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By Elena Schneider | 04/04/2018 10:00 AM EDT


With Zach Montellaro, Kevin Robillard and Daniel Strauss

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)

BAD NEWS FOR WALKER - Democrats win in Wisconsin Supreme Court race: Democrats' favored candidate, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Dallet, won a seat on Wisconsin's state Supreme Court on Tuesday night, beating Sauk County Circuit Judge Michael Screnock. Both parties were looking at the race as a thermometer of voter sentiment in the state ahead of GOP Gov. Scott Walker's reelection run and Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin's race for a second term. Baldwin, Sen. Cory Booker and former Attorney General Eric Holder's National Democratic Redistricting Committee helped boost Dallet's candidacy. The conservative Screnock had the support of Walker and the Wisconsin Republican Party.

- Ring the alarm: Walker, in a series of tweets after the race was called, warned: "Tonight's results show we are at risk of a #BlueWave in WI."

OPEN SEAT WATCH - Candidates eye CT-05 race: The Connecticut House seat Rep. Elizabeth Esty is vacating opens up a competitive district, setting off a scramble as candidates jump in or consider a bid. Democrat Mary Glassman, a two-time Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, entered the race on Monday, The Connecticut Mirror reported. State Rep. Michelle Cook said she's considering it, while Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary, state Rep. Liz Linehan of Cheshire and former state Sen. Dante Bartolomeo are also named as possible candidates. Republicans mentioned several potential candidates, including state Rep. William Petit Jr., state Sen. Toni Boucher, Newtown First Selectman Patricia
Llodra and former Torrington Mayor Ryan Bingham. Former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos, a Republican, already launched his bid in February.

HMM - "Pro-Trump nonprofit buys ad time in Greg Pence congressional race," by Campaign Pro's Maggie Severns: "45Committee, a political nonprofit that spent millions boosting Donald Trump during the 2016 election and the first year of his presidency, is getting involved in a congressional primary featuring Vice President Mike Pence's brother. The group plans to run TV and radio ads in Indiana's 6th District starting Wednesday, according to ad data collected by Advertising Analytics. GOP Rep. Luke Messer is running for Senate, and Greg Pence is competing with businessman Jonathan Lamb and several other Republicans in a primary for the open seat. Greg Pence has never held public office." Full
story.

FIRST IN SCORE - SPECIAL ELECTION SEASON - EMILY's List backs Hiral Tipirneni in AZ-08: EMILY's List announced that it will endorse Hiral Tipirneni, a Democrat running in the House special election in Arizona's 8th District. "This is a district that has never before elected a woman of color to Congress, and she is poised to be the first," Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List, said in a statement.

- Speaking of which - "Republicans deploy more support in Arizona special election race," by POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt: "National Republicans, trying to prevent another special election disaster, are intensifying their involvement in an upcoming race for a conservative Arizona congressional seat. House Speaker Paul Ryan is headlining an April 18 fundraiser for Republican Debbie Lesko, according to a copy of an invitation to the event obtained by POLITICO. ... Other national Republicans could play a role as the contest enters its final weeks. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, for example, is expected to travel to Arizona on the candidate's behalf. The California Republican held a
fundraiser for Lesko in mid-March." Full story.

- Tipirneni pops new TV ad: Tipirneni's second TV ad is a contrast spot that tells voters: "Don't be fooled by politician Debbie Lesko." It then shows a clip of Lesko saying, "Together, we are going to make America great again." It also attacks Lesko by linking her to the "federal investigation into illegal money laundering," then cuts to the ad's narrator saying, "There's a better choice for Congress." Watch the ad here.

Q1 CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS - Texas Senate: Democratic Rep. Beto O'Rourke's campaign said it raised over $6.7 million in the first quarter of 2018, with 141,000 contributions. The campaign did not release its cash on hand to The Texas Tribune.

Mississippi Senate: Howard Sherman, a businessman who is running as a Democrat, announced he will loan his campaign $500,000.

FL-16: GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan announced raising $470,000 in the first quarter, finishing with $2.5 million.

NJ-03: Democrat Andy Kim announced raising $530,000 in the first quarter for his race against GOP Rep. Tom MacArthur.

NY-22: Democrat Anthony Brindisi announced raising $510,000 in the first quarter, finishing with $800,000 on hand as he prepares for a race against GOP Rep. Claudia Tenney.

OH-01: Democrat Aftab Pureval announced raising over $660,000 in the first quarter, which his campaign noted is already the most raised by any Democrat in GOP Rep. Steve Chabot's district since it was drawn earlier this decade.

TX-07: Democrat Lizzie Pannill Fletcher raised $500,000 last quarter, ending the period with $400,000 in cash on hand as she prepares for the Democratic primary runoff in GOP Rep. John Culberson's district.

Arizona governor: Democrat Steve Farley raised over $265,000 in the first quarter of 2018 bringing his total to almost $778,000.

Days until the 2018 election: 216.

Upcoming election dates - AZ-08 special election: April 24 - Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina and West Virginia primaries: May 8.

Thanks for joining us! You can email tips to the Campaign Pro team at sbland@politico.com, eschneider@politico.com, krobillard@politico.com, dstrauss@politico.com and mseverns@politico.com.

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

ON THE AIRWAVES - NEW THIS MORNING - Thorburn releases new TV ad: Democrat Andy Thorburn launched a new TV ad starring his son, Aaron, a local public prosecutor. "My dad taught me the importance of looking out for others because we're all in this together," Aaron says. "My dad inspired me to dedicate my career to the pursuit of justice and fighting for others, and justice is what my dad will fight for every day in Congress." Watch the ad here.

- Rokita attacks 'RINOs,' wears MAGA hat in new ad: "Indiana Rep. Todd Rokita's campaign for the Senate is out with a new television ad where he attacks his opponents as 'RINOs' and wears a 'Make America Great Again' hat." Watch the ad here. Full story.

- Messer, Braun release new ads in Indiana: "Rep. Luke Messer and businessman Mike Braun are both out with new TV ads in Indiana's Republican Senate primary. Both ads are positive spots." Watch Messer's ad here. Watch Braun's ad here.

- McGrath, Gray pop TV ads in KY-06: Democrat Amy McGrath focuses on health care and family in her TV ad, featuring a pantless toddler at the doctor's office. Democrat Jim Gray, who's facing McGrath in the primary, talks about "Grayisms" in his ads, one-liners that show he "doesn't speak Washington. Watch McGrath's ad here. Watch Gray's ads here and here.

- Chrin releases positive spot in PA-08: Republican John Chrin, who's running against Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), started airing a new TV ad this week that's a positive bio spot, explaining that "growing up, we didn't have much" and highlighting his business background. Chrin said he's running to "fight for our workers and families." Watch the ad here.

WHO'S AFRAID OF JOHN KATKO? - "In last-minute reversal, Juanita Perez Williams will run for Congress," by Syracuse.com's Chris Baker: "Democrat Juanita Perez Williams plans to run for Congress in Central New York's 24th District, according to the Democratic Party chairman. ... Her entrance in the race comes late in the political calendar, and has taken many Democrats by surprise. Perez Williams had previously ruled out a run." Full story.

POLLING DATA - Espy campaign poll shows Democrat in lead runoff slot in Mississippi special: "Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy's campaign for Mississippi's open Senate seat is out with a new poll showing him with a lead in a three-way race against Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel and freshly appointed GOP Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. Espy has the support of 34 percent of likely special general election votes in the survey, conducted by Chism Strategies. Hyde-Smith, the former state agriculture secretary who Gov. Phil Bryant picked to replace retired Sen. Thad Cochran, has the support of 27 percent of likely voters and McDaniel, a conservative insurgent, has the backing of 21
percent of the electorate. All candidates will run on the same ballot in the special election; if no one gets 50 percent of the vote, the top two will advance to a runoff." Full story.

- DCCC touts head-to-heads in 12 House districts: The DCCC released an internal polling memo that shows six House districts where Democrats lead Republican incumbents in head-to-head matchups. "Democrats are poised to take back the House," DCCC Executive Director Dan Sena wrote in the polling memo.

TRUMP VISIT? - "DeSantis says Trump coming to help his campaign 'very soon,'" by POLITICO Florida's Matt Dixon: "GOP gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis told Republican activists on Monday night that President Donald Trump is coming to Florida to do an event for his campaign. But when pressed Tuesday for more details, his campaign declined to discuss the president's planned visit. 'I think the president's going to come down for me very soon. Which will be very good,' DeSantis said to cheers before a gathering of the Polo Republican Club in Palm Beach County, according to audio obtained by POLITICO." Full story.

PINK WAVE - "A Wave of Young Women Running Campaigns (and Changing Politics)," by The New York Times' Michael Tackett: "Hillary Clinton's stunning loss in the 2016 presidential election prompted a surge of Democratic women running for office this year, and right behind them, a new legion of young women ... managing campaigns. With a seat at the head of the table, they will be responsible for strategy, message, staff and creating networks for future campaigns." Full story.

WEB WARS - Graham targets Trump in first digital ad: Former Rep. Gwen Graham is out with the first digital ad of her campaign for governor of Florida, where she calls President Donald Trump an "embarrassment" and a "bully." "I see it as my job to stand up to Donald Trump," she says in the spot. Her campaign is targeting the ad at Palm Beach, which includes Trump's estate at Mar-a-Lago, before expanding it statewide. Graham is competing in a crowded Democratic primary. Watch the ad here.

- NRSC launches Google search ads in Arizona: The NRSC is launching ads attacking Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema on Google search. The ads hit Sinema for voting against the GOP tax proposal, and will target Arizonans searching for terms like: "How do I file my taxes; What is the deadline for filing taxes; Child tax credit; New tax law calculator; Last minute tax write-offs; How much will I pay in taxes; Tax brackets for this year; E-file my taxes; How can I reduce my tax burden; New tax law benefits; What will I pay in taxes; 2018 vs 2017 tax brackets; Kyrsten Sinema; Democratic Party."

AM/FM - Gibbons launches statewide radio buy in Ohio: Mike Gibbons, who is challenging Rep. Jim Renacci for the GOP Senate nomination in Ohio, is out with a new statewide radio ad. "The first thing you need to know about me is I'm not a politician. I'm a businessman, I'm a conservative and tired of Washington career politicians," Gibbons says at the start of the 60-second ad. Listen to it here.

- Hyde-Smith out with two radio ads: Hyde-Smith is also out with two new radio ads, Y'All Politics reports. One of the ads features Gov. Phil Bryant testifying on her behalf. Full story.

STAFFING UP - Casey announces communications director: Max Steele, who has worked for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party since May 2017, is moving over to work as communications director for Democratic Sen. Bob Casey's bid for reelection. Steele had previously worked as communications director for the Florida Democratic Party.

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I'm too divisive in the primary. ... Many people have given up their religion and have taken up politics for their religion. That's why they're so strong about it. But it's OK. It's OK. I'm not mad at them." - Ohio Gov. John Kasich on his help not being wanted in the 2018 Republican primaries, BuzzFeed reported.

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