Inside Elections

2014 House Ratings (December 17, 2013)

December 17, 2013 · 2:12 PM EST

One Reason Donald Trump Should Be President

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 17, 2013 · 11:45 AM EST

It’s not very challenging to write about the countless reasons why Donald Trump would not make a good president. But there is one thing the Donald does that might be useful in the Oval Office — he fires people.

As Ezra Klein noted in his recent Bloomberg column, there have been multiple…

Louisiana Ad Could Preview 2014 Democratic Playbook

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 16, 2013 · 9:11 AM EST

A new television ad by a Democratic-aligned super PAC in Louisiana is more than an early attack ad in an important Senate race. It’s an important sneak peek into what Democratic ads could look like in races all over the country next year.

First reported by Roll Call, Senate Majority PAC’s first…

Awards for the Best and Worst of Politics in 2013

by Stuart Rothenberg December 12, 2013 · 9:33 AM EST

Yes, folks, it’s time again for my end-of-the-year awards. It’s been a weird year, but face it: Weird is the new normal in politics.

Eight weeks ago, everyone was talking about the shutdown. A month ago, it was the launch of Obamacare. Now it’s, well, I’m not sure. In early October, it looked…

What Happened to the Campaign for Primary Accountability?

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 9, 2013 · 9:56 AM EST

Competitive primaries are raging, but one of the groups that received the most attention last cycle for ousting incumbents is still on the sidelines. So far this cycle, the Campaign for Primary Accountability is nowhere to be found.

After receiving glowing press coverage in 2012, the political…

The $4 Billion Campaign Against John Cornyn

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 6, 2013 · 9:50 AM EST

Democrat David Alameel announced recently his challenge to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and the wealthy dentist said money won’t be a problem. I’m not so sure.

“I’ll just do whatever it takes,” he told the Dallas Morning News. “Money is not an issue for me.”

The source of Alameel’s confidence…

House Democrats’ Not-So-Secret Weapon for 2014: Cash

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 5, 2013 · 9:41 AM EST

House Democrats are stockpiling cash, and some GOP strategists have expressed concern that Democrats could use their financial advantage to expand the playing field.

Through October, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $65 million and had $25 million in the bank for the 2014…

A Traditional Midterm Headache for Democrats

by Stuart Rothenberg December 4, 2013 · 9:57 AM EST

Democrats have had a nice run recently of interesting House recruits and new takeover opportunities resulting from open GOP seats. And yet, it probably won’t matter.

If history is any guide — and it usually is — the president’s recent problems have already overshadowed that good news for House…

If Linda Lingle Could, Why Can’t Wendy Davis?

by Stuart Rothenberg December 3, 2013 · 9:36 AM EST

As longtime readers of this column know, voters in one-party states sometimes elect the nominee of the “wrong” party as governor. Today’s question is whether state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Democrat, has a fighting chance to win next year’s gubernatorial election in Texas, which remains a rock-solid…

Open Your Mind to the Possibility of Another Midterm Mess for Democrats

by Nathan L. Gonzales December 2, 2013 · 10:48 AM EST

Democrats might want to consider opening their minds to the potential of another midterm nightmare.

I remember dozens of conversations with GOP candidates and strategists prior to the 2012 elections. Republicans simply couldn’t wrap their minds around the possibility that 2008 could ever be…