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By Daniel Strauss | 04/12/2017 10:00 AM EDT


With Scott Bland and Bianca Padró Ocasio

The following newsletter is an abridged version of Campaign Pro's Morning Score. For an earlier morning read on exponentially more races - and for a more comprehensive aggregation of the day's most important campaign news - sign up for Campaign Pro today. (http://www.politicopro.com/proinfo)

KANSAS SPECIAL - "GOP holds Kansas special election despite scare from energized Democrats," by Campaign Pro's Daniel Strauss: "Kansas state Treasurer Ron Estes held a heavily Republican House district for the GOP in a special election Tuesday, but Democrats lashing back against the Republican Party gave Estes a scare in the first major federal election of Donald Trump's presidency. Estes took 53 percent of the vote to Democrat James Thompson's 46 percent in the race for Kansas' southern 4th District. But just five months ago, Trump won the district by 27 percentage points, a sharp turnaround driven by an energized Democratic base looking to strike back against Trump - and Kansas' unpopular
Republican governor, Sam Brownback. 'We've sent a message that no Republican district is safe,' Thompson said after his loss Tuesday night, adding that he will run for the seat again in 2018."

- Estes' victory came after national Republicans scrambled in the final week of the campaign to deny Thompson a shocking upset victory. ... Even with Estes' victory, winning majority support for tough votes in Congress could become even more difficult if more Republicans see a chance of danger in the 2018 elections, though Republicans have noted that special elections are unpredictable by nature." Full story.

- Kansas GOP chair Kelly Arnold: "A victory is a victory for us."

- Thompson campaign manager Colin Curtis: "I think the momentum we've seen here on the ground, and outpouring of support from Democrats across the country into races like this, is a good signs for Democrats nationally regardless of what happens tonight."

ANOTHER SPECIAL COMING? - PA-10 GOP Rep. Tom Marino "to be named drug czar by Trump," by CBS News' Jacqueline Alemany, Major Garrett and Nancy Cordes: "Marino is expected to step down from his seat to take on a new role in the Trump administration. Multiple sources tell CBS News that Marino will head up the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). ... A source familiar with personnel moves in the White House says that Marino is in the final stages of completing his paperwork and an official announcement is forthcoming." Full story.

2018 WATCH - "Sen. Collins says she may run for Maine governor in 2018," by the Portland Press Herald's Scott Thistle: "Collins said Tuesday she was seriously contemplating a run for Maine governor in 2018, her most definitive statement yet on a topic that has long been the subject of political speculation. ... 'I'm trying to figure out where I can do the most good. I'm being totally honest with you - I truly don't know, I really don't, it's a hard decision.' ... Were Collins to run and be elected ... that would allow [GOP Gov. Paul] LePage to appoint a replacement for the unexpired term." Full story.

- Tester gets his first GOP challenger in Montana, via the Flathead Beacon's Tristan Scott: "Republican state lawmaker Al Olszewski announced Tuesday that he will run against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in 2018, becoming the first challenger in a Senate race expected to draw national attention.An orthopedic surgeon from Kalispell, Olszewsk ... previously served a single term in the state House. ... Attorney General Tim Fox and State Auditor Matthew Rosendale are also considered possible candidates, though neither has made a decision yet. Olszewski said his experience as a physician gives him a unique perspective of the nation's health care system, and that the Affordable Care
Act, or Obamacare, has foisted burdensome regulations on his independent practice." Full story.

Days until the 2017 election: 209.

Days until the 2018 election: 573.

Thanks for joining us. Your Morning Score author was pleasantly surprised with how long this tweet held up as he watched the KS-04 election results. You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com and dstrauss@politico.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter: @politicoscott, @ec_schneider, @politicokevin and @danielstrauss4.

WOMEN RULE PODCAST: In a wide-ranging "Women Rule" exclusive, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao details her life as a child immigrant in America, including the experience of learning to use a fork instead of chopsticks. Chao also weighs in on her role in President Trump's Cabinet, "It's actually very reassuring to have been a cabinet member before, I'm a veteran... We're very surefooted, we're confident, we know what we're doing and we know what's important." Listen and subscribe on iTunes | Soundcloud

Q1 REPORTS - NEW THIS MORNING - Warren raised $5.2 million in first quarter, via POLITICO's Lauren Dezenski and Burgess Everett: "Sen. Elizabeth Warren ... who's been busy blasting President Donald Trump at every turn, raked in $5.2 million over three months, bringing her current cash on hand to $9.2 million, according to fundraising numbers released by Warren's campaign. It's the highest total for any Senate Democratic candidate thus far this year, clearly establishing Warren as one of the party's best fundraisers." Full story.

- Arizona: GOP Sen. Jeff Flake raised $1.4 million in the first quarter, his campaign announced. It did not release cash on hand totals.

- Nevada: GOP Sen. Dean Heller also raised $1.4 million and finished the first quarter with $2.6 million on hand.

- MIssouri: "GOP Rep. Ann Wagner raised just over $800,000 in the first quarter and has $2.7 million on hand, her campaign said today, ahead of a potential challenge to Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2018." Full story.

- Utah: "Hatch's fundraising haul points to reelection bid," by POLITICO's Burgess Everett: "Orrin Hatch is raising money like he's running for reelection ... The Utah Republican ... raised about $1.5 million in the first three months of the year, according to fundraising figures provided to POLITICO. That leaves Hatch with roughly $3.5 million on hand ... Hatch's haul is a show of force, and comes as other ambitious Utah politicians eye his seat, which he has now held for seven terms." Full story.

- Connecticut: Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy raised $3 million in the first quarter and has $3.5 million cash on hand.

- Alabama: GOP Sen. Luther Strange will report raising $673,802 with $703,612 cash on hand, per AL.com.

- Ohio: "Dark money group backs super PAC pushing Mandel Senate bid," by the Associated Press' Julie Carr Smyth: "Federal campaign records show Ohio Freedom Fund ... was created to help elect Mandel in November. Its primary contributor is Citizens for a Working America, a nonprofit not subject to campaign finance disclosures. According to IRS filings, the nonprofit is led by Joel Riter, a former Mandel aide and longtime political ally. ... The nonprofit Riter leads has given $300,000 of the $320,000 the super PAC has reported raising so far." Full story.

- IN THE HOUSE - MT-AL: Democrat Rob Quist raised just over $900,000 in the first quarter, his campaign said - adding that Quist raised an additional $400,000 in the first 11 days of April. More here.

- FIRST IN SCORE - AZ-02: GOP Rep. Martha McSally raised $750,000 in the first quarter and has more than $650,000 cash on hand.

- PA-06: GOP Rep. Ryan Costello raised $340,000 in the first quarter, via PoliticsPA.

- MN-02: GOP Rep. Jason Lewis raised $309,000 in the first quarter and finished with nearly $280,000 on hand, his campaign said.

THE TIGHTROPE - "Joe Donnelly says liberals shouldn't 'burn the house down' over his Gorsuch vote," by the South Bend Tribune's Erin Blasko: "Donnelly is sticking by his argument that voting to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court was the right decision, saying he did not want to continue the political 'warfare that has been going on in the Senate and this country.' ... Donnelly expressed frustration with liberals who view it as a betrayal of Democratic principles and a capitulation to Republicans and the Trump White House. He also pointed to his past votes supporting such issues as the Affordable Care Act and comprehensive immigration reform. 'You love nine out of 10 of my decisions,'
he said. 'So on the last one, you're going to burn the house down?'" Full story.

- "Dems to unveil populist agenda showing Sanders' sway," by POLITICO's Heather Caygle and Elana Schor: "Democrats are beginning to craft an economic message for 2018 that goes beyond the tempting, single-minded strategy of demonizing Donald Trump....The package will be "populist" and designed to "unite both wings of both caucuses," one senior Democratic aide said. Infrastructure and trade are expected to be key components, another aide confirmed.Though Democrats have long diagnosed their failure to put forth a compelling economic message as a root cause of their crushing 2016 losses, their pursuit of a populist package this year reflects the lasting influence of Bernie Sanders'
presidential bid on their longer-term agenda. And after initially sending different signals about their plans, with aides expecting a cohesive campaign message would not emerge until next year, House and Senate Democrats now insist they are moving on the same track." Full story.

PRIMARY POLL - "Quinnipiac poll: Perriello 25, Northam 20 in Virginia governor primary," by Campaign Pro's Kevin Robillard: "Former Rep. Tom Perriello has a small lead in a new Quinnipiac University poll of Virginia's 2017 Democratic gubernatorial primary, while Sen. Tim Kaine has wide leads over two potential 2018 challengers. ... Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe's approval rating sits at 52 percent, while President Donald Trump's approval is just 36 percent. The gubernatorial candidates are still largely anonymous. The best-known candidate, Gillespie, is still unknown to 49 percent of the electorate." Kaine's approval rating in the poll is 58 percent. Full story.

ADMINISTRATION SPEED READ - "Spicer apologizes for claiming Hitler didn't use chemical weapons," by POLITICO's Josh Dawsey: "White House press secretary Sean Spicer had to do something Tuesday night his boss deeply dislikes: He apologized. Hours after seemingly minimizing the Holocaust in an attempt to explain the atrocities of chemical attacks by the Syrian regime, Spicer went on CNN to ask forgiveness for an "inappropriate" reference and to offer a mea culpa to his TV-obsessed boss for becoming a "distraction."... Spicer told POLITICO Tuesday night that it was his decision to issue the public apology and that he would be back at the White House podium this week. "I made a mistake by
trying to make a comparison that was completely wrong," he said. "I don't even know how to explain it. It was a straight up mistake." Spicer did not seem to be at risk of losing his job, two White House officials and two advisers said, even though the president was displeased with his comments." Full story.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "We're going to have a phenomenal tax reform, but I have to do health care first." - President Donald Trump, stressing in an interview with Fox Business Network that he still wants to pass some sort of health care law this year.

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