Senate News & Analysis

GOP Still Shy of Races in Play to Win Majority

May 18, 2010 · 3:00 PM EDT

With less than six months until voters go to the polls, almost all of the most vulnerable Senate seats this cycle are in Democratic hands — creating an unexpected wealth of opportunities for the GOP, which just 12 months ago was headed for additional Senate losses.

But the…

Democrats Are Not as Desperate in the Senate

May 18, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

One year ago, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties and gave Democrats 60 seats in the Senate. President Barack Obama and his party were riding high in Washington, and an early batch of Republican retirements gave Democrats an opportunity to expand their majority, even in the midterm elections.

Some Race Results Matter More Than Others

May 14, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

This year, it’s harder than ever to distinguish what really matters from what doesn’t. Special situations are adding to the confusion, as is a fickle public, which is showing a willingness to change its positions in the blink of an eye.

In Hawaii’s special Congressional election to fill…

Conway, Mongiardo Getting Nasty in Kentucky Race

by Stuart Rothenberg May 12, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

While national political reporters have been focused almost entirely on Kentucky’s GOP Senate primary, Democrats in the Bluegrass State have an entertaining race of their own that raises some interesting questions about money, message, media and November.

The early frontrunner in the Democratic race, Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo,…

Indiana Senate: New Sheriff in Town?

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 10, 2010 · 3:01 PM EDT

Democrats weren’t supposed to be worried about Indiana this year, since Sen. Evan Bayh (D) looked like a sure bet for reelection initially, even with a deteriorating national political environment.

But then Bayh shocked the political world by announcing his retirement, leaving Democrats scrambling to find a replacement…

Nevada Senate: Know When to Fold ’Em

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 10, 2010 · 3:00 PM EDT

Democrats are in danger of losing their second Senate majority leader in a decade.

Republicans knocked off South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle (D) in 2004, but they did it with a popular former congressman who had previously been elected statewide. This year in Nevada, Senate Majority Leader Harry…

Why Illinois Senate Is a Tossup but N.H. Isn’t

by Stuart Rothenberg May 7, 2010 · 1:51 PM EDT

Not long ago, my friends over at the Cook Political Report moved the Illinois Senate race from Tossup to Leans Republican, a significant development in my eyes.

Shortly after that development, my newsletter moved the New Hampshire Senate race from Tossup to Narrow Advantage for the incumbent party…

On, Wisconsin: Feingold Return No Sure Thing

by Stuart Rothenberg May 5, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

When former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) announced recently that he wouldn’t enter the 2010 Senate race and challenge Sen. Russ Feingold (D), many of us crossed the state off our list of competitive races.

Maybe we were a bit premature.

Two more Republicans — former state…

Crist Switcheroo: Likely Less Than Meets the Eye

by Stuart Rothenberg April 30, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

Now that multiple reports indicate that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has decided to drop his GOP Senate candidacy and run for the state’s open Senate seat as an Independent, we are in for saturation coverage about what it means for the race, for the Republican Party and for Rep.…

Obama State Directors on Front Lines of 2010

April 29, 2010 · 4:08 PM EDT

The men and women who served as state directors for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign were on the front lines of one of the best-run political operations in recent history.

After Obama’s victory, more than a dozen of them took jobs in the administration. But another group couldn’t…