The end-of-September redistricting rush

Delivered every Monday by 10 a.m., Weekly Score is your guide to the year-round campaign cycle.

Sep 27, 2021 View in browser   By Stephanie Murray Editor's Note: Weekly Score is a weekly version of POLITICO Pro's daily Campaigns policy newsletter, Morning Score. POLITICO Pro is a policy intelligence platform that combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day's biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. Quick Fix — States are bumping up against end-of-September redistricting deadlines — and while some have advanced new political maps, others are gridlocked over how to proceed. — The GOP-backed Arizona "audit" showed President Joe Biden won the presidential election, but that's not stopping Republicans from pushing for more partisan election reviews to relitigate 2020. — Democrats are at a stalemate over Biden's agenda in Congress, while the party acknowledges its 2022 midterm success hinges on passing his policy proposals. Good Monday morning. Email me at smurray@politico.com, and follow me on Twitter at @stephanie_murr. Email the rest of the POLITICO Campaigns team at sshepard@politico.com, zmontellaro@politico.com and amutnick@politico.com. Follow them on Twitter: @POLITICO_Steve, @ZachMontellaro and @allymutnick . Days until the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections, the OH-11 and OH-15 special elections and the FL-20 special primary: 37 Days until the 2022 midterm elections: 408 Days until the 2024 election: 1,136   INTRODUCING CONGRESS MINUTES: Need to follow the action on Capitol Hill blow-by-blow? Check out Minutes, POLITICO's new platform that delivers the latest exclusives, twists and much more in real time. Get it on your desktop or download the POLITICO mobile app for iOS or Android. GET A FIRST LOOK AT CONGRESS MINUTES HERE.     TopLine THE MAP LINES — We've entered the last week of September, meaning states with early redistricting deadlines are racing against the clock to finish their maps. Texas lawmakers are gearing up to release new maps, while Oregon Republicans have frozen the process to protest a congressional map that will benefit Democrats. Texas: Republicans control the redistricting process in Texas, and lawmakers are finalizing a plan to pack Democrats into three districts centered around major metro areas that saw population growth: Austin, Houston and Dallas. Republicans are limited, however, by the nature of the state's population growth over the past decade, POLITICO's Ally Mutnick reported . The proposed map will likely give "Republicans control of at least two dozen of the state's 38 districts — but it is not expected to significantly reduce Democrats' footprint." Oregon: Republicans stalled the redistricting process on Saturday, denying state lawmakers the quorum needed to pass new political maps. Democrats offered to make the new congressional maps a bit more even-handed, though they would still likely give the party a 5-1 advantage. The state legislature is running out of time to draw new districts. If lawmakers can't come to an agreement today, the process will be taken over by Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, a Democrat, The Oregonian's Hillary Borrud wrote. Maine: The state's redistricting commission reached a deal that would move Augusta into the swingy ME-02, the Bangor Daily News' Jessica Piper wrote. The map represents a compromise between Democrats and Republicans, especially since conservatives were able to keep the liberal college town of Waterville out of the 2nd District. The map will head to state lawmakers for approval. Nebraska: After tense negotiations, state lawmakers advanced political maps on Friday that would keep Rep. Don Bacon's (R-Neb.) home in his congressional district, the Omaha World-Herald's Ryan Hoffman reported. Bacon's NE-02 had been a sticking point in debate over the new congressional maps. Lawmakers face a Sept. 30 deadline to approve a plan. Colorado: The latest round of political maps released by Colorado's independent redistricting commission could become the state's official political maps, CPR News' Megan Verlee reported. If the commission cannot come to an agreement, the state constitution says a map drawn by nonpartisan staff will be submitted to the state Supreme Court. The draft map that could be sent to the court creates four Democratic seats, three Republican seats and one swing district. Down the Ballot THE PROCESS — The results of the partisan 2020 election review in Arizona affirmed Biden's victory in the 2020 election. But Republicans are eager to replicate the Maricopa County "audit" in other states, POLITICO's Zach Montellaro and Meridith McGraw reported. GOP candidates up and down the ballot are calling for more audits, and a September CNN poll showed 78 percent of Republicans say Biden did not win the 2020 election. Fifty-four percent of Republicans believe there is evidence to support that belief. Former President Donald Trump's push to undermine the 2020 election results "will never be dropped," a Trump aide told Zach and Meridith. "I think he believes it, and number two, it is a rallying point for the base. It's something a lot of his supporters believe in," the aide said, despite the underlying falsehoods. — Meanwhile in Michigan, Republicans are pledging to increase their poll watching operation, the Detroit Free Press' Paul Egan reported. The state Republican Party held its Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference over the weekend, where Josh Findlay, election integrity director for the RNC, pledged Republicans would also beef up election litigation in future cycles. One more tidbit from Mackinac Island: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told the crowd there that he hopes Trump runs for president in 2024, per the Detroit News' Craig Mauger. MIDTERM MESSAGING — The battle in Congress over Biden's agenda could have a major impact on Democrats in the midterms, The New York Times' Jonathan Martin wrote. Progressive and moderate Democrats are feuding over the timing and content of a pair of major bills, while the party acknowledges "the only way Mr. Biden can rebound politically — and the party can retain its tenuous grip on power in the Capitol — is if he and they are able to hold up tangible achievements to voters." OLD DOMINION — The tight race for governor between Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin has Virginia Democrats sweating, The Associated Press' Sarah Rankin wrote. Although most polls have shown McAuliffe leading the race, the margins are quite close, and enthusiastic Republican voters are turning out for Youngkin events. Youngkin said he's brought together "Forever-Trumpers and Never-Trumpers," Axios' Sarah Mucha reported. During his interview with Axios, Youngkin acknowledged Biden beat Trump in 2020, but did not say whether he would have voted to certify the election results on Jan. 6 if he were a member of Congress. — For more on the Virginia election, the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Mel Leonor, Michael Martz and Patrick Wilson have a look at the battle for control of the state House of Delegates. Republicans lost ground in the state legislature during the Trump era, but are hopeful they can capitalize on Biden's sinking approval rating to regain the majority. GETTING IN — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) will seek reelection, he announced Friday. Grassley's decision to run in 2022 boosts Republicans' hopes of winning back the Senate majority, POLITICO's Burgess Everett wrote. Former Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa) is running against Grassley in 2022. He won reelection to the Senate by 25 points in 2016. NOTABLE FLOATABLES — Former Pennsylvania state Auditor Eugene DePasquale is preparing a congressional campaign, but the Democrat won't make any announcement until the state's new congressional maps are finalized, the Patriot News' Charles Thompson reported. DePasquale has been raising cash to unseat Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), after losing to him in 2020. JUST PEACHY — Trump's rally in Georgia on Saturday was largely focused on 2020 election conspiracy theories, and the ex-president knocked GOP Gov. Brian Kemp for refusing to intervene and sway the election last fall, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein reported. Trump floated Democrat Stacey Abrams as a better choice than Kemp, and gave a shoutout to former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), saying, "Are you running for governor, David Perdue? Did I hear you're running for governor?" ON THE AIRWAVES — Arkansas Republican Sarah Huckabee Sanders is up with a new one-minute ad for her campaign for governor. Huckabee Sanders highlights her father, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, who worked with then-President Bill Clinton during his time in office. Huckabee Sanders also focuses on social issues in the ad, saying, "We don't want our kids living under socialism, cancel culture and big government." — Speaking of Arkansas, Huckabee Sanders is intentionally nationalizing her bid for office, The Associated Press' Andrew DeMillo wrote. Her campaign fits into a broader trend of statewide elections hinging on national issues in recent years. "It's a sharp contrast with past races for governor in Arkansas, where Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson campaigned on requiring computer science education in schools," for example. POLL POSITION — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly leads state Attorney General Derek Schmidt in a head-to-head matchup, according to a Clarity Campaign Labs poll commissioned by EMILY's List. Kelly, a first-term Democrat, has 47 percent of support from voters, compared to Schmidt, a Republican, who has 44 percent of support. The poll surveyed 810 registered voters Sept. 13-15.   INTRODUCING OTTAWA PLAYBOOK : Join the growing community of Politicos — from lawmakers and leaders to pollsters, staffers, strategists and lobbyists — working to shape Canada's future. Every day, our reporting team pulls back the curtain to shed light on what's really driving the agenda on Parliament Hill, the true players who are shaping politics and policy across Canada, and the impact it all has on the world. Don't miss out on your daily look inside Canadian politics and power. Subscribe to Ottawa Playbook today.     THE GOLDEN STATE — The race for Los Angeles mayor kicked into gear last week, when Rep. Karen Bass and several other candidates took steps toward launching campaigns, the Los Angeles Times' David Zahniser, Dakota Smith and Benjamin Oreskes wrote. The open-seat race will hinge on major issues like homelessness, law enforcement and the cost of housing. Bass hasn't launched a campaign yet, but a POLITICO reporter overheard her on a phone call walking out of the House chamber. "I'm going to officially announce a run for mayor," Bass said on the call, per POLITICO's Nicholas Wu. — Republican Larry Elder lost the California recall, but his political profile grew significantly over the course of the race, POLITICO California's Carla Marinucci wrote. Now, California Republicans must grapple with Elder, who is against raising the minimum wage and supports abortion restrictions, which could drive away moderate voters the way Trump has in the state ahead of the 2022 race for governor. EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS — Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) is raising questions about actor Matthew McConaughey, a fellow Texan who, like O'Rourke, is considering a bid for governor, the Dallas Morning News' Todd Gillman wrote. "He's a really popular figure whose political views have not in any way been fixed. I don't know, for example, who he voted for in the most consequential election since 1864 in this country," O'Rourke said, in reference to the 2020 election, during the Texas Tribune Festival. CODA — QUOTE OF THE DAY — "Stacey, would you like to take his place? It's OK with me," — Trump, pitching Abrams over Kemp in Georgia, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.   Follow us on Twitter Steven Shepard @politico_steve Stephanie Murray @stephanie_murr James Arkin @jamesarkin Zach Montellaro @zachmontellaro Ally Mutnick @allymutnick   Follow us

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Everything’s bigger in Texas

Presented by PREMION: Delivered every Monday by 10 a.m., Weekly Score is your guide to the year-round campaign cycle.

Sep 20, 2021 View in browser   By Stephanie Murray Presented by PREMION Editor's Note: Weekly Score is a weekly version of POLITICO Pro's daily Campaigns policy newsletter, Morning Score. POLITICO Pro is a policy intelligence platform that combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day's biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. Quick Fix — Texas lawmakers will begin the once-in-a-decade process of redrawing the state's political maps today, while the still-forming race for governor looms. — The 2020 election was nearly a year ago, but baseless Republican claims that the process was rigged are growing in states across the country. — Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin are locked in a tight race six weeks out from the Virginia gubernatorial election. Good Monday morning. Email me at smurray@politico.com, and follow me on Twitter at @stephanie_murr. Email the rest of the POLITICO Campaigns team at sshepard@politico.com, zmontellaro@politico.com and amutnick@politico.com. Follow them on Twitter: @POLITICO_Steve, @ZachMontellaro and @allymutnick. Days until the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections, the OH-11 and OH-15 special elections and the FL-20 special primary: 43 Days until the 2022 midterm elections: 414 Days until the 2024 election: 1,142   A message from PREMION: When it comes to winning campaigns, every impression counts With skyrocketing streaming TV audiences, CTV is now an essential media channel for reaching voters. Our new white paper helps political marketers navigate the increasingly fragmented and complex streaming TV marketplace and provides insights for effective planning, buying and measurement of CTV advertising. Download our complimentary white paper, A Marketer's Guide: The New Rules Ahead for Streaming TV Advertising here.   TopLine Texas will officially begin its redistricting process today. | Montinique Monroe/Getty Images EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS — The redistricting cycle in Texas officially begins today. Lawmakers will gather for a special session in Austin to redraw the state's political maps, including the state's two new congressional districts. The process will almost surely benefit Republicans, who control the process. Redistricting will be the latest partisan battle in the Lone Star State, which has prompted national debates over voting rights, abortion and the Covid-19 pandemic over the last several months. People of color fueled Texas' population growth over the last decade, and Democratic groups are already preparing to fight the new map lines in court. Lawmakers released an early draft of the state Senate map that would beef up Republicans' majority in the chamber, the Texas Tribune's Rebekah Allen and James Barragán reported. The new map released Friday "includes 19 senate districts where Trump voters outnumbered Biden voters — up from 16 districts currently." At the same time, attention is on the still-forming race for governor in Texas. Former Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) has been calling political allies for advice and leaving them with the impression he'll challenge GOP Gov. Greg Abbott, Axios reported over the weekend, in the latest round of speculation that the former Senate and presidential candidate will take a run at the governors' office. Speaking of Abbott, his moves on conservative issues, like the state's controversial new abortion law, have left his approval rating underwater and allowed potential Democratic opponents to gain ground, according to a new poll from The Dallas Morning News and University of Texas at Tyler. Fifty-four percent of Texans said the state was on the wrong track, according to the poll, and only 45 percent approve of Abbott's job performance, The Dallas Morning News' Todd J. Gillman and Emily Caldwell wrote. Abbott's 12-point lead in a hypothetical match-up against O'Rourke shrunk to 5 points in the survey of 1,148 registered voters, conducted Sept. 7-14. The survey was even better for actor and potential candidate Matthew McConaughey, who leads the governor by 9 percentage points in a hypothetical (and perhaps fanciful) matchup. Abbott has shored up his right flank in recent months. Abbott's primary challengers, former state Sen. Don Huffines and former state Republican Party chair Allen West, have struggled to gain traction in the contest. "In head-to-head matches, Abbott leads Huffines 70-15 and he tops West 65-20," according to the poll.   JOIN THURSDAY FOR A WOMEN RULE CONVERSATION ON ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY: Sexual assault in the military has been an issue for years, and political leaders are taking steps to address it. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) proposed bipartisan legislation to overhaul military sexual assault policies, but still face opposition. Join Women Rule for a virtual interview featuring Sens. Ernst and Gillibrand, who will discuss their legislative push and what it will take to end sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military. REGISTER HERE.     Down the Ballot 2020 VISION — Republicans are using former President Donald Trump's claim that the 2020 election was stolen as a rallying cry and already undermining confidence in future elections, David Siders and Zach Montellaro reported. Republicans like Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt and Pennsylvania gubernatorial hopeful Lou Barletta have cast doubt on the 2022 election, and California recall candidate Larry Elder raised voter fraud suspicions during his campaign. Claiming the election was rigged may be popular to Trump's base, but it could be a costly strategy for Republicans. The claims depressed GOP turnout in this year's Georgia Senate runoffs, for example. "An erosion in GOP voter confidence in election integrity could once again persuade some of them to stay home in competitive House and Senate races next year — and in the presidential race in 2024 — with nothing less than the balance of power in Washington at risk," David and Zach wrote. OLD DOMINION — McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin are in a tight race six weeks before Election Day, according to a new Washington Post/Schar School poll, POLITICO's Myah Ward wrote. The survey found McAuliffe had 50 percent of support among likely voters, and Youngkin had 47 percent. The poll was conducted Sept. 7-13 and surveyed 728 likely voters. — In more Virginia news, McAuliffe is up with a new ad highlighting Youngkin's stances on masks and Covid-19 vaccines. The pair sparred over pandemic policies during their debate last week. EXCLUSIVE: LEADING THE PARTY — A group that aims to help young candidates in swing districts is launching the new Organize for Democracy Collective and plans to register at least 2 million voters and commit $1 million to candidates during the 2022 midterm cycle. The Next 50 PAC, a left-leaning group which supports "pro-democracy" candidates under the age of 50, also plans to mobilize 450,000 volunteers. The new collective includes groups like Mi Familia Vota, NAACP and March On's Future Coalition. ENDORSEMENT ALERT — The Democratic Governors Association will endorse New York Gov. Kathy Hochul today. The group is backing the new governor for a full term, after she took the reins following the resignation of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. GETTING IN — Former Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) is running for governor, he says in a new campaign video . Heller plans to launch a campaign for governor today in Carson City and will join a crowded race to take on Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak. Heller criticized the governor's positions on mask mandates, defunding the police and pandemic lockdowns in his launch video. — Ohio Republican Matt Dolan will launch a campaign for Senate today, The Columbus Dispatch's Haley BeMiller reported. Dolan, a moderate, will be the sixth major candidate to enter the Republican primary to replace retiring Sen. Rob Portman. Dolan is a state senator, and his family owns Cleveland's baseball team.     PAC ATTACK — No Better Friend Corp. will kick off a $1.5 million ad blitz in Wisconsin tonight with a minute-long ad during the Green Bay Packers' "Monday Night Football" game against the Detroit Lions. The group, founded by Republican businessperson and Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson, will air ads "aimed at encouraging Wisconsinites to get actively involved in solving the societal challenges that we currently face." Nicholson, who finished second in the 2018 Senate primary, is considering running for Senate or governor. — Pennsylvania GOP Senate candidate Sean Parnell is getting hit by attack ads from a super PAC which supports another Republican candidate, POLITICO's Scott Bland wrote. The pro-Jeff Bartos "Jobs for Our Future" super PAC made a six-figure TV and digital ad buy hitting Parnell. A 60-second ad which aired Saturday, during the Penn State University football game against Auburn University, featured comments Parnell made about women and referenced protective orders Parnell's wife sought against him in 2017 and 2018. — The second-place finisher in New Jersey's Republican primary for governor launched a new super PAC, POLITICO New Jersey's Matt Friedman wrote (for Pros). Pastor Phil Rizzo, a far-right candidate who lost to GOP nominee Jack Ciattarelli, will use the Jersey Rising super PAC to support candidates with similar ideological views. NOTABLE FLOATABLES — New York Republican Marc Molinaro filed to run against Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.) and could announce a campaign this week, Spectrum News' Luke Parsnow reported. Molinaro, who serves as Dutchess County executive, was the GOP nominee for governor in 2018. TRUMP CARD — Trump is looking for a challenger to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, The Wall Street Journal's Michael Bender and Lindsay Wise wrote, but even the former president's top allies are reluctant to oust McConnell from leadership. McConnell has split with Trump on issues like the 2020 election and infrastructure, but their biggest electoral difference has been over Senate candidates. Trump did not confirm whether he was recruiting a McConnell challenger but said Republicans "ought to" kick him out of leadership. — Speaking of Trump, he endorsed two incumbent lawmakers: Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), for reelection over the weekend. EXIT ROW — News that Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-Ohio) will retire instead of face a Trump-backed challenger in a primary has demoralized Republican moderates, POLITICO's David Siders, Olivia Beavers and Ally Mutnick wrote. The matchup between Gonzalez and Republican Max Miller could have been one of the clearest tests of Trump's post-presidential power in the 2022 midterms. Gonzalez is the first of the 10 House Republicans who voted for Trump's impeachment to announce retirement. PRIMARY SOURCES — Colorado Republicans will hold primary elections next year, after the state party rejected a push to opt out of primaries, The Colorado Sun's Jesse Paul reported. If the party had nixed primaries, it would have blocked the state's 1.7 million unaffiliated voters from participating in the party's nomination process, and may have violated state law. THE PROCESS — The results of a partisan 2020 election review in Arizona's Maricopa County are expected Friday, the Arizona Republic reports, after the "audit" stretched on for months longer than planned. Cyber Ninjas CEO Doug Logan will present the findings, along with audit spokesman and fundraiser Randy Pullen and Shiva Ayyadurai, who has pushed election conspiracy theories and conducted a review of signatures on mail-in ballot envelopes. — Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, Democrats filed a lawsuit to block Republicans from subpoenaing voter records as part of a 2020 election review in the state, The Philadelphia Inquirer's Jonathan Lai wrote. The lawsuit alleges the subpoena is unconstitutional because it steps "on the courts' power to investigate and rule on election disputes and on the executive branch's power, given specifically to the state auditor general, to audit how elections are run."   INTRODUCING OTTAWA PLAYBOOK : Join the growing community of Politicos — from lawmakers and leaders to pollsters, staffers, strategists and lobbyists — working to shape Canada's future. Every day, our reporting team pulls back the curtain to shed light on what's really driving the agenda on Parliament Hill, the true players who are shaping politics and policy across Canada, and the impact it all has on the world. Don't miss out on your daily look inside Canadian politics and power. Subscribe to Ottawa Playbook today.     THE EMPIRE STATE — Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who is running for governor, was diagnosed with leukemia last year, The New York Times' Maggie Haberman reported. Zeldin, who has been receiving treatment, shared news of his illness during an Ontario County Republican Party dinner last week. Zeldin said his diagnosis would not impact his run for governor. He faces Republican Andrew Giuliani in the primary. THE MAP LINES — Republicans and Democrats are feuding over Oregon's new political maps, The Oregonian's Hillary Borrud and Mark Friesen wrote. State lawmakers are expected to vote on new district lines today, where Democrats have supermajorities in both chambers. Republicans in the state House are united against the proposed maps and could file an appeal to the state Supreme Court, (or in the case of the congressional map, a panel selected by the court's top justice) if Democrats pass them. Oregon will gain a congressional seat this cycle. JUST PEACHY — Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams does not have to hand over records from her 2018 campaign, a Fulton County judge ruled on Thursday, because a subpoena issued by the state ethics commission was too broad. Abrams has already given records to the commission, after being accused of illegally coordinating with groups during her bid for governor, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's James Salzer reported. Abrams is expected to run against GOP Gov. Brian Kemp next year. — The former leader of the state Republican Party is demanding the state party repay him for legal fees linked to a racial discrimination complaint from a former staffer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein wrote. "John Padgett wants the state party to pay him more than $230,000 for legal costs he said he incurred related to the lawsuit filed by Qiana Keith, a former Georgia GOP staffer who claimed her co-workers had referred to her with a racial slur and humiliated her," according to Bluestein. The party has racked up $1 million in legal fees and other costs to settle the complaint. CODA — HEADLINE OF THE DAY — "Philly DA Larry Krasner won't debate his Republican challenger, calling it 'a waste of time'" — Philadelphia Inquirer   A message from PREMION: When it comes to winning campaigns, every impression counts According to eMarketer, 83 percent of U.S. households are projected to be CTV households this year. And political marketers are following their audiences and are embracing CTV as an essential channel for reaching voters. With growing demand for premium CTV inventory, political consultants and buyers must plan early and understand the myriad of CTV buying options for running effective campaigns to reach engaged voters. Our new white paper helps political marketers navigate the increasingly fragmented and complex streaming TV marketplace and provides insights for effective planning, buying and measurement of CTV advertising. Download our complimentary white paper, A Marketer's Guide: The New Rules Ahead for Streaming TV Advertising here.     Follow us on Twitter Steven Shepard @politico_steve Stephanie Murray @stephanie_murr James Arkin @jamesarkin Zach Montellaro @zachmontellaro Ally Mutnick @allymutnick   Follow us

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Democrats hammer out details of free community college plan

Presented by Sallie Mae®: Delivered every Monday by 10 a.m., Weekly Education examines the latest news in education politics and policy.

Sep 20, 2021 View in browser   By Michael Stratford Presented by Sallie Mae® With help from Juan Perez Jr. Editor's note: Weekly Education is a weekly version of POLITICO Pro's daily Education policy newsletter, Morning Education. POLITICO Pro is a policy intelligence platform that combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the day's biggest stories. Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. DEMOCRATS DIVE IN ON FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: The idea of making community college free across the U.S. was first pitched by then-President Barack Obama in 2015. Since then, a wide range of states have passed their own free college programs. But now Democrats may be closer than ever to making that long-promised goal a reality. — President Joe Biden has made free community college a key priority in the sweeping social spending agenda he's trying to push through Congress this fall. Democrats must now turn to the nitty-gritty policy details of actually creating a national free community college program — an undertaking that will remake how higher education is funded. — How the program would work: House Democrats' proposal, which advanced out of committee earlier this month, would allocate billions of dollars to states each year using a formula initially based on the nationwide median of tuition and fees at community colleges. That per-student funding amount would then increase with inflation, but by no more than 3 percent each year. — In exchange for that money, states would have to agree to eliminate tuition and fees for in-state students at their community colleges. Additionally, states would have to allow all residents, regardless of immigration status, to access the benefit, and would be prohibited from imposing any additional eligibility criteria. — The federal government would pay 100 percent of the median per-student funding amount for the first year. But states would have to pick up 5 percent of that amount in the next year, and that number would progressively increase by 5 percentage points in the following years. Those state contributions would be automatically slashed in the event of an economic downturn. — Some states would, in practice, have boost their spending on community college beyond the required amount in order to bring tuition down to $0. But all states would have to chip in their required share, even if they don't need the full amount to eliminate community college tuition. States could use any excess funds to provide additional financial aid at community colleges or help students at four-year public universities. — The federal program would be funded through mandatory spending, eliminating the need for Congress to approve funding for it each year. House Democrats' proposal calls for authorizing the free community college program for five years — about half of what the Biden administration had proposed. — The Congressional Budget Office hasn't yet released an official score for the proposal, but House Democrats estimate that the cost of authorizing the program for the next five years would be $45.5 billion. Biden's initial plan had called for $109 billion over 10 years. A message from Sallie Mae®: Students shouldn't pay more for college than they have to, but more and more families are leaving money on the table each year. Nearly a third of students skipped the Free Application from Federal Student Aid or FAFSA® last year, and the form's complexity is a big reason why. To help students maximize federal financial aid, which is important to do before considering other options, including private student loans, Sallie Mae launched a free suite of financial education tools and planning resources, including a FAFSA support tool that can help families complete the form in minutes. See how Sallie Mae makes sense of the FAFSA.   — What's next: House Democrats could still tweak the proposal as it heads to the Budget Committee and then Rules Committee in the coming weeks, though major overhauls are unlikely. In the Senate, though, Democrats are still negotiating over how to allocate funding to various programs, and senators could wind up changing the overall cost of the community college program by increasing or decreasing the number of years it lasts. — Also up in the air: Sen. Joe Manchin 's all-important Senate vote. Earlier this year, Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he opposed the idea of subsidizing tuition at community colleges up front. Beyond pressuring Democratic leaders to push down the overall topline $3.5 trillion number, Manchin has also been talking about means-testing new government benefits. Democrats will need to win him over if they hope to get their spending package through the Senate without GOP support. First lady Jill Biden is introduced to speak during a visit to Des Moines Area Community College on Sept. 15, 2021, in Ankeny, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo — First lady Jill Biden, a community college instructor, is scheduled to promote Democrats' plan this week, her office told our colleagues at Playbook. IT'S MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20. WELCOME TO MORNING EDUCATION. Please send tips to your host at mstratford@politico.com or to my colleagues: Juan Perez Jr. at jperez@politico.com, Bianca Quilantan at bquilantan@politico.com and Jessica Calefati at jcalefati@politico.com. Follow us on Twitter: @Morning_Edu and @POLITICOPro.   JOIN THURSDAY FOR A WOMEN RULE CONVERSATION ON ENDING SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY: Sexual assault in the military has been an issue for years, and political leaders are taking steps to address it. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) proposed bipartisan legislation to overhaul military sexual assault policies, but still face opposition. Join Women Rule for a virtual interview featuring Sens. Ernst and Gillibrand, who will discuss their legislative push and what it will take to end sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military. REGISTER HERE.     Driving the day Education Secretary Miguel Cardona speaks to press after a visit to a Bronx elementary school on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 in New York. | Brittainy Newman/AP Photo ROAD TRIP KICKS OFF TODAY — Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Deputy Secretary Cindy Marten are set to barnstorm via bus across the Midwest this week, as part of the administration's school re-opening campaign. (Cardona's travel playlist dropped Friday.) — The White House has targeted the region for back-to-school events in recent days. The first lady spent part of last week in Milwaukee, Wisc. and Des Moines, Iowa — where she toured an elementary school and community college, promoted President Joe Biden's domestic spending agenda and encouraged schools to "follow the science" and use coronavirus mitigation measures like masks when reopening. — Cardona will double down on Wisconsin today. First, he's scheduled to visit Eau Claire for an elementary school tour and pep rally alongside local Superintendent Michael Johnson. He'll then travel south for a stop at the flagship University of Wisconsin-Madison with school Chancellor Rebecca Blank. — He's expected to visit the Chicago area on Tuesday, followed by a series of stops in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan to close out the week. — Talking points: Expect to hear the secretary promote schools that are bringing students back to in-person classes. He'll also talk up tribal colleges, early childhood education and college access.     Education Department CORDRAY OUTLINES STUDENT AID PRIORITIES: Federal Student Aid chief Richard Cordray detailed his priorities in one of his first major policy speeches last week to the Education Finance Council. Some highlights, per a copy of his prepared remarks provided to POLITICO: — On winding down the federally-guaranteed portfolio: Cordray said that he's begun "advanced planning" planning for "what may be a significant new phase" in the federally-guaranteed student loan program. The $150 billion portfolio of loans made under the program has been decreasing since Congress and the Obama administration ended the program in 2010. Cordray said that as more guaranty agencies exit the program, the shrinking portfolio will become "unsustainable." — On student loan servicers: Cordray said he'll insist on new performance and accountability metrics as the Education Department negotiates with federal student loan servicers over the extension of their contracts. "Some servicers have decided to exit the program rather than contend with these new realities," Corday said, a reference to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Authority, which said it would not seek a renewal of its contract. "Others have caught the spirit of what we are intending and have embraced a new normal of 'putting borrowers first'." — On returning to loan repayment: Cordray said that restarting monthly student loan payments next February for tens of millions of borrowers, after nearly two-year pause, will be a "unique and unprecedented" task for the department. And he acknowledged that the political debate over student loan forgiveness has complicated the issue. "We can expect that many, many borrowers will not be eager to return to repayment when they have been led to believe, or even to hope, that was never going to happen," Cordray said. "Getting over that psychological hurdle with millions of Americans may be a much harder job than we know." He said FSA is planning, among other things, a messaging campaign including social media ads to let borrowers know about their options. First Look NEW TOOLKIT TO COMBAT SEX TRAFFICKING AT MASSAGE SCHOOLS: The Seldin/Haring-Smith Foundation is announcing this morning a new effort to help state regulators identify sex trafficking at massage therapy schools. The group is awarding a grant to the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards to jointly produce a toolkit for state authorizers of massage schools. — A report by the foundation earlier this year and a USA Today investigation this summer highlighted problems with how state regulators oversee or respond to suspicions that massage schools may be linked to sex trafficking or prostitution. A congressional oversight panel is examining the issue, and the Education Department has said it plans to review an accrediting agency that approved a college that a state regulator said may have ties to prostitution. — "We've always said we don't expect authorizers to act as SVU detectives, but nor should they be left ill-equipped and under-resourced to address what we know is happening across the country," Abigail Seldin, the foundation's CEO, said in a statement announcing the grant. The toolkit is expected to launch in December.   INTRODUCING OTTAWA PLAYBOOK : Join the growing community of Politicos — from lawmakers and leaders to pollsters, staffers, strategists and lobbyists — working to shape Canada's future. Every day, our reporting team pulls back the curtain to shed light on what's really driving the agenda on Parliament Hill, the true players who are shaping politics and policy across Canada, and the impact it all has on the world. Don't miss out on your daily look inside Canadian politics and power. Subscribe to Ottawa Playbook today.     Syllabus — Democrats blocked from including immigration reform in party-line spending bill: POLITICO. — Colleges tackling Covid get little traction with GOP-held capitals: POLITICO Pro. — Students are damaging school bathrooms for attention on TikTok: NPR. — Schools get the brunt of latest COVID wave in South Carolina: The Associated Press. — Taliban ban girls from secondary education in Afghanistan: The Guardian. A message from Sallie Mae®: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA® , opens the door to $150 billion in federal financial aid, including scholarships, grants, work study, and federal student loans. But too many students and families are missing out on aid because they simply never complete the form. To help simplify the process, Sallie Mae launched a tool that helps students file the FAFSA in minutes, empowering them to make informed choices with confidence. See how Sallie Mae makes sense of college financing.     Follow us on Twitter Delece Smith-Barrow @DeleceWrites Michael Stratford @mstratford Bianca Quilantan @biancaquilan Juan Perez Jr. @PerezJr Jessica Calefati @calefati   Follow us

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