Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Georgia’s secretary of state runoff election, Brad Raffensperger (R) prevailed over John Barrow (D), 52% to 48%. As a result, Brian Kemp’s (R) voter-suppression agenda will remain in place.
* The news for Dems was a little better in Little Rock, Ark., where Frank Scott, Jr., widely seen as a rising star in Democratic politics, yesterday became the city’s first elected black mayor. He defeated Baker Kurrus in what was technically a non-partisan race.
* The Charlotte Observer‘s editorial board today called for a new election in North Carolina’s 9th congressional district.
* In Maine’s 2nd congressional district, where incumbent Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R) is already suing to overturn his defeat, a town-by-town recount is scheduled to get underway tomorrow morning.
* I know the focus on the so-called “invisible primary” annoys some people, but this is the point at which possible presidential contenders start making decisions that shape the actual primary phase. Former two-term Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), for example, has reportedly decided not to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. This comes a week after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced he isn’t running, either. * Michael Avenatti, best known as Stormy Daniels’ attorney, also isn’t running. * On a related note, the Democratic National Committee is working on its plan for a series of primary debates, and party officials intend to avoid the “kiddie table” model Republicans used during the last presidential election cycle. * And for those keeping track, the Democratic lead in the U.S. House popular vote is now up to 8.5%. For comparison purposes, note that in 2010 — which was widely seen as a GOP “wave” cycle — Republicans won the U.S. House popular vote by 6.6%. In 1994, which was seen as a Republican “revolution,” the GOP won the U.S. House popular vote by 7.1%.
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
