union-Tribune, “While there may be evidence of infidelity, irresponsibility or alcohol dependence, once properly understood, the underlying facts do not equate to criminal activity.” * Donald Trump was asked this week about his win-loss record on Republican primary endorsements, and the president acknowledged that his preferred candidate in Wyoming’s gubernatorial race lost. Trump, however, quickly blamed his son for his misstep. * And in Alaska, former Sen. Mark Begich (D) has announced that he’s sticking with his gubernatorial campaign, despite pressure on him to withdraw to avoid helping the Republican in the state’s three-way race. Incumbent Gov. Bill Walker (I) is seeking a second term, and former state Sen. Mike Dunleavy (R) may benefit from the center-left division.
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
