Trump & Co. launch final megabill pressure campaign
Evans faced mounting questions about his ability to serve after suffering a stroke last year and missing months of votes. He insisted until recently he still intended to run for reelection, though several primary challengers were already starting to make moves.
'Serving the people of Philadelphia has been the honor of my life,' Evans said in a statement. 'And I remain in good health and fully capable of continuing to serve. After some discussions this weekend and thoughtful reflection, I have decided that the time is right to announce that I will not be seeking reelection in 2026.'
Evans, 71, has served in Congress since 2016. He succeeded Rep. Chaka Fattah, who resigned after being indicted on federal corruption charges, and is one of six Pennsylvanians on the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.
His retirement announcement comes amid generational upheaval in the Democratic Party. Longtime Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said earlier this year she wouldn't run again. The party base has looked to their leaders to mount a more vigorous response to President Donald Trump, with some in the party calling for primary challenges to senior leaders.
Evans' retirement could kick off a fierce battle between establishment Democrats and progressives for the Philadelphia-area seat, and several possible candidates are already weighing campaigns. Democratic socialists have made headway in the city, particularly at the state level, and pro-Israel groups and the liberal Working Families Party are eyeing the race, according to multiple Democrats.
'This is completely wide open,' said a high-level Philadelphia Democrat who was granted anonymity to speak frankly. 'There is not one person I can see who I would deem the front-runner.'
State Sen. Sharif Street, chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, has expressed interest in running for Evans' seat. A second Democrat granted anonymity to speak freely said Street could kick off his campaign as early as Tuesday, though other Democrats said an official announcement could come later. State Rep. Morgan Cephas, who is close to the city's influential building trades unions, is eyeing the seat as well, as is progressive state Rep. Chris Rabb.
'Me and my team are strongly considering a bid,' Cephas told POLITICO Monday. 'But first and foremost I wanted to express my overwhelming gratitude to the work that Congressman Evans has done for the city of Philadelphia.'
Rabb said in a text that 'I am seriously considering running for this seat.'
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, another progressive, said his supporters have 'encouraged me to consider a run.' But he said he has 'nothing to announce,' adding that 'today is about Dwight Evans' and 'honoring his legacy.'
In a sign of how hotly contested the race could become, some Democrats are already attacking Street publicly and privately before he jumps into the contest.
J.J. Balaban, a Democratic consultant who lives in Evans' district, said he opposes a potential bid by Street because in 2021 he worked with a powerful Republican to craft a proposed congressional redistricting map. His plan was not ultimately successful.
'Any good Democrat should hope it's not Sharif Street because of how he tried to sell out the Democratic delegation,' said Balaban. 'We would have fewer congressional seats if he had carried the day.'
Street did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the time, Street defended his work with Republicans, saying 'it's our job to negotiate the best that we can.'
Street has made some recent efforts to make inroads with progressives, including by endorsing liberal Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner in his successful primary reelection campaign this year over a more moderate challenger.
The extent to which Evans does — or doesn't — get involved in helping determine his successor will also shape the race. A Democrat familiar with Evans' thinking said he is 'going to wait and see what the field will look like' before deciding whether to endorse a candidate in the primary.
'Plenty of time to make a decision,' the person added.
Rumors have swirled for months about Evans' future, and some Democrats speculated that he might step down in the middle of his term, which would have given power to the city's Democratic ward leaders to choose a nominee for a special election. But Evans said Wednesday that he 'will serve out the full term that ends Jan. 3, 2027.'
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CBS News
12 minutes ago
- CBS News
Colorado says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in the state
State says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in Colorado State says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in Colorado State says Republican budget bill will cut billions in federal funding for Medicaid in Colorado Colorado is expected to lose up to $2.5 billion dollars annually in federal Medicaid funding under the Republican Party's massive tax and spending cuts bill. The measure passed the U.S. Senate Tuesday after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. It would extend Republican 2017 tax cuts permanently, increase funding for defense and immigration enforcement and cut funding for Medicaid, food stamps and green energy programs. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it would increase the deficit by about $3 trillion over ten years. The bill now goes back to the U.S. House of Representatives for approval. Among the differences between the Senate and House versions are changes to Medicaid, which provides health coverage for one in four Coloradans. The Congressional Budget Office says the Senate bill will reduce spending on Medicaid by nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, and maybe nowhere will those cuts be felt more than in rural Colorado, where half of all hospitals are already operating in the red. Lincoln Health in Hugo is among them. It is the only hospital on the I-70 corridor for 160 miles. The survival of those who live in the area depends on the survival of the hospital, which also operates family practice clinics, a nursing home and assisted living center. Lincoln Health CEO Kevin Stansbury CBS CEO Kevin Stansbury says those services are at risk under the bill. "We will have to close down some services," Stansbury told CBS Colorado. "And the challenge will be what services are not essential." Stansbury says 80% of the patients at Lincoln Health are on Medicaid or Medicare. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) -- which administers Medicaid -- says the bill would mean a loss of between $900 million and $2.5 billion a year in federal funding for Medicaid. It says the state would lose another $550 million a year due to a provision that caps a fee many states assess on hospitals at 3.5%. The bill also creates new verification requirements that HCPF says could cost the state $57 million to administer. It says the red tape will also result in thousands of Coloradans losing coverage. The bill requires recipients to provide proof they're going to school, volunteering, or working every month, and provide proof of their income and citizenship every six months. Stansbury says some recipients in Lincoln County don't have internet and will need to travel 80 miles to Fort Morgan to re-certify in person. He says many will drop off the rolls and end up uninsured. "Our patients have to travel to Fort Morgan for in-person revalidation of their Medicaid," Stansbury explained. "You're cutting access to care, which ironically could drive up the cost of care and put more financial stress on hospitals." Stansbury says Lincoln Health expects to lose about 25% of its Medicaid reimbursement under the bill. While it creates a new $50 billion rural hospital fund, he says it's unclear who would qualify for the money and how it would be distributed. "Where you live shouldn't determine if you live," Stansbury said. He notes many of the people who live in Lincoln County are conservatives. "I'm not sure that's what people out here voted for," Stansbury said. "I don't think they voted to have their hospital decimated." Lincoln Health may have to scale back services, but Stansbury says the hospital will survive. "This is a mission for us, and we're going to stick here. We're going to provide care to our patients," Stansbury said. "All we're asking is that we get paid equitably for it." The Senate dropped a provision in the House bill that would have cut federal Medicaid funding by 10% in states like Colorado that use their own tax dollars to cover Medicaid for non-citizens. The bill could also impact Medicare reimbursement. Because it adds to the deficit, it triggers the "Pay As You Go Act," which makes automatic cuts to federal spending. Medicare reimbursement could drop by an estimated 4%. Stansbury says rural hospitals are not only underpaid by Medicaid and Medicare, but by commercial insurers. He says Lincoln Health receives 100% less reimbursement from commercial carriers than hospitals in the Denver metro area. Both the Senate and House bills allow a subsidy program enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to expire at the end of the year. It caps premiums for those who buy insurance on the Health Exchange at 8.5% of a household's income. People who live in rural or mountain communities could see their premiums double.
New York Post
31 minutes ago
- New York Post
Michael Goodwin: Cuomo remains NYC's best shot to keep socialist Mamdani from being mayor – or the city will never be the same
He lost the primary by a stunning 12-point blowout, but as strange as it sounds, the ball is again back in Andrew Cuomo's court. Is he going to run a serious campaign in the general election, or is he ending his political career with a humiliating defeat? That's the key question for him, but it's also vital for the November election. Cuomo's answer is crucial because the Democrats' full-blown socialist nominee, Zohran Mamdani, is a heavy favorite to win. If he does and is able to implement even half of his radical agenda, New York will never be the same. It's teetering under the flawed leadership of Mayor Adams, but Mamdani is a human wrecking ball whose City Hall would make these troubled days look like a Golden Age. His policies would destroy Gotham's economy and shred the fragile social fabric. Nepo baby disaster His plan to freeze rents on 1 million privately owned apartments would turn the housing crisis into an unfixable disaster. What private developer is going to build apartments if it means losing money on the whims of a nepo-baby mayor who never held a job in the private sector? And if government becomes the major builder, look to the perpetually troubled Housing Authority projects for a vision of the hellscape future. Follow The Post's coverage of the NYC mayoral race Mamdani's racist plan to tax white-owned property higher than others and his support for antisemitic policies are beyond the pale. On top of his backing for the BDS movement, his refusal to condemn the odious phrase 'globalize the intifada' offers tacit support for violence against Jews in Israel and around the world. He's also a 33-year-old elitist who joined the 'defund the police' mob and has talked about dismantling the jail system. Next to him, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a throw-away-the-key champion of law and order. New York has never had a mayor so far out of the mainstream. The closest was Bill de Blasio, and Mayor Putz was the worst leader the city had in 50 years. Which brings us back to Cuomo. The November ballot essentially comes down to a four-person race. In addition to Mamdani on the Dem line, Cuomo and Eric Adams hold independent lines, and Curtis Sliwa is the GOP nominee. Cuomo I believe, is the only one with a realistic chance of defeating Mamdani. Yes, yes, I know that's a hard sell in the immediate aftermath of the thumping the former governor suffered last week. Mamdani beat him by 7 points on the straight vote counting, and the final margin grew to 12 points when the ranked-choice votes were tabulated. Full of regrets The difference reflected the cross-endorsement arrangements Mamdani made with like-minded lefties that enabled him to pick up much of their support when they were eliminated. But the key was the record turnout of 100,000 new voters from ages 18 to 30, who went overwhelmingly for the Queens lawmaker. Polls didn't pick up the surge until the very end, with Cuomo consistently a dominant front-runner since March. One result was that Cuomo was too cautious, acting like an incumbent playing not to lose instead of playing to win. His Rose Garden strategy of skipping candidate forums and granting few interviews reflected what the polls were saying: that his lead was safe. It wasn't and I'm told he's now full of regrets and admits he ran a terrible race. He acknowledged as much in a brief statement to me late Tuesday, in which he said the 'buck stops with me' and that 'I should have focused on a simpler affordability message even in these complex times.' After saying that 'Effective social media is paramount,' he added, 'We're going through the data, but there's no question a fall campaign needs to be a different effort informed by the lessons of this one.' His points reflect the fact that his ads, including those of his well-funded PAC, were good enough in a vacuum, but never countered his opponent's appeal to new voters. In addition, Cuomo was saddled with his own disgraceful exit from Albany four years ago over sexual harassment allegations. He also carries the baggage of his fatal Health Department order requiring nursing homes to take COVID patients, and he never owned and apologized for either, apparently assuming they were too far in the past to matter. He's wrong, and to run in the fall, he must express honest regret to voters. Poll optimism Still, there is already one poll looking ahead that is giving his team some optimism. It was conducted in the first two days after the primary, but got little attention. It deserves more. The Cuomo-aligned Honan Strategy Group found that, going into the general, Cuomo and Mamdani are essentially tied at 39%, with Adams at 13% and Sliwa at 7%. The survey considered two major scenarios: First, if Cuomo didn't actively campaign, Mamdani would have a lead of 15 points over Adams. Second, if Adams effectively decided to drop out, Cuomo would lead Mamdani by four points. In part that's because Cuomo did well among black voters, and would do even better absent Adams. One important finding was this sentence from the pollsters: 'We examined voter sentiment towards the leading candidates among General Election voters, and found that only Andrew Cuomo has a positive favorability rating of 56% to 43% unfavorable.' They found 'Mamdani is more negative than positive, at 48% unfavorable to 40% favorable.' Remember, these results were obtained in the aftermath of Mamdani's victory. Another key takeaway is that 66% of likely fall voters have an unfavorable opinion of Adams, with only 23% favorable. Two-thirds disapprove of his job performance, and '75% agree with the statement that Eric Adams is corrupt and should not run for reelection.' Those findings suggest Adams has almost no chance of winning. The numbers haven't escaped the Cuomo camp, which also believes Sliwa cannot win. Party infighting Part of their confidence in a potential comeback is that Cuomo, although elected four times as a Democrat — once for attorney general and three times as governor — has long had a tense relationship with the party's progressive wing that dominates primaries. Clearly, that wing has grown dramatically in the city, but his team believes the mix of general election voters would be more moderate and more receptive to his ideas. They also believe the fear over a Mamdani mayoralty, even among top Dem officials, works in his favor. One part of his agenda that could be important is Cuomo's plan to hire 5,000 more police officers and keep the popular and successful Jessica Tisch as commissioner of the NYPD. The contrast with Mamdani's anti-police rhetoric and 'defund' record deserves more attention than it got during the primary. My prediction is that Cuomo, after licking his wounds and sounding out key donors and supporters, will throw himself into the November race. At this point, foolish pride is the only thing he has left to lose.
The Hill
38 minutes ago
- The Hill
House Democrat slams Fetterman for ‘beach' remark
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) took a swing at fellow Pennsylvanian Sen. John Fetterman (D) over comments he made as the Senate was on its way to passing President Trump's 'big, beautiful bill,' in which he said he had 'missed' a beach trip. 'I will do whatever it takes, stay up for 48 straight hours, 72 straight hours, do whatever it takes to block this bill from becoming law,' Boyle told The Bulwark's Sam Stein in an interview that came out Tuesday. 'And that should be the attitude, frankly, of every Democratic member of the House and Senate. If you are here, you're damn lucky, and you're privileged to be here. You should want to be here. If you don't want to be here, leave,' he added. Fetterman made it quite clear Monday morning that he was not feeling excited about going through a marathon series of votes on the 'big, beautiful bill,' saying that it was costing him beach time, as the bill was likely to pass anyway. 'Oh my God, I just want to go home. I've already … I've missed our entire trip to the beach,' Fetterman said to reporters. Senate Republicans passed Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' early Tuesday afternoon, making it a step closer to crossing the president's desk. The bill now makes its way to the House, where questions arise about whether the lower chamber can meet a self-imposed Republican July 4 deadline for passing it. 'Almost all of our Great Republicans in the United States Senate have passed our 'ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.' It is no longer a 'House Bill' or a 'Senate Bill'. It is everyone's Bill,' Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday. The Hill has reached out to Fetterman's office for comment.
