House News & Analysis

Are GOP Freshmen Ready to Rumble in 2012?

by Stuart Rothenberg March 21, 2011 · 12:00 PM EDT

Redistricting may ultimately save some Republican House freshmen who were elected through no fault of their own. But that isn’t stopping GOP insiders from worrying whether freshmen who were swept up on the beach by the strong November tide understand why they won and what they need to do…

New York 26: Democrats to Nominate Hochul on Sunday

by Nathan L. Gonzales March 19, 2011 · 1:45 PM EDT

Democratic leaders in New York’s 26th district will officially nominate Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul on Sunday evening, according to a knowledgeable source.

Hochul will face state Assemblywoman Jane Corwin (R) in the special election to replace ex-Rep. Chris Lee (R), who resigned after he allegedly contacted a…

The Great Disappearing Act of Nancy Pelosi

by Stuart Rothenberg March 9, 2011 · 10:00 AM EST

It didn’t take the communications team of the National Republican Congressional Committee very long to distribute a Roll Call article titled “Pelosi Finds Her Footing as Democrats’ Attack Dog.”

NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay said in the e-mail that his committee was “pleased” to see the story and…

New York 26: Waiting for Hoffman

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 25, 2011 · 3:00 PM EST

If a shirtless photo of a married GOP congressman on Craig’s List didn’t keep Republican operatives up at night, the prospect of another special election in New York might do the trick.

Cong. Chris Lee abruptly resigned just hours after the story broke that he was sending provocative…

California 36: Beachfront Property

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 25, 2011 · 2:59 PM EST

It only took a month of the 112th Congress for Jane Harman to decide she’d had enough.

Just a few weeks into her ninth term, the Democratic congresswoman announced she’d be resigning her seat in order to take a job at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.

Personal Take on Brain Injuries and Senate Bids

by Stuart Rothenberg February 18, 2011 · 11:01 AM EST

While the buzz is still only a whisper, the idea that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) might be well enough to run for Arizona’s open Senate seat next year is suddenly a hot topic.

Giffords’ “rapid recovery from the shooting creates at least the possibility that she could make…

Change on the Horizon for House Democrats

by Stuart Rothenberg February 16, 2011 · 8:36 AM EST

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will celebrate her 71st birthday next month. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will be 72 in June. And Assistant Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) turns 71 in July.

The young buck of the Democratic Party’s House leadership is Democratic Caucus Chairman John…

New York 26: Yet Another Special Election

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 9, 2011 · 11:20 PM EST

GOP Cong. Chris Lee’s resignation from Congress sets up yet another House special election in New York. The married congressman left office soon after the story broke that he was pursuing a date with a woman on Craig’s List, including sending a shirtless photo of himself to her.

Beware of Ad Campaigns With More Bark Than Bite

by Nathan L. Gonzales February 4, 2011 · 9:44 AM EST

If a campaign ad airs and no one hears it, does it exist? Partisan strategists are determined to find out.

As part of a new “Drive to 25” campaign, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee unveiled an “advertising and grassroots campaign” to hold Republican incumbents “accountable for choosing a…

Are We Headed for Four Wave Elections in a Row?

by Stuart Rothenberg February 3, 2011 · 8:50 AM EST

Our current streak of “wave” elections — where one party experiences a net loss of at least 20 House seats and the other party has minimal losses — now stands at three (31 seats in 2006, 20 seats in 2008 and 63 seats in 2010), a remarkable string given…