Inside Elections

2016 Senate Ratings (June 3, 2016)

June 3, 2016 · 3:56 PM EDT

The Strategy That Could Have Taken Trump Down

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 3, 2016 · 9:46 AM EDT

More than a dozen Republican presidential candidates spent a year of the nominating contest waiting for someone else to attack and take down Donald Trump. But the GOP contenders had a common goal with a flawed strategy: Trump’s opponents should have attacked the celebrity’s supporters instead of…

When Serving Together in Congress is a Family Affair

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 25, 2016 · 10:48 AM EDT

Democrat Loretta Sanchez is giving up her House seat and the opportunity to continue to serve with her sister in Congress to run for the Senate in California, while the Mooney brothers are hoping to become Congress’s latest pair of siblings.  

The Sanchezes (Loretta of the 46th District and Linda…

Comparing the GOP Divides, 1964 and 2016

by Stuart Rothenberg May 24, 2016 · 9:00 AM EDT

With the GOP national convention still almost two months away and Donald Trump already wooing skeptical Republicans, it’s too early to know how divided the Republican Party will be in November. But minimizing that divide is critical to Trump’s prospects.

The party’s last serious fracture occurred…

Clinton Begins General Election With Advantage

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 19, 2016 · 3:00 PM EDT

Even though the general election presidential contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump hasn’t officially started, it’s impossible to label the race as a toss-up.

The path is challenging for any GOP nominee. Based on how the majority of states are likely to fall, the GOP nominee needs to…

Nebraska 2: Ashford Has Early Advantage Over Bacon

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 19, 2016 · 2:59 PM EDT

Democrats don’t have very many vulnerable House seats to defend, particularly with Donald Trump at the top of the GOP ticket, but Nebraska’s 2nd District is one of them. 

National Democrats spent over $400,000 trying to help the weakest Republican candidate win the GOP primary in order to boost…

North Carolina Primaries Could Impact Direction of GOP Caucus

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 19, 2016 · 2:58 PM EDT

Amidst all the turmoil of the GOP presidential race and Donald Trump’s surge to the nomination, no Republican incumbent has lost a primary. That streak will come to an end on June 7 in North Carolina but, ironically, it won’t even be the same day as the presidential primary.

The Tar Heel State…

Ratings Change: Minnesota’s 2nd District

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 19, 2016 · 2:57 PM EDT

Republican Rep. John Kline is retiring from his competitive, suburban district in Minnesota and expressed concern over the lack of quality GOP candidates to replace him. Those concerns are becoming reality as the seat continues to develop into a primary Democratic takeover opportunity. 

In 2014,…

Ratings Change: North Carolina Governor

May 19, 2016 · 2:56 PM EDT

Pat McCrory was the first Republican elected governor of North Carolina in over 20 years, so it’s no surprise that his re-election is challenging. But the governor looked like a narrow favorite this year until the nationwide controversy over House Bill 2: Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act. …

Kentucky 1: Comer Coming to Congress

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 19, 2016 · 2:55 PM EDT

Secretary of Agriculture James Comer narrowly missed getting elected governor in 2015 but landed on his feet after winning the recent GOP primary in Kentucky’s 1st District, which is open because of GOP Rep. Ed Whitfield’s retirement. 

A year ago, Comer finished second in the GOP primary for…