House News & Analysis

New Hampshire 1: Open Seat Moves to Toss-Up

October 6, 2017 · 2:15 PM EDT

Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter’s retirement leaves an already competitive seat more vulnerable as an open seat, considering Donald Trump carried New Hampshire’s 1st District 48-46 percent in 2016. 
 
“I felt the tug of family at our reunion on Independence Day, and I have continued to feel it,”…

What Happened to Mountain Republicans in the South?

by Stuart Rothenberg October 3, 2017 · 1:11 PM EDT

Even when Democrats dominated the so-called Solid South, the GOP showed strength in mountain areas of the region. Northwestern Arkansas, eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina and western Virginia all had substantial Republican sympathies.

But now that the national Republican Party has transitioned from the Party of Lincoln to the party…

LGBTQ Women Balance Opportunity, Possible Extinction in Congress

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 21, 2017 · 9:41 AM EDT

It’s been almost 20 years since Tammy Baldwin’s historic election, yet just one woman has followed her through the LGBTQ glass ceiling. And if both women lose competitive races in 2018, the next Congress could be without any LGBTQ women.

While the lack of LGBTQ women in Congress is inextricably…

Kansas 2nd and 3rd:  A Sliver of Blue in Trump Country?

by Leah Askarinam September 15, 2017 · 2:28 PM EDT

At the moment, it’s good to be a Republican in Kansas. Since 2010, Republicans have won every statewide election and the GOP holds all six of Kansas’s federal offices, including both Senate seats and the state’s four congressional districts.

But President Donald Trump’s mediocre job rating will test the Republican…

Candidate Conversation - Mike Levin (D)

September 15, 2017 · 2:27 PM EDT

Candidate for California’s 49th District

Interview Date: Sept. 13, 2017

Date of Birth: Oct. 10, 1978; Long Beach, Calif.

Education: Stanford (2001), Duke Law (2005)

Political Office: None; First run for office

Current Outlook: Levin is a top contender in the southern California district which includes part of Orange and…

Candidate Consversation - Tod Curtis (D)

September 15, 2017 · 2:26 PM EDT

Candidate for Indiana’s 9th District

Interview Date: Sept. 8, 2017

Date of Birth: March 29, 1972; Bedford, Ind.

Education: Indiana Univ.-Bloomington (1993, dental school 1997, Masters in Computer Science 2012); Univ of Iowa (Masters in Orthodontics, 1999)

Political Office: None; First run for office.

Current Outlook: Curtis is one of…

Candidate Conversation - Liz Watson (D)

September 15, 2017 · 2:25 PM EDT

Candidate for Indiana’s 9th District

Interview Date: Sept. 12, 2017

Date of Birth: Dec. 9, 1974; St. Louis, Missouri

Education: Carleton College (1996); Georgetown law school (2000)

Political Office: None; First run for office

Current Outlook: Watson is one of three credible Democratic candidates vying for the right to take…

‘Scam PACs’ Strike Again in Utah, Wisconsin

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 13, 2017 · 12:31 PM EDT

Mysterious and misleading political action committees are nothing new, but two recent examples demonstrate just how brazen some PACs are becoming in their money-grabbing email pitches.

“BREAKING: Sheriff Clarke Resigned,” announced the subject line of a Sept. 2 email from the Sheriff David Clarke for U.S. Senate (Official Draft Campaign).…

PA-15 Rating Change: Dent Retirement Puts Seat in Play

September 8, 2017 · 11:00 AM EDT

Pennsylvania Rep. Charlie Dent capped a tumultuous week for Republicans on the Hill by announcing he would not seek re-election in 2018, leaving his 15th District open and vulnerable to a Democratic takeover.

Dent’s decision is the biggest news to come out of Allentown since earlier this summer when…

The House Retirement Tide Is Coming

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 7, 2017 · 10:24 AM EDT

A large crop of House members are likely to retire in the coming months, not necessarily because President Donald Trump is polarizing, the parties are divided, or Capitol Hill is “dysfunctional” — but because 40 years of history tell us it’s going to happen.

Since 1976, 22 House members, on…