PSW Weekly Round-Up - 6/27

Legislative Update

Congress. The House and Senate are in recess, but House committees are holding hearings and markups. This includes a just-announced Tuesday hearing at 1 p.m, where the select Jan. 6 committee will “present recently obtained evidence and receive witness testimony.” Also on the schedule are markups in the House Appropriations Committee of FY 2023 spending bills.

Committee Action of Note:

• Tuesday, June 28:
  • House Appropriations Committee Markup: FY 2023 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies bill
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing: "Protecting America's Seniors: Oversight of Private Sector Medicare Advantage Plans"
  • House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism Field Hearing: "Combating Ransomware: From Our Small Towns in Michigan to DC"
  • House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing: Where Have All the Houses Gone? Private Equity, Single Family Rentals, and America's Neighborhoods

• Wednesday, June 29:
  • House Appropriations Committee Markup: FY 2023 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs and Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bills
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Hearing "Investing in Public Health: Legislation to Support Patients, Workers, and Research"
  • House Financial Services Committee Hearing: Boom and Bust: Inequality, Homeownership, and the Long-Term Impacts of the Hot Housing Market

• Thursday, June 30:
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change Hearing: "No Time to Waste: Solutions for America's Broken Recycling System"
  • House Appropriations Committee Markup of FY 2023 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill and FY 2023 Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

Political Update

Tuesday Elections. June 28 will see primaries in Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Utah. Mississippi and South Carolina will hold runoff elections, and Nebraska will have a special election.

In Colorado, Republican voters will choose their nominee to challenge Senator Michael Bennet (D) in November. The race pits Ron Hanks, a first-term state representative, against Joe O’Dea, who is billing himself as the moderate option to Hanks. In the 7th District, the race could be competitive in November with the retirement of Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D). Three Republicans are competing for the nomination to run against Democratic nominee Brittany Pettersen, a state senator.

In Illinois, redistricting has forced two sets of incumbents to run against each other. On the Democratic side, Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman are facing each other in the 6th District primary. On the Republican side, Reps. Rodney Davis and Mary Miller are competing for the nomination in the 15th District. Meanwhile, in the 7th District, Rep. Danny Davis (D) is being challenged by Kina Collins, who lost to Davis in the 2020 primary but this year is outraising and outspending Davis. President Biden weighed in Sunday with an endorsement of Davis.

In Oklahoma, attention is focused on the Republican primary in the special election to replace Senator James Inhofe (R), who is retiring on Jan. 3, four years before his term is up. Rep. Markwayne Mullin is ahead in the polls, but the winner in this multi-candidate race must win over 50% to avoid an August 23 runoff. The eventual Republican nominee will face former Rep. Kendra Horn (D) in the general election. In the race for the other Senate seat, Senator James Lankford (R) is expected to easily win his party’s nomination.

In Utah, Senator Mike Lee (R) should prevail over two primary challengers. Democrats declined to endorse a candidate and are backing independent Evan McMullin in November.

In Mississippi, two Republican incumbents are in runoffs on Tuesday. Rep. Michael Guest is defending his 3rd District seat against former Navy pilot Michael Cassidy, who finished first in the June 7 GOP primary. In the runoff for the 4th District nomination, Rep. Steven Palazzo, is touting his seat on the House Appropriations Committee as he competes against Mike Ezell, the Jackson County sheriff.

In South Carolina, Democrats will choose between Catherine Fleming Bruce and Krystle Matthews as their nominee to face Senator Tim Scott (R) in the general election.

The special election in Nebraska is to fill the seat of Republican Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, who resigned March 31. The seat is expected to stay in Republican hands, with state Senator Mike Flood (R) favored over Democrat state Senator Patty Pansing Brooks.