GA-SEN: Special Election Moves From Likely to Lean Republican

There was no political honeymoon for newly-appointed Georgia GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler this week as she gained both a serious Republican and Democratic challenger. Less than a month into her tenure, Rep. Doug Collins announced he'd challenge Loeffler from the right. Meanwhile, Democrats wooed a top recruit in Rev. Raphael Warnock, the African-American pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, into the contest.

This race isn't a traditional primary followed by a general election, which will decide the winner, though. Instead, all those three candidates — and likely several others — seeking to fill the remaining two years of former Sen. Johnny's Isakson's term will run in a jungle primary on November 3, 2020. If no candidate receives a majority (which seems all but certain), the top two finishers will advance to a runoff on January 5, 2021. That means that depending on how other competitive races fall, it may take two months after Election Day until party control of the Senate is known.

There had been a push in the Georgia legislature this week to try and force regular party primaries in June — a move which would have immediately boosted the better-known Collins, who enjoyed a surge in fame with his passionate defense of President Trump amid the House impeachment, over the political newcomer Loeffler. It also could have helped Democrats by ensuring they not only have a candidate in the general election but that it's most likely Warnock who would advance, given the short time frame.



https://cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/georgia-senate/georgia-senate-special-election-moves-likely-lean-republican

Tweet of the Day

Thank you, Chairman Schiff

You and your team did everything we could have possibly wanted during the impeachment trial. I’ll never forget it.

Tweet of the Day

Hirono: I think our country is in grave danger.

Just now on MSNBC.

Lamar: He did it, but we shouldn't do anything about it.

Summarizing Lamar!'s statement.

Biden Criticizes Sanders for Not Being a Democrat

When asked to identify the contrast between himself and Sen. Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden told the Wall Street Journal: “I’m a Democrat.”

Asked if he was inferring that Sanders was not a Democrat, Biden responded: “Well, he says he’s not. He’s not a registered Democrat.”



https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/30/biden-criticizes-sanders-for-not-being-a-democrat/

Democrats regroup after Republicans score easy win in Texas House special election

tate and national Democrats are regrouping after a tough loss Tuesday in a special election runoff for a Texas House seat that they had targeted in their drive to flip the chamber in November.

The result — a 16-point win by Republican Gary Gates over Democrat Eliz Markowitz — left Democrats insisting the seat will be more competitive in November and citing unique factors like Gates' self-funding capacity. But they also acknowledged they could have some lessons to learn after a race that drew a flood of out-of-district attention — and the higher stakes that came with it.

On one hand, Austin-based Democratic consultant Glenn Smith said, House District 28 is a "really hard district." It ranks 16th out of 22 on the list of seats that Democrats believe they can flip in the fall.

"On the other hand, sometimes we get out in front of ourselves by raising expectations and frankly talking too much about what we're doing and what we're gonna do instead of just doing it," said Smith, who was not involved in the race. "I completely agree with taking the fight to the other side whenever we can ... but they got in front of themselves about how wonderful this was gonna be."




https://www.texastribune.org/2020/01/30/democrats-regroup-after-republicans-win-easily-texas-house-district-28/

DC mayor endorses Michael Bloomberg

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Thursday announced she is endorsing former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his White House bid, declaring that he is the only Democratic hopeful that can “unify” the country to defeat President Trump.

“We can resolve our most pressing problems if we have the right leader to turn innovative ideas into reality,” Bowser said in a tweet Thursday. “Bloomberg is a problem-solver with a proven track record of getting things done. He’s a mentor & friend & I’m proud to endorse him for president.”

Bowser added that she will appear alongside Bloomberg at the Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, D.C., on Thursday afternoon. She is set to become a national co-campaign chairwoman for Bloomberg's team.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/480635-dc-mayor-endorses-michael-bloomberg

Biden holds 7-point lead over Sanders in Pennsylvania

Poll: Biden holds 7-point lead over Sanders in Pennsylvania
© Getty Images
Joe Biden leads his closest challenger in the 2020 Democratic presidential field by 7 points in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, according to a new survey.

The poll from Franklin & Marshall College shows the former vice president with 22 percent support from Democratic voters. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) follows with 15 percent, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has 14 percent.

No other Democratic candidate registered double-digit support in Pennsylvania.

The survey, released Thursday, shows Biden's lead over his competitors diminishing in recent months. Biden held a 16-point lead in July, pollsters noted, and led by 8 percent in October.

Warren currently tops the list of voters' preferred second choices at 26 percent, with Sanders coming behind her at 18 percent.

The survey also shows that roughly 3 in 4 supporters of Sanders and Warren identify themselves as liberals, contrasted by just 4 in 10 Biden supporters.




https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/480658-poll-biden-holds-7-point-lead-in-pennsylvania-followed-by-sanders