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The Federal Tap: Even runoffs are bigger in Texas

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May 18, 2018Issue No. 113

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Week in review
On tap next week

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

Here's what happened in federal politics last week. To see what happened in state and local politics, click here.

Saturday, May 12

North Korea to dismantle its nuclear testing site ahead of Trump-Kim meeting

  • North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that steps were being taken by the government to dismantle the country's northern nuclear test ground. According to a press release from the ministry, "Dismantlement of the nuclear test ground will be done in the following sequence-making all tunnels of the test ground collapse by explosion; completely blocking entries; removing all observation facilities, research institutes and structures of guard units on the ground." North Korea invited journalists from the U.S., China, Russia, United Kingdom, and South Korea to view the site during a dismantling ceremony between May 23, 2018, and May 25, 2018. President Donald Trump praised the announcement on Twitter, writing, "North Korea has announced that they will dismantle Nuclear Test Site this month, ahead of the big Summit Meeting on June 12th. Thank you, a very smart and gracious gesture!"
  • On Monday, 38 North, a U.S.-based monitor of North Korea, reported that North Korea was dismantling its nuclear test site, according to satellite imagery. The researchers said, “After initial reporting of plans to allow experts and media personnel to observe the closing of North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, now scheduled for next week, commercial satellite imagery from May 7 provided the first definitive evidence that dismantlement of the test site was already well underway.”

Connecticut Republican convention narrows candidate field for federal offices

  • At the Connecticut Republican Party’s statewide convention, delegates voted to endorse candidates in the August 14 primary for U.S. Senate and the state’s five congressional races. In order to be officially endorsed, candidates had to receive votes of support from over 50 percent of the delegates. In order to make it to the primary ballot, candidates had to receive votes of support from at least 15 percent of the delegates.
    • Two candidates qualified for the U.S. Senate Republican primary. Matthew Corey won the party’s endorsement, and Dominic Rapini earned enough votes to make it to the primary to challenge him.
    • Endorsements for four of the state’s five congressional seats were won automatically as the candidates were unopposed, but the primary for the state’s fifth congressional seat saw three candidates earn enough support to make the primary. Manny Santos won the party’s endorsement, and Rich DuPont and Ruby Corby O’Neill won places on the primary ballot to challenge him.

Monday, May 14

Trump administration moves U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

  • The Trump administration moved the U.S. Embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, making good on a campaign promise by President Donald Trump. The Israeli government conducts its business from Jerusalem and considers it the nation’s capital, but most of the international community does not recognize the city as the capital. In a speech, Trump said, “For many years we failed to acknowledge the obvious: the plain reality that Israel's capital is Jerusalem. On Dec. 6, 2017, at my direction, the United States finally and officially recognized Jerusalem as the true capital of Israel. Today, we follow through on this recognition and open our embassy in the historic and sacred land of Jerusalem.” Trump also called for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. The move was criticized by the international community and met with violent protests resulting in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians. It was praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
  • Trump moved the embassy under bipartisan 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act. It called on the president to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The law was unanimously reaffirmed by the Senate in 2017. Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama all signed waivers to keep the embassy in Tel Aviv.

Supreme Court strikes federal law banning sports betting

  • On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal law that prohibited states from legalizing sports betting, on the grounds that the law violated the anti-commandeering doctrine. Writing for a six-justice majority, Justice Samuel Alito ruled that PASPA "unequivocally dictates what a state legislature may and may not do," unconstitutionally infringing on states' sovereignty. The ruling resolves two consolidated cases, Christie v. NCAA and New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association v. NCAA, in which New Jersey had argued that Congress had unconstitutionally commandeered New Jersey into enforcing federal programs by requiring New Jersey to adhere to PASPA's gambling restrictions.
  • The court has now issued decisions in 30 of the 69 cases it heard this term. The court typically issues all of its opinions by the end of June.

Glassman and Santos win nominations in CT-05

  • Former Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman (D) and former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos (R) won their party's endorsements for the open U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D), but both will face opponents in the August 14 primary before securing the nomination.
  • In order to make it onto the primary ballot, U.S. House candidates in Connecticut must either receive 15 percent of the vote at their party's nominating convention or submit petitions with the signatures of at least 2 percent of registered party members in the congressional district.
  • Santos won the Republican nomination on the second round of voting Friday. He will face National Latino Republican Coalition founder Ruby O'Neill (R) and businessman Rich Dupont (R) in the August 14 primary. In the Democratic nominating convention Monday, teacher Jahana Hayes (D) and New Britain Alderman Manny Sanchez (D) received the 15 percent of votes necessary to qualify for the primary alongside Glassman.
  • The seat became open following Esty's April announcement that she would not seek re-election after reports surfaced that she had protected a staffer who had been accused of sexual harassment. The race is rated Likely Democratic by two ratings outlets and Solid Democratic by a third.
  • The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was D+2, meaning that in a typical presidential election the Democratic candidate will perform 2 percentage points better in this district than the national average. This makes the district the nation's 182nd most Democratic.

Tuesday, May 15

Idaho election review

  • Ballotpedia covered a total of 133 federal and state seats up for primary election in Idaho. These included U.S. Congress, governor and other state executives, Idaho State Legislature, and Idaho state courts. Ballotpedia will also cover judicial and municipal elections in Ada County.
    • Russ Fulcher won the seven-candidate Republican primary to replace Raul Labrador in Idaho’s 1st District with over 40 percent of the vote. Among the notable candidates he defeated were former Idaho Lieutenant Gov. and Attorney General David Leroy and state Rep. Luke Malek. He is expected to win the Republican-leaning seat in November.

Nebraska election review

  • Ballotpedia covered a total of 44 federal and state seats up for primary election in Nebraska. These included one seat in the U.S. Senate, three seats in the U.S. House, nine state executive offices including governor, and 24 seats in the state senate. Ballotpedia also covered local primaries in Douglas and Lancaster counties. These races included county commissioner, assessor, attorney, sheriff, treasurer, and more.
    • Nonprofit executive Kara Eastman beat former Rep. Brad Ashford by a 51-49 in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee supported Eastman, who ran on a platform that included tuition-free college and universal health care. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) backed Ashford, and had added him to its “Red to Blue” list.

Oregon election review

  • Ballotpedia covered a total of 116 federal and state seats up for primary election in Oregon. These included U.S. Congress, governor, labor commissioner, Oregon State Legislature, and Oregon state courts. Ballotpedia also covered judicial and municipal elections in Portland and Multnomah County.

Pennsylvania election review

  • Primaries in Pennsylvania were held for federal and state positions, and Ballotpedia covered a total of 249 seats on the ballot. These included races for U.S. Congress, governor and lieutenant governor, and Pennsylvania General Assembly.
    • Former Allentown Solicitor Susan Wild (D) and Olympic cyclist Marty Nothstein (R) advanced to the general election in Pennsylvania’s 7th District. In the Democratic primary, Wild defeated Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli, who opposed abortion and sanctuary jurisdictions, and progressive Pastor Greg Edward, who was endorsed by Bernie Sanders. Nothstein defeated businessman Dean Browning in the Republican primary. The winner of the general election will replace Charlie Dent (R) in Congress.
    • Dermatologist John Joyce defeated seven other candidates to win the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania’s newly-drawn 13th Congressional District, which supported President Donald Trump (R) by a greater than 40 percent margin in 2016. The Club for Growth opposed Joyce, with television ads attacking him in the campaign's final weeks, while the Republican Main Street Partnership endorsed Joyce and funded mailers attacking two other candidates. Due to the partisan make-up of the district, the winner of this primary will be heavily favored in the general election.
    • Attorney Mary Gay Scanlon defeated nine other Democratic candidates in Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District primary. Scanlon won 28 percent of the vote, while former Philadelphia deputy mayor for labor Rich Lazer finished second with 16 percent. Scanlon had endorsements form state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky and former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-affiliated Middle Class PAC spent $500,000 on ads late in the campaign boosting Lazer.

North Korea threatens to cancel Trump-Kim meeting

  • In a statement from the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea said that it might reconsider meeting with President Donald Trump in response to a planned joint military drill between the U.S. and South Korea. The Korean Central News Agency said in a statement, "The United States will also have to undertake careful deliberations about the fate of the planned North Korea-U.S. summit in light of this provocative military ruckus jointly conducted with the South Korean authorities."
  • The Pentagon commented on the joint exercises, saying, "The purpose of the training is to enhance the ROK-U.S. Alliance's ability to defend the ROK [Republic of Korea] and enhance interoperability and readiness. While we will not discuss specifics, the defensive nature of these combined exercises has been clear for many decades and has not changed."
  • White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that Trump was still preparing to meet with Kim Jong Un. She said, “If the North Koreans want to meet, we’ll be there." She added, “Nothing has changed on our end” and “the president is prepared and will be ready to meet.”

Wednesday, May 16

Senate confirms four to federal appellate courts

  • This week, the U.S. Senate confirm four of President Donald Trump's (R) nominees to federal courts of appeal. Judge Amy St. Eve was confirmed on a vote of 91 - 0 to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Attorney Michael Scudder was confirmed on a vote of 90 - 0 to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Attorney John Nalbandian was confirmed on a vote of 53 - 45 to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Finally, Judge Joel Carson III was confirmed on a vote of 77 - 21 to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. All four will join their respective courts upon receiving their judicial commissions and taking their judicial oaths.
  • In total, the Senate has now confirmed 39 of President Trump's nominees to federal courts tracked in Ballotpedia's Federal Vacancy Count. There are an additional 77 nominees still awaiting confirmation.

Senate votes to restore net neutrality

  • By a vote of 52-47, the Senate voted to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) decision to repeal the 2015 Open Internet Order, which prohibited internet service providers from blocking or slowing web traffic or providing paid internet fast lanes. Three Republicans—Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), John Kennedy (La.), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)—joined 47 Democrats and two independents to approve the bill. The bill now heads to the House where it is unlikely to receive enough votes to pass.
  • Net neutrality is the concept that internet service providers (ISPs) should treat all internet traffic equally. On February 22, 2018, the FCC published an order in the Federal Register repealing and replacing net neutrality rules. Under the 2018 rules, ISPs will not be regulated as a public utility. ISPs will have to disclose their practices, and the FCC and Federal Trade Commission will investigate any anti-competitive behavior. Some elements of the new rules, titled Restoring Internet Freedom, took effect on April 23, 2018. The full order repealing all of the 2015 net neutrality rules is scheduled to take effect on June 11, 2018.

Thursday, May 17

Spending in Florida Senate race passes $11 million

  • Term-limited Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) has spent more than $8 million in the first month of his U.S. Senate campaign against incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D). He has released both English- and Spanish-language ads calling for term limits, tying Nelson to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and highlighting his gubernatorial record.
  • Satellite groups, like New Republican PAC and the Senate Leadership Fund, have also poured $3 million into the race. Nelson and his allies have not spent any money, yet, although he has $10.7 million in cash on hand.

Haspel confirmed as CIA director

  • By a vote of 54-45, Gina Haspel was confirmed by the Senate to be the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). When she is sworn in, she will be the first woman to head the agency. Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) voted with 48 Republicans to confirm Haspel. Republican Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voted with 41 Democrats and independent Sens. Angus King (I-Maine) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) against Haspel's nomination. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who opposed her nomination, did not vote because he was undergoing treatment for brain cancer. On Wednesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee recommended Haspel as director of the CIA in a 10-5 vote.

Friday, May 18

Washington state filing deadline

Connecticut Democrats head to state convention

  • The Connecticut Democratic Party is holding its state convention from May 18 to May 19. At the convention, delegates will vote to endorse candidates in the August 14 primary for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, secretary of state, comptroller, U.S. Senate, and four of the state’s five congressional seats. The party voted to endorse Mary Glassman in the race for the state’s fifth congressional district on May 14.
    • In order to be officially endorsed, candidates must receive votes of support from over 50 percent of the delegates. Candidates who receive votes of support from at least 15 percent of the delegates will be automatically added to the primary ballot.

Trump names Wilkie as next VA secretary

  • President Donald Trump announced that he would nominate acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie to be the next permanent secretary of veterans affairs. Wilkie is also serving as the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Trump nominated Wilkie after Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination to the position from consideration amid unverified accusations of misconduct.

House rejects farm bill

  • By a vote of 198-213, the House rejected a five-year, $867 billion farm bill that included agricultural subsidies for farmers and funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, among other things. Thirty Republicans, mostly members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus and some moderate Republicans, joined every Democrat to oppose the bill. Freedom Caucus members voted against the bill because of a disagreement over immigration reform legislation with GOP leadership. The Freedom Caucus wanted leadership to schedule a vote on an immigration bill put forward by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) before they gave their support to the farm bill. Democrats opposed the bill because it proposed requiring most able-bodied adults between the ages of 18 and 59 without young children to work at least 20 hours a week to receive SNAP benefits. Although he supported the bill, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan voted "no" on it as a procedural formality so that he can bring the bill up for a vote in the future. The current farm bill expires on September 30, 2018.

Congress is in session

The Senate will be in session Monday through Friday. The House will be in session Monday through Thursday.

SCOTUS is in session

The Supreme Court has finished its argument scheduled for the term. To learn more about this term, read our review.

WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK

Here's what is happening in federal politics this week. To see what happened in state and local politics, click here.

Saturday, May 19

Republican convention in Virginia’s 6th Congressional District

  • Eight Republicans are competing at Virginia's 6th Congressional District Republican convention for the party’s nomination. The candidates, including frontrunners Ben Cline (R) and Cynthia Dunbar (R), have disputed whether the nominee should be selected by plurality or majority vote. Delegates will decide on the victory method at the convention.
  • Although this district is the second-most Republican in the state of Virginia, The Roanoke Times noted that the convention could lead to a Democratic victor in the general election if the selected candidate was too conservative and lacked connection to population center Roanoke Valley.
  • Incumbent Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R) is not seeking re-election, leaving the seat open for the first time in 26 years.

Tuesday, May 22

Texas statewide primary runoffs

  • Texas will hold its statewide primary runoffs next week for any races in which a candidate did not secure a majority of the votes in the primary. There are 17 congressional races holding a primary runoff election: 11 Democratic and six Republican.
    • Attorney Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (D) faces writer Laura Moser (D) in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas’ 7th Congressional District. Moser, who is backed by Bernie Sanders-affiliated group Our Revolution, was the target of Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee opposition research released in February. Fletcher is supported by EMILY’s List.
    • U.S. Army veteran Joseph Kopser and teacher and pastor Mary Wilson will face off in the Democratic primary runoff election for Texas' 21st Congressional District election. Kopser has been endorsed in the runoff by state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea, while Wilson was backed by Justice Democrats.
    • U.S. Air Force veteran Gina Ortiz Jones and teacher Rick Trevino will face each other in the Democratic primary for Texas 23rd Congressional District. Ortiz Jones has been backed by multiple state representatives as well as Giffords PAC and the Daily Kos. Trevino was endorsed by the progressive organization Our Revolution.
    • Former Navy SEAL Dan Crenshaw and state Rep. Kevin Roberts will face off in the Republican primary for Texas’ 2nd Congressional District, which is being vacated by Ted Poe (R). Satellite groups have spent more than $1 million in the race. In the March 6 primary, Crenshaw edged out self-funded Republican activist Kathaleen Wall to make the runoff. She put around $6 million of her own money into the race.
    • State Rep. Lance Gooden and Republican consultant Bunni Pounds are competing in the Republican primary for Texas’ 5th Congressional District, which is being vacated by Jeb Hensarling (R). Pounds is backed by Vice President Mike Pence and the Club for Growth, while Gooden was endorsed by the National Realtors Association and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions.
    • Former Tarrant County Tax Assessor Ron Wright and former Navy pilot Jake Ellzey are facing off in the Republican primary for Texas’ 6th Congressional District, which is being vacated by Joe Barton (R). Wright is backed by the Club for Growth and says he would join the House Freedom Caucus is elected. Ellzey says he would not join the Freedom Caucus.
    • Former Ted Cruz Chief of Staff Chip Roy and businessman Matt McCall are facing off in the Republican primary for Texas’ 21st Congressional District, which is being vacated by Lamar Smith (R). Roy has led in endorsements, fundraising, and satellite spending support. McCall, however, received the support of San Antonio billionaire Red McCombs, who had backed ex-CIA officer William Negley in the March 6 primary. McCall unexpectedly beat out Negley for the runoff. Both said they would join the Freedom Caucus if elected.
    • Former Texas Water Development Board Chairman Bech Bruun and Republican activist Michael Cloud are competing for the Republican nomination in Texas’ 27th Congressional District, which was vacated by Blake Farenthold (R). Although Bruun had leads in endorsement and fundraising ahead of the March 6 primary, Cloud performed better than expected and forced a runoff. After the March 6 primary, Cloud picked up endorsements from the House Freedom Caucus and the Club for Growth, which have spent around $700,000 promoting his candidacy.

Arkansas primary preview

  • Arkansas’ primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 22. Ballotpedia is covering elections for U.S. Congress, the state legislature, the state supreme court and court of appeals, and seven state executive officials, including governor. Arkansas is served by four congressional districts, all of which are currently held by Republicans. All four incumbents are seeking re-election; only two are facing primary opposition.

Georgia primary preview

  • Georgia’s primary election is on May 22. Ballotpedia is covering elections for U.S. Congress, governor and eight other state executive positions, state legislative seats, judgeships on the state supreme court and court of appeals, school board elections in 10 school districts, and local elections in Fulton and DeKalb counties. Of Georgia’s 14 congressional districts, 10 are currently held by Republicans and four by Democrats. All 14 incumbents are seeking re-election; only five are facing primary opposition.

Kentucky primary preview

  • The primary election in Kentucky is on May 22. Ballotpedia is covering the primary races for U.S. Congress, the state legislature, state supreme court and court of appeals, and local elections in Lexington and Louisville. Kentucky’s six congressional seats are held by five Republicans and one Democrat. All six incumbents are running for re-election; two face primary opposition.
    • Jim Gray and Amy McGrath will face off in the Democratic primary for Kentucky’s 6th District, with the winner likely to take on incumbent Andy Barr (R) in the general election. Gray was encouraged to run by the DCCC and says he is best positioned to win because he carried the district when he ran for U.S. Senate in 2016. McGrath has touted her military experience in a series of campaign videos and leads Gray in fundraising.

Where was the president last week?

 

  • On Tuesday, President Donald Trump spoke at the annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. In the afternoon, Trump met with Republican senators at their weekly policy lunch.
  • On Wednesday, Trump welcomed President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the White House. He also hosted a roundtable with mayors from California to discuss the state's sanctuary jurisdiction policy.
  • On Thursday, Trump met with Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg at the White House.
  • On Friday, Trump spoke at a summit on prison reform. In the afternoon, he met with Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres in the Oval Office.

Federal Judiciary

 

  • 146 federal judicial vacancies
  • 85 pending nominations
  • 31 future federal judicial vacancies


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The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.

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