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Tag: reelection

  • Tester will seek reelection, bolstering Dems in 2024

    Tester will seek reelection, bolstering Dems in 2024

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    But Tester’s decision, along with Sen. Sherrod Brown’s (D-Ohio) bid for a fourth term, gives Democrats a pathway to keep their majority. The party currently holds 51 seats, meaning it can only afford a net loss of one seat in 2024 provided Democrats maintain control of the White House. And with sparse pick-up opportunities next year, the most straightforward path is returning the party’s incumbents to office, meaning Democrats must win reelection in at least two of the three red states: Ohio, West Virginia and Montana.

    Tester has won races under myriad scenarios since entering national politics. He defeated former GOP Sen. Conrad Burns in 2006, successfully split tickets with former President Barack Obama in 2012 and survived a difficult midterm cycle in 2018 by defeating now-Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.). During that race, Tester raised the ire of former President Donald Trump by helping sink his pick for the Veterans’ Affairs Department, now-Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas).

    Both Rosendale and Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-Mont.) are weighing a bid against Tester; Zinke passed on the 2018 race by joining Trump’s cabinet as secretary of the Interior. Republicans are also keeping their eyes on Gov. Greg Gianforte and state Attorney General Austin Knudsen to mount potential GOP campaigns to unseat Tester.

    Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) is chairing the GOP campaign arm this cycle, adding intrigue to Tester’s bid after Tester helped recruit former Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, to run against Daines in 2020. Daines campaigned with Rosendale in the fall of 2018 as the GOP pressed to beat Tester, albeit unsuccessfully.

    “Jon Tester just made the same mistake Steve Bullock did in 2020. Both should have ended their political careers on their terms. Instead, they each will have their careers ended by Montana voters,” Daines said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

    The Montana Democrat, who chairs the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, is known for working across the aisle and played a key role in negotiating the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure bill last Congress. He also teamed up with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to pass legislation that broadened the Department of Veterans’ Affairs coverage for toxic exposure related to burn pits.

    Tester has a more liberal voting record than Manchin but a more centrist one than Brown. He did not serve as a public roadblock to President Joe Biden’s agenda like Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), though he does occasionally vote against the party leadership, like on a bid to raise the minimum wage to $15. More recently, he criticized the Biden administration over its handling of a Chinese government spy balloon that flew over Montana.

    Tester also has a unique personal profile: He’s a working farmer who lost three fingers in a meat grinder as a child and is known in Washington and Montana for blunt talk and the occasional expletive. His political skills will be put to the test, though, as Montana grew significantly during the pandemic, meaning he will face thousands of new voters next November.

    While Tester has yet to announce his campaign team, his 2018 campaign manager Christie Roberts is expected to stay on for another consecutive cycle at the Democratic Senate campaign arm in a senior role.

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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

  • Biden faces a key economic decision ahead of reelection

    Biden faces a key economic decision ahead of reelection

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    Powell laid out the “lengthy list” of responsibilities that Brainard has carried at the Fed beyond monetary policy. In a statement, he cited his vice chair’s “stewardship of financial stability and the payments system, strengthening the financial system both domestically and globally, and helping to manage the immense operational agency challenges during the pandemic.”

    She earned admirers and detractors along the way from both progressives and Republicans, signaling that Biden’s efforts to replace her could face some formidable obstacles in a closely divided Senate.

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who sits on the Banking Committee overseeing the Fed, said she wants someone new at the Fed “soon.” Warren has been sharply critical of Powell’s efforts to kill inflation by cranking up rates at the fastest pace in four decades.

    “Chairman Powell continues to signal that he will impose more extreme rate increases, and he still is in a position where he could tip our economy into recession,” Warren told POLITICO. “We need another voice at the Fed to help put the brakes on that.”

    Here’s a list of potential candidates who have been the subject of speculation on Biden’s Fed nominee.

    Mary Daly

    The San Francisco Fed president is a labor economist and a close ally of Powell, who will likely be consulted on the choice. She is a potentially strong candidate to succeed Brainard because she’s viewed as being particularly concerned about avoiding damage to the job market — in central bank-speak, a “dove.” She also has ties to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, herself a former San Francisco Fed president, who Daly credits with helping advance her career. Yellen is also likely to weigh in on the nominee.

    Austan Goolsbee

    A chief economist to President Barack Obama, Goolsbee only became head of the Chicago Fed last month. But he’s already being talked about as a potential replacement for Brainard, since he too is perceived as dovish. He has highlighted the role that supply chain snarls have played in inflation and warned that acting too aggressively to rein in elevated prices caused by problems the Fed can’t solve could result in a recession — and still leave us with high inflation.

    Susan Collins

    The Boston Fed president was closely connected to the central bank even before she took her current job last year, regularly attending the exclusive Jackson Hole conference every August. Collins, the first Black woman to head a regional Fed branch, is an international economist whose work has focused on economic growth in developing countries. She previously served as provost and head of the public policy school at the University of Michigan.

    Lisa Cook

    Already a member of the Fed’s board, Cook fits the mold of being sympathetic to workers and willing to question the traditional narrative that low unemployment is a problem for inflation. A former economist at Michigan State University, Cook has long explored the impact of racial injustice on the economy. She faced a bruising confirmation battle last year but was ultimately confirmed in a 51-50 vote to become the first Black woman to get a vote on interest rate policy, two months before Collins took her post in Boston.

    Betsey Stevenson

    Another economist with ties to Michigan, Stevenson previously served as an economic adviser to Obama on issues related to social policy, the job market, and trade — making her a familiar face to Bidenworld. An expert on employment and wages, she also previously served as chief economist to the Labor Department. She’s currently a professor at the University of Michigan.

    Karen Dynan

    The Harvard economics professor has extensive ties to the Fed, having served on the staff of its board for 17 years. But she’s also got political connections, having served as chief economist at the Treasury Department from 2014 to 2017 and as a senior economist at the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers from 2003 to 2004.

    Christina Romer

    Romer, like Goolsbee, served as chief economist to Obama, giving her deep connections to the current White House. At the time, she worked closely with Jared Bernstein, who’s set to be nominated as Biden’s chief economist, to draft a plan for recovering from the 2008 financial crisis. Currently a professor at the University of California at Berkeley, she has done extensive research on the Fed and monetary policy.

    Janice Eberly

    Eberly preceded Dynan as chief economist at Treasury under Obama and is a prominent expert in macroeconomics. Now a professor at Northwestern University, she has previously been considered for openings at the Fed.

    Brian Sack

    Sack is a familiar face for the Fed who has dealt extensively with this administration as vice chair of a private-sector committee that advises Treasury on debt management. As a former head of the New York Fed’s markets group, he was responsible for implementing the central bank’s policy decisions, and he also served for seven years on the staff of the Fed board. He recently left investment management firm D.E. Shaw.

    Seth Carpenter

    Morgan Stanley’s global chief economist used to be a top monetary policy staffer at the Fed board and subsequently was acting assistant Treasury secretary for financial markets, meaning he has dealt intimately with central bank policy from multiple angles. His name has been floated for a number of jobs in this administration, given his range of experience. It’s unclear whether the administration would be comfortable appointing someone who works at a prominent megabank, though.

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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

  • Feinstein passes on Senate reelection in 2024

    Feinstein passes on Senate reelection in 2024

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    Few people believed Feinstein would seek another term. Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have both launched campaigns for Senate — although Schiff said his was conditional on Feinstein not running again — and Rep. Barbara Lee is preparing to launch her own.

    Despite the widespread presumption that Feinstein would not seek reelection, her announcement on Tuesday nonetheless relieved California Democrats hoping to replace her from the awkward predicament of openly seeking a seat that wasn’t officially open.

    Porter tweeted quick praise of the senator she’s hoping to succeed, crediting Feinstein for having “created a path for women in politics that I am proud to follow.” Schiff lauded her as “one of the finest legislators we’ve ever known.”

    California’s primary system allows the top two vote-getters to advance to the general election regardless of party. Given the state’s overwhelmingly blue electorate, it’s quite possible that next November Californians will choose between two Democrats as they select their next senator. That was the case during Feinstein’s 2018 victory over Democrat Kevin de León and now-Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2016 victory over former Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez.

    And whoever does win that race could hold the seat for decades, as Feinstein did.

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Feinstein’s retirement at the Democratic caucus’ weekly lunch on Tuesday, where she received a standing ovation, according to party senators. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) also gave an introduction before Feinstein spoke.

    Padilla “explained that his first job in public service was working for Dianne Feinstein,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) recalled after the lunch. “Then he called on Dianne herself, who talked about her husband’s death and how hard that was and that she’s ready to step away from public life.”

    While Democratic senators praised Feinstein’s long career, they were more reluctant to discuss who in the increasingly crowded field might replace her.

    “Right now, we should just celebrate the amazing career of Sen. Feinstein, who has served her country with distinction and honor,” said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), chair of the caucus’ campaign arm. “There will be plenty of time talk about the election in the future.”

    Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said he hoped “the voters of California will reflect on her record and her contributions, and that that will help inform the race in terms of what kind of leaders California’s voters want.”

    Asked about the impact of Feinstein’s retirement on the race to succeed her, Warren — who has endorsed Porter — said she couldn’t speak to California politics. But she described her fellow progressive as “family.”

    “When [Porter] said she would be in the Senate race, I said, like we always do with family: ‘I’ll be all the way with you,’” Warren said.



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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

  • Old Bay melee: Maryland Dems circle as Cardin weighs reelection

    Old Bay melee: Maryland Dems circle as Cardin weighs reelection

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    In an interview, Cardin made clear he’s not calling it quits yet. He cracked about those raising money with the Senate in mind: “If they raise money now, they can turn it over to me, can’t they?”

    “I guess they’re ahead of themselves,” Cardin said, reiterating his end of March timeline. “I’m not concerned about what other people might be doing.”

    Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) are getting most of the attention in the latest edition of the chamber’s biennial retirement watch. Yet blue states like Maryland can earn even more scrutiny than battlegrounds within the Democratic Party, because a primary win in an open race can turn into a long and cushy Senate tenure. And Cardin is hardly the only one under pressure.

    Two members of the California House delegation are launching Senate bids without bothering to wait for a retirement announcement from 89-year-old Sen. Dianne Feinstein, with a third on the way. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) is open to succeeding Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) if he decides to retire. And though Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) is running for a third term, everyone’s quietly keeping an eye on Vacationland — just in case.

    That jockeying is drawing particular attention in Maryland — because Cardin might actually run again.

    “There’s a lot of people talking about it,” said Rep. Glenn Ivey, a freshman Democrat who represents part of Prince George’s County. “You got a deep bench in Maryland, too. So there’s a lot of people who could, I think, be strong candidates.”

    First elected to Congress in 1986, Cardin has drawn notice after raising less than $30,000 over the last three months and ending December with just over $1 million in the bank. That has many Maryland politicos betting that his deep-blue seat will open up.

    “He’s a mentor to me. And I’ve been here a long time,” quipped Democratic Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger about Cardin, adding that he hoped the senator wouldn’t retire.

    An early frontrunner could be the 51-year-old Alsobrooks, the first woman ever to serve as executive of her native Prince George’s County and the youngest person ever to be elected as state’s attorney there.

    Alsobrooks is a proven fundraiser who considered running for governor in 2022 but chose instead to seek reelection to her county post. Asked about a Senate run in a WJLA interview that aired Thursday, Alsobrooks said she would consider it if the seat was open: “It would be an amazing opportunity to represent the state.”

    She has taken perhaps the most concrete steps toward a run. Dave Chase, who managed former Rep. Tim Ryan’s 2022 Ohio Senate campaign, has joined Alsobrooks’ political operation, which has also begun engaging with consultants.

    Trone is having conversations with potential senior staff hires who could help him mount a statewide campaign, according to three sources familiar with his preparations.

    The owner of the Total Wine & More empire, Trone would bring nearly unlimited cash to any race, after investing over $13 million of his largesse in a failed 2016 House bid. Raskin ultimately won that seat and Trone ran and won a different district in 2018, which he has held since.

    Both Trone and Alsobrooks declined to comment through spokespeople.

    Raskin, a constitutional law scholar, gained national prominence for his lead role in former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment. But he is also currently battling lymphoma and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments. In an interview with POLITICO, he said he would not rule out a Senate run but that his focus is on his health.

    “When people call me, I tell them, ‘Thank you,’” Raskin said. “But I just got to get through this. And then I’ll be able to think about the future.”  

    He may decline the statewide run for another reason: His recent ascension as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.

    The current shadow field lacks geographic diversity. All three Democrats are from the D.C.-area — and some will want a Charm City Democrat to succeed Cardin, who speaks with a notable Baltimore accent. Johnny Olszewski Jr., the Baltimore County executive, has been floated for a Senate bid but is seen as more likely to eventually replace Ruppersberger in the House, should he retire.

    Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) advised other Democrats to buzz off while Cardin decides: “Everyone should give him room.”

    One state away on I-95, Carper says he’s doing everything he needs to win reelection. He raised about $180,000 in the final quarter of 2022, significantly more than Cardin, Feinstein or King. A fourth-term senator, Carper has served in politics since the 1970s. And he’s not super eager to start his next campaign — or talk about it.

    “Campaigns are too long and too expensive,” Carper said. “I shorten the campaigns as much as I can. So, I’m doing what I need to do to be able to run. That’s all I’m going to say.”

    Carper, 76, faced a primary challenge in 2018, winning the nominating contest with 64 percent of the vote. His state is much smaller than Maryland, and thus there are fewer people jockeying to succeed him. But there are obvious contenders: Democratic Gov. John Carney and Blunt Rochester, who in 2016 became the first woman to represent Delaware in Congress.

    “If the seat was open, I would definitely consider it,” Blunt Rochester said. She said she was focused on serving Delaware in the House but would “be prepared for whatever comes.”

    Maine, meanwhile, has small benches for both parties. And King’s $56,000 in fundraising has raised eyebrows. But the 78-year-old senator is batting away any suggestion he might not run.

    “I could be struck by lightning. But I am running,” King said of those who say his slow fundraising points to a possible retirement. “I’m doing all the mechanical things. It is two years away. Olympia Snowe once said, ‘there are only two ways to run: Scared and unopposed.’”

    Snowe, of course, blindsided the GOP with her retirement in 2012 and opened the door for King’s election.

    And while shadow races often form in states where an aging senator seems ripe for retirement, California has been the most active.

    Democratic Reps. Adam Schiff and Katie Porter launched bids for Feinstein’s seat, which she has held since 1992. The incumbent has not said whether or not she will step down at the end of her term. A third colleague, Rep. Barbara Lee, is preparing to join the field.

    “It is definitely awkward, but I believe that people are predicting what could happen in the future,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.).

    It’s all a little much for Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who runs Democrats’ campaign arm. Given that even primary elections are more than a year away, he said: “Folks should be respectful to the person who is in office.”

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    ( With inputs from : www.politico.com )