This state's primaries are a glorious mess

No Images? Click here         The California Primaries Are A Glorious Mess. They Could Determine Who Wins The House. In the past week, two major political groups have spent $100,000 on digital ads and phone banks promoting congressional candidate John Gabbard, who is running for the seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher in California’s 48th District. The ads, captured by Facebook’s political ad archive, are unremarkable in their political rhetoric. They boast of Gabbard’s military experience. They say he’ll “go to Washington to fight for taxpayers… not the special interests” and that he “believes we need term limits for Congress because it’s time to drain the swamp.” What’s remarkable is who is paying for the ads boosting Gabbard, a little-known Republican: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and a super PAC backed by the liberal Service Employees International Union. Welcome to the California primaries, where a jungle primary is leading to previously unknown levels of gamesmanship, and where control of the U.S. House of Representatives might hang in the balance. The jungle primary means the top two vote-getters in each of the state’s 53 congressional districts, including 10 considered up for grabs, will advance to the general election in November ― regardless of party. The unique system ― only Washington state and Louisiana have something similar ― worries Democrats, who fear they could fail to reach the general election in some districts. And that could hamstring their hopes to win back the House in November. READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? President Donald Trump said he has the right to pardon himself. Rudy Giuliani first raised the prospect, saying Trump could issue a self-pardon if he really wanted to. READ MORE The Supreme Court sided with a baker who refused to make a gay couple's wedding cake. Baker Jack Phillips rebuffed David Mullins and Charlie Craig in 2012. READ MORE Bill Clinton said he "did the right thing" during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Clinton became visibly flustered when grilled about the Me Too movement Sunday. READ MORE    .     ICYMI A young Latina candidate is shaking up a New York congressional race. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faces an uphill battle in Queens and the Bronx against powerful incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley.   Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) was barred from entering an immigration detention center in Texas and had the police called on him during his visit, according to a live video of the encounter posted to Facebook on Sunday evening.   Rudy Giuliani said Trump could have shot James Comey and still couldn't be indicted for it. Congress would have to impeach Trump first before any criminal prosecution could move forward, the president’s lawyer says.    . Want more?  Jon Stewart Doesn’t Buy The Right’s Outrage Over Samantha Bee Ronald Reagan Would Hate What Trump Is Doing To America, Daughter Says San Juan Mayor Calls Trump’s ‘Total Neglect’ Of Puerto Rico A Violation Of Human Rights Where Are The Trans Men In Politics?     HuffPost is now a part of Oath and a part of Verizon. On May 25, 2018 we introduced a new Oath Privacy Policy which will explain how your data is used and shared. Learn More. How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe