Democrats Launch New Program for House Recruits

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman, chaired by Rep. Steve Israel, has launched a new program to help candidates in targeted districts. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has launched a new program aimed at cultivating strong candidates in targeted districts for the 2014 elections.

The Jumpstart program “provides early financial, communications, operational and strategic support to help top-tier candidates get a head start in these highly-targeted races,” according to a memo that will be sent to donors and supporters today.

Eight Democrats have been tapped for the program so far based on recent polling: Full story

Remainders: If You Got It, Flaunt It. Early.

If you got it, flaunt it. And in campaign fundraising, the best flaunt their numbers early.

There are several days yet until campaigns are required to file their first quarter fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission. Typically, only campaigns with hauls worth bragging about release their figures early.

Here’s are the congressional campaign fundraising figures that caught our eye on Thursday:

Full story

New York: Recchia Meets With DCCC Officials to Plot Grimm Challenge

Israel met with a recruit this week to discuss his challenge to a New York Republican representative. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 4:26 p.m. | A trio of top-ranking Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee officials huddled with New York City Councilman Domenic Recchia on Thursday to plan a challenge to Rep. Michael G. Grimm, R-N.Y.

According to a senior national Democratic strategist, Recchia met in Washington with two fellow New Yorkers, DCCC Chairman Steve Israel and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, as well as DCCC Recruitment Chairwoman Donna Edwards.

They discussed strategy and Recchia’s “path to victory” in New York’s 11th District, the source said. Recchia declared his candidacy in mid-February. Full story

New York: Democrat Recchia to Challenge Grimm

New York City Councilman Domenic Recchia, a Democrat, will run for Congress, taking on GOP Rep. Michael G. Grimm in the Staten Island-anchored 11th District.

The Staten Island Advance first reported the news. Recchia then tweeted, “I’m in.”

Grimm, the only House Republican to represent New York City, is a top target for Democrats in New York and Washington, D.C. He faced wave after wave of bad press about alleged ethical improprieties in 2012, but he was never charged with a crime.

Grimm, in his second term, faced a weak Democratic opponent and won re-election in 2012.

Recchia lives in Brooklyn, which could make winning over voters on Staten Island — which makes up the majority of the district — more difficult.

And he might face a primary: Former Rep. Michael E. McMahon, a Democrat, told CQ Roll Call last month that he was also considering a bid against Grimm. Grimm unseated McMahon in 2010.

House Majority PAC Announces Top 2014 GOP Incumbent Targets

Bachmann, left, is being targeted by House Majority PAC. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

House Majority PAC, the super PAC formed in the 2012 cycle to support Democratic House candidates, has rolled out its first round of Republican incumbent targets for the 2014 cycle.

They are:

• Rep. Michele Bachmann – Minnesota’s 6th
• Rep. Mike Coffman – Colorado’s 6th
• Rep. Gary G. Miller – California’s 31st
• Rep. Rodney Davis – Illinois’ 13th
• Rep. Michael G. Fitzpatrick – Pennsylvania’s 8th
• Rep. Michael G. Grimm – New York’s 11th
• Rep. Joe Heck – Nevada’s 3rd
• Rep. David Joyce – Ohio’s 14th
• Rep. John Kline – Minnesota’s 2nd
•  Rep. Steve Southerland II – Florida’s 2nd

“In 2012, House Majority PAC built a strong record of success, and in 2013 we are ready to hit the ground running to hold these Republicans accountable and communicate with swing voters about their extreme records and backward priorities,” House Majority PAC Executive Director Alixandria Lapp said.

The group spent heavily in the fall of 2012, making major ad buys in markets.

New York: Former Rep. Mike McMahon Eyeing Congressional Bid

Former Democratic Rep. Michael E. McMahon is considering a comeback bid in New York’s Staten Island-based 11th District.

“Certainly taking a look at it,” he told CQ Roll Call Wednesday evening. McMahon said he expects to make a final decision on the race soon.

“Look,” he said, “the election is in two years, fundraising has to begin yesterday, so it’s a short time frame.”

McMahon was unseated by Republican Michael G. Grimm in 2010, losing by about 3 points.

Full story

Race Rating Changes: The Final Push

Supporters of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney listen Sunday during a rally in Des Moines, Iowa. With two days before Election Day, Romney is campaigning in swing states across the country. (Emmanuel Dunando/AFP/Getty Images)

Heading into the final weekend of barnstorming before Election Day, there was a noticeable shift toward the GOP in many key House races while Democrats seem to be getting more good news than bad about the Senate map.

First, the Senate math:

Yes, it’s quite possible (even likely) that Democrats such as Sens. Sherrod Brown (Ohio) and Bob Casey (Pa.) will have closer margins on Election Day than most expect. But Democrats are likely to hold both seats, and the climb for Republicans to net the four seats they need for an outright majority (if President Barack Obama is re-elected) seems steep heading into election week.

Here’s what we know: Republicans are likely to pick up two Senate seats in Nebraska and North Dakota (although the race there remains close). Those gains are likely to be offset by Democratic pickups in Massachusetts and Maine, where an Independent is poised to win and will likely caucus with Democrats. Assuming Republicans hold their seats in Arizona and Nevada, which seems like a good bet, that’s a zero net gain, leaving the chamber’s makeup at 53 Democrats and 47 Republicans. Full story

New York: Michael Grimm Campaign Office ‘Vandalized and Burglarized’

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

New York Rep. Michael Grimm said today his campaign headquarters was “vandalized and burglarized.”

In a statement, the freshman Republican called the alleged crime “a disgraceful act of cowardice” and a “heinous act” that “represents an assault on democracy and the political process.”

The campaign said three plate glass windows were broken and private campaign data was tampered with at the Staten Island headquarters, leaving a server “corrupted and erased.” Full story

New York: Michael Grimm Racks Up Huge Legal Bills

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Michael Grimm (R), who the FBI is reportedly looking into investigating, racked up more than $321,000 in legal fees from April 1 to June 6, according to a Federal Election Commission report filed late Thursday.

During that period, Grimm’s campaign raised $144,000 and disbursed $71,000 but accrued $336,000 worth of debt, including the $321,000 to Patton Boggs LLP, a high-powered Washington, D.C., firm.

Grimm’s campaign did not respond to telephone and email requests for comment Friday morning. At the end of June 6, Grimm had a very comfortable $1.2 million in cash on hand.

Full story

New York: Michael Grimm Kicked Off Independence Party Line

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Less than two months ago, Rep. Michael Grimm’s campaign sent out a press release touting “the coveted, game-changing Independence Party endorsement for his re-election campaign.”

Today, the New York Board of Elections said Grimm did not get enough signatures to qualify for that ballot line, according to the Staten Island Advance. He will still appear on the Conservative and Republican lines.

Grimm faces Democrat Mark Murphy in November.

“Michael Grimm has shown himself again to be just another politician who will say whatever it takes to get to Washington and do whatever it takes to stay there,” Murphy’s spokesman said in a statement.

A call to a Grimm spokeswoman was not immediately returned.

Roll Call rates the race as Likely Republican.