NRCC Weekly Rundown: GOP’s ‘Sturdy’ Majority, Gwen Graham’s Bad Poll Numbers, and Lost Liberal Lonnie

October 2, 2015

It’s October, which means 2016 is one month closer. Here’s this week’s NRCC Weekly Rundown:

Tick Tock: ‘Clock Is Running Out’ for DCCC to Find Recruits

After recent polls showed Republicans leading in six competitive congressional races throughout the country, Roll Call further confirmed that House Democrats are in trouble next year, and even they’ve recognize it. With the GOP majority looking “sturdy heading into 2016,” the article discovered “it’s hard to find any Democrats who will say publicly or privately that their party has a shot at winning the House majority.” The reason why:

“Democratic operatives thought the prospect of Hillary Rodham Clinton topping the ticket, coupled with a map rife with pickup opportunities in districts where presidential turnout often benefits their party, would be a strong draw for candidates.

Yet Democrats are without quality recruits in nearly a dozen competitive districts across the country. As the third quarter of the year comes to an end, the clock is running out to put strong recruits in place.”

Basically, Democrats can’t find quality candidates willing to go to Washington to join a minority caucus led by Nancy Pelosi. Unable to run on their failed policies, Democrats were hoping to ride the coattails of their presumptive presidential candidate, but now she is dragging them down too amid scandals and concerns over how trustworthiness. Bad news for the DCCC; good news for Americans.

Should Gwen Graham Start Packing Up Her House Office?

Gwen Graham’s hopes of staying in Washington can’t be found in the House, according to a new poll. In Florida, the legislature is working to redraw the state’s congressional districts, and the proposed new versions for Graham’s 2nd District and the neighboring 5th District show voters are not eager to give her a second term.

In FL-02, she trails a Republican opponent 49 percent to 40 percent. Meanwhile, in the nearby Democrat-leaning 5th District, Graham would have to take on longtime congresswoman Corrine Brown in a primary. The poll shows Brown leading by a wide margin of 53 percent to 29 percent. Looks like Graham’s best chance is making a run for the Senate, where she will have to mix it up in the already-contentious Democratic primary between Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy; she receives 40-percent support, while Grayson and Murphy each get 9 percent.

Liberal Lonnie Needs a Map

What is it with Michigan Democrats and forgetting where they’re from? First, we had Democrat Melissa Gilbert holding her first campaign event thousands of miles away from Michigan’s 7th District back in her stomping grounds of Los Angeles. Now, we’re scratching our heads trying to figure out why Detroit Democrat Lon Johnson (also known as Liberal Lonnie) is trying to represent Northern Michigan.

In case you needed more proof that Liberal Lonnie is out of touch with Yoopers and other Northern Michiganders: Not only did Nancy Pelosi just endorsed him to join in pushing her agenda in Washington, but he’s a big fan of President Obama.

Other News and Notes

Minnesota Democrat Rick Nolan voted to weaken our national security by voting against the National Defense Authorization Act, putting Minnesota families more at risk. Read the NRCC statement here.
Similarly, several Democrats voted against the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act, which would force Iran to pay billions of dollars in damages for state-sponsored terrorism before providing relief from economic sanctions. Among those who voted against the bill include California representatives Pete Aguilar, Ami Bera, Julia Brownley, John Garamendi, Scott Peters, and Raul Ruiz. Connecticut’s Elizabeth Esty; Illinois’s Cheri Bustos; Minnesota’s Nolan; New Hampshire’s Annie Kuster; New Mexico’s Ben Ray Luján; and New York’s Steve Israel. The NRCC release can be found here.
News that MNsure, the state-level health care exchange in Minnesota, would increase up health care rates up to 49 percent was enough to dissuade one Democrat from running in the state’s 2nd Congressional District next year. Yet, the two Democrats currently running in the district—Angie Craig and Mary Lawrence—don’t seem to mind: Both have been unequivocal supporters of government-run health care like MNsure, even if it drives up the cost for local families. Voters will remember when on Election Day.
Arizona Republican Martha McSally’s Border Jobs for Veterans Act unanimously passed in the House. The bill requires the recruitment of vets to Border Patrol positions. Texas congressman Will Hurd, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, said the bill would create “more opportunities” for veterans.
New York’s John Katko’s airport-security bill, which would improve security in transportation hubs across the country, was signed in to law.
Michigan freshman Mike Bishop’s first sponsored bill passed, which would extend the Perkins Loan program, making college more accessible to the neediest students.