Senate News & Analysis

2018 Senate Overview (January 13, 2017) Oklahoma-Wyoming

by Nathan L. Gonzales January 13, 2017 · 1:57 PM EST

PENNSYLVANIA - Bob Casey, Jr. (D) elected 2006 (59%), 2012 (54%). With Trump’s 49-48 percent win over Clinton and Sen. Pat Toomey’s re-election in 2016, Republicans are feeling emboldened about their chances of defeating Casey next year. There was a moment when Casey’s 2012 race looked to be in some…

Montana Senate: GOP Chances Left in Zinke’s Wake?

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 20, 2016 · 4:00 PM EST

Nearly two years before Election Day 2018, some Republicans have already thrown in the towel on one of their top Senate takeover targets.  

Donald Trump’s selection of GOP Rep. Ryan Zinke to become the Secretary of the Interior creates yet another House open seat but essentially takes a potential…

Louisiana Runoffs Wrap 2016 Elections

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 20, 2016 · 3:55 PM EST

The electoral college votes have been cast, all of the close races concluded without extensive recounts and lawsuits, and the Louisiana runoffs are over, bringing an end to the 2016 elections.

GOP state Treasurer John Kennedy defeated Democrat Foster Campbell, 61-39 percent, on Dec. 10 in the final Senate contest…

Reid Boasts About Not Going Back to Nevada

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 16, 2016 · 12:38 PM EST

Residency issues knocked out a handful of Harry Reid’s colleagues over the years, but the outgoing Senate Democratic leader didn’t even pretend that he got back to his home state of Nevada on a regular basis. 

“It’s amazing what I have not done,” said Reid in the recent cover story…

Pelosi Remains But ‘Winter is Coming’ for Democrats

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 7, 2016 · 9:08 AM EST

Nancy Pelosi survived her leadership election and will continue to lead House Democrats in the next Congress. But the fact that she received a credible challenge, who was supported by one-third of her members, is yet another sign that the times have changed for the Democratic Party.

For the last…

Donald Trump, Golden Shepherds, and the 2016 Election

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 2, 2016 · 3:00 PM EST

I missed it. The most important election of my kids’ lifetimes and I missed it. I just didn’t see how the Golden Shepherd would defeat the Monarch Butterfly to become the official mascot of their public elementary school.

All the data pointed to a Monarch victory. A majority of the…

Louisiana Runoffs Shape Republicans on the Hill

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 2, 2016 · 2:59 PM EST

There was a chance the entire nation would descend on Louisiana for a December runoff that would decide control of the Senate. But Republicans’ strong performance on Nov. 8, including holding the majority and electing Donald Trump president, all-but-ended interest in the upcoming runoff in the Bayou State.

But two…

Electoral Fallout from Trump’s Cabinet Selections

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 2, 2016 · 2:58 PM EST

Donald Trump’s election sent shockwaves across the country and in Washington, D.C. Now his cabinet selections are having a ripple effect on Capitol Hill as he plucks Members to fill key slots. 

Some of his staffing decisions are more concrete than others, but here is an initial look at the…

Senate Goes Down to the Wire…and Beyond

by Nathan L. Gonzales November 3, 2016 · 4:00 PM EDT

Those of you wanting to know which party controls the Senate before you go to bed on Election Night might be sorely disappointed, or at least very tired. 

Just days away from Nov. 8, there are an extraordinary number of close races. The fight for the Senate has settled to…

Stakes Get Higher in Fight for the Senate

by Nathan L. Gonzales October 21, 2016 · 3:00 PM EDT

As the presidential race looks increasingly over, the fight for the Senate rages on. GOP candidates continue to weather the Donald Trump storm but there is only so much they can withstand. 

Hillary Clinton’s significant advantage over Trump is impacting Senate races in at least a couple of ways. The…