Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* The number of congressional Republican retirements and resignations this year is the most we’ve seen since at least 1952.
* There was some question as to whether Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) would support Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), the right-wing congresswoman running to replace him, but the retiring senator answered that question yesterday, announcing he’s sending her a campaign contribution.
* With party-imposed term limits poised to force Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) from his current leadership post, it looks like Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is already well positioned to succeed him.
* On a related note, there’s reportedly some behind-the-scenes wrangling underway in the House, where Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is rumored to be eyeing the exits. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Texas) and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) are eyeing the top House GOP position.
* In the Republicans’ Senate primary in Wisconsin, Kevin Nicholson has benefited from generous support from Illinois-based billionaire Dick Uihlein. Now, one of Nicholson’s rivals, state Sen. Leah Vukmir, is hitting the airwaves thanks to support from billionaire businesswoman Diane Hendricks. * Speaking of the Badger State, the Republican Governors Association has reportedly already reserved $5.1 million in television time to support Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) as he seeks a third term. * And don’t forget there are two state legislative special elections today, a state Senate race in Florida and another in Iowa. In both cases, the special elections are needed to fill vacancies left by state senators who resigned following affairs with lobbyists. The Florida race is in a heavily Democratic district, while the Iowa race is in a heavily Republican 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
