INSIDE ELECTIONS: SENATE INCREASINGLY IN PLAY. According to a new analysis from Inside Elections, Democrats are in an increasingly strong position to flip the Senate since last year. The nonpartisan election handicappers also shifted three Senate races in favor of Democrats today, including moving Colorado to “tilt Democratic” and Maine to “toss-up.” Here are the key points:
CRYSTAL BALL: SENATE MAP MOVING TOWARDS TOSS-UP. Another new report this week from Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball announced a similar analysis of the Senate landscape, writing: “The battle for the Senate is getting more competitive, with Democrats pushing the overall map more into Toss-up territory.”
MORE “SHADY” STOCK TRADES, LOEFFLER A “MAJOR POLITICAL LIABILITY.” The bad news doesn’t stop for “political mega-donor” Kelly Loeffler. Just two weeks after the Daily Beast reported she dumped millions in stocks after a senators-only coronavirus briefing, new details emerged of more suspicious transactions:
The New York Times called the senator’s wealth a “major political liability” and the Associated Press reported the transactions “drew notice from government watchdog groups.” Georgia local news also covered the increased “scrutiny.”
Read more new coverage this week of Loeffler’s stock trading scandal:
REPUBLICAN SENATORS BRAG ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT BOOST THEY VOTED AGAINST. A new report from HuffPost reveals Republican senators are taking credit for an additional $600 per week in unemployment insurance for laid-off workers in the latest coronavirus aid package despite the fact that nearly all of them voted to block the increased aid. Senators Steve Daines, Martha McSally, and John Cornyn all trumpeted this increased relief to their constituents despite their votes against it. Read the HuffPost piece here.
REALITY CHECK ON MCCONNELL’S NEW AD. In a new political ad, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to rewrite the record on the coronavirus relief package and taking credit for measures Democrats secured. Senate Republicans spent last week pushing for corporate interests in the ‘phase 3’ relief package, while Democrats fought hard to prioritize expanding unemployment insurance, increasing money for hospitals and health care providers, improving small business relief programs, and putting real oversight measures in place.
GOP CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO REOPEN HEALTH CARE ENROLLMENT, AS UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SPIKE TO NEARLY 10 MILLION. The Trump administration announced this week that it will not reopen enrollment in the Affordable Care Act’s federal health insurance marketplace, despite the growing coronavirus pandemic — a move that will make it harder for Americans who need to obtain health care now amid broad economic turmoil, mass layoffs, and a growing public health crisis. According to a new report from the New York Times, “the president’s support for a federal lawsuit that would overturn the entire law” and end pre-existing conditions protections was a factor in the administration’s decision. Washington Republicans have continued to double down on their legal strategy, with President Trump confirming this month that the GOP still wants to “terminate” the health care law as they plow ahead with their Supreme Court lawsuit.
IN THE STATES
AZ – KAWC: Senate Candidate Mark Kelly Says Listen to the Science
AZ – Former NASA astronauts Mark Kelly and his twin brother Scott Kelly hosted a story time for kids on Instagram Live.
CO – Denver Post (Op-Ed): Hickenlooper: We need universal coronavirus testing capacity to get America back to work
CO – Durango Herald (LTE): Letters: Hickenlooper’s green, bipartisan and real
GA – Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “The Rev. Raphael Warnock… has nabbed the support of U.S. Rep. John Lewis for his run for U.S. Senate”
IA – Carroll Times Herald: Senate candidate Greenfield calls for statewide stay-at-home order
IA – Theresa Greenfield has launched a grassroots virtual volunteer program that is up and running.
KS – Dr. Barbara Bollier organized a recent tele-town hall to hear from her constituents and give updates on responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
KY – Amy McGrath, who has established a relief fund to support food banks across Kentucky, launched a new podcast series talking about issues like community service, prescription drug costs, and domestic violence.
ME – Sara Gideon held her third virtual town hall on Facebook Live, to answer Mainers’ questions and call for more action at the federal level to produce more personal protective equipment.
MI – ABC 10: Senator Gary Peters working towards more supplies for medical personnel
MI – WPBN: U.S. Senator Gary Peters holds telephone town halls to answer coronavirus questions
MT – MSNBC: Mont. Gov. Bullock describes the support his state needs responding to coronavirus
MT – KECI/AP: Bullock announces relief measures to Montanans, hospitals
NC – The Hill: North Carolina Senate race emerges as 2020 bellwether
NC – Cal Cunningham has been holding virtual events through Zoom calls with North Carolinians across the state.
SC – WJBF: Jaime Harrison running against long-time Senator Lindsey Graham
SC – Jaime Harrison hosted two successful virtual town halls through Zoom focusing on health care issues as part of his “Restoring Hope Tour.”
TX – MJ Hegar’s campaign has launched “a six-week online organizing boot camp for hundreds of volunteers.”
TWEET OF THE WEEK
Lauren Passalacqua
Stewart Boss
Helen Kalla
Regina Anderson
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