Impact2020: July 21, 2020

Welcome to this Tuesday edition of the Impact2020 briefing. I’m back and it looks like the political news never took a break. Let’s take a look at the latest concerns in Jacksonville ahead of the GOP convention, the newest development in the felony case against a Kansas congressman, and who Georgia Democrats picked to replace John Lewis on the ballot.

On the Ground

‘Past the point of no return’

Duval County’s sheriff is concerned that the last-minute decision to move the Republican National Convention to Jacksonville — along with a slew of other factors — has pushed efforts to safely police the event “past the point of no return,” the Miami Herald’s David Smiley reports.

Sheriff Mike Williams, a Republican, stated: “With less than 40 days until the expected Republican National Convention is slated to arrive in Jacksonville, I am compelled to express my significant concerns with the viability of this event. At this point, we are simply past the point of no return to execute the event with safety and security that is our obligation.”

President Donald Trump is still set to deliver his acceptance speech for his party’s nomination in front of about 7,500 delegates and guests the week of Aug. 24. While Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said last week that tens of millions of dollars had been privately raised for the city’s convention, Williams indicated there was a “paucity of resources,” Smiley notes.

“With a growing list of challenges — be it finances, communication and timeline — I cannot say with confidence that this event and our community will not be at risk,” Williams said.

Credit: Pedro Portal, The Miami Herald

Additionally, Jacksonville City Council president Thomas Hazouri said “the city administration had yet to work with a member of the council to file legislation needed to accept a federal Department of Justice security grant — worth between $30 million and $40 million — that the city says will fund the entirety of the city’s policing bill.” Williams said some of the money had already been spent in Charlotte.

The only one?

Joe Biden may be the only person to give a major speech at the Democratic National Convention, dealing the latest blow to Milwaukee which had planned to draw 50,000 people to the city, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Mary Spicuzza and Daniel Bice write.

The Daily Beast was the first to report this possibility, but Spicuzza and Bice say convention organizers declined to confirm or deny the report.

Still, one source said ”organizers were still planning to have at least one major speech delivered from Milwaukee each night of the August 17- 20 convention.”

Katie Peters, a spokeswoman for the 2020 Democratic National Convention Committee, said: “Our plans are not yet confirmed and will continue to take shape over the next several weeks as we make adjustments to best protect public health.”

The saga continues

Prosecutors allege Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins told a detective that a staff member completed documents that listed an incorrect address for him, report Kansas City Star’s Jonathan Shorman and Bryan Lowry.

It’s the latest twist in the illegal voting case against the first-term GOP lawmaker. Watkins faces several felony charges, including a charge that he lied to investigators.

“The Shawnee County District Attorney’s office also alleged that lawyers for Watkins asked to sit in on any law enforcement interviews of his employees, a request prosecutors rejected,” Shorman and Lowry write.

This occurred as Watkins’ attorneys are trying to have county district attorney Mike Kagay removed from the case, saying the charges are politically motivated. But Deputy District Attorney Brett Watson said in a court filing that Watkins failed to provide facts showing a conflict of interest.

Trail Mix

Battle for Congress

• Georgia Democrats selected state party chair Nikema Williams to replace the late Rep. John Lewis on the November ballot, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Greg Bluestein reports.

• Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will vote for GOP state Rep. Nancy Mace in the state’s 1st congressional district race, The State’s Maayan Schecter reports.

• Vice President Mike Pence will attend a campaign event for Mace as part of his visit to South Carolina today, The State’s Emily Bohatch notes.

• “The Republican candidates competing to take on Kansas Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids would mostly support … Trump if he followed through on a threat to withhold federal funds from school districts that don’t reopen in the fall because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bryan Lowry reports for the Kansas City Star.

Battleground state watch

• Federal officials arrested Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder in connection with a $60 million bribery case, reports the Columbus Dispatch’s Rick Rouan and Randy Ludlow.

• The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Ellie Silverman and Mike Newall report that local officials were caught by surprise after Trump said he may send “more federal law enforcement” to Philadelphia and other major cities to quell protests.

Veepstakes

• A group of Bernie Sanders supporters in the California Democratic Party favor Barbara Lee, Karen Bass or Nina Turner for Biden’s running mate. Joe Garofoli has the details in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Number of the Day

56%

The number of U.S. adults that agreed that American society is racist in a new The Wall Street Journal and NBC News poll.

For Planning Purposes

July 21

President Donald Trump holds a coronavirus briefing

Joe Biden delivers remarks in New Castle, Del.

Vice President Mike Pence visits South Carolina

July 23

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth participates in Biden campaign roundtable in Michigan

July 24

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar participates in virtual Biden campaign roundtable

July 31

Trump holds a fundraiser in Tampa

August 1

Trump holds a fundraiser in Miami

August 4

Primaries in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington

“I am not committed to naming any but the people I’ve named”

Biden revealed there are four Black women on his VP shortlist during an interview with MSNBC’s Joy Reid.

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This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 11:45 AM.