DAGA Download – May 29
May 29, 2020
ON THE TRAIL
DEMS OUTRAISE THE GOP (AGAIN AND AGAIN)
Check out the latest Battleground States Update on this 2020 trend: Democratic AG incumbents and candidates continue to outraise their Republican counterparts. The highlights below:
- INDIANA: Democratic AG candidates State Sen. Karen Tallian and former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel together raised more than $188,000 while the ever-shuffling group of Republican AG candidates barely raised $150,000 collectively.
- MONTANA: In the race for this open seat, Democratic AG candidates Raph Graybill and State Rep. Kim Dudik both outraised Republican AG candidates John Bennion and Austin Knudsen for the fifth filing period in a row.
- PENNSYLVANIA: Democratic incumbent Josh Shapiro continues to widen his fundraising advantage over Republican challenger Heather Heidelbaugh. In the most recent filings, AG Shapiro raised nearly $750,000 with more than $4 million cash-on-hand.
VT FOR TJ
Thursday was the Vermont filing deadline for candidates seeking office in 2020. Catch Vermont AG TJ Donovan’s re-election announcement here.
ON THE CALENDAR:
- Tuesday, June 2 – Pennsylvania Primary
- Tuesday, June 2– Montana Primary
- Tuesday, June 2 – Utah GOP Primary Debate
- Saturday, June 13 – Indiana Democratic State Convention
- Thursday, June 18 – Indiana GOP Online Convention Begins
MULTISTATE MOMENTS
HIGH (EMISSIONS) STANDARDS
Led by California AG Xavier Becerra, a coalition of 24 Democratic AGs sued the Trump Administration over its dangerous reversal of fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks. The Dem AG coalition argues that the Administration’s move is based on erroneous science and endangers public health. AG Becerra said, “vehicles are the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in America, and pollution-related respiratory illnesses make people more susceptible to COVID-19.” Read The New York Times article here for more!
FIGHTING WARRANTLESS ARRESTS
New York AG Tish James led a coalition of 14 Democratic AGs in pushing back against warrantless arrests of immigrants at state courthouses. In an amicus brief filed in the First Circuit, AG James and the coalition urged the court to uphold a temporary judicial order that effectively halted these arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “These unconstitutional arrests have skyrocketed since President Trump took office, as the president has pushed an anti-immigrant agenda for purely political reasons,” said AG James. This amicus brief follows a lawsuit filed by AG James last September challenging the Trump Administration’s expanded policy of arresting immigrants in or around state courthouses.
PROTECTING DIVERSITY IN COLLEGES
Led by DAGA Co-Chair Massachusetts AG Maura Healey, a coalition of 16 Democratic AGs filed an amicus brief supporting Harvard College’s consideration of race, ethnicity, and other factors regarding diversity in its admissions program. After filing the brief, AG Healey said “[t]his is not the time to turn back the clock on the progress that has been made by colleges and universities to attain meaningfully diverse student bodies. We need greater diversity to overcome systemic inequities and to strengthen our society, our democracy, and our economy.”
AG SPOTLIGHT
Following the tragic killing of George Floyd, Minnesota AG Keith Ellison issued a statement saying, “ George Floyd mattered.” AG Ellison went on to say, “we owe it to everyone affected to investigate thoroughly.” AG Ellison discussed this further on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon. Watch his interview here.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
As Democratic AGs took action to protect our planet and combat the ongoing climate crisis, former Democratic Presidential candidate Tom Steyer gave a shout out to his home-state Attorney General: California AG Xavier Becerra.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Last weekend, DAGA released the FINAL episode of this season’s DAGA Video Download. The episode featured special guest DAGA Co-Chair Massachusetts AG Maura Healey. Watch it here!