Elections news - March 25, 2020

Fresh out of witty remarks at this point and more in today's ELECTIONS NEWS:

HOUSE

• MT-AL: PPP poll has presumptive GOP nominee Rosendale tied 45-45 with possible Dem nominee Williams.
• IL-14: Republicans nominated serial loser Jim Oberwies in this competitive seat, making Dem incumbent Lauren Underwood's job likely a bit easier.
• MI-13: Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones filed for a rematch with freshman Reb Rashida Tlaib.  Jones was edged by Tlaib 31-30 in 2018, and actually beat her in the simultaneous special.  This is sure to be a barn-burner.
• VA-05: Complicated infighting over selecting a GOP nominee here could theoretically place an otherwise Solid R seat in danger of flipping.

SENATE

• MT: Same PPP poll has GOP incumbent Daines tied 47-47 with presumptive Dem nominee Bullock.
• AZ: Monmouth poll has presumptive Dem nominee Kelly up 50-44 on GOP incumbent McSally.  Meanwhile, Marist has Kelly up 48-45.
• MI: Marketing Resource Group poll has Dem incumbent Peters up 42-35 on GOPer James.
• GA (B): Scandal engulfed Sen Kelly Loeffler (R) who apparently received a briefing warning of serious coronavirus impacts, but then a) minimized the risk in public and b) made stock moves to profit off it (Sen Richard Burr [NC-R] also involved, but he is not up this year).  Loeffler is already in a battle with Rep Doug Collins and has minimal incumbency, having been just appointed recently.
• Mitch McConnell-aligned super PAC starting to dump money into Senate races.  It's the states one would expect - AZ, CO, IA, ME, NC - plus McConnell's own KY.  Notably no offensive states, though (AL, MI).
• Big bucks being spent on both side in the Maine race.
• Cook temporarily put their detailed Senate preview outside of the firewall; a copy is here.

STATES & LOCAL

• Progressive incumbent Kim Foxx fairly easily held on in the primary for Cook County, IL (Chicago) State’s Attorney.
• Conservative incumbent Jackie Lacey forced into a runoff in the election for Los Angeles County, CA District Attorney.  Progressive candidates had a combined majority, and are considered likely to do better in the general in November.
• The GOP maintained control of the Orange County (CA) Board of Supervisors, but Dems look like they are in good position to get within one seat of control in November.
• Dems have secured both slots in the runoff for the San Diego mayor's office, thus guaranteeing a flip.
• Washington's incumbent LG Cyrus Habib (D) is dropping out in order to become a Jesuit.  The LG slot is elected separately in WA, and Dems will need to be careful not to get to shut out of the top two by having too many candidates.
• Five of the either Georgia Supreme Court justices have recused themselves from the case concerning whether gov Kemp illegally canceled an election in order to nominate a justice.

ODDS & ENDS

• Primaries are getting delayed left and right, due to coronavirus, to the point that I'm not going to try and keep track here.  Many of these are presidential only, but some are impacting downballot, including PA and OH.  Runoffs getting delayed, too, including TX and AL.
• Coronavirus may also impact signature gathering efforts for office (in states with late primaries) as well as ballot initiatives.
• Under cover of coronavirus news, the KY legislature is trying to dramatically tighten voter ID requirements.  Since the legislature was closed to the public, no one could comment AND since the driver's license centers are closed, no one can get new IDs.