Inside Elections

2014 Senate Ratings (August 9, 2013)

August 9, 2013 · 2:56 PM EDT

Challenger Takes Issue With Congressman’s ‘Brown People’ Comment

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 8, 2013 · 2:13 PM EDT

Is “brown people” an offensive term for Latinos?

Rep. Alan Grayson is no stranger to controversial statements, but it’s unclear whether the Florida Democratic congressman’s mouth has gotten him into trouble once again.

“I think that would be a shame, but what really pushes immigration to the…

Republicans Can’t Win on August Recess

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 8, 2013 · 9:34 AM EDT

In politics, it’s often damned if you do, damned if you don’t, and Republicans and August recess is no different.

Last week, some Democrats criticized Republicans for taking the traditional August break.

“House Republicans just fled the scene of their crime, skipping out on the American…

Ohio’s 6th District Moves from Safe to GOP Favored

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 7, 2013 · 4:31 PM EDT

Ohio may not be a wasteland for competitive congressional races after all.

Prior to the 2012 elections, Republicans did a masterful job redrawing the Buckeye State’s congressional lines in order to minimize takeover opportunities for either party.

But in Ohio’s 6th District, former state Rep.…

Incumbent Primary Challengers: Some Promising, Others Premature

by Stuart Rothenberg August 7, 2013 · 10:20 AM EDT

The 2014 primary season has begun with high-profile Democratic Senate primaries in Massachusetts and New Jersey. But they’re the tip of the iceberg in what promises to be a cycle of competitive, and possibly nasty, primaries in both parties.

Republicans face plenty of intraparty fights,…

When 94 Percent Isn’t Pure Enough for Conservative Republicans

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 6, 2013 · 9:46 AM EDT

Republican state Sen. Mimi Walters has a 94 percent lifetime rating with California’s anti-tax group, but that might not be enough for her to avoid a anti-tax primary challenger as she runs for Congress.

Walters is the early front-runner to replace retiring Rep. John Campbell (click here for…

2014 House Ratings (August 5, 2013)

August 5, 2013 · 3:45 PM EDT

Oy Vey. The Summer of Jews Behaving Badly

by Stuart Rothenberg August 2, 2013 · 9:27 AM EDT

It has been a bad couple of weeks for my people.

No, I don’t mean journalists. I mean the Jews.

First, it was Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers slugger who was suspended for 65 games for violating Major League Baseball’s drug program. As the New Republic’s Marc Tracy put it, “Braun used…

Georgia Senate: Maybe, Potentially, Possibly … but Not Yet

by Stuart Rothenberg August 1, 2013 · 9:48 AM EDT

The recent entry of Michelle Nunn into the Georgia Senate race is good news for national and state Democrats who hope to swipe a normally Republican Senate seat in the Deep South.

Nunn, the daughter of former Democratic Sen. Sam Nunn, is CEO of Points of Light, a nonprofit organization that…

Former GOP House Candidate Marries Gay Partner

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 31, 2013 · 9:26 AM EDT

Massachusetts Republican Richard Tisei married his longtime partner earlier this month in the aftermath of losing one of the closest congressional races in the country — and probably just a few months before he begins another House campaign.

In 2012, Tisei came oh-so-close to defeating…