Jaime Harrison, the former chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Party, has announced a campaign to challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in 2020, using his launch video to accuse Graham of "comical" hypocrisy for going from an ardent critic of President Trump in 2016 to one of his staunchest allies.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday refused to answer whether Democrats will move forward toward impeachment, but said that "Mueller told us a lot of what we need to hear today" when asked whether he would subpoena the special counsel to testify.
"All options are on the table, and nothing should be ruled out."
Former special counsel Robert Mueller's public statement on Wednesday announcing the end of his investigation set off a chorus of reactions around Washington as 2020 Democratic candidates called for impeachment and President Trump tried to spin it as a win in a tweet.
"Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you."
President Trump said he won't support a 2020 Senate run by Alabama's Roy Moore in a pair of Wednesday tweets.
Why it matters: The possibility that Moore may launch another run for the seat is worrying Republican leaders who fear his candidacy could damage the GOP's chances to win it back from Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who is considered one of the most vulnerable incumbent senators in the 2020 cycle.
2020 Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke on Wednesday unveiled a major immigration reform plan focused on tackling the Trump administration's most controversial decisions at the U.S.-Mexico border, reworking the immigration system and improving relations with Latin American nations.
Why it matters: By directly going after President Trump on an extremely hot-button issue, O'Rourke is attempting to position himself as somebody who can take on the president on an issue that deeply matters to many Americans.
The DNC announced on Wednesday that it would double the requirements for candidates to reach the 2020 debate stage in September, per the AP.
Why it matters: With a massive field of over 20 candidates, the DNC is under pressure to focus its primary race on those who have a chance of breaking through the noise and challenging President Trump.
Trump campaign officials have been discussing a digital campaign to boost President Trump’s 2020 support among three key demographic groups: African Americans, Hispanics and suburban women, two sources familiar with the plan tell Axios.
Why it matters: These are the groups the president must make inroads with the most. Trump won in 2016 with less support from black and Hispanic voters than any president in at least 40 years, per Reuters. And in 2018, suburban women revolted against Republicans in the midterms, a shift that was widely seen as a direct rebuke of Trump.
Here's an excerpt from a chapter called "Kavanaugh," where President Trump seems confounded by a "new and remarkable fact" about the Supreme Court:
Of the eight justices currently serving, all were either Jews or Catholics. [Brett] Kavanaugh was also a Catholic ... Trump wondered[:] Weren't there any WASP lawyers anymore? (Yes ... Bob Mueller.) ...
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said during an MSNBC town hall Tuesday that President Trump's derogatory tweets about Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden are reasons "why he should not be president of the United States."
Details: Harris cited Trump's tweet during a state visit to Japan in which he said he "smiled" at North Korea calling the former vice president "a low IQ individual, & worse." "I don't care what the differences in terms of party affiliation, it is wrong, it is contrary to our values, and it is contrary to the best interests of our country and the integrity of our country," she said.
Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) received a standing ovation by many on Tuesday evening at his first Michigan town hall since he became the first Republican in Congress to support President Trump's impeachment.
Details: Amash told the crowd in Grand Rapids he stood by his comments. "Clearly, things that violate the public trust are impeachable," he said, to applause. Some in the crowd defended Trump, including a woman in a "Make America Great Again" hat, who was booed — prompting Amash to urge people to be respectful.
In light of recent anti-abortion laws throughout the country, 2020 presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) is proposing a plan that would require states trying to restrict abortion access to pre-clear any new reproductive health laws with the Department of Justice.
Why it matters: Harris is outlining a clear vision of her priorities if elected president — shift the burden from those that face discrimination to those in power, particularly for women.
Former Vice President Joe Biden revealed his plan for education on Tuesday, focusing on increased access to education and boosting teacher salaries.
The big picture: The plan aims to raise the salaries of those who teach at low-income schools by increasing funding for Title I. Biden also emphasizes ensuring every child has equal access to education regardless of their race or socio-economic status. He joins other 2020 candidates who have released sweeping education policies — including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)
