Scoop ... Inside Jeffries' donor retreat
🍷 Jeffries' event at the luxury Lodge at Torrey Pines is the successor to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi's wine-soaked summer donor party in Napa, California.
Why it matters: Democrats lapped up the message from the two-term governor, who told big dollar donors and vulnerable House Dems that the key to winning over Trump voters is staying true to your values.
Beshear's biggest applause line came when he explained why he vetoed a bill in 2023, when he was up for reelection, that restricted some medical care and bathroom use for transgender people.
Beshear called it"the nastiest anti-trans bills in the nation — and I vetoed it," according to attendees.
"There are some things worth losing over," Beshear, who went on to win by five percentage points, said.
Zoom out: Democrats are eager to find candidates — and messages — that they think will appeal to voters in red and blue states.
Both Beshear and Jeffries spoke of the importance of authenticity and using words that voters actually use.
Don't be afraid to say "addiction," Beshear said, when discussing the opioid crisis.
Zoom in: In both public and private conversations, the looming mid-cycle redistricting battle was frequently discussed. Democrats promised their donors that they would respond to GOP gerrymander efforts.
"We are working on an aggressive plan to make sure we fight fire with fire on redistricting," according to a member of Congress in attendance.
In addition to Jeffries, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar attended, along with roughly a dozen "Frontline" lawmakers and some California members as well.
After Beshear's Friday night fireside chat with Jeffries, donors got a political update from DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene and Mike Smith, the president of the House Majority PAC, which can accept unlimited donations.
Jared Bernstein, Biden's former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers and Wally Adeyemo, Biden's deputy treasury secretary, provided an economic overview.
Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, and Susan Rice, one of his domestic policy advisers, discussed foreign affairs and immigration.
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