Debate night, Capitol Hill style

Jun 27, 2024

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By Jordain Carney, Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz

Presented by Wells Fargo

With assists from POLITICO’s Congress team

Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) is seen in the spin room at Georgia Institute of Technology's McCamish Pavilion.

Rep. Byron Donalds is amongst a handful of Republicans down in Georgia. | Francis Chung/POLITICO

HOW MEMBERS ARE WATCHING THE DEBATE

Debate night has finally arrived. Where will you be when President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump face off for the first time in four years?

It’s an especially pertinent question for House lawmakers, most of whom will be stuck in Washington for votes. That’s an unusual situation for a general-election presidential debate, given that they have typically been held much later in the year, during the long October pre-election recess.

A few are down in Atlanta for the CNN-hosted debate regardless: GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are among those set to attend a watch-party fundraiser for Trump. (What do they have in common? There’s some political jargon that rhymes with sweepstakes.)

At least one Democrat made the trek: Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), a vocal Biden booster, was also spotted in Atlanta before the debate (and missed House votes Thursday).

A couple of Georgia Republicans said they planned to stay in Washington. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) told reporters on Thursday she’s not planning on flying to Atlanta. Nor is Rep. Barry Loudermilk, who told us “they wouldn’t let me in the audience anyways.” (Much to the chagrin of us reporters, there is no studio audience.)

For the socially inclined, there’s a few debate-watch events happening. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, for one, said he planned to stop by an event hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.

But many, many others told us they would watch the big showdown all by their lonesome.

“I watch debates like I watch 49ers football games,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said. “Just kind of alone so that I can cheer and be nervous by myself without anyone seeing.”

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said his “plan” is to tune in, but also noted the 9 p.m. start time. Asked if that plan included anything fun, he said he “may pick up a grain-free pizza.”

Another GOP member told us he had been expecting to miss the debate entirely because of dinner plans with other Republican colleagues. But those plans fell apart after one of the other members wanted to watch the debate instead. (Friends like these, right?)

Reps. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) and Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) also both said they’d be watching from home. Vasquez said he is hoping to hear Biden “set forth a vision for the next four years and to really address inflation,” while Escobar, a Biden campaign co-chair, said she wants to hear him talk about his economic accomplishments and recent immigration executive actions.

There is some cerebral counterprogramming, for those interested: You can join Reps. Don Beyer (D-Va.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.) and Eric Sorensen (D-Ill.) at this evening’s Press vs. Politicians spelling bee at the National Press Club.

But even then the debate will be hard to escape: It will be showing on big screens upstairs afterward at the NPC’s Reliable Source bar, complete with a buffet dinner of meatloaf, fried fish and barbecue chicken, plus custom red-and-blue Republican and Democrat cocktails.

— Jordain Carney, Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz

GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, June 27, where, believe it or not, it is not Congress Friday yet.

A message from Wells Fargo:

Wells Fargo seeks broad impact in our communities. As a company, we are focused on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth and financial health. We have donated nearly $2 billion to strengthen local communities over the last five years. What we say, we do. See how.

DAVIDSON ON THE ROPES WITH HFC

Rep. Warren Davidson’s bad blood with House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) is escalating with a behind-the-scenes effort that could eventually allow the hard-right group to kick out the Ohio Republican.

A House member filed a motion to the Freedom Caucus board this week to remove Davidson from the group, a person familiar with the deliberations told us. The board, the person added, could choose to vote on whether Davidson is a member in “good standing” with the group.

It might sound in the weeds, but where the board comes down would have big implications for Davidson’s ability to stay in the group. Being found not to be in good standing lowers the threshold for expulsion from 80 percent of caucus members to 50 percent. A second person familiar with the group’s deliberations said members have also discussed writing a rule into the group’s bylaws that would prohibit a member from endorsing against another HFC member.

A spokesperson for the Freedom Caucus said the notoriously private group doesn’t “comment on membership or internal processes.”

The debate over Davidson’s standing follows the group’s Tuesday night meeting, where various members piled onto Davidson for backing Good’s primary opponent — in what was an unprecedented move. Three people familiar with the matter told us that members of the Freedom Caucus board have not yet indicated to the larger group what the next steps are or what they will ultimately decide.

The move comes after Davidson endorsed Good’s primary challenger, John McGuire, as first reported by POLITICO. Though the race hasn’t been called yet, McGuire is in the lead, with Good vowing to request a recount. Davidson’s decision touched a nerve with many of his Freedom Caucus colleagues, who kvetched during the group’s meeting earlier this week. But, notably, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who helped co-found the group, told us he doesn’t support ousting Davidson.

— Olivia Beavers and Jordain Carney

A message from Wells Fargo:

JEFFRIES WON’T PUSH BACK ON AIPAC

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries declined to criticize the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s super PAC spending when asked Thursday to condemn their involvement in Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s primary.

“Pro-Israel groups are going to support pro-Israel members of Congress, pro-reproductive freedom groups are going to support pro-reproductive freedom members of Congress, pro-climate groups are going to support pro-climate members of Congress," Jeffries said Thursday.

The comments come as progressives have slammed the outside group’s spending in Democratic primaries this cycle. Spending from the AIPAC-linked United Democracy Project super PAC helped make Bowman’s New York race the most expensive House primary in history.

Jeffries on Thursday also advocated for passing the Freedom to Vote Act, which includes campaign finance reforms. It’s not clear, though, whether any of the bill’s provisions would have kept UDP from spending about $15 million on Bowman’s race.

Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.), who was endorsed for re-election by AIPAC after beating an AIPAC-backed candidate last cycle, said he believes that the group has a right to boost any candidate they want.

“As long as they're following all the laws, I don't have a problem,” he said in a brief interview Thursday.

— Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz

HUDDLE HOTDISH

Spotted: Nancy Mace gleefully asking a tour group if they’ve seen the blood spot on the House stairs.

We know that Virginia Foxx is celebrating this (even if her office is in Rayburn).

Tony Gonzales appears to have patched things up with his former primary rival, Brandon Herrera.

Here’s your chance to dunk Rob Menendez.

QUICK LINKS

Top Senate GOP super PAC drops major ad buy to boost McCormick in Pennsylvania, from Ally Mutnick

House GOP advances effort to hold Biden’s ghostwriter in contempt of Congress, from Jordain

Why Hakeem Jeffries isn’t that upset about Jamaal Bowman’s loss, from Emily Ngo

One Loud GOP Congressman Is Spoiling His Party’s Messaging On IVF, from Igor Bobic and Arthur Delaney at HuffPost

Downtown Phoenix transit hub will be named after former Mayor Greg Stanton, from Christina Estes at KJZZ

Bad News Babes start another winning streak at Congressional Softball Game, from Paul V. Fontelo at Roll Call

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TRANSITIONS

Precision is adding Tim Mulvey and Melissa Miller as SVPs on the comms team. Mulvey previously was comms director for the House Jan. 6 committee and is a Democratic Hill veteran. Miller most recently managed policy comms for Ford and is a DCCC and DGA alum.

Jason Noble is now director for public affairs and earned media at Bryson Gillette. He previously was comms director for the Iowa Senate Democratic caucus and is an Elizabeth Warren, Jason Kander and Des Moines Register alum.

Adam Farris is joining Toyota as director of international trade and supply chains. He most recently was chief of staff for Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.).

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TOMORROW IN CONGRESS

The House is in session.

The Senate is out

FRIDAY AROUND THE HILL

Quiet.

TRIVIA

WEDNESDAY’S ANSWER: Paige Ash was the first to correctly guess that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is the member of Congress speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival who owns a boat named “Almost Heaven.”

TODAY’S QUESTION, from Paige: What was the campaign slogan for the first non-human mayor of Terlingua, Texas?

The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Inside Congress. Send your answers to insidecongress@politico.com.

GET INSIDE CONGRESS emailed to your phone each evening.

A message from Wells Fargo:

Wells Fargo seeks broad impact in our communities. As a company, we are focused on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth and financial health.

In 2023, examples of our work include:

· Donated approximately $300 million to over 3,000 nonprofits in support of housing, small business, financial health, sustainability, and other community needs.
· Opened HOPE Inside centers in 15 markets supporting 57 retail branches to help empower community members to achieve their financial goals through financial education and free one-on-one coaching.
· Launched $10,000 Homebuyer Access℠ grants that will be applied toward the down payment for eligible homebuyers who currently live in or are purchasing homes in certain underserved communities.

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