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

Indiana: Senate Race Sees $3.5M in Outside Spending

The majority of outside groups spending money in Indiana's Senate race are boosting state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. (Shira Toeplitz/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Outside groups have made almost $3.5 million in independent expenditures so far in the competitive Indiana GOP Senate primary, according to online data from the Federal Election Commission.

The bulk of the spending, about $2.3 million so far, has been by groups supporting state Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s effort to defeat six-term Sen. Dick Lugar. For example, in the past 24 hours, the Club for Growth put down a $421,000 media buy blasting the Senator.

But it’s still not more money than Lugar’s campaign has spent so far. His most recent fundraising report showed his campaign had spent $5.4 million through April 18. Meanwhile, Mourdock’s campaign will report spending just more than $2 million through the same date, according to his spokesman. Full story

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

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

Reports: Newt Gingrich Preparing to End Campaign

(Bill Clark/ CQ Roll Call)

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) is preparing to end his now-longshot bid for the presidency, according to multiple reports.

Senior campaign aides told Fox News that Gingrich will formally exit the race for the Republican nomination on Tuesday. Gingrich indicated he was on his way out while speaking with reporters in Cramerton, N.C., this morning, just hours after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney swept five primaries and was anointed the “presumptive nominee” by the Republican National Committee. Full story

Indiana: Richard Mourdock Spot Hits Home for Dick Lugar

Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock’s new TV spot targets Sen. Dick Lugar’s longevity in Congress, with less than two weeks before the GOP primary.

“When Dick Lugar moved to Washington, he left behind more than his house. He left behind his conservative Hoosier values,” an announcer says. “Lugar’s been in Washington 36 years. That’s too long. Time for a change.”

The ad is airing exactly 13 days ahead of the competitive May 8 primary, as both campaigns upped their presence on the airwaves. The spot also comes one day after Lugar started to air a spot featuring his political ally, popular Gov. Mitch Daniels (R).

Pennsylvania: Tom Smith, Tim Murphy Win GOP Primaries

Rep. Tim Murphy (above) easily beat Evan Feinberg in the GOP primary for Pennsylvania's 18th district. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former coal company executive Tom Smith defeated a crowded GOP field tonight for the right to face an uphill battle against Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) this fall.

After spending $3 million of his own money, Smith defeated the state GOP’s endorsed candidate, businessman Steve Welch, who also boasted the support of Gov. Tom Corbett (R). Full story

Pennsylvania: Critz Upsets Altmire in 12th District

Rep. Mark Critz spent $100,000 of his own money in his bid to win Pennsylvania's 12th district Democratic primary. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Mark Critz came from behind to defeat his Democratic colleague, Rep. Jason Altmire, in Pennsylvania’s redrawn 12th district tonight.

Altmire called to concede to Critz, according to a Critz spokesman.

Democrats initially viewed the redrawn 12th district as favorable to Altmire because it included more than 60 percent of his current territory plus his hometown area. But in the low-turnout race, Critz’s support from organized labor proved pivotal, especially in his base of Johnstown. Full story

Pennsylvania: Redistricting Claims Another Victim as Holden Falls to Cartwright

Rep. Tim Holden (above) will not return for an 11th term after losing to Matt Cartwright in a primary tonight. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Updated 11:26 p.m. | A decade after Rep. Tim Holden (Pa.) beat the odds in a redistricting cycle by defeating a GOP colleague, the Blue Dog lost a Democratic primary tonight as a result of the decennial redrawing process.

Attorney Matt Cartwright easily defeated Holden in the redrawn 17th district, making him the second incumbent to lose re-election this cycle without being defeated by another Member. With 80 percent of the vote counted, Cartwright led 59 percent to 41 percent. Full story

Daniel Inouye Won’t Campaign Against Dick Lugar

Sen. Daniel Inouye has given close to $900,000 to Democratic candidates so far this cycle. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye (Hawaii) has contributed almost $900,000 so far this cycle in support of the party’s efforts to retain control of the Senate. But there’s one race the most senior Democrat in the chamber has decided to avoid: He won’t campaign against Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.).

Lugar faces a very competitive May 8 primary against state Treasurer Richard Mourdock. Democrats are hoping to put the race in play if Lugar loses renomination, which polls indicate is an increasingly likely possibility.

“If Sen. Lugar somehow does not make it past the Republican primary, Sen. Inouye will re-evaluate,” an Inouye aide said.

Rep. Joe Donnelly, the Democrat running for Senate who raised a paltry $313,000 in the first quarter of the year, could no doubt use the financial assistance of Inouye and his DANPAC, which have contributed a combined $881,000 to Democratic candidates and causes this cycle.

Full story

Illinois: Former Miss America Mulls House Bid

There she is, Miss Congressional Candidate?

Attorney Erika Harold, who was Miss America 2003, told Roll Call today that she’s considering a bid for retiring Rep. Timothy Johnson’s (R-Ill.) seat.

“I am exploring the possibility, but I haven’t made any decisions at this point,” Harold said. “I feel that I might have a unique perspective to offer at this point in time as a young woman who understands some of the concerns that young people face in this economic condition.” Full story

Illinois: GOP Field Grows in Race to Replace Timothy Johnson

The Republican field to succeed Rep. Timothy Johnson (R-Ill.) continues to grow in the wake of his unexpected retirement announcement earlier this month.

Add former Miss America Erika Harold to the long list of those considering a campaign. The 2003 national pageant winner is a Chicago attorney originally from Champaign County — the most populous part of the district. Full story

New Mexico: Martin Heinrich Launches First TV Ad in Senate Race

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

Rep. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today is launching his first Senate campaign TV ad, about a month before voters head to the polls for the primary. Full story

Hawaii: Sierra Club Backs Tulsi Gabbard in 2nd District

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Sierra Club endorsed Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii’s open 2nd district Democratic primary.

“Tulsi’s strong environmental record, including helping pass tough laws regulating greenhouse gases and being an outspoken advocate for renewable energy, distinguished her from the other candidates for this office,” said Steve Montgomery, who co-chairs the group’s Hawaii chapter. Full story