House News & Analysis

‘The Political Middle Has Disappeared’

by Stuart Rothenberg October 25, 2013 · 9:36 AM EDT

A terrific post-shutdown “after action report” by Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies, who is one-half of the bipartisan polling team that conducts the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, includes one slide (No. 7) that I found particularly instructive.

Titled “the political middle has disappeared,” it shows…

Democrats Look for Mini-Wave in Arkansas in 2014

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 23, 2013 · 9:44 AM EDT

Barack Obama received just 39 percent of the vote in Arkansas in the last presidential race, but that’s not stopping Democratic optimism in the Razorback State in 2014.

Even though next year’s midterm elections began as a referendum on the president, Democrats believe they can re-elect Democratic Sen.…

From Family Tragedy to Congress Is a Difficult Trail

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 22, 2013 · 9:59 AM EDT

In 2007, William Petit survived a brutal home invasion in which his wife and two daughters were killed. Last year, Amar Kaleka’s father was killed in the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. Now, both men are seriously considering running for office.

But the road from family…

For GOP, the Damage Is Undeniable

by Stuart Rothenberg October 18, 2013 · 10:02 AM EDT

The deal to open the government and raise the debt ceiling may be done, but the damage to the national Republican Party is considerable.

One GOP consultant — who clearly hails from the more conservative end of his party — didn’t hold back recently in slamming the “no…

New Hampshire 1 & 2: Congressional Carousel

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 16, 2013 · 3:00 PM EDT

If you get elected to Congress from New Hampshire, don’t get too comfortable. 

Over the last four election cycles, the Granite State’s two congressional districts have changed partisan hands a combined six times. And Republicans are trying to continue the trend next year.

New Hampshire is a…

Massachusetts 5: Clark Wins Critical Democratic Primary

October 16, 2013 · 2:59 PM EDT

State Sen. Katherine Clark won the Democratic primary Tuesday in the the race to replace Sen. Ed Markey (D). Clark finished first with 32 percent in the seven-candidate field, followed by Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian (22 percent), state Rep. Carl Sciortino (16 percent) and state Sens. Will Brownsberger…

Florida 13: Democrats Finally Get an Opportunity

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 16, 2013 · 2:58 PM EDT

After a decade of tormenting Democrats with retirement rumors, Rep. C.W. Bill Young announced that he would not seek re-election. The Florida Republican’s decision creates an open seat opportunity for Democrats in Florida’s 13th District.

Now candidates in both sides of the aisle are jockeying for position in…

Is Ted Cruz Causing a Democratic Wave?

by Stuart Rothenberg October 16, 2013 · 8:56 AM EDT

Last week I observed that I hadn’t yet seen “compelling evidence” that a Democratic political wave could be developing. I can no longer say that after seeing the recently released NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

That highly regarded poll showed Republican numbers have taken a considerable…

Florida 13: Young’s Retirement Creates More Competitive Contest

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 10, 2013 · 11:22 AM EDT

For those of us who follow congressional races for a living, Rep. C.W. Bill Young retirement rumors had become a running joke.

But even a broken clock is right twice a day, and talk of a Young retirement finally proved right this time. The Florida Republican’s decision to…

Shutdown Fever: Is the House in Play Now?

by Stuart Rothenberg October 9, 2013 · 10:03 AM EDT

On Sunday, a Huffington Post headline screamed what most Democrats were hoping: “GOP In Grave Danger Of Losing House In 2014, PPP Polls Show.” Of course, anything coming from Democratic pollster Public Policy Polling and MoveOn.org Political Action, which paid for the surveys, must be taken with at least…