AI companies, the cryptocurrency industry and pro-Israel groups are spending like never before to sink their least favorite members of Congress and congressional candidates. Why it matters: The volume cannot be ignored. It's the kind of spending that can kill careers and stop political movements in their tracks. - Pro-Israel groups spent nearly $8 million to oust GOP Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky's 4th District, helping to fuel the most expensive House primary in American history. - Crypto-aligned Protect Progress was by far the largest spender in Texas' 18th District, pouring nearly $5 million into unseating longtime Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) in favor of freshman Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas). By the numbers: Eight of the 12 top…
U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee defeated U.S. Rep. Al Green on Tuesday in the Democratic runoff for Houston's newly redrawn 18th Congressional District. Why it matters: Menefee's victory is set to end Green's two-decade run in Congress. State of play: Menefee received 68.6% (21,678 votes), while Green received 31.4% (9,930 votes) with 61% of votes counted, per the Associated Press . The AP called the election in favor of Menefee about 30 minutes after polls closed Tuesday. - The two were the top vote-getters in the March Democratic primary, but neither won enough support to avoid a runoff. Catch up quick: Menefee already won a special election earlier this year to fill the seat left vacant by former Rep. Sylvester Turner's death . -…
Both men were seeking their party's nomination to represent Texas' 18th congressional district. Menefee, a freshman congressman, will now face Republican candidate Ronald Whitfield in November.
A Republican-led redistricting effort forced Representative Al Green, who has served 11 terms, and Christian Menefee, one of the newest members of Congress, into a battle for the same seat.
Virtually every Democratic primary candidate this cycle, from the most progressive to the most moderate, wants voters to know one thing: How much of a "fighter" they are. Why it matters: It is the culmination of a year's worth of liberal grassroots fury over what they see as President Trump's many transgressions and the Democratic establishment's lackluster response. - In Illinois' 9th House District, all three major candidates — left-wing Kat Abughazaleh , progressive Daniel Biss and AIPAC-backed Laura Fine — had ads labeling them "fighters" and highlighting confrontations they had with ICE. Biss won the March 17 primary. - Rep. Christian Menefee (D-Texas) ran an ad called "Fighter ," which featured the then-candidate in boxing…
Congressional Democrats in their 70s and 80s who are seeking reelection are tired of hearing that they are incapable of doing their jobs due to age — and they're gearing up to push back. Why it matters: More than half a dozen House Democrats who are 70 or older are trailing at least one younger primary insurgent in fundraising, and those elections are fast approaching. - But to hear some veteran House Democrats tell it, this is nothing out of the ordinary. "There has never been an election where you have not had challenges to incumbents and a few incumbents losing," Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) told reporters Wednesday. - "I have no idea why this is the year to write this story, except that Joe Biden was old. I think voters will just…
The race between Reps. Al Green (D-Texas) and Christian Menefee (D-Texas) for a Houston-based U.S. House seat quickly went from largely cordial to venomous on Wednesday after the two were forced into a head-to-head primary . Why it matters: Green and Menefee will now have to spend the next 12 weeks campaigning against each other while simultaneously serving together in Congress. - "I am challenging Mr. Menefee to a debate ... right away, but I also challenge him to come to work," Green told Axios on Wednesday, citing the fact that Menefee missed nine of his first 29 roll call votes. - Menefee dismissed his opponent's attack as "desperate." Driving the news: Green and Menefee both failed to clear 50% in Tuesday's free-for-all primary,…