Voters decide U.S. House, Senate primaries in five states June 9
Joe Biden and Donald Trump won their respective parties’ presidential primaries on June 9 in Georgia and West Virginia. Biden won all of the 133 pledged delegates available in the Democratic primaries.
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Five states—Georgia, Nevada, North Dakota, South Carolina, and West Virginia—held congressional primaries on June 9. Winners of the primaries either advanced to primary runoffs or to general elections, depending on the state’s election system. The primary runoff in Georgia is August 11, and the primary runoff in South Carolina is June 23. The other three states do not hold primary runoffs. The general election in all five states will be held November 3.
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Georgia, South Carolina, and West Virginia each had one U.S. Senate seat up for election. All five states also had U.S. House seats up for election:
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A total of 32 congressional offices were up for election on June 9, and 56 primaries took place—28 Democratic, 27 Republican, and one Libertarian. South Carolina canceled nine primaries—four Democratic and five Republican—where candidates ran unopposed. The candidates in those races automatically advanced to the general election.
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Twenty-nine incumbents—19 Republicans and 10 Democrats—ran for re-election. Twenty-eight of those incumbents advanced to the general election, and one advanced to a primary runoff. No incumbents were defeated.
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Ballotpedia tracked seven federal primaries that were designated as battlegrounds—one for the U.S. Senate and six for the U.S. House. Here’s what happened in some of those races:
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Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Georgia: Jon Ossoff defeated six other candidates to win the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. David Perdue (R). With 99% of precincts reporting, Ossoff had received 50.8% of the vote, clearing the 50% threshold required to win the nomination outright. Two election forecasters say Perdue is likely to win and a third says the race leans towards Perdue.
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Republican primary in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District: Rich McCormick won the Republican nomination to succeed outgoing Rep. Rob Woodall (R). With 50% of precincts reporting, McCormick had 55.0% of the vote, followed by Renee Unterman with 17.6%. In 2018, Georgia’s 7th district had the narrowest margin of victory of any U.S. House district nationwide. Election forecasters say this year’s race is a toss-up.
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Republican primary in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District: State Rep. Nancy Mace defeated three candidates to win the Republican nomination to challenge Rep. Joe Cunningham (D). Mace had 57.5% of the vote to second-place finisher Kathy Landing’s 25.9%. Before Cunningham won election in 2018, Republicans had held the seat since 1981. Election forecasters say the general election is a toss-up.
Republican National Committee announces presidential convention to be split between Charlotte, Jacksonville
The Republican National Committee (RNC) announced on June 11 that Donald Trump will accept the party’s nomination for president in Jacksonville, Florida, splitting the party’s national convention between Florida and its original location of Charlotte, North Carolina.
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The first day of the convention will take place in Charlotte, while the following three days will be moved to Jacksonville. Trump’s acceptance speech will take place at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, which has a 15,000-person capacity.
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The RNC also voted to reduce the number of in-person delegates in Charlotte from 2,500 to 336. The Hill reported that the party’s 2016 platform will be adopted again since the Platform Committee is not meeting.
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On June 2, Trump tweeted, “Governor Cooper is still in Shelter-In-Place Mode, and not allowing us to occupy the arena as originally anticipated and promised.” The RNC stated, “Due to the directive from the governor that our convention cannot go on as planned as required by our rules, the celebration of the president’s acceptance of the Republican nomination will be held in another city.”
Virginia Republican Party to hold 5th Congressional District nominating convention
Virginia Republicans are holding a nominating convention June 13 in the 5th Congressional District, which is primarily in the south-central part of the state. Political parties in Virginia can select nominees by either a convention or primary. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Saturday’s convention will be held in a church parking lot and elected delegates will cast ballots from their cars. Over 3,500 delegates have been selected to participate.
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Convention-goers will select either incumbent Denver Riggleman or Bob Good to be the party’s nominee.
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Riggleman was first elected in 2018, defeating Leslie Cockburn (D), 53% to 47%, in the general election. Riggleman has been endorsed by President Donald Trump (R) and says he has a record of supporting the president’s agenda.
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Good is a former member of the Campbell County Board of Supervisors and was the associate athletics director at Liberty University. During a radio debate held last month, Good said he wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act, reduce the federal budget deficit, and limit the federal government's involvement in education.
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Riggleman has raised $1,533,000 and spent $1,340,000 through May 24, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission. Good has raised $186,000 and spent $152,000 as of the same date.
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The nominee selected at the convention faces the Democratic nominee, who will be selected in Virginia’s statewide primary June 23. The Cook Political Report and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball rate the general election Likely Republican and Inside Elections rates it Solid Republican.
U.S. Supreme Court issues opinion on what court actions qualify under three-strikes rule
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a ruling June 8 in one case argued during its October Term 2019-2020. The court has issued decisions in 39 cases this term.
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The case: Lomax v. Ortiz-Marquez concerned the three-strikes provision of the United States Code. The case originated from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and was argued before SCOTUS on February 26, 2020.
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The issue: Is the dismissal of a civil action without prejudice for failure to state a claim a strike under 28 U.S.C. 1915(g), or is it not? “Dismissal without prejudice” refers to the temporary dismissal of an action or case that allows the plaintiff to re-file, change the claim, or take the claim to another court.
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The outcome: The court affirmed the 10th Circuit's judgment in a unanimous ruling, holding that Section 1915(g) of the United States Code, or the three-strikes provision, refers to any dismissal for failure to state a claim, whether with prejudice or without (i.e. whether permanent or temporary). Justice Elena Kagan delivered the opinion of the court. Justice Clarence Thomas joined the majority opinion as to all but footnote 4.
Filing deadline passes for congressional candidates in Connecticut, New Hampshire
The major-party filing deadline passed to run for U.S. Congress in Connecticut and New Hampshire on June 11 and June 12, respectively. On May 11, Gov. Ned Lamont (D) issued an executive order moving the state’s filing deadline from June 9 to June 11 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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In Connecticut, neither U.S. Senate seat is up for election this year. The incumbents for the state's five U.S. House seats—John Larson (D) in District 1, Joe Courtney (D) in District 2, Rosa DeLauro (D) in District 3, James Himes (D) in District 4, and Jahana Hayes (D) in District 5—are all running for re-election. The primary for candidates who aren't nominated via party convention is on August 11.
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In New Hampshire, Jeanne Shaheen (D) is running for re-election to her U.S. Senate seat. The incumbents for the state's two U.S. House seats—Chris Pappas (D) in District 1 and Annie Kuster (D) in District 2—are both running for re-election, as well. The state's primary is on September 8.
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The next statewide filing deadline is on June 24 in Rhode Island, and the final two statewide filing deadlines are in Delaware and Louisiana in July.
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Entering the November 2020 general election, the U.S. Senate has 45 Democrats, 53 Republicans, and two independents who caucus with the Democratic Party. Thirty-five of the 100 U.S. Senate seats are up for election, including two seats up for special election. A majority in the chamber requires 51 seats. The U.S. House of Representatives has 233 Democrats, 197 Republicans, one Libertarian, and four vacancies. All 435 U.S. House seats are up for election. A majority in the chamber requires 218 seats.
Congress is in session
Both chambers of Congress are in session next week. Click here to see the full calendar for the second session of the 116th Congress.
Where was the president last week?
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On Monday, Trump had lunch with Vice President Mike Pence and participated in a roundtable with law enforcement.
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On Tuesday, Trump met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
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On Wednesday, Trump held a roundtable on race relations.
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On Thursday, Trump participated in a roundtable on policing and race relations at Gateway Church in Dallas, Texas.
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On Friday, Trump had no public events scheduled and was at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Federal judiciary
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