Biden fundraiser with Clintons rakes in $8.1 million
Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced tonight that a fundraiser hosted at his home in McLean, Va., tonight had raised $8.1 million for President Joe Biden's re-election campaign.
The event featured Biden and the first lady along with former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“The threat Trump poses in a second term will be greater than his first term,” Biden said, adding that Trump, whom he referred to as a "convicted felon," was making an "all out assault" on the justice system.
Bill Clinton praised Biden in his remarks, saying he "has earned the right to serve,” and that Democrats "have to win in Virginia."
Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic nominee for president in 2016, pointedly criticized Trump.
“Donald Trump spends every day thinking about himself, thinking about getting even with people who have slighted him or stood up to him. He really is fixated on revenge," she said. "Why would you really want someone with that kind of lack of character in the Oval Office, someone who is more concerned about settling scores than securing our future?"
GOP Rep. Tom Cole fends off self-funding challenger in Oklahoma, AP projects
Longtime Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., has won his primary, The Associated Press projects, fending off a wealthy primary challenger who spent millions on the race.
Cole defeated businessman Paul Bondar and three other challengers in Oklahoma’s deep-red 4th District. Cole is on track to win a majority of the vote and avoid a primary runoff.
Cole, who chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee, received a boost in the race from Trump. Cole recently told NBC News that Trump’s endorsement was “enormously helpful” as he faced the most competitive and expensive primary since he was first elected in 2002.
Bondar loaned his campaign $5.1 million of his own money, launching ads that accused Cole of losing touch with his district and spending too much time in the nation’s capital. Bondar also said Cole was not sufficiently conservative, pointing to Cole’s support for government spending and aid to Ukraine.
Cole and his allies blanketed the airwaves with ads accusing Bondar of actually being a Texan. Bondar owns property in Oklahoma, outside of the 4th District, but voted in Texas’ primaries in March.
A super PAC backing Cole even launched a football-themed ad to make that case against Bondar, leveraging the bitter rivalry between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the University of Texas Longhorns.
“I think in the end, it’s sort of like a bar fight,” Cole recently said of his primary. “If you’re in a bar fight, the guy with the most money doesn’t win; the guy with the most friends wins. And I’ve got a lot more friends than my opponent and I think that will show up on Tuesday.”
Trump whistleblower Eugene Vindman wins Democratic primary in Virginia's 7th District
Retired Army Col. Yevgeny “Eugene” Vindman has won the Democratic primary in Virginia’s 7th District, NBC News projects, giving the party a high-profile candidate with military experience and strong fundraising chops in a battleground race.
He hopes to hold the seat for the party in the fall after Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, another strong fundraiser with a national security background, decided to run for governor in 2025.
Vindman gained national notoriety during Trump’s first impeachment trial. Vindman and his brother raised concerns, from their perch on the National Security Council, about Trump’s phone conversation with the Ukrainian president in 2019.
Despite being a first-time candidate, he was far-and-away the best fundraiser in the race, and received a boost from outside groups on the airwaves as he ran against more experienced local politicians.
Polls close in Oklahoma
Polls have now closed in Oklahoma, where one powerful House Republican is facing his most competitive primary in more than 20 years.
Cole, a veteran lawmaker who leads the Appropriations Committee, is looking to win a majority of the primary vote and avoid being forced into an Aug. 27 runoff.
That's a possibility with multiple candidates on the primary ballot. Cole's chief opponent is businessman Paul Bondar, who has spent millions of his own money on the race.
Former Trump aide wins GOP primary runoff in Georgia’s 3rd District, AP projects
Brian Jack, Trump’s former White House political director, won the Republican primary runoff in Georgia's 3rd District, The Associated Press projects.
Jack defeated state Sen. Mike Dugan after no candidate reached the majority vote necessary to avoid a runoff in the initial May primary. Jack will be the heavy favorite to win the seat in November and replace retiring GOP Rep. Drew Ferguson.
Democrat Missy Cotter Smasal wins primary in Virginia's 2nd District
NBC News projects that military veteran Missy Cotter Smasal has won the Democratic primary in Virginia's 2nd District. She will face GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans in what's expected to be a competitive general election matchup.
Mike Clancy wins GOP primary in Virginia's 10th District
NBC News projects that attorney Mike Clancy has won the Republican primary in Virginia's 10th District. The solidly Democratic district is being vacated by Rep. Jennifer Wexton.
‘I love Milwaukee’: Trump denies blasting Wisconsin city
Former President Donald Trump today denied making disparaging remarks about Milwaukee, the city in battleground Wisconsin where Republicans are slated to hold their convention next month.
During an interview with NBC affiliate WTMJ in Milwaukee, Trump insisted he never called the city "horrible" during a closed-door meeting last week with Republicans on Capitol Hill.
"I didn't say it, they're liars," Trump told TMJ4 News.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Racine, Wis., later in the day, Trump said: "I love Milwaukee."
Trump took to Truth Social over the weekend to deny making the comments, calling the news reports "a complete lie."
Jan. 6 rioter loses House GOP primary runoff in Georgia, AP projects
A convicted Jan. 6 defendant from Georgia who served 20 days in prison for his actions during the attack on the U.S. Capitol lost a Republican primary runoff for a House seat in Georgia, The Associated Press projects.
Charles Hand III, or Chuck Hand, was defeated by former Trump administration official Wayne Johnson as they vied to face Democratic Rep. Sanford Bishop in the general election in the solidly blue district. The two candidates advanced to a runoff after neither won a majority of the vote in the initial May primary.
Hand walked out of a debate earlier this month with Johnson not long after a former candidate in the race, Michael Nixon, brought up the criminal history of his wife, who was his co-defendant in his Jan. 6 case.
Hung Cao wins the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate in Virginia
NBC News projects that Hung Cao has won the Virginia primary for U.S. Senate. Cao, who was backed by Trump, will face Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine in the fall.