Ryan Quarles

Is Tim Scott in it to win it?

The Republican primary has kicked into a higher gear in recent days. Donald Trump terrified one half of the country (and delighted the other) in his dominant, unrepentant CNN town hall appearance last Wednesday. Ron DeSantis is spending a lot of time in Iowa and — in the surest sign yet that he really wants to be president — appearing jacket-less among normal people. (10/10 fake laugh, Governor.)  The coming few weeks will see more candidates make it official. With Florida’s legislative session done and dusted, a DeSantis announcement is just around the corner. In a lengthy profile of Mike Pence, the New York Times yesterday reported the arrival of a new pro-Pence super PAC, Committed to America, a sign that he will soon come clean about his plans.

tim scott

Kentucky Fried Primary

The biggest horse race in Kentucky this year isn't the Derby; it's this fall's gubernatorial race, pitting incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear against a to-be-confirmed Republican. The contest is set to be a bellwether for the 2024 elections, in which Republicans must oust several name-brand Democrats if they are to win control of the Senate. Unlike so many statewide primaries in recent years, Kentucky isn't even a proxy battle between Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell. Both have formally and informally backed the state’s attorney general, Daniel Cameron. Instead, it's a fight between the candidates with the most money versus those with the most statewide organization.

kentucky kelly craft