#ConfirmHaspel: As the vote to confirm Gina Haspel as CIA Director looms, red state Senate Democrats have remained mum on whether or not they will vote in favor of her nomination. Senate Democrats’ silence comes despite widespread support across the political spectrum. Haspel has earned praise from Democrats, including former Senator Evan Bayh and former CIA and Department of Defense Chief of Staff Jeremy Bash, who said her confirmation “would send exactly the right signal to both the intelligence community and America.” Now that Haspel’s five hour long hearing has wrapped up, it’s time for red state Democrats to let folks at home know where they stand.
#WVSen: In the West Virginia primary Tuesday night, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey secured the Republican nomination to face Joe Manchin in the general election. But, in the Democratic primary, a relatively unknown candidate took 30% of the vote, signaling deep trouble for Manchin back home. It’s no wonder that in an interview this week, Manchin begged President Trump to stay out of West Virginia.
#INSen: In Tuesday’s primary election, businessman Mike Braun won the Republican nomination to take on Mexico Joe Donnelly in the general election. Bad news for Mexico Joe, seeing as how Republican candidates garnered nearly twice as many votes as he received in the primary. President Trump was also in Indiana this week, and he gave Donnelly another nickname – Sleepin’ Joe – for his do-nothing record in the Senate.
#OHSen: What blue wave? Republican turnout outperformed Democrats in every race in Ohio in Tuesday’s primary election. Winning the Republican Senate primary nomination, Congressman Jim Renacci will face Sherrod Brown in the general election.
#MISen: The NRSC rolled out a new Facebook ad in Michigan highlighting President Trump’s comments slamming Debbie Stabenow at his rally in Washington, MI. In the ad, President Trump calls Stabenow a “leader for weak borders” saying he doesn’t know “how she gets elected.”
#NDSen: This week marked the one-year anniversary of Heidi Heitkamp’s disastrous and deciding vote to keep Obama’s job-killing BLM methane flaring rule in place. But, not only is Heitkamp out-of-touch on energy issues, KX4 host Chris Berg blasted Heidi Heitkamp’s foreign policy failures saying she “does not seem to have a real grasp on foreign policy.” It’s clear North Dakotans just can’t trust Heitkamp, so it’s no surprise that 86% of her Q1 fundraising came from out-of-state donors.
#FLSen: After his terrible week last week, Bill Nelson was named loser of the week by the Tampa Bay Times. But nevertheless, Nelson has been almost absent on the campaign trail and decided to double down on his support of Obama’s disastrous Iran Deal.
#NVSen: After being called out for her inability to stop Yucca Mountain, ineffective first-term Congresswoman Jacky Rosen once again failed to block legislation from passing in the House of Representatives that would make Nevada the nation’s nuclear waste dump.
#PASen: President Trump slammed Bob Casey at a rally this week for his support of sanctuary cities and opposition to Kate’s Law. Despite his constituents electing President Trump in 2016, Casey has continued to lurch to the left to satisfy his progressive base.
#AZSen: Kyrsten Sinema erroneously claimed she stopped members of Congress from giving themselves a pay raise. Fact-checkers at the Arizona Republic rated Sinema’s claim “mostly false.” Since she’s never sponsored a piece of legislation that’s been signed into law it’s no surprise Sinema’s desperate to take credit for anything.
#MTSen: Jon Tester announced he would bow to his party bosses in Washington and vote to obstruct the confirmation of Gina Haspel to be CIA Director. Though he represents a state President Trump carried by 20 points, Tester sure votes like a partisan Democrat.
NEWS AND NOTES:
Politico: Why the Democrats Just Lost the Senate
The Democrats must also protect incumbents in 10 states that Trump won in 2016. Five of those senators (Indiana’s Joe Donnelly; Missouri’s Claire McCaskill; Montana’s Jon Tester; North Dakota’s Heidi Heitkamp; and Manchin) represent states where Hillary Clinton failed to muster even 40 percent of the vote. The Democratic brand is no asset in many of these places. READ
Axios: Why the Senate election map is so bad for the Democrats
It would take a tsunami, not a wave. Of the 35 seats up in 2018, 26 are held by Democrats or independents who caucus with the Democrats. And 10 of them are up for re-election in states won by President Trump in 2016, while Republicans only have to defend one seat in a state won by Hillary Clinton. READ
The Hill: Trump lauds Indiana GOP Senate candidate, knocks Donnelly as ‘Sleepin’ Joe’
During a campaign rally in Elkhart, Ind., Trump lauded Braun as an effective businessman and someone who will be a loyal backer of the president’s agenda while characterizing Donnelly as simply awaiting marching orders from Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). READ
NBC News: Meet the senator atop Trump’s target list
But when it comes to Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the fight is personal. Last week, Trump called on the second-term Democrat, already facing a tough re-election race, to resign. “I know things about the senator” that would cost the incumbent his home-state support, Trump said cryptically. READ
Tampa Bay Times: Rick Scott’s early, aggressive pace challenges Bill Nelson
A month into their Senate battle — one with implications about the control of power in Washington — Republican Scott has set a torrid pace, forcing the low-key Democrat Nelson into a position he’s never faced: playing catch-up. READ
MLive: Trump criticizes U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow in ad
President Donald Trump isn’t known for mincing words, and this ad features footage of him criticizing Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic incumbent running for U.S. Senate. It’s put together by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. READ
Washington Examiner: Jobless rating at 8-year low, huge confidence in jobs market
A key unemployment rating — the number of people who know somebody out of work — has dropped to hits lowest level yet, the latest sign that the economy and jobs market are back. READ
Washington Times: April was best month in history for U.S. budget, according to CBO figures
The federal government took in a record tax haul in April en route to its biggest-ever monthly budget surplus, the Congressional Budget Office said, as a surging economy left Americans with more money in their paychecks — and thus more to pay to Uncle Sam. READ
CNBC: Housing confidence hits record high as home prices skyrocket
Consumer confidence in housing jumped to its highest level on record in April, according to a monthly sentiment index from Fannie Mae. READ