Blue Team Counterintelligence @BlueTeamCI

A complaint with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission says Rep. Derrick Van Orden's campaign posted an AI-altered image of Democrat Rebecca Cooke with no AI label. His spokesperson called it "a cheap publicity stunt." (WIZM, Oct 22) intel.connectblue.org/house/WI-03?ut…

Sarah Stogner, a Republican DA in West Texas, opened a forgery investigation into mailers sent to Texas homes in the name of a "Texas Transgender Student Union." The group they copy says it had nothing to do with them. (Texas Tribune, Oct 22) intel.connectblue.org/tactics?utm_so…

Fox News Poll of Maine, Oct 16-20: Jackson 49, Collins 49 for Senate. 1,689 registered voters, by Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company (R). (Fox News, Oct 22) intel.connectblue.org/senate/ME?utm_…

Mailers from a "Texas Transgender Student Union" reached Texas homes as early voting began. The sender is a Wyoming LLC formed Sept 2 with no named owner, and the group it copies says it didn't send them. (Texas Tribune, Oct 20) intel.connectblue.org/tactics?utm_so…

Democratic leaders and the DSCC, DCCC and DGA sued Oct 20 in federal court in Washington to bar the administration from purging registered voters, denying them ballots, or threatening election officials. (AP, Oct 21) intel.connectblue.org/tactics?utm_so…

Michigan: 789,572 ballots cast by 7 a.m. Oct 20, 10.7% of active registered voters. Mail ballots returned: 789,476, vs 771,967 at the same point in 2022. (Michigan Secretary of State, Oct 20) intel.connectblue.org/states/MI?utm_…

Cook Political Report's new bipartisan polls, Oct 9-13, likely voters: Texas, Talarico 49, Paxton 44. Ohio, Brown 49, Husted 43. Iowa, Turek 46, Hinson 44. (Cook Political Report, Oct 21) intel.connectblue.org/senate?utm_sou…

Cook's House ratings, dated Oct 23, now rate six Republican-held seats Lean D that it had as Toss-ups: WI-03, TX-34, CO-08, NC-11, AZ-06 and VA-02. KY-06 moved from Lean R to Toss-up. (Cook Political Report) intel.connectblue.org/house?utm_sour…

New Marist poll of Ohio likely voters, Oct 15-18: Senate, Brown 48, Husted 44. Governor, Acton 50, Ramaswamy 43. Margin of error 4.5 points. (Marist, Oct 20) intel.connectblue.org/senate/OH?utm_…

Super PACs have spent $18.9M in Colorado's 8th District general election as of Oct 20: $10.4M backing Rep. Gabe Evans (R), led by Congressional Leadership Fund, and more than $8.6M backing Manny Rutinel (D). (FEC via Colorado Newsline) intel.connectblue.org/house/CO-08?ut…

Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign confirmed it made a video featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother, and says it will spend $4 million promoting it. The video first circulated with no paid-for line. (AP, Oct 20) intel.connectblue.org/states/OH?utm_…

The House Republican leadership super PAC pulled its ads against Rep. Jared Moskowitz in FL-25 on Oct 20. It had planned to spend up to $6 million there. Cook rates the race Lean D. (Punchbowl News via Jewish Insider, Oct 21) intel.connectblue.org/house/FL-25?ut…

Georgia passed 1 million votes by noon Oct 20: 1,007,015 in person and 48,916 absentee. In-person early voting is 12% ahead of the same point in 2022. Counts don't show which party benefits. (Georgia Secretary of State) intel.connectblue.org/states/GA?utm_…

Cook moved three Senate races on Oct 20. Toward Democrats: South Carolina, Likely R to Lean R, and Mississippi, Solid R to Likely R. Toward Republicans: Minnesota, Likely D to Lean D. (Cook Political Report) intel.connectblue.org/senate?utm_sou…

Neil Bush, George W. Bush's brother and a longtime Republican, says he voted early for Democrat James Talarico. He cited "deep concern about Ken Paxton's record." (CBS News, Oct 21) intel.connectblue.org/senate/TX?utm_…

Susan Collins' campaign, on a Senate Leadership Fund radio ad attacking Troy Jackson's family: it "has nothing to do with Troy Jackson's qualifications for the job and should be taken down immediately." (Central Maine, Oct 20) intel.connectblue.org/senate/ME?utm_…

Blue Team Counterintelligence is open in beta. The competitive Senate and House races, what Republicans are running in each one, and how to counter it. Sourced, dated and updated every morning. Sign in with any email. No password, no cost. intel.connectblue.org/?utm_source=x&…

Texas voters: if you plan to vote by mail, your application must be received, not postmarked, by Fri Oct 23. In-person early voting runs through Fri Oct 30. (Texas Secretary of State) sos.state.tx.us/elections/vote…

Running Meta ads? From 12:01 a.m. PT Tue Oct 27 through Nov 3, Meta takes no new political or issue ads. Ads already delivering with a valid disclaimer can keep running, but only budget, bid and end date can change. (Meta) intel.connectblue.org/highlights/c3a…

A new MAGA-linked super PAC has spent about $1.06 million promoting the socialist candidate in Ohio's Senate race, and $519,000 against Sherrod Brown. Its donors aren't disclosed yet. (FEC filings via Legis1, Oct 19) intel.connectblue.org/senate/OH?utm_…