THE PROCESS — The 2020 election "audit" in Arizona's Maricopa County is wrapping up, but Republicans in key states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are moving toward their own election reviews, POLITICO's Zach Montellaro wrote. "There is no mechanism to actually overturn the certified results of the 2020 election," but the audits could promote Trump's baseless claims that the contest was rigged. Btw, the Arizona state Senate hired election conspiracy theorist Shiva Ayyadurai to review voter signatures on mail-in ballots, the Arizona Republic's Robert Anglen and Jen Fifield wrote. Ayyadurai has also been hired by Cyber Ninjas, the firm "auditing" Maricopa County's election, to review images of the 2.1 million ballots. Ayyadurai ran for Senate twice in Massachusetts. Plus, newly-released documents show Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Jim Lamon has been a key behind-the-scenes player in the audit, the Republic's Yvonne Wingett Sanchez reported. EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS — Two lawsuits were filed Friday against Texas officials following last Tuesday's passage of a GOP elections bill that opponents say would heavily restrict voting rights in the state, POLITICO's Marissa Martinez writes in to Score. In one suit against the acting Secretary of State Jose Esparza, Gov. Greg Abbott, state Attorney General Ken Paxton and two other officials, the civil rights groups who filed the suit claim the bill adds restrictions that would "burden the First Amendment rights of community organizations" in their attempts to engage with voters — particularly those with disabilities and with limited English proficiency. The second filing came from the Harris County elections administrator — who is being sued herself in the first suit — and other community-based organizations. It names Abbott, Paxton, Esparza and the Medina County elections administrator. They claim SB1's provisions target those who need assistance to vote, enable partisan poll watchers to intimidate voters and restrict strategies that boosted turnout during the 2020 presidential election. POLL POSITION — North Carolina Democrat Cheri Beasley leads Jeff Jackson in a head-to-head primary matchup, although more than half of voters are unsure whether they hold a favorable or unfavorable view of either candidate, according to a new survey from Public Policy Polling . Beasley, the former chief justice of the state Supreme Court, had 33 percent of support among likely primary voters, while Jackson, a state senator, had 24 percent of support. Forty-three percent of voters said they are undecided. The poll surveyed 700 likely Democratic primary voters Aug. 31-Sept. 1. (RE)CALL ME MAYBE — Vice President Kamala Harris will hit the campaign trail for California Gov. Gavin Newsom ahead of the Sept. 14 recall, POLITICO's David Siders wrote. Harris will appear with Newsom in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday. Harris canceled an August campaign swing after a terrorist attack in Afghanistan killed 13 U.S. service members. Ahead of the recall, bookmark this helpful guide to the Sept. 14 election from POLITICO's Nick Niedzwiadek for a rundown of who is on the ballot, where Newsom's approval rating stands and what makes this year different from the 2003 recall. PRIMARY SCHOOL — Democrats are flocking to Senate primaries in battleground states, an unusual trend that could complicate the party's attempt to grow its slim majority, NBC's Alex Seitz-Wald and Henry Gomez wrote. In Wisconsin, 10 Democrats are running to take on Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who hasn't said whether he will seek another term. Primary races are also heating up in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio. THE SILVER STATE — Nevada Republican Adam Laxalt is using Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending plan to paint Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) as a "socialist," while the incumbent is seeking distance from her party's left flank, The Wall Street Journal's Eliza Collins wrote. Meanwhile, the state Democratic Party has been taken over by officials supported by the Democratic Socialists of America, and more Nevada voters than ever are unaffiliated with any political party. ENDORSEMENT ALERT — Trump endorsed Georgia Republicans Herschel Walker and Burt Jones, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Maya Prabhu wrote. Walker is running for Senate, and Jones is running for lieutenant governor. ON THE AIRWAVES — Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is up with a negative ad focused on Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin's position on Covid-19 policies. The 30-second spot also ties Youngkin to Trump's pandemic response. GETTING OUT — Arizona Democrat Randy Friese ended his campaign for Congress. He cited the Delta variant as a reason for quitting the race to succeed retiring Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.). Friese, a doctor, said in a statement that he is "not ready" to give up treating patients in the hospital. MONEY MOVES — Left-leaning political data firm Grassroots Analytics is investing $100,000 to promote campaign staff diversity, the group announced. The funds will go toward a program to match staffers to campaign finance opportunities across the country. "The program prioritizes BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and other applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds," and provides a $1,000 moving stipend. YOU'VE GOT MAIL — California could see permanent, all-mail elections if Newsom signs a bill headed to his desk, POLITICO California's Jeremy White reported (for Pros). "Last year, Newsom signed into law a bill making the 2020 election an all-mail affair, and Newsom signed legislation this year doing the same for the recall election," Jeremy points out. THE LAND OF 10,000 LAKES — Ousted Minnesota state GOP chair Jennifer Carnahan wants to return to politics, she wrote on Facebook. Carnahan floated running for governor, or for chair of the state party, Bring Me The News' Declan Desmond reported. Carnahan resigned after her political ally, Tony Lazzaro, was arrested for child sex trafficking. ICYMI — Here are a few quick campaign clips to catch you up after Score's end-of-summer break. So much for August being a slow news month. New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is reaching out to campaign consulting firms and advisers ahead of a possible run for Oregon governor, POLITICO's Christopher Cadelago and Zach Montellaro reported. And Oregon state House Speaker Tina Kotek is running for governor as a Democrat, per The Associated Press. Gail Huff, the wife of former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) is considering running in the crowded NH-01 GOP primary to take on Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), according to WMUR's Adam Sexton. Far right activist Laura Loomer is running against Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fla.), POLITICO's Marc Caputo wrote (for Pros). Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) is "seriously considering" running for Los Angeles mayor, LAist's Libby Denkmann reported. Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is calling allies about a potential run for governor, POLITICO New York's Sally Goldenberg wrote. | 
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