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Welcome to The Heart of the Primaries, Democratic Edition

March 3, 2022

In this issue: Texas Democratic primary results roundup, Oregon county parties change rules to endorse challenger in OR-05

Texas held the nations first midterm primaries on Tuesday. Races in which no candidate received a majority of the vote are headed to May 24 runoffs. Heres a roundup of results from marquee Democratic primaries, current as of Thursday morning.

Texas 28th Congressional District: Incumbent Rep. Henry Cuellar and Jessica Cisneros are headed to a runoff. They received 48.4% and 46.9%, respectively. Tannya Benavides received 4.7%.

Cuellar, who first joined Congress in 2005, is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition and was the only House Democrat to vote against federal legislation to legalize abortion in September. Cuellar says he brought funding to the district for public education, healthcare services, small businesses, veterans programs, and immigration services. Cisneros, an immigration attorney, supports Medicare for All and has criticized Cuellars positions on abortion, immigration, and pandemic response.

In the 2020 Democratic primary, Cuellar defeated Cisneros 51.8% to 48.2%.

The Texas Tribunes Joshua Fechter said the following about primary results in terms of incumbents and challengers:

Texas top Republicans mostly fended off challengers in the GOP primary Tuesday. Meanwhile, a slate of progressives made inroads in Democratic primaries for Congress but fell short of their goal of an immediate sweep that would reshape the Texas U.S. House delegation.

Meanwhile, the status quo was largely preserved in the Texas Legislature. No state Senate incumbents lost their seats Tuesday night. In the House, one sitting Democrat lost and no incumbent Republicans were knocked out, though a few were forced into runoffs. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan both saw the vast majority of their favored candidates win primaries in the chambers they preside over.

The New York Times Reid J. Epstein said the following of progressives performance in House primaries:

Progressives frustrated by Mr. Bidens stalled social policy agenda were looking for a boost in Texas and got one possibly three.

Greg Casar, a former Austin city councilman, won easily Tuesday night and appears poised to come to Washington next year from his safely Democratic district. Another progressive contender, Jessica Cisneros, forced a runoff with Representative Henry Cuellar, a moderate who narrowly defeated her in the 2020 primary but is now under investigation by the F.B.I.

Jasmine Crockett, a state lawmaker who was among the ringleaders of Texas Democrats flight to Washington to delay new Republican voting laws last summer, has a large lead but appears bound for a runoff in a Dallas-area district.

Together, Mr. Casar, Ms. Cisneros and Ms. Crockett would bring new energy to the liberal wing of the House and to the Squad of progressive Democrats. Last month, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York came to Texas to campaign for Mr. Casar and Ms. Cisneros.

Democratic Party leaders in Oregons Linn and Deschutes counties voted last week to change their committees rules against endorsing candidates in primaries. Both parties then endorsed Jamie McLeod-Skinner in the 5th Congressional District Democratic primary.

McLeod-Skinner, who was the Democratic nominee for Oregons 2nd Congressional District in 2018 and ran for Oregon Secretary of State in 2020, is challenging incumbent Rep. Kurt Schrader. Schrader was first elected in 2008 and is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, New Democrat Coalition, and Problem Solvers Caucus. McLeod-Skinner has endorsements from the Working Families Party and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

After a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee field organizer spoke on behalf of Schrader at a Deschutes County Democrats meeting on Feb. 10, Deschutes County precinct committee member Sid Snyder said, [T]he fact that we have the 800-pound gorilla from Washington coming in and weighing in in our primary spurred some of us to say, You know what, we need Deschutes County Democrat voices heard, not just Washington, D.C., Democrat voices heard.' Noting that redistricting moved the district eastward, Snyder said, To us, [Schrader is] not an incumbent.

According to Daily Kos data, 47% of the new 5th Districts population comes from the old 5th District.

Deschutes Countys rule change only applies to this years 5th District primary. Linn Countys new rule applies to all primaries.

So far, Schrader and McLeod-Skinner are the only candidates running in the primary. The filing deadline is March 8 and the primary will be held on May 17.

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb endorsed Shontel Browns re-election bid in Ohios 11th Congressional District. Brown defeated Nina Turner in the special Democratic primary last year 50% to 45%. Turner is running against Brown again.

Bibb mentioned voting rights and federal infrastructure funds Cleveland had received and said, We wont be that city of opportunity unless we have a strong voice in Washington that will fight for Cleveland every single day.

Bibb assumed office in January, succeeding Mayor Frank Jackson, who endorsed Turner in last years primary. Turner endorsed Bibbs mayoral bid (after the primary, in which she endorsed a candidate who didnt advance).

Brown took office in November and succeeded Marcia Fudge, who left office to become secretary of housing and urban development. Brown was on the Cuyahoga County Council from 2015 to 2021 and chairs the county Democratic Party. Turner was a state senator from 2008 to 2015 and co-chaired Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign.

The primary is scheduled for May 3. Ohios congressional district boundaries are in the process of being redrawn.

Colorados 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary was in the news last week when candidate Alex Walker announced his bid with an ad featuring graphic language and visuals, including feces falling from the sky.

Walker said, We are real Coloradans. We deserve a living wage, small government that actually works, and freedom of choice. Instead, we have bull****.

Walkers isnt the first ad in the race with a fecal focal point. Last May, attorney Cory Wilhelm released an ad in which he said, Our current representative is full of bull***, and Im not bull***.

At least nine candidates are running in the Democratic primary. Six have filled out Ballotpedias Candidate Connection survey:

As of Dec. 31, Sandoval, a community organizer, led Democrats in fundraising with $535,000. Wilhelm had $305,000, including $281,000 he loaned his campaign. Two other Democrats had raised six figuresstate Rep. Donald Valdez at $286,000 and veterinarian Debby Burnett at $179,000.

Incumbent Lauren Boebert (R) raised more than $3.5 million as of Dec. 31. Boebert was first elected to represent the 3rd in 2020 after defeating incumbent Scott Tipton in the Republican primary 55% to 45%.

West Virginias filing deadline for federal and state elections was Jan. 29. Weve crunched some numbers to compare how competitive the primaries will be compared to recent election cycles:

Due to population changes, the state lost one district and was apportioned two ahead of the 2022 cycle. West Virginia was apportioned three congressional districts after the 2010 census. All three incumbents filed to run for re-election, two of whomReps. David McKinley (R) and Alexander Mooney (R)are running in the same district.

During the 2020 redistricting cycle, the legislature changed the makeup of the House of Delegates. Previously, the chamber had 67 districts with a total of 100 members. Now, the chamber has 100 single-member districts. This did not change the number of delegates, but it increased the number of possible primaries from 134 to 200.

Notes on how these figures were calculated:

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Heart of the Primaries 2022, Democrats-Issue 12 Ballotpedia News - Ballotpedia News

The incident became a flash point in Mr. Bidens struggle to address the record number of migrants crossing the southwest border illegally over the last year. Many said the administrations response was rooted in racial bias, an allegation Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, has rejected.

The administration did allow more than 8,900 Haitians into the country between September and December to appear in immigration court and request asylum. But during the same period, it also used the public health rule to expel roughly the same number, according to government data, sending them back to a country that the United States considered unsafe for Americans because of kidnapping, crime and civil unrest.

We are concerned that the administrations use of the Title 42 authority is depriving legitimate asylum seekers the opportunity to pursue their claims, contrary to our obligations under international and domestic law, the lawmakers wrote.

The Biden administration has defended keeping the rule in place. We continue to defer to the C.D.C. on its use, Vedant Patel, a White House spokesman, said Wednesday, referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this week, 33 House Democrats asked the C.D.C. director, Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky, to provide them with detailed explanations for why the public health rule was needed, particularly at a stage of the pandemic when vaccinations were widely available and new cases were declining.

Several of the lawmakers on Wednesday suggested that the use of the public health justification was in conflict with the presidents agenda on promoting racial justice.

As the Biden administration works to fulfill its promise of racial equity, it must reverse Trump-era policies like Title 42 expulsions and conduct a full review of its treatment of Black migrants, Representative Bush said in a statement to The New York Times. She and Senator Booker, Democrat of New Jersey, initiated the letter and have been courting co-signers for months.

Nongovernment organizations have written reports on the disparate treatment of Black migrants in the immigration system. They have found that Black migrants spend more time in solitary confinement while in immigration detention; are deported more often than any other race and are given higher bonds set by immigration judges.

Continue reading here:
Democrats Ask Biden to Review Treatment of Black Migrants - The New York Times

Now, even as Bidens approval ratings crater and incumbent Democrats publicly sweat over inflation, Peters is setting a high bar for success this fall. He doesnt want to just hold the Senate majority a task that probably means protecting every single incumbent in states like Arizona and Georgia he wants to make Majority Leader Chuck Schumers job a hell of a lot easier: Its a sense of mission for me to get to 52 or more Senate seats, Peters said.

Picking up two seats might not sound like a herculean task, but it would make him a near-legend in Democratic Party lore. Its vanishingly rare for the party in power to pick up seats in the first midterm election after a new president takes over, and Bidens current approval slump isnt helping. Senate Republicans managed to do it with a favorable battleground map in 2018 even as they lost the House a formula Democrats may have to replicate this year.

Peters own resume of racking up wins in Michigan is giving Democrats hope for a fighting chance. The former Michigan lottery commissioners probably gotten a little luck along the way, but his personal political story is one of survival by any means necessary.

He swept into office in 2008 by knocking off a House GOP incumbent, survived the tea party wave of 2010, beat fellow Democratic incumbent Hansen Clarke in a redistricting-stoked primary in 2012 and was the only new Democratic senator to take office after the 2014 shellacking.

In 2020, Republicans mocked Peters, a bespectacled and laid-back former Navy officer, as Jerry Peters so anonymous voters didnt even know his name. He won in 2020 by less than two points against John James, one of the best GOP recruits in years.

Ive got a lot of respect for the senator. And he worked really hard, Ive got to credit that. So that paid dividends come Election Day, said Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) who ran the GOPs 2020 campaign arm. Still, Young said Peters historically Democratic state helped him personally, and he advised that translating personal electoral success across the Senate map is tricky: Theyre very different jobs.

Then-President Barack Obama during a campaign event for U.S. Senate candidate Gary Peters and gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer at Wayne State University on Nov. 1, 2014, in Detroit, Mich.|Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo

Peters isnt afraid to take on risks; he opened up during his latest reelection campaign about his and his wifes decision to pursue an abortion in the 1980s, a rare move for a male politician. And he was one of the few candidates to embrace former President Barack Obama and campaign with him down the stretch in 2014, an election that saw Democrats blown out of red states theyd held for years.

Even as Biden struggles to raise his approval ratings and Republicans revel in his unpopularity, Peters sees little value in running away from a president of his own party. The two met recently to discuss Senate races, and Peters came away satisfied with Bidens level of involvement.

Well be working really closely with the president. He cares deeply about the Senate, Peters said. To me, the presidents always an asset.

Republicans scoff at that sentiment. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said matter-of-factly, Bidens helping us quite a bit. He also noted the NRSCs outraised Peters committee over the past 12 months.

With one of the hardest jobs in Washington, Peters has room to try out his own style of politics on a larger scale. He says Schumer, a total political animal, has such a demanding job as majority leader in a 50-50 Senate that the New Yorker has given Peters complete freedom to run campaigns his way.

Hes really got the right temperament for a job that is such a high level, said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Hes in control of the situation.

Peters DSCC is not endorsing in any contested primaries at this point, letting candidates for open seats in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania slug it out for the right to face Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and the GOP nominee in the Keystone State. Its a shift from past election cycles, when Democrats were more eager to throw their weight behind their favored candidates.

At the moment, Peters says he has no problem letting things play out between, say, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Rep. Conor Lamb and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta in Pennsylvania.

Right now were not making any endorsements. That could change, Peters said.

His Midwestern Nice style translates to his bid to take back Wisconsin from Johnson, the only Republican to win a Senate seat in the Badger State since the 1980s. Peters and Johnson clashed in 2020 over allegations of malfeasance in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

I expect Gary to do better than I did.

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.)

As chair at the time, Johnson used the committee to try to probe Hunter Biden during the presidential election, prompting major pushback from Peters, who chairs the committee now. Peters said in an interview that he was confident we can win in Wisconsin but declined to take a shot at Johnson, whom most Senate Democrats loathe: I dont take any of this personally; to me its just business. I work with my colleagues here.

Its fair to say the feeling isnt mutual. Johnson is still steaming.

He totally lied about me. Hes never publicly apologized for lying and screaming about me, Johnson said of Peters. So no, Im not happy with the man.

If Democrats can pick up Wisconsin and any other GOP-held states, people in both parties will see it as a miracle. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Republicans are certain to net the one seat they need to flip the chamber unless we give it to them, referencing an ever-present worry that GOP voters could nominate lackluster general election candidates in battleground states. Senate Democrats are defending five battleground seats in states Biden won and have pick-up opportunities in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and perhaps Florida and Ohio.

Peters was basically the partys only bright spot in 2014, the last time the party defended a majority, when Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) chaired the DSCC. Peters cruised by a 13-point margin even as GOP Gov. Rick Snyder was reelected with relative ease.

Now its Bennet whos facing the voters in a tough year. He offered a prediction: I expect Gary to do better than I did.

Democrats had better hope so: They lost nine seats in 2014.

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The low-key Democrat with the unenviable task of defending a 50-50 Senate - POLITICO

In this issue: A primary rematch in NY-12 and dueling endorsements in MI-11s incumbent-vs.-incumbent primary

New Yorks 12th Congressional District Rep. Carolyn Maloney faces at least seven challengers in the Democratic primary, including one shes faced twice before. Suraj Patel, who Maloney defeated most recently in 2020 43% to 39%, announced his bid this week.

Patel, a former campaign staffer for President Barack Obama, called himself pro-growth, pro-democracy, pro-science and pro-safety and said, This is a new decade, a new district, and as we enter year 3 of a pandemic weve got new challenges, which means we need a government that proactively develops 21st-century solutions to 21st-century problems.

Maloney was first elected in 1992. Maloneys campaign website says her position as a hard-hitting progressive leader is indisputable. When announcing her bid for a 16th term, Maloney said, Now more than ever, our city needs innovative leaders to spearhead our rebuilding from the COVID-19 crisis From securing federal funding to help New Yorkers get vaccinated, pay their rent, and feed their families, I have led efforts that will enable New York City and New York State to build back better.

Jewish Insiders Matthew Kassel said redistricting expanded the 12th District westward into Manhattan, where [Maloney] is likely to pick up a cluster of new voters that will add to a traditional support base in her home neighborhood of the Upper East Side. Meanwhile, the new boundaries cut back on left-leaning enclaves in Brooklyn and Queens, where Maloney has performed poorly in recent elections. The new map is being challenged in court.

Patel said the new district map could benefit him, pointing to parts of the former 10th Districtwhich Rep. Jerry Nadler representsthat became part of the 12th and saying his positions are closer to Nadlers than Maloneys are.

Candidate Rana Abdelhamid launched her campaign last April with support from Justice Democrats. Abdelhamid said, As the pandemic has exacerbated inequities in our communities, this district deserves a representative who fights for renters instead of developers, and small shops instead of big banks A leader who went to New York City public schools, isnt a millionaire, and answers to all of us not just the corporate PACs who fund her reelection campaigns.

According to The Citys Clifford Michel, candidate Maud Maron is looking to promote issues such as public safety and wants to get rid of masking in schools. Her moderate credentials could siphon votes from Maloney while the incumbent tries to fend off a progresive [sic] challenge. Marons campaign website says she rejects ideological purity in favor of practical solutions. She was one of the very first candidates to reject Defund Police proposals because all communities need safe streets, parks and transportation.

The primary is set for June 28.

On Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) campaigned in Texas for U.S. House candidates Jessica Cisneros (District 28) and Greg Casar (District 35), including at a rally for the candidates in San Antonio.

Ocasio-Cortez criticized U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who faces Cisneros in the March 1 primary, for saying last summer that he wouldnt vote for a budget resolution needed to pass the Build Back Better Act unless the House first voted on an infrastructure bill the Senate had passed, as we wrote about two weeks ago. Ocasio-Cortez said, A lot of people say Manchin, Manchin, Manchin . . . But we know its not just Manchin. You know whos helping him? Henry Cuellar. Ocasio-Cortez said, If youre upset about Build Back Better, you can elect Jessica Cisneros.

The Build Back Better Act passed the House, with Cuellars support, in November. The Senate has not yet taken it up.

Before the rally, Cuellar said, The voters will decide this election, not far left celebrities who stand for defunding the police, open borders, eliminating oil & gas jobs, and raising taxes on hard working Texans. Members should take care of their own district before taking failed ideas to South Texas.

On Feb. 14, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) endorsed Cisneros and Casar.

Tannya Benavides is also running in the 28th District primary. Casar faces three other candidates in the open 35th District. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff on May 24.

Three major race forecasters consider the 28th District general election either Lean or Likely Democratic. The 35th District is Safe or Solid Democratic.

On Feb. 10, retiring Michigan 14th Congressional District Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) endorsed different incumbents running in Michigans 11th Congressional District Democratic primary.

Lawrence endorsed Rep. Haley Stevens, saying that no person represents the quality, the compassion, the work ethic better than Haley Stevens. The CPC endorsed Rep. Andy Levin, saying he is a progressive champion driven by a commitment to universal justice and equity, not backroom special-interest agendas.

Both Stevens and Levin were first elected in 2018. According to data from Daily Kos, 45% of the newly drawn 11th Districts population comes from Michigans old 11th District (which Stevens represents), 25% comes from the old 9th District (which Levin represents), and 30% comes from the old 14th District (which Lawrence represents).

Last month, Stevens criticized Levins decision to run in the 11th District, saying she couldnt imagine abandoning over 70% of [her] current constituents in an open and winnable congressional seat to primary a fellow Democrat. Three independent race forecasters rate Michigans new 10th District, which 71% of Levins old district was drawn into, Tilt or Lean Republican. Levin said, No current Member of Congress has represented the new districts as drawn, full stop. I am running in the district drawn around the home where Ive lived for 16 years.

Independent forecasters rate the general election in Michigans 11th Safe or Solid Democratic. The primary is scheduled for Aug. 2.

As of the end of Januarynine months ahead of the general election42 members of the U.S. House had announced they would not seek re-election. At the same time in the 2020 election cycle, 34 representatives had announced they wouldnt seek re-election. That number was 45 in 2018.

On Tuesday, Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) announced her retirement, bringing the total up to 43 incumbents not seeking re-election this year.

The Brooklyn Democratic Party endorsed Gov. Kathy Hochul in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. The New York Working Families Party endorsed primary challenger Jumaane Williams.

New York Daily News Tim Balk said the Brooklyn Democrats vote dealt a significant but not unexpected blow to city Public Advocate Jumaane Williams bid to unseat the incumbent and that Williams will now officially be running without the support of his local Democratic Party chapter.

The New York Times Nicholas Fandos wrote that Sochie Nnaemeka, director of the New York Working Families Party, said she was concerned that without a robust voice from the left, Democratic leaders were being swayed by other candidates centrists in their own party like Representative Tom Suozzi and Republicans like Representative Lee Zeldin who have sought to stir up public outrage over Ms. Hochuls handling of the virus, the economy and public safety.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) also recently endorsed Hochul. And the group Our Revolution endorsed Williams.

Hochul succeeded Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) after he resigned last August. Hochul was elected lieutenant governor in 2014 and re-elected in 2018, defeating Williams in the Democratic primary that year 53% to 47%.

Five candidates are running in the Democratic primary so far. The primary is scheduled for June 28.

Last week, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White (D) endorsed Elizabeth Rochford, a judge on the 19th Circuit Court, in the state supreme court 2nd District Democratic primary. Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering and 16th Circuit Court Judge Ren Cruz are also running in the primary.

Democrats currently hold a 4-3 majority on the court. There are two partisan elections and two retention elections taking place this year against the backdrop of redistricting.

The 2nd District position is open for two reasons.

In 2020, 3rd District Justice Thomas Kilbride (D) became the first justice in Illinois history to lose a retention election. Robert Carter (D) was appointed to fill the vacancy and is not seeking election to a full term.

Last year, the Illinois Legislature redrew the states five court district lines for the first time since they were enacted in 1964. As a result, the current 2nd District justice, Michael Burke (R), was moved to the 3rd District, where he is seeking election to a full term after his appointment in 2020.

According to the Center for Illinois Politics, under its new lines, the 2nd District voted for Joe Biden (D) over Donald Trump (R) 56-42% in 2020. In 2018, J.B. Pritzker (D) defeated then-Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) 48%-46% in the district. As with 2018, Illinois is holding a gubernatorial election this year.

Justices Rita Garman (R) in the states western 4th District and Mary Jane Theis (D) in the 1st District (Cook County) face retention elections.

The primary is scheduled for June 28.

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Heart of the Primaries 2022, Democrats-Issue 10 Ballotpedia News - Ballotpedia News

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered remarks at the 2022 New York State Democratic Convention in New York City amid the Special Counsel John Durham probe controversy.

During her speech, Clinton accused Fox News of lying about her in an attempt to spread disinformation regarding the Durham probe.

"We can't get distracted by the latest culture war nonsense or a new right wing lie on Fox or Facebook," the former presidential candidate said. "By the way, they are after me again lately, in case you may have noticed."

HILLARY CLINTON IGNORES QUESTION ABOUT WHY SHE CALLED THE DURHAM CONTROVERSY A 'FAKE SCANDAL'

"It's funny. The more trouble Trump gets into the wilder the charges and conspiracy theories about me seem to get."

Former Secretary State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the 2016 Democrat candidate for U.S. President, attends the New York State Democratic Convention in New York, N.Y., Thursday February, 22, 2022. Photo/Douglas Healey

"Fox leads the charge with accusations against me counting on their audience to fall for it again," she continued.

Clinton went on to claim that Fox News was approaching legal liability for its reports on the Durham probe, saying, "And as an aside, they're getting awfully close to actual malice in their attacks. But as I said, don't get distracted."

In her address, Clinton blasted the Republican Party as divisive, violent, and dangerous to U.S. democracy.

"We are in uncharted territory. And make no mistake, our adversaries around the world are watching," the former Secretary of State said. "Republicans are defending coup plotters. They're curbing voting rights at precisely, the moment when democracy needs champions."

Former Secretary State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the 2016 Democrat candidate for U.S. President, attends the New York State Democratic Convention in New York, N.Y., Thursday February, 22, 2022. Photo/Douglas Healey

She continued, "When we should be standing together against autocracies like Russia and China. January six, last year was a gift to them because they know something we need to remember. America is only as strong as our unity and our democracy allows us to be."

Until now, Clinton campaign alumni been silent following the filing from Durham, who claims that a technology executive accessed servers belonging to Trump Tower and the White House to compile dirt on former President Donald Trump related to Russia.

Former Secretary State Hillary Rodham Clinton and the 2016 Democrat candidate for U.S. President, attends the New York State Democratic Convention in New York, N.Y., Thursday February, 22, 2022. Photo/Douglas Healey

Clinton reacted to Durhams latest filing on Wednesday, criticizing former President Trump and Fox News for "desperately spinning up a fake scandal to distract from his real ones."

HILLARY CLINTON REACTS TO DURHAM FILING, SAYS TRUMP, FOX NEWS 'DESPERATELY SPINNING UP A FAKE SCANDAL'

The former 2016 Democratic presidential nominee tweeted Wednesday, in her first public statement reacting to Durham's Feb. 11 federal court filing, which Fox News first reported Saturday.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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Hillary Clinton brushes Durham controversy off as conspiracy theory in speech to NY Dem convention - Fox News