EMILY’S List Endorses Two in Competitive Primaries

Tulsi Gabbard is one of the candidates who got the full stamp of approval from EMILY's List. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

EMILY’s List announced today it is fully endorsing two female candidates locked in competitive Democratic primaries in Wisconsin and Hawaii.

The group, which helps elect women that support abortion rights, is backing state Rep. Kelda Roys in Wisconsin’s open 2nd district and Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii’s open 2nd district. Roys is the former executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and Gabbard is a veteran and former state representative. Full story

New York: Charlie Rangel Picks Up Bloomberg Endorsement

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Charlie Rangel, facing a serious primary challenge next month, today picked up the endorsement of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) and former New York Mayor and Rep. Ed Koch (D).

“I’m proud to join with Ed Koch and so many others in endorsing Charlie Rangel,” Bloomberg said in a statement released by the veteran Democrat’s campaign. “For more than four decades, he has delivered for New York City time and time again. We’ve had six very different Mayors during his tenure in Congress, but we all shared one thing in common: when the City needs results in Washington, you pick up the phone and call Congressman Rangel.” Full story

Utah: Sarah Palin Backs Orrin Hatch Ahead of Primary

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin endorsed Sen. Orrin Hatch for re-election to a seventh term.

Palin’s backing offers Hatch another conservative endorsement as he holds off a Republican primary challenge from former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist. Hatch, who has faced criticism from some conservatives for past votes, narrowly missed securing the nomination at the state party convention last month, forcing the two into a June 26 primary. Full story

Florida: Ron DeSantis Gets FreedomWorks PAC Nod

UPDATED 5:27 p.m. | Congressional candidate Ron DeSantis today picked up the endorsement of FreedomWorks PAC in his race for the GOP nomination in Florida’s open and strongly Republican 6th district.

“Ron DeSantis is the perfect example of a constitutionally-limited government candidate,” FreedomWorks PAC Executive Director Max Pappas said in a statement.

DeSantis, a retired active duty Navy JAG officer and current Navy reservist, faces a competitive primary with state Rep. Fred Costello, former Ruth’s Chris CEO Craig Miller, Jacksonville City Councilman Richard Clark and others.

Roll Call rates the district as Safe Republican. Much of the newly configured 6th district is currently represented by Rep. John Mica, who is running in a Member-vs.-Member primary in Florida’s 7th.

Kentucky: Thomas Massie Picks Up Mike Lee Endorsement

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) endorsed tea-party-affiliated Congressional candidate Thomas Massie today, giving the local elected official a boost as he faces a too-close-to-call primary Tuesday in Kentucky’s 4th district.

“Tom understands the proper role of the federal government and that states possess certain powers on which the federal government may not intrude,” Lee said in a statement. “I trust he will be a faithful and effective representative for the people of Kentucky.”

Massie, who already has the backing of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R), faces state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington and Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Geoff Davis (R).

Webb-Edgington and Moore both have establishment backing, though Webb-Edgington is seen as the stronger candidate and is in a neck-and-neck contest with Massie. She has been endorsed by both Davis and former Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.).

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Maine: FreedomWorks Endorses Bruce Poliquin for Senate

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)

Maine Treasurer Bruce Poliquin (R) today picked up an endorsement from the conservative group, FreedomWorks PAC.

It is an early indicator that he may be the next conservative Senate primary candidate that Washington, D.C.-based tea party groups coalesce around, although the window is narrowing. The primary is on June 12.

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New Jersey: David Axelrod to Campaign for Steven Rothman

Rep. Steven Rothman (above) picked up support from senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Updated: 4:57 p.m. | Senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod is set to campaign on behalf of Rep. Steven Rothman on Wednesday in his tough 9th district primary against fellow Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell. The Bergen County Record first reported the news.

President Bill Clinton endorsed Pascrell earlier this month, and Axelrod’s move to campaign for Rothman sets up a rematch of sorts of the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In that contest, Rothman was an early Obama backer; Pascrell endorsed then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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California: Obama Endorses Pete Stark

President Barack Obama today endorsed California Rep. Pete Stark, who is facing a stiff challenge from a fellow Democrat in California’s June 5 all-party primary.

The 20-term Congressman and Dublin City Councilman Eric Swalwell (D) are likely to advance to the general election in the solidly Democratic 15th district. But Stark’s path to re-election has become less certain in recent weeks after some odd gaffes. Stark has apologized for falsely accusing a San Francisco Chronicle columnist of contributing to Swalwell’s campaign and for claiming that Swalwell had accepted bribes.

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Florida: Connie Mack IV Gets Mitt Romney Endorsement

Rep. Connie Mack IV (above) got the endorsement of presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Florida Rep. Connie Mack IV (R) today got the endorsement of presumptive GOP White House nominee Mitt Romney, boosting his effort to win the GOP nomination to take on two-term Sen. Bill Nelson (D).

“Connie Mack is a friend, a strong conservative and the type of principled leader we need in Washington to restore fiscal responsibility,” the former Massachusetts governor said in a statement. “By electing Connie Mack, the people of Florida will be sending a clear message to Senator Nelson and President Obama that their failed policies have not worked to change the borrow and spend ways of Washington.” Full story

FreedomWorks Backs Three Upstarts for Open House Seats

FreedomWorks announced its support for three upstart Republican House candidates today, pitting the conservative grass-roots group against local elected officials in each state.

The group endorsed Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer in North Dakota’s at-large seat; Lewis County Judge Executive Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th district; and former state Sen. Sam Aanestad in California’s 1st district.

All three candidates are running in open-seat races. FreedomWorks’ support is notable because it’s backing the underdogs in each race and, in one case, going against the state party’s endorsement.

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California: Howard Berman Greeted Obama in Brad Sherman’s District

Neither President Barack Obama nor former President Bill Clinton have officially picked sides in the clash of Democratic Congressmen from California’s San Fernando Valley. But Obama and Clinton have dropped strong hints regarding where they stand.

It was Rep. Howard Berman — not Rep. Brad Sherman — who greeted Obama on Thursday at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, which is in Sherman’s current district. Berman then rode with Obama in the motorcade to a campaign fundraiser at the Studio City home of actor George Clooney, which is in the Congressman’s district. Full story

Kentucky: Rand Paul Backs Thomas Massie in Race to Succeed Geoff Davis

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) today filmed a TV ad in support of Congressional candidate Thomas Massie and plans to endorse him soon.

“I’ve made the decision today to go ahead and help him,” Paul said in an interview today in his Senate office. “I filmed an ad for him today.”

Massie, the Lewis County judge-executive, is locked in a competitive race for Kentucky’s open 4th district seat, currently occupied by retiring Rep. Geoff Davis (R). The other two top contenders in the race are state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington and Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore. Full story

Palins Endorse Ted Cruz in Texas Senate Race

Ted Cruz, who is battling to get into a possible runoff in the Texas Senate race, got the endorsement of Sarah Palin. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, have endorsed another Senate candidate in a contested Republican primary: former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz.

Cruz told supporters in an email that he sought her support via a letter.

“We’re proud to join conservatives in Texas and throughout the nation in supporting your campaign to become the next Senator from the Lone Star State,” Palin wrote back.

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Florida: Connie Mack IV Gets Rand Paul Endorsement

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Paul’s backing could boost Mack’s conservative credentials. The Florida Congressman is battling former Sen. George LeMieux for the GOP Senate nomination.

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Sarah Palin Endorses Deb Fischer in Nebraska Senate Race

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sarah Palin and her husband, Todd, have endorsed Deb Fischer, providing the state Senator’s struggling bid to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Nelson (D) an adrenaline shot six days before the GOP primary.

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