Booker, Buttigieg, and Gillibrand call for impeachment proceedings for the first time

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Ballotpedia Elections team staff

May 30, 2019: The 2020 Democratic candidates respond to Robert Mueller’s statement. Beto O’Rourke released his immigration platform.

Here’s the latest from the campaign trail.

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Notable Quotes of the Day

“For the [Democratic primary] debates to be meaningful, they have to winnow down the participants. This is the uncomfortable reality both the DNC and the candidates have to face.”

–  Patti Solis Doyle, 2008 Clinton presidential campaign manager

 

“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to look at that criteria and know who’s going to get kicked out. It’s easy to see that the debates in the fall are going to be a bunch of white men and, if that’s the case, that’s a big misstep.”

– Jess Morales Rocketto, 2016 Clinton presidential campaign adviser

Democrats

  • Following special counsel Robert Mueller’s statement about his investigation into potential foreign intervention in the 2016 presidential campaign and obstruction of justice, Cory Booker, Pete Buttigieg, and Kirsten Gillibrand said for the first time that impeachment proceedings should begin against Donald Trump.
  • Eric Swalwell said he was “preparing for impeachment” as a member of the House Judiciary Committee. “I’m the only candidate that has to try the case, so I want to make sure that I’m doing all I can as we go down this road,” Swalwell added.
  • Neither Joe Biden nor Bernie Sanders called for impeachment. Sanders said he would support the House Judiciary Committee if it initiated proceedings.
  • Michael Bennet joined four other presidential candidates in supporting the call for a Democratic primary debate dedicated to the issue of climate change.
  • Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (D) endorsed Biden. Dallas is the ninth largest city in the country.
  • During an interview on The Gaggle podcast, Julián Castro discussed how his economic and immigration policies would affect Arizona.
  • The Center for Responsive Politics examined personal finance information from the 12 Democratic presidential candidates who have filed financial disclosures with the Office of Government Ethics. John Delaney had the highest net worth with an estimated $56 million to $280 million.
  • During a town hall in Greenville, South Carolina, Kamala Harris discussed increasing teacher pay, addressing gun violence, and the Mueller’s statement.
  • John Hickenlooper proposed increasing Title X funding by $700 million to expand access to long-acting reversible contraception like intrauterine devices.
  • Jay Inslee met with Washington state employees Wednesday to discuss ways to improve the safety, efficacy, and accountability of the workforce.
  • Amy Klobuchar will campaign in Nevada Thursday, including a meeting with the Nevada Democratic Veterans and Military Families Caucus.
  • Wayne Messam discussed his efforts to improve infrastructure in Miramar in Mass Transit Magazine.
  • Beto O’Rourke released his immigration platform proposal, including ending plans for a border wall, creating a pathway to citizenship for 11 million individuals residing in the United States without legal permission, and expanding naturalization and visa processes.
  • Sanders is campaigning in Nevada until Friday and California over the weekend. According to The Washington Post, Sanders is also developing a plan to mandate large businesses give a portion of their stocks to a fund paying out dividends for employees.
  • Elizabeth Warren will hold a town hall in Oakland, California, Friday.
  • Marianne Williamson will campaign in Santa Monica, California, Friday.
  • VICE News interviewed Andrew Yang during a campaign stop in South Carolina.

Republicans

  • Donald Trump responded to Mueller’s press conference, tweeting, “Nothing changes from the Mueller Report. There was insufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed! Thank you.”
  • Axios reported that the Trump campaign was developing digital micro-targeting operations for three demographic groups: black, Hispanic, and suburban women voters. The potential messaging would be criminal justice policy, school choice, and funding childhood cancer research for each respective group.

 

What We’re Reading

Flashback: May 30, 2015

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced he was running for president, joining Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary.