House News & Analysis

Texas House: Incumbents Beware?

by Jessica Taylor May 4, 2012 · 1:26 PM EDT

With terrible job approval ratings, redistricting, and outside spending, congressional incumbents are under the microscope. And after reading the headlines and seeing the anti-incumbent narrative reach a fever pitch on cable news channels, some Members of the Texas delegation are taking their primaries more seriously than ever before.

Arizona 8 Special: NRCC, DCCC Go on the Air

by Jessica Taylor April 26, 2012 · 12:00 PM EDT

The national parties are officially wading into the special election to succeed former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona’s 8th District.

On Thursday morning, the National Republican Congressional Committee purchased $150,000 of broadcast television in Tucson, beginning tomorrow through May 10, according to a GOP source familiar with the…

Pennsylvania: Critz Defeats Colleague, Faces Competitive General Election

by Jessica Taylor April 25, 2012 · 2:15 PM EDT

Two moderate Democrats from Pennsylvania won’t be returning to Congress next year after Tuesday’s primaries in the Keystone State -- but only one can blame the new make-up of his district for his loss.

In western Pennsylvania’s 12th District, Rep. Mark Critz pulled off an upset in his…

Utah: Senate Race Still Kicking but 4th District Set for Premiere Battle

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 25, 2012 · 2:14 PM EDT

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) is on quite a roller coaster ride. The senior senator went from the brink of electoral extinction to coming oh-so-close to securing the GOP nomination without even having to hassle with a primary. Now he’s back in a competitive race for reelection.

After seeing…

Oklahoma 2: Living in the Past?

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 20, 2012 · 11:59 AM EDT

A Democratic incumbent is retiring in a district where President Obama will likely receive one-third of the vote in November, but Democratic strategists nonetheless believe they can hold the seat.

Rep. Dan Boren (D) is arguably the most conservative Democrat in Congress and has had no trouble winning…

Kentucky House: Republicans Battle to Replace Davis

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 20, 2012 · 11:57 AM EDT

Rep. Geoff Davis caught many of his fellow Republicans off-guard when he decided not to seek reelection to a fifth term, but Davis leaves behind one of the most Republican seats in Kentucky. Since his 4th District seat isn’t vulnerable to a Democratic takeover, the May 22 winner-take-all primary…

New Mexico 1: Democratic (Not-So) Civil War

by Jessica Taylor April 20, 2012 · 11:56 AM EDT

Once upon a time, the Albuquerque desert was home to one of the nation’s top political fights. This year, the heat’s being turned up in the 1st District Democratic primary, but it will likely fade after the June 5 primary as this once-battleground seat drops off the list of…

Arkansas House: Razorback Red

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 20, 2012 · 11:55 AM EDT

With control of the governorship and the Legislature, Democrats were in prime position to take back at least a couple of seats they lost in 2010 in Arkansas.

But local Democratic cartographers didn’t see eye to eye with Democratic strategists in D.C. and drew a map that could…

Don’t Believe the Anti-Incumbent Narrative

by Stuart Rothenberg April 20, 2012 · 9:54 AM EDT

Though it probably won’t start for a few more days, the “anti-incumbent election” narrative will grow loud during the next few weeks, as a handful of Members of Congress find themselves in tough races. It won’t matter whether they are defeated in primaries or just squeeze through in tight,…

Arizona 8 Special: Table Set for Giffords’ Seat

by Jessica Taylor April 18, 2012 · 11:59 AM EDT

The nominees are in place for the highly competitive Arizona special election to replace former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D), as 2010 GOP nominee Jesse Kelly cruised to an expected primary win on Tuesday. 

Kelly took 36 percent of the vote. His next closest competitor was retired Air Force…