Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* With time running out till Texas’ Republican U.S. Senate primary, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn was hoping for an endorsement from Donald Trump. That now appears unlikely. On Monday night, the president said he supports “all three” of the top candidates.
* Speaking of the Lone Star State, Aaron Reitz, a leading Republican candidate for state attorney general in Texas, is telling voters that if elected, he’ll be ready to wage a “civilizational battle with anti-American forces on the left.”
* In Iowa’s open U.S. Senate race, the once-crowded Democratic field is starting to thin out. Nathan Sage, the executive director of the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce, is ending his statewide bid. Two Iowa state legislators, Josh Turek and Zach Wahls, are widely seen as the top contenders for the Democratic nomination.
* In Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, Republican conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell was asked this week why he spent campaign contributions on copies of his own book. The GOP candidate replied that he hands out copies of the book as an alternative to fliers.
* In New Mexico, incumbent Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján was already a heavy favorite in his re-election campaign, but his victory is no longer in doubt. His Republican rival, Christopher Vanden Heuvel, was disqualified for failing to meet ballot requirements, which means Luján is running without a major-party opponent.
* For the past week, there have been all kinds of rumors about Republican Rep. Neal Dunn of Florida resigning. While the scuttlebutt has not been confirmed — the congressman said “no comment” last week when asked about his plans — House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed that he’s asked Dunn to stick around.
* And while California’s statewide primaries aren’t till June, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign appears to be gaining some momentum, thanks in part to an endorsement from Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff.
