Senate News & Analysis

For Some Candidates, Home Is Where the Opportunity Is

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 12, 2013 · 10:23 AM EST

We all know that candidates and members don’t have to live in a House district in order to run or even represent that area. And I’ve written about a number of top-tier Democratic hopefuls this cycle who don’t live in the district where they are campaigning.

But…

Michigan Senate: Open Season

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 8, 2013 · 3:30 PM EST

Michigan hasn’t had an open U.S. Senate seat in almost 20 years. Given that, it’s surprising that Democratic Sen. Carl Levin’s decision not to seek re-election hasn’t brought a flood of candidates into the race, from both parties. In fact, Republicans and Democrats apparently have already identified their likely…

In Louisiana, Democrats Doth Protest Too Much

by Stuart Rothenberg November 1, 2013 · 11:03 AM EDT

If you were a Democrat who thought the GOP was heading toward selecting a weak nominee incapable of beating Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., next year, would you tear down that damaged candidate, knowing that it might bring stronger hopefuls into the race? Or would you keep your mouth…

‘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…

The Most Important Election of 2014

by Stuart Rothenberg October 24, 2013 · 11:08 AM EDT

So now we know.

The single most important election in the country next year won’t take place in Louisiana, Arkansas, North Carolina or Alaska. And it won’t occur next November, when voters across the country pick the next Congress. It will take place in Kentucky on May 20.

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.…

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…

Republican Senate Hopefuls Vary in Quality, Approach

by Stuart Rothenberg October 2, 2013 · 9:46 AM EDT

I recently interviewed four Republican Senate candidates in the space of one week, and if I had to draw a single assessment from those meetings it would be that there is plenty of diversity in the GOP’s class of Senate hopefuls.The four differed in stature, style and background, and…

Tennant Not a Game Changer Yet for West Virginia Democrats

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 30, 2013 · 9:51 AM EDT

A few weeks ago, Democrats didn’t even have a warm body in the West Virginia Senate race. So getting Secretary of State Natalie Tennant to run for the Senate was quite a catch.

But even though Tennant is a credible statewide elected official, she starts as a significant…

OMG!!! A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. Or Maybe Not

by Stuart Rothenberg September 28, 2013 · 10:09 PM EDT

Once again, Henny Penny is running around to warn us that the sky is falling. A government shutdown is only [fill in the blank] days, [fill in the blank] hours and [fill in the blank] minutes away. The countdown clock shows the seconds ticking by. The end is near.