On @dccc press call, @RepCheri says they're poised to protect and expand majority. Notes they had to "tune out Twitter" to "keep our focus on everyday people."
Pelosi says the "three most important issues" this year, as in 2018, were "health care, health care, health care"
for context, @CookPolitical 's current forecast is a roughly 10-15 seat gain for Dems. House is currently split 232-197.
Pelosi says Dems are ready for any "skullduggery that the president may try to introduce into this"
Asked by @mkraju if the 117th Congress will be her last term as Speaker, Pelosi starts by saying it's the "least important question you could ask today" but "one of these days I'll let you know what my plans are....it doesn't matter right now."
Both Bustos and Pelosi decline to put a rough number on how many seats they could win tonight but expect to expand majority.
I asked if there were any bellwether districts tonight - Pelosi says "we're taking it one district at a time"
Bustos says to look at districts where Dems had gone on offense in seats previously thought to be reaches (VA-05, TX-21, Montana, etc)
"I think we are going to see some wins in these deep red districts that over time you're going to see going from ruby red to purple to even blue," Bustos says.
Bustos warns, "this is an Election Day that may end up looking like an Election Week"
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Biden campaign manager says they're on a "clear path to victory by this afternoon"
Say WI can be called this morning.
Jen O'Malley Dillon says they'll be in the lead in NV tomorrow once final results come in
in MI, they're expecting "we will win this state" once final results come in
As for PA? 1.4 million ballots outstanding, many from Dem areas
As for GA/NC?
She says GA is a "toss-up" but NC is "tight" and "leaning to Trump"...election result will "go down to the wire" and they'll have to wait several days
Murkowski takes the floor to announce how she'll vote on Barrett - but first starts by criticizing the current state of affairs and expressing concern about how hard Alaska has been hit by COVID
says she regrets how instead of having a COVID relief bill to show to constituents back home, they're here instead debating a SCOTUS nominee
"I personally believe that every nominee for the Supreme Court should receive an up or down vote after they have been passed out" of cmte, she says
but she says the timing of confirmation will "serve to reinforce the public perception about political influence on the court"
Pelosi says at presser there are still some outstanding differences on stimulus but “I think we’re just about there” w/ Mnuchin
Pelosi said she'll get a classified briefing from the DNI on election interference - "I'll be very interested to hear what they have to say in a classified briefing"
"I don't know what the DNI is up to with this. Hopefully it is wholesome. That remains to be seen."
Dems had planned to hold a press conference at the same time as the hearing, but Republicans moved so fast, Senate Judiciary finished voting about 45 minutes before Dems' press conference is set to start at 10:15am.
Read our story here: usatoday.com/story/news/pol…
Graham with a closing message: "elections do have consequences"
"The Democratic Party of 2020 is hell-bent on changing all the rules," he says.
"I am proud to have supported Judge Barrett. I think the people of South Carolina would be very happy to have someone like her on the court judging us all."
ACB markup hearing has now begun with all Dems absent. Graham says he wants to "celebrate the fact" that Barrett will be reported out of the committee "unanimously" today
.@SenTedCruz calls Dems' absence a "stunt to appease the left-wing activist base"
(per Hill pool)
And by a 12-0, unanimous vote, Senate Judiciary reports Barrett's nomination to the full Senate.
Cornyn calls it "surreal" for Dems not to be there