Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* One day after Virginia voters approved a redistricting referendum, a state judge blocked Virginia officials from certifying the results. The state attorney general’s office said in a statement that it plans to immediately appeal the decision.
* Speaking of the redistricting fight, a growing number of Republican officials are feeling buyers’ remorse after their party launched a crusade without thinking through the potential consequences. When MS NOW asked Rep. Richard Hudson, the current chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, whether the crusade was worth the effort, the North Carolinian replied, “Not for me to decide that. Wasn’t my decision.”
* Nevertheless, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham responded to the latest developments by arguing that his home state of South Carolina should also consider a newly gerrymandered district map. Currently, Republicans control six of the state’s seven congressional districts, suggesting the senator wants a clean partisan sweep.
* Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. represents New Jersey’s most competitive congressional district, but he’s been absent from Capitol Hill for the past month, and no one seems to know why. Politico reported, “The other two Republicans in the New Jersey delegation, Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, said they have called and texted Kean out of concern for his health. But so far, neither said they have heard from him. Van Drew said it’s been ‘radio silence.’”
* In Michigan, the Republicans’ three-way gubernatorial field is down to two candidates: Michigan House Speaker Tom Leonard announced that he’s ending his candidacy, leaving the GOP field to businessman Perry Johnson and Rep. John James.
* In Georgia, where Democratic Rep. David Scott passed away this week, it will fall on Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to announce plans for a special election to fill the vacancy, though the date of the race is uncertain.
* On a related note, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has some leeway when it comes to scheduling a special election to replace Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, who resigned this week. Given that this is reliably blue district, the expectation is that the governor will drag out the process as long as possible.
The post Thursday’s Campaign Round-Up, 4.23.26: NRCC chair hedges on party’s redistricting fight appeared first on MS NOW.
