| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by The Zero Emission Transportation Association | With help from Olivia Beavers WELCOME TO KYIV — Two House Republicans traveled to besieged Ukraine, where they plan to visit the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) will be the first lawmakers to visit the diplomatic center since the embassy reopened. BOOZMAN HOPES TO AVOID A RAZORBACKS RUNOFF — Republican Sen. John Boozman is in a four-way race to defend his Arkansas Senate seat today. But he'll need more than 50 percent of the votes cast in order to avoid a runoff, which isn't a lock. Boozman, a two-term incumbent with plumb committee assignments, has the coveted endorsement of former President Donald Trump. But that hasn't stopped challengers from casting doubt on his MAGA credentials. A billionaire-funded football star has been gunning for the MAGA crown. Jake Bequette, a 33-year-old Iraq veteran and former Arkansas Razorbacks star and reserve for the NFL's New England Patriots, has targeted Boozman for not challenging the outcome of the 2020 electoral college count on Jan. 6, 2021. (Boozman also played Razorback football from 1969 to 1973.) Former Trump press secretary — and gubernatorial candidate — Sarah Huckabee Sanders appeared in a recent TV ad backing Boozman, highlighting those Trumpland ties. And Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton also taped an ad and helped fundraise to keep his colleague in the Senate. Boozman broke with Cotton (and all but 10 of his Senate colleagues) to vote against a $40 billion Ukraine aid package last week. Boozman said part of his opposition to the bill was President Joe Biden's "refusal to make American energy production a centerpiece of our response to Russia's malign behavior." But Bequette weighed in to question sending billions to what he called "the bloodlands of Eastern Europe" on a recent radio appearance. Boozman is a favorite in the race, but a recent attack ad targeting Bequette suggests that he detects enough of a threat to try and counter it. The other challengers in the race are Jan Morgan and Heath Loftis. If none of the four GOP candidates for the Senate meet the 50 percent vote threshold, a runoff will be held between the top two vote-getters on June 21. A runoff could extend the controversies that have already been stirred up. Jake Bequette's name was printed as Jack in two counties, prompting a lawsuit by the candidate. The errors have been fixed but not in time for all early voting. And a Republican state Rep. filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee over the delay of Bequette's public financial disclosure report. (But there's little risk of Senate Ethics taking action.)
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, May 24, where the weather matches Sen. Michael Bennet's mood. WHAT ELSE WE'RE WATCHING ON PRIMARY DAY — Alabama's GOP Senate Primary: This is the one where Trump endorsed and then un-endorsed Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.). Now no one in the race has the former president's endorsement. Retiring Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) has backed his former chief of staff Katie Britt to succeed him. Also in the race is "Black Hawk Down" pilot Mike Durant, who can't be counted out. If Brooks, Britt or Durant don't receive a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a primary runoff on June 21, 2022. Georgia 7th Democratic primary: A member vs. member contest that pits Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux against Rep. Lucy McBath. McBath jumped districts after redistricting turned her previous district into strong Republican territory. She is backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.). Both McBath and Bordeaux flipped red seats to blue to win their respective seats in Congress. RELATED: How 2 competitive districts in Georgia became a very red one and a very blue one, from Sam Gringlas at WABE Texas 28th Democratic primary runoff: Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) is trying to fend off a challenge from progressive Jessica Cisneros in a rematch that gained significance with the prospect of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade – Cuellar is the last anti-abortion Democrat in the House Democrvatic caucus. We still don't know what the FBI was seeking when they raided his home and campaign office in February. House leaders have lined up to back Cuellar, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Clyburn, who campaigned with him in recent weeks. A handful of progressives have thrown their support behind Cisneros, but as Ally and Sarah reported, most Democrats are staying out of it. Georgia's GOP gubernatorial primary: This one won't determine much on Capitol HIll, but Former Senator David Perdue closed out his campaign with racist remarks about Stacey Abrams, saying she was "demeaning her own race." He's challenging Gov. Brian Kemp. RELATED: GOP primary wars leave deep wounds in Georgia, from Brittney Gibson
| | | | A message from The Zero Emission Transportation Association: Foreign automakers are investing billions to try and win the American clean transportation market. They are building out their supply chains to bring their products to our shores—not investing in our communities or creating local jobs. Congress must expand the clean vehicle consumer tax credits so that American automakers can build a robust domestic supply chain that creates millions of good-paying jobs, generate investments in our communities, and win the clean transportation future. Learn more. | | | DON'T CALL COLORADO BLUE — Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet is counting himself as the underdog in his reelection bid, warning fellow Democrats that it "gonna be a tough cycle," and describing voters as "mad at everybody." No matter that Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) beat incumbent Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) by nine points two years ago, Bennet still isn't ready to call Colorado a blue state. That "is an incorrect perception among people" in Washington, Bennet told Burgess. "Colorado remains a swing state." If voters are mad at everybody about inflation and Covid and the child tax credit ending, Bennett is mad at his own party. "The national Democratic Party has done a terrible job talking about what we've accomplished and what we're fighting to accomplish," Bennet said. "Nobody is more aggravated than I am with the national Democratic Party, that we didn't fight harder to extend those child tax credits for working people in this state." ETHICS DUMP: MOONEY, JACKSON, CAWTHORN — Madison Cawthorn: The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) over his alleged inappropriate relationship with a staffer and accusations that he "improperly promoted" a cryptocurrency in which he had an undisclosed financial interest. But, as Nicholas writes, the clock is ticking. House Ethics usually abandons investigations after a member leaves the House and Cawthorn already lost his primary. Alex Mooney: The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) found "substantial reason to believe" Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) improperly accepted a trip to Aruba, free lodging and event space, as well as using official resources for campaign work and personal errands. Taking care of the boss' dog is a slippery slope, staffers. Ronny Jackson: The OCE also found that Rep. Ronny Jackson's (R-Texas) campaign committee spent funds to pay for "unlimited access" to the Amarillo Club, a private social club in Texas. More on Jackson and Mooney from Nicholas and Nancy.
| | | | HAPPENING WEDNESDAY—A WOMEN RULE TALK ON THE MIDTERMS : Join POLITICO'S Women Rule for a conversation with the women running the midterm campaigns and how they are shaping messaging and strategy for their candidates. The program will look into what a win for either party could mean for access to reproductive health care, economic advancement of women, and how the final stages of the Covid-19 pandemic are managed. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | | Senate yoga… Yoga classes are returning at the Senate Staff gym, adding to the HIIT and Kickboxing offerings already available. Yoga is offered at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which seems like a challenging time to clear your mind and focus on your breath, but worth a try. Dirksen delights… Tuesday's "grab and go demonstration" at Dirksen Cafe will be noodle peanut crunch salad, bean and cheese pupusas and horchata. Cheers to modernization… The Modernization Staff Association is hosting a happy hour on Wednesday at Union Pub. QUICK LINKS Ukrainians arrive in Anchorage, with hundreds more expected in coming weeks, from Adelyn Baxter, Alaska Public Media TRANSITIONS Jeff O'Neil will be a director of government affairs at Planet. He previously was deputy chief of staff for policy for Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.). Bo Morris has will now be chief of staff to Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo). He most recently was a senior adviser for Neguse. Kirin Kennedy is now a senior professional staffer for the Senate Agriculture Committee. She previously was director for people and nature policy at the Sierra Club. | | | | A message from The Zero Emission Transportation Association:   | | |
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House convenes at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. AROUND THE HILL 12:30 p.m. The Senate recesses for weekly caucus lunches. 2 p.m. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders hold separate post-lunch press conferences (Ohio Clock Corridor.) 2:15 p.m. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on six ambassadorial nominations (Dirksen 419).
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MONDAY'S WINNER: Harper White correctly answered that in 1814, Congress passed An Act for the Relief of Daniel Boone.
TODAY'S QUESTION from Harper: In November 2008, Henry Waxman defeated longtime Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell in an internal election to become the Committee's Chairman. Which then-member-elect whipped new members in support of Waxman? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus
| | | | A message from The Zero Emission Transportation Association: Consumer tax credits for clean vehicles are vital for building the American clean vehicle industry. The American auto industry is working hard to onshore our critical minerals and battery supply chains, and they're making rapid progress. But they need Congressional support. If we maintain the status quo, it means domestic automakers will remain blocked from offering consumers the clean vehicle tax credit, while foreign imports are eligible for a $7,500 credit. Inaction means conceding this trillion-dollar market to our foreign competitors. But if Congress expands these consumer tax credits now, we will create durable demand for American-made vehicles, which will send a strong market signal that will enable U.S. companies and automakers to scale up their domestic production. If we get this right, we can create millions of good-paying jobs here at home, drive down consumer costs, cut carbon pollution, and boost public health. Learn more. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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