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110TH TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY5 things in the Tennessee General Assembly: April 3 | 0:58

5 things to watch this week in the Tennessee General Assembly Wochit

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Sen. Kerry Roberts speaks supporting relocating Polk to Columbia. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Sen. Bo Watson speaks against moving Polk remains to Columbia.

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Over 100 years since he was last moved, James K. Polk might have a new final resting place. Kirk A. Bado

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What to watch the week of March 27th in the Tennessee General Assembly Wochit

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5 things coming up this week in the legislature you should pay attention to. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Some legislation to keep an eye on this week. Wochit

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Speaker Harwell remembers Douglas Henry Wochit

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Pro-choice supporters congratulate Rep. John Ray Clemmons after abortion bill halted. Jake Lowary/The Tennessean

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Maisy Stella plays before state Senate. She stars on the CMT show Nashville.

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The Nashville delegation leads tribute to the late Sen. Doug Henry.

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Lt. Gov. Randy McNally remarks on the late Sen. Doug Henry.

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A look at 5 topics coming up this week in Nashville. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Democrats tout delay in privatization of state parks at weekly press conference.

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Randy McNally on future of public records.

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Protestors flank Democrats at news conference about their Peoples Bill of Rights package of legislation. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Lawmakers aim to increase penalties for elder abuse. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Here's 5 things that are happening this week in the state legislature. Week of Feb. 27-March 2. Wochit

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Week of Feb. 20 Kirk A. Bado

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David Haw, R-Greeneville, discusses transportation legislation. Joel Ebert / The Tennessean

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David Hawk, R-Greenevill discusses transportation legislation. Joel Ebert / The Tennessean

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Protestors brought a swift end to a news conference Wednesday about controversial legislation in Tennessee. Jake Lowary/USA Today Network Tennessee

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Protestors followed lawmakers who are sponsoring controversial legislation in Tennessee's legislature. Jake Lowary

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Supply side economist Arthur Laffer testifies about the gas tax plan before the legislature. Laffer is popular economist in conservative circles for his emphasis on keeping taxes low and applied to the broadest base. Jake Lowary

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Freshman state House Rep. Mark Lovell has submitted his letter of resignation amid allegations he had inappropriate contact with a woman last week, several sources, including a Tennessee Republican lawmaker, told The Tennessean. Kyleah Starling / Tennessean / Wochit

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Democratic Rep. Bo Mitchell calls for 'Jeremy's Law' repeal in wake of scandals involving Republican lawmakers Jeremy Durham and Mark Lovell

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Rep. John Ray Clemmons and Sen. Sara Kyle share their alternative to address Tennessee transportation backlogs. Jake Lowary/USA Today Network

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Here's a quick look at 5 things to watch for this week at the capitol in Nashville. Jake Lowary, Joel Ebert/Tennessean

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Tennessee lawmakers are back in session. Here are five things to watch for the week of Feb. 5. Joel Ebert and Duane W. Gang / The Tennessean

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Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Jan. 30, 2017 gave his annual State of the State address before the General Assembly. Here are three takeways from his speech, the next to last before leaving office. Joel Ebert and Duane W. Gang / The Tennessean / Wochit

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Gov. Bill Haslam's 2017-18 budget includes $100 million for teacher pay raises and $22.2 million for English-language learning students. Jason Gonzales / The Tennessean / Wochit

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Sen. Doug Overbey discussed wilfire recovery efforts Tuesday in the Senate finance committee meeting in Nashville. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, reacts to Gov. Bill Haslam's State of the State address Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Sen. Jim Tracy, R-Shelbyville, reacts to Gov. Bill Haslam's State of the State address Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Democrats Rep. Mike Stewart and Sen. Jeff Yarbro, both of Nashville, react to State of the State address Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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Gov. Bill Haslam outlined his 2018 budget with reporters on Jan. 30 at the capitol. Jake Lowary/Tennessean

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State of the State Kirk Bado / The Tennessean

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Norris reacts to State of the State.

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Here are 5 big topics coming up to watch for this week in the 110th General Assembly. Jake Lowary / The Tennessean / Wochit

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Gov. Bill Haslam on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 announced efforts to expand broadband access. Adam Tamburin/The Tennessean

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Gov. Bill Haslam announced the latest plank of his legislative agenda -- a broadband initiative -- Thursday morning at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch. Haslam's plan will provide $45 million over 3 years in grants and tax credits for service providers. The governor said theplan focuses on three broad issues: funding, cutting regulation and education "digital literacy." Karen Kraft / The Tennessean

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The plan, which is officially known as the Improving Manufacturing, Public Roads and Opportunities for a Vibrant Economy or IMPROVE ACT was unveiled on Wednesday. Karen Kraft / The Tennessean

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Sen. Doug Overbey discusses Gatlinburg recovery after a meeting Thursday at the legislature in Nashville. Jake Lowary / The Tennessean

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With lawmakers set to return to Nashville on Tuesday to officially convene the 110th General Assembly, the session is expected to cover a multitude of issues ranging from a potential gas tax increase to how to spend the state's budget surplus. Kyleah Starling/The Tennessean

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Outgoing Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey talks about retiring from the leadership position in the Tennessee legislature. Lacey Atkins / Tennessean

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5 things in the Tennessee General Assembly: April 3

Sen. Kerry Roberts speaks supporting relocating Polk to Columbia

Sen. Bo Watson speaks against moving Polk

The fight over James K. Polk's body

5 things to watch this week in the General Assembly

5 things in Tennessee Legislature this week

5 things to watch this week in the state legislature

Speaker Beth Harwell reflects on Douglas Henry's legacy

Pro-choice supporters congratulate Rep. John Ray Clemmons after abortion bill halted

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Tennessee Democrats want swift action on Medicaid expansion - The Tennessean

Wisconsin Democrats Are Still Paying for ... Wall Street Journal (subscription) Six years ago, as a bitter winter gripped the Upper Midwest, Wisconsin Democrats mobilized for a major political protest. Demonstrators packed the streets of Madison tighter than a playoff game at Lambeau Field. They descended upon the Capitol in the ...

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Wisconsin Democrats Are Still Paying for ... - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Democrats need more voters. How about registration at birth? Charlotte Observer Across the country, Democrats and their allies are plotting a quiet and disjointed but considerable push to make voting easier by dismantling registration barriers and promoting candidates who want to expand voting rights. It's all an effort to reshape ... and more »

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Democrats need more voters. How about registration at birth? - Charlotte Observer

The road to a Democratic Senate majority in 2018 runs through Texas yes, Texas.

Facing a grim midterm map, Democrats are desperately trying to put enough GOP-held seats in play to take advantage of Donald Trumps unpopularity and carve a credible path back to Senate control. The odds are so long that Democrats must pin their hopes on taking out Ted Cruz in the reliably conservative bastion of Texas.

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Their first ray of hope is the entry of three-term Rep. Beto ORourke a 44-year-old former hard rock musician and internet entrepreneur who speaks fluent Spanish into the race on Friday. Though Cruz is universally known, Democrats insist hes not invincible, pointing to the first-term Republicans poor polling numbers and prolonged focus on running for president.

And they say O'Rourke is formidable enough that they can make a case to donors that they actually have a shot at winning the state and the Senate overall.

People want to win and they want to play offense. And Texas represents that, ORourke said in an interview earlier this month. Texas is how you win back the Senate.

For the first time in several election cycles, control of the Senate is not up for grabs barring a massive anti-Republican wave. Already facing a four-seat deficit, Democrats have to defend 25 seats, including five in conservative states that voted overwhelmingly for Trump last year and five more that he carried by a narrower margin.

The GOP, by contrast, has to protect just nine seats. After Arizona and Nevada, Texas is probably the most enticing opportunity, given the demographic challenges the party faces in states like Tennessee, Nebraska and Mississippi.

Republicans say that once again, Democrats are getting ahead of themselves. After major wins in conservative states in 2012, the party has lost races that they tried to contest in Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina and South Dakota.

Republicans acknowledge that eventually Democrats will be competitive in Texas if the GOP doesnt do a better job of courting minority voters. But they say a $100 million race against Cruz the amount Democrats estimate they'll need to spend won't cut it.

I know Beto. And hes a good guy. But I think this is a suicide mission, said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, another Texan and a two-time chairman of the partys Senate campaign arm. We havent elected a Democrat statewide since 1994.

If Democrats can legitimately put Texas in play still an if it would be an important moment for the party going into the next election. Raising money for 2018 would be a lot easier if they can inspire donors with a message of potentially taking the Senate, as opposed to just stanching the bleeding.

Still, senior Democrats are quick to tamp down expectations about their chances in the Lone Star State. Last year, Democrats had a favorable map and were bubbling with confidence about their prospects of winning the Senate only to experience a disaster on Election Day.

Their focus is on reelecting endangered incumbents and keeping the GOP from a filibuster-proof majority in 2019, which would allow Republicans to run roughshod over Democrats.

Were realistic. Our approach is, No. 1, to shore up the blue line we have in the Senate right now, said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Wild things can happen in 2018. We can be very competitive in Texas.

ORourke will be going up against a singular figure in Cruz. The 46-year-old senator quickly made his mark in the GOP as a take-no-prisoners conservative: He led the party into a government shutdown, branded Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a liar and infamously declined to endorse Trump at the Republican National Convention, before eventually coming around. Since the election, Cruz has been a more cooperative presence in the Senate.

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) is mulling a primary challenge against Cruz from the center. That could damage Cruz and force him to expend resources with ORourke waiting further down the line.

Privately, Republicans believe McCaul will back off since Trump won the election and McCaul cant blame Cruzs feud with Trump for costing the GOP the presidential race. McCaul refused to answer questions about whether he will challenge Cruz.

I just dont want to talk about any of this, McCaul said.

But ORourke does.

Hes been very busy running for president since he was elected to the Senate. Which is fine for him. It hasnt been especially good for Texas, ORourke said.

Cruz declined an interview for this story. In a statement, he said: "I welcome [O'Rourke] to the race, and will continue to work every day to earn and keep the trust of Texans across our great state. I'm confident that Texans want a senator who will lead the fight for freedom."

The affable ORourke cuts a unique profile in the House. He recently spent two days in a car with Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) driving from Texas to D.C. after a snowstorm. The two livestreamed the entire ride and took questions from constituents along the way.

People want to win and they want to play offense. And Texas represents that, Rep. Beto ORourke said in an interview earlier this month. | AP Photo

O'Rourke says he wont accept PAC money in the race against Cruz, which could put him at a severe disadvantage given national Democrats focus on defending the 10 incumbents from states that Trump won.

ORourke acknowledged the disadvantages he faces going in, from fundraising to low name recognition to the state's conservative tilt. But he pointed to his last major race, when he upset longtime Democratic Rep. Silvestre Reyes in a 2012 primary.

I was running against 100-to-1 odds, ORourke said. You dont know until you do it.

ORourke and Cruz have some similarities: They both believe in term limits and have annoyed their party leaders, though ORourke has done so in far less strident ways than Cruz. Most notably, ORourke has sought distance from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis messaging campaigns on Obamacare, concluding bluntly: That shit doesnt work.

ORourke could conceivably have a primary challenge himself in Rep. Joaquin Castro. But Texas Democrats and state strategists believe that Castro will likely pass now that ORourke is in. Unlike ORourke, who has said he will serve only until 2020 in the House, Castro hasn't promised an end-date there.

Castro, who speaks with ORourke frequently, insists he's still weighing his option and plans to decide by the end of April.

We both agreed that we would come to our own decisions about the race and go from there, Castro said in an interview Wednesday.

The fact that young, promising candidates are mulling runs in Texas offers Democrats hope that their partys fortunes are changing in the nation's second most populous state.

Texas is going to be competitive. The question is whether 2018 is that moment, said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). It might be the combination of Cruzs profile and the changing demographics.

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But Republicans remember the likes of Wendy Davis, whose much-hyped 2014 gubernatorial run ended in a 20-point blowout. National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Cory Gardner said Democrats' are in for a similar ending in 2018.

And we [Republicans] plan on a very competitive election in California, Gardner said sarcastically.

Read more here:
Democrats aim to take out Cruz in 2018 - Politico

Gold Star father Khizr Khan is raising money for Democrats.

Khan, father of a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in 2004 in Iraq, appears in a fundraising email from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"I love this country. My son died for this country," he begins. "But today, President Trump is tearing down everything that makes America great. It's the fight of my life to stop him: And I know taking back the House is the best way to do it."

Khan rose to fame during the 2016 presidential campaign after his rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention, when he asked candidate Donald Trump if he had ever read the Constitution. He later became a leading voice against Trump's two travel bans aimed at some Muslim-majority countries.

Khan says he would walk "barefoot to every district in the country if it means Democrats win" a line he has used before but that he can't do it alone. Then comes the pitch for donations that Khan says he is "counting on."

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Gold Star father Khizr Khan fundraising for the Democrats - Washington Examiner