House News & Analysis

2014 House Overview (September 27, 2013) Iowa - Oklahoma

September 27, 2013 · 2:58 PM EDT

Iowa (2R, 2D)
IA 1 (Open; Braley, D). Bruce Braley looks to have the cleared the Democratic field in the Senate race, but his congressional seat could get crowded. The Democratic field includes former state House Speaker Pat Murphy, Cedar Rapids City Councilor Monica Vernon, former state Sen.…

2014 House Overview (September 27, 2013) Oregon - Wyoming

September 27, 2013 · 2:57 PM EDT

Oregon (1R, 4D)
OR 4 (DeFazio, D). Former co-Speaker of the Oregon House Bruce Hanna (R) met with NRCC officials to explore a potential run against Peter DeFazio. President Obama only won the district with 52 percent in 2012, so there is the potential for a competitive race.…

5 Things Winning Candidates Say

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 27, 2013 · 9:57 AM EDT

After the overwhelming response to “10 Things Losing Candidates Say," I decided to try to turn it around and point out some common themes from winning candidates.

Of course these phrases don’t guarantee success — a candidate’s party and the partisanship of the state or district will…

Republicans Win Belated Legal Battles, but Elections Can’t Be Undone

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 26, 2013 · 12:14 PM EDT

You can’t rewrite history, but Republicans probably wish you could.

While two high-profile former GOP officeholders — Texas Rep. Tom DeLay and the late Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens — have now had their convictions overturned or dismissed, Republicans are still dealing with the political consequences.

It’s easy…

How Bad Is the GOP Rift? Worse Than Democrats in the 1980s

by Stuart Rothenberg September 25, 2013 · 4:18 PM EDT

Political parties seem to suffer through internal battles periodically, but the current state of the GOP is much worse than what Democrats went through some 25 years ago, when organized labor and old-style liberals fought against the Democratic Leadership Council for the soul of the party.

I still…

House Strategists Continue Search for 2014 Candidates

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 24, 2013 · 9:10 AM EDT

Roll Call's Kyle Trygstad nearly declared the end to the Senate recruitment season recently, but House strategists on both sides of the aisle still have their work cut out for them.

With a little more than a year before Election Day, Republican and Democratic operatives are searching…

Democrats Ready to Land Recruit in Elusive California District

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 20, 2013 · 9:51 AM EDT

It’s no secret Democrats whiffed at a huge opportunity in California’s 21st District last cycle. And while it’s taken them awhile to get their footing, it looks like they have found a candidate that could run a competitive race that matches the competitive district.

In 2012, Republican…

In TX, Latinos pass on opportunity to win congressional seat

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 17, 2013 · 10:17 AM EDT

Robert “Beto” O’Rourke defeated 16-year incumbent Silvestre Reyes in last year’s Democratic primary in a West Texas congressional district. Now the Anglo congressman is running for re-election in a district that is 78 percent Hispanic, but no Latino candidates are stepping up to challenge him next year.

Why…

Is Dan Benishek Waffling on Term Limits?

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 16, 2013 · 9:22 AM EDT

When Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Mich., first ran for office, he was a strong proponent of term limits. But now, the two-term Republican congressman’s stance is much less clear.

“Career-consumed politicians in Washington got us into the mess we are in today by voting for bills they haven’t read,…

Michigan 1: Benishek, Done That

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 11, 2013 · 2:00 PM EDT

Dr. Dan Benishek was a political newcomer swept into office in the Republican wave of 2010. Now in his second term, the GOP congressman is hoping to avoid the taint of the Beltway against a Democrat making his first run for higher office.

Benishek was re-elected last cycle…