News: Is the campaign money behind Harris ready?

Friday, July 19, 2024

Is the campaign money behind Harris ready?

Jul 19, 2024

Presented by

With Daniel Lippman

HARRIS' ALLIES ORGANIZE: Allies of Vice President Kamala Harris have begun courting Democratic donors to provide financial support for her if President Joe Biden drops out of the 2024 race, POLITICO reported Thursday night.

— One Democratic donor adviser has begun collecting pledges from female Democratic donors to support Harris, while a women’s political organization has begun speaking to its donor base in an effort to ensure an initial wave of contributions to a potential Harris campaign, according to people familiar with the efforts.

— These people shared information about the financial maneuverings under strict conditions of anonymity, because of Harris’ extraordinarily delicate political position as Biden’s running mate and the tensions within the Democratic Party about Biden’s future.

— “What’s important is that there’s a massive show of support for her right away, which shows a signal that we’re all in for her,” said a leader of the women’s political organization granted anonymity to speak about sensitive Democratic Party planning.

— The organization has begun preparing emails and messaging. Those who focus on supporting female candidates have already begun planning to help Harris with a quick show of force, with lists of donors ready, the person added. Some donors have already proactively indicated they want to give money, the person said.

— Donors are “lining up to support” Harris “as soon as she’s a potential nominee,” the political leader added. “We certainly know that we are hearing from all of our donors that they want to support her.”

— Read more of our story about the fundraising mobilization behind Harris here.

Happy Friday, and welcome to PI. What a week. My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I’m helming the newsletter while Caitlin is out. She’ll be back on Monday, so please send us all your money and politics tips at hfuchs@politico.com and coprysko@politico.com. Follow us on X: @Hailey_Fuchs and @caitlinoprysko.

CHECK OUT WHAT YOU MISSED IN MILWAUKEE! Watch the full event from the CNN-POLITICO Grill at the RNC HERE.

The program featured Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications, as well as a conversation with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill for discussions about agriculture, food policy and how these issues will impact the November election.

RECORD REVENUE AT BROWNSTEIN: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck brought in $17.6 million in federal lobbying revenue in the second quarter of this year, per a release from the firm. That’s a record for Brownstein, which also had 15 new clients this past quarter.

— In an interview, Brownstein’s government relations department co-chair Will Moschella emphasized that focus on what’s happening in Washington remains strong. That interest is driven by a number of factors, including uncertainty with the election, ongoing legislative and regulatory work and the soon-to-be expired tax provisions, he added.

— With Trump’s improving poll numbers, there’s increasing interest in the agenda of a potential Trump-Vance administration, Moschella said. He expected that with a potential Trump administration, revenue would continue to grow.

— ”Any time there's a change in the administration — particularly if there's a party change — there's gonna be new policy, new priorities,” he said. “That’s gonna generate new business and new opportunities.”

— The first quarter of 2024 was also record-breaking for Brownstein, which brought in $16.26 million in federal lobbying revenue.

SPOTTED this week at an after-hours RNC cigar lounge in the Fiserv Forum hosted by Invariant, FanDuel, DraftKings, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Swishers, per a PI tipster: Reps. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Dan Meuser (R-Pa.), Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.) and David Rouzer (R-N.C.), DraftKing's Stanton Dodge, former Sen. Cory Gardner, Trump campaign's Chris LaCivita, former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, former Rep. Devin Nunes, Michael Best Strategies' Reince Priebus and Invariant's Amy Swonger.

ALSO SPOTTED IN MILWAUKEE: A number of lawmakers were spotted at Ferox Strategies’ RNC Recovery Brunch at Central Standard Craft Distillery in Milwaukee on Thursday, per a tipster. Among the attendees: Hern, Darin LaHood (R-Il.), Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.), Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.).

— Mark Williams of Ferox, Kristan Nevins of Blackstone, Ben Cantrell of BlackRock, and Mike Ward of Amazon, among others, also attended, according to the tipster.

INSIDE JD’S MIND: For those on K Street looking to understand Ohio Sen. JD Vance’s thinking, take a look at this story by POLITICO’s Adam Wren:

— ”When Donald Trump selected JD Vance as his running mate, he elevated the first millennial who will appear on a presidential ticket. That makes Vance the first politician who came of age during the Iraq War and the Great Recession, an internet native whose political rise coincided with the development of a new group of conservatives that would become the New Right.”

— “But perhaps Vance’s most millennial trait is just how geeky he is about Lord of the Rings. The trilogy of novels has been a longstanding nerd favorite for decades, but it became the center of culture during Vance’s high school years thanks to Peter Jackson’s movies.”

— “Vance himself has pointed to Tolkien’s high fantasy epics as a window into understanding his worldview.”

BIG BUSINESS AT RNC: “Much of corporate America has flocked to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this week, packing luxury suites high above the arena, cutting checks, sponsoring late-night parties and mingling with Republican politicians as well as former and current Trump advisers over happy hours and lunches,” reports the Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey.

— “The revelry is a remarkable shift from several years ago, when many corporate donors treated Donald Trump as a pariah after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and decried his efforts to overturn the election. Companies faced backlash from an angry workforce if they embraced the former president or supported his nascent effort to return to the White House. In the Republican presidential primaries, many of the country’s top donors wrote big checks for Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis, eschewing Trump.”

A message from Sallie Mae®:

Unlimited federal lending programs have allowed far too many students to take out loans that they can’t repay. As an education solutions company, Sallie Mae supports common sense reforms to protect students and families from overborrowing.

Jobs report

— Alexander S. Mathews is retiring at the end of 2024 as president and CEO of the Animal Health Institute. The institute’s board is now moving to find his successor.

— Dori Henry is joining Blended Public Affairs as senior vice president. She was Baltimore County executive Johnny Olszewski’s chief of staff. She is an alum of the Labor Department and the Department of Justice.

— Christina Carr is joining the Economic Speakers Bureau as director, Playbook reports. She was previously the Joint Economic Committee Democrats’ communications director.

— Dan Frost is now working for the Carbon Removal Alliance as a senior communications manager. He is an alum of Precision Strategies.

New Joint Fundraisers

Kim-Levin Victory Fund (Reps. Andy Kim, Mike Levin)

New PACs

College Republicans of America (Super PAC)

CFD Research Corporation Political Action Committee (PAC)

America's Democracy Defenders (PAC)

America First Super PAC 2024 (Super PAC)

Rothmund Action Fund (PAC)

Women United To Save The Commonwealth (PAC)

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New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.

Invariant LLC: Southern Glazer's Wine And Spirits, LLC

High Street Strategies LLC: Awesome, Inc.

Todd Strategy Group: Nomi Health, Inc.

Todd Strategy Group: American Society Of Nephrology

HLP&R Advocacy, LLC: Elwell & Associates On Behalf Of Flight Services International (FSI)

Adams And Reese, LLP: Riviera Utilities

Adams And Reese, LLP: City Of Orange Beach, AL

Adams And Reese, LLP: Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: RKT Holdings, LLC

ESS Tech, Inc.: ESS Tech, Inc.

Baker & Hostetler LLP: ModivCare Solutions, LLC

Baker & Hostetler LLP: SEKO Logistics

Baker & Hostetler LLP: Archer Daniels Midland Company

Baker & Hostetler LLP: U.S. Bancorp

GrayRobinson PA: Accel

The Vogel Group: Mr. Joe Sullivan

The Vogel Group: Jindal Pipe USA

Prime Policy Group: Paraguayan Meats Chamber

Integer, LLC: National Association Of Charitable Gift Planners

Bracewell LLP: Capital Power Corporation

Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP: Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, Inc.

Bracewell LLP: Pioneer Public Affairs

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Unilever United States

Steptoe LLP: 280 Earth, Inc.

Pioneer Public Affairs: Modern Hydrogen, Inc.

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Consortium For Common Food Names

Alva Elliott Partners, LLC: Tower 19 On Behalf Of Kalshi, Inc.

A message from Sallie Mae®:

New Lobbying Terminations

Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Internet Corporation For Assigned Names And Numbers (ICANN)

Delek US Holdings, Inc.: Delek US Holdings, Inc.

Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: HP, Inc.

Van Scoyoc Associates: Fathom Tanks, LLC

VNF Solutions, LLC: American Shrimp Processors Association

VNF Solutions, LLC: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc

Holland & Knight LLP: Windward Fund

Williams And Jensen, PLLC: Recora

Kountoupes Denham Carr & Reid, LLC: Breakthrough Energy, LLC

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: BlackRock Funds Services Group LLC

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: EuroAPI

The Consilio Group: Wel-Fab

Smith Dawson & Andrews: Seves Glass Block, Inc.

Lucas | Compton: Quanta Services

FS Vector LLC: Dave, Inc.

McCaulley&Company: Lorain County Board Of County Commissioners

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Fellowes Brands

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Emcore Corporation

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: BedRock Systems, Inc.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: American Chiropractic Association

Terrapin Strategy, Inc: Arovia, Inc.

Terrapin Strategy, Inc: Senior Healthcare Innovation Consortium, Inc.

Terrapin Strategy, Inc: Integrity Technologies Corp.

Terrapin Strategy, Inc: Belen Aerospace

Liberty Partners Group, LLC: Radiology Imaging Associates LLC (AFHC)

CGCN Group, LLC: National Alliance For Public Charter Schools

Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: Tactical Innovations LLC

Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: Geis Companies

Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: G6 Energy Corp.

Ervin Graves Strategy Group, LLC: AeroVironment, Inc.

The Raben Group: NAACP Empowerment Programs, Inc.

The Raben Group: Early Edge California A Project Of New Venture Fund

The Raben Group: Latinos For Education

TruSynergy: Burrell International Group (On Behalf Of Arsenal Medical, Inc.)

Hance Scarborough: Dr. John Valentini

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: NB Affordable

Public Strategies Washington, Inc.: Vitesco Technologies USA

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Somerset County

Mehlman Consulting, Inc.: Rock Central

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: NexGen Power Systems

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport - Board Of County Commissioners Of Pitkin County, CO

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: Biotelemetry Inc.

Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP: American Conservatory Theater

K&L Gates, LLP: Fisher Investments

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP: Sensormatic Electronics

Roberti Global (fka Roberti White, LLC): Serac Healthcare Ltd

CJ Lake, LLC: March Joint Powers Authority

Roberti Global (fka Roberti White, LLC): Pfizer Inc.

Squire Patton Boggs: Wayne State University

K&L Gates, LLP: Lower Passaic River Study Area Coop

Public Strategies Washington, Inc.: Adelphi Capital Partners

Public Strategies Washington, Inc.: Kaliroy Fresh

Squire Patton Boggs: Study Edge

O'Brien, Gentry & Scott, LLC: Forward Power Co.

O'Brien, Gentry & Scott, LLC: Zenith Aerospace

Shumaker Advisors Florida, LLC: Collaborative Werx LLC

Husch Blackwell Strategies: Lifetime Advisors LLC

Farragut Partners LLP: BeyondSpring Inc.

Farragut Partners LLP: Novavax, Inc.

FBB Federal Relations: U.S. Soccer Federation

Pat Younger: Port Of Victoria

B3 Strategies, LLC: Enginuity Worldwide, LLC

Husch Blackwell Strategies: GrayRobinson On Behalf Of City Of St Cloud FL

Husch Blackwell Strategies: GrayRobinson (On Behalf Of St. Lucie County, Florida)

Husch Blackwell Strategies: GrayRobinson (On Behalf Of Escambia County, FL)

Husch Blackwell Strategies: GrayRobinson (On Behalf Of Brevard County, FL)

Husch Blackwell Strategies: First Command Financial Services

Guide Consulting Services, Inc.: Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance FKA Schizophrenia And Related Disorder

Venable LLP: Tourette Association Of America

FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): Flashfood Inc.

Maynard Nexsen PC: The Red Mountain Cut Foundation

Oxford Strategies LLC-MD: Justice Action Network

Pioneer Public Affairs: Universal Hydrogen

Pioneer Public Affairs: Talus Renewables, Inc.

Barker Leavitt, PLLC (SKA Mr. James C. Barker): Sonic Healthcare USA

Capitol City Group, Ltd.: Vineyard Wind, LLC

FS Vector LLC: Bank Policy Institute

Capitol City Group, Ltd.: Roger Williams University

Cline Strategic Consulting, LLC: Wieland North America

Polaris Government Relations, LLC: Rocket Companies

A message from Sallie Mae®:

The federal higher education financing system is doing too much for too many and not enough for those who need the most support. Complicated applications, confusing financial aid offers, and federal programs that offer virtually unlimited lending without considering the borrowers’ ability to repay is driving unsustainable federal student loan debt. We need a better, more transparent higher education financing system. See what Sallie Mae thinks.