The Hill's Evening Report — MAGA brawl in Virginia

View Online Evening Report Tuesday, June 18 ©  AP Photo/Carlos Osorio/Andrew Harnik MAGA fight takes center-stage in Tuesday elections Voters are at the polls now in Virginia, Oklahoma and Georgia.   Primary season is winding down but there are still a few hotly contested races to keep an eye on... VIRGINIA   Is Rep. Bob Good (R) cooked? Good is trying to avoid becoming the first incumbent this cycle to lose to a primary challenger, but the chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus has attracted some powerful enemies.    Former President Trump is backing Good's challenger, state Sen. John McGuire (R), as retribution for Good backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the GOP presidential primary. Good backed Trump after DeSantis dropped out, but Trump said in a TruthSocial post on Tuesday that it was too little too late.   "He turned his back on our incredible Movement, and was constantly attacking and fighting me until recently, when he gave me a warm and 'loving' Endorsement — But really, it was too late! The damage had been done."    Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) PAC has also been supporting McGuire out of retribution for Good joining the effort to oust McCarthy from the Speakership.   There are still a few big Trump allies backing Good —  Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), as well as former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who will soon report to prison.   We'll find out tonight if that's enough to save Good's political career. GEORGIA   Republican Chuck Hand, who was convicted of a misdemeanor for illegally demonstrating inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 and briefly served time in prison, made it into the runoff election against former Trump administration official and Army veteran Wayne Johnson.    Johnson took 44 percent support in last month's primary, against 32 percent for Hand, forcing a runoff because neither candidate reached the 50 percent threshold.    The runoff will gauge GOP voter sentiments toward those who participated in the Jan. 6 riots.    The winner will take on 16-term incumbent Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.). OKLAHOMA   Eleven-term Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, faces a primary challenger from the right in businessman Paul Bondar, who has spent millions of his own money. Trump is backing Cole in the fight.   But four other candidates in addition to Bondar are also challenging Cole, potentially sending the chairman to a runoff election if he fails to hit the 50 percent threshold.   More coverage: Five things to watch for in Tuesday's elections. MAGA civil war reaches climax in Bob Good primary. Georgia race is latest test for GOP over Jan. 6 candidates. Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Jonathan Easley, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. CATCH UP QUICK U.S. deficit projected to hit $1.9 trillion this year. At Senate hearing, Boeing CEO apologizes to families of crash victims. Hours earlier, a new whistleblower came forward. Jeff Bezos backs new Washington Post editor amid newsroom revolt. David Zaslav hires former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs as Warner Bros. Discovery communications chief. NEW THIS AFTERNOON ©  AP Photo/John Minchillo Trump's gag order to remain in place The top court in New York ruled Tuesday that a gag order on former President Trump surrounding his hush money criminal case will stay in place.   That means Trump can't discuss the jurors or witnesses from his trial at next week's debate.   The gag order was put in place by Judge Juan Merchan. During the trial, which resulted in 34 felony convictions of falsifying documents to influence an election, Trump was fined and threatened with jail for his public attacks against witnesses, including his former attorney Michael Cohen and porn actor Stormy Daniels.   Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has argued that the gag order needs to remain in place until Trump's July sentencing to maintain the integrity of the case. Trump's legal team argued before the New York Court of Appeals that the the gag order violates his First Amendment rights.   Republicans are coming after Bragg, believing his office has been hellbent on destroying Trump for political reasons.   The latest: House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is threatening to subpoena New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) seeking information about a former employee of hers, Matthew Colangelo, who now works for Bragg. Colangelo, who gave the opening arguments in Trump's trial, has worked on prosecutions against Trump for both the Justice Department and the Manhattan District Attorney. Bragg and Colangelo will testify before the House on July 12, a day after Trump is sentenced. More coverage: Trump legal advisers plead not guilty in Arizona 'fake electors' case. WHITE HOUSE The politics behind Biden's immigrant relief order In a sweeping executive action announced Tuesday morning, the Biden administration will allow some undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to remain in the country and work legally.   The administration estimates that about 500,000 noncitizen spouses will be eligible for the program, as well as about 50,000 noncitizen children.   Democrats hope the move will quell backlash among progressives and immigrant activist groups who were furious over Biden's recent crackdown on asylum claims at the Southern border.   The Hill's Rafael Bernal has the full story with all of the program details.   The Trump campaign lashed out at the move, saying it would cost taxpayers and result in a "surge in migrant crime."   "Biden only cares about one thing - power - and that's why he is giving mass amnesty and citizenship to hundreds of thousands of illegals who he knows will ultimately vote for him and the Open Border Democrat Party…Biden has created another invitation for illegal immigration through his mass amnesty order."   Polls show border security is a top issue for the electorate, with Republicans holding a steady lead.   Democrats hope Biden's recent border security measure, coupled with the pathway to citizenship for some immigrants, will be the sweet spot for independents and leftists alike. CONGRESS Ethics panel accuses Gaetz of obstruction, says it issued 25 subpoenas The House Ethics Committee on Tuesday accused Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) of obstructing its investigations and announced new probes into his conduct.   Since 2021, the committee has been investigating whether Gaetz engaged in sexual misconduct, used illegal drugs or accepted improper gifts.   In a rare public update, the ethics panel said it had issued 25 subpoenas, reviewed thousands of pages of documents and had spoken to more than a dozen witnesses.    "Based on its review to date, the Committee has determined that certain of the allegations merit continued review. During the course of its investigation, the Committee has also identified additional allegations that merit review."   Gaetz blasted the review and blamed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for seeking political retribution.   "The House Ethics Committee has closed four probes into me, which emerged from lies intended solely to smear me. Instead of working with me to ban Congressional stock trading, the Ethics Committee is now opening new frivolous investigations. They are doing this to avoid the obvious fact that every investigation into me ends the same way: my exoneration. This is Soviet. Kevin McCarthy showed them the man, and they are now trying to find the crime."   More from Capitol Hill: Top Democrats approve weapons sale to Israel. McConnell seeks influence over Trump era GOP. House Budget leaders look ahead to 2025. Conservatives set the stage for another CFPB funding fight. IN OTHER NEWS ©  AP Photo/Evan Vucci/Gerald Herbert New poll shows tight presidential race before the debate A new national poll from NPR/PBS News/Marist finds Trump and Biden tied at 49 percent ahead of next week's debate. Biden led 50 to 48 in the same survey from May. Biden has a 2-point lead among independents in the poll, a huge swing in his favor from Trump's 12 point lead in May. Trump leads 48 to 41 among those who have an unfavorable view of both candidates. More from the campaign trail: Trump gives moderates 'very helpful' breathing room on abortion. Debates, legal woes and internal divisions: Trump, Biden face red-hot political summer. The pros and cons for each potential Trump VP pick.   PUNDIT CORNER "The Biden campaign's losing battle with the press," by John Hendrickson for The Atlantic.    "Crime is down and Democrats need to talk about it," by Jim Kessler, executive vice president for Third Way, and Kylie Murdock, policy adviser for Third Way.    "We're all Soviets now," by Niall Ferguson for The Free Press.   "It's time for Republicans to pull back from the brink of election denialism," by Jan Brewer, Republican and former governor of Arizona. ⏲️  COUNTDOWN 9 days until the first presidential debate. 27 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. 62 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 140 days until the 2024 general election. 216 days until Inauguration Day 2025. 🗓  ON TAP Tuesday Primary elections in Virginia and Oklahoma. Runoff elections in Georgia. Biden holds a campaign fundraiser in McLean, Va., then travels to Rehoboth Beach. Trump holds a campaign rally in Racine, Wis. Wednesday Juneteenth UNDER THE RADAR Is there a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: jeasley@thehill.com Stay Engaged You're all caught up! Stay with TheHill.com for the latest and recommend this newsletter to others: TheHill.com/Evening. See you tomorrow. Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  Sign Up for Other Newsletters 1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 © 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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