Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox greets a supporter during an election night party Tuesday in San Diego. | Gregory Bull/AP PhotoDemocrats were on track to avoid getting locked out of the general election in a number of key, battleground House districts as the vote count from California’s top-two primary continued on Wednesday.The party has scrambled to avoid being shut out of the general election in three Southern California districts where large numbers of Democratic candidates split the party’s votes. Under the state’s “jungle” primary system, that would have allowed two...…Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox greets a supporter during an election night party Tuesday in San Diego. | Gregory Bull/AP PhotoDemocrats were on track to avoid getting locked out of the general election in a number of key, battleground House districts as the vote count from California’s top-two primary continued on Wednesday.The party has scrambled to avoid being shut out of the general election in three Southern California districts where large numbers of Democratic candidates split the party’s votes. Under the state’s “jungle” primary system, that would have allowed two...WW…

Republican Eric Schmitt said Tuesday he'll run to replace retiring Sen. Roy Blunt next year.Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP PhotoMissouri state Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced he’s running for Senate Wednesday, setting up a clash with former Gov. Eric Greitens as Republicans fight to hold the seat next year.Schmitt is the second Republican to enter the race to replace retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt, who said earlier this month he would not seek a third term.Some Republicans fear Greitens winning...…Republican Eric Schmitt said Tuesday he'll run to replace retiring Sen. Roy Blunt next year.Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt speaks in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP PhotoMissouri state Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced he’s running for Senate Wednesday, setting up a clash with former Gov. Eric Greitens as Republicans fight to hold the seat next year.Schmitt is the second Republican to enter the race to replace retiring GOP Sen. Roy Blunt, who said earlier this month he would not seek a third term.Some Republicans fear Greitens winning...WW…

The president is putting Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in a bind.President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally for Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on Dec. 5, 2020, in Valdosta, Ga. | Evan Vucci/AP PhotoMACON, Ga. — President Donald Trump won’t get his coveted $2,000 stimulus checks — and he’s blaming the very Senate Republican leaders he’s trying to protect in the closing days of Georgia’s runoffs.Trump’s last-minute moves to close out his presidency — from his demand for increased stimulus payments to his unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election — have put Republicans in...…The president is putting Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in a bind.President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally for Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on Dec. 5, 2020, in Valdosta, Ga. | Evan Vucci/AP PhotoMACON, Ga. — President Donald Trump won’t get his coveted $2,000 stimulus checks — and he’s blaming the very Senate Republican leaders he’s trying to protect in the closing days of Georgia’s runoffs.Trump’s last-minute moves to close out his presidency — from his demand for increased stimulus payments to his unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election — have put Republicans in...WW…

The party sees next year's open-seat Senate race as a chance to reverse a string of losses since Barack Obama carried the state in 2012.Youngstown-area Rep. Tim Ryan has said he thought his message would appeal to working-class voters regardless of race or geography. | Robert F. Bukaty/AP PhotoVirtually winless over the past decade, Ohio Democrats know they need something different. But actually finding that formula has eluded the party — at least, for everyone not named Sherrod Brown.Democrats are still searching for it as they try to win an open Senate seat next year after GOP Sen. Rob...…The party sees next year's open-seat Senate race as a chance to reverse a string of losses since Barack Obama carried the state in 2012.Youngstown-area Rep. Tim Ryan has said he thought his message would appeal to working-class voters regardless of race or geography. | Robert F. Bukaty/AP PhotoVirtually winless over the past decade, Ohio Democrats know they need something different. But actually finding that formula has eluded the party — at least, for everyone not named Sherrod Brown.Democrats are still searching for it as they try to win an open Senate seat next year after GOP Sen. Rob...WW…

Democrats, hoping to bolster their tenuous Senate majority by flipping an open seat next year, face a crowded and potentially messy primary.Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson states his opposition to a proposed budget bill during a 2014 Senate session in Raleigh, N.C. | Chris Seward/The News & Observer via APDemocrats’ loss in the North Carolina Senate race was the narrowest of several stinging defeats last November. But with the state’s other Senate seat open next year, plans for a resurgence are already underway even amid tensions over primary strategy and the party’s history of...…Democrats, hoping to bolster their tenuous Senate majority by flipping an open seat next year, face a crowded and potentially messy primary.Democratic state Sen. Jeff Jackson states his opposition to a proposed budget bill during a 2014 Senate session in Raleigh, N.C. | Chris Seward/The News & Observer via APDemocrats’ loss in the North Carolina Senate race was the narrowest of several stinging defeats last November. But with the state’s other Senate seat open next year, plans for a resurgence are already underway even amid tensions over primary strategy and the party’s history of...WW…

“The craziness from the state Republican Party … it’s pretty embarrassing,” said a former top Republican official.The hard-right pull of the Arizona GOP was evident long before the rise of Kelli Ward, the state party’s current chairwoman and fierce Trump ally. | Ross D. Franklin/AP PhotoThe Trump era did more damage to the Republican Party in Arizona than almost anywhere else. Over the past two years, Republicans lost both Senate seats. In November, the state flipped Democratic in a presidential race for the first time since 1996. The GOP state party chair is currently at war with the...…“The craziness from the state Republican Party … it’s pretty embarrassing,” said a former top Republican official.The hard-right pull of the Arizona GOP was evident long before the rise of Kelli Ward, the state party’s current chairwoman and fierce Trump ally. | Ross D. Franklin/AP PhotoThe Trump era did more damage to the Republican Party in Arizona than almost anywhere else. Over the past two years, Republicans lost both Senate seats. In November, the state flipped Democratic in a presidential race for the first time since 1996. The GOP state party chair is currently at war with the...WW…

The former Georgia senator filed paperwork to run again in 2022, but an adviser says he hasn’t made a final decision.David Perdue speaks to the crowd during a campaign rally on December 20, 2020 in Cumming, Georgia. | Jessica McGowan/Getty ImagesDavid Perdue, the former Republican senator from Georgia who lost one of two runoffs in the state last month, filed paperwork to run again in 2022 but has not yet made a final decision on whether to launch another campaign, according to two advisers.Perdue lost his bid for a second term to now-Sen. Jon Ossoff in January after failing to get a...…The former Georgia senator filed paperwork to run again in 2022, but an adviser says he hasn’t made a final decision.David Perdue speaks to the crowd during a campaign rally on December 20, 2020 in Cumming, Georgia. | Jessica McGowan/Getty ImagesDavid Perdue, the former Republican senator from Georgia who lost one of two runoffs in the state last month, filed paperwork to run again in 2022 but has not yet made a final decision on whether to launch another campaign, according to two advisers.Perdue lost his bid for a second term to now-Sen. Jon Ossoff in January after failing to get a...WW…

The four candidates combined to raise more than $340 million.The massive fundraising for, from left, Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff was driven largely by small-dollar donations. | Brynn Anderson/AP PhotoDemocrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock shattered fundraising records by hauling in more than $100 million each in the past two months, significantly outraising GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the final stretch of the two Georgia Senate races that will decide control of the chamber next month.The massive fundraising for the two Democrats was driven largely by...…The four candidates combined to raise more than $340 million.The massive fundraising for, from left, Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff was driven largely by small-dollar donations. | Brynn Anderson/AP PhotoDemocrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock shattered fundraising records by hauling in more than $100 million each in the past two months, significantly outraising GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in the final stretch of the two Georgia Senate races that will decide control of the chamber next month.The massive fundraising for the two Democrats was driven largely by...WW…

Super PACs have tilted the advertising battle toward Republicans, as Democratic donors invest in groups working on the ground.Sen. David Perdue speaks to the crowd during a rally with Vice President Mike Pence in support of himself and Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Dec. 10, 2020 in Augusta, Ga. | Jessica McGowan/Getty ImagesDemocrats are getting out-advertised in the Georgia Senate runoffs thanks to a megadonor-funded blitz from GOP super PACs in the races that will decide control of the Senate.Republicans hold an overall advertising advantage across the state, largely fueled by $86 million in...…Super PACs have tilted the advertising battle toward Republicans, as Democratic donors invest in groups working on the ground.Sen. David Perdue speaks to the crowd during a rally with Vice President Mike Pence in support of himself and Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Dec. 10, 2020 in Augusta, Ga. | Jessica McGowan/Getty ImagesDemocrats are getting out-advertised in the Georgia Senate runoffs thanks to a megadonor-funded blitz from GOP super PACs in the races that will decide control of the Senate.Republicans hold an overall advertising advantage across the state, largely fueled by $86 million in...WW…

Pat McCrory, who was ousted from the governorship in 2016, is set to enter the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Burr.Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has been expected to run for Senate for months, but he has not publicly indicated that a decision was finalized. | Gerry Broome/AP PhotoPat McCrory, the former Republican governor of North Carolina, is planning to launch his campaign for the state’s open Senate seat this week, according to people familiar with his plans.The former governor, who won the office in 2012 and lost reelection in 2016, would begin the primary in the race...…Pat McCrory, who was ousted from the governorship in 2016, is set to enter the race to replace retiring Sen. Richard Burr.Former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has been expected to run for Senate for months, but he has not publicly indicated that a decision was finalized. | Gerry Broome/AP PhotoPat McCrory, the former Republican governor of North Carolina, is planning to launch his campaign for the state’s open Senate seat this week, according to people familiar with his plans.The former governor, who won the office in 2012 and lost reelection in 2016, would begin the primary in the race...WW…