House News & Analysis

2014 House Overview (June 14, 2013) Alabama - Indiana

June 14, 2013 · 12:59 PM EDT

Alabama (6 Republicans, 1 Democrat)
AL 1 (Open; Bonner, R). Special Election. Jo Bonner is expected to resign from Congress in mid-August in order to take a position with the University of Alabama system. Former state senator/2012 gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne is considered a very serious contender but…

2014 House Overview (June 14, 2013) Iowa - Oklahoma

June 14, 2013 · 12:58 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. Former state House Speaker Pat Murphy (D) and Cedar Rapids City Councilor Monica Vernon (D) are in, with Murphy…

2014 House Overview (June 14, 2013) Oregon - Wyoming

June 14, 2013 · 12:57 PM EDT

Oregon (1R, 4D)
OR 4 (DeFazio, D). 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. But…

Why Emasculating the Speaker Is Rarely a Good Idea

by Stuart Rothenberg June 14, 2013 · 9:17 AM EDT

They’re at it again.

Conservatives outside of Congress — including Heritage Action for America, the Club for Growth, Phyllis Schlafly, L. Brent Bozell, the Tea Party Express, Morton Blackwell, Richard Viguerie, Citizens United and the Traditional Values Coalition — have signed a letter in support of a…

When the Nation Has the Blahs …

by Stuart Rothenberg June 12, 2013 · 9:37 AM EDT

Is the nation suffering from a national case of hypochondria, or are Americans rightly worried about the country’s future?

The answer depends, in part, on your (political) point of view. But it’s also true that every bit of good news — rising home prices, rising stock prices and…

Brad Pitt and Minnesota’s 8th District

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 11, 2013 · 12:59 PM EDT

Just the name, Stewart Mills III, sounds like a stereotypical Republican, but the shoulder-length hair is evidence that he might be a different type of GOP candidate.

Mills is seriously considering challenging Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan in Minnesota’s 8th District, a large geographic district that includes The Iron…

Should Republicans Recruit a Candidate Against Their Own Incumbent?

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 6, 2013 · 10:46 AM EDT

Rep. Gary G. Miller, R-Calif., is one of Democrats’ top takeover targets in the House. But to hold his seat, GOP strategists might consider finding another Republican to run against him.

In 2012, Democrats had a math problem. Two Republicans and four Democrats ran in the same June…

Two Democratic House Challengers Worth Watching

by Stuart Rothenberg June 5, 2013 · 9:45 AM EDT

Democratic prospects of taking back the House in 2014 may be remote, but two Democratic congressional challengers I interviewed recently have the potential to knock off GOP incumbents next year. At the very least, their races are worth watching.

New York City Councilman Domenic Recchia is off and…

The Bachmann District: When a Retirement Changes Everything

by Stuart Rothenberg June 3, 2013 · 9:26 AM EDT

[Editor's Note: A day after this story was first published, Jim Graves dropped out of the race. Read on to see why.]

“Graves spokeswoman Julie Pearl said Bachmann’s retirement does not change the way Graves will run in the race, nor does the campaign feel…

New York 19: New Friend Request

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 31, 2013 · 2:00 PM EDT

Next year, voters in New York’s 19th District might complain about too many political ads, but they won’t be able to gripe about not having a clear choice.

Democrats are targeting Chris Gibson- a 49 year-old Republican who served 25 years in the Army before getting elected to…