Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* As Rachel noted on the show last night, there was an important federal appeals court ruling last night striking down North Carolina’s Republican-drawn congressional districts. Depending on what happens on appeal, the effects of the ruling may be felt as early as this fall.
* It’s Primary Day in Arizona and Florida, where plenty of important races will be decided. Keep an eye on Arizona’s Republican Senate primary, the Democratic congressional primary in Arizona’s 2nd district, both parties’ gubernatorial primaries in Florida, and the Democratic congressional primary in Florida’s 27th district.
* In Oklahoma today, there will also be primary runoffs, with Republican voters choosing between Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and businessman Kevin Stitt in the state’s GOP gubernatorial primary. The winner will take on former state Attorney General Drew Edmondson (D) in November.
* In California’s 50th congressional district, where Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) is running for re-election despite being under federal criminal indictment, a new SurveyUSA poll shows him leading his Democratic challenger, Ammar Campa-Najjar, 47% to 39%. It’s worth noting for context that Hunter won re-election two years ago by 27 points.
* In Tennessee, where former Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) is running a competitive U.S. Senate race, he recently told an audience he hears from a lot of voters who are inclined to support him, but they don’t want a Democratic majority in the Senate. Bredesen added, in reference to a possible Dem majority, “When I look at it realistically … I just can’t see it happening.” * In Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, Republican Scott Wagner has decided not to release any of his tax returns. He explained last week that if the public got a look at his finances, his employees might try to form a union, which he hopes to avoid. Wagner added, “How much I make or don’t make is nobody’s business right now.” * And the countdown can begin: Democratic National Committee members agreed to a 2020 presidential nominating calendar in which the Iowa caucuses will be held on Feb. 3, 2020. For those keeping track, that’s 17 months away.
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
