Inside Elections

2014 House Ratings (March 28, 2014)

March 28, 2014 · 11:41 AM EDT

Democrats’ Growing Problems With Independent Voters on the Senate Map

by Stuart Rothenberg March 26, 2014 · 9:45 AM EDT

While the nation’s (and news media’s) focus on Malaysian Airlines flight 370 gave Democrats a couple of weeks to catch their collective breath, the 2014 election cycle continues to look increasingly dangerous for President Barack Obama and his party.

The most recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal…

Memo to Democrats: Running Toward Barack Obama Might Work

by Nathan L. Gonzales March 21, 2014 · 10:13 AM EDT

Should vulnerable Democratic incumbents in Republican-leaning districts run from President Barack Obama? The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza did a good job of explaining the futility of the strategy in his Tuesday post, “Memo to Democrats: Running from Barack Obama Won’t Work.”

There is an…

Colorado Senate Race Firmly on Senate Battlefield

by Nathan L. Gonzales March 20, 2014 · 9:58 AM EDT

Colorado Democratic Sen. Mark Udall never had intimidating poll numbers this cycle, but uncertainty about the GOP primary raised questions about the seriousness of the Republican threat to him. But all that changed when Republican Rep. Cory Gardner decided to run for the Senate in Colorado.

His…

Another Cycle, Another Poll Memo About Florida’s 2nd District

by Stuart Rothenberg March 19, 2014 · 10:05 AM EDT

Democratic memos about the party’s optimistic prospects in Florida’s 2nd district never die. They simply fade away until the next election cycle, when a new one miraculously surfaces.

This cycle, the memo is from Anzalone Liszt Grove Research, and it insists that the Democratic nominee for…

Road Gets Tougher for Democratic Majority in the Senate

by Stuart Rothenberg March 14, 2014 · 4:00 PM EDT

The landscape that defines the fight for the Senate continues to shift in a way that benefits Republicans, though it isn’t yet clear how fully they can take advantage of the opportunity.

President Barack Obama’s job ratings continue to range from mediocre to troubling, and a GOP recruiting…

2014 Senate Overview (March 14, 2014) Alabama - Kansas

March 14, 2014 · 3:59 PM EDT

ALABAMA -- Jeff Sessions (R), elected 1996 (52%), 2002 (59%) and 2008 (63%). April 4 filing deadline, June 3 primary, July 15 runoff. The last Democratic Senate nominee to win over 40 percent of the vote in Alabama was Roger Bedford in 1996 (45.5 percent). Sessions’ December 31 FEC report showed…

2014 Senate Overview (March 14, 2014) Kentucky - New Mexico

March 14, 2014 · 3:58 PM EDT

KENTUCKY -- Mitch McConnell (R), elected 1984 (50%), 1990 (52%), 1996 (55%), 2002 (65%), 2008 (53%). May 20 primary. Senate Minority Leader McConnell continues to fight a two-front war in his effort to win a sixth term. Primary challenger Matt Bevin has personal resources (he put $600,000 into…

2014 Senate Overview (March 14, 2014) North Carolina - Wyoming

by Stuart Rothenberg March 14, 2014 · 3:57 PM EDT

NORTH CAROLINA -- Kay Hagan (D), elected 2008 (53%). May 6 primary, July 15 runoff. Given the GOP’s recent victories in the state, Hagan had to expect a serious challenge. State House Speaker Thom Tillis is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination. Physician Greg Brannon (an OB/GYN) is running as…

2014 Senate Ratings (March 14, 2014)

March 14, 2014 · 3:55 PM EDT