| | | | Why you should keep an eye on this new open seat |  | | The coming retirement of Rep. Peter King of New York, which he announced Monday, isn't much of a surprise. King had been rumored to be headed for the exits for months -- especially once his daughter (and onetime heir apparent for his 2nd District seat) moved out of the state.
That King is the 16th Republican to announce his retirement in advance of the 2020 election as compared with just five for Democrats is worth noting -- especially given that open seats (i.e., seats without incumbents) are more susceptible to being picked up by the other side. (As Cook Political Report's David Wasserman notes, King is the 101st House Republican since President Donald Trump took office to "either leave office or announce retirement plans.")
But what really makes the King retirement noteworthy is the makeup of his Long Island district. It is both heavily suburban and a place where Trump won by 9 points in 2016. (Barack Obama won the district narrowly in 2008 and 2012.)
Suburban seats like King's have been hugely problematic for Republicans in the Trump era. It's not an overstatement to say that the GOP House majority was lost in the 2018 midterms in suburban districts in California, Florida and Pennsylvania. And the recent 2019 election results -- particularly in Virginia and Philadelphia -- suggest that Republican erosion in the suburbs continues apace.
In order to win back the House (a long shot) or to reelect Trump (less of a long shot), Republicans must find ways to if not regain their longtime dominance in the suburbs, at least fight Democrats back to even (or a point or two beyond even) there.
King's district provides, then, a useful glimpse into just how bad (or good) things are for Republicans in the suburbs. If his seat is one Democrats are still targeting 10 months from now, it suggests that the party is not close to where it wants to be with suburban voters.
The Point: Republicans can't afford to lose the suburbs to Democrats -- especially given the growth in urban areas and the shrinkage of rural populations. If they lose the suburbs, it's hard to see how Republicans build a majority coalition anywhere in federal office.
-- Chris | | "To think I signed the Whistleblower Protection Act!"
-- President Donald Trump, while tweeting about his administration's work for veterans. A whistleblower's account helped kick off the impeachment inquiry, prompting Trump's ire for the protections that keep them anonymous.
Daniel Dale notes that Trump signed a law to protect whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs -- not the 1989 law protecting whistleblowers. | | | Count Rudy Giuliani among those interested in launching a podcast.
The President's personal attorney was overheard discussing the plans over lunch on Saturday with an unidentified woman while at a crowded New York City restaurant, Sant Ambroeus.
Giuliani would provide analysis on impeachment proceedings, and he touched on details including dates for recording and releasing the podcast, settling on a logo and the process of uploading the podcast to iTunes and other podcast distributors.
In the overheard conversation, Giuliani said he hoped to have four or five episodes "to analyze the impeachment in every aspect." His intention seems to be to have four episodes finished before the start of a Senate trial. | |
AN IMPEACHMENT INSTALLMENT | |  | Are Republicans being silenced? Check the transcripts | | | In this weekend edition of The Point, Chris and CNN national security reporter Kylie Atwood discuss the House Intelligence Committee's release of transcripts from the impeachment inquiry into President Trump. | | | Lauren loves and appreciates any sort of Minnesota representation in music. Enjoy Dessa & The Minnesota Orchestra's live new release "Fire Drills." | | BLOOMBERG'S POTENTIAL STRATEGY | | Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn't officially running for president yet -- even though he has already filed to appear on Alabama's Democratic presidential primary ballot.
Alabama's primary falls on Super Tuesday, which tells us something important about Bloomberg's potential strategy. If he runs, Bloomberg is skipping the first four primary states and focusing all of his time (and, importantly, money) on Super Tuesday.
Bloomberg is also planning to file for the Arkansas ballot ahead of Tuesday's deadline ... another Super Tuesday state.
✏️ Chris has more on Bloomberg's most radical idea yet.
🎧 And hear Lauren's take on Bloomberg's electoral gamble in today's Point podcast. | |
LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST | | Joe Biden: Appears in a CNN town hall tonight, airing at 9 Eastern, moderated by Erin Burnett.
Tulsi Gabbard: Has qualified for the November debate and is now only one poll away from qualifying for the December debate stage.
Tom Steyer: Promised immediate action to combat the climate crisis, saying he would invoke "emergency powers" on the first day of his presidency as a means of tackling the issue, during his CNN town hall on Sunday night.
Pete Buttigieg: Pledged to restore honorable discharges to those discharged under "Don't ask, don't tell" and to reverse the transgender military ban as president. | | | 1%
Kamala Harris' support among likely New Hampshire Democratic primary voters, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University. Harris recently pulled her entire NH staff to go "all-in" on Iowa. | | | | | | |
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