House News & Analysis

Victory Is in the Eye of the Beholder in New Jersey, Virginia and Alabama

by Stuart Rothenberg November 8, 2013 · 9:51 AM EST

Tuesday’s election results offer something for everyone.

Democrats can look at Virginia and conclude that Republican “extremism” on social issues like abortion, contraception and guns, combined with the deep divisions that appeared in the Alabama 1st District GOP primary results, continue to offer them opportunities for 2014 and…

New Jersey’s 3rd District Now Open, Now a Tossup

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 7, 2013 · 2:32 PM EST

GOP Rep. Jon Runyan’s retirement takes New Jersey’s 3rd District from the outskirts of the competitive race conversation to close to the epicenter.

Democrats have had their eye on the seat, considering President Barack Obama carried the district with 52 percent, although Runyan didn’t look particularly vulnerable. But…

Two House Candidates Who Stumbled Over Simple Questions

by Stuart Rothenberg November 6, 2013 · 2:28 PM EST

Retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally is personable and engaging, and her 2,454-vote loss to Democratic Rep. Ron Barber in Arizona’s 2nd District in 2012 demonstrates that she has appeal as a congressional candidate.

But none of that exempts the 47-year-old Republican, who is running again this cycle…

6 Democratic House Candidates With Plenty of Potential

by Stuart Rothenberg October 30, 2013 · 9:58 AM EDT

In this political environment, not having an extensive legislative record can be an asset. Not surprisingly then, three of six Democratic House candidates I interviewed recently have never before sought elective office, and a fourth was elected as a judge, not a legislator. (I will discuss a seventh…

‘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…

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.…

From Family Tragedy to Congress Is a Difficult Trail

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 22, 2013 · 9:59 AM EDT

In 2007, William Petit survived a brutal home invasion in which his wife and two daughters were killed. Last year, Amar Kaleka’s father was killed in the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin. Now, both men are seriously considering running for office.

But the road from family…

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…

New Hampshire 1 & 2: Congressional Carousel

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 16, 2013 · 3:00 PM EDT

If you get elected to Congress from New Hampshire, don’t get too comfortable. 

Over the last four election cycles, the Granite State’s two congressional districts have changed partisan hands a combined six times. And Republicans are trying to continue the trend next year.

New Hampshire is a…

Massachusetts 5: Clark Wins Critical Democratic Primary

October 16, 2013 · 2:59 PM EDT

State Sen. Katherine Clark won the Democratic primary Tuesday in the the race to replace Sen. Ed Markey (D). Clark finished first with 32 percent in the seven-candidate field, followed by Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian (22 percent), state Rep. Carl Sciortino (16 percent) and state Sens. Will Brownsberger…