October 16, 2020 Press Releases

DSCC FRIDAY TAKEAWAYS: DEM SENATE CHALLENGERS “SHATTER” Q3 MONEY RECORDS—ERNST SOYBEAN SCANDAL GOES VIRAL

GOP’S “ALBATROSS” IN CLOSING DAYS OF THE ELECTION: HEALTH CARE. With just 18 days until Election Day, vulnerable Senate Republicans are doubling down on their cycle–long effort to try to cover up their records of voting to attack the popular Affordable Care Act and gut its coverage protections for pre-existing conditions. Desperate Republicans who “spent the past decade trying to eradicate the 2010 law” are now telling voters “don’t worry about the ACA.” But here’s the reality: Senate Republicans are rushing to confirm a Supreme Court nominee hostile to the health care law just in time for oral arguments on their party’s lawsuit, and their efforts to rewrite their toxic records are nothing more than “empty promises” – not a single GOP senator or candidate has articulated a plan that would keep current pre-existing conditions protections intact if this lawsuit succeeds in overturning the ACA. And just last night President Trump said the quiet part out loud at his NBC town hall when he said Republicans “would like to terminate” the health care law that protects people with pre-existing conditions and bragged that “we have a very good chance of doing it.”

Los Angeles Times: Repeal Obamacare? Once GOP dogma, it’s now the party’s albatross
HuffPost: GOP Hoping Empty Health Care Rhetoric Can Save Their Senate Majority
Axios: Republicans’ Supreme Court message: Don’t worry about the ACA
The Hill: Republicans: Supreme Court won’t toss ObamaCare
ABC News: On campaign trail, vulnerable GOP senators play down a more conservative Supreme Court
Washington Post: Analysis | Another clunker: John Cornyn’s ad on preexisting conditions

WATCH: Trump says “we’d like to terminate” the Affordable Care Act and “we have a very good chance of doing it”

WHOOPS: ERNST FLUBBING DEBATE QUESTION ON SOYBEAN PRICES GOES VIRAL. In the final Iowa U.S. Senate debate last night, Senator Joni Ernst was asked directly whether she knew the break-even price for soybean farmers – right after businesswoman and scrappy farm kid Theresa Greenfield nailed a question about the current price of a bushel of corn. As the debate moderator observed, Senator Ernst “grew up on a farm, you should know this.” However, Ernst did not know — and after clumsily failing to answer the question, she wrongly asserted that Greenfield did not know either. But as the moderator pointed out, Greenfield “actually did” answer the question and get it right. It’s never been more clear that Washington changed Joni Ernst, not the other way around. Watch Ernst fight with the debate moderator because she doesn’t know the price of soybeans:

Vox: Joni Ernst didn’t know the price of soybeans. Here’s why that could cost her.
Iowa Starting Line: It’s Clear Who The Real Scrappy Farmer Is For Iowa Senate
The Daily Beast: Joni Ernst Absolutely Butchers Debate Question About Soybeans
HuffPost: Republican Sen. Joni Ernst Botches ‘Most Midwestern Moment’ Ever In TV Debate
Newsweek: GOP Iowa Senator Corrected on Price of Soybeans During Debate: ‘You Should Know This’
The Week: Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst stumbles over soybean question in debate against Democratic challenger

MEMO: 3 WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY, DEMOCRATS HAVE PUT MORE THAN A DOZEN SENATE SEATS IN PLAY. The DSCC released a new memo this week highlighting how Democrats have forced Republicans to defend more than a dozen GOP-held seats and control of the Senate remains firmly in play as we move into the final three weeks. Here’s the rundown:

Race Ratings: Major nonpartisan election analysts have not moved any of the competitive races in Republicans’ favor in the past two months. Meanwhile, a growing number of GOP-held seats have become more competitive or now tilt or lean towards Democratic candidates.
Fundraising: Democrats are announcing record-shattering Q3 fundraising reports, fueled by small-dollar donors giving at unprecedented levels to combat the billionaire mega-donors and special interests and end Mitch McConnell’s majority.
Defensive GOP Spending: McConnell allies have been forced to dump tens of millions into Republican-leaning states in the final three weeks.
Health Care, Health Care, Health Care: Voters’ top concern remains the public health crisis, and Senate Republicans’ health care voting records, refusal to pass additional pandemic relief, and support for their party’s lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act have become indefensible liabilities in the final weeks. Poll after poll shows the lawsuit and the decision to fill the Supreme Court vacancy are deeply out of step with voters.

Here’s the bottom line: Democrats are in an increasingly strong position to flip the Senate in the final stretch. Read the full memo here.

DEMOCRATS OUTRAISED IN 14 GOP-HELD SEATS. Democratic candidates continued to grow their fundraising considerably in the third quarter of 2020, outraising vulnerable Republicans in 14 GOP-held seats while smashing records — in many cases records previously set by their own campaigns — thanks to unprecedented support from small-dollar grassroots donors. The massive Q3 fundraising hauls are the latest indicator that Democrats are running smart and aggressive campaign operations in battlegrounds across the country with the resources to expand the map, increase our paths to the majority, and ensure the Senate flips in November.

Check out the fundraising highlights here:

GOP GROUPS POUR NEARLY 100% OF SPENDING INTO DEFENSE AS DEMS EXPAND THE SENATE MAP. With just a few weeks left until the election, the NRSC and Mitch McConnell’s super PAC network are pouring millions of dollars into defending GOP-held seats in “once unthinkable states.” Races in traditionally red states have continued to move in Democrats’ favor — with seats that were considered safely Republican like South Carolina, Alaska, and Texas now becoming among the most competitive battlegrounds. In Kansas, Dr. Barbara Bollier’s impressive campaign has put Republicans on defense and the president of Senate Leadership Fund even admitted that “the amount of money that Bollier has raised in comparison to the Marshall campaign is of concern.” Wall Street Journal: Democrats Once Seen as Long Shots Are Now Contenders for Senate

RATINGS CHANGE: FIVE MORE SEATS MOVE IN DEMOCRATS’ DIRECTION. Nonpartisan election analysts at the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections moved another five Senate races in Democrats’ favor this week: Alaska, Colorado, Georgia (Special), Kansas and Texas.

#AKSEN: “Public and private polling now shows this race tightening” and “spending from Republicans shows they’re worried about both the numbers and Gross’s financial advantage.” Likely R → Lean R
#COSEN: “Gardner has trailed in every single public poll this cycle, and often by close to double digits” while Hickenlooper is “raising top-tier money.” Tilt Democratic → Lean Democratic.
#GASEN: Reverend Raphael Warnock has seen “support in polls skyrocket” while “Loeffler and Collins… fight for the remaining runoff spot, and the battle royale between the two that national Republicans had feared would come to fruition.” Lean R → Toss Up
#KSSEN: “Kansas is the headache that won’t go away for Republicans, and could veer into full-on nightmare territory” … “Barbara Bollier continues to make this race highly competitive” … McConnell’s super PAC has been forced “to spend $17 million since August.” Lean Republican → Tilt Republican
#TXSEN: “In a sign Cornyn could be having cash problems, Hegar has outspent the incumbent now on air for the past two weeks” … “Texas overall is a competitive state this year at every level.” Likely R → Lean R

FEDERAL JUDGE ORDERS FEC ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ERNST’S DARK MONEY GROUP. A federal judge ordered the Federal Election Commission to take enforcement action on a complaint against a dark money group set up by top political aides to Senator Joni Ernst, which has “worked closely” with Ernst’s campaign – an arrangement that violates federal campaign finance laws. The ruling on a motion filed by the nonpartisan elections watchdog Campaign Legal Center comes after Ernst has refused to address the explosive Associated Press report that exposed her “dark money ties” for the past 10 months while allegations of illegal coordination have dogged her campaign.

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Court tells FEC to take action on complaint against dark money group tied to Joni Ernst
Iowa Capital Dispatch: Judge orders FEC to act on complaint against nonprofit group associated with Ernst
Iowa Starting Line: Court Orders FEC To Act On Ernst-Aligned Dark Money Group

GRAHAM IN HOT WATER: BREAKS THE LAW BY FUNDRAISING IN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING AS CAMPAIGN FLAILS. Senator Lindsey Graham, facing “the fight of his career,” is so desperate after being massively outraised by Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison that he broke the law and violated Senate ethics rules when he begged for campaign cash inside a Senate office building this week. It’s just another sign that the increasingly vulnerable incumbent’s desperation is growing: Graham has also been an almost constant fixture on Fox News “begging for money” and Mitch McConnell’s super PAC was recently forced to dumping more than $10 million into South Carolina to prop up Graham’s flailing campaign.

New York Times: Graham’s Star Turn as Confirmation M.C. Is Marred by Missteps
Charleston Post & Courier: Graham broke Senate rules by soliciting campaign funds in federal building, expert says
AP: SC Dems file ethics complaint in Graham fundraising comments
WCBD: Lindsey Graham under scrutiny for possible Senate ethics violation, fundraising in federal building
Newsweek: Lindsey Graham Accused of Illegally Soliciting Donations in Federal Building

IRS COMPLAINT FILED OVER TUBERVILLE CHARITY ALLEGATIONS. Following a bombshell AP investigation that detailed how Alabama Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville may have lied on his charity’s tax forms, the American Democracy Legal Fund filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service demanding an investigation into the matter. According to tax records, the Tommy Tuberville Foundation “has given only a small portion of its money to charity while spending tens of thousands of dollars to stage annual golf tournaments” and a subsequent review found that “the expenses that the Tommy Tuberville Foundation claimed as being program expenses do not meet what the IRS defines as program expenses.” Evidence suggests that Tuberville may have “knowingly submitted false information about the foundation’s expenses” and potentially “committed perjury.”

New York Times: Tommy Tuberville’s Financial Fumbles
AP: Tuberville dealings include failed hedge fund, charity
AL.com (Opinion): What did Tommy Tuberville know? When do we get to know it?
WHNT: IRS documents show Tuberville Foundation kept money from vets

GARDNER DEFENDS TRUMP’S MORALITY AND ETHICS. In this week’s final Colorado Senate debate, vulnerable Senator Cory Gardner defended President Trump as “moral and ethical.” Throughout the debate, Gardner refused to hold the president accountable — proving that despite his claims otherwise, he’s just a rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s toxic agenda.

AP: Gardner defends record, Trump’s morality in final debate
Grand Junction Sentinel (Opinion): PERRY: Gardner delivers a KO in final Senate debate — to himself, lauding Trump’s morality
HuffPost: Sen. Cory Gardner Says He Thinks Trump Is An Ethical And Moral Man

DEM SENATE CANDIDATES CONTINUE TO COLLECT LOCAL ENDORSEMENTS CLOSE TO ELECTION. Once again, a host of local editorial boards endorsed Democratic Senate candidates and incumbents this week, citing their dedication to accessible health care andability to get things done. Read more below:

#COSEN: The Durango Herald endorsed former Governor John Hickenlooper for U.S. Senate because “on the most significant issue facing Americans” –– health care –– “only one candidate has the right stance.”
#COSEN: The Vail Daily also endorsed Hickenlooper: “Hickenlooper is exactly the kind of steady leader that Coloradans need in the Senate to cut through the partisan noise.”
#COSEN: The Grand Junction Sentinel cited Hickenlooper’s “pragmatic problem-solving” and “relentless optimism” in their endorsement of the former governor.
#MESEN: The Portland Press Herald endorsed Sara Gideon for U.S. Senate, citing her “ability to find common ground and make progress on tough issues.”
#MNSEN: The Minneapolis Star Tribune Editorial Board endorsed Senator Tina Smith for re-election because she “best reflects Minnesota values” and “is a quietly persistent force who studies the issues, respects the facts and is willing to work with all who seek positive solutions.”
#NHSEN: The Keene Sentinel Editorial Board endorsed Senator Jeanne Shaheen for re-election, praising Shaheen for going to Washington “with a firm grasp of the needs of Granite Staters” and working “effectively to further their interests.”
#TXSEN: The Beaumont Enterprise Editorial Board endorsed MJ Hegar for U.S. Senate, writing that the decorated Air Force veteran “speaks for many of the concerns of average Texans, like protecting Obamacare and expanding Medicaid in Texas, crucial issues that Cornyn and most Republicans stubbornly oppose.”