Democratic infighting over age and mental acuity that tossed Joe Biden could find more victims if the party retakes the House. But first, you should know:
- Kamala Harris was on defense in swing-state Nevada, where voters at an Univision town hall pegged her with questions over prices and immigration.
- Donald Trump’s penchant for campaigning in states he’s not likely to win worries some allies.
- Get the updated breakdown on the election contests that’ll decide control of Congress in the latest BGOV OnPoint.
House Democrats Gird for Committee Seniority Debate
Democrats could reignite a fight over the age of their leaders — this time at the top of House committees — if they retake the chamber in November.
There’s no limit to top Democrats serving as ranking members or chairs of House committees. Junior members can mount challenges, but seniority plays a heavy role in committee selection, and unseating an incumbent chair is rare. Democratic leaders stayed more static over the past several congresses than Republicans, who are bound to a three-term limit.
Democratic ranking members average 70 years old, and roughly 68% are older than the typical 65 retirement age. Republican counterparts are 59 on average.
- “Seniority should have a big effect, but it shouldn’t be the only thing” determining who helms committees, said Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), 66, who’s served in Congress for over a decade.
Seniority will be among the issues facing Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) after the election. Jeffries, 54, replaced Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as part of an effort to bring younger faces into leadership. That hasn’t extended to committees.
House Agriculture Committee Democrats are concerned about 79-year-old Ranking Member David Scott’s (D-Ga.) mental acuity and ability to negotiate the trillion-dollar farm bill expiring this year. He’s not the only one — Financial Services’ Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is 86, Appropriations’ Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) is 81, and Judiciary’s Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is 77.
Lawmakers agitating for a leadership shakeup want changes to caucus rules, including term limits. Read More
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Senate and House Races Tighten With Weeks to Go: BGOV OnPoints
With less than four weeks remaining before the Nov. 5 general election, contests that will determine which party controls the US Senate and US House in the 119th Congress are tightening.
Senator’s Proposal for Sales Tax Relief Gets Chilly Reception
A proposal by Sen. Maggie Hassan to help small businesses navigate the dizzying number of state and local sales tax laws that have cropped up over the past six years got a cool reception this week at a conference dedicated to the issue.
US to Unveil Proposal to Prevent Developing-Nation Debt Crises
The Biden administration is set to unveil a plan that would offer fresh financing to developing nations that face cash shortages, with the goal of keeping them from plunging into debt crises.
Warren Renewed Bill Targets Private Equity in Health Care
Democratic lawmakers led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) are looking to prevent a repeat of Steward Health Care’s bankruptcy with a revamp of legislation attempting to hold private equity firms more accountable for their transactions.
Teen Online Curbs Hand Unlikely Wins to Family Values Groups
A think tank known for reports on marriage issues was a driving force behind the spread of state laws restricting kids’ access to social media.
Harris Pressed on Prices, Immigration in Vegas
Vice President Kamala Harris defended her record on immigration and health care in a town hall with Univision on Thursday — a bid to shore up her standing with Latino voters and counter former President Donald Trump’s inroads with the crucial Democratic bloc.
The town hall in Las Vegas in swing-state Nevada is part of a western swing aimed partly at courting Hispanic voters, who boast sizable numbers in that state — and in Arizona, another key battleground — as well as blue-collar workers frustrated with President Joe Biden’s economic record.
Univision’s forum featured voters frustrated with expensive groceries, securing government health services, and even concern about Harris’ fast-track capture of the Democratic nomination. The battle over the economy is particularly salient in Nevada, which boasts large numbers of service and hospitality workers.
Asked how her immigration policy would differ from Biden, Harris said she’d view the issue through her experience as a prosecutor. She added her solution would largely mirror the bipartisan immigration bill negotiated by Biden, pivoting to criticism of Trump for his role in killing the legislation that would’ve surged resources to address the border crisis. Read More
Trump Bets on National Reach With Events Far From Swing States
Trump is making appearances in the half-dozen swing states that are likely to determine the election, but he’s also spending time and money in Democratic enclaves where he’s got little chance of winning, such as Aurora, Colo, Southern California, Chicago, and New York City.
The showy events in places Republicans tend to avoid this late in the election do guarantee the former president free media attention that he might not get with another rally in Trump Country.
- “It’s national coverage. In the day and age of the internet, the days of just going to a specific state to carry your message are long gone,” senior adviser Chris LaCivita said in an interview.
However, other Republican strategists worry that he is wasting time he should be using to shore up votes in the crucial states. Strategist Karl Rove implored Trump to “stop wasting time” in a Wall Street Journal op-ed last month.
- If he “continues failing to spell out his second term agenda, swing voters may swing away from him,” Rove wrote.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said the strategy has the added benefit of helping candidates further down the ballot.
- “He understands that to govern, he has to have the House and the Senate,” Gingrich said. “It’s really important for the team, even if it doesn’t immediately impact the presidential race.” Read More
Also Read: Swing-State Consumers Hurt More Than Most in Credit Card Squeeze
Elections Webinar: Join Bloomberg Government for our final pre-election webinar. We’ll review the dynamics shaping the political climate and provide a detailed snapshot of key House and Senate races that’ll determine control of Congress. They’ll also discuss how government affairs professionals are approaching the final days of the campaign, the lame-duck session to follow, and the 119th Congress meeting next year. Register Here
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Programming Note
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