Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Georgia will hold its primary runoffs today, and the marquee contest is the Republican gubernatorial race, pitting Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle against Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp.
* In West Virginia’s U.S. Senate race, Don Blankenship came up short when vying for the Republican nomination, but he now hopes to run as the right-wing Constitution Party candidate. The state’s “sore-loser” law is likely to be a problem.
* The congressional special election in Ohio’s 12th congressional district is two weeks from today, but early voting is now underway. Gov. John Kasich (R) hasn’t yet decided whether to support Troy Balderson (R) over Danny O’Connor (D).
* Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), one of Congress’ most progressive members, officially kicked off her race yesterday for House Democratic Caucus chair. The post is currently held by Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), who recently lost in a primary. Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), announced her bid for the same position last week.
* Following an ugly and humiliating display on Sacha Baron Cohen’s Showtime series, Georgia Rep. Jason Spencer (R) apologized, but is ignoring calls to resign. Spencer’s career already appears to be over — he lost in a May primary — but there are still several months remaining in his current term. * Will Nevada soon have the nation’s first state legislature with women lawmakers outnumbering men? The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that it’s a real possibility. * And Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) spoke with reporters the other day and began by telling them, “There’s no conditions, you can ask whatever you want.” According to a local report, however, after the California Republican heard questions about his connections to Mariia Butina, a suspected Russian agent, the press conference grew confrontational, and the congressman left soon after.
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
