David Dewhurst: D.C. Insiders Can’t Buy Texas Senate

HOUSTON — Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today likened attorney Ted Cruz to President Barack Obama, tarring his opponent in Texas’ Senate Republican primary as the Washington insiders’ bought-and-paid-for candidate who is practicing the same negative attacks that Obama is using against presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Meeting with voters lunching at a popular Jewish deli in the Galleria neighborhood just west of downtown, Dewhurst used his only campaign stop of primary day to stump for last-minute votes and make the case that he is the only candidate in the race with Texas’ interests at heart. Speaking to reporters before the made-for-local-TV-news event, a relaxed Dewhurst reaffirmed his conservative credentials and called Cruz a liar.

“What we’re seeing in Washington is President Obama, who can’t run on his record, is now running on the politics of personal destruction of Governor Romney. And I submit that Mr. Cruz has no record, and so he’s trying to run against me by impugning my fiscally conservative and social conservative record,” Dewhurst said, before speaking to voters inside Kenny & Ziggy’s Deli. “Mr. Cruz will lie and say one thing one day, and he’ll say something else the next.”

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New Mexico: Martin Heinrich, Heather Wilson Headed for Primary Wins

Rep. Martin Heinrich is expected to face off against his predecessor, ex-Rep. Heather Wilson, in New Mexico's Senate race this fall. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

The last two people to represent Albuquerque in Congress are likely to face off in the race for New Mexico’s open Senate seat, a new independent poll found — confirming an outcome that has been expected for weeks.

Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) and former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) held wide leads over their June 5 primary opponents in polls conducted for the Albuquerque Journal by Brian Sanderoff of Research & Polling Inc. They’re vying for the seat of retiring Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D) in what will be a top battleground for control of the Senate. Full story

California: DCCC, Members of Congress Aid Julia Brownley in 26th District

National Democrats are rushing to the aid of California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley as the party faces the realistic possibility of being left off of the general election ballot.

Brownley is one of a handful of Democrats running in the top-two primary June 5 in the open 26th district. State Sen. Tony Strickland (R) is favored to advance, while Brownley and Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks (I) are angling for the second spot. A splintered Democratic vote could help Parks finish ahead of Brownley. Full story

New Jersey: A Poll, Robocalls and Presidential Politics

Rep. Bill Pascrell's campaign released a poll that showed his race with fellow Democratic Rep. Steven Rothman to be very close. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

With less than two weeks until the primary, today was a big day in the Member-versus-Member race between Demcratic Reps. Bill Pascrell and Steven Rothman of New Jersey.

Before the close of business, political observers got their first glimpse of polling, the Pascrell camp released robocalls from President Bill Clinton and Obama senior adviser David Axelrod made news while campaigning for Rothman in the district.

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NRSC Welcomes Deb Fischer, Richard Mourdock With Fundraisers and Cash

Senate Republicans are helping to refill the coffers of their newly minted nominees in Indiana and Nebraska following bruising primaries.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee contributed the maximum allowed — $43,000  — to state Sen. Deb Fischer, the GOP’s nominee in Nebraska, and state Treasurer Richard Mourdock, the GOP’s nominee in Indiana.

The donations mark the first of their kind from the NRSC to nonincumbent candidates this cycle. Republicans have the edge in both Senate races, but Democrats contend the states will be highly competitive this November. Roll Call rates both races as Leans Republican.

Nonetheless, Republicans want to give Fischer and Mourdock a financial boost after long and expensive primaries wiped out the their campaign bank accounts.

To further help with that task, Senate GOP leadership will host two separate fundraisers for Mourdock and Fischer on June 5 and 6, respectively. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and NRSC Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) are headlining both events, according to a copy of the emailed invitation.

Additionally, Cornyn’s Alamo PAC gave the $5,000 maximum to both candidates.

South Carolina: Jay Jordan Launches TV Spot in New District

Attorney Jay Jordan (R), running for South Carolina’s new 7th district, launched a spot on local television today underscoring his conservative values.

The ad is backed by about $26,000 and set to run through Memorial Day weekend in the Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C., market on broadcast and cable. In the spot, Jordan attempts to differentiate himself from the the crowded GOP primary field, although it’s unclear if his approach is all that unique.

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Arkansas: Tom Cotton Wins GOP Primary

Veteran, attorney and rising GOP star Tom Cotton won a solid victory in Arkansas’ 4th Congressional district GOP primary, avoiding a runoff with 2010 nominee Beth Anne Rankin.

With 62 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press called the race for Cotton. He had 56 percent of ballots cast, Rankin had 38 percent and a third candidate, John Cowart, had 6 percent.

Cotton, a Harvard Law School graduate who volunteered for the Army infantry after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and served in Iraq and Afghanistan, is the favorite to become the Congressman in this open Republican-leaning seat. Rep. Mike Ross (D) announced his retirement last July. Full story

Kentucky: Thomas Massie Wins GOP Nomination

In a stinging rebuke of the Kentucky Republican establishment, tea-party-affiliated Lewis County Judge-Executive Thomas Massie won tonight’s GOP primary to replace retiring Rep. Geoff Davis (R) in the 4th district.

With 72 percent of precincts reporting, the Associated Press called the race for Massie. He had 44.9 percent of vote, state Rep. Alecia Webb-Edgington had 29 percent and Boone County Judge-Executive Gary Moore had 17.4 percent.

Davis, along with former Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning (R), backed Webb-Edgington, who had broad establishment support. Conservative Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Mike Lee (Utah) backed Massie. Full story

Texas: Tom Leppert Puts Up New Television Ad

Updated: 2:23 p.m. | Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert added another television advertisement to his rotation today. It continues his campaign theme that his fellow GOP candidates in the primary to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) are “empty suits.”

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South Carolina: Ted Vick Launches TV Spot in New 7th District

Democratic state Rep. Ted Vick, running for South Carolina’s new 7th district, launched a biographical spot on local television today.

Backed by a one-week, $37,330 buy in the Myrtle Beach-Florence, S.C., media market, the Vick campaign expects to have a TV presence through the June 12 primary.

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Utah: Dan Liljenquist Slams Orrin Hatch on Lack of Debates

Former Utah state Sen. Dan Liljenquist launched the first TV ad of his Republican primary challenge to longtime Sen. Orrin Hatch.

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Connecticut: Richard Blumenthal Backs Christopher Murphy in Primary

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D) endorsed Rep. Christopher Murphy (D) for Senate on Monday.

“From standing up for American jobs and manufacturers to protecting Medicare and Social Security, Chris has been a strong partner for me during his service in the House,” Blumenthal said.

Murphy is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary, which also features former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. Full story

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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Connecticut: Linda McMahon Wins State GOP Endorsement

(CQ Roll Call File Photo)

As expected, former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon topped former Rep. Chris Shays in the state convention fight for the Connecticut Republican Party’s endorsement Friday night.

McMahon picked up the support of 60 percent of the delegates at the state convention, while Shays got 32 percent of the vote, according to the Associated Press. While the margin was significant, most political observers expected McMahon to win, and Shays met the 15 percent threshold to qualify for the primary on Aug. 14.

McMahon and Shays are running to replace retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I). McMahon also won her party’s Senate endorsement over former Rep. Rob Simmons in 2010. She went on to lose that race in the fall to now-Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D). Full story

Texas: David Dewhurst Puts $6 Million More Into Senate Campaign

Updated: 9:38 p.m. | Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has donated an additional $6 million to his Senate campaign since April 1.

The figure put his total personal donations to the campaign at $8 million, according to a source in the campaign.

The campaign made the announcement in a press release. It also noted that he had received $500,000 in individual contributions in the pre-primary reporting period beginning on April 1. Campaigns must submit federal election finance reports two weeks out from the primary date.

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