House News & Analysis

Oklahoma House: Incumbent Sullivan’s Unexpected Loss

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 27, 2012 · 11:57 AM EDT

In one of the most surprising outcomes of this election cycle, Rep. John Sullivan lost in the GOP primary in Oklahoma’s 1st District. Like his colleague in Ohio, Rep. Jean Schmidt, Sullivan didn’t take his primary race seriously enough from the beginning and, by the time he figured out…

Colorado 5: Lamborn Defeats Wealthy Challenger

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 27, 2012 · 11:56 AM EDT

Every incumbent isn’t going to lose and the candidate that spends the most money doesn’t always win. Those are just two lessons learned from the Republican primary in Colorado’s 5th District, where Rep. Doug Lamborn defeated wealthy businessman Robert Blaha, 61 percent to 39 percent.

Early on primary…

South Carolina House: Rice Measures the Drapes

by Jessica Taylor June 27, 2012 · 11:55 AM EDT

For a race that had plenty of twists and turns in its final month, the runoff in South Carolina’s new 7th District was almost anticlimactic. Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice (R) and former Georgia state Rep. Gloria Tinubu (D) are now set to face off this fall, and…

Michigan: Big House Battles

by Jessica Taylor June 15, 2012 · 11:59 AM EDT

   Michigan offers a little bit of everything this year: a competitive general election in the 1st District that is the type of seat Democrats need to play in to take back the House, a long-time GOP incumbent being challenged by an outsider, a competitive Democratic primary, a member…

House Primaries: Democrats Continue to Struggle to Get Their Candidates

June 13, 2012 · 11:44 AM EDT

Democrats’ path ahead in targeted House races got even more difficult Tuesday night, as the party’s preferred candidates failed to advance to the general election in South Carolina and Arkansas.

In the Palmetto State, former Georgia (yes, Georgia) state Rep. Gloria Tinubu appeared to win the Democratic nomination…

Can Any of These House Underdogs Survive?

by Stuart Rothenberg June 8, 2012 · 1:48 PM EDT

Remember their names: Reps. Charles Bass (R-N.H.), John Barrow (D-Ga.), Bobby Schilling (R-Ill.), Jim Matheson (D-Utah) and Robert Dold (R-Ill.).

If any of these five House incumbents survive, it will surprise most dispassionate observers (including some in their own parties). But upsets happen, and each of these candidates…

IE Strategy Borders on Art Form

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 8, 2012 · 10:32 AM EDT

Today’s “independent expenditure” isn’t as independent as you might think.

As this fall’s battle for the House and Senate comes into focus, party strategists on both sides of the aisle can, and often do, communicate, even though there is a “wall” separating the official side of the parties’…

New Mexico: Senate Race Set, Grisham Wins Three-Way Primary

by Jessica Taylor June 6, 2012 · 11:57 AM EDT

The Republican candidate that cries “conservative” the loudest doesn’t always win the primary.

Child care center owner Greg Sowards, who had the support of Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), tried to run to the right of Heather Wilson but the former congresswoman prevailed with almost 70 percent of the…

Voters Set General Election Stage in Montana, South Dakota

by Jessica Taylor June 6, 2012 · 11:56 AM EDT

The stage is set for a competitive governor’s race in Montana this fall, with both Attorney General Steve Bullock (D) and former Rep. Rick Hill (R) easily dispatching with their primary challengers. We continue to rate the race as a Pure Toss-Up as Republicans try to take the governorship…

New York House: Empire State of Mind

by Jessica Taylor June 1, 2012 · 11:59 AM EDT

After the 2010 elections, New York sent six GOP freshman to Congress -- more than any other state. But most of them won close, upset contests and after redistricting didn’t do Republicans any favors, Democrats believe their fortunes improve in a presidential year and with a new congressional map…