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Big Pharma hikes up drug prices every year, most recently on over 800 prescription drugs. But did you know these price hikes are often unjustified? For too long, Big Pharma has profited on the backs of hardworking Americans. Enough is enough.
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THE TOP

Happy Wednesday morning.
House Democrats are ecstatic after winning a special election in New York last night, holding onto a seat that had been heavily favored to swing into the GOP column. Democrats are now arguing that predictions of a Republican romp in November – which they’ve been hearing for the last 18 months or so – are wrong. And they’re pointing to abortion and the Supreme Court’s decision striking down Roe v. Wade as the key to Tuesday’s victory, and possibly the House this fall.
Democrat Pat Ryan beat Republican Marc Molinaro in the special election to replace former Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado in New York’s 19th District. Delgado is now lieutenant governor of New York.
Molinaro – who will be on the ballot in a redrawn district this November against a different Democratic opponent – focused his campaign on bashing President Joe Biden, inflation and crime. Ryan – a 40-year-old West Point grad and Iraq War combat veteran who will be on the ballot in the 18th District this fall – relied heavily on a pro abortion rights message. Ryan repeatedly declared “Choice was on the ballot” throughout the campaign, while also calling for an assault weapons ban.
No poll ever showed Ryan leading, not even the one released by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. A survey published by a progressive group right before the election had Molinaro up by eight points. Both sides poured money into the final stages of this bellwether Hudson Valley race.
Ryan is currently up by nearly 5,000 votes, or 3.8%, with 95% of the vote in. Absentee ballots are still being counted. Molinaro hasn’t officially conceded yet, but the AP has called this race.
“We got in this race because the foundations of our democracy were and remain under direct threat,” Ryan said following his victory, according to the Times Union. “When the Supreme Court ripped away reproductive rights, access to abortion rights, we said, ‘This is not what America stands for.’”
“What happened in New York 19th [District] is an earthquake,” a very pleased Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.) told us around midnight.
“You saw huge turnout. Clearly the choice message worked. Pat Ryan nearly beat Marc Molinaro in Molinaro’s home county, Dutchess County. And he won a special election that Republicans should have won easily.”
Here’s some more from Maloney, who crushed a primary challenge from progressive Alessandra Biaggi as well:
“This is a disaster for Tom Emmer and Kevin McCarthy because their dreams of a big win in November just went up in flames.”
We also asked Maloney whether other Frontline Democrats should be focusing on abortion rights in swing districts across the nation. Enthusiasm and energy among pro-Democratic voters has shot up since the Supreme Court ruling on the Dobbs case was issued on June 24, yet a number of Frontliners aren’t campaigning on this issue:
“Look, every Frontliner knows best what message to use in their district. What’s clear is Democratic voters are not going to sit on the sidelines while the MAGA Republicans rip away reproductive freedom. And anybody who doubts that needs to meet Congressman Pat Ryan.”
Other big headlines from Tuesday’s results in New York, Florida and Oklahoma:
→ | Rep. Jerry Nadler crushed Rep. Carolyn Maloney in an unprecedented Democratic primary faceoff between full committee chairs in New York’s 12th District. The defeat spells the end of Maloney’s 30-year congressional career. |
→ | Dan Goldman, a former Trump impeachment counsel, defeated a trio of progressive opponents, including State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, Rep. Mondaire Jones and New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera, in the Democratic primary in New York’s 10th District. Goldman will be coming to Congress in January. |
→ | Republican Joe Sempolinski won the special election to finish out the rest of former GOP Rep. Tom Reed’s term as the member for New York’s 23rd District. Sempolinski, Reed’s former district director, defeated Democrat Max Della Pia. |
But Sempolinski isn’t on the ballot for November. Instead, New York Republican State Committee Chair Nick Langworthy will take on Della Pia. Langworthy defeated Carl Paladino in the GOP primary for this safe Republican seat. Paladino was notably endorsed by House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik despite his history of racist remarks. Paladino refused to concede on Tuesday night in this close race.
→ | Rep. Val Demings won the Senate Democratic nomination in Florida and will take on GOP Sen. Marco Rubio. Demings would be the first Black person – and only the second woman – to serve as a senator from the Sunshine State. |
→ | Rep. Charlie Crist easily defeated Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in the Democratic primary. Crist will face GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis in November. |
→ | GOP Rep. Markwayne Mullin and former Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn will face off in Oklahoma’s Senate race this November. Mullin is the heavy favorite to succeed retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) in the deep-red state. |
→ | Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a 25-year-old activist, won in a crowded Democratic primary field that included Florida State Sen. Randolph Bracy and former Reps. Alan Grayson and Corrine Brown. Frost is heavily favored to succeed Demings in the Orlando-area seat and become the first Gen Z member of Congress. |
— John Bresnahan, Heather Caygle and Max Cohen
NEW: Join us on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 9 a.m. ET for our interview with Senate Minority Whip John Thune. We’ll be talking to him about the role of private capital in supporting small businesses, jobs and the economy. The conversation is the second in a two-part series on “Investing in America,” presented by American Investment Council. RSVP to join us in-person at The Roost or virtually on the livestream.
PRESENTED BY PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Across the globe, antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is emerging as an increasingly urgent public health threat. Over time, bacteria and fungi develop the ability to evade the drugs we rely on to kill them and, as a result, these “superbugs” can cause deadly infections. Unfortunately, the pipeline for novel antimicrobial drugs is drying up, and Congress must act to jumpstart new development. It’s critical to pass the PASTEUR Act before it’s too late.
STUDENT LOANS
Biden expected to move on college loans after months of pressure
President Joe Biden will return to the White House today for a highly-anticipated – and politically charged – announcement on college student loan debt.
Biden is currently leaning toward canceling up to $10,000 in debt for tens of millions of federal student loan borrowers, according to media reports and multiple lawmakers close to the issue. The White House is considering limiting the benefit to individuals making between $125,000 and $150,000 per year, although the income threshold is still fluid, Democratic sources on the Hill said.
The president may also extend the moratorium on student loan payments, which expires on Aug. 31.
Biden has been under heavy pressure for months from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), members of the Squad, the Congressional Progressive Caucus and other lawmakers to take action on this issue – and to live up to his campaign promise.
The NAACP and other minority groups have pressed hard for presidential action as well. Black and Hispanic students tend to rely more heavily on student loans, taking out larger loans at higher interest rates.
But Republicans and even some Democratic economists warn such a move could worsen already high inflation rates, a huge issue with the election less than three months away.
The cost is also pretty steep, depending on how it’s structured, with some tricky politics.
The White House’s reported plan will mainly benefit borrowers “in the top 60 percent of the income distribution,” according to a new analysis from the Penn Wharton Budget Model.
And forgiving $10,000 of federal student loan debt for individuals making up to $125,000 annually would cost $329 billion over a decade, according to the PWBM.
Yet the Congressional Progressive Caucus appeared to respond to the PWBM’s analysis by highlighting who’s impacted by the “student debt crisis.” The CPC noted “99% of people with federal student loans didn’t go to an Ivy League.”
→ | An interesting point flagged to us by Kent Smetters, the faculty director of the PWBM: “It’s really the amount that’s forgiven, rather than the income limit, that matters probably the most.” |
For example: The PWBM model estimates a program that forgave $10,000 of debt per individual with no income cap would cost $344 billion over 10 years. The same amount of debt forgiven with an income cap of $125,000 costs $329 billion over 10 years.
A debt forgiveness program with an income cap of $125,000 that forgave up to $50,000 per individual would cost the government $933 billion over 10 years.
— Max Cohen and John Bresnahan
LEADER LOOK
Two Republicans making moves
We wanted to flag two GOP lawmakers making moves in leadership circles.
→ | Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), one of the “Three Johns” in the top ranks of Senate Republicans, was in Milwaukee last night raising money for Nevada Senate candidate Adam Laxalt and Pennsylvania candidate Mehmet Oz. The event is estimated to have brought in $150,000. |
→ | Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) is headlining an NRCC event in Michigan in September with NRCC Chair Tom Emmer (Minn.). Buchanan is running to be the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, so it’s notable that he’s headlining an event in Michigan. Former Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp (R-Mich.) is on the invite. And also: This invite says “Rep. Bill Buizenga” is attending. That’s not an actual person, as far as we know. Bill Huizenga is a Republican congressman from Michigan. |
– Jake Sherman
PRESENTED BY PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT INFECTIOUS DISEASE

AMR is already a leading cause of death around the world. New data shows AMR currently claims more lives globally than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined.
LEADERSHIP RACE
Eyeing leadership post, Schiff to fundraise for N.J. Frontliners

House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is hosting a big fundraiser on Saturday with four New Jersey Frontline Democrats, another sign of his leadership ambitions.
Schiff, who serves as the DCCC’s National Battleground Finance chair, is raising money for endangered incumbent Reps. Andy Kim, Mikie Sherrill, Josh Gottheimer and Tom Malinowski.
Schiff is eyeing a run to be the House Democratic leader next Congress. The California Democrat has made sure to flex his substantial fundraising muscle to help out vulnerable members this cycle.
Another notable point: This event is occurring essentially in the backyard of Schiff’s main leadership rival — House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries.
— Max Cohen
THE COPPER STATE REPORT
Sinema in the spotlight

Primary Sinema, the progressive group seeking to unseat centrist Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) in 2024, has paid for two billboards outside the Phoenix airport. The billboards accuse Sinema of selling out to Wall Street.
Also: Sinema’s campaign is asking for up to $5,800 for a 45-minute reception in D.C. As one tipster pointed out, that’s a lot of money for a reception without a dinner.
If you can’t make the Chinatown reception, Sinema’s fundraising team is also hosting an event in the Capitol Hill area two weeks later. Check it out here.
– Max Cohen and Jake Sherman
FRONTS


MOMENTS
10 a.m.: President Joe Biden will leave Rehoboth Beach, Del., for the White House. He will arrive at 10:55 a.m.
3 p.m.: Karine Jean-Pierre will brief.
CLIP FILE
NYT
→ | “Biden Administration Plans for New Booster Campaign Soon After Labor Day,” by Sharon LaFraniere and Noah Weiland |
→ | “Jan. 6 Panel Questions Trump Cabinet Members on 25th Amendment Talks,” by Luke Broadwater and Maggie Haberman |
→ | Political Memo: “Trump, Without the Presidency’s Protections, Struggles for a Strategy,” by Maggie Haberman, Glenn Thrush and Alan Feuer |
WaPo
→ | “Battle for Kyiv: Ukrainian valor, Russian blunders combined to save the capital,” by Paul Sonne, Isabelle Khurshudyan, Serhiy Morgunov and Kostiantyn Khudov in Kyiv |
→ | “FBI’s Mar-a-Lago search followed months of resistance, delay by Trump,” by Josh Dawsey, Carol D. Leonnig, Jacqueline Alemany and Rosalind S. Helderman |
WSJ
→ | “Twitter Comes Under Washington Spotlight With Whistleblower Complaint,” by John McKinnon and Dave Michaels |
→ | “The 30-Year-Old Spending $1 Billion to Save Crypto,” by Alexander Osipovich |
Bloomberg
→ | “Six Months of Putin’s War Unravels Russia’s Superpower Image,” by Marc Champion |
USA Today
→ | “Feds cancel $10B in student loans for public workers as Biden weighs broader debt decision,” by Chris Quintana |
PRESENTED BY PARTNERSHIP TO FIGHT INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are a threat to all of us, particularly those living with chronic conditions. Without new and effective antimicrobial drugs, patients will not only lose the ability to fight off serious infections, but will also face increased risks from common medical services that rely on the treatment and prevention of infections. In 2019, there were 1.27 million deaths globally from drug-resistant infections. Passage of the PASTEUR Act would remedy the broken marketplace that has so far hindered the development of novel antibiotics and ensure effective treatments for future generations. We must be ready for an AMR pandemic by preparing for it today. Learn more at fightinfectiousdisease.org.
Editorial photos provided by Getty Images

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