Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* The scramble among Maine Democrats last week to find Graham Platner’s replacement in this year’s Senate race looked like a messy free-for-all. As this week gets underway, it’s suddenly shaping up to be a coronation.
Ahead of this week’s state nominating convention, former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson looks like a prohibitive front-runner after several of his top rivals — former public health official Nirav Shah, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, brewery owner Dan Kleban and former congressional candidate Jordan Wood — ended their campaigns.
The deadline for Maine Democrats to submit the paperwork for the new nominee is July 27, two days after this week’s scheduled party convention. The eventual nominee will face the longtime incumbent, Republican Sen. Susan Collins, in November.
* We’re one day out from a series of competitive primaries in Arizona, including a Republican gubernatorial race pitting two incumbent members of Congress against each other: Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. The winner will take on incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs in the fall.
* In South Carolina’s Senate race, it was initially assumed that Sen. Darlene Graham would fill her late brother’s Senate vacancy in a caretaker role, before the party chose a successor to run for the seat. After Donald Trump endorsed her to appear on the ballot in November, however, things got messy in a hurry. The president’s announcement did not stop Republican Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman from launching Senate bids, and the field is still growing.
* In Michigan’s closely watched Democratic Senate primary, Abdul El-Sayed continues to pick up prominent progressive supporters, including an endorsement from Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, while his rival, Rep. Haley Stevens, picked up the backing of the Congressional Black Caucus late last week.
* The Democratic gubernatorial primary in Wisconsin is also getting quite messy: After a campaign finance controversy forced Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez from the race, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley re-entered the race after suspending his candidacy. Just as notably, party officials are so concerned about Democratic socialist Francesca Hong winning the gubernatorial primary that they are rallying behind Crowley: Gov. Tony Evers endorsed Crowley over the weekend.
* And just when it seemed Mike Lindell’s Republican gubernatorial candidacy in Minnesota couldn’t get more farcical, the conspiratorial pillow salesman conceded that he isn’t even registered to vote in the state he hopes to lead. Lindell, who last week received Trump’s endorsement, has vowed to change registration from Texas and intends to vote for himself. Primary day in Minnesota is Aug. 11.
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