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Editor’s note: At the Races will not come out on Aug. 29. It will return on Sept. 5.
CHICAGO — It’s Vice President Kamala Harris’ night.
Democrats have spent the past three days rallying for their White House ticket, which will climax with Harris’ speech tonight. But members of Congress here are also high on their chances of serving in the majority next year.
“This convention, to me, the whole point of it is to show the different visions for this country, to put forward the policy ideas and to show who is out here fighting for the American people,” said Delaware Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, who is running for Senate.
Everyone from Blunt Rochester to the Obamas have warned Democrats against being complacent or allowing the momentum they feel now to carry them through to November alone. Memories of being blindsided when Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton eight years ago aren’t far below the surface here.
“I think a lot about how we felt in 2016 and what is at risk, and we have so much work to do to win not just the House but legislative, down-ballot races, Democrats running all across the country and all across Washington state,” said Emily Randall, a Democrat running in Washington’s 6th District.
Randall was among the many candidates and lawmakers this week who have noted a surge of volunteer sign-ups since Harris moved to the top of the ticket last month.
“It helps them out to have more mobilization, to have that energy and enthusiasm out there in terms of volunteers and helping get out the vote,” Rep. Suzan DelBene, the chair of the DCCC, told reporters this week when asked how House candidates can benefit from the renewed Democratic enthusiasm.
Democrats have targeted Republicans in New York and California, where the presidential race won’t be a focal point for television advertising. The party is also looking at potential pickups in Iowa and Nebraska. In Alabama, redistricting has created an opportunity for Democrats to win a second House seat that could help counter redistricting in North Carolina, where the party is set to lose at least three seats.
“We definitely are on the path to win the House, win back the House, and we have multiple paths to do it,” DelBene said.
But Republicans continue to try to tie Democrats to President Joe Biden’s policies that they say are unpopular, especially on border security and the cost of living.
“Americans reject the liberal policies of the last four years because it made them less safe and less prosperous — and House Republicans offer a clear alternative,” North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, the chair of the NRCC, said in a statement.
Starting gate
Opposite corners of the USA: Florida’s primaries showed that Rep. Matt Gaetz had no reason to fear the wrath of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. And, as expected, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell will be the Democrat who tries to unseat Sen. Rick Scott. A couple of time zones away in Alaska, Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola got more than 50 percent of the vote in early tallies in the state’s all-party primary, while a Republican she beat in 2022, Nick Begich, and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom took the second and third spots on the November ballot, respectively, colleague Allison Mollenkamp reports. (There was also a late race call this week in the July 30 Arizona primary — see The Count for details.)
RIP: New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., who showed zeal in battling with his colleagues but could be seen slapping their backs moments later, died Wednesday at age 87. Democratic Party officials will be able to replace him on the November ballot, and the Paterson Press had a rundown Wednesday afternoon of the names being mentioned.
DNC roundup
Along with Mary Ellen and Daniela, CQ Roll Call’s team in Chicago includes Aidan Quigley, Editor-in-Chief Jason Dick, Production and Design Editor Chris Hale, and photojournalists Bill Clark and Tom Williams, along with our Inside Elections allies Nathan L. Gonzales and Jacob Rubashkin. Jason, Daniela and Aidan also spoke about the stories below and more on the Political Theater podcast.
Run-up: Before the curtain rose in the United Center, John T. Bennett reported on the hurdles Harris faces to keep momentum going, and about an event in Prince George’s County, Md., that previewed the “long goodbye” ahead for Biden. Niels Lesniewski also reported on the economic plan Harris was rolling out on the eve of the convention.
Day One: Biden was the final act on a long opening night filled with tributes to the sitting president and contrasts with Trump. Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett also got some time in the spotlight that she said made her a little apprehensive. Elsewhere, delegates who arrived uncommitted to Harris or Biden were trying to exert their influence on policy toward Israel, while California Democrats reveled in being the home state of the presidential nominee as they try to flip House seats. We also have a sampling of photos from the night, and the folks at FactCheck.org dug into the speeches.
Day Two: Former President and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama headlined the second night, with a one-two punch of speeches that might be remembered long beyond this convention. Colleague Mike Magner looks at the party’s platform, which is heavy on Trump attacks. The convention’s focus on reproductive rights was on display, and our health team highlights how Walz’s frequent mention of fertility treatments could further help attract voters. Democrats in Chicago who are veterans, meanwhile, argued that a law expanding health coverage could break the GOP’s edge with that voting bloc. There were also photos to see and facts to check.
Day Three: Walz delivered his acceptance speech after the crowd in the United Center heard from Oprah, Maren Morris, Stevie Wonder, Mindy Kaling, John Legend and Sheila E., plus a slew of people who actually run for office. Around town, veterans were urging Walz to lean into his military record to counter Republican attempts to disparage it, Senate Democrats argued they still can hold the majority and LGBTQ delegates cheered candidates who can break barriers in November. In our newsroom, colleague Allison Mollenkamp dusts off the archives and talks with the former Roll Call reporter you may have heard of who covered the contentious 1968 convention in Chicago, and Jacob Fulton looks at what’s exciting young voters about Harris. And once again, there were pictures to see and facts to check.
Meanwhile, from Trump: Throughout the week there has been plenty of GOP counterprogramming as well, with Bennett keeping an eye on the movements of Trump and his 2024 running mate, Sen. JD Vance. The former president has also been venturing into interviews with influencers of late, as Alex Angle from Factba.se reports.
More about the new guy: As Walz continues to introduce himself, colleague Hunter Savery looks at a vote he cast in the House against bailing out the auto industry. And to show he’s not afraid to go there, Jason takes a deep dive into the taco controversy.
ICYMI
Guilty I: Former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., who was expelled by the House in December, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on Monday and faces sentencing in February, colleagues Ryan Tarinelli and Michael Macagnone report.
Guilty II: New Jersey currently has only one senator after the resignation of Democrat Bob Menendez taking effect on Tuesday following his July conviction on bribery and other charges. The Senate Ethics Committee closed its investigation since Menendez is no longer under its jurisdiction, colleague Jacob Fulton reports. Menendez’s departure means backers of the embargo on Cuba have lost a key advocate, colleague Rachel Oswald reports. Gov. Phil Murphy, meanwhile, has named his former chief of staff, George Helmy, to be acting senator until the election, after which Helmy is expected to resign so the governor can appoint the voters’ choice, likely to be Democratic Rep. Andy Kim. Menendez had filed to run as an independent in November but withdrew his name from the ballot last week.
Trailblazing in Delaware: Jim Saksa visits with Sarah McBride, the Delaware state senator who is on track to become the first transgender member of the House. “There are a lot of people right now in this country who don’t see themselves reflected in government, and they deserve to see that,” she said of her gender identity. “But on a day-to-day basis, it’s not what I’m talking about or thinking about. It’s not what voters are talking to me about.”
Stay awake: The attempted assassination of Trump should be a “wake-up call” about the dangers of political rhetoric, nearly 150 former members of Congress are telling current leaders, CQ Roll Call’s Justin Papp reports.
Remember that? The final report on House Republicans’ investigations into Biden was released, but it does little to settle whether they move forward on impeachment, particularly now that he will leave office in January, Tarinelli reports.
Opposing five freshmen: Brady PAC, the political arm of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, is launching a campaign to defeat five House Republican freshmen: Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, John James of Michigan, Anthony D’Esposito of New York, Jen Kiggans of Virginia and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin. The outreach effort will include youth-focused phone banking and door-to-door canvassing.
What we’re reading
Columnist corner: Stu Rothenberg compares how Democrats have changed as a party versus Republicans. Mary C. Curtis also looks at the Democrats’ big and sometimes unruly tent and how Biden showed his patriotism in passing the baton to Harris. And David Winston takes apart economic arguments being offered by the Harris campaign.
GOP poll in Oregon: A recent poll from Republican Mike Erickson’s campaign in Oregon’s 6th District shows a margin-of-error race, The Oregonian reported. Erickson is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Andrea Salinas in a race rated Likely Democratic by Inside Elections.
A man and his Sega Dreamcast: A Washington Post opinion piece examines Walz’s video game obsession after one of his former football players told The New York Times that Walz’s wife once hid his gaming console because he had become so obsessed.
The count: 39 votes
That’s the margin of victory by which Yassamin Ansari beat Raquel Terán in Arizona’s 3rd District after a recount of the July 30 Democratic primary was concluded this week. Ansari, a former Phoenix City Council member, is seeking the seat now held by Rep. Ruben Gallego, the Democratic nominee for Senate. The 3rd District race in November is rated Solid Democratic, so Ansari is likely to be in the 119th Congress.
Nathan’s notes
The 30 candidates in the DCCC’s Red to Blue program for challengers to GOP incumbents or candidates for competitive open seats were virtually invisible in Chicago this week, but that’s not unusual for conventions in either party, Nathan writes.
Coming up
At the Races will be taking a post-convention hiatus next week. Before we return, Massachusetts is holding primaries on Sept. 3. None of the state’s 10 Democratic incumbents on the ballot will face a primary challenger.
Photo finish
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