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From left, Governor of Ohio John Kasich, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, and VP Mike Pence.

From left, by Johnny Louis/FilmMagic, by Cheriss May/NurPhoto/Getty Images, by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images, by Sebastin Vivallo Oate/Agencia Makro/LatinContent/Getty Images.

After being blindsided by Donald Trumps 2016 campaign, Democrats are preparing themselves for a variety of political scenarios in the next presidential electionincluding the possibility that Trump himself isnt on the ballot. While the president already filed paperwork for re-election on the day of his inauguration, the Democratic National Committee has begun compiling opposition research on a number of high-profile Republicans with presidential aspirations that the organization views as likely to run in 2020, either against Trump or in his place. According to a Politico report, the list includes Ohio Governor and Trump antagonist John Kasich, Vice President Mike Pence, United States ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Nebraska Senator and vocal Trump critic Ben Sasse, among others.

Of those contenders, Pence is probably the most formidable, and the most likely to run. The vice presidents machinations have fueled speculation that he isnt content with the No. 2 job in Washington and is maneuvering himself for something more. (What is the vice presidency, after all, except a stepping stone to the real thing?) In an unprecedented move earlier this year, Pence launched his own political-action committee, while also building relationships with top Republican donors. Pences team has repeatedly rebuked reports about his potential ambitions, but Democrats arent taking any chances: the D.N.C. is already digging into Pences record in preparation, as is the Democratic opposition super PAC American Bridge 21st Century.

The next most likely Republican to be on the ballot in 2020, after Trump and Pence, is Kasich, whom the D.N.C. has tasked a team of two dozen researchers with investigating, building on the opposition research from last years election. The Ohio governor has been harshly critical of Trump and has stopped short of saying he wont make another bid for the White House in 2020, though he has said he wouldnt take on Trump. John Weaver, one of Kasichs political advisers, sought to tamp down the rumors, telling Politico, I think the Democrats would be better served coming up with a better economic policy rather than planning to rely on Trumps unpopularity. Haley and Sasse, both viewed as rising stars within the G.O.P., have also been floated as potential 2020 candidates.

It is unusual for there to be this sort of speculation just seven months into a new administration, but Trump is no usual president. Needless to say, there is no historical precedent for this kind of challenge to a sitting president this early in his term. I do think its important to begin to have these discussions, if for no other reason than to make it clear that there remain Republicans unstained by Trumps presidency, Charlie Sykes, a veteran influential conservative radio host based in Wisconsin, told Politico.

Others say the Democratic effort is entirely misguided. As Tom Rath, a longtime Republican strategist in New Hampshire who advised Kasich in 2016, explained to Politico, for a Republican challenge to Trump be seriously considered, the circumstances that would compel or permit such a change would have to be so remarkable, so sweeping, so unprecedented that any oppo research on a particular candidate would be rendered moot by the very circumstances that occasioned the change. He added, I would think, if I were a Dem, I would really want to run against Trump in [2020] rather than any one else. But that said, even Trumps team is reportedly keeping an eye on Kasich along with a field of likely Democratic candidates.

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Democrats Aren't Waiting for Trump to Be Impeached - Vanity Fair

Democratic legislators called Tuesday for increasing the state sales tax to 6.85 percent, but they still did not reach an overall compromise to solve the states ongoing budget crisis.

The sales tax would increase from the current 6.35 percent, but was met with disapproval from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy who immediately told reporters that he was not in favor of the sales tax increase.

At a time when Malloy has announced deep cuts, including that 85 towns would not receive educational cost-sharing funds for public schools, the House Democratic plan would restore most of those funds. West Hartford, for example, would lose nearly $24 million under Malloys plan. But the Democratic plan calls for a loss of only $1.36 million compared to the last fiscal year.

Southington would lose about $300,000 under the Democratic plan, compared to more than $21 million under Malloys proposal. Enfield would lose $3.18 million under the Democratic plan, compared to more than $23 million under Malloys plan.

Overall, the towns would receive $2.299 billion in the 2018 fiscal year a loss of $122 million from last year, but far below Malloys proposed cuts of about $968 million.

The towns would receive the increased funding only if the legislature approves a two-year, $40 billion budget. If there is no action by the legislature, Malloys cuts under his executive order would begin to take effect Oct. 1.

Besides raising the sales tax, the House Democratic budget would make Social Security benefits no longer subject to the state income tax in the 2020 fiscal year and allow municipalities to place an additional 1 percent sales tax on food and drink at bars, restaurants and other outlets. The plan would have no new taxes on hospitals an industry that has clashed sharply with Malloy over funding.

Both Democrats and Republicans emerged with smiles on their faces Tuesday after meeting behind closed doors at the state Capitol. They said they had productive, bipartisan negotiations about potential solutions to the deficit that included structural changes to help the state in the long term. But they admitted that saving money in the current fiscal year would be difficult because the year started on July 1.

Despite the smiles, Republicans also did not drop their long-held opposition to tax increases.

Listen, I still have the same position that I had before, said House Republican leader Themis Klarides of Derby. Tax increases are not something that we are interested in at this point in time.

While the new proposed rate on the sales tax was mentioned, Democrats are not expected to release their full, detailed budget until Wednesday.

The latest budget talks came on the anniversary of the passage and creation of the state income tax, which was signed into law by then-Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. in August 1991.

All sides said the latest talks were productive, and they stood together at a news conference in a show of support that has not been evident at all times during the long, frustrating process that began when Malloy unveiled his first budget proposal back in early February.

But the harsh clashes of the past were less evident on a sunny Tuesday in mid-August.

I think a lot got accomplished today, said Senate Republican leader Len Fasano of North Haven. It was very, very good the steps that happened today.

After months of behind-the-scenes talks, some conservative Democrats still have concerns about raising taxes at all.

Sen. Paul Doyle, a fiscally conservative Democratic swing voter from Wethersfield, told The Courant that he still has questions about hiking taxes to balance the deficit that is projected to reach $3.5 billion over two years. Doyle and two other moderate senators, Joan Hartley of Waterbury and Gayle Slossberg of Milford, have balked at tax hikes as the states fiscal crisis has continued in recent months. Their votes could be key as Republicans have been mostly opposed to tax increases and Democrats hold only a slim majority in the House, with a tie in the Senate.

We have broad-based, but not unanimous, support for that, Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney said of the proposed sales tax increase.

With some lawmakers on vacation in August, no votes are expected at the state Capitol until at least the week of Sept. 11.

Legislators are now under increased pressure because Malloy released a revised executive order that includes huge cuts in aid to cities and towns, including no educational cost-sharing aid for 85 towns. While upscale towns like Greenwich and Avon would receive no aid, Malloys order also zeroes out educational cost-sharing funds to towns such as West Hartford, Southington, Canton, Cromwell, Stratford, Rocky Hill, Newtown, and North Haven.

Obviously, the governors proposal, I think, was calculated to heighten the pressure because he laid out clearly what the painful consequences for many towns will be if there is not a budget reached by mid-September, Looney said. If there are any people whose minds have not been sufficiently focused, they certainly are now.

With no budget, the state also does not have an educational cost-sharing formula because it expired. Without a formula, Malloy would be able to allocate the funds to various towns as he sees fit.

Asked if he would veto a budget that contains the sales tax increase the Democratic governor repeated his oft-stated maxim that budget discussions shouldn't start with tax increases.

"We should analyze budget proposals based on whether they are structurally in balance and how they reach that balance,'' Malloy said.

Malloy said he is "encouraged that people are doing some amount of work, that they've collectively said they're working toward a goal where that's going to end up, I have no idea.

He added, But I'm encouraged there appears to be an urgency developing, albeit 54 days into the process. I think that's appropriate, I want a budget, I don't want to do what I'm doing by executive order."

Asked if the Republicans will support a budget, Malloy said: "In a perfect world, people should put their differences aside and acknowledge that we have to do what's best for the state of Connecticut, collectively. I'm not sure any of the caucuses could pass a budget in and of themselves."

Republicans were pleased with the Democratic ideas on structural change. A summary that was sent to legislators said the budget facilitates regionalism through changes to collective bargaining statutes, consolidates local assessor offices to achieve economies of scale, and requires votes on state employee union contracts which Republicans have supported for years.

Courant staff writer Daniela Altimari contributed to this report.

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Democrats Seek 6.85 Percent Sales Tax; Malloy 'Not in Favor' - Hartford Courant

For the first midterm cycle ever, top Democratic operatives from D.C. have set up shop in the O.C.

An office in Irvine, Calif., is within driving distance of seven districts held by Republicans right now, where voters also picked Hillary Clinton in 2016. So thats where several Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee staffers are already working, more than a year before the 2018 contests.

Theres no question that Republicans in Orange County and across California are on defense this cycle, DCCC Spokesman Tyler Law told Fox News.

A pinata of Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump stands in front of various campaign signs decorating a wall as members of the Democratic Party of Orange County, California May 15, 2016. (REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon, FILE )

GOP officials dont mind their new neighbors, though.

I love it that theyre spending the money here and that we actually get to keep them occupied, Republican Party of Orange County Chairman Fred Whitaker said.

And Republicans are doing their best to make sure these Democrats from D.C. dont make too much progress.

On Monday, more than a dozen Republican volunteers sat around a conference table at the Republican Party of Orange Countys office in Tustin, Calif., making calls to try identifying potential new voters.

Whitaker said calls like this used to be made months closer to the election, but the schedule jolted forward when Democrats singled out Southern California.

Their early efforts are to stave off the diverse group of dozens already signaling their intention to challenge local members of Congress.

One of Rep. Ed Royces Democratic challengers is Gil Cisneros, a Navy veteran and Mega-Millions lottery winner, who has one other line that stands out on his resume: he used to be a Republican, because he was a fan of former President Ronald Reagan.

This city on a hill is how he saw the nation, and I kind of saw it the same way, Cisneros explained. But he was for things that now, that the Republican Partys not for. And theyve changed.

Another first-time candidate is Kia Hamadanchy, angling himself to replace Rep. Mimi Walters. Hamadanchy is a former Senate staffer who decided to run the night President Trump announced a partial ban on travel to the U.S. from certain countries, and sees the long list of candidates on the left as a signal of Democratic strength.

As Democrats, we have a lot of issues with our messaging and winning elections, Hamadanchy told Fox News. These primaries are going to allow people to kind of hone that message.

President Donald Trump, greets Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Aug. 14, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Longtime Rep. Darrell Issa is one of the incumbents facing a stiff challenge next year, in one of the districts that voted for Clinton in 2016.

Now Issa thinks some of those Clinton voters may continue to support him, because he doesnt think they approve certain health care proposals coming from the left.

Protestors and people here are openly calling for a single-payer system, that drives a lot of working, middle-class Democrats away from their own party, Issa told Fox News in a Tuesday interview on the Oceanside Pier in his district.

The former House Oversight Committee Chairman also doesnt think hell be punished at the ballot box for sometimes aligning himself with President Trump.

They may or may not support the president, but they want you to work across the aisle to get things done, Issa said.

Peter Doocy is currently a Washington D.C.-based correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in 2009 as a general assignment reporter based in the New York bureau.

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Democrats launch new push to flip seats in California's Orange County - Fox News

SENECA FALLS Town Democrats nominated two incumbents and an outspoken foe of the Seneca Meadows Landfill as candidates for the fall town election.

Doug Avery of Cayuga Street was nominated for one of two town board seats to be elected this November. He will join incumbent Democrat David DeLelys in running for the two seats on the five-member board. Avery is a retired music and drama teacher at Mynderse Academy.

The two Democrats will oppose incumbent Republican Tom Ruzicka and former board member Steven Turkett.

Avery is president of the Seneca Falls Environmental Action Committee and has spoken frequently against the ongoing odor and other issues at the landfill, in favor of Local Law 3 of 2016 that would require the landfill to close by Dec. 31, 2025, in opposition to Local Law 2 of 2017, which rescinded Local Law 3 and in opposition to a renewal of the landfills state operating permit.

DeLelys voted for Local Law 3 and against Local Law 2.

Democrats also tabbed incumbent Town Justice Sean Laquidari to seek a second, four-year term. He is one of two town justices running this year. The caucus did not put up an opponent for incumbent Republican Town Justice Chuck Lafler.

Democrats in Waterloo, Fayette, Varick and Lodi also select their candidates at a caucus.

Waterloo Democrats do not have a date set yet, but party Chairman Ted Young said it would likely be next week. Up for election this year in Waterloo are two town board seats, supervisor, town clerk, highway superintendent.

In Fayette, Democrats will caucus at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at the home of Supervisor Cindy Lorenzetti, 4144 High Banks Road. Lorenzetti said she will seek the party nod for another term.

Democrats will also look to nominate candidates for two town board seats, now held by Republicans Coreen Lowry and James Johnson; for town justice, town clerk and highway superintendent, a position held by Republican Bill Trout. Lorenzetti said there may be an effort to cross endorse Trout.

In Varick, Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at the home of board member Kathleen Russo, who is also Democratic Party chairwoman. Her home is at 5280 Route 89.

Positions to be elected this fall are two town board seats, including Russos seat, and town justice.

Lodi Democrats will meet in caucus at 7 p.m. Sept. 13, at the Lodi Firehouse on Route 414, to nominate candidates for two Town Board seats.

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Seneca Falls Democrats nominate candidates - Finger Lakes Times

WASHINGTON From the second floor of the Democratic Partys headquarters near the Capitol, the campaign arm of House Democrats just announced almost double congressional Republicans fundraising haul last month the third month in a row in which they beat their GOP counterparts.

But one floor up, where the Democratic National Committee sits, the news was disappointing. The party posted its worst July performance in a decade.

Fundraising has been sluggish all year at the DNC, as the Republican National Committee has been eager to point out in press releases and jeers at a recent softball game between the party staffs. The RNC raised $86.5 million so far this year and has $47.1 million in the bank, compared to the DNCs $41.9 million fundraising haul and $6.9 million in the bank, offset by $3.4 million in debt.

But the DNCs fundraising struggles make it the exception, not the norm, of Democratic groups in the Trump era, many of which have been inundated by donations from the energized liberal base.

On one hand, thats grounds for relief among Democrats, who survey the big picture and conclude their causes and candidates if not their official national party will have plenty of money heading into the 2018 midterm elections and beyond. But on the other hand, it underscores that the challenges facing the DNC are endemic to the national party and severe enough to prevent its boat from being lifted in the rising tide of cash.

If there's a lag in the DNC's fundraising I think it's because [Chairman] Tom Perez is getting better known and there was a lot of fallout from all of the stuff involving the DNC in 2016, the Bernie Sanders stuff and all that, said former DNC Chair and Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell. So I think Democratic givers have been focusing more on congressional and senatorial campaign committees and a lot of the super PACs.

Related: Democrats Could Win 50 House Seats. Heres How

Several Democratic donors, who asked for anonymity to speak candidly, said theyre staying away from the national party, at least for now, because theyre not confident Perez has brought the organization back up to speed and think their money can have a bigger impact elsewhere.

The DNC still needs to communicate what its value-add is, said South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigeig, who unsuccessfully ran for DNC chair. I do think there are some problems in our fundraising.

Donors have more options than ever now for where to invest their money, Buttigeig said, so its not obvious how much of it needs go through the particular piping of the DNC."

The DNC has acknowledged they have rebuilding to do and that the partys brand has been damaged after years of neglect and controversies, including its hacked emails which led to top donor's personal information being posted online and its handling of the presidential primary process last year. Staffing had reached an all-time low when Perez took over about six months ago, and a new finance director and CEO didnt start until earlier this summer.

Still, officials say theyre now on track to raise about what they raised in 2013 and 2015, the last two off-years before an election.

While were still focused on building up our team and hiring fundraising staff, were witnessing robust grassroots enthusiasm with a majority of our contributions coming from small-dollar contributions, said DNC spokesperson Michael Tyler. Were confident that our team will raise the resources needed as we head into 2018 and beyond.

Still, some Democrats patience is running thin with each new month that brings more underwhelming news, especially while theres plenty of money finding its way to other Democratic groups.

DNC Chair Tom Perez (L) hugs Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as he introduces him to speak during their "Come Together and Fight Back" tour at the James L Knight Center on April 19, 2017 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle / Getty Images

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

And ActBlue, the online campaign finance clearing house for dozens of Democratic candidates,

Others donors, meanwhile, like members of the powerful Democracy Alliance, are turning more attention than ever to the states, where Democrats have been virtually hollowed out.

Big donors like Perez, but after spending most of his career removed from politics in the federal bureaucracy, he doesnt have the years-long relationship with donors predecessors like current Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe enjoyed.

And the grassroots donors who contribute smaller amounts online may be more interested in giving to individual candidates, with Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff raising more than any congressional candidate

[W]ithout a positive context, the overall picture one gets from the DNCs emails is of a directionless, reflexive party that fails to ask Democratic supporters to do more than oppose Republicans, Michael Whitney, who helped run Sanders online fundraising efforts last year, wrote in

Howard Dean is often considered the gold standard Democratic Party chairman. He took over at a low moment in the partys history, similar to now, before helping it win back the House and Senate in the 2006 midterms. But he, too, faced

This year's fundraising windfall for Democrats has not been uniform. The Republican Governors Association has a solid

But when it comes, it can come big.

With all the competition, the DNCs share will likely never be as big as it once was.

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DNC Struggles to Cash In on Anti-Trump Fervor - NBCNews.com