House News & Analysis

Indiana 5: Brooks Retirement Creates Democratic Opportunity

June 14, 2019 · 10:45 AM EDT

Rep. Susan Brooks of Indiana announced she will not seek re-election, creating a potential open-seat headache for Republicans in Indiana’s 5th District. The congresswoman won re-election to a fourth term in 2018 in the central Indiana district with 57 percent, but the district shifted between the 2012 and 2016 presidential…

Montana At-Large: Does Open Seat Help or Hurt Democrats’ Pickup Opportunity?

by Nathan L. Gonzales June 11, 2019 · 2:52 PM EDT

Parties crave open seats, considering the vast majority of incumbents win re-election. But in the case of Montana’s at-large district, Democrats may have lost their preferred opponent when Republican Rep. Greg Gianforte filed to run for governor.

While it might have been daunting for Democrats to face Gianforte’s personal wealth…

Anatomy of an Ad: Greg Murphy (North Carolina’s 3rd)

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 31, 2019 · 2:29 PM EDT

State Rep. Greg Murphy finished first in the GOP primary in North Carolina’s 3rd District, but his subsequent television ad shouldn’t inspire confidence in his status as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

Murphy, a urologist, finished ahead of pediatrician Joan Perry 23-15 percent in a field of 17 candidates…

California 48: A Rouda Awakening

by Leah Askarinam May 31, 2019 · 2:28 PM EDT

There’s no shortage of viral videos featuring Democratic freshmen grilling members of the Trump administration, leading political rallies, or dancing (sometimes on their own). Democratic Rep. Katie Porter of California’s 45th District released a video of her questioning HUD Secretary Ben Carson that’s been retweeted 40,000 times. But…

Some House Members Are Contemplating Retirement, According to History

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 30, 2019 · 4:10 PM EDT

As the unofficial kickoff of summer, Memorial Day is a time to remember the fallen, spend time with family and grill meats. But history tells us it’s also a time for more than a handful of members to reconsider their future in the House.

Going back to 1976, an average…

Oval Office Obsessions From a Crew With Little Experience, Much Ambition

by Stuart Rothenberg May 24, 2019 · 11:44 AM EDT

In the 1960 Democratic presidential race, there were a handful of contenders, including Sens. John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota and Stuart Symington of Missouri. Others, including Florida Sen. George Smathers and California Gov. Pat Brown, ran as “favorite sons.”

The 1968…

(Mostly) Political One-Liners: Pennsylvania Special, Kentucky Governor, and the Trail Blazers

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 23, 2019 · 10:49 AM EDT

California’s 48th District: The Orange County Republican Party endorsed County Supervisor Michelle Steel on Monday in the race against freshman Democratic Rep. Harley Rouda, which could give pause to potential candidates such as former state Sen. Janet Nguyen.

Colorado Senate: Former District Attorney John Walsh, a Democrat, came by the…

What Can We Learn From the North Carolina Redo Election?

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 20, 2019 · 2:03 PM EDT

By now, most journalists, handicappers, and party operatives are trained to restrain themselves when applying special election results to future general election forecasts.

But the redo election in North Carolina’s 9th District provides a unique opportunity to learn about the present political environment and how it’s changed since November.

Instead…

2020 House Overview (May 17, 2019): Parties Prepare for Battle

by Nathan L. Gonzales May 17, 2019 · 2:30 PM EDT

In the shadow of the presidential race, Republicans and Democrats are preparing for another battle: the fight for the House. It’s not going to get as much attention over the next 18 months, but control of the House is every bit as important as the race for the White House…

2020 House Overview (May 17, 2019): Alabama - Iowa

May 17, 2019 · 2:29 PM EDT

Alabama. 

1st District (Open; Bradley Byrne, R, running for Senate). Trump 64%. The congressman is challenging Democratic Sen. Doug Jones. A crowded Republican primary, including Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl, former state Sen. Bill Hightower, state Rep. Chris Pringle, businessman Wes Lambert, and potentially others, is almost inevitable for his…