Senate News & Analysis

Why can’t Latinos get elected to the US Senate?

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 15, 2013 · 2:00 PM EDT

Latinos are growing in population and electoral clout but can’t seem to grow their numbers in the U.S. Senate. And if Republican Gabriel Gomez doesn’t win next month’s special election in Massachusetts, it could be three more years before another Latino is added to the U.S. Senate.

Even…

Alaska Senate Poll: Far, Far Less Than Meets the Eye

by Stuart Rothenberg May 14, 2013 · 3:00 PM EDT

A Harper Polling survey conducted for the Tea Party Leadership Fund, an obscure conservative group that has supported Georgia Republican Rep. Paul Broun and Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul, is one of those polls probably meant for fundraising and little else.

Though writing about the poll…

Ratings Change: South Dakota Senate Moves to Toss-Up/Tilt Republican

May 13, 2013 · 10:55 AM EDT

Two of Democrats’ top picks to replace Sen. Tim Johnson (D) in South Dakota have declined to run, leaving the party’s hold on the seat in a precarious position. 

In the last few days, U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson, son of the senator, and former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin,…

Massachusetts Senate Special Election Race Still Looks Tight

by Stuart Rothenberg May 12, 2013 · 10:01 PM EDT

A new poll conducted for Republican Gabriel Gomez’s campaign shows Gomez trailing Democratic Rep. Ed Markey by just three points.

The May 5-7 poll of 800 likely special election voters by OnMessage, Inc., a Republican political consulting firm, found Markey leading Gomez 46 percent to 43 percent, with…

Can Republicans Win Six Senate Seats and Control?

by Stuart Rothenberg May 3, 2013 · 2:00 PM EDT

It’s still very early in the 2013-2014 election cycle and plenty can change in the months ahead, but Republicans start off looking poised to make considerable Senate gains. All eight of the most vulnerable Senate seats this cycle are currently held by Democrats, and five of those seats currently…

2014 Senate Overview (May 3, 2013) Alabama - Kansas

May 3, 2013 · 1:59 PM EDT

ALABAMA -- Jeff Sessions (R), elected 1996 (52%), 2002 (59%) and 2008 (63%).
The last Democratic Senate nominee to win over 40 percent of the vote in Alabama was Roger Bedford in 1996 (45.5 percent). Sessions’ March 30 FEC report showed him with just over $2.8 million in…

2014 Senate Overview (May 3, 2013) Kentucky - New Mexico

May 3, 2013 · 1:58 PM EDT

KENTUCKY -- Mitch McConnell (R), elected 1984 (50%), 1990 (52%), 1996 (55%), 2002 (65%), 2008 (53%).
McConnell started the cycle with the threat of competitive primary and general elections and his re-election campaign is well underway. His improved relationship with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), hiring Paul’s campaign manager,…

2014 Senate Overview (May 3, 2013) North Carolina - Wyoming

May 3, 2013 · 1:57 PM EDT

NORTH CAROLINA -- Kay Hagan (D), elected 2008 (53%).
Given the GOP’s recent victories in the state, Hagan is almost guaranteed a serious challenge. Mitt Romney carried the state last year, and Republican Pat McCrory won the governorship in November. In addition, the GOP now controls both houses…

Don’t Write Off Massachusetts Senate Race Just Yet

by Stuart Rothenberg May 2, 2013 · 10:11 AM EDT

The Senate special election in Massachusetts took an interesting turn this week, when former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez drew more than 50 percent of the vote to win the GOP nomination.

Gomez will face Rep. Edward J. Markey on June 25. Markey won the Democratic nomination with 57…

The He Said, She Said of Gun Control: Get Over It

by Stuart Rothenberg April 24, 2013 · 11:34 AM EDT

The deep disappointment coming from the White House, gun control advocates and the parents of Newtown, Conn., at the demise of the Manchin-Toomey Senate compromise gun bill is understandable. But some of the rhetoric following the amendment’s defeat has been over the top.

Supporters of stricter gun control…