 Campaign Report |
Campaign Report |
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It hasn't been an easy month for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He's seen his poll numbers slide, faced near-constant attacks from former President Trump and seen most of his state's Republican congressional delegation endorse his chief opponent for the 2024 nomination. |
Yet for all the warning signs, Republicans aren't counting the Florida governor out of the race just yet. DeSantis is expected to announce his 2024 intentions sometime in the coming weeks, and he's still in a better position than most of his competition. Despite trailing Trump by double-digits in early polling, DeSantis is the only candidate that's making a dent in the GOP presidential primary. He has more money than virtually all of his rivals – more than $110 million between his state campaign committee and allied groups – and he's coming off of a state legislative session that saw lawmakers grant him most of his policy wishes. "It's nowhere near over," one Republican donor who's supporting DeSantis's White House ambitions said. Of course, he still faces some challenges. DeSantis has received criticism over everything from his position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine to his ultra-conservative policy agenda, including a six-week abortion ban he signed into law last month. And Trump and his allies aren't giving DeSantis any breaks; they've attacked him almost constantly in recent weeks, hoping to halt his momentum before he formally enters the 2024 race. Yet few candidates, declared or potential, can compete with the influence and operation that DeSantis has at his fingertips. In addition to his formal political team, he now has a well-funded super PAC, Never Back Down, behind him. And unlike most of his opponents, he has a recent record of policy achievements he can point to as he moves toward a White House bid. There's also early polling that suggests that DeSantis is the more electable candidate for Republicans in 2024. One survey released this week found the Florida governor outperforming Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup against President Biden in Georgia – a state that Trump lost in 2020. Nothing is set in stone yet. DeSantis is almost certain to launch a presidential campaign soon, but even his closest allies say that the situation remains fluid. Still, with the Florida state legislature wrapping up its annual session in the coming days, all eyes will be on the Florida governor. |
Welcome to The Hill's Campaign Report, I'm Max Greenwood. Each week we track the key stories you need to know to stay ahead of the 2024 election and who will set the agenda in Washington. |
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Key election stories and other recent campaign coverage: |
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Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said in an interview published Thursday that he will “seriously investigate” a possible Senate bid this month just days after Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced he wouldn’t be seeking reelection. So far, several challengers have entered the race for Cardin’s seat, including Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando, former Senate candidate Jerome Segal, and today, Rep. David … |
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Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is stumping for Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Kelly Craft ahead of the Republican primary on May 16. Craft announced on Thursday that Cruz would join her at two get-out-the-vote rallies May 13 in Louisville and Richmond. “Please join my friend Senator Ted Cruz and me at our get out the vote rallies next weekend! #TeamCraft has the energy and momentum going into May 16 and we would love to see … |
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| New Hampshire state House Republican leader Jason Osborne is throwing his support behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R) likely 2024 presidential bid. In an op-ed for the New Hampshire Journal, Osborne praised DeSantis as a "proven effective leader," capable of helping Republicans win back many of the suburban voters who defected to Democrats in recent years. "Governor Ron DeSantis is exactly the candidate America needs in … |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- 163 days until Louisiana's gubernatorial election
- 189 days until Kentucky's and Mississippi's gubernatorial generals
- 553 days until the 2024 general election
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Kentucky GOP gubernatorial primary revs up |
© AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File |
The Kentucky gubernatorial race is arguably one of the most important elections taking place this year, and it'll offer one of the first tests for Democrats of whether one of their incumbents can be reelected in a state that went for former President Trump in 2020. The Republican primary field to take on Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has been a crowded one, but recent polling suggests it's a two-way race between state Attorney General Daniel Cameron and former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft. Though Craft certainly has the resources to take on Beshear – she's married to coal magnate Joseph Craft – Cameron has the backing of former President Trump. And though Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) hasn't issued any endorsements in the race, Cameron is a former McConnell aide. Recent polling has shown Cameron leading Craft. An Emerson College Polling/Fox 56 Lexington survey out last month showed Cameron receiving 30 percent support among very likely Republican primary voters, compared to Craft at 24 percent. A notable portion – 21 percent – said they were undecided. The race has turned increasingly nasty, and voters had the first opportunity to see Cameron and Craft duke it out along with other contenders in a televised debate earlier this week that was hosted by Kentucky Educational Television. In an effort to shore up support right before the primary, Craft announced today that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) would be stumping with her at two rallies on May 13 in Louisville and Richmond. Still, Beshear will be a formidable opponent for whomever prevails during the May 16 GOP primary, and he enjoys unusually high support for a Democrat in a red state. Republican candidates will have one last opportunity to face off ahead of the primary on Tuesday during a televised debate hosted by multiple Nexstar affiliates. The Hill is owned by Nexstar Media Group. |
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© AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File |
Everyone's focused on the 2024 presidential election, but don't forget the Senate. Democrats are facing a particularly tough map in 2024 as they look to hold control of the upper chamber. But the cycle is shaping up to be an interesting one. Here are a few notable developments in the past few days: Texas: Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) announced a challenge to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Wednesday. Maryland: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced his retirement this week, setting off a scramble for his seat in a deep-blue state. Among those who have announced intentions to replace him is Rep. David Trone (R-Md.). New Mexico: Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced on Thursday that he'll seek a third term in the Senate. |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) announced he is running for Senate on Thursday, days after incumbent Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) revealed that he would not seek reelection in 2024. “I’m running for Senate because the clock is ticking,” Trone says in an announcement video, citing issues including drug overdoses, mental illness and the high incarceration rate of Black people in the U.S. “Is any of this acceptable … |
Former President Trump criticized President Biden's decision to skip the upcoming coronation of Britain's King Charles III, saying it is "very disrespectful" for him not to attend and arguing it is "hard for him to do it physically." "Certainly, he should be here as our representative of our country," Trump said in an interview with GB News. "I was very surprised, I think it's very disrespectful for him not to be here." The … |
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Local and state headlines regarding campaigns and elections: |
- Kemp signs near-total ban on outside money for Georgia elections offices (GPB)
- Iowa Democrats' plan: Hold 1st caucuses, report votes later (Associated Press)
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Election news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- Secret recording: Top GOP recruit says Trump endorsement isn't all that (Politico)
- A year and a half out, these are 2024's most vulnerable senators (Rollcall)
- Dems eye young voters for an edge in 2024 (Axios)
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Key stories on The Hill right now: |
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New pricing for federally guaranteed mortgages has sparked criticism in recent weeks, prompting claims that borrowers with higher credit scores will subsidize those with lower credit through higher fees. With a new rule, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) updated its upfront fees for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages, which would … Read more |
| Former President Trump said Thursday he will "probably attend" the ongoing civil trial in Manhattan over writer E. Jean Carroll's rape allegations to "confront this." "I have to leave Ireland and I have to leave Scotland, where I have great properties," Trump told reporters from a golf course in Ireland. "I have to leave early. I don't … Read more |
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Opinions related to campaigns and elections submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you next time! |
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