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In TX, Latinos pass on opportunity to win congressional seat

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 17, 2013 · 10:17 AM EDT

Robert “Beto” O’Rourke defeated 16-year incumbent Silvestre Reyes in last year’s Democratic primary in a West Texas congressional district. Now the Anglo congressman is running for re-election in a district that is 78 percent Hispanic, but no Latino candidates are stepping up to challenge him…

Is Dan Benishek Waffling on Term Limits?

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 16, 2013 · 9:22 AM EDT

When Rep. Dan Benishek, R-Mich., first ran for office, he was a strong proponent of term limits. But now, the two-term Republican congressman’s stance is much less clear.

“Career-consumed politicians in Washington got us into the mess we are in today by voting for bills they haven’t read, for…

And for John Kasich’s Next Act in Politics …

by Stuart Rothenberg September 13, 2013 · 9:00 AM EDT

We will know in a little more than a year whether John R. Kasich has a second act, or even a third one, in politics. But don’t be surprised if he does.

The Republican governor of Ohio looked like a political defeat waiting to happen in November 2011, after a state ballot measure that he pushed…

Barack Obama’s Sad Sausage-Making Foreign Policy

by Stuart Rothenberg September 12, 2013 · 9:21 AM EDT

They say that the process of making sausage isn’t pretty, but all that matters is how it tastes. And often, that applies to politics, as well.

The political process can be messy, with bad decisions along the way, but if the outcome is popular, the process doesn’t matter at all. That’s why those…

Michigan 1: Benishek, Done That

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 11, 2013 · 2:00 PM EDT

Dr. Dan Benishek was a political newcomer swept into office in the Republican wave of 2010. Now in his second term, the GOP congressman is hoping to avoid the taint of the Beltway against a Democrat making his first run for higher office.

Benishek was re-elected last cycle in Michigan’s 1st…

Idaho 2: Primary Problems

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 11, 2013 · 1:59 PM EDT

Being an ally of the Speaker of the House is normally an asset. But these are not normal times for the Republican Party.

GOP Rep. Mike Simpson is in his eighth term representing Idaho’s 2nd District, has a prime slot on the Appropriations Committee and has been a reliable vote for his party.…

Virginia Governor: Moves from Toss-Up to Lean Democrat

by Stuart Rothenberg September 11, 2013 · 1:58 PM EDT

As the stretch run for the Virginia gubernatorial election begins, Democrat Terry McAuliffe has established himself as a narrow but clear front-runner over state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Republican.

Polling generally shows the Democrat with a consistent mid-to-upper single digit lead,…

Florida’s 2nd District: When You Don’t Need to Poll

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 11, 2013 · 9:04 AM EDT

Late last week, Democrats released a poll showing Democrat Gwen Graham running neck-and-neck with GOP Rep. Steve Southerland II. They could have saved themselves a few thousand dollars because you don’t need a poll to show that Florida’s 2nd District will be competitive. But that also doesn’t…

The Biggest Mistake of Obama’s Presidency?

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 10, 2013 · 10:01 AM EDT

President Barack Obama could have saved himself a lot of headaches, and potentially his presidential legacy, if he had done one thing: cultivated a relationship with Congress.

It doesn’t have anything to do with courting GOP leadership or caving to tea party conservatives. Multiple…