Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In a bit of a surprise, Democratic Rep. James Clyburn announced on Thursday morning that he will seek re-election in his South Carolina district. The longtime lawmaker will turn 86 in July.
* Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas has long argued in support of leaving the Senate’s existing filibuster rules intact. This week, however, Cornyn flip-flopped and said in a New York Post op-ed that it’s more important to pass the right-wing “SAVE America Act.” The move appeared to be part of a desperate bid to impress Donald Trump ahead of Texas’ Senate primary runoff election in late May.
* In Oklahoma, where Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin is likely to become the next Homeland Security secretary, Republican Rep. Kevin Hern made it official on Wednesday, announcing plans to run to fill the vacancy.
* The president’s campaign rally in Kentucky appeared to serve a single goal: elevating Ed Gallrein over incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in their upcoming Republican primary. “We got to get rid of this loser. This guy is bad. He’s disloyal to the Republican Party. He’s disloyal to the people of Kentucky, and most importantly, he is disloyal to the United States of America,” Trump said of Massie.
* House Speaker Mike Johnson invited the entirety of the House Republican Conference to their annual retreat this week. In a sign of the times, fewer than half showed up.
* With scandal-plagued Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales announcing his retirement last week in Texas, Trump has now thrown his support behind the incumbent congressman’s primary rival, the far-right internet personality Brandon Herrera.
* In the latest national NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, 53% of voters preferred Democrats on the generic congressional ballot, while 44% expressed support for Republicans.
