ON THE TRAIL

DEM AG CANDIDATES OUTPACE THE GOP
As the 2020 campaign season heats up, there’s excitement for Democratic AG candidates all around the country, even in red and purple states.

• Pennsylvania AG Josh Shapiro kicked-off his re-election efforts last week with $3.1 Million cash on hand.  In 2016, Josh Shapiro outperformed the top of the ticket receiving over 3 million votes—more than any other elected official on the ballot in Pennsylvania in 2016.
• North Carolina AG Josh Stein announced in an email to supporters that he has $3.9 Million cash on hand, more than any non-gubernatorial state candidate has had at this point in a campaign in North Carolina history. In 2016, Josh Stein outperformed Roy Cooper – winning by just over 20,000 votes – a larger margin than won by Governor Cooper.
• Indiana Dem AG Candidates State Senator Karen Tallian raised more than $200,000 and former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel raised more than $600,000 compared to Republican incumbent Curtis Hill who raised only $120,000 and Jonathan Westercamp, one the GOP primary challengers, who raised just over $21,000.

NARAL PRO-CHOICE OREGON IS PRO-ROSENBLUM
DAGA Co-Chair Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum received a key progressive endorsement this week from NARAL Oregon. “On the 47th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we endorse AG Ellen Rosenblum, currently leading 21 states in the fight against Trump’s Title X gag rule. A reproductive freedom trailblazer, she fights for every body.” While reproductive rights have been constantly under attack by the Trump administration and far-right lawmakers, Democratic AGs – often led by AG Rosenblum – have stepped up to protect these crucial rights.

REPRO RIGHTS ARE ON THE BALLOT IN 2020
In this exclusive op-ed for Shondaland, DAGA Co-Chair Massachusetts AG Maura Healey and NARAL President Ilyse Hogue argue why now, more than ever, we must unite behind the idea that reproductive freedom is non-negotiable and elect pro-choice candidates.

MULTI-STATE MOMENTS!

FIGHTING FOR MAIN ST
This week, a coalition of 24 Democratic Attorneys General, led by New York AG Tish James, filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court fighting to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) independence. In an effort to maintain powerful tools that protect consumers from fraud and abusive consumer practices, New York AG Tish James said, “Our coalition will continue fighting to ensure the existence of the CFPB and, more importantly, the continuation of the protections that help the states ensure the financial protection of the American people.” While the Trump administration continues to find new ways to undermine critical consumer protections set up in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Democratic AGs are stepping up to make sure Main St, not Wall St, is put first.

OH SNAP!
Last week a coalition of 15 Democratic AGs, led by District of Columbia AG Karl Racine and New York AG Tish James, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s Department of Agriculture over proposed new regulations that could cut food stamps for some of the most needy in the country. The lawsuit argues that the rule is unlawful and will result in the “termination of essential food assistance for benefits recipients who live in areas with insufficient food.” The Department of Agriculture estimates that the rule will discontinue access to food stamps for nearly 700,000 individuals. “Denying access to vital SNAP benefits would only push hundreds of thousands of already vulnerable Americans into greater economic uncertainty,” said New York AG Tish James. “In so doing, states will have to grapple with rising health care and homelessness costs that will result from this shortsighted and ill-conceived policy.” Read more about the lawsuit here in POLITICO.

PROTECTING IMMIGRANTS
A coalition of 20 Democratic Attorneys General, led by Illinois AG Kwame Raoul, filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court urging the court to acknowledge serious shortcomings in the procedures used to remove individuals from the country. In the brief, the  Dem AGs argue that the current process for expedited removal puts immigrants at risk of immediate deportation without a hearing or any form of review. Additionally, the expedited removal process does not provide adequate safeguards against erroneous decisions. “These immigration procedures put millions of residents in Illinois and across the country at risk of hasty or erroneous removal from the country without any meaningful chance for review,” AG Raoul said.

AG SPOTLIGHT!

AG RACINE TAKES ON TRUMP (ROUND 2)
On Wednesday, District of Columbia AG Karl Racine filed a lawsuit against President Trump’s inaugural Committee and business to recover more than $1 million paid to the Trump International Hotel. AG Racine argues that the inaugural committee improperly used charitable funds to pay for event space in the hotel’s ballroom as well as for food and beverages. Read more here in The Hill.

TWEET OF THE WEEK

On Thursday, President Trump thanked 21 Republican AGs for opposing impeachment. DAGA took to Twitter to remind folks that along with pandering to Trump, these GOP AGs are involved with other dangerous efforts.

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

At the FamiliesUSA Health Summit this week, California AG Xavier Becerra spoke to health care leaders and advocates about the work Democratic AGs are doing to protect health care.