Rand Paul, FreedomWorks Endorse Mark Sanford #SC01

Paul, above, endorsed Sanford. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Updated 1:35 p.m. | Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., endorsed embattled former Gov. Mark Sanford’s bid for the 1st District special election.

“Mark has proven during his time in office that watching out for taxpayers and holding the line on spending are his top priorities,” Paul said in a press release from the Sanford campaign.

“What we absolutely cannot afford is someone like his opponent, who will be yet another vote for a return to the Pelosi speakership, for disastrous programs like Obamacare, and for more spending and debt,” he added. “I am pleased to endorse Mark and stand with him in this race,” he added.

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House Majority PAC Targets Women With Closing Mark Sanford Attack #SC01

House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, targeted GOP women in its closing spot for the South Carolina’s 1st District special election.

The woman featured in the ad identifies herself as a Republican before she laces into Republican nominee former Gov. Mark Sanford for the extramarital affair that led to his political downfall in 2009.

Sanford faces Democratic nominee Elizabeth Colbert Busch on May 7.

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Branstad Takes Swipe at Steve King #IAsen

Branstad, right, spoke to reporters on Monday morning. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad told reporters Monday morning that he advised national Republicans to recruit an “Iowa problem solver” rather than “another congressman” to run for the Hawkeye State’s open Senate seat in 2014.

The GOP governor’s comments come as Rep. Steve King, a conservative Republican, is in the final stages of deciding whether to run for retiring Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin’s seat.

According to a recording of Branstad’s weekly news conference via Radio Iowa, he said there are several Republicans in the state who would provide a good contrast with Rep. Bruce Braley, the likely Democratic nominee. Branstad noted that King did serve in the state Senate, and said his initial comments were a shot at Braley, not King.

But Branstad also clarified that he believes having someone free from ties to an unpopular Congress would give the GOP its best chance against Braley. Full story

Ron Paul Backs Paul Broun #GAsen

Paul, above, is backing Broun in the Georgia Senate race. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, endorsed Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., in what is shaping up to be Republicans’ widest and most unpredictable Senate primary.

“If we’re going to restore our Constitution and put our nation back on the path to prosperity, we must elect principled conservatives who will fight in Washington,” Paul, a former presidential candidate with deep tea party support, said in an email Thursday. “Paul Broun will continue fighting, and that’s why I endorsed his candidacy for U.S. Senate in Georgia.” Full story

Are Senate Democrats Schweitzer or Bust? #MTsen

Baucus' decision not to seek re-election means Democrats must recruit a new candidate for the race. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Sen. Max Baucus’ surprising retirement announcement puts the onus on Democrats to recruit the state’s popular former governor, who could be the only candidate capable of holding the seat.

Thanks to a head’s up from the Senate Finance Committee chairman, party operatives have already begun with former Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

The bolo tie-wearing national party figure could tap into a fundraising network far beyond any other Democrat in the state — except, of course, for Baucus. There is little doubt that the two-term former governor would give Democrats a good chance at holding the seat.

The question is whether the unpredictable and ambitious Schweitzer will actually run. Full story

Monday Remainders: Mark Sanford and Sons

Sanford had a rough week on the campaign trail. (Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images File Photo)

What we’re mulling on Monday …

• #MIsen: Michigan’s Democratic primary waters are clear now — so when will Rep. Gary Peters jump into the Senate race? Debbie Dingell announced in a Saturday Facebook post that she will not seek the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich. No word yet from Peters on an announcement.
• #SC01: Not everyone has abandoned former Gov. Mark Sanford’s special election bid. National Right to Life PAC spent almost $6,000 on mailers for Sanford, according to online records with the Federal Election Commission.
• #HIsen: Your move, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will back Sen. Brian Schatz in the Democratic primary, via the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

What you might have missed “At the Races” on Monday…. Full story

Mark Sanford Does Not Remember the Alamo #SC01

Usually, it’s Texans who are notorious for invoking the Alamo amid tough circumstances.

But this weekend, former Gov. Mark Sanford referenced the epic battle in a full-page newspaper advertisement in the Sunday edition of Charleston’s The Post and Courier.

Sanford, the GOP’s nominee in South Carolina’s 1st District special election, is going through some trying times.

Last week, The Associated Press reported that his former wife had accused him of trespassing on her property. In the next two days, national Republicans abandoned his campaign and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee bought air time for a hard-hitting television advertisement against him.

He’s now the underdog in the heavily GOP district against the Democratic nominee, Elizabeth Colbert Busch.

So Sanford is invoking the Alamo in his struggle to return to Congress:

“In March of 1863, there was similarly little time. A South Carolinian by the name of William Travis drew a line in the sand with his sword and simply asked those who would stay and fight, to cross it. His efforts, and that of those who died with him there at the Alamo, ultimately inspired Texans to come to the aid of their brethren and defeat Santa Anna’s army though they were outnumbered at the onset by six to one. I’m outnumbered right now, but will fight to the end toward freedom and financial sanity in Washington so important to sustaining it. I’d ask you to cross the like and fight with me.”

There’s a problem with this anecdote: the Alamo fell on March 6, 1836.

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Republicans Eye Bill Cassidy’s Seat #LA06 | The Field

Editor’s Note: The field is a new, reoccurring series that examines the political landscape in specific House or Senate races. Want to read about the field for a particular district or state? We take requests: Tweet @rollcall with #thefield or email us at politics@cqrollcall.com.

Rep. Bill Cassidy’s, R-La., decision this month to challenge Democratic Sen. Mary L. Landrieu opened a highly desirable district for ambitious Republicans, including a former congressman.

According to GOP sources, there are several Republicans seriously considering running for the 6th District, which President Barack Obama lost by 34 points last year. The district is based in Baton Rouge, but it stretches arms out in several directions, including into the outskirts of New Orleans.

The field of potential Republican candidates could be long, though several of the following people are based in Baton Rouge. It’s unlikely they would all attempt to run from the same home turf. The list includes: Full story

South Carolina: DCCC Makes TV Buy in Sanford Special Election

Updated 1:18 p.m. | The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has reserved airtime in South Carolina’s 1st District special election, two GOP sources tell CQ Roll Call.

The buy comes less than 24 hours after the House GOP’s campaign arm abandoned their nominee, former Gov. Mark Sanford, announcing they would not make any expenditures to help him win the safe GOP district.

Sanford faces Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch on May 7.

The buy is for at least $143,000, a GOP source noted. It will run April 19-28.

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Michigan: Republican Cardiologist Steele Considers Senate Run

Cardiologist Rob Steele is considering a bid for the open Senate seat in Michigan in 2014, according to a local source with direct knowledge of his interest.

Steele is best-known among Republicans for his 2010 bid against longtime Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich. During that campaign, Steele picked up former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin’s endorsement and gave national Democrats a brief scare that Dingell could lose his safe Democratic seat. Steele lost by 17 points.

(See also in Roll Call: Johnson Retirement Gives Senate GOP Another Opportunity)

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Illinois: Democrat Kelly Wins Special Election to Replace Jackson

Kelly won a first term on Tuesday in the special election to replace Jackson. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Cook County Chief Administrative Officer Robin Kelly won the special election to replace former Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. on Tuesday.

Kelly, a Democrat, defeated Republican Paul McKinley, 89 percent to 6.6 percent, with 19.8 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.

Her victory came as no surprise. The 2nd District is heavily Democratic and Kelly had minimal opposition in the general election. McKinley is a convicted felon, according to numerous news outlets.

(See also in Roll Call: Obama Endorses Robin Kelly in Special Election (Finally))

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West Virginia: Club for Growth Invites Capito Challenger to Meet

The Club for Growth has not met with Rep. Shelley Moore Capito’s new GOP opponent for Senate yet, but it’s definitely interested in getting to know him better.

Chris Chocola, president of the deep-pocketed conservative group, reached out to former state Del. Pat McGeehan over Twitter on Tuesday — just hours after he announced that he’s challenging Capito, the heavy GOP favorite in the race and a club target:

.@mcgeehan4wv you should come in and interview with us. #WVSen

— Chris Chocola (@ChrisChocola) April 9, 2013

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South Carolina: Colbert Busch Targets Female Voters in First Spot Against Sanford

Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch aired her first general election television advertisement on Tuesday, kicking off the imminent airwaves war against former GOP Gov. Mark Sanford in the 1st District special election.

Busch speaks directly to camera in the 30-second spot, describing herself as a “single mom with three young children.” She never mentions Sanford in the advertisement, which appears to target female voters.

(See also in Roll Call: South Carolina 1st District Poll: It’s All About Context)

Pennsylvania: Schwartz Officially Enters Race for Governor

Schwartz will run for governor in 2014. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz, D-Pa., has officially entered the race for governor, filing paperwork Monday to run against GOP Gov. Tom Corbett.

If Schwartz wins a contested Democratic primary and topples Corbett later in 2014, the five-term congresswoman would be the Keystone State’s first female governor.

“I’m running to be governor, not the ‘first woman’ governor,” Schwartz told the Philadelphia Inquirer. “But the fact that I am the only woman in the congressional delegation and in a senior policymaking role means people know I can beat the odds. I have brought a different perspective. … It does change the dynamic.”

(Which other members of Congress are running for another office or retiring in 2014? See Roll Call’s Casualty List.) Full story

Pennsylvania: Democrats Continue to Line Up for Schwartz Seat

It’s quickly getting crowded in the Democratic primary to replace Pennsylvania Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz — and she hasn’t even officially announced her campaign for governor yet.

But state Rep. Brendan Boyle announced his candidacy for her House seat on Monday, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

He joins at least two other Democrats already running for the 13th District in suburban Philadelphia: Valerie A. Arkoosh, a medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and state Sen. Daylin Leach previously announced their campaigns. Full story