House News & Analysis

Maryland Primary Boosts Democratic Prospects

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 4, 2012 · 12:44 PM EDT

Only one of Roscoe Bartlett’s wishes came true last night. The 85 year-old GOP congressman won renomination in Maryland’s 6th District, but he’ll face wealthy financier John Delaney (D) in November’s general election.

Delaney defeated state Sen. Rob Garagiola, 54 percent to 29 percent, in the Democratic primary.…

IE Director Is ‘Clear-Eyed and Cold-Blooded’

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 4, 2012 · 9:59 AM EDT

Travis Lowe was on the verge of selling life insurance 11 years ago. Now he’s a key part of helping House Democrats win back a majority.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee independent expenditure director “stumbled into politics,” as he says. At the University of Iowa, he was more…

New Jersey House: All in the Family

by Jessica Taylor March 23, 2012 · 2:59 PM EDT

Welcome to the Garden State grudge match.

In what's quickly becoming the most contentious intraparty incumbent primary on the East Coast, all eyes are on veteran Democratic lawmakers Bill Pascrell and Steve Rothman who are battling it out for a north New Jersey congressional seat each…

Redistricting’s Bottom Line

by Stuart Rothenberg March 20, 2012 · 1:58 PM EDT

Writing an analysis calculating the final result of redistricting is a little like putting a sign on your back that reads “kick me.”

No matter how methodical and dispassionate you try to be, you are forced to make plenty of subjective judgments, guaranteeing that you will be second-guessed…

No Surprises in Alabama and Mississippi Primaries

by Jessica Taylor March 14, 2012 · 5:20 PM EDT

The supposed anti-incumbent wave that started last week in Ohio stopped on Tuesday in the heart of Dixie.

While five incumbents faced varying degrees of primary challenges in Alabama and Mississippi, each turned away their intraparty challenge with relative ease and avoided runoffs. All occupy safe seats ahead…

Democrats Face Ideological House Primaries

by Stuart Rothenberg March 14, 2012 · 10:55 AM EDT

It’s not at all surprising, given the media’s concentration on the fight for the heart and soul of the Republican Party between tea party conservatives and the GOP’s more pragmatic conservative wing, that most journalists have completely ignored the ideological fights within the Democratic Party this year.

But…

Utah Primaries: Power to the Precincts

by Nathan L. Gonzales March 9, 2012 · 2:00 PM EST

Utah’s primary isn’t for another three months, but Sen. Orrin Hatch’s electoral fate could be sealed next week.

The six-term GOP senator is trying to avoid following in the footsteps of his colleague, Bob Bennett, who not only lost reelection in 2010, but failed to make it out…

North Carolina: Democrats Feeling Tar Heel Blue

by Jessica Taylor March 9, 2012 · 1:59 PM EST

California, Texas and Florida get the most of the attention when it comes to redistricting, but Republican efforts in North Carolina could be a key state in keeping their party in the majority.

By decreasing the Republican percentage in districts they already control, the GOP was able to…

Ohio Primaries: Two Incumbents Fall, But Beware of the Anti-Incumbent Hype

by Jessica Taylor March 7, 2012 · 12:54 PM EST

Republican cartographers guaranteed that one incumbent would lose in Tuesday’s primaries in Ohio when they drew two Democratic Members into the same district. But few people expected Republicans to lose one of their own.

In the 9th District, Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur handily defeated her colleague,…

New Texas Map: Democrats Hoped for More Than Split Decision

by Jessica Taylor February 29, 2012 · 12:20 PM EST

The topsy-turvy Texas redistricting saga appears to be approaching toward a conclusion – for now. On Tuesday, a San Antonio federal court panel released a new map that is expected to be in place for the 2012 elections, but there’s still the possibility that the lines could undergo an…