Top campaign developments: Karrin Taylor Robson abruptly exited Arizona's GOP governor race, elevating Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert as leading contenders. In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton finally aired his first TV ad as he leans on his connection to Donald Trump with two weeks until the Senate primary. Other notable items: Virginia redistricting advanced, Janet Mills released an attack ad on Susan Collins, Derek Dooley faces scrutiny over his voting history, an AI-focused super PAC plans a $5 million spend in Florida, Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity Action is buying seven-figure ads for Michael Whatley, and Gallup will end its long-running presidential approval series.
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Here are the latest campaign developments from across the United States.
Arizona: Karrin Taylor Robson, an attorney and business executive who had been one of former President Donald Trump’s two endorsements in the GOP governor contest, abruptly ended her campaign last week after failing to consolidate support among the party's far-right voters. Her exit leaves two sitting members of Congress, Reps. Andy Biggs and David Schweikert, as the front-runners for the Republican nomination.
Texas: With roughly two weeks remaining before the closely watched Republican U.S. Senate primary, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and his allies have been running heavy ad campaigns for months. State Attorney General Ken Paxton, by contrast, aired his first television commercial only late last week; the spot foregrounds his ties to former President Donald Trump as he tries to close the gap.
Virginia: The Virginia Supreme Court cleared a path for Democratic redistricting plans to move forward late last week, giving the proposals an important legal boost and allowing the map changes to advance in the near term.
Maine: In the competitive U.S. Senate contest, Democratic Gov. Janet Mills released a new ad targeting Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The commercial highlights a recurring critique of Collins: frequent expressions of concern that critics say are not matched by decisive action.
FILE - Texas state Attorney General Ken Paxton makes a statement at his office, May 26, 2023, in Austin, Texas. A lawyer for embattled Paxton said in a Monday, July 3, 2023, statement that the Republican will not testify in his upcoming impeachment trial. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)(Eric Gay / AP)
Georgia: In the crowded Republican Senate primary, retired football coach Derek Dooley is facing scrutiny after revelations that he did not vote for much of his adult life, including in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Opponents are using that voting history to question his appeal to Republican primary voters.
Florida: A super PAC advocating for artificial intelligence policy is preparing to spend about $5 million to support Rep. Byron Donalds in his bid for governor, signaling the growing role of tech-focused money in state-level campaigns.
North Carolina: Former RNC chair Michael Whatley, viewed as an underdog in the Senate contest, is getting a sizable boost from Americans for Prosperity Action, the political arm of the Koch network, which is placing a seven-figure ad buy on his behalf.
Polling: In a notable change for political watchers, Gallup — which has tracked presidential approval ratings for nearly 90 years — announced last week that it will discontinue that long-running series as part of a new corporate strategy.
Source: MS NOW.
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