Washington Wire

Party lags behind Republicans in the battle for state legislatures and redistricting clout; Tom Cotton outduels 2024 hopefuls Rand Paul and Ted Cruz in Tennessee primary, and more in Washington Wire.

Sen. Rick Scott is lining up support for a plum post that would put him in close contact with top Republican donors and finance chairs around the country as he mulls a potential presidential run in 2024.

Democrats hope to drain GOP coffers even in states that aren’t their main targets, such as South Carolina, Kentucky and Mississippi; environmentalists look for win on ‘forever chemicals’ in defense bill, and more in Washington Wire.

Kantar Media revises projection upward as voters home-bound by pandemic are easiest to reach via TV and digital; Kris Kobach accuses McConnell allies of funding campaign against him, and more in Washington Wire.

Facing strong Democratic challenges, Sens. Joni Ernst, Thom Tillis and Susan Collins adopt the same strategy as President Trump; Air Force’s plans to retire planes don’t seem to fly in Congress, and more in Washington Wire.

Administration still mostly refuses to let officials talk about its coronavirus response before House panels meeting virtually; Trump Washington hotel drops health coverage for furloughed workers, and more in Washington Wire.

Congressional Democrats, confident of holding the House, see room for growth in Texas; HSBC changes its lobbying stance as it shifts to supporting Chinese moves in Hong Kong, and more in Washington Wire.

Administration wants to fold offices into other parts of the Justice Department; the Chamber of Commerce gives Kris Kobach the cold shoulder over Kansas Senate seat, and more in Washington Wire.

Trump campaign had criticized plans for the fundraiser, saying Andrew Weissmann had tried to take down Trump’s presidency. Some GOP donors have pleaded Mike Pompeo to run for an open Senate seat in Kansas, and more in Washington Wire.

Bipartisan lawmakers look hard at setting up health funds that would flow every year regardless of the political or budgetary climate; Iowa Rep. Steve King faces GOP primary peril, and more in Washington Wire.

Former staffers and allies of Sen. Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign are launching a slew of new political committees following his exit from the race.

Liberal groups are preparing lists of new regulations that Congress could cancel if Joe Biden beats President Trump; aid for fisheries surfaces in stimulus talks, and more in Washington Wire.

Republicans, Democrats and economists on both sides argue over the need for federal aid to states hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic; rural hospitals brace for Covid-19 cases, and more in Washington Wire.

Obama administration alums offer to help the former vice president chip away at President Trump’s large cash advantage; economic indicators flash red for the incumbent’s prospects, and more in Washington Wire.

House leaders taking on oversight of the administration’s response have different priorities and approaches; President Trump is expected to veto the latest war-powers resolution from Congress; Trump order on moon mining takes a nationalistic approach, and more in Washington Wire.

Sen. Steve Daines loses the organizer of key events ahead of his tough fall race; the pandemic delays Republican drive to name conservative judges, and more in Washington Wire.

The Democratic House speaker unsuccessfully sought curbs on lobbying by corporations benefiting from the stimulus; Tennessee GOP Senate candidate Bill Hagerty calls it ‘Wuhan coronavirus,’ and more in Washington Wire.

The industry says it can’t meet new rules amid the coronavirus outbreak, but President Trump wants to talk up deal in his campaign; House GOP campaign arm urges its candidates to ‘exercise increased sensitivity’ about Covid-19, and more in Washington Wire.

Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle collect $5 million in four days for President Trump’s re-election bid; coronavirus disrupts military symposium and joint exercises, and more in Washington Wire.