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Five states will hold statewide primaries on March 3, 2020 (15 jurisdictions will hold presidential nominating events). Here's a list of the Democratic Congressional battleground primaries to watch.
GOP Senate super PAC funded ads for Democratic candidate in NC
We recently reported that Faith and Power PAC had spent $2.4 million on ads and activities supporting Erica Smith as "the only proven progressive" in the Senate race in North Carolina, and that media outlets alleged the group had Republican ties. The PAC's pro-Smith spending has reached $2.9 million, and the source of the funds was disclosed as the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF).
SLF, a super PAC, was founded to support a Republican majority in the Senate. The group's president, Steven Law, said they were trying to drive up spending in the Democratic primary more than trying to influence the outcome. Law also said Democrats had a history of involvement in Republican primaries. In a statement Feb. 21, the day after Faith and Power PAC disclosed its funding source to the Federal Election Commission, Law said the following:
"We stole a page out of Chuck Schumer’s playbook, and it’s been more successful than we could have imagined. Democrats are burning cash in a $13 million rescue mission for Cal Cunningham, who has proven to be a lackluster candidate with less money in the bank today than the beginning of the year. If you add in the fact that Cunningham felt pressured to say he would support Bernie Sanders, I’d call this an unqualified success. We got a lot more for our money than when Democrats spent millions in Thom Tillis’ primary six years ago."
In a Feb. 21 Facebook post, Smith wrote, "We have the support of the people, and I am here to serve the people not the SuperPACs - CorporatePACs who meddle, interfere and attempt to influence elections with special interest $$$s."
The same day, Democratic candidate Cal Cunningham wrote in a Facebook post, "Mitch McConnell meddled in our election to try to mislead voters, and it’s clear why—he knows Thom Tillis has failed NC and he’s terrified to face me. I’ve got a message for McConnell and his allies—your scheme won’t work and I’ll see you in November."
There are five candidates running in the March 3 primary. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorsed Cunningham, who has led in polls and fundraising. VoteVets has spent more than $7 million and the group Carolina Blue has spent more than $3 million backing Cunningham.
A candidate needs more than 30% of the vote to win the primary outright. Otherwise, a runoff for the top two will be held May 12 if the second-place finisher requests one.
Three race raters call the general election a Toss-up or Lean Republican.
Tzintzún Ramirez picks up endorsements in Senate race in TX
Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez picked up endorsements from Reps. Joaquín Castro and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in the 12-candidate Democratic primary field for Senate in Texas. Tzintzún Ramirez headed the Workers Defense Project and founded an advocacy group aimed at young Latinos.
Last week, the group Lone Star Forward spent $58,000 on a TV ad supporting Ramirez. The ad says she would be the state's first Latina senator and that she would fight for healthcare for all, universal childcare, jobs with living wages, and more.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee endorsed MJ Hegar in the race. Hegar ran against John Carter (R) in Texas' 31st District in 2018, losing 48% to 51%.
The Houston Chronicle endorsed Royce West, a state senator, in the race last week.
If none of the 12 candidates receives 50% or more of the vote, the top two finishers will advance to a May 26 runoff.
Incumbent John Cornyn (R) was first elected in 2002. Democrats last won a statewide election in Texas in 1994. In the 2018 U.S. Senate election in Texas, incumbent Ted Cruz (R) defeated then-Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) 51% to 48%.
Pelosi campaigns for Cuellar, Ocasio-Cortez's PAC backs Cisneros in TX-28
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was in Laredo Saturday for a series of events, including a stop at Rep. Henry Cuellar's campaign headquarters.
Pelosi said, "We want this to be not only a victory, but a resounding victory for Henry Cuellar. … Every step you take, every door you knock, every call you make, will make that resounding victory possible — and it includes getting out a big Democratic vote prepared to vote again in the general election so that we turn Texas blue."
At an annual event in town, Pelosi further praised Cuellar for his contributions to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
Last year, Pelosi said, "I'm very, very proud of Henry's work in the Congress and I'm proud to support him — even if I didn't have a policy of endorsing incumbents."
Cuellar, in office since 2005, faces a progressive primary challenge from Jessica Cisneros on March 3. Cuellar says the district is more moderate and has criticized Cisneros' positions on abortion and energy policy.
Cisneros is an immigration attorney. She says her progressive platform is more in touch with the district. She says Cuellar has voted with President Donald Trump 70% of the time and highlights Cuellar's A rating from the National Rifle Association.
This past week, Courage to Change PAC—founded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D)—endorsed Cisneros. Her other endorsers include Justice Democrats and Sens. Bernie Sanders (I) and Elizabeth Warren (D).
As we reported earlier, Cuellar has endorsements from groups that don't typically back Democrats, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and LIBRE Initiative Action.
Wachspress withdraws from PA-01 primary
Pennsylvania's 1st District Democratic primary is down to two candidates after Pennsbury School Board member Debbie Wachspress ended her campaign last week. The announcement followed a lawsuit alleging Wachspress used offensive language during a school board executive session. Wachspress said, "It is clear to me that these lies and distortions will be too big a distraction to overcome."
Christina Finello and Skylar Hurwitz remain in the primary. Wachspress endorsed Finello. The Bucks County and Montgomery County Democratic committees endorsed Finello—all of Bucks and part of Montgomery counties are in the 1st District.
Wachspress had raised the most money among Democratic candidates. She reported $452,000 in receipts at the end of 2019, including a $50,000 loan. Finello had raised $81,000.
Incumbent Brian Fitzpatrick (R) reported raising $1.9 million through the end of 2019. That included $532,000 from individual contributions and the rest from political committees and transfers from other candidates' committees.
Pennsylvania's 1st is one of three congressional districts in the country that both Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election and a Republican won in the 2018 congressional election.
Patch writer Doug Gross wrote, "Fitzpatrick's seat is one that has been closely eyed by Democrats in recent election cycles. Bucks County has seen a rising tide of success for Democratic candidates, who took control of the county Board of Commissioners in last year's election as well as winning in races for several county row offices and for control in multiple municipalities."
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currently has 72 members. Feltes' other legislative endorsements include nine of his 13 Democratic colleagues in the state Senate and around 80 of the 232 Democratic members of the state House.
