Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In a bit of a surprise, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) has decided not to run against appointed Sen. Martha McSally (R) in Arizona next year. His decision makes it more likely that retired astronaut Mark Kelly (D), who’s already announced and begun raising money, will be the Democratic nominee.
* Speaking of surprises, Sen. Tom Udall (D) announced yesterday that he will not seek a third term in New Mexico next year. At least at this stage in the 2020 cycle, Udall is the only Senate Democratic incumbent who isn’t running for re-election.
* Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.) announced yesterday that he has Parkinson’s disease, and though he believes his illness will not affect his work in the short term, he will retire at the end of this Congress.
* Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) announced over the weekend her proposal for boosting teacher salaries, and the leading presidential hopeful is now fleshing out the details. Harris envisions a $315 billion investment over 10 years, financed through changes to the estate tax.
* While there’s considerable interest in Stacey Abrams’ 2020 plans, the Georgia Democrat yesterday launched a new non-profit organization, called Fair Count, “designed to ensure that hard-to-count populations are tallied during the 2020 U.S. Census.” * Georgia’s 6th congressional district was one of the nation’s most competitive last year, and in the end, Rep. Lucy McBath (D) narrowly defeated incumbent Karen Handel (R). Yesterday, Handel announced plans for a 2020 rematch. * And in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins (R) is likely to face a tough re-election campaign, it appears Democrats aren’t her only concern: Derek Levasseur, a pro-Trump blogger and former police officer, announced a Republican primary challenge to the incumbent senator yesterday.
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
