Michelle Nunn Senate Announcement Coming Soon

After appearing at a weekend fundraiser for Senate Democrats, party leaders expect Michelle Nunn to make a final decision on the Georgia Senate race within weeks.

“The national party is working with Michelle, and I think we will probably have an announcement relatively soon on whether she’s in or not,” Georgia Democratic Party Chairman Mike Berlon said Monday. “We just want to get somebody out there early enough before the election that we can actually get behind them and start putting a structure together.”

The philanthropist and daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., appeared at a Sunday fundraiser in Atlanta for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. President Barack Obama was the featured guest at the event, with DSCC Chairman Michael Bennet and Executive Director Guy Cecil also in attendance.

A DSCC spokesman declined to comment on whether Nunn was preparing to announce a bid. Full story

NRSC Wins April Fundraising by a Nose

The two Senate campaign committees turned in nearly even monthly fundraising hauls in April, marking the first month this cycle the National Republican Senatorial Committee finished ahead.

The NRSC raised $3.56 million last month and ended April with nearly $7.1 million on hand. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $3.54 million and had slightly more than $8.6 million on hand as of April 30. Full story

Female Hill Staffers Fundraise for Senate Democrats

Women on the Hill are making their presence known beyond the member ranks — a group of female Senate chiefs of staff have organized a Monday evening fundraiser in support of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

CQ Roll Call reporter Meredith Shiner has the scoop over at our new Senate blog, World’s Greatest Deliberative Body:

From #WGDB:

Eleven female chiefs of staff to Democratic senators are scheduled to hold a fundraiser Monday night for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to an invitation for the event obtained by CQ Roll Call.

The fundraiser, billed as the “Women on The Hill Dinner,” is yet another sign that it’s not just the number of female senators that is rising, but also key staffers who are building a power base within the party.

See the invitation and more at #WGDB.

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Not Running for Senate

Senate Democrats’ primary problem in South Dakota is turning into a recruitment one.

Former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced Monday morning that she will not seek South Dakota’s open Senate seat — taking the party’s top recruit in the state out of the running to hold the seat of retiring Sen. Tim Johnson.

Her decision came just a few days after it became apparent that U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson, the senator’s son and Herseth Sandlin’s top possible primary contender, did not intend to run. Democrat Rick Weiland, a former aide to ex-Sen. Tom Daschle, entered the race on Wednesday. He and Johnson’s top supporter both said that Johnson would not run. Full story

Senate Candidate Recruitment Timelines Compared

Both parties suffered Senate recruitment setbacks last week when incumbent House members announced their decisions not to run statewide in 2014. But is it too early to declare a recruitment failure for either party in these races?

Despite the reluctance of Republican Rep. Steve King of Iowa and Democratic Rep. John Barrow of Georgia to make bids for the Senate, it’s probably too soon to judge either party’s fortunes this election cycle. Kyle Trygstad’s review of Senate candidate announcement dates in the last cycle shows there’s a lot that can happen before the point of no return arrives. (See this Roll Call story: Senate Race Recruitment: Too Early to Fail?)

For example, on this exact date last cycle, then-Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., entered the Senate race as an underdog. The following candidates hadn’t jumped into the race yet: Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb. All four are now senators.

Also notable: All four candidates who flipped party control of a seat either announced on this date (Donnelly) or later in the 2012 cycle (Warren, Fischer and Sen. Angus King, I-Maine).

Here’s a timeline of when the top eventual Senate nominees jumped into the race last cycle: Full story

Will Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Run for Senate?

Herseth Sandlin might run for Senate. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democrat Rick Weiland’s recent announcement to run for Senate leaves one massive question in the South Dakota race: Will former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., run too?

With Weiland in, the potential for a high-profile primary between Herseth Sandlin and the son of retiring Sen. Tim Johnson appears to be over. Weiland and Ryan Casey, the head of the Draft Brendan Johnson for Senate movement, both told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader that they no longer believe Johnson, a U.S. attorney in South Dakota, is interested in seeking his father’s seat.

But Johnson supporters are already being encouraged to back Weiland, which means the potential for a competitive primary remains.

Full story

Markey, Gomez Win Special-Election Primaries #MAsen

Markey won the primary, his first competitive election since winning a 12-candidate primary race in 1976. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Edward J. Markey secured the Democratic nomination in the Massachusetts Senate special election on Tuesday night and is now favored to win the seat outright.

With the Democratic establishment behind him, Markey, 66, defeated fellow Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, 58, in a primary contest that will be remembered most for the time the two were off the campaign trail in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing.

In the June 25 special election, Markey will face GOP primary winner Gabriel Gomez, 47, a private equity investor and former Navy SEAL.

Markey led 57 percent to 43 percent when The Associated Press called the race with 60 percent of precincts reporting. Full story

Gary Peters to Enter Michigan Senate Race #MIsen

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Gary Peters will announce his campaign for Senate on Wednesday, giving Democrats a top candidate to run for the open seat in Michigan.

Peters will make the announcement in his hometown of Rochester Hills, a top Democratic aide confirmed to CQ Roll Call. However, the surrounding area in Oakland County has also proved pivotal for victory in recent statewide victories.

Democrats have the advantage to hold retiring Sen. Carl Levin’s seat. Peters is not expected to face a primary, and Republicans are still looking for a candidate. CQ Roll Call Contributing Writer Stuart Rothenberg rates this race as Safe Democrat.

Full story

Hanabusa Will Primary Schatz for Senate #HIsen

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, has decided to run for Senate and will likely make a public announcement in the Aloha State next week during recess, a source close to the congresswoman told CQ Roll Call.

The decision comes four months after Hanabusa was passed over for the appointment to the seat of the late Sen. Daniel Inouye and sets up what will be a spirited Democratic primary battle with appointed Sen. Brian Schatz.

Hanabusa met with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee last week, and on Monday the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported that the DSCC would back Schatz should Hanabusa challenge him in the November 2014 special election to fill the remaining two years of Inouye’s term.

(See also in Roll Call: Schatz Fundraising Sends Message to Primary Foes) Full story

Senate Democrats Raise Millions More Than NRSC

Bennet is the chairman of the DSCC. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised nearly $7 million more than its GOP counterpart in the first three months of this year.

According to figures provided by the committees, the DSCC raised more than $5.2 million in March, which is about $2 million more than the National Republican Senatorial Committee brought in last month.

The monthly haul helped the DSCC record its best first quarter ever, raising $13.7 million over the past three months and ending March with $8.4 million in cash on hand. The NRSC raised some $6.9 million in the first three months and had $5.3 million on hand.

(See also in Roll Call: First Quarter Fundraising Winners and Losers) Full story

Remainders: #BluegrassGate

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Maybe you were hiding under a rock today. Or stuck in multiple, hours-long meetings. Or outside enjoying the unseasonably nice Washington, D.C., weather.

In any case, here is a timeline to catch you up on the hottest political story of the day involving Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and #BluegrassGate:

• On Tuesday morning, Mother Jones published a recording from a Feb. 2 strategy meeting at McConnell’s campaign headquarters. The juiciest part of the surreptitiously recorded conversation? McConnell’s team plotted to use Ashley Judd’s own revelations about her mental health against her. Three words: Pink fuzzy socks.
• McConnell’s mad. Really mad. He asks the FBI to investigate.
• Next step: McConnell’s team fires off a fundraising pitch blaring, “Liberals Wiretap McConnell’s Office.”
• McConnell goes to the mics to decry (in front of TV cameras) the secret recording. By this point, references to Watergate and Richard Nixon are rampant on Twitter and in the halls of the Capitol. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Jerry Moran chimes in.
• There are only two ways the recording could have been made — via an illegal bugging or from someone who attended the meeting — according to National Journal. 
• Mother Jones can publish the recording without any legal ramifications, the Washington Post’s Erik Wemple reasons. 
• After NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring pestered the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee all day long, they demanded an apology.

Stay tuned, folks. This is just starting to get good.

Kentucky: DSCC Hits McConnell on Radio in First Spot of Cycle

Democrats are targeting McConnell. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A day after actress Ashley Judd declined to challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Democrats went up with a week-long radio advertisement Thursday attacking the Kentucky Republican.

The basketball themed, 60-second radio spot marks the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s first campaign advertisement of the 2014 cycle. A DSCC aide declined to go into detail about the exact size of the buy but said it cost “five figures or more.”

Democrats face an uphill battle in the Bluegrass State, which has consistently voted for Republicans for federal office in recent cycles. What’s more, McConnell — and his $7.4 million campaign war chest — is known for his brutal campaigns. Despite this, the Kentucky race remains one of Democrats’ best opportunities to pick up a seat in 2014.

Several local Democrats, plus Judd, have declined to challenge McConnell. However, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has reportedly spoken with the DSCC about running and, according to a local television station WHAS, could file exploratory committee paperwork as early as next week.

The DSCC could be using this spot to show Grimes they are willing to support her if she enters the race:

Full story

Georgia: Gingrey Enters Senate Race

Gingrey is the second member to enter the Georgia Senate race. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

On Wednesday morning, Georgia Rep. Phil Gingrey entered what’s expected to be a crowded and spirited Republican primary for the Peach State’s open Senate seat.

Speaking in his hometown of Augusta, Ga., Gingrey joined Rep. Paul Broun as the first two major candidates to announce bids for the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss. The news was not a surprise, as Gingrey has been putting together a campaign team for a statewide bid. Full story

Baldwin to Chair DSCC Women’s Outreach Effort

Baldwin will chair the Democratic Women's Senate Network (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

First-term Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin will lead the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s outreach to women in the 2014 cycle.

The Democratic Women’s Senate Network, established in 2001, helps the DSCC engage donors and women supporters around the country in an effort to win more Senate races and elect more women to the Senate, according to a news release from the committee.

“Helping engage and lead our incredibly strong network of women supporters will be one of the most important jobs this cycle,” said DSCC Chairman Michael Bennet of Colorado in a written statement.

DSCC Outraised NRSC in February

Sen. Michael Bennet is chairman of the DSCC, which brought in $4.3 million last month. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee outraised its GOP counterpart nearly 2-to-1 last month, marking the second month in a row it has brought in significantly more cash than the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

According to figures provided by the committees, the DSCC raised $4.3 million in February and had $5.1 million in cash on hand at the end of the month. The NRSC raised $2.2 million and had $3.1 million in the bank on Feb. 28. Full story