The Note: Democrats' 'big tent' gets big test in Illinois
The TAKE with Rick Klein
In this year of political turmoil — one that figures to be defined by the opposition to President Donald Trump — the first congressional incumbent to go down could well be a Democrat.
Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., is in real danger of losing the nomination for his own seat in Tuesday’s Illinois primary.
Lipinski is a self-described “big tent party” Democrat who opposes abortion rights and didn’t support Obamacare or even President Barack Obama’s reelection. Marie Newman’s primary challenge has united outside groups like NARAL with some Obama campaign veterans and Sen. Bernie Sanders’ political operation — while isolating the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.
If Newman wins, cue the analyses of Democratic disarray and — to again quote Lipinski — whether there’s a “tea party of the left” set to rock politics — right?
Any incumbent losing a primary is a big deal. But this seat is almost certainly safely in Democratic hands.
And while Pelosi would take heat from outside for backing a losing candidate against a progressive challenger, the inside game is different. Pelosi’s loyalty to her own members remains a key reason that she remains in control of her caucus.
The RUNDOWN with MaryAlice Parks
Once again President Trump went retro, and arguably racial, in his remarks yesterday.
He took heat almost instantly for proposing decades-old and hyper-political solutions to the modern-day opioid epidemic.
While speaking on the health care emergency ripping through the country, the president suggested 1980s-style “don’t do drugs, kids” commercials and stricter punishments for drug dealers. He pivoted hard from victims, addiction and community programs to dealers, pushers and perpetrators instead, and he brought his divisive talking points about illegal immigration, the wall and gangs to an otherwise nonpartisan issue.
Half of opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription and 90 percent of illicit drugs come through legal points of entry.
“We cannot arrest our way out of the opioid epidemic — we tried that and ended up with an even bigger addiction problem and the world’s largest prison population,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., wrote after the president’s speech.
Nationwide, the extent and devastation of the opioid epidemic is staggering and almost incomprehensible. It’s a crisis in desperate need of creative and bold policy solutions. A total of 42,249 people died from overdosing on opioids in the U.S. in 2016, according to the Department of Health and Human Services; 17,087 people died from overdosing on commonly-prescribed opioids.
The TIP with Emily Goodin
After a major disappointment for the Pennsylvania GOP in the courts Monday — following the blow of Democrat Conor Lamb’s apparent victory in last week’s special election — Republicans hope to avoid a trifecta of troubling news by keeping one of their own on the ballot.
Back-to-back court rulings against the GOP mean the state’s new congressional map will be the one in play for November.
Now all eyes turn to Republican Rep. Ryan Costello and his plans for the general election.
Under the new map, Costello finds himself in a district transformed from one that Hillary Clinton won by one point in 2016 to one she would have won by nine points.
Multiple national and state Republicans have told ABC News Costello is considering retirement.
Costello, however, “expects to file the requisite number of petition signatures by deadline,” campaign spokesman Andrea Bozek told ABC News. The filing deadline is today.
The freshman is the GOP’s best hope for keeping that district in a year where Democrats could net three to five seats in the Keystone State under that new map. Plus, Democrats are high on their candidate against Costello — Chrissy Houlahan — an Air Force veteran endorsed by former Vice President Joe Biden last week.
And notice Costello is only filing his petitions; he’s not announcing another run for office.
If he ends up not pursuing a bid, the state GOP has a procedure for replacing him on the ballot even if the filing deadline has passed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It would be the stupidest thing the president could do is fire him. Yeah he could do that, but he's not going to do that." – Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, after being asked whether special counsel Robert Mueller needs legislative protection.
NEED TO READ
5 things to watch for in the Illinois primary. In one of ABC News’ “18 for '18” races, the fight for the identity of the Democratic Party between its progressive and establishment wings has spilled into Illinois 3rd Congressional District where Blue Dog Democrat Dan Lipinski is facing a challenge from activist Marie Newman, who has the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, EMILY's List and a handful of labor groups. (John Verhovek, Molly Nagle and Emily Goodin) http://abcn.ws/2GKYXPD
Sitting Democrat fights to keep his seat in contentious primary battle. In the 2018 primaries, Democrats are looking to define the direction of their party, as the progressive grassroots movement gains strength. That fight is playing out in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District in a race between conservative incumbent Rep. Dan Lipinski and his progressive challenger, Marie Newman. The race has drawn national attention because it offers a window into the future of the Democratic Party, and staying power of the progressive movement. (Molly Nagle) http://abcn.ws/2DEEmJB
Trump bans Americans from investing in Venezuelan cryptocurrency. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prohibits Americans from dealing in any form of digital currency from Venezuela on Monday, a day before that country's launch of a state-owned cryptocurrency called the "petro." (Matt Seyler) http://abcn.ws/2FZbvBq
Trump calls for death penalty for drug dealers but says country might not be ready. President Donald Trump doubled down on his call for the death penalty for drug dealers in a speech in New Hampshire Monday, making the case that such a zero-tolerance policy would fix the nation’s drug problem. (Ali Rogin and Jordyn Phelps) http://abcn.ws/2DF5M1Q
'Sex and the City' actress Cynthia Nixon to challenge N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo in primary. Nixon attacks Cuomo for “a string of indictments for corruption, his failure to fix the New York City subway, and his support for a backroom deal which handed Republicans control of the state Senate, resulting in the failure of numerous pieces of progressive legislation,” in her release announcing her candidacy. (Emily Goodin) http://abcn.ws/2pmKotY
Michael Flynn 'putting his life back together' after guilty plea in Mueller probe. While President Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn awaits sentencing for lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian officials, the retired three-star Army general has been quietly "putting his life back together," surfing and even dabbling in politics, friends and relatives say.(James Gordon Meek) http://abcn.ws/2GH8NSh
President Trump expanding his legal team. President Donald Trump is expanding his legal team and is adding veteran DC attorney Joe diGenova. (John Santucci) http://abcn.ws/2IyRvYe
Judges decline to block new Pennsylvania House map in boost to Democrats. A three-judge panel in Pennsylvania has upheld the state’s new congressional map, a blow to Republican hopes and a boost to Democratic chances of retaking control of the House of Representatives. (Emily Goodin) http://abcn.ws/2ICiJ0a
Sen. Cory Booker: 2018 is 'the most important midterm election of our lifetime.' Sen. Cory Booker diverted questions Monday about running for president in 2020, instead saying that he is focused on the 2018 midterms. (Paola Chavez) http://abcn.ws/2G3WnWP
Costly cabinet travel prompts senators to ask federal budget office to explain spending. Amid multiple investigations and controversies over the cost of travel by Trump administration officials, two senators are asking the Office of Management and Budget to provide more detail about the administration's policies on travel spending. (Stephanie Ebbs) http://abcn.ws/2G6gaoB
Eric Trump: 'Shooting was a big part of my youth', strengthened family bonds. “It kept me away from drinking, drugs, taught me safety, discipline, consentration [sic] and so many other positive life lessons,” President Donald Trump’s middle son tweeted. (Paola Chavez) http://abcn.ws/2HLuvnI
The Washington Post focuses on the time former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe didn't talk to the press, and how it could have played into his firing. http://wapo.st/2u6u71g
The New York Times reports on the surprising effect President Trump's tax plan could have on professional sports. http://nyti.ms/2FLM4HD
The New York Times publishes on op-ed to mark 15 years since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom: To defend America, Don't overreach. http://nyti.ms/2FXPIdD
The Note is a daily ABC News feature that highlights the key political moments of the day ahead.
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