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The Federal Tap: Primary season winds down; Committee vote on Kavanaugh next week
From Ballotpedia
September 14, 2018Issue No. 130
THE WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday, September 8
NRSC ad featuring Mike Pence launches in MT Senate race
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee launched an ad featuring Vice President Mike Pence to support State Auditor Matt Rosendale (R) in his challenge of U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D).
- In the ad, Pence criticizes Tester for voting against tax, healthcare, and immigration legislation supported by President Trump and highlights Trump’s endorsement of Rosendale. Similar ads are set to run in Indiana and North Dakota. All three states were won by Trump in 2016 and have Democratic incumbents defending them in 2018.
- Tester was first elected in 2006 and was re-elected in 2012.
Monday, September 10
Trump administration announces closure of PLO office
- The Trump administration announced that it would close the office of the General Delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Washington, D.C. The office was established as part of the 1993-1995 Oslo Accords that outlined a plan for peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians. The decision marked a change in U.S. policy towards the PLO from previous administrations who supported the tenants of the accord.
- State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert explained the decision in a statement, saying, “The PLO has not taken steps to advance the start of direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel. To the contrary, PLO leadership has condemned a U.S. peace plan they have not yet seen and refused to engage with the U.S. government with respect to peace efforts and otherwise.”
- Dr. Saeb Erekat, a Palestinian diplomat, responded to the decision, saying, “This is yet another affirmation of the Trump Administration’s policy to collectively punish the Palestinian people. … This dangerous escalation shows that the US is willing to disband the international system in order to protect Israeli crimes and attacks against the land and people of Palestine as well as against peace and security in the rest of our region.”
Recount called in Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District Dem primary
- Municipal clerks across Massachusetts' 3rd Congressional District certified that Lori Trahan (D) led Dan Koh (D) by 122 votes in the Democratic primary. Since the candidates were separated by less than 0.5 percent of the vote, Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin (D) ordered a district-wide hand recount on the same day. The deadline for the recount is Monday, September 17.
Tuesday, September 11
New Hampshire primary review
- New Hampshire held its statewide primary on September 11. Ballotpedia covered elections for two U.S. House seats, six state executive positions including governor and all five seats on the state executive council, all 24 state senate seats, and all 400 state house seats. The primary winners advanced to the general election that will be held on November 6, 2018.
Chris Pappas defeats 10 candidates for NH-1 Democratic nomination
- Executive Councilor Chris Pappas won the Democratic primary for New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. He received 42 percent of the vote. Former Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs Maura Sullivan was second with 30 percent.
- Eleven candidates ran in the race. The swing district has changed partisan hands five times in the last six elections, and the general election is expected to be competitive. The current incumbent, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D), is retiring.
- Sullivan raised $1.8 million—more than twice as much as any other candidate. Pappas raised $820,000. Pappas contrasted himself from Sullivan by saying that most of his donors are from New Hampshire. Sullivan said she gained supporters through her work in the Marines and as assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs under Obama.
- Pappas faces Eddie Edwards (R) in the general election.
Eddie Edwards wins Republican nomination for NH-1
- Former police chief Eddie Edwards defeated four candidates in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District Republican primary. He received 48 percent of the vote; in second place was state Sen. Andy Sanborn with 42 percent.
- Republicans hope to regain the swing district seat. Edwards faces Executive Councilor Chris Pappas (D) in the general election.
- Sanborn and Edwards both had high-profile endorsements; Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz backed Sanborn, and Edwards had the support of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Sen. Rick Santorum.
National Rifle Association endorses Patrick Morrisey
- The National Rifle Association announced its endorsement of West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) Tuesday. Morrisey faces incumbent Joe Manchin (D) in his bid for one of the state’s two seats in the U.S. Senate.
- Manchin was first elected to the seat in a special election following the death of Sen. Robert Byrd (D) in 2010 and was elected to a full term in 2012. The National Rifle Association endorsed him in both elections.
- This cycle, the organization, which has given Manchin a “D” rating and Morrisey an “A+”, has spent nearly $400,000 in opposition to Manchin’s re-election according to reports filed with the FEC.
- Manchin is one of ten Democratic members of the U.S. Senate seeking re-election this year in a state that was carried by Donald Trump (R) in 2016. President Trump’s 42 percent margin of victory in West Virginia was his second-largest nationwide.
Wednesday, September 12
Kavanaugh answers follow-up questions from Democratic senators
- Kavanaugh submitted his answers to the follow-up questions requested of him by Democratic senators. Read his answers here.
Rhode Island primary review
- Rhode Island held its statewide primary on September 12. Ballotpedia covered elections for one U.S. Senate seat, two U.S. House seats, five state executive positions including governor and lieutenant governor, all 38 state senate seats, and all 75 state house seats. The primary winners advanced to the general election that will be held on November 6, 2018.
Shaun Brown’s removal from VA-02 ballot upheld by state Supreme Court
- Independent Shaun Brown, who initially ran for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District as a Democrat, made an unsuccessful attempt to appeal her removal from the general election ballot. Brown withdrew from the Democratic primary after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee endorsed her opponent Elaine Luria (D). She later launched a petition drive to earn a ballot spot as an independent.
- Following a lawsuit from the Democratic Party of Virginia alleging that incumbent Rep. Scott Taylor’s (R) campaign staff had assisted Brown in collecting signatures, a circuit judge found several of the signatures had been forged and that aspects of Brown’s nominating papers were in error. The judge ordered Brown removed from the ballot.
- Brown’s appeal argued that the state party did not have standing and the circuit court lacked jurisdiction. The appeal was rejected by the state Supreme Court Wednesday since neither of Brown’s filed appeals contained copies of the original case’s proceedings.
Trump signs executive order on election interference
- President Donald Trump signed an executive order that allowed sanctions to be placed on individuals and entities who interfere with U.S. elections. Under the order, the director of national intelligence is responsible for investigating allegations of interference. The departments of Justice and of Homeland Security are then responsible for imposing sanctions if necessary. Sanctions could include cutting off access to the U.S. financial system, denial of entrance into the country, and the freezing of assets, among other things.
- “By signing this Executive Order, I am adding to my record of implementing the strongest measures to date of any United States President to protect our electoral system. As we enter election season this fall, the American people can rest assured that we are working diligently to ensure that our democracy remains secure from foreign threats,” Trump said in a statement.
Thursday, September 13
Congress sends first spending bill to Trump
- The House passed a $147 billion minibus bill, a package of three appropriations bills, by a vote of 377-20 and sent it to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. The White House indicated that Trump would sign the bill. The Senate approved the minibus by a vote of 92-5. The minibus included spending bills for military construction and veterans’ affairs, the legislative branch, and energy and water. It was the first appropriations bill Congress passed before the start of the new fiscal year since 2007, according to The Hill.
Friday, September 14
New York Times' Upshot and Siena College conduct live polling of U.S. House seats
- Since September 3, the New York Times' Upshot and Siena College have been conducting polls in U.S. House battlegrounds. Readers can watch the responses in real time. Read more about the NYT/Siena College collaboration here.
- The results so far:
- CA-48, Sept. 4-6, Harley Rouda (D) and U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R) at 45 percent each. 4.8 percentage point margin of error.
- IL-12, Sept. 4-6, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R) at 44 percent and Brendan Kelly (D) at 43 percent. 4.6 percentage point margin of error.
- IL-6, Sept. 4-6, U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R) at 45 percent and Sean Casten (D) at 44 percent. 4.7 percentage point margin of error.
- KY-6, Sept. 6-8, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R) at 47 percent and Amy McGrath at 46 percent. 4.9 percentage point margin of error.
- MN-3, Sept. 7-9, Dean Phillips (D) at 51 percent and U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen (R) at 42 percent. 4.6 percentage point margin of error.
- MN-8, Sept. 6-9, Joe Radinovich (D) at 44 percent and Pete Stauber at 43 percent. 4.6 percentage point margin of error.
- WV-3, Sept. 8-10, Carol Miller (R) at 48 percent and Richard Ojeda (D) at 40 percent. 5.0 percentage point margin of error.
- VA-7, Sept. 9-12, U.S. Rep. Dave Brat (R) at 47 percent and Abigail Spanberger (D) at 43 percent. 5.0 percentage point margin of error.
- TX-23, Sept. 10-11, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R) at 51 percent and Gina Ortiz Jones (D) at 43 percent. 5.0 percentage point margin of error.
- WI-1, Sept. 11-13, Bryan Steil (R) at 50 percent and Randy Bryce (D) at 44 percent. 4.7 percentage point margin of error.
- Coming up nexts are polls of CO-6, ME-2, KS-2, FL-26, and NM-2.
Congress is in session
The Senate will be in session Monday and Tuesday and Thursday and Friday. The House will not be in session.
SCOTUS is out of 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
Thursday, September 20
Senate Judiciary Committee to vote on Kavanaugh confirmation
- The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination. Following this, it’s expected it will go to the vote of the full Senate by the end of September.
Where was the president last week?
- On Monday, President Donald Trump had lunch with Vice President Mike Pence.
- On Tuesday, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the Flight 93 Memorial Service in Shanksville, Pa., for the 17th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In the evening, Trump met with the Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and FEMA Administrator Brock Long.
- On Wednesday, Trump had lunch with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In the evening, he spoke at a Congressional Medal of Honor Society reception.
- On Friday, Trump received his intelligence briefing and was given an update on Hurricane Florence.
Federal Judiciary
- 141 federal judicial vacancies
- 72 pending nominations
- 26 future federal judicial vacancies
About
The Tap covered election news, public policy, and other noteworthy events from February 2016 to February 2022.
