Senate News & Analysis

Indiana Senate: New Sheriff in Town?

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 10, 2010 · 3:01 PM EDT

Democrats weren’t supposed to be worried about Indiana this year, since Sen. Evan Bayh (D) looked like a sure bet for reelection initially, even with a deteriorating national political environment.

But then Bayh shocked the political world by announcing his retirement, leaving Democrats scrambling to find a replacement…

Nevada Senate: Know When to Fold ’Em

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 10, 2010 · 3:00 PM EDT

Democrats are in danger of losing their second Senate majority leader in a decade.

Republicans knocked off South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle (D) in 2004, but they did it with a popular former congressman who had previously been elected statewide. This year in Nevada, Senate Majority Leader Harry…

Why Illinois Senate Is a Tossup but N.H. Isn’t

by Stuart Rothenberg May 7, 2010 · 1:51 PM EDT

Not long ago, my friends over at the Cook Political Report moved the Illinois Senate race from Tossup to Leans Republican, a significant development in my eyes.

Shortly after that development, my newsletter moved the New Hampshire Senate race from Tossup to Narrow Advantage for the incumbent party…

On, Wisconsin: Feingold Return No Sure Thing

by Stuart Rothenberg May 5, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

When former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) announced recently that he wouldn’t enter the 2010 Senate race and challenge Sen. Russ Feingold (D), many of us crossed the state off our list of competitive races.

Maybe we were a bit premature.

Two more Republicans — former state…

Crist Switcheroo: Likely Less Than Meets the Eye

by Stuart Rothenberg April 30, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

Now that multiple reports indicate that Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has decided to drop his GOP Senate candidacy and run for the state’s open Senate seat as an Independent, we are in for saturation coverage about what it means for the race, for the Republican Party and for Rep.…

Obama State Directors on Front Lines of 2010

April 29, 2010 · 4:08 PM EDT

The men and women who served as state directors for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign were on the front lines of one of the best-run political operations in recent history.

After Obama’s victory, more than a dozen of them took jobs in the administration. But another group couldn’t…

Could Lieberman Hold the Senate’s Balance of Power After November?

April 26, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

As the midterms approach and substantial GOP Senate gains seem inevitable, more attention will fall on Connecticut’s soon-to-be-senior Senator, Joe Lieberman (ID). That’s because Lieberman, one of two Independents in the Senate, could become a major target of Republicans if they net nine seats in the midterms.

If…

Arkansas Senate: One Big (Not So Happy) Family

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 23, 2010 · 3:00 PM EDT

Republicans couldn’t even get a candidate to run for the U.S. Senate against Mark Pryor (D) last cycle, but this year, a half-dozen Republicans are vying for the right to take on Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D), who has a primary of her own from the lieutenant governor.

Oh…

PA Senate Polling: Burn After Reading?

by Nathan L. Gonzales April 9, 2010 · 9:00 AM EDT

With the proliferation of polling this cycle, political junkies, journalists and party strategists are swimming in a sea of numbers. With each new survey that is released, the party that is ahead touts the results while the party that trails disparages and discounts the pollster. Rinse and repeat.

Cuomo Endorses Castle?

April 8, 2010 · 4:00 PM EDT

Doing a little spring cleaning this week, I came across New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s book, Crossroads: The Future of American Politics, written and edited in the wake of Cuomo’s primary loss in the 2002 gubernatorial race.

Since he is the heavy favorite to win…