May 29, 2020 Press Releases

DSCC FRIDAY TAKEAWAYS: REPUBLICAN FEARS OF LOSING SENATE GROW–SENATE GOP STILL SEES NO “URGENCY” TO ACT–DEM CHALLENGERS OUTRAISE VULNERABLE INCUMBENTS

REPUBLICAN OPERATIVES INCREASINGLY WORRIED ABOUT LOSING SENATE. New reports out this week spotlighted the growing concern among Republicans that a “very, very tough environment” has increasingly put their Senate majority at risk in November. Democrats have steadily expanded the Senate map this cycle with impressive challengers, record-breaking grassroots fundraising, and a clear focus on the issues that matter to voters, like defending health care protections and lowering costs for hardworking families.

Now, GOP strategists are growing more and more worried that President Trump’s disastrously inadequate response to the coronavirus pandemic “may drag other Republicans down with him” as incumbents in Georgia and Arizona are becoming a liability for the party.

CNN reported on the increasing concerns among GOP operatives, with one high-ranking Republican Senate aide even admitting: “I am very glad my boss isn’t on the ballot this cycle.”

POLITICO detailed the fears among Republicans and the White House that vulnerable incumbent Senator Martha McSally is a “trouble spot” for Republicans up and down the ticket in Arizona.

The New York Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on similar fears among Republicans about Georgia and how “anxieties” are growing in the White House just days after Georgia Republicans said Loeffer “should consider dropping out.”

Republicans’ growing fears are reflected in their defensive spending – a new Charlie Cook analysis detailed how nearly 100% of the fall television ad reservations from the NRSC and the McConnell-aligned Super PAC Senate Leadership Fund are being spent to protect vulnerable GOP incumbents. After failing to expand the Senate map in their direction over the past year, Washington Republicans are struggling and planning to spend essentially no money going on offense.

SENATE GOP STILL HAVE “NO PLAN” FOR HEALTH CARE. While nearly 41 million Americans have filed for unemployment in recent months and millions have also lost their employer-provided health coverage during this public health crisis, a new report from HuffPost spotlighted how Senate Republicans “still see no need to act on health care” and aren’t interested in “pursuing additional emergency relief for those who suddenly find themselves uninsured.”

Senate Republicans have responded to a global health and economic crisis by making it harder for newly unemployed Americans to get health care by refusing to hold the Trump administration accountable for their decision to special enrollment closed, moving forward with their lawsuit to tear down the entire health care law that provides protections for pre-existing conditions and expanded Medicaid, and praising the White House’s dangerously insufficient pandemic response, even saying there “no daylight” between themselves and Trump.

MCCONNELL STILL WON’T COMMIT TO HELPING STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. After weeks of backlash, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is trying to walk back his unpopular position that state and local governments crippled by coronavirus should go “the bankruptcy route” — forcing cuts to essential services, including police and fire departments, health care workers, and public education. But despite his attempts to backpedal on his deeply unpopular previous comments, McConnell still won’t commit to immediately helping state and local governments. Meanwhile, states who are on the frontlines of combating coronavirus, including Kentucky, are experiencing massive budget shortfalls as governors from both parties have blasted McConnell’s position.

DEMS KEEP OUTRAISING GOP INCUMBENTS IN PRE-PRIMARY FUNDRAISING REPORTS. Jaime Harrison outraised Senator Lindsey Graham in the pre-primary fundraising period, bringing in $4.2 million within six weeks. Harrison is the fourth Democratic Senate challenger this month to report outraising their vulnerable incumbent in top battleground states: challengers in Iowa, Montana, and Georgia have also outraised Republican incumbents during the pre-primary period, making it clear that Democrats’ strong grassroots fundraising momentum from Q1 is continuing into Q2.

NC REPUBLICANS GETTING NERVOUS ABOUT TILLIS. Local North Carolina GOP leaders are becoming more and more concerned about vulnerable incumbent Senator Thom Tillis’ bid for reelection. Tillis already faced tough prospects – all major nonpartisan election analysts rate the race a “Toss-Up” and polls show Tillis trailing his strong challenger, Army veteran Cal Cunningham. Now, local Republican Party leaders are worried Tillis will also suffer “collateral damage” from his close friend and colleague Senator Richard Burr’s stock trading scandal, even going as far as to say the growing scandal “could take down Tillis.”

POP QUIZ TIME: WHICH THOM TILLIS ARE YOU? Don’t miss this new quiz from the North Carolina Democratic Party. Find out which version of Thom you are: maybe it’s the “Trump skeptic,” or “Trump’s BFF.” Maybe you’re a “Raleigh Insider” doing the bidding of wealthy corporate interests, or an “Election Year Moderate.” Take the quiz and find out for yourself:

GARDNER FACES ETHICS COMPLAINT FOR FIRST TV AD. Senator Cory Gardner faces more trouble with his first TV ad of the cycle. Gardner was hit this week with an ethics complaint for the ad, saying that it improperly used footage from a Senate committee hearing in a campaign ad. Gardner’s team had already edited the ad last week after AAA Colorado asked that its logo be removed from news footage used. Senate rules do not allow the use of images of Senate proceedings and lawmakers’ official internet accounts for political purposes.

Colorado Politics: Campaign finance reform group files ethics complaint against Gardner over TV ad

THERESA GREENFIELD RECEIVES CARROLL TIMES HERALD ENDORSEMENT, SHARES “HUMBLE” ROOTS. After a stellar pre-primary fundraising report last week where she outraised Senator Joni Ernst, Theresa Greenfield received the endorsement from the Carroll Times Herald. The newspaper cited Theresa’s resilience in the face of tragedy, her small town farm kid roots, and her effectiveness in creating a strong grassroots campaign network across Iowa.

The Editorial Board wrote: “Responding to these Iowans is the fundamental work of a senator. Greenfield brings a deep well of empathy, gained through her own pain, to the task. She will not shuffle off your grief to the nearest staffer.”

Theresa also shared her personal story in a recent profile by Morning Consult. As she prepares for the general election, Theresa will continue to focus on “health care, Social Security, labor unions and the struggles of the agrarian economy.” Read more about Theresa’s proud farm kid roots here.

“DOUBLE-DIGIT DISASTER” FOR MCSALLY. According to new polling, Senator Martha McSally continues trailing Mark Kelly, spelling “double-digit disaster” for the Republican who already lost one Arizona Senate seat. One local columnist wrote in a recent column that “she just doesn’t connect with voters” and has “done nothing to appeal” to the Arizonans who rejected her last time.