Florida: Joe Garcia Mounts Bid Against Rep. David Rivera

Democrat Joe Garcia is mounting his third campaign to represent a Florida district today. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Miami Democrat Joe Garcia has taken that old aphorism — if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again — deeply to heart.

Today, Garcia will officially announce his Congressional campaign against embattled Rep. David Rivera (R). It will be Garcia’s third campaign for Congress in South Florida in as many cycles. He lost to Rivera in 2010 by more than 9 points. In 2008, Garcia lost to Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) by just over 6 points. Full story

California: New Howard Berman Ad Features Betty White

Betty White, the 90-year-old actress starring in the hit TV show “Hot in Cleveland,” just waded into the hottest Congressional race in the San Fernando Valley.

White’s endorsement is featured prominently in an ad for Rep. Howard Berman, who is facing off against fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman after redistricting. The spot stars White and her “Hot in Cleveland” co-star Wendie Malick, both of whom attest to Berman’s effectiveness in Congress — specifically citing his support for the humane treatment of animals and community safety.

“Thanks to Howard we have hundreds more police officers patrolling Valley streets,” Malick says. “And he has very nice blue eyes,” White adds.

Florida: Court Rules Against Democrats on Congressional Map

A Florida state circuit court ruled against a Democratic challenge to the state’s new Congressional map, denying a motion that the map violates the state constitution and declining to issue an injunction against the map.

The news comes hours after the Department of Justice greenlighted the GOP-drawn Congressional map. This, in effect, means that Democrats are probably stuck with the map passed by the GOP-controlled state Legislature earlier this year, which keeps most of the 19 Republican Members in comfortably safe districts. While Democrats could appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court, legal observers believe it is probably too late to change the 2012 lines. Full story

California: Super PAC Drops $500,000 on TV for Howard Berman

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

The San Fernando Valley cable systems are reaping the benefits of what’s expected to be one of the most expensive House races ever.

A super PAC reportedly supporting California Rep. Howard Berman has purchased a half-million dollars in cable TV time for the next month, according to the campaign of Berman’s opponent, fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Sherman. The ad buy runs from May 2 to June 4. Full story

Justice Department Preclears Florida Congressional Map

The Justice Department today precleared Florida’s Congressional map, making the GOP-friendly lines enforceable law.

The new lines, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by GOP Gov. Rick Scott, are likely to lead to Democrats picking up two to four seats in November. But the Florida delegation is almost certain to remain overwhelmingly Republican. The current House delegation includes 19 Republicans and six Democrats. Reapportionment granted Florida two new seats because of increases in population.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act requires the Justice Department or the federal court in Washington, D.C., to certify new Congressional maps before they can be enforced. Full story

South Carolina: Chad Prosser Up With TV Spot in 7th District

South Carolina Congressional candidate Chad Prosser, the former director of the state’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is up with a new TV ad today.

“Chad Prosser is going to shake up Washington,” a male announcer says with a syrupy voice at the top of the ad. “A conservative businessman, Prosser used his private-sector experience to create jobs.”

Arizona: NRCC Releases Ad Slamming Barber

Updated 5 p.m. | The National Republican Congressional Committee upped its ante behind a new ad it is airing in the special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).

Full story

Between the Lines: Then There Was One

Kansas is now the only state in the country with an outstanding redistricting map.

New Hampshire’s new map became law on Monday when Gov. John Lynch (D) signed a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. Reps. Charles Bass and Frank Guinta ultimately agreed to the map after some earlier tension over moving voters between the two districts.  Both Congressmen are being targeted by Democrats in an effort to defeat them this cycle.

California: Liberal Group Backs Lori Saldana in Competitive District

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee today will make its first endorsement in California this cycle, backing Lori Saldana in the 52nd district top-two primary.

Saldana, a former state Assemblywoman, and San Diego Port Commission Chairman Scott Peters are the two leading Democrats running to take on Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in this San Diego district. They will all compete on June 5 to advance to the general election in one of several districts in the state Democrats hope to pick up. Full story

Blue Dogs Endorse Three More Candidates

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition will add three more candidates to its roster of endorsed candidates today, Roll Call has learned.

The Blue Dogs, who lost two Pennsylvania Members in Democratic primaries Tuesday, endorsed former state Rep. Dave Crooks in Indiana’s 8th district; former state Rep. Pam Gulleson in North Dakota’s at-large district; and former state Rep. Gary McDowell in Michigan’s 1st district.

“In Dave, Pam, and Gary, the Blue Dogs have added three impressive candidates with a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and representing the commonsense center of American politics,” Blue Dog PAC co-chairman Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) said in a statement. “Each of them brings unique backgrounds and experiences to the Blue Dogs, and we look forward to working with them in the our efforts to streamline government and encourage business growth and job creation.”

The Blue Dog PAC has endorsed eight other candidates this cycle: former Reps. Nick Lampson (Texas) and Charlie Wilson (Ohio) and Leonard Bembry (Fla.), Clark Hall (Ark.), Brendan Mullen (Ind.), Hayden Rogers (N.C.), Ted Vick (S.C.) and Rob Wallace (Okla.).

Pennsylvania: Matt Cartwright Misses Call From Vice President Joseph Biden

Attorney Matt Cartwright received congratulatory calls from top Democrats after Tuesday's primary. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

It’s the one call that attorney Matt Cartwright, the Democratic nominee in Pennsylvania’s 17th district as of this week, wished his cell phone would have picked up. Instead, Vice President Joseph Biden had to leave his fellow Scrantonian a voice mail Wednesday. Full story

North Carolina: Mark Meadows Picks Up Jeff Duncan Endorsement

Real estate investor Mark Meadows, the apparent frontrunner in the crowded GOP primary in North Carolina’s open 11th district, picked up the endorsement of Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) today.

“Mark Meadows will fight for what’s right, because he understands that higher taxes and more regulations are not the way to solve our country’s problems,” Duncan said in a statement released by the Meadows campaign. “Conservatives of Western North Carolina should send Mark Meadows to Congress. We need his help.”

Duncan’s spokesman confirmed the endorsement. Duncan, along with Reps. Tim Scott, Trey Gowdy and Mick Mulvaney, make up a group of strongly conservative freshman Republicans from the Palmetto State. Full story

Arizona: NRCC, DCCC Going on the Air in Giffords Special (Updated)

Updated 6:40 p.m. | The National Republican Congressional Committee will begin a $150,000 ad buy beginning Friday in the Arizona special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a GOP source confirmed to Roll Call.

The party’s nominee is veteran Jesse Kelly. He will face former Giffords staffer Ron Barber, who went up on the air the day after the primary earlier this month. Kelly narrowly lost to Giffords in 2010. Much of Barber’s political inner circle was involved in Giffords’ campaign that year, and he has the support of the ex-Congresswoman and her husband.

The House campaign committees, as well as outside groups, have been closely watching and preparing for the race and will play dominant roles in the June 12 special election.

Full story

Florida: Vern Buchanan Has 22-Point Lead in GOP Poll

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) led former state Rep. Keith Fitzgerald (D) by more than 20 points in a GOP poll of 16th district voters obtained by Roll Call.

The three-term Congressman led 58 percent to 36 percent. Six percent of the 400 likely voters polled were undecided in the survey conducted by respected GOP pollster Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies. Full story

California: Internal Poll Shows Close 2nd District Race

An internal poll commissioned for Democratic activist Norman Solomon in California’s open 2nd district found him in position to advance beyond the June 5 primary, with several other Democrats close behind.

The race to replace retiring Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D) will most likely be between two Democrats under California’s new top-two primary format, in which two candidates no matter their party may advance to the general election. Full story