(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Rep. Gary Peters easily defeated fellow Rep. Hansen Clarke in a Democratic primary created by the redrawing of Detroit-area districts.
Peters led Clarke in the 14th district, 47 percent to 35 percent, with 89 percent of precincts reporting. Peters, who came to Congress after winning a competitive race in a suburban Detroit district in 2008, will be the Motor City’s first white Congressman in several decades. Full story
Rep. Barney Frank (above) has endorsed Rep. Howard Berman over Rep. Brad Sherman. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
House Financial Services ranking member Barney Frank (D-Mass.) today heavily criticized Rep. Brad Sherman for comments the California Democrat made about his role in the construction of two major pieces of legislation: the financial reform bill that Frank authored with then-Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
On a conference call with reporters set up by the campaign of Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), who is facing Sherman in a redistricting-forced matchup in November, Frank said Sherman has been inflating his role. The call was part of an effort by the Berman campaign to discredit Sherman’s legislative record.
He described Sherman’s claims as “appallingly off of the mark” and “fantasies.” Full story
Wisconsin Assemblyman Mark Pocan (D) changed tactics in his race to succeed Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) in Wisconsin’s second district, launching a new television ad that defends his record and seeks to discredit criticism leveled by his primary opponent.
State Assemblywoman Kelda Helen Roys (D) wasted little time before responding. Her campaign called the spot as a “false, negative attack ad” that went against Pocan’s promise to run a clean campaign. Pocan had previously devoted his television advertising time to highlighting his accomplishments.
“He’s been telling voters that he was going to run a clean campaign and he caved,” said Roys campaign manager Rick Coelho. “It fits in with our core message that he caves when the going gets tough.”
The Pocan campaign said that it stands by the ad and responded to the Roys campaign in a statement to Roll Call.
“Our ad speaks for itself. Mark is running a positive campaign about providing real results to Wisconsinites,” said campaign manager Dan McNally in the statement. “We hope it sets the record straight after Rep. Roys’ attacks on his strong record as an effective progressive.”
(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
DETROIT — Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-Mich.) sat in the audience Thursday night, quietly listening to his opponents debate.
Four candidates — including his colleague, Rep. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) — touted their credentials for the seat, while Clarke sat out of the debate, watching among a small crowd in the Wayne State University Law School auditorium.
Last month, Clarke said he would no longer participate in debates because of “racist rhetoric” in the 14th district race. But in a bizarre evening, Clarke appeared at the National Association of Black Journalists forum anyway to promote his struggling candidacy.
“I thought this was the proper forum for everyone to actually compare who we are as people, and for me to be able to address firsthand any issues,” Clarke told reporters afterward. “I felt it was important for me to be here and be available at this one time.”
Wisconsin Democratic Assembly members Mark Pocan and Kelda Helen Roys launched their first major TV ads this week in the race to succeed Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D) in the state’s 2nd district. The spots for both candidates are positive portrayals of themselves and both avoid taking on their opponent directly.
Pocan’s ad, which is part of a more than $55,000 broadcast and cable buy, portrays the him as someone whose political leadership has been influenced by his own experience with business.
“My parents taught me how to run a business and how to treat employees and customer fairly,” Pocan says in the ad. “I practice those lessons everyday in my own union print shop.”
Roys released two ads that will play in rotation on broadcast and cable portraying her as willing to stand up to the establishment. The value of the Roys ad buy is roughly equal to the Pocan buy, according to a Wisconsin Democratic operative with knowledge of the campaigns. Full story
(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Rep. Bill Pascrell trounced fellow Democratic Rep. Steven Rothman in New Jersey’s 9th district primary today, in what was the fourth Member-vs.-Member race to be decided this redistricting cycle.
Pascrell won a lopsided 70 percent to 30 percent victory over Rothman, with 78 percent of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press.
Donald Payne Jr. is on track to succeed his late father in Congress. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)
Newark City Council President Donald Payne Jr. easily won today’s Democratic primary to replace his father, the late Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), and will likely become the district’s next Member of Congress in November.
Payne was well out in front in both the regularly scheduled and special election primaries that were held concurrently today. With 79 percent of precincts reporting, he took 60 percent of the vote, while Newark Councilman Ron Rice Jr. and state Sen. Nia Gill followed with 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Payne began the race as the prohibitive frontrunner because of his name identification and establishment support, and he never lost that position.
Payne will appear on the ballot twice on Election Day in November. One contest will be to fill out the remainder of his father’s term this Congress and the other will be for the full two-year term that begins in January 2013. This is a heavily Democratic district, and he should be able to hold this seat for as long as he wants it.
Retiring New York Democratic Rep. Ed Towns today endorsed New York City Councilman Charles Barron (D) to be his successor in Congress.
It may give a boost to Barron, seen as the underdog in the Democratic primary against state Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries in the Brooklyn-based 8th district, most of which is currently represented by Towns.
“Independent voices are needed more than ever in today’s political environment,” Towns said in a statement. “That’s why I am giving my support to Charles Barron who has been an independent voice over the years. He is unselfish and is definitely has the interests of the people of this district at heart.” Full story
(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File PhotRep. Steven Rothman just got a big boost.
Rep. Steven Rothman just received a big boost.
On the day President Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail for his fellow Democrat and rival, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rothman countered by meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House.
He tweeted soon after he was spotted on the White House grounds.
@SteveRothmanNJ: “President Obama invited me to the Oval Office this AM to express his support for my re-election. Thank you Mr. President! Full story
Rep. Steven Rothman is going big in the last days of his Democratic primary against Rep. Bill Pascrell in New Jersey’s newly drawn 9th district.
His campaign just released a television ad about the environment that is on the air in the expensive New York City market. The money behind it is well into the six figures. Redistricting forced both Members to compete for the same Democratic-leaning seat.
VoteVets.org, the largest progressive organization of veterans in the country, spent $50,000 on Wednesday to keep on air its TV ad supporting Honolulu City Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard. The spot will now run for two more weeks.
Gabbard, who was endorsed Wednesday by EMILY’s List, is one of several Democrats vying for the nomination in Hawaii’s 2nd district, currently held by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D), who is running for Senate. Full story
More Members have donated to Rep. Bill Pascrell in his race against a fellow Democratic incumbent. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
With less than a week to go before the primary, more Members are picking sides in the battle between New Jersey Democratic Reps. Steven Rothman and Bill Pascrell.
The Member-vs.-Member race has already revealed divided allegiances among legislators. The bulk of Member donations have been directed to Pascrell, who is also getting a campaign visit Friday from President Bill Clinton. Full story
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.
State Rep. Kurt Bills has won the Minnesota GOP endorsement to challenge Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D).
“Congratulations to Kurt Bills on receiving the Republican endorsement to run for US Senate,” state GOP Chairman Pat Shortridge and Deputy Chairwoman Kelly Fenton wrote in a joint statement. Full story
Rep. Steven Rothman (above) picked up support from senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Updated: 4:57 p.m. | Senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod is set to campaign on behalf of Rep. Steven Rothman on Wednesday in his tough 9th district primary against fellow Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell. The Bergen County Record first reported the news.
President Bill Clinton endorsed Pascrell earlier this month, and Axelrod’s move to campaign for Rothman sets up a rematch of sorts of the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. In that contest, Rothman was an early Obama backer; Pascrell endorsed then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
