Archive

Nebraska Senate: Falling from the Top Tier

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 2, 2005 · 12:24 AM EDT

Republicans are looking high and low for opportunities to expand their majority in the Senate. Sen. Ben Nelson (D) is an attractive target on paper – an incumbent Democratic senator in a state President Bush won by 33 points last November.

But races aren’t won “on paper,” and President Bush and…

Florida 22: Perennial Target

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 2, 2005 · 12:19 AM EDT

Every cycle, Democrats unveil their strategy to defeat Cong. Clay Shaw (R). And each cycle, the Democratic nominee is turned away. This time, Democrats hope things will be different.

Elaine Bloom (D) came very close to defeating the incumbent back in 2000. But since then, the 22nd District was…

Iowa 3: Da Race for Des Moines

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 17, 2005 · 1:45 AM EDT

Cong. Leonard Boswell (D) is just starting to settle into his new 3rd District seat. But he can’t get too comfortable just yet. After winning reelection in a redistricted seat in 2002, Boswell widened his margin in 2004, defeating GOP attorney Stan Thompson a second straight time.
Now,…

Montana Senate: Usual Suspect

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 17, 2005 · 1:40 AM EDT

It’s unclear whether close races follow Sen. Conrad Burns (R) or whether Burns searches for close races. Either way, the Republican senator will likely face another close race in 2006 when he seeks a fourth term.

Democrats appear to have two top-tier candidates in state Auditor John Morrison…

The War on Wal-Mart: Waking a Sleeping Giant?

June 15, 2005 · 9:40 PM EDT

The battle between Wal-Mart and organized labor has received plenty of attention over the past couple of years, but the fight is about to reach a new level.

To date, most of the media attention has been on Wal-Mart’s critics. The picture is of a mega-company on its heels because of a valiant…

Ohio 2: Senate Compromise Hurting DeWine’s Bid

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 7, 2005 · 11:50 AM EDT

Some conservatives in southern Ohio are testing the saying that the sins of the father are passed to the son.

The resignation from Congress of recently confirmed United States Trade Representative Rob Portman (R-OH 2) created a surge of candidates – 18 in all – who filed to run in next week’s…

Indiana 9: The Bloodier Ninth

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 7, 2005 · 11:46 AM EDT

Last fall, southern Indiana lost a member of its delegation, but it was Cong. Baron Hill (D) who went down to defeat in the 9th District, not Cong. John Hostettler (R-IN 8), as some may have assumed.

After losing to Hill in 2002, businessman Mike Sodrel (R) kept running and defeated the…

Texas 28: Role Reversal for Re-Run

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 7, 2005 · 11:43 AM EDT

Less than a year ago, Henry Cuellar knocked off incumbent Cong. Ciro Rodriguez in a very close and very competitive Democratic primary in Texas’ 28th District. Now, the freshman congressman is trying to avoid the same fate as his predecessor.

“No member of the Class of 2004 came to the House…

Vermont Senate: It All Depends on the Meaning of Independent

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 22, 2005 · 11:45 PM EDT

The announcement by Senator Jim Jeffords didn’t come as a complete surprise to some insiders. The Vermont Independent’s health has been an issue for some time, and while he had indicated his intention to seek a fourth term, many doubted that Jeffords would actually be on the ballot next year.

Rhode Island Senate: Multi-Front War

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 22, 2005 · 11:40 PM EDT

Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) of Rhode Island has a long 18 months ahead of him. First, he’s facing pressure from his caucus to stay in line on critical votes in the Senate. Second, he could face a serious primary challenge from a more conservative Republican. And third, if he survives a primary, he…