DDHQ Morning News Spotlight: Macron Suffers Setback, plus GOP Worries about MO Senate Intensify

Morning Headlines

• Newly re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron suffered an unexpected setback in the French Parliamentary runoff elections Sunday. Macron needed 289 seats to win a majority in the chamber but only won 224, falling far short. This was a shock to the centrist, who expected he could easily win a majority after his convincing re-election win. Both the far-left and far-right won more seats than expected, with left-wing NUPES winning 145 seats (under Melenchon) and NR winning 89 seats (under Le Pen). The NUPES left-wing coalition effectively becomes the French minority with their strong performance.
• Missouri GOP Senate candidate Eric Greitens is under fire for a new “RINO Hunting” ad he aired as he tries to clear the field and win the nomination to advance to the general election in November. Greitens, who formerly resigned from the Missouri Governor’s office after allegations of abuse from his ex-wife, currently leads Representatives Vicky Hartzler and Billy Long in GOP Primary polling. The ad features Greitens’ attempt to capitalize on his credential as a US Navy Seal in the past, showing him and a SWAT team busting the door off and setting off an explosion as they attempt to enter the “RINO’s lair.” A primary win for Greitens could be a disaster for the national GOP, creating an extra competitive Senate seat in deep-red Missouri.
• Leftist Gustavo Petro won the Colombian presidential election yesterday, becoming the fourth left-wing president to be elected in South America in the past two years. Petro won a slim majority of the vote over the right-wing opposition and became the first leftist president elected in Colombia in the history of the country.
• Republican fears about the Pennsylvania Governor Election have intensified after the next round of Pennsylvania Campaign Finance reports were released. Democratic Attorney General and Governor Nominee Josh Shapiro has $13.4 million on hand heading into the summer, while Trump-endorsed GOP nominee Doug Mastriano only has about $400,00 cash on hand. Mastriano will need to pick up his fundraising or could struggle to even compete with Shapiro this fall. Mastriano attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6th, solidifying his credentials as a MAGA fighter and spurring him to a primary victory.

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