Political Roundup for January 27, 2022
Senate:
NC-Sen: Ex-Rep. Mark Walker (R) has scheduled an event for this evening where he will announce his 2022 plans. Walker has been encouraged to run for the newly drawn NC-7 congressional seat as his Senate run has been overshadowed by the high-profile battle between ex-Gov. Pat McCrory (R) and Trump-endorsed Rep. Ted Budd (R).
PA-Sen: Dr. Mehmet Oz (R) has some important things going for him in his Senate bid-high name recognition and self-funding ability. So far however, he has failed to impress party activists. At an event a little over a week ago where Senate candidates faced state party committee members at a forum, he only received 1 vote out of more than 100 at a straw poll taken afterwards. Two more forums were held this past weekend with state committee members in different areas-he finished third in one straw poll and fourth in another. Former President Trump is said to have been “taken aback” by Oz’s poor showing and expected him to do better because of his celebrity. Ex-LG candidate Jeff Bartos (R) won each of the straw polls.
House:
CO-7: Businessman Timothy Reichert (R) is running for Congress. He joins Army veteran and former US Senate candidate Erik Aadland (R) and former state House candidate Laurel Imer (R) in the Republican primary. State Sen. Brittany Pettersen (D) is running for the Democrats to replace retiring Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D).
IN-9: Ex-Rep. Mike Sodrel (R) is apparently back for a try at the seat he previously held for one term from 2005-2007. Sodrel ran for the seat in 5 straight elections from 2002 to 2010, losing to Rep. Baron Hill (D) in 2002, defeating him in 2004, losing to him in 2006 and 2008, and finishing 3rd in the 2010 GOP primary. He joins state Sen, Erin Houchin (R) and Army veteran Stu Barns-Israel (R) in the primary. Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (R) is retiring.
MI-10: Sterling Heights Mayor Mike Taylor (D) has decided against a run for Congress. Taylor is a former Republican who left the party last year. He had endorsed Joe Biden for President and Sen. Gary Peters (D) for re-election in 2020. Some Democrats, including the DCCC were hoping Taylor would be a moderate candidate that could appeal to independents and some Republicans in the new R-leaning district. Democrats do have candidates for the seat though, as Warren councilwoman Angela Rogensues (D) entered the race Tuesday, joining anti-Israel attorney Huwaida Arraf (D). No Republicans have as of yet declared for the seat, but 2018/20 US Senate nominee John James (R) and several others are thought to be interested.
NE-1: State Sen. Mike Flood (R) has picked up two big endorsements in his primary challenge to Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R). Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) and ex-Gov. Dave Heineman (R) endorsed Flood in a joint news conference, citing uncertainty with the race as Fortenberry faces charges of lying to the FBI in dealing with an illegal campaign contribution. The Heineman endorsement was not a big surprise as he and Flood worked closely while Flood served as speaker of the Legislature from 2007-2013. The Ricketts endorsement, however came as more of a surprise. Fortenberry however still touts endorsements from other GOP officials, including LG Mike Foley (R) and the mayor of Norfolk, Flood’s hometown. He also has the endorsement of Nebraska Right to Life, as the organization has a policy of endorsing previously-endorsed incumbents over all challengers.
OH-11: Ex-state Sen. Nina Turner (D) is officially in for a rematch with Rep. Shontel Brown (D). The move had been rumored since shortly after Turner lost to Brown by 5 points in the special election primary back in August.
RI-2/RI-Gov: Treasurer Seth Magaziner (D) is dropping out of the crowded Democratic primary for governor and running for Congress. He joins a Democratic primary that includes Omar Bah (D), who runs an organization for refugees, and ex-state Rep. and former state Democratic Party chair Edwin Pacheco (D). State Rep. Carol McEntee (D) is also considering a run. State Sen. Jessica de la Cruz (R) and ex-state Rep. Bob Lancia (R) are running on the Republican side. Meanwhile, House Speaker Joe Shekarchi (D) has announced he will not run for the seat that Rep. James Langevin (D) is retiring from. Still in the race for Governor are ascended incumbent Dan McKee (D), SoS Nellie Gorbea (D), ex-SoS Matt Brown (D), and CVS executive Helena Foulkes (D).
Governor:
HI-Gov: Rep. Kai Kahele (D) is considering a run for governor. Kahele, who is in his first term in Congress says he has been reassessing his political future after people have encouraged him to run for governor. A crowded race is expected with LG Josh Green (D), former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell (D) and former first lady Vicky Cayetano (D) expected to run.Republican candidates include mixed martial arts fighter BJ Penn (R), business consultant Paul Morgan (R), and veteran Lynn Mariano (R), who recently entered the race. Developer Peter Savio (R) is also considering.
MA-Gov: Businessman Chris Doughty (R) is the second Republican to announce a campaign for governor. Doughty joins ex-state Rep. Geoff Diehl (R) in the race. Doughty is seen as a moderate alternative to the Trump-endorsed Diehl. AG Maura Healey (D), state Sen. Sonia Chong-Diaz (D), and Harvard professor Danielle Allen (D) are in the race for Democrats. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) is retiring.
State offices:
AL-SoS: A few days after announcing he would not run for governor, State Auditor Jim Ziegler (R) has announced a bid for Secretary of State. Two other Republicans are already running-state Rep. Wes Allen (R), and Ed Packard (R), a former election official in the Secretary of State’s office. No Democrats have announced plans to run. Incumbent Sec. of State John Merrill (R) is term-limited.
MA-AG: Attorney Shannon Liss-Riordan (D), who briefly ran for US Senate in 2020, is running for attorney general. She joins 2018 LG nominee Quentin Palfrey (D) in the race. Also considering a bid are former Boston councilwoman and mayoral candidate Andrea Campbell (D) and New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell (D). Incumbent AG Maura Healey (D) is running for governor.
Redistricting:
SC-Redistrict: ICYMI, yesterday the South Carolina legislature sent its Congressional map to Gov. Henry McMaster (R), who is expected to sign it. Click for our full coverage.
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