• NY-16: Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman told the Daily Beast's William Bredderman this week that he "regrets" using an old blog to spread conspiracy theories about the Sept. 11 attacks, ideas he says does not believe in. Bowman, Bredderman reports, posted a "free verse" poem in 2011 with lines like, "Allegedly/Two other planes/The Pentagon/Pennsylvania/Hijacked by terrorist [sic]/Minimal damage done/Minimal debris found/Hmm."
• SC-01: An advisor for former state cabinet official Catherine Templeton tells The Post and Courier's Caitlin Byrd that his client will announce on Feb. 5 that she's challenging Rep. Nancy Mace in the June 11 Republican primary.
Templeton served in then-Gov. Nikki Haley's administration as director of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control and planned to run to succeed the termed-out Haley in 2018.
Templeton went ahead with that campaign even after Haley resigned to join the Trump administration and Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster ascended to the top job, but her effort ended in failure. Businessman John Warren edged her out 28-21 for the second spot in the GOP primary runoff against McMaster, who took first with 42% and went on to secure a full term.
Templeton, though, isn't the only new name who could campaign against Mace. GOP state Rep. Sylleste Davis tells Byrd she's not ruling out a bid, though she says she might wait until the April 1 filing deadline to make up her mind. Meanwhile, Mace's former chief of staff, Dan Hanlon, also set up a campaign account last week, though he didn't immediately announce a bid. A June 25 runoff would take place if no one earns a majority of the vote.
• NC-AG: Campaign finance reports are in covering the second half of 2023, and they show Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson outraising his Republican colleague, Dan Bishop, despite the latter's nearly three-month head start. Jackson took in $2 million between his campaign launch in late October through the end of the year, while Bishop hauled in $1.4 million after announcing in early August. The Democrat finished the year with a $1.8 million to $1.3 million cash on hand advantage.
Jackson faces opposition from Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry in the March 5 primary, but she faces a huge financial deficit. Deberry, who announced her entry in early November, raised only $44,000 and finished with just $31,000 available. Bishop does not have any foes in the GOP primary, nor will he, since filing closed in mid-December.