| | | | Point/CounterPoint: The California primary edition | | The most consequential day of primaries in 2018 so far is behind us! But before it gets too far in the rearview mirror, we need to spend some time unpacking what June 5, 2018, taught us about November 6, 2018.
Because this ain't easy, I'm bringing in some help. Below, I gave you my Point -- and CNN resident election big brain Harry Enten offered a CounterPoint. Get it? Got it? Good. | | | Chris Cillizza: Going into Tuesday's vote, there were major concerns among Democratic strategists that California's odd "jungle primary" system could spell doom for their side. Under the system, which was approved by voters in a ballot initiative in 2010, all candidates run on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters, regardless of their party affiliations, advance to the November election.
That nightmare didn't come to pass on Tuesday. In all seven -- yes, seven(!) -- Republican-held California House seats that Hillary Clinton won in the the 2016 election, Democrats will have a candidate.
That's a very big deal -- particularly when you consider that if Democrats can win five or six of these seats that amounts to one-quarter (or close) of the total of 23 seats they need to net to win back the House majority in November.
Harry Enten: While I certainly agree it wasn't a bad night for Democrats given that they weren't locked out in any of the races in California, I'm not sure I can go so far as to call it good. Why? Take a look at the cumulative vote percentages the Democrats got versus the Republicans in the seven California districts that have a Republican representative and voted for Clinton in 2016. In the 10th, 21st, 25th, 39th, 45th and 48th, the Republican candidates (as of Wednesday) got more votes than the Democratic candidates did. In the 21st, it wasn't even close, with Rep. David Valadao scoring well over 60% of the vote, despite Clinton carrying the district by over 15 points. Only in the 49th District did the Democrats get a larger share of the vote than the Republicans. Now, you might say that this isn't the general election. Yes, that's true, though the top-two primary has traditionally been decently predictive of the fall results. Based upon history, we should expect Democrats to gain a little ground in the general based off the primary. That ground gained, though, has not historically been so great as to make us believe that they are favorites in really any of these seats outside the 49th. Most of these races are either tossups or even lean Republican. Not exactly great news for a party that needs a net gain of 23 seats and thinks California is a place where they can pick up a good share of that 23.
Chris: Good observation. Much like your views on Carvel ice cream. Can't wait 'til next Tuesday -- more primaries!
The Point: Opinions vary! But what's clear is Tuesday night wasn't the disaster it could have been for Democrats. Whether November in California will be a letdown or a leg up for Democrats' hopes of the House majority remains to be seen. | | "Didn't you guys burn down the White House?"
-President Donald Trump invoking the War of 1812 in a testy phone call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in May (according to CNN's exclusive report) | | | MORE PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS ON THE WAY? | | It appears Kim Kardashian West's efforts to persuade the President to pardon Alice Johnson worked. Kardashian West met with Trump and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in the Oval Office last week on Johnson's behalf. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump formally commuted Johnson's sentence. The 63-year-old Tennessee woman was sentenced to life in prison in 1996 on charges related to cocaine possession and money laundering. Read more about Johnson's pardon here.
Per CNN's Kaitlan Collins, Trump may be preparing to pardon more people soon. From her story: "The White House has assembled the paperwork to pardon dozens of people, two sources with knowledge of the developments tell CNN, signaling that (Trump) is poised to exert his constitutional power and intervene, in some instances, where he believes the Justice Department has overstepped. The administration has prepared the pardoning paperwork for at least 30 people, the sources tell CNN." Read more here.
In case you forgot, here's who Trump has pardoned already: Joe Arpaio, Kristian Saucier, Scooter Libby, Jack Johnson and Dinesh D'Souza. | | | This cover of Leonard Cohen's "Memories," which features vocals from Matt Berninger and Sufjan Stevens. The song is among those available on a new digital platform, created by "the PEOPLE," an artist-led collective co-founded by Bon Iver's Justin Vernon and the National's Aaron and Bryce Dessner. | | From CNN's Caroline Kenny: Former Vice President Joe Biden will give the keynote address at a Maryland Democratic Party fundraising event later this month. On June 30, Biden will take the stage at a mega-fundraiser at Camden Yards in Baltimore for a #BlueWave Unity Celebration, according to the invitation. The event will also feature the Democratic nominee for governor -- which won't be known until the Maryland primary just a few days prior to the event on June 26.
This isn't the first time Biden, as a former vice president and prospective 2020 presidential candidate, has addressed a state party and helped it raise money. Back in September 2017, Biden traveled down to early primary state South Carolina to raise money for the state party and also endorsed James Smith for governor in the state's primary, which will take place June 12. In addition, Biden traveled to Montana earlier this year to speak at a party fundraiser in a Trump-voting state where Democratic Sen. Jon Tester is set to face a tough re-election campaign this year. | | ICYMI: LAST NIGHT'S PRIMARY RESULTS | | Didn't stay up to get the primary election results? CNN's got you covered. CNN's Eric Bradner and Dan Merica report: - Sen. Dianne Feinstein sailed through her primary and will face Senate Majority Leader Kevin de León in the general election.
- Former San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom advanced to the general election in the governor's race and will face Republican John Cox, who has the backing of President Donald Trump.
- Tuesday was another big night for female candidates. In Iowa, Democrats Cindy Axne and Abby Finkenauer could become the state's first female House members. In South Dakota, Republican Rep. Kristi Noem won the primary and is now likely to become the state's first female governor. And in New Mexico, Democrat Deb Haaland's win puts her on track to become the nation's first Native American congresswoman.
Read more of CNN's takeaways here. | | For Muslims, tonight is iftar, the sundown meal that breaks fasts during the holy month of Ramadan. President Donald Trump's White House will host its first iftar, which White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said "30 to 40" people had been invited to. Though the Trump administration officials haven't yet released a guest list or divulged many details about the event.
CNN's Religion Editor Daniel Burke spoke to many Muslim Americans about this, and the general consensus has been: Thanks, but no thanks. From his story:
"In years past, White House iftars have invited not only diplomats but also dozens of American Muslims from civil society, including corporate executives, scholars, activists and athletes. But many American Muslims say they are reluctant to break bread with Trump, citing the President's rhetoric and actions toward Muslims and other religious and racial minorities.
"We do not need an iftar dinner," said Imam Yahya Hendi, the Muslim chaplain at Georgetown University. "Rather, we need to get the respect we highly deserve. Do not feed us and stab us." | | | It's the 20th anniversary of "Sex and the City" -- and New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon is capitalizing on the show's fan base. The former "Sex and the City" actress and activist, who is running against Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the state's primary, on Wednesday launched new merch containing slogans related to her character on the show, Miranda, such as: "I'm a Miranda and I'm voting for Cynthia." The Cut wrote more about it here, and read more of CNN's recent coverage of the New York race here. | | | From Brenna: "I live for a random celebrity cameo on Capitol Hill. Today, actress Alyssa Milano joined lawmakers in making a new push for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. You, too, can start a new push by telling everyone you know to sign up for The Point." | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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