Impact2020: July 14, 2020

Welcome to today’s Impact2020 briefing, where it’s Election Day in three states. We take a look at the GOP primaries Donald Trump is wading into, Mike Pence’s trip to Louisiana, what Ron DeSantis is doing about the rise of coronavirus cases in Florida.

On the Ground

It’s Election Day...

… in Texas, Alabama and Maine, serving as the latest test for voting amid a pandemic. The Texas Tribune’s Alex Samuels has everything you need to know about the state’s primary runoffs here.

Among the most notable contests to watch: the contentious Democratic Senate primary between Air Force veteran MJ Hegar and state Sen. Royce West. The winner will take on GOP Sen. John Cornyn this fall.

Then there are two House GOP primaries President Donald Trump has waded into. In Texas’ 13th congressional district, Trump is backing former White House doctor Ronny Jackson over lobbyist Josh Winegarner. And in the 23rd congressional district, the president endorsed Navy veteran Tony Gonzales, while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is supporting Air Force veteran Raul Reyes.

Samuels writes that a Trump endorsement in past GOP primaries has “either helped land a candidate above the runoff threshold … or cement the candidate’s name on the November ballot.” But “with Trump’s poll numbers suffering … it’s unclear if his endorsement will carry the shock and awe it did several months ago.”

Credit: LM Otero, AP

In Alabama, Trump is supporting former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville over his former Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, in the GOP Senate primary runoff, Mike Cason notes for AL.com. The winner will face Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in November.

Heading into today, 43,693 absentee ballots have been requested in Alabama and 26,514 have been returned. By comparison, a total of 18,279 absentee ballots were cast in the March 3 primary, AL.com’s Leada Gore reports.

More than 190,000 Maine voters have requested absentee ballots ahead of today’s elections, a record for a statewide primary, Scott Thistle reports for the Portland Press Herald.

And Texans have voted at high rates in the primary so far, Samuels notes. “Through July 8, nearly 800,000 Texans had voted early — either in person or by mail; more than 482,000 people have voted in the Democratic Party runoffs, while more than 316,500 have participated in Republican runoff contests.”

ICYMI

On the latest episode of the Beyond the Bubble podcast, the McClatchy team breaks down the strategy of the anti-Trump Republicans who are now trying to flip the GOP-controlled Senate. Download here: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts

Pence travels to another COVID-ridden state

Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Louisiana today, one of many states that has seen a recent surge in coronavirus cases.

Melinda Deslatte of the AP reports that Pence is slated to meet with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, members of the state’s congressional delegation and local health officials. State Attorney General Jeff Landry was originally scheduled to join, but is in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19.

Edwards enacted a statewide mask mandate for people 8 and older this week, and limited bars to takeout and delivery service only.

Pence is also scheduled to participate in a discussion at LSU’s Tiger Stadium that focuses on reopening plans for schools and sports programs this fall.

DeSantis under fire

The Miami Herald’s Kirby Wilson reports that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acknowledged that Floridians are not getting their coronavirus test results fast enough.

“When people go through, a lot of times they’re not getting their results back for seven days. Obviously we want to improve that,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis added that dedicated “symptomatic” lanes would be added at drive-through testing sites in South Florida, the pandemic’s epicenter in the state, to get more rapid tests.

Some Floridians have made it clear they don’t think DeSantis’ actions are enough. One activist interrupted DeSantis during his announcement, shouting, “Shame on you,” he said. “You are an embarrassment. … We’re getting record-breaking cases every day, and you are doing nothing.”

The Miami Herald’s April Rubin and Samantha J. Gross report that the activist was Tomas Kennedy, the Florida director of United We Dream, a national immigrant advocacy group.

Trail Mix

Battleground state watch

• Joe Biden is launching his first general election TV ads in Texas, Patrick Svitek writes for the Texas Tribune.

• A new report shows “a striking surge” in the number of absentee ballot requests in North Carolina, a state where local officials anticipate more than 1.5 million voters could cast mail-in ballots this fall, Jim Morrill reports for the Charlotte Observer.

• The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jonathan Lai writes that the jump in voter registration in Pennsylvania heading into the 2020 general election is not as high as it was at this point in 2016.

• The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Craig Gilbert breaks down the latest polls showing Biden winning young and old voters in Wisconsin, while Trump has an advantage with middle-aged voters.

COVID action

• Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced new closures, including gyms, indoor shopping malls and church services, the Sacramento Bee’s Andrew Sheeler, Tony Bizjak, and Dale Kasler report.

• “It’s not fun, but it’s a hell of a lot better than widespread economic shutdown,” Republican Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi said, urging people to wear masks. Giacomo Bologna of the Jackson Clarion Ledger has more.

Battle for Congress

• California Rep. Devin Nunes’ Democratic opponent, Phil Arballo, raised $65,000 in the three days after a judge ruled against Nunes in his lawsuit against Twitter, Kate Irby reports for the Fresno Bee.

Number of the Day

71%

That’s how many parents said that sending their kids back to school in the fall was very or moderately risky as the Trump administration threatens to withhold federal funds from schools that don’t reopen, according to a new Axios/Ipsos survey.

For Planning Purposes

July 14

Alabama and Texas primary runoffs and Maine primary

Pence visits Baton Rouge, La.

Joe Biden speaks about his economic recovery plan in Wilmington, Del.

July 15

Trump heads to Atlanta

Kamala Harris and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter will host a virtual Biden roundtable in Minnesota

July 16

Jill Biden holds a virtual event in Reno, Nev.

John Kerry hosts a virtual Biden campaign roundtable in New Hampshire

The Biden campaign hosts a virtual event with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Elizabeth Warren

July 17

Jill Biden holds virtual events in Michigan and Colorado

CAT’S GOT YOUR CALL?

Rocco -- or maybe his tail -- stole the show during a virtual committee meeting with members of the UK parliament.

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This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 1:28 PM.