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09/12/2018 07:59 AM EDT


By Nolan D. McCaskill (nmccaskill@politico.com or @NolanDMcCaskill)

CONSERVATIVE GROUPS PUSH JORDAN FOR SPEAKER -- Most Republican lawmakers may not want Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) leading House Republicans in the next Congress. But a collection of powerful conservative groups does. "Their effort could deny California Rep. Kevin McCarthy the 218 votes needed to secure the speakership if Republicans retain the House majority," Rachael reports. "And if Republicans lose the majority, the groups intend to demand new leadership, which could wound McCarthy's bid for minority leader." The outside groups include Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, Conservative Leadership Fund, Tea Party Patriots and For America.

Leaders of the groups are reaching out to lawmakers and recruiting activists to attend town halls and press members to rally behind Jordan. More than 1,000 conservatives are expected to attend a Sept. 26 Jordan-for-speaker rally and then make their case directly to members in person. Leadership elections, however, usually aren't driven by the grass roots. Plus, some members say Jordan hasn't done nearly as much as McCarthy or Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) to protect Republicans' majority. The pitch for Jordan is that he would allow a more bottom-up approach as speaker or be the president's attack dog as minority leader. Much more: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade980961c7fa3cec393a10a31c459302c040fe852f6e387e3935387700a630cb5c5fe59ac59eec7e2234

UNLUCKY SEVEN -- New Hampshire Executive Council member Chris Pappas easily topped former Obama administration official Maura Sullivan in the state's 1st Congressional District primary despite being outspent 2-to-1. "Pappas, an openly gay former state legislator, leaned heavily into his local connection to the district, touting his endorsements from both New Hampshire senators and former Gov. John Lynch," Elena Schneider and Scott Bland report. "Sullivan couldn't put away questions about her move to the district in June 2017. Sullivan acknowledged that national Democrats asked her to consider running for Congress in Illinois and Virginia."

Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) son, Levi Sanders, finished seventh in the 11-person Democratic primary with just 2 percent of the vote. Former police chief Eddie Edwards won the GOP nomination over state Sen. Andy Sanborn. Edwards would be the state's first black congressman if elected. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), the first woman elected to Congress in New Hampshire, announced her retirement in October, citing "the tug of family." "The district went narrowly for Trump in 2016 and has flipped back and forth between the two parties in every election this decade," they note. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98a6db3f687b748d2038ad19e7d05d8935b4a87ca3e32041ae7fd97d4b76365210039585e857a87add

Related: "What the 2020 contenders learned from this year's primaries," by Natasha Korecki: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade989033891623d69eeacb140b8eb0bf4864cc724a71cc95f0503ebb95cfb848220758c5d11127666a9c

CONGRESS' DIVERSITY PROBLEM -- Voters are more likely to elect a person of color to the House than members of Congress are to hire staffers of color for top positions, according to a new racial diversity report released by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Less than 14 percent of top congressional staffers are people of color despite non-white people making up 38 percent of the U.S. population. Out of 329 white members' personal offices, only 16 have chiefs of staff of color -- and 313 offices have no top staff of color at all.

More than 1,000 top House staffers are white. Out of 1,174 top staffers, 79 are African-American, 45 are Latinx, 32 are Asian American/Pacific Islander, one is Native American and four are bi- or multiracial. The report defines top staff as chiefs of staff, legislative directors and communications directors in members' personal D.C. offices; chiefs of staff, policy directors and communications directors in the top four leadership offices of both parties; and staff directors assigned to full committees.

"This systemic problem matters because Congress cannot effectively create public policy that benefits all Americans if the people making policy decisions don't look like America," said Spencer Overton, president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The report recommends that House members collect and disclose detailed demographic data on staffers, adopt a rules package in the next Congress that includes measures to increase diversity and inclusion, apply the "Rooney Rule" -- interview at least one person of color for each open senior position -- in hiring and offer paid internships and fellowships. The report: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade986313d1d10bdaadc02e33733064dc93440810359db0dfe6d20c59f5d22e38afc64fd8ee37591643b8

Related read: "In an Increasingly Diverse House, Aides Remain Remarkably White," from The New York Times' Nicholas Fandos: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98e68041f85dd0ae96165e80e5b74b042aabaa92c5b2ef1a0954b9d0b91e53f2b2724624b633f2e065

HAPPY WEDNESDAY! Thanks for reading Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Sept. 12.

** A message from the National Confectioners Association: The confectionery industry is comprised of hundreds of family-owned businesses as well as global companies operating nearly 1,300 facilities in all 50 states. Manufacturing chocolate and candy, we directly employ 54,000 people in the U.S., and we support more than 550,000 American workers in other industries. Learn more at PowerOfSweet.com. **

TUESDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Roll Call's report on a provision in the minibus package that would require Senate candidates to file paperwork electronically to the FEC was by far the big winner.

HOYER TO PREVIEW DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES -- House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will outline a possible Democratic majority's priorities in the next Congress in a speech this morning hosted by End Citizens United Action Fund. According to excerpts shared with Huddle, Hoyer will say that Democrats will return to a federal government that's of, by and for the American people through congressional oversight, restoration of voting rights and national redistricting reform, to name a few. "Under the Trump administration and a dysfunctional Congress, Americans have grown further estranged from their own democracy," Hoyer will say. "Our people believe their government is rigged against them."

Hoyer is expected to say that belief undermines Americans' trust in government and impedes lawmakers' ability to govern. "That's what today's speech is all about: House Democrats' commitment to restoring to the American people the assurance their government works for them," he will say. "To regain that trust, our response must be vigorous and innovative. Campaign finance reform, voting reform and ethics reform, alongside new rules to improve how Congress works -- all of these items should be packaged into one reform bill and addressed in the opening days of the next Congress, should Democrats be entrusted with the House majority." The excerpts:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98adbb840f9f344970d9ad44e089614b531d6c81d94886ea2ed54cc8d99b4f6dd8ad1ad23717c93206

SCOTUS WATCH -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) expects to hold a full floor vote to confirm Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the final week of September, just in time for the beginning of the high court's session on Oct. 1. Kavanaugh is expected to receive a favorable Judiciary Committee vote next Thursday before being confirmed by the full Senate the following week. But Kavanaugh critics aren't giving up their long-shot bid to derail his confirmation just yet.

"Planned Parenthood Action Fund is unleashing a new six-figure ad buy in Maine urging GOP Sen. Susan Collins to vote no, while NARAL Pro-Choice America is up with new ads hitting Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), an early Kavanaugh backer fighting for his political life in a swing state," Elana and Burgess report. "Those two ad buys, which POLITICO obtained ahead of their release, underscore the intensity with which Democrats and their off-the-Hill allies have pursued the fight against Kavanaugh, whose confirmation promises to tip the balance of the nation's highest court for decades to come." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98d5695bde7e86396341fbfacb0265009cecb0db64322dec4aff20591b891e0f6bf9870b2397753799

COLLINS WATCH -- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is still undecided on Kavanaugh. But she faces more pressure than any other senator to oppose him. The moderate Republican is being targeted in an advertising campaigning and through significant outreach. Her office has received thousands of coat hangers, which some women once used to terminate unwanted pregnancies, and even some threats -- from a $1 million-plus crowdfunding effort to help a Democratic challenger in 2020 to a caller telling a young female staffer that he hoped she would get raped and impregnated.

Collins is among five key lawmakers to watch. The list includes fellow moderate Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and the three vulnerable Democrats who backed Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch last year. "Her decision will probably influence that of Ms. Murkowski, as well as those of the three vulnerable Democrats: Senators Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota and Joe Donnelly of Indiana," The New York Times' Sheryl Gay Stolberg, Nicholas Fandos and Catie Edmondson report. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade9893a8c6ace6f3708ec37e635a48d9b73632631c028622e8024dad37c11d33b52dcb45dd47a426b59d

Related: "Activists raised $1 million to defeat Susan Collins if she votes for Kavanaugh. She says it's bribery," per The Washington Post's Eli Rosenberg: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98d98c75689eef354ac4d28ca642d7950d3e370de1f9a7a8374672c904a91279761a866db9631d9b8e and "You Can't Bribe Susan Collins," via The Wall Street Journal editorial board: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade9865d1ba5ea68071b1b619ca36219fda7d0c154829d4a6501816b0630b60d087144cc55ea8d69c02d0

CAMPAIGN MITCH -- McConnell is planning to keep the Senate in session for most, if not all, of October -- most of which is traditionally reserved for campaigning in an election year. By doing so, McConnell will keep Democrats off the trail while Republicans continue to take up judicial and executive nominations. "The House is expected to head home for the rest of the election season after passing a spending bill later this month," Burgess writes. "But with the Senate's unique role confirming the president's nominees and little political downside to staying in session, McConnell plans to forge ahead into October after slashing the August recess down to little more than two weeks."

McConnell spokesman Don Stewart noted that October's session was announced last year and reflected on the official Senate calendar. Still, some senators and staffers were hoping it would be reduced before the election like it was in 2014 and 2016. "Whether the chamber will actually stay in that long might depend on attendance: With just 51 GOP senators, Republicans can't risk many absences on tough judge votes," Burgess adds. "Democrats also could cut a deal with Republicans to confirm some less controversial executive branch nominees and judges and win a longer fall break, allowing their incumbents more time on the campaign trail." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade981c0c1de84fa89dc8ab186001a10711cad90ba242a26e89e7ac568d3de6545d7bb1a6218677464f78

Related reads: "McConnell-aligned PAC unleashes $6.4 million ad blitz to protect Senate majority," by USA Today's Fredreka Schouten: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98193e1afe2b0507aeb3d053621c344c04ebf66f1e0711da8c1e35cbd0d06756e497febfe4d27c6b2f and "'Shipwreck': GOP grows fearful about losing Senate as candidates struggle, Trump support tumbles," from The Washington Post's Sean Sullivan: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade986cab3067667c1a28e1a2bee4eae84e7c34ad5286e1f8ca247ea5c4dce5e5056eea5548f497dc1ab3

BUSH BEGINS FUNDRAISING TOUR -- Former President George W. Bush will begin a fundraising circuit for House and Senate candidates this morning with a closed-door event in Fort Worth, Texas, for Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), a two-term congressman seeking reelection in a district Trump lost in 2016. On Friday, Bush will hold two events for Florida Gov. Rick Scott's Senate bid. Next week, he'll headline a Sept. 19 fundraiser in Fort Worth for Rep. Kevin Cramer's (R-N.D.) Senate run and hold a Dallas fundraiser for Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) the following day. In October, Bush will host fundraisers for GOP Senate candidates Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Braun of Indiana.

"Bush has maintained a low profile since leaving office in 2009. Yet as the midterm campaign season enters its final weeks and the party braces for the prospect of a Trump-fueled wave, Bush -- who has been critical of the president -- is putting his muscle behind Republicans in heated races," Alex Isenstadt reports. "Bush's foray comes as another former president, Barack Obama, launches a nationwide push for Democratic candidates. But unlike Obama, who's been holding public rallies, Bush's events will be closed-door affairs. Each of the fundraisers is private." More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98edef600e1ecaa177cd668c13f09d43f2418bfea780983096556ee1b4ef4ffc5389d5e602a0e272e5

Related: "Scott jets around on secrecy-heavy 'bus tour,'" via Marc Caputo: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98ee2ceac8e4e166ab4477c615c148f4a904cd8c6e5a508a0e24bf4c010bc38b91b83d2ebe0d272d1d

FAIR? -- A new GOP attack ad is highlighting Rep. Kyrsten Sinema's (D-Ariz.) past comments on child prostitution. In a February 2007 statehouse hearing, Sinema expressed concerns over a bill that strengthened penalties against individuals soliciting prostitutes. "I don't think that's fair," she said, adding that when she was a social worker at an elementary school, there were children "who were 12, 13 years old and some of these children looked older than me." Sinema, who's running for Senate against Rep. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), said she had "real concern" for people who could face a class 2 felony for "unknowingly soliciting sex from a 12-year-old who appeared to be a 20-year-old."

But she also spoke out against trafficking during that hearing and eventually backed the bill. "Kyrsten voted for this legislation to toughen penalties for child trafficking and in the same remarks this latest false attack ad misleadingly edited, she spoke out forcefully against sex trafficking," campaign spokeswoman Helen Hare said. According to CNN's Manu Raju, "The ad fails to note her position in favor of the legislation to strengthen penalties on individuals who engage in child prostitution, instead saying her position 'allowed men caught with child prostitutes to beat the rap.'" The ad is expected to run statewide. More: http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade98c0bbc3e6bb5aa48a07ecad4d42c9c57b43c735db2145180646a2ac55f922d067c4df984235837aa6 and the ad:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ce66ceaa147ade9848db86d270fdcb08bf41d588f9d8daf7f2ce0f9939a3cb02e8056945e9acd930b005d5e008a88262

TODAY IN CONGRESS -- The House gavels in at 12 p.m. with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. The Senate meets at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of Charles P. Rettig's nomination to be IRS commissioner. At 5:30 p.m., the chamber will hold a procedural vote on Rettig's nomination.

AROUND THE HILL -- Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) will deliver remarks at the National Congress of American Indians' 2018 Tribal Unity Impact Days at 9:50 a.m. in 628 Dirksen.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.), Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) will hold an event to announce the Expand Social Security Caucus at 10 a.m. in 430 Dirksen.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chairwoman Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) will hold a media availability immediately after a closed caucus meeting at 11 a.m. in HVC-Studio A.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will hold his weekly pen and pad briefing at 2 p.m. in H-144.

The Bipartisan Women's Caucus will hold a hearing on sexual harassment and the workplace at 3 p.m. in 2325 Rayburn.

Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Reps. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) will hold a briefing in support of the Endangered Species Act at 3 p.m. in SVC-203.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will deliver remarks at a WisPolitics event at 4:45 p.m. in H-207.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will participate in a tele-town hall with Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips to discuss the proper role of the judicial branch and what's next for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee at 6 p.m. The call-in number is 866-767-0648.

TUESDAY'S TRIVIA WINNER -- Andrew Hallowell was first to correctly guess that there are currently vacant congressional seats in Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New York.

TODAY'S TRIVIA -- How many House members have gone on to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and who was the last former congressman to sit on it? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: nmccaskill@politico.com.

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