Impact2020: March 23, 2020

Welcome to your Impact2020 briefing for Monday, March 23. At this point, it’s news if a state doesn’t cancel its election. We look at where the primary calendar stands. Plus, another member of Congress tests positive for COVID-19, and Michael Bloomberg’s cash infusion to the DNC has some unforeseen consequences.

On the Ground

The updated primary calendar

As many Americans enter their second week of self-quarantine (we’re right there with you!), the 2020 campaign is still frozen in place. Joe Biden remains very likely to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Bernie Sanders is not ready to drop out. And more and more states are postponing their elections (more on that below).

But despite growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, a handful of states are still going ahead with their nominating contests in early April.

Alaska, Hawaii and Wyoming are slated to be the next states to vote on April 4. Alaska officials have been encouraging voters to cast their ballots by mail, and Wyoming Democrats already eliminated the in-person portion of their caucuses. Now in Hawaii, the state party canceled plans for walk-in voting at their primary, Chad Blair reports for the Honolulu Civil Beat, opting instead to add another round of mailed balloting.

Then, Wisconsin’s primary is April 7. Patrick Marley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a federal judge reinstated the state’s online voter registration system there to encourage participation.

After that, there will be another lull in the calendar. Puerto Rico is poised to move its primary from March 29 to no earlier than April 26. And four states — Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island — are still scheduled for April 28 (for now).

Staying home and off Capitol Hill

Meanwhile, Rand Paul of Kentucky became the first U.S. senator and third member of Congress to test positive for COVID-19 over the weekend. Paul said he was unaware of direct contact with anyone infected, and he expects to return to the Senate after his quarantine ends.

Credit: AP Photo/Susan Walsh

Morgan Eads and Daniel Desrochers of the Lexington Herald-Leader report that Paul “attended a fundraiser … in Louisville on March 7, which was attended by a woman who later tested positive for COVID-19. Others in attendance included Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.”

Beshear has tested negative for the virus, while Yarmuth and Fischer have self-quarantined.

More money, more problems?

At first glance, Michael Bloomberg’s decision to transfer $18 million from his defunct presidential campaign account to the Democratic National Committee seemed like nothing but good news for the party. But as Jim Morrill of the Charlotte Observer notes, it means some campaign staffers will now be out of a job in the middle of a national crisis.

Morrill reports that “in a conference call with Bloomberg’s campaign staff, ... workers were told that salaries and benefits they had been told would last until November were ending.”

“It’s a punch to the gut with the epidemic going on and the economy flat-lining,” said one former staffer, who asked not to be named because they’d signed non-disclosure agreements. “We were all promised that we’d work through November.”

Trail Mix

March Madness

• Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids quarantined herself in her home for possible COVID-19 exposure, and is getting through the difficult time with a comfort food of choice: Lucky Charms. Bryan Lowry reports for the Kansas City Star that she “had largely switched her congressional office from physical to digital” before then. Her quarantine ends March 26, but she said now is “time to consider alternative ways of meeting and even voting” for lawmakers.

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said “he will be quarantined at home for the next two weeks after coming in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19,” Jessie Van Berkel reports for the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

April Showers

• “Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf and key members of the state legislature are preparing a proposal to postpone the April 28 primary election until June 2,” the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Lai and Chris Brennan report.

It’s Gonna be May

• Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno said the May 19 primary will go on as scheduled since the state votes by mail, Jeff Mapes of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports.

Battle for Congress

• The Republican primary runoff election for Rep. Mark Meadows’ seat in North Carolina has been postponed from May 12 until June 23, Colin Campbell reports for the Raleigh News & Observer.

• The GOP primary runoff election in Mississippi’s 2nd congressional district has also been delayed from March 31 until June 23, notes Sarah Fowler and Wilton Jackson of the Jackson Clarion Ledger

• And in Texas, the May 26 primary election runoffs will be delayed until July 14, the Texas Tribune’s Alexa Ura reports.

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Number of the Day

$876 million

That’s how much Bloomberg spent in total on his failed 2020 presidential campaign, according to newly filed financial reports. That means he spent more than $15 million for every pledged delegate he won in the Democratic primary.

For Planning Purposes

March 23

Biden holds a virtual fundraiser.

March 24

Biden appears on The View via satellite.

‘I’m watching you’

Gov. Andrew Cuomo really, REALLY wants New Yorkers to stay inside. And now he’s getting a little Hollywood help from the likes of Robert De Niro, Danny Devito and Ben Stiller. Yes, Stiller explains what the deal with the chainsaw is HERE.

Also chopping wood...

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This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Impact2020: March 23, 2020."