The Federal Tap: Nevada Democrats hold presidential nominating caucus
From Ballotpedia
February 22, 2020Issue No. 194
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Monday, Feb. 17th
Bloomberg leads Democratic presidential candidates in weekly Ballotpedia pageviews
- Last week, Michael Bloomberg led all Democratic campaigns in pageviews. His campaign page was viewed 8,849 times, equaling 20.8% of pageviews for all Democratic campaigns. He was followed by Pete Buttigieg with 18.2% of pageviews and Bernie Sanders with 17.9%. This was the first week that Bloomberg led all Democratic candidates in pageviews since his page on Ballotpedia was published the week of November 30.
- The top three current Democratic presidential candidates in lifetime pageviews are Buttigieg with 173,550, Joe Biden with 161,665, and Sanders with 146,596. Three candidates ended their campaigns last week: Michael Bennet, Deval Patrick, and Andrew Yang. Bennet's campaign received 86,706 pageviews since publication, accounting for 7.2% of all Democratic presidential campaign pageviews. Patrick's campaign received 11,929 pageviews (0.99% of the total) and Yang's campaign received 172,329 pageviews (14.3% of the total).
- Three Democratic candidates received more pageviews this week relative to the last: Amy Klobuchar, Bloomberg, and Sanders. Klobuchar had the largest increase of 50.6%. Elizabeth Warren saw the largest decrease in pageviews relative to last week among Democratic candidates with 16.1%.
- Donald Trump ranked second of the three Republican candidates in pageviews last week. Trump received 6,586 pageviews, while Roque de la Fuente received 8,285 and Bill Weld received 6,479.
Tuesday, Feb. 18th
Tiffany, Zunker to meet in Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District special election May 12
- Tom Tiffany (R) and Tricia Zunker (D) advanced to the May 12 special election for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District after winning their respective primaries on Feb. 18. The special election was called to fill the vacancy left by Sean Duffy's (R) September 2019 resignation.
- In the Feb. 18 Republican primary, Tiffany defeated Jason Church with a margin of victory of 15 percentage points. Church and Tiffany agreed on most policy positions but highlighted their different backgrounds. Tiffany, a state senator, described himself as a proven conservative who would “provide the leadership to get things done.” Church described himself as an outsider and a “combat veteran looking to continue my service on behalf of the people of Wisconsin’s 7th district.”
- Duffy, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), former Wisconsin Govs. Scott Walker (R) and Tommy Thompson (R), and organizations including the Club for Growth PAC and Americans for Prosperity Action endorsed Tiffany. U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), U.S. Reps. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), and organizations including SEAL PAC and Combat Veterans for Congress endorsed Church.
- In the Feb. 18 Democratic primary, Zunker defeated Lawrence Dale with a margin of victory of 78 percentage points. Zunker said that she would be a voice in Washington for local farmers and work to improve public education. She said she was “in favor of Medicare for All for those who want it.” Dale campaigned on transitioning the area’s timber pulp industry to hemp pulp, growing the local farming industry, and passing Medicare for All.
- Endorsements in the race focused on Zunker, who was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and Wisconsin 7th Congressional District Democratic Party, as well as Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin AFL-CIO.
- Duffy, who was first elected in 2010, won his last election in 2018 by a margin of about 22 percentage points.
Candidate filing period for congressional incumbents ends in Nebraska
- The filing deadline passed for incumbents to run for elected office in Nebraska on Feb. 18. The filing deadline for non-incumbents is on March 2.
- Incumbents filed to run for all four federal congressional seats up for election in 2020 in Nebraska. Senator Ben Sasse (R) filed for re-election to his U.S. Senate seat. Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R), Don Bacon (R), and Adrian Smith (R) filed to run for re-election to their U.S. House seats in Districts 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
- The primary election is scheduled for May 12, and the general election is scheduled for November 3, 2020.
Wednesday, Feb. 19th
Presidential candidates hold ninth Democratic debate before Nevada caucuses
- Six Democratic presidential candidates participated in the party’s ninth primary debate in Las Vegas— Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, and Elizabeth Warren.
- The candidates discussed electability, healthcare, criminal justice, foreign policy, sexism, climate change, economic issues, and immigration. Warren had the most speaking time at 16.8 minutes. Bloomberg spoke the least at 13.1 minutes.
- For highlights from the debate for each candidate, click here.
- The next presidential primary debate will be held in Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb. 25.
Thursday, Feb. 20th
Candidate filing period ends for April 28 special election in New York’s 27th Congressional District
- Candidates interested in running in the special election for New York’s 27th Congressional District had until February 20, 2020, to file. The special general election is scheduled for April 28, 2020. Ballotpedia will provide a full candidate list once the state has released the official candidate filings. The special election was called after Chris Collins (R) resigned on October 1, 2019, after pleading guilty to conspiracy and false statement charges. Collins served in the district from 2013 until his resignation.
- As of February 20, 2020, nine special elections had been called during the 116th Congress. Seven of those were called for seats in the U.S. House, and two were called for seats in the U.S. Senate. From the 113th Congress to the 115th Congress, 40 special elections were held.
- Entering the 2020 election, the U.S. House has 232 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one independent member, and five vacancies. All 435 seats are up for election. A majority in the chamber requires 218 seats.
Congress is in session
Both the Senate and the House are in session next week. Click here to see the full calendar for the second session of the 116th Congress.
SCOTUS is in session
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in five cases this week. To learn about the current 2019-2020 term, click here.
WHAT'S ON TAP NEXT WEEK
Saturday, Feb. 22nd
Nevada Democratic Party holds presidential nominating caucus
- The Nevada Democratic Party is holding its presidential nominating caucus. The following candidates appear on the presidential preference card: Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, and Elizabeth Warren. Four candidates who suspended their campaigns also appear on the card: Michael Bennet, John Delaney, Deval Patrick, and Andrew Yang. Thirty-six pledged delegates are at stake in Nevada.
- The Nevada Republican Party voted on September 7, 2019, to cancel its caucus.
- Nevada has held the “First in the West” nominating event since 2008.
- In the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton (D) carried Nevada with 47.9% of the vote to Donald Trump's (R) 45.5%.
Tuesday, Feb. 25th
Democratic presidential candidates to debate in South Carolina ahead of primary
- The Democratic Party will hold its tenth presidential primary debate in Charleston, South Carolina. The event will begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be sponsored by CBS News and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute.
- Candidates have until February 24 to qualify via one of three paths: (1) receive at least one pledged delegate from nominating events in Iowa, New Hampshire, or Nevada; (2) receive 10% support in four national and/or South Carolina polls; or (3) receive 12% support in two South Carolina polls.
- Eligible polls must also meet the following requirements:
- Each poll must be publicly released between Feb. 4 and Feb. 24.
- Each poll’s candidate support question must have been conducted by reading or presenting a list of Democratic presidential primary candidates to respondents. Poll questions using an open-ended or un-aided question to gauge presidential primary support will not count.
- Six candidates have already qualified for the debate—Joe Biden, Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren.
Where was the president last week?
- On Monday, Trump did not participate in any public events.
- On Tuesday, Trump participated in a briefing with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and LA 2028 Organizers in Beverly Hills, CA.
- On Wednesday, Trump participated in a fundraiser in Rancho Mirage, CA., and spoke to rural stakeholders on California water accessibility.
- On Thursday, Trump delivered the Commencement Address at Hope for Prisoners Graduation Ceremony in Las Vegas, NV., and spoke at a Keep America Great rally in Colorado Springs, CO.
- On Friday, Trump participated in a political rally in Las Vegas, NV.
Federal Judiciary
- 79 federal judicial vacancies
- 37 pending nominations
- 8 future federal judicial vacancies
About
The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.
