Archive

Cornilles, Bonamici Move to January Special General Election in Oregon’s 1st

November 18, 2011 · 4:23 PM EST

State Sen. Suzanne Bonamici (D) and businessman Rob Cornilles (R) prevailed in November 4 primaries in the special election to replace Democrat David Wu.

Neither result was a surprise, but Bonamici’s margin was particularly impressive. She received 65% against Brad Avakian (22%) and Brad Witt…

Beshear (D) Easily Wins Re-Election in Kentucky

November 18, 2011 · 4:21 PM EST

Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear was easily reelected with 56% over state Senate President David WIlliams (R). Williams simply wasn’t likable enough to be a viable alternative to voters who may have been open to change. Months ago, Republicans were able to chip away at Beshear, but voters weren’t…

Bryant Elected Governor of Mississippi

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 18, 2011 · 4:20 PM EST

Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant (R) defeated Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree (D), 61%-39%, to succeed Gov. Haley Barbour (R). DuPree was extremely personable but was always going to have a tough time as an African-American candidate in a conservative, Southern state.

A Strange Way to Pick Presidential Candidates

by Stuart Rothenberg November 18, 2011 · 9:32 AM EST

Presidential debates, says NBC News Political Director and Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd, are now part of the winnowing process. Instead of going to a small state and wooing caucus-goers, Republican presidential hopefuls are going on national cable to see if they can resonate with…

Next in Line (Apparently) for GOP: Newt Gingrich

by Stuart Rothenberg November 16, 2011 · 10:39 AM EST

OK, I give up. I don’t know what the heck is going to happen in the Republican race.

Actually, the fundamentals of the race haven’t changed much, if you think about it. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney continues to appeal to about one-quarter of his party, with the other three-quarters…

House Overview: What’s In Play?

by Stuart Rothenberg November 15, 2011 · 9:34 AM EST

Aside from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (Calif.) prediction to ABC News back in early June that her party had “a very good chance of winning the House,” national Democrats have been cautious about predicting a takeover next November.

That’s the way it should be, of course, given that…

Is This the Ugliest Redistricting Cycle Ever?

by Stuart Rothenberg November 11, 2011 · 9:21 AM EST

Redistricting is always messy and partisan. But this redistricting cycle, which won’t be finished until sometime next year, is particularly ugly and hypocritical.

In Arizona, the governor, with the support of two-thirds of the state Senate, removed the chairman of her state’s redistricting…

For Bob McDonnell, VP Talk Won’t Go Away

by Stuart Rothenberg November 9, 2011 · 9:24 AM EST

If, as many Republicans hope and most GOP political operatives seem to expect, Virginia Republicans win enough seats tonight to take control of the state’s Senate, you will hear another round of talk about Gov. Bob McDonnell as a potential running mate for the Republican nominee in 2012.

A…

Hawaii Senate: Same Faces, Different Races

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 4, 2011 · 12:59 PM EDT

If Linda Lingle can’t win next year, it’s going to be a long time before Republicans ever get another senator from Hawaii.

A former two-term governor with a moderate image, Lingle gives Republicans a legitimate chance to win the open seat vacated by Sen. Daniel Akaka’s (D) retirement.

But…