Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* As Sen. Kyrsten Sinema tries to raise a ton of money ahead of the 2024 election cycle, Politico reports that the Arizona independent has “used a series of Republican-dominated receptions and retreats this year to belittle her Democratic colleagues, shower her GOP allies with praise and, in one case, quite literally give the middle finger to President Biden’s White House.”
* Speaking of the Grand Canyon State, failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake brought seven claims to the Arizona Supreme Court, challenging her 2022 election defeat. The justices dismissed six of the seven, but as The Arizona Republic reported, the justices also “kept the case alive by sending one of Lake’s claims back to a county judge to review.”
* Looking ahead to 2024 Senate races, Politico reports that Republican officials are looking to recruit “filthy rich” candidates who wouldn’t have to worry about being outraised by Democrats.
* In case any other GOP candidates were eyeing Indiana’s open U.S. Senate race, Republican leaders continue to take steps to clear the field: Senate Minority Whip John Thune today became the latest to endorse Rep. Jim Banks’ candidacy.
* The new far-right leadership of the Michigan Republican Party tried to draw a parallel between efforts to combat gun violence and the Nazi Holocaust. This was not well received.
* Donald Trump’s political operation released a relatively long statement yesterday, making the case that Florida’s Ron DeSantis is “an average governor,” whose accomplishments are little more than a “mirage.”
* On a related note, Team Trump is also apparently now calling the Florida governor “Rob“ DeSantis, which comes on the heels of the former president taking an interest in the competing ways in which DeSantis pronounces his own surname.