Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* For the first time in roughly a generation, Gallup has found that most Democratic voters identify themselves as “liberal.” Whether that’s the result of genuine ideological shifts, or the result of changing attitudes about a label that had been stigmatized, is unclear.
* In North Carolina’s 9th congressional district, Mark Harris (R) fled journalists yesterday, tripping an alarm while avoiding questions. (I’ve long been fascinated by footage of politicians literally running away from reporters.)
* Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas), a possible 2020 contender, is reportedly planning a road trip in which he would “pop into places” outside the Lone Star State.
* After the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday turned down a DNC appeal, it looks like a consent decree that limited the RNC’s racially charged poll-watching efforts is coming to an end.
* Kentucky is one of two states that will hold gubernatorial races this year, though at this point, Republicans in the Bluegrass State still aren’t altogether sure if Gov. Matt Bevin (R) will seek a second term. * Sen. Kamala Harris’ (D-Calif.) new memoir is offering the senator a chance to do some promotional work, which will likely be tied to a 2020 presidential campaign. * And when Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) was sworn in as an appointed U.S. senator, she joined a small club: only nine senators have ever been appointed to a seat after losing their own Senate election. The most recent example of this, before McSally, was in 1955.
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
