Welcome back to Secrets. Today, with just 278 days to go until the midterm elections, we bring you a glimmer of hope for Republicans as they look to hang on to the House, Melania Trump’s message of unity, and the shots fired in Donald Trump’s tussle with defense contractors…
Republicans have drawn up a list of the hard-left Democratic candidates that might just help them retain the House of Representatives in November. And Secrets has seen it.
While conventional wisdom holds that the party that controls the White House will get a “shellacking” in the midterm elections, Republican strategists believe all is not lost. Their reason for optimism is the ability of Democrats to pick weak candidates as runners shift leftward to win their primaries.
“The socialist insurgency is reshaping the foundation of Democrat primaries, and it’s reshaping the battlefield,” the document reads. “It’s becoming clear that Democrats’ biggest threat to winning back the House is their own base.”
It is still the Democrats’ election to lose. The president’s party has lost seats in 18 of the 20 midterm elections since 1946.
And they only need to flip five in order to take the House.
Just don’t bet against Democrats’ ability to pick left-wing candidates that struggle to win over centrist or anti-Trump Republicans. These are the six candidates on the GOP hit list.
CA-22: Randy Villegas, challenging Rep. David Valadao
Cook Political Report: Toss-up
Villegas has centered his campaign on economic populism, is affiliated with the progressive Working Families Party, and is closely aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). He is using Fight Agency, the same operatives who helped socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani to win in New York City, and last year had more cash on hand than Jasmeet Bains, the preferred candidate of the Democratic establishment.
Key quote: “Bernie and I share the same goal.”
CO-08: Manny Rutinel, challenging Rep. Gabe Evans
Cook: Toss-up
“Manny Rutinel has a solidly progressive voting record in the Colorado Legislature and was spotted in NYC with Zohran Mamdani,” the report runs.
Expect to see a video of Rutinel with Mamdani pop up during the campaign.
And last year, he easily outraised state Rep. Shannon Bird, the establishment-preferred candidate.
CA-48: Ammar Campa-Najjar, challenging Rep. Darrell Issa
Cook: Toss-up
The GOP report reads, “Ammar Campa-Najjar is described as a ‘working-class progressive’ and media called him a ‘Mexican-Palestinian-American progressive’ battling xenophobia.”
In 2018, he was endorsed by the Sanders-linked group Our Revolution and volunteered for Sanders’ 2016 campaign during the Democratic National Convention.
He has run for election three times and lost three times.
MI-07: William Lawrence, challenging Rep. Tom Barrett
Cook: Toss-up
As the Lansing City Pulse, an alternative weekly newspaper, put it: “His campaign is built on a community movement, a message of “real representation” that takes “political control away from the establishment and puts it back in the hands of the people. It’s like how Zohran Mamdani won in New York City.”
He is a founder of the Sunrise Movement, the climate group that pushed the “Green New Deal” and endorsed the likes of “Squad” Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
NE-02: John Cavanaugh, running to replace retiring Rep. Don Bacon
Cook: Lean Democratic
“State Sen. John Cavanaugh has a rich history of far-left votes in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature,” the dossier runs.
In his own words, “In Congress, I’ll join the Congressional Progressive Caucus on the front lines of the fight to protect Social Security and healthcare, lower the cost of living, and hold Trump accountable when he cheats Americans.”
NY-17: Peter Chatzky, challenging Rep. Mike Lawler
Cook: Toss-up
The dossier draws on a local podcast appearance during which Chatsky underlined his support for “universal healthcare,” describing the policy as “imperative.” Chatzky also repeated his praise for Mamdani, saying he believes that “anybody who can run a great campaign” can also “run their seat in government pretty well.”
Overall, the list spells out how a trend that began with David Hogg, the Parkland shooting survivor-turned-progressive campaigner whose Leaders We Deserve PAC has backed left-wing candidates against incumbents, has now spread to major cities. Along with Mamdani, it cites socialist Katie Wilson in Seattle, as well as a socialist primary challenge to Karen Bass in Los Angeles.
“And now, the socialist insurgency is trickling down into battleground House races – the very seats Democrats must win to take the majority, putting Democrats’ chances at taking the majority at risk,” it concludes.
Why Melania hopes her movie will unite America
Fresh from her message calling for unity in Minnesota, the first lady offered a similar sentiment this morning as she rang the New York Stock Exchange bell to promote her new movie, Melania.
“Visual storytelling and beautiful music create memories for a lifetime,” she said. “What do you remember when you hear Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson? Films bring families and friends together, sitting side by side, sharing a collective moment. In doing so, they will not simply watch my film. They will participate in a great American tradition and become part of our nation’s history.”
Secrets will gloss over what people might remember when they hear Michael Jackson and leave the snark to less charitable “rivals”.
You are reading Washington Secrets, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, whom you can reach at secrets@washingtonexaminer DOT COM with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you’d like to sign up, click here.
Raytheon ignores Trump’s dividend demand
Less than three weeks ago, Trump blasted defense companies for their lack of urgency, as he saw it, in fulfilling crucial military orders. He ordered them to stop paying dividends and to curb the “overcompensation” of executives so they could funnel the money into production.
“I have been informed by the Department of War that Defense Contractor, Raytheon, has been the least responsive to the needs of the Department of War, the slowest in increasing their volume, and the most aggressive spending on their Shareholders rather than the needs and demands of the United States Military,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The company’s chief executive was asked about it on Tuesday’s earnings call. And he showed no sign of giving ground.
“As it relates to capital allocation, again, we recognize our shareholders rely on our dividends and they’ve come to expect our dividends,” Christopher Calio said. “We’ve been paying them for decades on a quarterly basis. So we remain committed to the dividend.”
Lunchtime reading
Rubio sidesteps Minneapolis quagmire from secretary of state post with 2028 looming: Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently revealed that when traveling on Air Force One, he will “cocoon” himself in a blanket to avoid President Donald Trump so he can catch some sleep on overseas flights. This week, Rubio could be forgiven for adopting a similar mentality.
The ICE shootings are a tipping point: “Immigration enforcement” is now synonymous with federal agents killing people in the street. The dozens of first-hand videos of ICE and CBP officers killing Alex Pretti and Renee Good are now permanently attached to the word “immigration” for millions of Americans. That association will be hard to dislodge. Now comes the question of what happens next.
