THE INTERNET IS FOREVER: The Montana Democratic Party accidentally posted that its Senate nominee, Alani Bankhead, dropped out of the race, before it thanked her for remaining in the race. This is bad news for Independent candidate Seth Bodnar, who likely needed Bankhead to drop out in order to be competitive against Republican Kurt Alme.
READY AND WAITING: Matthew Foldi, our editor-in-chief, is in Montana all week, and is eager to interview Seth Bodnar about his campaign for Senate, especially following Bodnar’s attacks on the Washington Reporter.
RAISING THE STAKES: On a campaign swing in Washington State, Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) made a robust pitch for Republican John Braun, who is challenging Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D., Wash.). Johnson said that Washington’s 3rd District “will decide the fate of the Republic.” Over at the National Republican Congressional Committee, Christian Martinez seconded the Speaker. “The road to the House majority runs through Southwest Washington,” Martinez said.
CONGRATULATIONS: Republicans in North Carolina selected State Rep. Jennifer Balkcom to replace Rep. Chuck Edwards (R., N.C.) on the ballot in November.
A CLEAR CONTRAST: Ahead of the November elections, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is arguing that Democrats want to “Destroy Democracy and Unleash Lawlessness.” Watch the RNC’s latest video making that case here.
DEMOCRATS FOR ROGERS: Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) rolled out a robust coalition of Democrats who are backing him in his tossup race against Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Expect more to follow.
BODIED: Steven Law, the former longtime head of American Crossroads, was filmed outside Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R., Ky.) Washington, D.C. home by Myles Morrell, who posted the video of Law humiliating him.
FLORIDA LIKES MIKE: Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R., Fla.) is leading his likely Democratic opponent, Jennifer Jenkins, by nine points in a new poll, first reported on by Florida Politics’s Peter Schorsch.
NOT BACKING DOWN: The White House’s Olivia Wales reiterated that President Donald Trump is not backing down from his attacks on Abdul El-Sayed, the Democrats’ nominee in Michigan’s open Senate race. “President Trump will keep calling out dangerous, far-left radicals like Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed – who sympathizes with terrorists and calls for defunding the police – while drawing a sharp contrast with his own commonsense, America First agenda,” Wales noted. “President Trump will never let the United States become a socialist or communist nation.”
ELIJAHMENTUM: Both Reps. Mike Haridopolos (R., Fla.) and Anna Paulina Luna (R., Fla.) endorsed Ryan Elijah in his primary bid against Rep. Cory Mills (R., Fla.).
NOT SO FAST: A group of “Republicans for [James] Talarico” in the Texas Senate race is a “complete scam,” the Daily Wire’s Jacob Wheeler reported.
JOHNSON VS. FAUCI CONT.: Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) is not done with Anthony Fauci; following his blockbuster hearing with America’s former top doctor, Johnson noted that he and Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) “released the texts between Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky, and Vivek Murthy below. While I’ve been conducting oversight for years, now that we have the documents and Fauci’s government-issued phone, my investigation has only just begun.”
RIP BETH: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa) bid farewell to Beth, his vacuum of many decades, as only Grassley can. “U willl see Beth no more,” Grassley tweeted. “See black that’s from electrical sparks. It’s not safe to use anymore. GOOD BYE BETH . U hv been a real workhorse. Ur namesake still is hard worker. I will miss u.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!: The Washington Reporter wants to wish Stephanie Haridopolos, a legendary Florida woman who is now serving in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health and Director of National Health Communications, a happy birthday!
