House News & Analysis

Report Shorts (June 20, 2014) SC Senate, Maine 2, Mississippi Senate, Virginia 7

June 20, 2014 · 3:58 PM EDT

South Carolina Senate. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham won the June 10 primary with 56 percent, avoiding a potentially treacherous runoff two weeks later. None of the six challengers posed a serious threat to the senator in the initial race (the second place finisher received 16 percent), but a one-on-one…

In Campaign Ads, ‘Week One’ Is Still Months Away

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 19, 2014 · 3:53 PM EDT

It can feel like the 2014 congressional races have been going on forever, so when a campaign strategist talks about “Week One,” it can be confusing that Week One is still actually four months away.

Obtaining and understanding television ad buys is becoming an increasingly important part of…

How and Why are Two Separate Questions in Cantor Loss

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 11, 2014 · 11:23 AM EDT

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary in convincing fashion, but there appears to be two separate questions: How did he lose? And why was it a surprise?

One thing that everyone should be able to agree on is that Cantor’s loss was historic. According to…

Why Do We Suddenly Care About Races for Lt. Governor?

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 6, 2014 · 9:50 AM EDT

The office of lieutenant governor is so important that five states don’t even have one, yet that hasn’t stopped the national political media from treating some contests for the office as crucial indicators of something.

In the recent primary runoff in Texas, anti-establishment conservative state Sen. Dan Patrick…

California 25: Another District Falls Off the List of Competitive Races

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 4, 2014 · 11:04 AM EDT

Projecting which party is going to win a competitive seat in November can be challenging, except when one party doesn’t even have a candidate.

Two Republicans finished first and second in the primary in California’s 25th District, guaranteeing that the seat will remain in GOP hands for another…

West Virginia 2: Don’t Count Out the Republican From Maryland

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 28, 2014 · 4:59 PM EDT

When the dust settled in the Republican primary in West Virginia’s 2nd District, Alex Mooney stood alone with the nomination. Democrats rejoiced because Mooney is a former state senator from Maryland and former chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. But Mooney winning the general election isn’t as outrageous as…

House Report Shorts (May 28, 2014) Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 28, 2014 · 4:55 PM EDT

Georgia’s 1st District. State Sen. Buddy Carter (36 percent) and Dr. Bob Johnson (23 percent) finished first and second in the May 20 primary and will face off in a July 22 runoff. John McCallum was third with 20 percent, ahead of Jeff Chapman (13 percent) and Darwin Carter…

Can an Endorsement Hurt the Endorsed Candidate?

by Stuart Rothenberg May 23, 2014 · 9:30 AM EDT

Longtime readers of my column know I have often been skeptical about endorsements in highly visible contests, whether for the White House or the Senate. But what about an endorsement in a U.S. House race or a House primary? And could an endorsement actually hurt the candidate endorsed?

The Long Lost Tale of Phil Maloof

by Stuart Rothenberg May 22, 2014 · 9:38 AM EDT

Most readers know that Nathan Gonzales and I, along with our friends from Roll Call, interview at least 150 candidates for Congress every election cycle. I have been doing it for many years.

Not every hopeful passes through our offices, of course, and many candidates have won elections…

Democrats Wield Abortion Rights as Campaign Weapon in Primaries, Too

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 16, 2014 · 9:00 AM EDT

One party is using abortion as wedge issue in races all across the country — and it’s not the Republicans.

Abortion rights is a critical part of Democrats’ pitch to women in swing districts and states in general elections. But now some Democratic candidates from Maine to Hawaii…