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2014 Senate Overview (August 29, 2014) Alabama - Kansas

by Stuart Rothenberg August 29, 2014 · 3:00 PM EDT

ALABAMA -- Jeff Sessions (R), elected 1996 (52%), 2002 (59%) and 2008 (63%). The last Democratic Senate nominee to receive even 40 percent of the vote in Alabama was Roger Bedford nearly 20 years ago. Safe Republican.

ALASKA -- Mark Begich (D), elected 2008 (48%). Daniel S. Sullivan, the…

2014 Senate Overview (August 29, 2014) Kentucky - New Mexico

by Stuart Rothenberg August 29, 2014 · 2:58 PM EDT

KENTUCKY -- Mitch McConnell (R), elected 1984 (50%), 1990 (52%), 1996 (55%), 2002 (65%), 2008 (53%). Senate Minority Leader McConnell beat primary challenger Matt Bevin surprisingly easily, but Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is a more challenging opponent. Early polling…

2014 Senate Overview (August 29, 2014) North Carolina - Wyoming

by Stuart Rothenberg August 29, 2014 · 2:57 PM EDT

NORTH CAROLINA -- Kay Hagan (D), elected 2008 (53%). Given the GOP’s recent victories in the state, Hagan certainly knew that she would have a serious challenge. State House Speaker Thom Tillis won the Republican nomination without a runoff, allowing him to avoid further attacks from the right…

And the Winner of the GOP’s Civil War Primary Is…Part II

by Stuart Rothenberg August 28, 2014 · 2:47 PM EDT

Three and a half months ago, I wrote about the state of the fight between the Republican establishment’s pragmatic conservative candidates and tea party/libertarian/anti-establishment conservatives.

I concluded the results were mixed and it was too early to call a winner, though I also noted,…

Not Your Typical Southern Democrat in South Carolina

by Stuart Rothenberg August 20, 2014 · 2:12 PM EDT

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham’s Democratic opponent, state Sen. Brad Hutto, wants you to know two things: He has a path to victory against the two-term Republican, and it doesn’t require him to run from traditional Democratic positions.

“I’m not a Blue Dog,” Hutto said proudly during a recent…

Wave or No Wave, House Landscape Favors Republicans

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 15, 2014 · 3:03 PM EDT

While political reporters, analysts and party strategists argue over whether there is or is not a wave approaching, one thing is clear: it’s an extremely difficult landscape for Democratic candidates.

Candidates, party committees, and outside groups are polling dozens of House races as they…

Senate Races Shift to Higher Gear

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 15, 2014 · 3:02 PM EDT

Senate races in North Carolina and Arkansas have been underway for months. But as primary season comes to an end, the fight for a Senate majority in 2015 is starting to reach a full sprint nationally.

Republicans in Alaska will choose their nominee next Tuesday, but the general election…

Gubernatorial Report Shorts (August 15, 2014)

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 15, 2014 · 3:01 PM EDT

Connecticut Governor. Former Ambassador Tom Foley won the GOP nomination, 56 percent to 44 percent, against state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney on Tuesday. Foley will now face Gov. Dan Malloy (D) in the general election in a rematch of 2010, which was decided by less than 1 percent of the…