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Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wausau, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. in 2012.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Republican race to challenge U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2018 was thrown wide open Thursday when U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy of Wausau announced he would not run againstthe first-term Democrat.

After much prayer and deliberation, Rachel and I have decided that this is not the right time for me to run for Senate," Duffy said in a statement. "We have eight great kids and family always comes first."

"Baldwin will be beat because her radically liberal Madison record and ideas are out of syncwith Wisconsin," Duffy said. "I look forward to helping our Republican nominee defeat her. Ill continue to work my heart out for the families of the 7th District, and Im excited about the great things we will accomplish with our united Republican government.

With his early support of President Donald Trump and formidable fundraising skills, Duffy was viewed by many in the Republican Party as the front-runner to take on Baldwin.

By quickly announcing his decision to skip the race, Duffy leaves plenty of time and space for others to gather support from activists andmajor donors.

Dan Bice and Mary Spicuzza discuss possible reasons that Duffy doesnt want to take on Tammy Baldwin and where that leaves the Republicans.

The list of potential candidates includes Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, Madison businessman Eric Hovde, state Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), state Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) and Marine veteran and Milwaukee-area businessman Kevin Nicholson.

The state Democratic Party appeared to relish the prospect of GOP infighting.

"With out-of-state money piling up to support tea party darling David Clarke, legislators across the state preparing to run, and their top candidate dropping out, the Republican establishment in Washington is scrambling to avoid a divisive, messy Republican primary in Wisconsin," state Democrats said in a statement. "No matter what circus emerges, Tammy Baldwin will continue to stand up to the powerful interests in Washington and fight for a Wisconsin economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top."

Party spokeswoman Gillian Drummond was referring to Milwaukee County Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr., who has not indicated an interest in the race.Journal Sentinel columnist Dan Bice reported Thursdaythat four out-of-state groups are raising money to draft the outspoken conservative Clarke to run against Baldwin.

Fitzgerald is a key power broker in Madison and burnished his credentials among the party's grassroots with his early backing of Trump and his critical support in 2015 for so-called right-to-work legislation, which ended the practice of private sectorworkers being required to pay union fees as a condition of employment.

Fitzgerald didn't agree to interviews Thursday or say whether he wouldrun, though he did tweet about Duffy's decision: "I know this was a difficult decision by@RepSeanDuffyand am confident Wisconsin will continue to benefit from his leadership in@HouseGOP."

Hovde put up a strong challenge in 2012 when he finished second to former Gov. Tommy Thompson in a GOP Senate primary. He has the deepest pockets in the potential field and could kick-start his campaign by self-funding. Hovde praised Duffy: "He's a good man. Iam sure he made the decision based upon all the factors in the race and what's best for his family."

Kooyenga and Vukmir are conservative legislators who had skilled jobs outside of politics and whoare popular with the GOP base in southeastern Wisconsin. Vukmir is a registered nurse who worked for years as a pediatric nurse practitioner and who still teaches classes. She's a board member of the American Legislative Exchange Council, a group that works with lawmakers and corporations to promote conservative legislation in statehouses around the country.

Vukmir said she was already considering a primary run against Duffy but doesn't have a timeline to decide whether to do so. To run for U.S. Senate, she would have to give up the state Senate seat where she hasworked on health and education issues.

"I have been strongly considering a run for some time," Vukmir said. "Wisconsin needs a consistently strong Republican voice who has a track record of delivering, and I have that."

Kooyenga, a certified public accountant and veteran of the Iraq War as a U.S. Army Reserve member, said hes been asked by people about running for the U.S. Senate.

Itd definitely be after the budget, Kooyenga said of any Senate race decision.

Waiting also gives Kooyenga theadvantage of seeing whether there's a chance to run for Vukmirs state Senate seat.

Nicholson has been quietly making the rounds to gather support. A former national president of the College Democrats of America, he served as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a principal at a management consulting firm.

He still will need to introduce himself to Wisconsinites his Twitter account, for example, had fewerthan 100 followers as of Thursday afternoon.

"My family and I are strongly considering a run for U.S. Senate against Tammy Baldwin," Nicholson said in a statement. "Here in Wisconsin, we've had years and years of career politicians like Tammy Baldwin. I'm an outsider and I know firsthand the challenges facing Wisconsin families, and the sacrifices made by those who help keep us safe."

Republicans are now girding for a primary battle.

"There are strong potential candidates ready to draw a sharp contrast with SenatorBaldwin, who is out of touch with Wisconsin values and in big trouble as a result," Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesman Alec Zimmerman said in a statement.

"After 20 years of talk in Washington, it's not clear what she's done but protect the Washington status quo and reject real reform for Wisconsin's working families.

Read or Share this story: http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/16/gop-rep-sean-duffy-not-challenge-democrat-tammy-baldwin-us-senate/97986998/

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GOP Rep. Sean Duffy will not challenge Democrat Tammy Baldwin for US Senate - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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Associated Press

Posted February 17, 2017

February 16, 2017

Updated February 17, 2017 1:15am

ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this March 3, 2017, file photo, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Perhaps in a bit of wishful thinking, a Blumenauer says he plans to form a working group to clarify and strengthen the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which lays out presidential succession and the steps the executive branch can take to remove a president from office.

WASHINGTON >> Perhaps in a bit of wishful thinking, a House Democrat says he plans to form a working group to clarify and strengthen the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which lays out presidential succession and the steps the executive branch can take to remove a president from office.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon says hes initiating this effort in response to Republican Donald Trumps presidency, even though there have been no signs of an effort to remove him.

Like many people, Ive noticed a renewed interest in the 25th Amendment as weve seen erratic behavior out of the White House, Blumenauer said in a statement. As I examined the amendment, it became clear that in the case of mental or emotional incapacity, there is a glaring flaw.

The 25th Amendment was ratified in 1967 as a response to President John F. Kennedys death in 1963. It made clear that the vice president becomes president if a president is removed from office or dies or resigns, and that the new president nominates a new vice president.

It also allows members of the executive branch to essentially force Congress to vote on whether to remove the president from office. The amendment states that the vice president and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide can begin the process of removal if they believe the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.

The flaw, Blumenauer says, is that the Cabinet may be fired by the president, undermining this ostensible check on an unstable president. He notes that the some other body is undefined, and there is no guidance for how it should operate. Blumenauer says he believes that living former presidents and vice presidents could form that body.

Its unclear if anyone else has signed on to Blumenauers effort. Republican Vice President Mike Pence is in line to succeed Trump.

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Capitol Hill Buzz: Democrat eyes law on removing presidents - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty and World War II veteran Robert Lindner.

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty and World War II veteran Robert Lindner.

Esty named top Democrat on veterans benefits committee

U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty has been named the top Democrat on a House of Representatives subcommittee overseeing disability assistance for veterans, according to a release.

Esty, a three-term Democrat who represents greater Danbury as part of the Fifth Congressional District, will oversee compensation, pensions, and benefits for veterans as the ranking member of the subcommittee, the release said.

I know her to be a dedicated and passionate advocate for veterans in her district, and I am confident that as ranking member she will be able to extend that commitment to every veteran in the U.S. said Rep. Tim Walz, D-MN, the top Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, in a prepared statement.

Esty said one of the honors of her job was working with veterans.

There is a great deal of work ahead to ensure that every veteran who serves this country receives the support and care they deserve, Esty said in a prepared statement. Im ready and eager to partner with my colleagues on the subcommittee to help all veterans and military families claim their rightful benefits with less red tape and fewer delays.

Read more:
Esty named top Democrat on veterans' benefits committee - Danbury News Times

A Democratic lawmaker used a House floor speech Thursday to compare the current state of affairs in the United States under President Trump to the dangerous, alternate dimension inhabited by monsters in the supernatural Netflix series "Stranger Things."

Standing next to a floor prop emblazoned with "Trump Things," a play on the show's name, Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., said the American people, "like the main characters in 'Stranger Things,' we are now stuck in the 'Upside Down'" a reference to the show's dark alternate dimension.

He went on to criticize the Trump administration for deceiving the American people about its contact with Russia, firing acting Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to defend his immigration executive order and showing praise on a "thug" like Russian leader Vladimir Putin while alienating allies.

"Mornings might be for coffee and contemplation, but Chief Jim Hopper is not coming to rescue us," Cicilline said, referring to a main character in the show who is in local law enforcement.

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He added that like some of the show's protagonists, "Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Eleven, we must remain focused on the task at hand and hold this administration accountable so we can escape from our own version of the Upside Down."

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Trump's aggressive stance toward the media and freewheeling campaign style is back.

02/16/17 1:18 PM

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WATCH: Democrat uses 'Stranger Things' to condemn Trump - Washington Examiner

Democrats and a handful of Republicans are rallying around a bill designed to prevent President Donald Trump from lifting sanctions on Russia without congressional approval.

The measure, introduced by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, and cosponsored by top Democrats and at least three Republicans, would give Congress 120 days to block lifting any sanctions on Russia imposed in response to actions in Ukraine and Russia's efforts to interference in the 2016 election.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said questions about the Trump campaigns alleged communications with Russian officials ahead of the election makes the proposed legislation all the more important.

If there were condoned discussions that Flynn had or he was acting as free agent, this president shouldn't have ability to eliminate Russian sanctions, he said at the Democrats' press conference.

It's obvious and clear that Putin is testing the new administration, said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York. The last thing that the U.S. should consider is dialing back sanctions on Russia.

Late last month, Trump said it was "very early to be talking about" lifting sanctions on Russia, but "if we can have a great relationship with Russia and with China, and with all countries, I'm all for that."

A bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, recently introduced an identical bill in the Senate.

Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, said members hope the bill is a signal to the world that, despite Trump's public statements, Congress remains supportive of sanctions.

"We want to have no doubt about where we stand on these sanctions, our intention is to assure there will be a vigorous response to Russia's criminal behavior," he said.

None of the Republicans sponsoring the legislation, Reps. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Tom Rooney of Florida, and Mike Turner of Ohio, showed up for the news conference. All three had scheduling conflicts, according to their offices.

Top Republicans say they support moving legislation to keep sanctions in place in response to any administration efforts to weaken them.

"He hasn't endorsed any piece of legislation at this point, as the sanctions are still in place," House Speaker Paul Ryan's spokesperson AshLee Strong said of Ryan's position in an email.

"Russia should receive no sanctions relief until it abides by the terms of the Ukraine peace process. If sanctions are eased prior to Russias full compliance with the Minsk agreements, I will certainly move legislation to keep them in place," House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-California, said in a statement.

Excerpt from:
Democrats and some Republicans want to stop Trump from lifting Russia sanctions - ABC News