What's News

TN-07 SPECIAL: “Rep. Mark Green’s (R) surprise resignation announcement tees up another barometric test for Democrats as they look to put a check on President Trump and flip the House in the midterms.”

Democrats have performed well this year in special elections, generating some enthusiasm for the Nashville area seat that went to Trump by about 20 points. In a low turnout election with high-propensity voters, a group that favors the Democratic Party, Democrats stand a chance for an upset. State Reps. Vincent Dixie (D), Bo Mitchell (D), and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts (D) are possible contenders. Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight (R) launched a bid yesterday. Per state law, Gov. Bill Lee (R) must announce a special election within 10 days of the vacancy. Green says he will leave once Republicans pass the Senate’s budget bill, expected in early July. The process can follow two timelines, with the general election occurring between 100 to 107 days after the proclamation or 130 to 135 days after. (Hotline reporting)

DEMOCRATS: Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg opted “not to run again for vice chair after DNC members voted to hold a re-vote for the job.” The party approved a procedural challenge to the Feb. 1 leadership elections in a 294-99 vote. Hogg stirred controversy in the party when the New York Times reported that his PAC, Leaders We Deserve, would spend millions on primary challenges to incumbents. (Semafor)

Hogg wrote in a letter: “I came into this role to play a positive role in creating the change our party needs. It is clear that there is a fundamental disagreement about the role of a Vice Chair—and it’s OK to have disagreements. What isn’t OK is allowing this to remain our focus when there is so much more we need to be focused on.” (New York Times)

VA GOV: “Many Republicans are concerned about an enthusiasm gap as national Democrats pour money and attention on Virginia’s off-year elections” while Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) declines to campaign with the top of the Republican ticket. “Her style of campaigning has been heavy on small and private events or public appearances with little media coverage—not a typical approach for a candidate trailing in fundraising.” (Washington Post)

WHITE HOUSE: Vice President JD Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles reportedly called former Trump adviser Elon Musk Friday to urge him “to put an end to the public feud.” (Wall Street Journal) Trump and Musk spoke over the phone late Monday night. The president told reporters: “I really haven’t thought too much about it.” (New York Times)

NH SEN: Attorney Philip Taub (R) is considering a run to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D). Taub told Hotline in a statement that he sees the Senate as “another opportunity to serve” the Granite State, and would “take the next couple months to meet and talk with a lot more people in [New Hampshire] before making a final decision.” Taub, a longtime state GOP donor, briefly considered running against Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) in 2022, but ultimately passed on a bid. (Hotline reporting)

ME SEN: 2024 nominee David Costello (D) is launching a campaign against Sen. Susan Collins (R). Costello, in a statement, said Collins “has done little” to challenge the Trump administration “aside from expressing concern.” Costello challenged Sen. Angus King (I) last year, only garnering 11% of the vote. (Portland Press Herald)

IL SEN: Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs CEO Awisi Bustos (D) entered the crowded Democratic primary to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin (D). Bustos is former Rep. Cheri Bustos’ (D) daughter-in-law, but is currently in the middle of a divorce. Cheri Bustos said in a statement that she and her family are “not supportive” of Awisi Bustos’ run. Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D) and Reps. Robin Kelly (D-02) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-08) are running in the primary. (Punchbowl News)

KS GOV: State Sen. Cindy Holscher (D) announced her bid to replace term-limited Gov. Laura Kelly (D). “While a handful of big-name and longshot Republicans have declared for the GOP field,” including Secretary of State Scott Schwab (R) and former Gov. Jeff Colyer (R), “no major Democratic candidates” had yet declared. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

MI-07: Michigan State University professor Josh Cowen (D) “is exploring a run” for Congress against Rep. Tom Barrett (R). Cowen is an education policy professor at MSU; his “research has focused on teacher quality, education politics, and school choice.” He recently met with state party leaders and the DCCC. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink (D) is considering a run, and former Navy SEAL Matt Maasdam (D) “is taking steps to run.” (Detroit News)

FL GOV: A poll from the GOP firm Victory Insights (June 7-10; 600 LVs) found Rep. Byron Donalds (R-19) leading former Rep. David Jolly (D) 36.7%-31.4%, with 31.9% undecided. (release)

GA SEN: An internal poll (June 8-10; 970 LVs; +/-3%) conducted for Rep. Buddy Carter (R-01) found him at 27%, Rep. Mike Collins (R-10) at 18%, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) at 10%, and Insurance Commissioner John King (R) at 2%. 43% undecided in a hypothetical GOP primary matchup. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote in the primary, a runoff election is triggered. Carter and King are currently running against Sen. Jon Ossoff (D). (NOTUS)

RACE FOR THE HOUSE: The House is set to vote on a $9.4 billion recission package that cuts global aid and public broadcasting, funds Congress already approved. No one “has confirmed they plan to vote against it,” but Reps. David Valadao (R-CA 22), Don Bacon (R-NE 02), and Rob Bresnahan (R-PA 08) have expressed concerns about some of the cuts. (Politico)

Our Call

Former DNC Vice Chair David Hogg resigned from his leadership post, avoiding what could have been a messier internal fight after the committee overwhelmingly voted to redo the election that made him vice chair. The controversy around Hogg stemmed from his PAC promising to spend on primary challengers to older Democratic incumbents, something the DNC has tried to keep clear of. Without the perceived conflict of interest, Hogg will be able to stick to his main message, and Democrats might actually listen. Democrats are unpopular with young voters, who don’t feel represented by the party and ambitious younger members feel that older party leadership is clinging to power for too long. Hogg’s time in party leadership may be over, but his time influencing the party is not. — Erika Filter

 Fresh Brewed Buzz

“The United States is drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest, the State Department and military said Wednesday.” (AP)

“London-bound plane carrying 242 people crashes in Ahmedabad” (Reuters)

Trump “was booed and cheered as he took his seat alongside first lady Melania Trump” at opening night of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center. “Near the end of the intermission, someone loudly cursed his name, drawing applause. Several drag queens were in the crowd, their presence a protest against Trump’s complaints that the Kennedy Center had hosted too many drag shows in the past.” (Washington Post)

“We’ve seen it a number of times. It’s fantastic.” — Trump’s review of Les Misérables (NBC News)

“U.S. Chamber of Commerce names Ross Perot Jr. as new chairman” (Axios)

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) “is accusing the White House of ‘immaturity’ and engaging in ‘petty vindictiveness’ after he and his family were disinvited from the annual White House picnic long held with members of both parties.” (CNN)

“A former top police executive in Phoenix, Baltimore and Louisville will become the first chief of the U.S. Capitol Police from outside the Washington area in decades, as the 2,300-officer police force confronts mounting threats to lawmakers four years after the 2021 Capitol riot.” (Washington Post)

“How A Man Not Named Dan Came to Own Dan’s Cafe for Six Decades” (Washington City Paper)

Republicans dominated the Congressional Baseball Game for the fifth year in a row, dispatching the Democrats 13-2. The game sold 31,000 tickets and raised $2.8 million for charity. (Hotline reporting)

Swizzle Challenge

The San Francisco International Airport Terminal 1 is named after San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk (D).

Carten Cordell won yesterday’s challenge. Here’s his challenge: What magazine was central to the defamation and libel lawsuits between long-feuding National Review founder William F. Buckley and writer Gore Vidal?

The 3rd correct email gets to submit the next question.

 Early Bird Special

 Shot...

“They’re afraid of what I’m saying, so they think they’re going to punish me, I can’t go to the picnic, as if somehow that’s going to make me more conciliatory.” — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on the Trump administration “univiting” him from the annual White House picnic (NBC News)

 Chaser

“I only threw this party for you / Only threw this party for you, for you, for you / I was hopin' you would come through / I was hopin' you would come through, it's true, it's true” — Singer Charli xcx (“party 4 u”)