Welcome to this morning’s Decision Desk HQ Morning News Spotlight on Elections Daily as part of the Decision Desk HQ News Network.
Morning Headlines
- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is reserving $33 million for advertising spending, predominately in states where incumbents are facing challenging reelections this fall. Most of the money will be split between the four states Democrats see as crucial to hold seats in: Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and New Hampshire. Some of the money will also be used in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin which Democrats see as potential seats they could gain.
- President Biden is asking Congress to approve a $33 billion aid package for military and humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. The aid package would by far be the largest the U.S. has provided to date. He also proposed liquidating the assets of Russian oligarchs many western nations have seized. Secretary of State Blinken yesterday also said the U.S. strongly supports Sweden and Finland’s bids to join NATO.
- The Ohio Redistricting Commission has set May 4th as the date of its first meeting for its fifth attempt at drawing state legislative maps. The Ohio Supreme Court has ordered new maps to be drawn by May 6. The Republican-dominated commission does have an incentive to stall the process after a three-judge federal panel said last week that they would enact the third set of maps rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court if no workable maps were passed by May 28. Voting rights groups have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to hold the commission in contempt if the May 6 deadline is ignored.
- Former President Trump is heading to Nebraska ahead of the state’s May 10 primary. He and many of his closest allies will be attending a rally in support of Charles Herbster in his bid for Governor. Herbster is a former Trump advisor and chaired his Agriculture and Rural Advisory Committee. Herbster has also been under fire during the primary for being accused by several women of sexual assault.
- The Oklahoma House voted 68-12 to pass a bill that prohibits abortion after cardiac activity has been detected, about six weeks. The bill now heads to Governor Kevin Stitts desk, who is expected to sign it. Texas passed a similar bill last year that led to a dramatic reduction in abortions in the state. This comes as the US Supreme Court is expected to rule this year on states’ authority to prohibit abortion. Some states, like Ohio yesterday, are introducing “trigger bans” that would only go into effect if the Supreme Court rules that states do have this authority.
- House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has endorsed Wes Moore in his home state of Maryland’s gubernatorial race. Hoyer is now the most prominent Maryland Democrat to endorse in the race. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has endorsed former DNC chair, Tom Perez. Democrats view the race as one of their best chances at picking up a governor’s office in the fall.
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