Ohio: Tom Hanks, Bob Dole and John Dingell Endorse Marcy Kaptur

Actor and producer Tom Hanks, who greeted World War II veterans at the National World War II Memorial in 2010, has endorsed Rep. Marcy Kaptur. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Yep, you read that headline correctly.

Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks, former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) are supporting Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) in her primary against Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) next week.

While the trio might appear to be an unusual one, Kaptur’s team boasts she worked with all three to build the National World War II Memorial. Full story

New York: First Look at New (but Far From Final) Maps

A Congressional map proposed by the state Assembly's Democratic majority would pit Rep. Bob Turner (R) against Rep. Joe Crowley (D). (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 12:25 p.m. | It’s no surprise that all the action is in the Big Apple.

The New York state Assembly Democratic majority released a proposed Congressional map late Wednesday that eliminated the upstate district of retiring Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey and pitted freshman Rep. Bob Turner (R) and powerful seven-term Rep. Joe Crowley (D) against each other in the heart of New York City.

Even though more of the newly configured district comes from Turner’s current territory, Crowley would have a substantial edge if there were to be a battle between the two Members.

The Democratic map also draws Rep. Gary Ackerman (D) into Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel’s Long Island-based seat and makes Ackerman vulnerable to a primary challenge in his reconstituted district. A map from the state Senate Republicans completely eliminates Ackerman’s district.

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Iowa: Crossroads GPS Hits Leonard Boswell Again With New Ad

Crossroads GPS today will begin airing its third advertisement targeting Iowa Rep. Leonard Boswell (D), who is facing off against Rep. Tom Latham (R).

The new spot from the deep-pocketed conservative group ties Boswell to President Barack Obama through his votes for the stimulus bill and the health care overhaul law, according to a copy of the ad obtained exclusively by Roll Call.

Maine: Mike Michaud, Chellie Pingree Prepare Senate Campaigns

Both Reps. Chellie Pingree (above) and Mike Michaud could end up running for Maine's open Senate seat. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Maine Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree and Mike Michaud have begun the process of building Senate campaigns, even though neither has come to a final decision on whether to run to succeed retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R).

Sources in both camps maintain that the looming March 15 deadline to file forced the two Representatives to move ahead with gathering petition signatures as they still mull a Senate run.

While there have been reports that national Democrats are pushing for the two Members to decide between themselves which of them will run for Senate, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that the two will square off in the Democratic primary, according to a Maine Democrat.

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New York: Redistricting Drama Rises Toward Crescendo

The disjointed, perpetually deadlocked, rumor-filled, agita-inducing drama of New York Congressional redistricting moves into its final act today, with the Legislature expected to submit proposed lines to a judge by midnight and a final map approved within less than a month.

Magistrate Judge Roanne L. Mann has ordered all the parties involved in a redistricting lawsuit, which include state Assembly and Senate Democrats and Republicans, to submit their proposed Congressional plans to the court by today, if they are submitting plans at all. With control of the Legislature split, the main plans are expected to be submitted by Democrats from the Assembly and Republicans in the Senate. The opposing sides reportedly remained deadlocked this morning. Full story

California: David Dreier Retiring After 16 Terms

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

California Rep. David Dreier announced his long-expected retirement on the House floor this morning.

The Rules Committee chairman, a 16-term Republican from San Dimas, was essentially a man without a home after the state’s new independent redistricting process that left him with no good options for re-election. Full story

San Antonio Federal Court Releases New Interim Texas Map

A federal three-judge panel in San Antonio released a new interim Texas Congressional map today after both parties failed to produce a compromise following weeks of wrangling in court.

The court-ordered map resembles a February proposal from state Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) that gave Democrats a new district in the Fort Worth area, effectively giving Republicans a 25-to-11 advantage in the Congressional delegation.

The fate of the Texas 2012 map remained uncertain for weeks after the Supreme Court ruled in January that the San Antonio court overstepped its boundaries with its original proposal for an interim map. There are several seats at stake on the new Texas map, which increased by four House districts due to explosive population growth, mostly in the Hispanic community.

Texas officials were forced to delay their primary twice while maps worked their way through two separate court systems. The San Antonio court released a revised interim map just in time for both parties to hold their primary on May 29.

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Virginia: John Douglass to Switch Districts and Challenge Hurt

Ret. Air Force General John Douglass is expected to announce next week that he will run in Virginia’s 5th district instead of in the 10th.

The Democrat’s campaign said today that Douglass will travel through each county in the expansive 5th district, currently held by freshman Rep. Robert Hurt (R), before his March 6 announcement. Douglass had originally filed to run against Rep. Frank Wolf (R) in Northern Virginia, but Douglass’ home was drawn into the 5th under the redistricting plan signed into law last month.

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Florida: Boehner to Appear at Fundraiser With Vern Buchanan

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will appear at a fundraising event Saturday hosted by Florida GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan, who is reportedly under investigation by federal authorities.

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Between the Lines: Virginia Court Dismisses Challenge to Map

Virginia is one step away from completing redistricting after the Richmond Circuit Court on Monday dismissed a lawsuit challenging the Legislature-drawn Congressional map.

The lawsuit argued that the state Legislature, which Republicans won complete control of in November’s state elections, was constitutionally mandated to complete redistricting in 2011. A similar lawsuit filed in federal court was dismissed Feb. 10. Full story

Missouri: Russ Carnahan, William Lacy Clay Set to Face Off

(Ryan Kelly/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 2:55 p.m. | Missouri Rep. Russ Carnahan filed today to run in the urban St. Louis 1st district, setting off a potentially racially charged Democratic primary with Rep. William Lacy Clay that pits two Missouri political dynasties — one white, one black — against each other.

In the majority-minority district, both Congressmen will be familiar to voters, but Clay probably has the early edge. Only a third of Carnahan’s current constituents were drawn into the reconfigured 1st.

“It’s impossible to overlook the minority aspect here,” said Mike Kelley, a St. Louis Democrat who is a former executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party. “There will be a lot of downticket races that will have primaries, particularly in the African-American community, that will drive some turnout in this election. It will be something Caranhan will have to overcome, and it will be something that Clay will have to capitalize on.” Full story

California: Blong Xiong Making Rounds in D.C.

Fresno City Councilman Blong Xiong told Roll Call on Monday that he has meetings scheduled on Capitol Hill today and Wednesday regarding his potential bid for California’s new 21st district. Full story

North Carolina: Mike McIntyre Running for Re-Election After All

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-N.C.), who had flirted with a gubernatorial run earlier this year and who was drawn into Democratic Rep. Larry Kissell’s district by the GOP-controlled Legislature, filed to run in the 7th district Monday. Full story

Utah: Carl Wimmer Nabs Another Conservative Blessing

Carl Wimmer, one of three top candidates in the GOP primary to challenge Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), has picked up another conservative endorsement. Full story

Florida: Democrat to Announce Against Bill Young Today

(Courtesy Jessica Ehrlich)

Former Congressional aide and attorney Jessica Ehrlich (D) will announce a bid for Congress today against 21-term Rep. Bill Young (R) in Florida’s newly numbered 13th Congressional district. Full story