Elections news - December 12, 2019

Will the last person to retire from the House please turn out the lights and more in today's ELECTIONS NEWS:

HOUSE

• NC-02: As expected, Rep George Holding (R) is retiring, in light of new district lines.  The new district should be Solid D.
• GA-14: Rep Tom Graves (R) is retiring.  District is Solid R.
• FL-03: Rep Ted Yoho (R) is retiring.  District is Solid R.
• CA-50: Convicted Rep Duncan Hunter (R) finally announced he'd leave Congress "after the holidays."  He's not doing anything - he's been stripped of his committee memberships, and isn't permitted to vote on the floor - so he's probably just looking to bank another month of salary, but I think this may also preclude the possibility of a special election. 
• NJ-02: Conserva-Dem Jeff Van Drew is taking a lot of heat locally for his opposition to impeachment.  County party support is a big deal in New Jersey, and Van Drew could be in real trouble in a primary if the doesn't get that support.

SENATE

• AZ: OHPI poll has presumptive Dem nominee Kelly up 47-44 on GOP incumbent McSally.
• DE: Interesting Data For Progress poll showing Dem incumbent Coons trailing by 4 points  in a primary to a "generic, more liberal female candidate."  As it happens, Jessica Scarane is currently trying to primary Coons from the left.

STATES

• A GOP rep in the MS House who lost by 14 votes last month is seeking to have the legislature overturn her loss.  There doesn't seem to be any reason to do so - her reasons are pretty specious - so it's unclear if the leg will bite.
• Since Thanksgiving, four NY state Senate Republicans have announced their retirements, almost certainly allowing Dems to consolidate their new hold on the chamber.
• Democrats are running in so many more races than usual in Texas that campaigns are having a hard time finding staffers.

ODDS & ENDS

• The infamous Crosscheck program masterminded by Kris Kobach has been suspended by Kansas, and is more than likely dead for good.
• KY governor Beshear (D) will sign an executive order on Thursday restoring the right to vote to more than 100k people with felony convictions. 

Comments

[Gotanda]

Besides just being the right thing to do, how much do you think restoring voting rights to people with past convictions in KY will help McGrath?

[Gaius Sempronius Gracchus]

My guess would be not a whole lot. Voters have shown some indication to cross party lines for governors, but much less so for other offices. It might make a difference in a really close race, but I don't think KY SEN will be particularly close.

[Gotanda]

thx!