The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is baffling fellow Democrats by pouring money into yet another competitive House primary — this time in Arizona. Why it matters: The DCCC has racked up a spotty record in its attempts to intervene in Democratic primaries this cycle, leading some House Democrats to question why they're paying dues to the campaign committee. - Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who previously criticized the DCCC for intervening in California, told Axios she is "frustrated" to see the practice in her own backyard. - Another House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to criticize leadership, told Axios, "The DCCC's endorsement, I think, hurts the message." State of play: Two primary candidates in…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is baffling fellow Democrats by pouring money into yet another competitive House primary — this time in Arizona. Why it matters: The DCCC has racked up a spotty record in its attempts to intervene in Democratic primaries this cycle, leading some House Democrats to question why they're paying dues to the campaign committee. - Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.), who previously criticized the DCCC for intervening in California, told Axios she is "frustrated" to see the practice in her own backyard. - Another House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity to criticize leadership, told Axios, "The DCCC's endorsement, I think, hurts the message." State of play: Two primary candidates in…Open
House Democrats' campaign arm and main super PAC are stopping short of saying they will pull out all the stops to hold onto Maine's lone swing district after failing to get their preferred nominee. Why it matters: This new headache comes as Democratic leaders were already grappling with the never-ending firestorm around Senate nominee Graham Platner . Driving the news: Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap , a progressive, defeated centrist state Sen. Joe Baldacci in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd congressional district, election officials announced early Friday morning. - Dunlap's victory came despite the DCCC adding Baldacci to its coveted "Red to Blue" list and spending $7,500 on a joint ad buy with him. - It's the second time this…
House Democrats' campaign arm and main super PAC are stopping short of saying they will pull out all the stops to hold onto Maine's lone swing district after failing to get their preferred nominee. Why it matters: This new headache comes as Democratic leaders were already grappling with the never-ending firestorm around Senate nominee Graham Platner . Driving the news: Maine State Auditor Matt Dunlap , a progressive, defeated centrist state Sen. Joe Baldacci in the Democratic primary for Maine's 2nd congressional district, election officials announced early Friday morning. - Dunlap's victory came despite the DCCC adding Baldacci to its coveted "Red to Blue" list and spending $7,500 on a joint ad buy with him. - It's the second time this…Open
Some Democratic candidates are learning the hard way that there's a cost to being party leadership's favorite in a hotly contested primary. Why it matters: This echoes the Tea Party wave that hit Republicans in the 2010s, with party outsiders harnessing primary voters' anger to win upset victories over establishment candidates. - The first blow for Democrats came earlier this month in California's 22nd district: Moderate Assembly Member Jasmeet Bains lost to progressive Randy Villegas despite being backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). - On Thursday another DCCC endorsee, Sen. Joe Baldacci, lost the Democratic primary in Maine's 2nd district to progressive rival and state auditor Matt Dunlap. Catch up quick:…
Some Democratic candidates are learning the hard way that there's a cost to being party leadership's favorite in a hotly contested primary. Why it matters: This echoes the Tea Party wave that hit Republicans in the 2010s, with party outsiders harnessing primary voters' anger to win upset victories over establishment candidates. - The first blow for Democrats came earlier this month in California's 22nd district: Moderate Assembly Member Jasmeet Bains lost to progressive Randy Villegas despite being backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). - On Thursday another DCCC endorsee, Sen. Joe Baldacci, lost the Democratic primary in Maine's 2nd district to progressive rival and state auditor Matt Dunlap. Catch up quick:…Open
House Democratic leadership's preferred candidate in Maine's 2nd district , state Sen. Joe Baldacci, lost his primary to progressive rival Matt Dunlap, state election officials announced early Friday morning. Why it matters: This is the second time this month that a candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has fallen short in their primary. - California State Assembly member Jasmeet Bains, the DCCC-backed candidate in California's 22nd district, failed to make it to the general election, losing out to progressive Randy Villegas. - The DCCC has sparked considerable tension among House Democrats by intervening in these races, with some lawmakers threatening to withhold their dues to the House Democratic…
House Democratic leadership's preferred candidate in Maine's 2nd district , state Sen. Joe Baldacci, lost his primary to progressive rival Matt Dunlap, state election officials announced early Friday morning. Why it matters: This is the second time this month that a candidate backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has fallen short in their primary. - California State Assembly member Jasmeet Bains, the DCCC-backed candidate in California's 22nd district, failed to make it to the general election, losing out to progressive Randy Villegas. - The DCCC has sparked considerable tension among House Democrats by intervening in these races, with some lawmakers threatening to withhold their dues to the House Democratic…Open
House Democrats' threat to withhold their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee unless it stops intervening in primaries comes as they are already struggling to get some members to cough up, Axios has found. Why it matters: This isn't the DCCC's only source of income, but it is a significant one. - More than half of House Democrats had paid less than 50% of their expected dues as of the beginning of April, with an average payment rate of 47%, according to a member dues report obtained by Axios. - Nearly 30 members who aren't in battleground districts have paid 0% of their expected dues. - The report was first reported by Puck News. Between the lines: DCCC dues are what House Democrats in safe districts are expected to…
House Democrats' threat to withhold their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee unless it stops intervening in primaries comes as they are already struggling to get some members to cough up, Axios has found. Why it matters: This isn't the DCCC's only source of income, but it is a significant one. - More than half of House Democrats had paid less than 50% of their expected dues as of the beginning of April, with an average payment rate of 47%, according to a member dues report obtained by Axios. - Nearly 30 members who aren't in battleground districts have paid 0% of their expected dues. - The report was first reported by Puck News. Between the lines: DCCC dues are what House Democrats in safe districts are expected to…Open
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC ) is facing behind-the-scenes fury and demands for a course-correction after spending $135,000 on what appears to be a failed effort to boost their favored candidate in a Democratic primary. Why it matters: Some lawmakers are threatening to withhold their dues to the House Democratic campaign arm if it doesn't change its ways. - "People think the DCCC doesn't care about them other than their dues," a senior House Democrat told Axios. "They have no say where they go, they don't help [safe-seat] incumbents." - Said Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.): "It frustrates me and it's just deeply disappointing that the DCCC tried to tip the scales in a very competitive Democratic primary." Driving…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC ) is facing behind-the-scenes fury and demands for a course-correction after spending $135,000 on what appears to be a failed effort to boost their favored candidate in a Democratic primary. Why it matters: Some lawmakers are threatening to withhold their dues to the House Democratic campaign arm if it doesn't change its ways. - "People think the DCCC doesn't care about them other than their dues," a senior House Democrat told Axios. "They have no say where they go, they don't help [safe-seat] incumbents." - Said Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.): "It frustrates me and it's just deeply disappointing that the DCCC tried to tip the scales in a very competitive Democratic primary." Driving…Open
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC ) is employing an unusual tactic to blunt what they say is Republican meddling in their primaries: - They have teamed up with the candidates they see as the "strongest" in key battleground districts, launching joint ad buys to squeeze out their Democratic primary opponents. Why it matters: This practice has infuriated parts of the party, particularly the progressive wing. - "If DCCC were a good judge of electability, then we wouldn't be in the mess we're in," said Ravi Mangla, a spokesperson for the progressive Working Families Party, in a statement to Axios. - DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement that "the stakes are incredibly high for the midterms" and it is…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC ) is employing an unusual tactic to blunt what they say is Republican meddling in their primaries: - They have teamed up with the candidates they see as the "strongest" in key battleground districts, launching joint ad buys to squeeze out their Democratic primary opponents. Why it matters: This practice has infuriated parts of the party, particularly the progressive wing. - "If DCCC were a good judge of electability, then we wouldn't be in the mess we're in," said Ravi Mangla, a spokesperson for the progressive Working Families Party, in a statement to Axios. - DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement that "the stakes are incredibly high for the midterms" and it is…Open
Democratic leaders accused Maureen Galindo of antisemitism and are trying to stop her from winning the party’s primary in a contested U.S. House district.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is going up on the air with ads attacking Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo in Texas, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Galindo has been widely disavowed by Democrats over antisemitic remarks. She most recently said she wants to convert an ICE facility into her district into a "prison for American Zionists." - Galindo is a sex therapist who finished first in the Democratic primary in Texas' 35th district in March. - She is now in a runoff with Johnny Garcia, a local sheriff's deputy backed by the DCCC. - DCCC chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) has been under pressure from her members to more directly intervene in the race. Driving the news: The DCCC is launching a $35,000 ad…
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is going up on the air with ads attacking Democratic congressional candidate Maureen Galindo in Texas, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Galindo has been widely disavowed by Democrats over antisemitic remarks. She most recently said she wants to convert an ICE facility into her district into a "prison for American Zionists." - Galindo is a sex therapist who finished first in the Democratic primary in Texas' 35th district in March. - She is now in a runoff with Johnny Garcia, a local sheriff's deputy backed by the DCCC. - DCCC chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) has been under pressure from her members to more directly intervene in the race. Driving the news: The DCCC is launching a $35,000 ad…Open