Senate News & Analysis

Montana Senate: Democrats Start From Scratch

by Stuart Rothenberg July 19, 2013 · 2:57 PM EDT

The announcement by former governor Brian Schweitzer that he won’t seek the Democratic nomination for Senate next year certainly shakes up the contest to fill the open seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Max Baucus.

After Baucus announced his retirement in April, Democratic insiders seemed quite confident that Schweitzer…

Montana Senate Rating: Move or Reaffirm?

by Stuart Rothenberg July 18, 2013 · 9:17 AM EDT

Since Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., announced he would not seek re-election in late April, we have rated the Montana Senate race as a Pure Tossup — a reflection of our uncertainty about the Democratic candidacy of former Gov. Brian Schweitzer.

Yes, Schweitzer has always seemed ambitious. And yes,…

Despite Primary, Rounds Remains Favorite in South Dakota

by Stuart Rothenberg July 15, 2013 · 11:42 AM EDT

State Sen. Larry Rhoden’s formal entry into the South Dakota GOP Senate race doesn’t fundamentally change the Republican contest. Former Gov. Mike Rounds remains the party’s favorite for the nomination and for the general election.

Some conservatives are still looking for an alternative to Rounds, whom they…

Gay Couples Could Face Different Campaign Money Rules Across States

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 11, 2013 · 9:30 AM EDT

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, gay candidates and their spouses could face different campaign finance guidelines depending on their state.

Earlier this month, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent an advisory opinion request to the Federal…

Rating Alison Lundergan Grimes’ Chances in Kentucky

by Stuart Rothenberg July 10, 2013 · 9:30 AM EDT

Does the candidacy of Kentucky Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, who is challenging Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, change McConnell’s re-election prospects? The answer depends on whether you think she will be 2014’s version of Linda Lingle or Heidi Heitkamp.

Lingle, a former two-term Republican governor of Hawaii, was…

Democrats Rally Against Bill Clinton’s Record

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 5, 2013 · 9:30 AM EDT

What do you call a politician who supports the Defense of Marriage Act and a balanced federal budget? Today, that describes a conservative Republican. Sixteen years ago, that was a two-term Democratic president.

Bill Clinton is a rock star among Democrats. He’s one of the most requested politicians…

It’s Uphill All the Way for Social Conservatives

by Stuart Rothenberg July 3, 2013 · 10:17 AM EDT

Although the seemingly unstoppable march of cultural liberalism took pause during the years of Ronald Reagan and even into the 1990s, it is back on track. Liberals will applaud it and conservatives will dread it, but it is silly to deny its strength.

Television and movies reflect our…

Massachusetts Senate Moves to Safe After Markey Win

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 2, 2013 · 11:04 AM EDT

After three consecutive competitive Senate elections in Massachusetts, it looks like we’re in for a dry spell.

Rep. Edward J. Markey, a Democrat, won the June 25 special election by a convincing 10 points, and there is little evidence he will be vulnerable when the seat is up…

Massachusetts’ Unspecial Senate Election

by Stuart Rothenberg June 28, 2013 · 1:56 PM EDT

Democrat Ed Markey’s victory over Republican Gabriel Gomez in this week’s special election in Massachusetts may well have been inevitable, considering the state’s strong Democratic bent, the decision by national Democratic strategists to do anything and everything that they needed to do to keep the seat, and the hesitancy…

Gomez-Sanford Comparison on Obamacare Fails the Smell Test

by Stuart Rothenberg June 28, 2013 · 9:53 AM EDT

You only need to look at the first paragraph of an “opinion” piece on Roll Call’s website to see that it wasn’t worthy of being posted on our website – or anyone’s. I’m not even going to include a link because I don’t want anyone to read it.