Seven of the year’s top 10 Republican primaries take place Tuesday

This week, we have a preview for you of next week's top primary races + an invitation to our recap webinar the following day. [Forward This](mailto:?subject=Seven%20of%20the%20year%E2%80%99s%20top%20ten%20Republican%20primaries%20take%20place%20Tuesday&body=Read%20the%20full%20story%20in%20Ballotpedia's%20Federal%20Tap%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fballotpedia.org%2FThe_Federal_Tap%3A_Seven_of_the_year%25E2%2580%2599s_top_ten_Republican_primaries_take_place_Tuesday) [blank][Tweet This]( [blank][Send to Linkedin]( [blank][Send to Facebook]( [blank] We're resting up this weekend, getting ready for the slate of primary elections on Tuesday. Will you be staying up late with us as we tally results? If you'd rather go to bed early, join us Wednesday as our marquee team reviews the results in [our free webinar](. As always, get caught up beforehand with all of this week's federal news by clicking on the link below. [Link to full version →]( Four states hold statewide primary contests on Tuesday, including seven of the year’s top ten Republican primaries [Top May 8 battleground primaries]( we're watching - U.S. Reps. [Luke Messer]( (R-Ind.) and [Todd Rokita]( (R-Ind.) and former state Rep. [Mike Braun]( (R) are competing in the Republican primary for the toss-up [U.S. Senate seat in Indiana](. The three candidates have accused one another of disloyalty to President Donald Trump (R) and the Republican Party, ethics violations, and state residency issues. All have aligned themselves with the Trump administration and agenda. - The rise of former coal mining executive [Don Blankenship]( (R) in the race for [U.S. Senate in West Virginia]( has created a three-way battle for the Republican Party's nomination with Rep. [Evan Jenkins]( (R) and state Attorney General [Patrick Morrisey]( (R). Satellite groups have spent more than $4 million on the race. - In the [Democratic primary]( for Ohio’s open gubernatorial seat, both former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director [Richard Cordray]( (D) and former Rep. [Dennis Kucinich]( (D) have attracted progressive support. Cordray is backed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and the Ohio AFL-CIO, while Kucinich has the endorsement of Bernie Sanders-affiliated group Our Revolution. - The [Republican primary]( to succeed term-limited Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) features Lt. Gov. [Mary Taylor]() (R) and Attorney General [Mike DeWine]( (R), who both have cast themselves as the conservative candidate in the race. DeWine is endorsed by the state GOP and a majority of Republican state legislators, while Taylor is supported by Gov. Kasich and out-of-state figures including Sens. Ted Cruz (R) and Rand Paul (R). - The Republican primary to replace Luke Messer (R) in [Indiana’s 6th Congressional District]( features Greg Pence, the brother of Vice President Mike Pence, and self-funded businessman Jonathan Lamb. Pence has raised over $1 million and gained the support of House Republican leaders. Lamb does not have similar endorsements, but he loaned his campaign $800,000. - Ohio’s 16th District [Republican primary]( pits former Ohio State football Anthony Gonzalez against state Rep. Christina Hagan. Gonzalez raised over $1 million and is supported by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Hagan based her campaign on her support for President Trump. She is supported by the House Freedom Caucus and former Trump official Anthony Scaramucci. - State Sen. [Troy Balderson]( (R) and businesswoman [Melanie Leneghan]( (R) are competing against eight other Republicans in [Ohio’s 12th Congressional District]( to fill Rep. [Patrick Tiberi]( (R)'s vacant seat. Tiberi endorsed Balderson and Defending Main Street spent more than $400,000 on cable and digital ad buys supporting Balderson, while Leneghan rounded up endorsements from the [House Freedom Caucus]( and Reps. [Mark Meadows]( (R-N.C.) and [Jim Jordan]( (R-Ohio). - Incumbent Rep. [Walter Jones]( (R) faces two challengers in his re-election bid to [North Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District](. Both Craven County Board of Commissioners Chairman [Scott Dacey]( and emergency response trainer [Phil Law]( have been critical of Jones’ deviation from President Trump’s agenda. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Dacey outraised Jones by a factor of two, $97,000 to $45,000. Indiana primary election - Ballotpedia will cover a total of 138 federal and state seats up for primary [election in Indiana]( in 2018. These include 10 congressional seats and 125 state legislative seats. Ballotpedia will also cover municipal elections in Allen and Marion counties. North Carolina primary and general elections - Ballotpedia will cover a total of 183 federal and state seats up for primary [election in North Carolina]( in 2018. These include 13 U.S. House seats and 170 state legislative seats. Ballotpedia will also cover municipal elections in Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, and Wake counties and school board elections in the Durham, Winston-Salem/Forsyth, Guilford, Johnston, and Union school districts. Ohio primary election - Ballotpedia will cover a total of 224 federal, state, and local seats up for primary [election in Ohio]( in 2018. These include U.S. Congress, governor and other state executives, Ohio General Assembly, and Ohio state courts. Ballotpedia will also cover judicial and municipal elections across five counties: Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Franklin, Hamilton, and Lucas. Also up for vote will be [Issue 1](, a ballot measure regarding congressional redistricting in the state. West Virginia primary election - Ballotpedia will cover a total of 121 federal and state seats up for primary [election in West Virginia]( in 2018. These include four congressional seats and 117 state legislative seats. --------------------------------------------------------------- Republican Indiana Senate candidates spar over loyalty to Trump and party in fourth and final debate - U.S. Reps. [Luke Messer]( (R) and [Todd Rokita]( (R) and former state Rep. [Mike Braun]( (R) participated in the fourth and final Republican primary debate for the [U.S. Senate in Indiana]( on Monday. - The candidates kept up the personal attacks seen throughout the campaign as they debated the $1.3 trillion spending bill signed into law in March, Braun's Democratic voting record, and their commitment to the Trump administration's agenda. - Pre-primary financial reports showed all three candidates have more than $1 million in cash on hand to spend in the final sprint of the race before the May 8 primary. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trump postpones steel and aluminum tariffs on EU, Canada, Mexico, and others - President Donald Trump [issued]( two presidential proclamations Monday that delayed the implementation of steel and aluminum tariffs on imports from the European Union (EU), Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, and South Korea in order to give negotiators more time to work out agreements to permanently exempt the countries from the tariffs. Tariffs of 25 percent on steel and 10 percent on aluminum were scheduled to take effect for these countries on May 1, 2018. The administration extended negotiations on permanent exemptions with Canada, Mexico, and the EU until June 1, 2018. The administration said that it completed a deal with South Korea for a permanent exemption and also said that it had agreements in principle with Argentina, Brazil, and Australia. - On March 8, 2018, Trump signed paperwork to put the tariffs in place under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which "provides the President with authority to adjust imports being brought into the United States in quantities or under circumstances that threaten to impair national security.” Based on reports from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the administration concluded that foreign imports of aluminum and steel were weakening the domestic production of these materials and could result in the U.S. not being able to support infrastructure projects or produce weapons, tanks, and aircraft that ensure national security. --------------------------------------------------------------- Democratic candidate draws ire from Democrats, Republicans, in run for Al Franken’s seat - Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush White House and current vice-chairman of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, announced Monday he would challenge Tina Smith (D) in the Democratic primary for the [Minnesota Senate seat]( previously held by Al Franken (D). - Painter is a critic of President Donald Trump on Twitter and cable television. He has also criticized Republicans who support Trump. When announcing his run, he [released]( the following statement: “The Republican Party insists that one must be loyal to Trump and his corrupt administration to run for federal office. My loyalties are to the United States of America. And I will make my message to the Republican Party very clear: I QUIT." - Painter[will not]( accept donations from super PACs or run negative campaign ads against Smith during the Democratic primary. He said he wanted the Democratic Party to go into the November election unified. - After Franken resigned in January 2018 due to sexual misconduct charges against him, Gov. Mark Dayton (D) appointed Smith, who was serving as lieutenant governor, as his temporary replacement. The winner of the special election—which will occur alongside a regularly scheduled election for the U.S. Senate seat held by Amy Klobuchar (D)—will serve out the rest of Franken’s term, which ends in January 2021. - Democratic attorney Nick Leonard, Republican state Sen. Karin Housley, and independent real estate developer Jerry Trooien are also running in the special election. --------------------------------------------------------------- Pro-Trump group launches ad campaign against Jon Tester over Ronny Jackson allegations - The pro-Trump super PAC America First Action released a television ad Tuesday criticizing U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D) for his role in making public professional misconduct allegations against Ronny Jackson, President Trump’s now-withdrawn nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Tester is up for [re-election]( in 2018. - The ad claims that Tester spread false information about Jackson and that he betrayed Trump and the country’s veterans. The ad followed a series of tweets and public comments by Trump criticizing Tester for his role in Jackson’s withdrawal and his opposition to legislation that would have punished states that allow sanctuary jurisdictions. - Jackson, who was Trump’s physician, denied the allegations, which included charges that he dispensed drugs without requiring prescriptions and crashed a government vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He withdrew from the nomination process on April 26, saying he wanted Trump to be able to move forward. The allegations were released by the Democratic staff of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, where Tester serves as ranking member. - Although his seat is rated “Lean Democratic” by election forecasters, Tester and outside groups have already been active ahead of the November election. In addition to America First Action, outside groups such as Americans for Prosperity and Restoration PAC have run ads opposing Tester. The American Bankers Association and the Senate Majority PAC have run ads supporting him. - He will face the winner of a four-way Republican primary between State Auditor Matt Rosendale, former Judge Russ Fagg, businessman Troy Downing, and state Sen. Al Olszewski in the general election. Tester is one of 10 Senate Democrats defending a seat won by Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Trump won Montana by 20 points. --------------------------------------------------------------- Texas and six other states file lawsuit to end DACA - Texas and six other states filed a [lawsuit]( Tuesday against the Trump administration for continuing to administer the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The states argued that DACA is unlawful and requires them to spend more money on healthcare, law enforcement, and education. They also argued that DACA has resulted in increased competition for jobs in their states. Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia joined Texas in filing the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. - In the lawsuit, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that establishing DACA through an executive order was unconstitutional. The lawsuit stated, "The policy merits of immigration laws are debated in and decided by Congress. The Executive Branch does not exercise a lawmaking role. Its duty is to take care that the law is faithfully executed — substantive immigration law and procedural administrative law alike." - The lawsuit said that although the court "has authority to immediately rescind and cancel all DACA permits currently in existence because they are unlawful," the states would be satisfied if the federal government was ordered to stop issuing new permits and renewing existing ones. This would lead to the end of the program within two years as existing DACA permits expire. - DACA applies to individuals who were brought to the United States as children without legal permission. Read more about DACA [here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Lamborn put back on ballot - Incumbent Rep. [Doug Lamborn's]( (R) name will appear on the June primary ballot after all, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. Lamborn's re-election bid to [Colorado's 5th Congressional District]( was initially blocked by the Colorado Supreme Court, but U.S. District Court Judge Philip Brimmer's decision overturned the original ruling. - The lawsuit against Lamborn was originally filed by district voters disputing the validity of the signatures he submitted to qualify for the ballot. - Ballotpedia's held a webinar this week with ballot measure expert Paul Jacob and ballot access authority Richard Winger on the ruling that removed Lamborn from the 2018 ballot. [Re-watch it here](. --------------------------------------------------------------- Trump’s CIA nominee, Gina Haspel, appears before Senate Intel Committee - [Gina Haspel](, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Central Intelligence Agency director, will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee for her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. On March 13, 2018, Trump announced that he would nominate Haspel as the next CIA director after he announced that he would nominate Mike Pompeo, then-CIA director, as secretary of state. In a tweet announcing the replacement of Pompeo with Haspel, Trump said, "Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen." She was formally nominated on April 17, 2018. --------------------------------------------------------------- Where was the president last week? - On Monday, President Donald Trump welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria to the White House. - On Tuesday, Trump presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to the U.S. Military Academy football team at the White House. He then met with the crew and passengers of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380. - On Wednesday, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence participated in the formal swearing-in ceremony of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Trump and Pence then had lunch with Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. In the afternoon, Trump spoke at the National Teacher of the Year reception at the White House. - On Thursday, Trump participated in the National Day of Prayer with a ceremony in the Rose Garden. - On Friday, Trump spoke at the National Rifle Association’s Leadership Forum in Dallas, Texas. --------------------------------------------------------------- The Tap has thousands of loyal readers each week. Want to reach them? Advertise in this email! Contact ads@ballotpedia.org for details. The Lucy Burns Institute, publisher of Ballotpedia, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law. Donations to the Lucy Burns Institute or Ballotpedia do not support any candidates or campaigns. Decide which emails you want from Ballotpedia. [Unsubscribe from all emails]( or [update your subscription preferences](. Ballotpedia The Encyclopedia of American Politics [8383 Greenway Blvd., Suite 600]( [Middleton, WI 53562]( [Facebook]( [Twitter](