The Republican National Committee is set to begin its winter meeting with an eye on the 2022 midterms, while some in the party continue to push for more crossover-friendly candidates and work to limit former President Donald Trump’s influence in the primaries.
The RNC gathering, which will take place in Salt Lake City starting Friday, is expected to draw a parade of potential 2024 presidential candidates looking to strengthen their relationships with state party leaders. The list includes former Vice President Mike Pence, who is raising money for a slate of Trump-aligned candidates and distancing himself from his former boss.
Vice President Kamala Harris will also be on the western leg of her national tour promoting the Biden administration’s agenda when she visits Minnesota on Thursday. She is planning to tour a lab in the state helping develop technology for plastics recycling and participate in a “roundtable conversation” with Democratic Gov. Tim Walz.
Harris will end the day with a DNC fundraiser in Minnesota and return to Washington to vote on an unspecified matter, according to her office.
Republicans have indicated they want to tie vulnerable Democrats to President Joe Biden, whose approval ratings have dropped amid surging inflation, ongoing supply chain disruptions and the slow pace of COVID-19 vaccinations. Minnesota is set to be a key battleground state in the 2022 midterms, with the GOP eyeing the northern swing districts held by Democratic Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips.
RNC chair Ronna McDaniel has said the party will continue to promote policies that have helped their constituents, such as opposing efforts to defund the police and advocating against pandemic-related mandates.
In Wisconsin, the state Senate is set to vote on a bill that would move primary elections to June in certain presidential election years. The measure is seen as beneficial to Democrats, who have long argued that the earlier primary date hurts their chances in the state.
Some Democratic lawmakers have said they plan to vote against the bill, while others have expressed concerns that it could hurt their party’s chances in future elections. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has not indicated whether he would sign the bill if it passes both chambers of the state Legislature.
In Ohio, the Republican-controlled Legislature is set to begin hearings on a bill that would ban teaching critical race theory in schools. The measure has drawn opposition from Democrats and some educators who argue that it is an attempt to whitewash history and limit discussions on race and racism in the classroom.
Supporters of the bill argue that critical race theory is divisive and teaches children to view one another based on race, rather than as individuals. They have also argued that parents should have more control over what their children are taught in schools.
In Colorado, a Republican candidate for governor has proposed a $1 billion tax cut for residents if elected. The candidate, Heidi Ganahl, has said the tax cut is needed to help residents cope with rising prices and inflation.
Ganahl is expected to face off against Democratic Gov. Jared Polis in the general election. Polis has not yet announced whether he will seek a second term in office.