| | | | Democrats' golden chance in the Golden State | | California may be a coastal oasis, but on this particular Tuesday in June it becomes more like a jungle.
Under a 2010 law, which was approved by ballot initiative by California voters eight years ago this month, candidates run on the same ballot. The two top vote-getters -- regardless of party -- advance to the general election.
Welcome to what's known as the "jungle primary." The goal? To mitigate party polarization -- the theory being that with all the candidates on one ballot, there would be far less incentive for Democrats to run farther to the left and Republicans to run to the right -- elevating the voice of the moderate voter.
Today is the most important day of 2018 so far for Democrats' chances in the House, Chris pointed out: Too many Democrats on the ballot in the jungle primary could split the vote, shutting them out of districts they want to win over from Republicans in November.
Tonight, Democrats in the Golden State have a lot to win -- or lose. Polls close in California at 11 p.m. ET, but we have a LOT of #content that you should follow: - In their quest to win the 23 seats needed to gain control of the House of Representatives, Democrats are targeting the seven Republican-held districts in California that Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Watch out for the following districts: 49th (Rep. Darrell Issa, retiring); 10th (Rep. Jeff Denham); 25th (Rep. Steve Knight), 39th (Rep. Ed Royce is also retiring), 48th (Rep. Dana Rohrabacher); 45th (Rep. Mimi Walters); and 21st (Rep. David Valadao).
- There are three other districts that CNN currently rates as competitive: The 7th, held by Rep. Ami Bera (D), the 50th, held by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) and 4th, held by Rep. Tom McClintock (R).
- CNN's Maeve Reston wrote about how Tuesday will be a key test of the electoral strength of Democratic women.
- Meanwhile, CNN's Dan Merica wrote about how Republicans and Democrats see Asian-Americans as key to victory in Southern California.
- Sen. Dianne Feinstein is running for re-election. She's ahead of all her challengers and almost certainly will proceed to the November general election. But who will grab the second slot? Democratic challengers Pat Harris and former state senate president Kevin de León, as well as Republican Erin Cruz, are all in the running.
- California has a competitive governor's race to replace outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown, with top contenders in Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, both Democrats.
- Republicans hope to be able to crack into the top two of either California's gubernatorial or Senate races. If both end up being Democrat vs. Democrat general elections, that could have a serious dampening effect on Republican turnout in down-ballot races come November.
- President Donald Trump urged voters to back several congressional incumbent Republicans: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy; Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee (read more about him here); and Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi. He also called on voters to support Republican John Cox for governor in California, a state Trump called "High Tax, High Crime California."
- Read more about the other seven states with primaries tonight: Montana, Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.
- You can follow CNN's live updates online here, where we will keep tabs on results in California and Montana.
- And keep an eye out for Chris' live chat with CNN's Harry Enten leading up to the polls closing.
| | "NFL, no escaping to Locker Rooms!"
-President Donald Trump in a tweet on Tuesday, a reference to a new NFL policy giving players the option of remaining off the field during the playing of the National Anthem if they choose not to stand for it. Trump on Monday uninvited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles from an event at the White House. | | | | In honor of the primary, here's Phantom Planet's "California" (this one is also for all you "The O.C." fans out there). | | From CNN's Daniella Diaz: "Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is defending his pause before answering a question on whether President Donald Trump could pardon himself, calling reports that he wouldn't answer after pausing for 18 seconds 'knee-jerk partisanship and dishonest journalism.'
"(The text in the Constitution) has no limitation on WHOM can be pardoned (although nobody can be pardoned from impeachment or for non-federal offenses)," he tweeted as part of a thread. "Some dishonest journalists have attacked me for 'taking 18 seconds' to answer -- without acknowledging that I was walking through the Capitol, late to a meeting, and simply ignoring a question that a reporter had called out at me (as senators do every single day in the Capitol)."
Read more here. | | REP. ELLISON TO RUN FOR MINNESOTA AG | | Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, announced Tuesday that he is withdrawing his bid for re-election to Congress and will run for attorney general of Minnesota.
He will stay on as deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Democratic sources told CNN, putting to rest rumors he might also leave that post.
CNN's Dan Merica, Gregory Krieg and Jeff Zeleny report: "Ellison, who has been in Congress since 2007, ran for DNC chair in 2017, hoping to represent the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party. He lost that race to DNC chair Tom Perez but was brought into the DNC to work as the former labor secretary's deputy. The Minnesota attorney general's race is already a crowded affair, but Ellison's entry would likely make him the front-runner due to his ties to the liberal grass-roots and name recognition."
Ellison was recently profiled in CNN's list of 25 Influential American Muslims. Read more about him here. | | So long, summer recess 2018. Per CNN's Ted Barrett and Lauren Fox: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday the Senate will skip much of its treasured August recess to press ahead confirming the President's nominees and passing government spending bills.
"The move follows months of frustration by GOP leaders -- and President Donald Trump -- over the countless Democratic filibusters that have dramatically slowed progress in the Senate.
"'Due to the historic obstruction by Senate Democrats of the President's nominees, and the goal of passing appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year, the August recess has been canceled,' McConnell said in a statement. 'Senators should expect to remain in session in August to pass legislation, including appropriations bills, and to make additional progress on the President's nominees.'"
Read more here. | | 80 MAYORS PEN LETTER OPPOSING DOMESTIC 'GAG RULE' | | On Tuesday, 80 mayors across the United States -- including Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio -- penned an open letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar opposing what abortion supporters have called Trump's domestic "gag rule" on the Title X family planning program. In May, President Trump formally announced a new rule that bars abortions at facilities receiving federal family planning funds, a move aimed at Planned Parenthood, which accepts some federal money for non-abortion services.
"No one knows better than mayors how devastating it would be to take away access to health care and information from the people that we are honored to represent," the mayors wrote in the letter. "If all Title X patients are blocked from receiving the full scope of medical information, it would be an attack on the well-being and economic security of those who already face barriers to accessing health care and need it most."
Earlier this year, Trump became the first sitting president to speak via video feed to the March for Life gathering in Washington. He also spoke at the Susan B. Anthony List 11th Annual Campaign for Life Gala, "When I ran for office, I pledged to stand for life, and as President, that's exactly what I have done," he said. | | | From Brenna: "Have you heard? Chris Cuomo has a new prime time show. It's appropriately called 'Cuomo Prime Time.' Give it a look." And don't forget to tell people you know to subscribe to The Point. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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