Selected Tuesday Primary Results
Jun 09, 2010

As promised in my last post, selected results from yesterday's primaries are after the jump

Tuesday’s Primary Results – What Do They Tell Us?
Jun 09, 2010

In one of the busiest voting days of the year, 8 states held primary elections yesterday.  The only busier voting day before the general elections on November 2nd will be September 14th, when 8 states and the District of Columbia go to the polls.  With so many elections being held, is there a message that can be drawn to make a prediction for what will happen in November.

The only message that can be drawn from yesterday’s elections is that there is no single overarching narrative for the 2010 elections.

Why Republicans are Likely to Win in Hawaii Tomorrow – And Why You Shouldn’t Care
May 21, 2010

On Saturday there will be a special election in Hawaii to fill the congressional seat being left open by Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D), who resigned to run for Governor.  All indications are that the election will be won by Republican businessman Charles Djou.

This is not a seat that should be won by Republicans.  It is solidly Democratic, and, in fact, is the home district of Barack Obama.  However, a Republican win here is due entirely to circumstances unique to this election.  Any attempt to portray this election as an indicator of the national mood or Republican prospects in November should be studiously ignored.

Lessons from Tuesday’s Elections – This is not 1994
May 20, 2010

Political professionals were looking at the primary and special elections held on Tuesday as the single most telling indicator of what the dynamics will be for the general elections in November.  So now that the results are in, what conclusions can we draw?

Republicans were hoping that Tuesday’s elections would confirm their hope that a nationwide wave, similar to that in the 1994 elections, is building which would lead to landslide Republican victories in November and returning them control of the House of Representatives.  Tuesday’s elections seriously undermined this narrative.

In the House - House Election News - Dems Fear Scott Brown Redux
Apr 08, 2010

Nervous Democrats Eye May Special Elections

Politico is reporting that Democratic strategists are nervous about upcoming special elections in Hawaii and Pennsylvania.  Both seats have been held by Democrats for years – Neil Abercombie in Hawaii, who is running for Governor (not Senate as originally posted - sorry for the typo - Guy) and the recently deceased John Murtha in Pennsylvania.  Democrats fear that circumstances unique to these congressional districts could spur Republican wins next month.  If that were to happen the national media might portray the elections as indications that there is a nation-wide anti-Obama mood, which might lead to widespread Democratic losses in November.

In the House – House Election News – All About the Benjamins
Mar 25, 2010

NRCC Outraises DCCC

As FEC fundraising reports for February roll in, the National Republican Campaign Committee has outraised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee – the first report in qjuite some time where they have done so.  The NRCC reported raising $5.1 million to the DCCCs’ $4.4 million.  The DCCC still dwarfs the NRCC in cash-on-hand however, $19.8 million to $6 million.

It will be interesting to see how the Democrats’ victory on health care reform affects both parties’ fundraising.  As the health care vote only happened at the end of March, however, we probably won’t see this reflected until April numbers are reported.

In The House - House Election News - Down on the boardwalk they're gettin’ ready for a fight
Mar 18, 2010

New Jersey Primary is Back On!

I blogged a few weeks ago that Republicans had avoided a nasty primary fight in NJ-03.  Oops!  Looks like I spoke to soon.  2008 candidate Justin Murphy  announced his candidacy last week.

Murphy was quick to attack his Republican opponent, ex-Philadelphia Eagle Jon Runyan, for lacking “substance” and coming late to the game, “while he's been a registered Republican for three months, I've been a registered Republican for 30 years."  He plans to attack Runyan from the right.  Sounds like it could get nasty.

Whoever wins will face freshman Rep. John Adler (D) who was endorsed by Council for a Livable World in 2008.

Grayson Goes on Offense
Mar 15, 2010

Florida Rep. Alan Grayson (Council-endorsee 2008) usually holds little back when it comes to his opposition, but his recent newsletter response to a visit by Sarah Palin goes beyond even those standards. A few highlights:

Palin, the former half-term Governor, current-nothing and future-even-less, charmed the all-Republican audience with her folksy folksiness and her homespun homespunnery. Atypically, Palin was wearing clothes that she had paid for herself. At the end of the event, she shared her recipe for mooseface pie.

In response to Palin's attack on Rep Grayson, Grayson actually complimented Palin. Grayson praised Palin for having a hand large enough to fit Grayson's entire name on it. He thanked Palin for alleviating the growing shortage of platitudes in Central Florida. Grayson added that Palin deserved credit for getting through the entire hour-long program without quitting. Grayson also said that Palin really had mastered Palin's imitation of Tina Fey imitating Palin. Grayson observed that Palin is the most-intelligent leader that the Republican Party has produced since George W. Bush.

Click here to read the rest.

In the House - House Election News - Cattle Call on Cape Cod
Mar 11, 2010

I blogged earlier about rumors that Rep. Delahunt was considering retiring from his seat in eastern Massachusetts.  Last week, Delahunt confirmed the rumors by announcing he will not run for reelection in 2010.  Republicans, energized by Sen. Scott Murphy’s upset in January’s special Senate election, smell a pick-up opportunity.

Open seats are a rarity in Massachusetts and potential contenders are lining up on both sides.

The Massa Mess
Mar 11, 2010

UPDATE: John Stewart turns lemons into lemonade

The Massa Mess

If you read last week’s In the House we brought you the breaking news that upstate New York Rep. Eric Massa (D) was retiring.  In days since that post, the situation has morphed into an epic beltway sex scandal.  Massa has now resigned his seat and salacious revelations dominate the news.

A Google search for “Eric Massa” will bring up plenty of details, but a quick outline of recent developments is after the jump.