Off to the Races

Harris Hones Nomination, Congestion Pricing Problems, DC Delays

Author

Jack O’Donnell
July 29, 2024

Good morning from Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. 

Vice President Kamala Harris had a very good week. She is set to be the Democratic nominee for president, having quickly amassed first ballot pledges far surpassing the number needed to win the nomination. Harris reportedly made over 100 calls on the day President Joe Biden dropped out in order to consolidate support and quash the prospect of an open convention—and it worked. In a statement, her campaign offered, “Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state’s delegation helped put our campaign over the top. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.” Harris will be formally nominated with a virtual roll call before the in-person convention begins on August 19th. The DNC has said the virtual roll call before the convention is critical to ensure ballot access in some states and avoid costly litigation. Locking in almost unanimous support so quickly, with the number of sharks circling, is quite an accomplishment. 

Even more impressive is Harris’ fundraising: the Harris Campaign has raised more than $200 million in a week, primarily from small donors, including a strong number of first-time donors. Her candidacy is also attracting interest from Democratic mega-donors. Andy Spahn, a prolific Hollywood fundraiser said, “Donors are calling, asking how and where can I contribute to Harris for President” and added that there is “tremendous excitement and enthusiasm for Kamala’s candidacy here.” One Harris Super PAC may have raised even more than the campaign itself.  Of course, Harris’ abbreviated campaign schedule means she will have to rely on surrogates and other political allies to assist in hosting and attending events that attract high-level donors. Her husband and potential first First Gentleman Doug Emhoff is scheduled to attend a series of events in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket while playwright David Henry Hwang is hosting a D.C. area fundraiser that will feature a performance of his musical “Soft Power,” among other scheduled high-dollar events. There’s plenty of buzz about some big time music acts planning a mega fundraiser as well.

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“Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee, and as a daughter of California, I am proud that my home state’s delegation helped put our campaign over the top. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”

VP Kamala Harris

Likely the most powerful fundraising surrogate for Harris will be her eventual running mate. Harris has requested vetting materials from nearly a dozen candidates, but the betting favorites are Governors Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, as well as Arizona Senator Mark Kelly. Cooper, who is term-limited out of office at the end of this year, won two gubernatorial races at the same time Trump won the state, and outperformed Biden in 2020 by 6 points. When asked about potentially joining the ticket, Cooper said, “I appreciate people talking about me, but I think the focus needs to be on her this week. Like Cooper, Beshear won reelection twice in a solidly red state and would likely help the ticket with blue collar voters in important Midwest states. Beshear could also serve as a counterweight to Donald Trump’s selection of J.D. Vance, whose rural, impoverished upbringing is a key part of his political origin story. In an interview last week, Beshear said, “I want the American people to know what a Kentuckian is and what they look like, because let me tell you, J.D. Vance ain’t from here,” in reference to the time Vance spent in Kentucky as a child. Shapiro, who won in Pennsylvania by a whopping 15-points, made a concerted effort during his campaign to connect with rural voters—a strategy that could easily be replicated on the national level. Senator Mark Kelly, a former fighter pilot and astronaut, appeals to a broad swath of the electorate, however, his ascension to VP would mean another competitive (and expensive) Senate race for Democrats in Arizona and his lack of support for the PRO Act will hurt him with organized labor.

Kamala Harris doesn't scare Republicans, but Mark Kelly absolutely should.

There is also plenty of late buzz around Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is gaining attention for his progressive accomplishments in a closely divided Minnesota, as well as his viral take down of both former President Donald Trump and GOP VP candidate J.D. Vance with the succinct and real, “These people are weird.”

President Biden announced the end of his re-election bid & endorsed VP Kamala Harris.

Our Jack O’Donnell talks to NY Now host Shantal Destra. More here.

Harris has not yet said when she will make her VP announcement. She will have to make a decision prior to being virtually nominated before August 7th— the deadline for appearing on the ballot in Ohio.  

Harris’ campaign got another boost when pop star Charli XCX declared on Twitter that Harris “IS brat”— an endearing term popularized by internet memes. You can read more on the “brat” phenomenon here.  

Another late breaking development: Harris is at least a little Irish. Her paternal great-great-great-great-grandfather was born in County Antrim, even if the circumstances and the connection are somewhat less than ideal.

N.Y. Dems, GOP Weigh Impact of Harris Nomination on Women in Politics

Governor Kathy Hochul, who supported Biden’s reelection campaign right up until he dropped out, has now enthusiastically thrown her support behind Harris. In a statement, Hochul said, “Kamala is a champion of justice who will fight every single day for a woman’s right to choose, for middle class families, and for the integrity of our democracy. I am confident she will deliver for New Yorkers and am proud to stand beside her.” The endorsement and public support certainly will not hurt Hochul as she eyes reelection in 2026. It might also help Democratic Congressional candidates, especially in Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

Back in New York, Hochul is facing two new lawsuits over her decision to pause the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City. The first lawsuit, brought by the civic organization City Club of New York, argues that the signature from the State’s Department of Transportation—the ministerial element that is actually preventing implementation—is merely a formality and that congestion pricing implementation is required under a 2019 law. The second lawsuit, filed by the transportation advocacy group Riders Alliance, argues that by not implementing congestion pricing, Hochul is violating the requirements established in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Hochul’s office dismissed the legal challenges, saying the plaintiffs are “trying to weaponize the judicial system to score political points.” 

Summer of Kathy Hochul: Halting Congestion Pricing, Election Pressures

In Washington, D.C., President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Wednesday about his decision to forgo a reelection campaign. Sitting in the Oval Office, Biden said, “I revere this office, but I love my country more” before adding, “I believe my record as president, my leadership in the world, my vision for America's future all merited a second term, but nothing, nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition, so I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.” Biden was joined in the Oval Office by his children Hunter and Ashley, first lady Jill Biden, several grandchildren, and his longest-serving political advisor, Mike Donilon. You can watch the full address here. 

Earlier on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a joint address to Congress where he forcefully defended how his country was prosecuting the war in Gaza. Dozens of Democrats declined to attend, including Vice President Harris in her capacity as president of the Senate. (J.D. Vance also did not attend the address.) In a fiery speech, Netanyahu declared, “America and Israel must stand together. When we stand together something really simple happens: We win, they lose.” Eager to maintain at least a semblance of bipartisanship, Netanyahu noted Biden’s “tireless efforts on behalf of the hostages and for the hostage families” and said, “I thank President Biden for his vital support for Israel after the savage attack on October 7. He rightly called Hamas sheer evil. He came to Israel to stand with us during our darkest hour, a visit that will never be forgotten.” On Thursday, Netanyahu met with Harris where she told him, “It is time for this war to end in a way where Israel is secure, all the hostages are released, the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can exercise their right to freedom, dignity, and self determination.” The comments reportedly “irked” Netanyahu who contends that Israel has a right to keep fighting Hamas regardless of a hostage deal. 

Ranking Member DeLauro Floor Remarks on Republicans’ 2025 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill

The House left for August recess a week early after GOP leadership was forced to pull the Energy-Water appropriations bill from the floor as it became clear that Republican opposition was strong enough to kill the bill. Rep Chuck Fleishmann (R-Tenn.), Chair of the Energy-Water appropriations subcommittee said, “It’s a good rock-solid bill, but a few members had some issues with it and we’re going to try to address that and come back in September.” Among those issues are concern over the Department of Energy’s permitting standards and a dispute with Georgia Republicans over a project to deepen the Savannah Harbor to allow large container ships to enter the port. Speaker Mike Johnson had previously said he hoped to have all 12 annual appropriations bills passed before the August recess, but lawmakers left town on Thursday with only half of them across the finish line. Given that the House is not scheduled to return until September 9th, Congress will have just three weeks to avert a government shutdown on October 1st. 

Things are moving a little more smoothly on the Senate side where the full Senate Appropriations Committee approved the 2025 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bills. The full committee is scheduled to meet again on Thursday to pass the five remaining appropriations bills—Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; the Department of Defense Appropriations Act; the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act; the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act; and the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act.

Albany County DA Could Look to Buffalo as Model for Write-In Campaign

How effective are write-in campaigns? Our Jack O’Donnell weighs in with Ryan Whalen of Capital Tonight.

Finally, William O. Douglas, the longest-serving justice of the Supreme Court once said, “Common sense makes a good law.” 

In a close decision, the Supreme Court of Ohio apparently disagrees. Make no bones about it, some of these justices clearly know nothing about good wings.

And, the San Diego Zoo has a problem that’s similar to what most parents face. Its latest dilemma: Too much screen time for great apes!

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