Archive

DeMint Surprise Exit Sets Up S.C. Scramble

by Jessica Taylor December 6, 2012 · 12:46 PM EST

South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint’s shocking news on Thursday that he would step down from the Senate to lead The Heritage Foundation sets off an uncertain scramble in the Palmetto State for virtually all of the state’s top three offices in 2014.

With DeMint, a second-term senator who’s…

For the Fiscal Cliff Talks, It’s Back to the Future Again

by Stuart Rothenberg December 5, 2012 · 1:46 PM EST

Anyone who hoped that Democrats and Republicans could find a quick way to avoid the upcoming fiscal cliff should by now know that we are heading for another of those buzzer-beater endings — if Congress and the White House beat the buzzer at all.

While President Barack Obama and Speaker John A.…

Missouri 8: Who Will Replace Emerson?

December 3, 2012 · 11:35 AM EST

The new Congress isn’t even sworn in and we already have a second special election, in Missouri. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s (D) resignation last month set in motion a contest early next year to fill his safe Democratic seat in the Chicago area.

The second special election comes after Rep. Jo Ann…

Louisiana 3: Last Incumbent Standing

by Jessica Taylor November 30, 2012 · 2:01 PM EST

Election Day may be over everywhere else, but in Cajun Country it’s still as hot as ever.

Thanks to Louisiana’s quirky election laws and once-in-a-decade redistricting, incumbent Republicans Charles Boustany and Jeff Landry have been locked in an overtime contest. But it’s one both congressmen…

Dissecting the North Dakota Senate Race

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 30, 2012 · 2:00 PM EST

Even as prospects for the majority faded away, Senate Republicans thought they could count on North Dakota. But Heidi Heitkamp ran a virtually flawless race, ran well ahead of President Barack Obama and won 50 percent to 49 percent to keep the open seat in Democratic hands.

After being shut out…

Georgia 12: Barrow Lives to Fight Another Day

by Jessica Taylor November 30, 2012 · 1:59 PM EST

On paper, Rep. John Barrow should have been a goner.

Over the years, the Georgia Democrat has enjoyed a bit of schadenfreude in proving Republicans wrong and winning even when the odds were stacked against him. This year was no exception.

Fortunately for Barrow, congressional races aren’t…

Supermajority Within Reach for Senate Democrats

by Stuart Rothenberg November 30, 2012 · 10:42 AM EST

Just two years ago, Republicans seemed likely to have a chance at 60 Senate seats following the 2014 elections. But things certainly changed after Democrats won 25 of the 33 seats up this year.

Instead, GOP strategists need to worry about whether Democrats will be in the position to win a…

Hollywood Cachet Doesn’t Always Cash In

by Stuart Rothenberg November 28, 2012 · 11:03 AM EST

Today’s question: What do the following people have in common: actors Alec Baldwin and Robert Redford, former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr and former New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter?

Answer: Each of them is a bona fide star, and each was mentioned at some point as a possible…

Why the National House Vote is Completely Irrelevant

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 21, 2012 · 11:49 AM EST

Democrats had a good Election Night. President Obama won a second term, and the party unexpectedly gained seats in the Senate. But the effort to claim victory in the House is a bridge too far, and it isn’t merely the touting about how Democrats met or exceeded low expectations going into Election…

Drawing the Wrong Meaning About a House Race

by Stuart Rothenberg November 21, 2012 · 9:32 AM EST

Sometimes it’s not about the larger lessons for the national party or the demographics. Sometimes the better candidate just wins.

I’ll admit that I get a little defensive about the coverage of House races.

Only a handful of us pay a lot of attention to them (you know who you are — and thank…