Inside Elections

2012 House Ratings (May 16, 2011)

May 16, 2011 · 11:10 AM EDT

For Some in Senate, Losing Once Is Way to Win

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 16, 2011 · 9:44 AM EDT

For the world’s most exclusive club, the Senate sure has a lot of losers.

Almost a dozen Senators lost their first races for the Senate only to come back later in their careers and win. This cycle, a trio of Republicans are trying to join the club.

“Losing was probably the best thing that…

Wisconsin Senate: Moved from Safe Democrat to Lean Democrat

May 13, 2011 · 10:44 AM EDT

The retirement of Sen. Herb Kohl (D) forces Democrats to defend yet another open seat in a competitive state. The likable, wealthy senator, who was first elected in 1988, hasn’t had a particularly difficult race since his first race, so the open seat significantly improves GOP prospects.

Still,…

2012 Senate Ratings (May 13, 2011)

May 13, 2011 · 10:43 AM EDT

Debt Limit Vote: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

by Stuart Rothenberg May 13, 2011 · 10:17 AM EDT

Forget the fights over health care reform, the extension of the Bush tax cuts and any other controversy previously billed by the media as The Big One. The vote on raising the debt limit is so politically significant that any other Capitol Hill fight we have witnessed of late pales in comparison.

House Ratings: New Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas districts added

May 12, 2011 · 12:15 PM EDT

The entire election cycle on the House side is delayed due to redistricting. Without the new congressional maps, potential candidates remain on the sidelines and it’s very difficult to handicap races.

Over the last couple of weeks, Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma completed new maps. But…

2012 House Ratings (May 12, 2011)

May 12, 2011 · 12:14 PM EDT

Don’t Start Planning Obama Inauguration Yet

by Stuart Rothenberg May 11, 2011 · 10:58 AM EDT

While few are saying it openly, many I talk with sound as if there is no need to wait until November 2012 to declare President Barack Obama winner of a second term.

Given the killing of Osama bin Laden, the expected $1 billion war chest of the president’s re-election campaign, the…

New Mexico Senate: Open for Business

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 9, 2011 · 3:29 PM EDT

It looks like we’ve seen this movie before in New Mexico, but Republicans are hoping it’s a sequel rather than a re-run. 

For almost 30 years, the Land of Enchantment had the same two U.S. senators. Now, for the second time in three election cycles, an open seat gives the opposing party a…

Arkansas Districts: Delayed Gratification

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 9, 2011 · 3:28 PM EDT

The new congressional map in Arkansas is just a few weeks old but the parties already disagree on who will win the battle.

The Razorback State was a rare opportunity for Democrats to take advantage of the redistricting process, since they control both houses of the state Legislature and the…