Senate News & Analysis

Nevada Senate: Remains Toss-Up/Tilt Republican

May 5, 2011 · 9:30 AM EDT

Sen. John Ensign’s (R) previous retirement announcement took the punch out of his more recent resignation. Now that he’s gone, Republicans are looking to appointed-Sen. Dean Heller (R) to hold the seat.

The electoral track record of appointed senators is dotted with wins and losses, but the appointment…

Berg Senate Run Likely in North Dakota

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 27, 2011 · 11:55 AM EDT

Rep. Rick Berg is very seriously considering a run for Senate in North Dakota and is even likely to make the race, according to sources close to the freshman Congressman.

According to the GOP sources, the Republican had no plans to seek higher office until Sen. Kent Conrad’s…

Ohio Senate: What Has Brown Done for You?

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 22, 2011 · 2:59 PM EDT

For all of the talk about Ohio being a swing state, the last two U.S. Senate races have been blowouts. Republicans are hoping next year’s race is different.

Almost six years ago, an often-reluctant Sherrod Brown (D) decided to leave his safe Congressional seat in order to challenge…

The Uneven Senate Landscape of 2012 (and 2014)

by Stuart Rothenberg April 15, 2011 · 9:30 AM EDT

Just over four years ago I wrote in this space that Democrats not only didn’t have to worry about losing their Senate majority in ’08, they needed to set their sights on 60 seats in 2010 because a “filibuster-proof majority would change the rules of the game on…

The New Norm: Last-Minute Political Deals

by Stuart Rothenberg April 13, 2011 · 11:32 AM EDT

One of the byproducts of the highly partisan environment that we find ourselves in is the last-minute political deal. That means that the Friday budget agreement isn’t likely to be the final last-minute political deal on the horizon.

Congress often waits until the clock is running out before…

No Such Thing as an Off Year for Consultants

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 11, 2011 · 9:30 AM EDT

Just a couple of months after helping direct $65 million in 77 House races across the country, media consultant John Lapp was in Wisconsin pitching a candidate for county executive.

It didn’t seem like much at the time — a fun, off-year race for the former executive director…

2012 Senate Overview (April 8, 2011)

April 8, 2011 · 3:45 PM EDT

The combination of retirements and GOP recruiting has already put the Senate in play. The GOP needs to gain three or four seats to win control of the Senate (depending on which party holds the White House), and already five Democratic-held Senate seats are no better than toss-ups.

LeMieux Nabs Jon Lerner to Advise Senate Bid

by Stuart Rothenberg April 8, 2011 · 11:01 AM EDT

The state that brought you Republican candidates as varied as Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris, Charlie Crist, Allen West, Rick Scott, Marco Rubio and Joe Scarborough will be choosing a Senate nominee next year, and the early signs point to a fight for the heart and soul of the party.

Odds Are Against Lugar in Bid for Seventh Term

by Stuart Rothenberg April 4, 2011 · 9:00 AM EDT

Six-term Indiana Sen. Dick Lugar ended 2010 with more than $2.3 million in the bank. Unfortunately for Lugar, his war chest is about the only reason to think that he might have a chance of winning a seventh term next year.

The 78-year-old (he turns 79 on Monday)…

Guy Cecil Returns to Defend Democratic Majority

by Nathan L. Gonzales March 29, 2011 · 1:51 PM EDT

A framed New York Times front page hangs on the wall behind Guy Cecil’s desk.

“Democrats take the Senate,” the headline reads, a reminder of his role on the front lines in helping his party win back the majority in 2006 as political director of the Democratic Senatorial…