Scoop ... Inside Jeffries' donor retreat
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Many Democrats left House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' annual California fundraising event last week convinced Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is running for president, according to four attendees.
- 🍷 Jeffries' event at the luxury Lodge at Torrey Pines is the successor to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's wine-soaked summer donor party in Napa, California.
Why it matters: Democrats lapped up the message from the two-term governor, who told big dollar donors and vulnerable House Dems that the key to winning over Trump voters is staying true to your values.
- Beshear's biggest applause line came when he explained why he vetoed a bill in 2023, when he was up for reelection, that restricted some medical care and bathroom use for transgender people.
- Beshear called it "the nastiest anti-trans bills in the nation — and I vetoed it," according to attendees.
- "There are some things worth losing over," Beshear, who went on to win by five percentage points, said.
Zoom out: Democrats are eager to find candidates — and messages — that they think will appeal to voters in red and blue states.
- Both Beshear and Jeffries spoke of the importance of authenticity and using words that voters actually use.
- Don't be afraid to say "addiction," Beshear said, when discussing the opioid crisis.
Zoom in: In both public and private conversations, the looming mid-cycle redistricting battle was frequently discussed. Democrats promised their donors that they would respond to GOP gerrymander efforts.
- "We are working on an aggressive plan to make sure we fight fire with fire on redistricting," according to a member of Congress in attendance.
In addition to Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar attended, along with roughly a dozen "Frontline" lawmakers and some California members as well.
- After Beshear's Friday night fireside chat with Jeffries, donors got a political update from DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene and Mike Smith, the president of the House Majority PAC, which can accept unlimited donations.
- Jared Bernstein, Biden's former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and Wally Adeyemo, Biden's deputy treasury secretary, provided an economic overview.
- Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, and Susan Rice, one of his domestic policy advisers, discussed foreign affairs and immigration.
Between the lines: Beshear adviser Eric Hyers told Axios: "Andy knows how critical it is that Democrats take back the House next year and was happy to join Leader Jeffries for a conversation about how Democrats can win tough elections."
— Hans Nichols
