Senate News & Analysis

Report Shorts (October 16, 2015)

October 16, 2015 · 2:57 PM EDT

California’s 21st District. Democratic accountant Connie Perez entered the race against GOP Rep. David Valadao in the Central Valley district. But, unfortunately for Democrats, history may be repeating itself. 

Valadao represents a Democratic district (President Barack Obama received 55 percent in 2012), but the congressman has proven to be a…

Report Shorts (October 1, 2015)

October 1, 2015 · 3:57 PM EDT

Arizona’s 2nd District. Democrats are targeting GOP Rep. Martha McSally after she knocked off Democratic Rep. Ron Barber in a close race last year. Republicans recently released a handful of automated polls which showed McSally and some of her vulnerable colleagues start the general election in decent shape for…

Does Voter Anger Explain the Success of Presidential Outsiders?

by Stuart Rothenberg September 29, 2015 · 10:58 AM EDT

Those of us who report on and analyze politics for a living have been talking ad nauseam about voters’ frustration and anger.

It’s the hot topic that presumably explains Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Bernard Sanders, as well as the problems that political veterans such as Hillary Rodham Clinton…

Young, Ambitious and Wealthy Isn’t Enough in Arkansas

by Stuart Rothenberg September 24, 2015 · 11:17 AM EDT

Former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge announced on Sept. 9 he will seek the Arkansas Democratic Senate nomination and the right to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. John Boozman in 2016.

Writing in the Arkansas Times before Eldridge entered the race, veteran political journalist Max Brantley observed the Democrat would be…

Indiana Reps Still Wrestling With Residency

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 21, 2015 · 9:00 AM EDT

For some members of Congress with young families, getting elected is the easy part; deciding whether to move your family to Washington is more difficult.

Members of the Indiana delegation have been wrestling with the decision for decades, in a state where residency consistently pops up as a campaign…

Florida Senate: Too Big to Fail

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 18, 2015 · 3:00 PM EDT

Marco Rubio didn’t have to give up his Senate seat to run for president, but he wanted to give Republicans the best opportunity to avoid Florida falling into Democratic hands and putting the majority at risk. We’ll see if it works out that way. 

Once again, Florida will be at…

Report Shorts (September 18, 2015)

September 18, 2015 · 2:58 PM EDT

Arkansas Senate. Former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge announced his challenge to Sen. John Boozman. “Washington is broken,” the 37-year-old Democrat said in a boilerplate release. “I’m running for the Senate because I’m committed to doing everything I can to fix it for Arkansas and for our country.” 

“I would…

Wisconsin Senate: Badger State Battle, Part 2

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 4, 2015 · 2:30 PM EDT

We’ve seen this movie before, where Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Russ Feingold battle for a Senate seat in Wisconsin. But Democrats are hoping next year’s sequel has an alternate ending.

The 2010 cycle was historic for Republicans as they roared back into the House majority and gained six…

Report Shorts (Minnesota 2, North Dakota Governor Senate, Washington 8 Governor

September 4, 2015 · 2:28 PM EDT

Minnesota’s 2nd District. GOP Rep. John Kline announced his retirement on Thursday, leaving open a competitive district that President Barack Obama won narrowly, 49.1 percent to 49 percent, in 2012. Democrats had two credible challengers in the race already, but it will take some time as potential candidates on…

Louisiana Governor: Does David Vitter Have Something to Worry About?

by Stuart Rothenberg September 2, 2015 · 9:57 AM EDT

Two-term Republican Sen. David Vitter started his bid for Louisiana governor as a solid, if not prohibitive, favorite. But Pelican State watchers believe that Vitter’s prospects look less certain now than they did six months ago.

Does Vitter really have something to worry about? The answer to that question…