Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Given how close many of Florida’s major statewide contests were this year, this AP report stands out: “Florida officials say thousands of mailed ballots were not counted because they were delivered too late to state election offices.”
* A month after the midterm elections, a new national CNN poll shows Donald Trump’s approval rating down to 39%. When respondents were asked about the president’s handling of the investigation into the Russia scandal, only 29% approved.
* It’s not yet clear if there will be a new election in North Carolina’s 9th congressional district, but Dan McCready (D) said yesterday that he and his team are “gearing up right now” for that possibility.
* BuzzFeed reported yesterday that a former Trump campaign staffer, Jessica Denson, is “fighting an order to pay nearly $25,000 for violating a nondisclosure agreement.” Denson sued the Trump campaign last year, accusing the Republican operation of discrimination and bullying; the Trump campaign responded by arguing that her lawsuit violated her nondisclosure agreement.
* Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) announced last week that he’s investigating Sen.-elect Josh Hawley (R) over his alleged misuse of public resources to advance his political ambitions. This week, Ashcroft formally requested that Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway (D) assist in the endeavor. (Galloway’s office has subpoena power; Ashcroft’s does not.) * With the “overwhelming” support of state party activists, Nebraska’s Democratic Party abandoned its presidential nominating caucuses and agreed to hold primaries instead. * And while Texas generally isn’t thought of as a voter-turnout powerhouse, the Lone Star State saw an 18% jump in this year’s elections, the sixth best in the country. The national increase in turnout over the last midterm cycle was about 13%.
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
