Axios Hill Leaders

June 09, 2026
Strap in, we've got news. Tonight's edition is 859 words, 3 minutes.
- 🛑 Dems threaten DCCC boycott
- 👎 FISA on the ropes
- 💰 Millions for El-Sayed
1 big thing: 🛑 Dems threaten DCCC boycott
Infuriated House Democrats are threatening to stop paying their dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee unless it quits getting involved in primaries.
😬 Why it matters: The House Democratic campaign arm took a black eye today when progressive Randy Villegas declared victory over the DCCC's pick in California's 22nd District, Jasmeet Bains. The AP has not yet called the race.
- "There are extreme examples" in which it has made sense for the DCCC to get involved in primaries, Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) told us. He cited Maureen Galindo, a Democratic House candidate in Texas who made antisemitic remarks and ultimately lost in the primary.
- But in races like California's 22nd, the Congressional Progressive Caucus chair said, "the DCCC should save its resources for the general election."
💰 What happened: The DCCC added Bains, a moderate State Assembly member, to its "Red to Blue" list and spent $135,000 to try to boost her candidacy.
- But Villegas, who was backed by the Progressive and Hispanic caucuses, appears to have prevailed and will take on Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.).
✋ "It makes me take a pause, definitely, when I'm considering paying my dues that they're being used against candidates that I'm supporting," Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Ariz.) told us.
- "I'm supposed to give you $175,000 of very difficult-to-raise money," another House Democrat fumed, "and then the money we give to show we're a good team player ... you turn around and spend in primaries?"
- Said a third lawmaker: "That money definitely could be used for something else."
— Andrew Solender
2. 👎 FISA on the ropes
Section 702 of FISA appears set to expire this weekend after House Speaker Mike Johnson's meeting with President Trump failed to produce a breakthrough.
Why it matters: Democrats are threatening to block a FISA reauthorization unless Trump withdraws his nomination of Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence.
- Trump is showing no interest there: He posted tonight that he'll have Pulte formally take over the acting DNI duties on June 19.
- Johnson spent this morning in the Situation Room with Trump, Vice President Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials discussing a path forward on FISA.
- "We can't let [FISA] go dark," Johnson told reporters today.
Driving the news: Johnson said Trump is "very close" to selecting a permanent nominee for the job.
- "It's an important position, and one that I think will be filled by a highly qualified person," Johnson said.
- Current DNI Tulsi Gabbard had been expected to remain in the position through June 30.
The standoff is frustrating even Pulte-skeptical Republicans, who argue Democrats are jeopardizing a critical national security tool over an unrelated personnel fight.
- "I don't agree with his nomination, and I don't agree with them voting against FISA because of it," Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) told us.
- "How do you go dark on FISA? It's terrible," he added. "People should have to go on the record on that."
The bottom line: Lawmakers have just three days to prevent one of the government's most consequential surveillance authorities from expiring.
— Kate Santaliz
3. 💰 Millions for El-Sayed
A new super PAC is planning to spend millions of dollars in the contentious Michigan Senate primary to help Sen. Bernie Sanders-backed candidate Abdul El-Sayed, the organization told us first.
🤺 Why it matters: The contest to succeed retiring Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) has become a proxy war over the future direction of the Democratic Party.
- After scandal-plagued Graham Platner's likely primary win Tuesday in Maine, El-Sayed is the next anti-establishment progressive who has a serious chance of winning a Senate nomination.
💰 Driving the news: The Fighting for Michigan PAC said it will fund "a multimillion-dollar independent expenditure campaign" to back El-Sayed, including direct mail, digital ads and organizing efforts.
- The group declined to share a more specific figure of how much it expects to spend.
- The group's first ad — "As Michigan As It Gets" — featured a greatest hits of El-Sayed's bio as a Michigan graduate and public health official.
- The organization's involvement comes at the same time that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's main super PAC is wading into the race to support another Democratic candidate, moderate Rep. Haley Stevens.
🗳️ Zoom in: Recent polls show El-Sayed and Stevens, who is seen by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee as the most electable contender, are leading the primary contest.
- Mallory McMorrow, a liberal state senator, is also in the running.
🤝 Between the lines: Several progressive groups, including National Nurses United, Common Defense Action Fund, the Working Families Party and American Priorities, are involved with the Fighting for Michigan PAC.
- "We know big-money groups representing the Israel lobby, corporate interests and AI billionaires are going to spend heavily against Abdul in the coming days," said Connor Farrell, a progressive strategist who is helping lead the group along with operative Hannah Fertig.
‼️ The bottom line: The super PAC released an internal poll today showing El-Sayed leading Republican Mike Rogers in the general election.
— Holly Otterbein
This newsletter was edited by Justin Green and copy edited by Kathie Bozanich.
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