Regional Editor

Scott Bland

Regional Editor

Scott Bland is the regional editor of National Journal's Hotline. He joined National Journal in 2009 as research assistant to Editorial Director Ronald Brownstein. Scott's other work has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, TheAtlantic.com, the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire, and Stanford University’s alumni magazine. He graduated from Stanford in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in history. Scott is a native of Ithaca, NY.

Scott Bland's Latest Posts

Schweitzer Elected Stillwater Chairman, Mum on Senate Run

By Scott Bland

Gabriel Gomez Launches His First General Election TV Ad in Mass. Special

By Kevin Brennan and Scott Bland

Bachmann Airing Ads On Minnesota TV

By Scott Bland

For Abercrombie, Senate Primary Is a Chance to Make His Mark

By Scott Bland

The Group Behind the Draft Palin Movement

By Scott Bland

Democrats Land Buzzy Recruit in Another Obama-GOP House District

By Scott Bland

DCCC Memo Cites Advantages Over House GOP

By Scott Bland

Is Brian Schatz Already Winning Hawaii's Invisible Primary?

By Scott Bland

Baca's Comeback Bid: Aguilar Not 'Viable'

By Scott Bland

DCCC Outraises NRCC in March

By Scott Bland

SENATE

‘Independent’ in Name Only

By Shane Goldmacher

He promised to chart his own course, but a National Journal vote analysis shows that Sen. Angus King of Maine aligns with Democrats. Read More »

Democratic Attacks Already Flying in Closely-Watched Calif. House Primary

By Scott Bland

Blue Dog Barrow Survives Tough Re-Election

By Scott Bland

The last white House Democrat in the deep South, Rep. John Barrow of Georgia, has survived to fight another day. Read More »

Poll: Hochul Hanging Tough in Western N.Y. Race

By Scott Bland

Rep. Kathy Hochul , D-N.Y., and GOP challenger Chris Collins are still deadlocked just days from the election, a Siena College poll for two local media outlets found. Read More »

Poll: Buerkle-Maffei Still Tied in N.Y. Race

By Scott Bland

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle , R-N.Y., and Democratic challenger Dan Maffei remain tied below 45 percent in a second consecutive independent poll released Saturday afternoon, a strong indicator of why the National Republican Congressi...

POLITICS

House Race Rankings: House of Cards

By Scott Bland

The final outcome in the House depends on several dozen races that are true toss-ups. Without a partisan wave, each one could break either way. Read More »

Texas, 20th House District

New Democratic Rep. Joaquín Castro and his twin brother, Julián, have been playing political leapfrog. Julián ran for a seat on San Antonio’s City Council in 2001. The next year, Joaquín—who is younger by about a minute—be...

Strife at the Claus Household

By Scott Bland

Michigan's 11th District has seen its share of wacky news this year, with former Rep. Thad McCotter first failing to qualify for the GOP primary and then resigning as the state opened an investigation into his campaign's fraudule...

Siena Poll: Owens 44, Doheny 43

By Scott Bland

Rep. Bill Owens , D-N.Y., looks set for a repeat of his close 2010 race this year, as a new independent poll released Thursday showed him locked in a statistical tie with his repeat Republican challenger and far below 50 percent s...

House Majority PAC Ups Final Ad Buys in Seven Districts

By Scott Bland

House Majority PAC, the biggest-spending Democratic super PAC operating in the House landscape, has upped its final media buys in seven congressional districts, including one where New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg 's new supe...

Taxes and Benefits Star in Closing House Ads

By Scott Bland

Two of the major House-focused outside groups announced their final sets of TV advertisements Tuesday morning, with the GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund and its affiliated non-profit, American Action Network, releasing si...

AAN, CLF Release Final Six Ads

By Scott Bland

The American Action Network and its affiliated super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, released their six final TV ads of the 2012 cycle Monday, targeting five Democratic challengers and one incumbent on (mostly) taxes as can...

Poll: Race Tightens in Upstate N.Y. District

By Scott Bland

Rep. Chris Gibson , R-N.Y., holds a modest lead over his Democratic challenger, but the gap between them has narrowed dramatically in the past month, according to a new independent poll . Read More »

DCCC Outraises NRCC During Pre-Election Period

By Scott Bland

Updated 7:43 p.m. Read More »

House Majority PAC Launches Seven New Ads

By Scott Bland

House Majority PAC released seven new TV ads Tuesday, including five in new congressional districts as the House-focused Democratic super PAC expanded the scope of its advertising. Read More »

Memorable House Debate Moments of 2012

By Julie Sobel and Scott Bland

Tonight, President Obama and Mitt Romney will debate for the third and final time. To celebrate, we present some of our favorite moments from the many House race debates over the past month or so: Read More »

NRCC Releases 13 New Television Ads

By Scott Bland

The National Republican Congressional Committee released 13 new independent expenditure TV ads Monday, seven in Democratic-held House seats and five in GOP-held seats, plus one against Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton in Ohio's membe...

CLF, AAN Hit Boswell, Adler, and Demings in New Ads

By Scott Bland

Congressional Leadership Fund, the Republican House-focused super PAC, and its affiliated non-profit, American Action Network, launched three new TV ads against Democratic House candidates Monday. CLF is targeting Democratic Rep. ...

Finally, Some Bipartisan Agreement

By Scott Bland

Democrats and Republicans can't find much to agree on at this time of the election cycle. But a couple of opposing outside groups clearly agree on one thing: that a particular piece of background music is sad and scary. Read More »

LCV Poll Has Joe Walsh Lagging by Double Digits

By Scott Bland

Rep. Joe Walsh , R-Ill., trails Democratic nominee Tammy Duckworth by double digits in his race for reelection, according to a new live-caller poll released Friday by an outside group involved in the campaign against him. Read More »

Siena Poll: Nan Hayworth Holds 7-Point Lead

By Scott Bland

Freshman Rep. Nan Hayworth , R-N.Y., one of Democrats' top targets in the House, leads her challenger by seven percentage points and is just short of majority support in a new independent poll released Friday morning. Read More »

Barrow Caters to District's Split Personality

By Scott Bland

DCCC Makes TV Reservation Cuts for Week Prior to Election

By Scott Bland

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is making another round of alterations to its TV reservations, this time for the final week leading up to Election Day, according to a Democratic source. Read More »

AAN, CLF Target 5 Districts in New Ad Blitz

By Scott Bland

The American Action Network and its affiliated super PAC, the Congressional Leadership Fund, released the first TV ads of its $13 million-plus October ad campaign Monday. The Republican-aligned groups targeted five congressional di...

DCCC Outraises NRCC in September

By Scott Bland

Apparently, you shouldn't count anyone else's chickens before they hatch, either. That's the message in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's big September fundraising numbers. Read More »

Berman, Sherman Nearly Come to Blows at Debate

By Julie Sobel and Scott Bland

The vice presidential debate wasn't the only heated one last night. California Democratic Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman , competing in a member-member general election, nearly got into a fight during a forum. Read More »

DCCC Scales Back Chicago TV Buy

By Scott Bland and Julie Sobel

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is cutting $740,000 -- 1,000 points -- from a Chicago television buy for the week of Oct. 23-29, according to a Democrat tracking media buys. The cancellation still leaves the DCCC wi...

DCCC Sneak Attack in Florida's 2nd

By Scott Bland and Julie Sobel

Rep. Steve Southerland 's, R-Fla., Panhandle 2nd District has suddenly evolved into a battleground district over the last few weeks, and a poll released today by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee indicates why. Read More »

Cause for GOP Concern in California's 21st?

By Scott Bland

Dispatches from a forgotten House race: Some Republicans are starting to get annoyed about California's 21st District, an open seat most analysts assumed the GOP had locked up months ago. Read More »

POLITICS

House Race Rankings: End of the Beginning

By Scott Bland

A few House races are solidifying as likely wins for Democrats and Republicans, but for many races, expectations differ depending on the color of one's jersey. Read More »

New Poll: Bass, Guinta in Danger of Losing

By Scott Bland

New Hampshire Republican Reps. Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass are both in serious danger of losing reelection, according to the results of a new, small-sample independent survey released by WMUR-TV Wednesday evening. Guinta tr...

Why House Moderates are an Endangered Species

By Scott Bland

Florida's 18th Congressional District is possibly the quintessential swing district in the United States. Not only did George W. Bush carry the area in 2004 while President Obama won it four years later, but both presidents won...

Independent Poll Shows Cicilline Leading, Under 50 Percent

By Scott Bland

While a Boston Globe poll Monday showed Democratic Rep. John Tierney 's fortunes declining in Massachusetts, another endangered New England Democrat got a bump from public polling this evening. Freshman Democratic Rep. David ...

Report: Fla. House Candidate's Spokeswoman Pens Lurid Blog

By Scott Bland

Keith Fitzgerald , the Democrat running against Rep. Vern Buchanan , R-Fla., has based his campaign on being a squeaky-clean alternative to the Republican incumbent, who has been enmeshed in campaign finance investigations this y...

Poll: Tisei Leads Tierney With 3-in-10 Undecided

By Scott Bland

Republican former state Sen. Richard Tisei leads Democratic Rep. John Tierney in a new independent survey conducted for the Boston Globe , which also shows that Tierney's support has collapsed to extraordinarily dangerous le...

Ariz. House Nominee Parker to Deliver GOP Weekly Address

By Scott Bland

House Speaker John Boehner announced Thursday that Vernon Parker , the GOP nominee in Arizona's new 9th Congressional District, will deliver the party's weekly address to the nation this Saturday. Read More »

Siena Poll Shows Embattled Grimm Leading

By Scott Bland

Rep. Michael Grimm , R-N.Y., has been plagued by scandal most of the year, but his reelection prospects look bright in a Siena College poll released Tuesday that shows him up 10 percentage points on his Democratic challenger in Ne...

House Majority PAC Launching Ads in Four Districts

By Scott Bland

House Majority PAC is launching a quartet of new television ads Tuesday, expanding the Democratic super PAC's reach to two more districts in Arizona and returning to one each in Illinois and Virginia with follow-ups to previous ads. Read More »

Gibson Leading In Key New York District

By Scott Bland

Rep. Chris Gibson , R-N.Y., sports a solid double-digit lead and majority support in New York's 19th Congressional District, according to results of a Siena poll released Friday morning. Read More »

DCCC Outraised NRCC in August

By Kevin Brennan and Scott Bland

Updated 7:54 p.m. Read More »

Gallego Narrowly Leads Canseco in Texas's 23rd District

By Scott Bland

A poll conducted by Democratic-aligned outside groups shows freshman Rep. Quico Canseco , R-Texas, trailing Democratic state Rep. Pete Gallego in a close campaign for Texas's 23rd Congressional District. Read More »

It's Now or Never for Joe Walsh

By Scott Bland

The rise of candidate-specific super PACs raises an interesting question: What is one of these groups to do after their chosen candidate falls? Read More »

House Majority PAC, NRCC, DCCC Launch New Ads

By Scott Bland

Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC is expanding its TV presence to four more districts today, launching ads in races including freshman Republican Rep. Bobby Schilling 's Illinois 17th District, which is also the site of new ad...

Hayworth Leads Maloney by Double Digits

By Scott Bland

Updated 8:04 a.m. Read More »

CLF, AAN Expand Ad Push to $3 Million Across Six Districts

By Scott Bland

After unveiling its first general election TV ad of the cycle last Friday, the Congressional Leadership Fund and the American Action Network, a Republican super PAC and its affiliated non-profit, will expand their advertising push ...

Ann Marie Buerkle, Dan Maffei Tied in New Poll

By Scott Bland

Freshman Republican Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle and the man she defeated in 2010, former Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei , are locked in a tied race in New York's 24th District, with Buerkle's support at a dangerous level for an incumbent...

Dem Nominee in Maryland's First District Resigns

By Scott Bland

Updated 10:20 a.m., Sept. 11 Read More »

POLITICS

House Race Rankings: The Calm Before

By Scott Bland

The trickle of early House campaign ads and messaging we've seen in August preview the deluge to come after the conventions. Read More »

Georgia House Primary Runoffs: 12th too Close to Call

By Scott Bland

Sessions: Tierney Is GOP's Top Target

By Josh Kraushaar and Scott Bland

Redistricting set up some good pickup opportunities for House Republicans across the South, but National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions says the GOP's best opportunity to beat a Democratic incumbent is t...

Previewing the Georgia House Runoffs

By Scott Bland

Two Republican House primary runoffs in Georgia have a distinct inside-outside feel as voters gather Tuesday for the second time in three weeks. In both Republican-leaning districts -- one a new, open seat created by redistricting, ...

NRCC Reserves Nearly $10 Million in Ad Time in 12 Districts

By Scott Bland

Updated at 6:14 p.m. to reflect updated information about the targeting of the Des Moines, Iowa buy. Read More »

VIDEO: NRCC Attacks Democratic Members in First TV Ads

By Scott Bland

The National Republican Congressional Committee's first four independent expenditure TV ads, released Friday, all target Democratic incumbents, but as Rothenberg Political Report pointed out , they don't all hew to the same exact m...

The Pete Stark Chronicles

By Scott Bland

If you woke up this morning and decided it might be a good day to antagonize your local newspaper, take a deep breath and think about it first. The San Francisco Chronicle just outlined three reasons why it's a bad idea. Read More »

Wisconsin House Results: Pocan Defeats Roys

By Scott Bland

Stearns Trails Challenger With All Precincts Reporting

By Scott Bland

Rep. Cliff Stearns , R-Fla., shockingly appears to have fallen short in his bid for renomination in Florida's 3rd District Tuesday night, trailing the Republican primary to veterinarian Ted Yoho . With all precincts reporting, Yoh...

FL House Results: Alan Grayson's Good News

By Julie Sobel and Scott Bland

FL-26 [10:10 p.m.] Two-time Democratic congressional nominee Joe Garcia won the right to take on freshman Republican Rep. David Rivera Tuesday night in Florida's 26th Congressional District, setting up a rematch of their 2010 ...

Rep. Stearns Concedes Florida Primary

By Scott Bland

Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., concedes the Florida 3rd District GOP primary. Rep. Cliff Stearns has conceded the Republican primary for Florida's 3rd congressional district to veterinarian Ted Yoho, according to The Associated...

Mica Beats Adams in Florida

By Scott Bland

Updated 9:05 p.m. Read More »

HOUSE RACE RESULTS

Mica Beats Adams in Fla. Primary

By Scott Bland

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., defeated Rep. Sandy Adams in Florida's 7th District Republican primary. With 78 percent of precincts reporting, Mica led Adams 61 percent to 39 percent. The Associated Press called the race for Mica. ...

Dem Polling Shows Potency of Ryan Attack

By Scott Bland

Since Mitt Romney selected Paul Ryan as his running mate over the weekend, Democrats have been excited about the prospect of using Ryan's budget proposal as a weapon against Republican candidates up and down the ballot this fall...

Rep. Cardoza To Resign

By Scott Bland

Rep. Dennis Cardoza , D-Calif., told the Sacramento Bee he will resign on Wednesday. Cardoza, a Blue Dog Democrat, already announced last year that this would be his last term. He said family struggles were his primary re...

Previewing the Florida House Primaries

By Scott Bland

Of all the member-versus-member primaries in 2012, the Florida 7th District Republican primary between Reps. John Mica and Sandy Adams offered the clearest, sharpest personal and ideological contrast. On the one hand, Mica's 20-...

The EMILY's List Primaries

By Scott Bland

Tulsi Gabbard 's Saturday victory in Hawaii's 2nd District Democratic primary wasn't just a win for the candidate. It was also another underdog triumph fueled in part by EMILY's List, the pro-choice Democratic women's political act...

Gabbard Wins Hawaii House Primary, Could Become First Hindu in Congress

By Scott Bland

GOP County Chairs Select David Joyce as Ohio 14 Nominee

By Scott Bland

Republican county chairs in Ohio's 14th Congressional District have selected Geauga County Prosecutor David Joyce to be the GOP's general election nominee. The party was forced to fill the empty slot on the ballot left by Rep. St...

Previewing Hawaii's 2nd District Dem Primary

By Scott Bland

Democrats in Hawaii's 2nd District will chose a nominee, and likely their next member of Congress, on Saturday. Three-term Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono is vacating the seat to run for Senate, and that's created a big opportunity f...

Democratic Nominee in Arkansas's 2nd District Arrested

By Scott Bland

The Democratic nominee in Arkansas's 2nd District, Herb Rule , was arrested Thursday for DWI, according to a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Read More »

DCCC Adds New Red To Blue Contenders

By Scott Bland

Updated at 5:18 p.m. Read More »

Bentivolio Wins Michigan 11 GOP Primary

By Scott Bland

Tea party candidate Kerry Bentivolio won the Republican primary in Michigan's 11th District Tuesday night, outlasting a write-in challenge mounted by the local party establishment and opening a small window of opportunity for Demo...

Clay Comfortably Defeats Carnahan

By Scott Bland

Rep. William Lacy Clay , D-Mo., defeated fellow Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan in a member-versus-member primary in Missouri's 1st Congressional District Tuesday night. Read More »

Peters Beats Clarke in Michigan 14th District Dem Primary

By Scott Bland

Correction: The email alert and original versions of this story misstated the number of non-black members representing majority-black districts. There will likely be two in the next Congress. Read More »

Michigan Primaries: Upton, Conyers Renominated

By Scott Bland

MI-06 [9:46 p.m.]: Rep. Fred Upton , R-Mich., has easily won renomination over a repeat Republican primary challenger in Michigan's 6th District. Read More »

What to Watch for in Washington's House Primaries

By Scott Bland

The short answer is that there's not much to watch in Washington state tonight. Only the 1st District has meaningful drama. The 6th District, vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Norm Dicks , is fairly strong (though not completely ...

Democracy Corps Poll Outlines Path to Democratic House

By Ronald Brownstein and Scott Bland

In 2010, Republicans recaptured a House majority by maximizing their gains in the districts where Barack Obama was weakest. Now, some key Democratic thinkers believe their party could threaten the Republican majority mostly by max...

Peters, Clay Favored In Tuesday's Member-Member Primaries

By Scott Bland

Two more Democratic congressmen will become lame ducks after Tuesday night, when votes are tallied another pair of member-versus-member primaries in Michigan and Missouri that headline a crowded slate of important August 7 primaries...

Reps. Fleischmann, Black Win Contested Tenn. GOP Primaries

By Scott Bland

Freshman Rep. Chuck Fleischmann , R-Tenn., won a contested primary in Tennessee's 3rd Congressional District Thursday night, likely securing a second term in a safe Republican seat. Read More »

The Return of the Catchy Campaign Jingle

By Scott Bland

Updated at 4:21 p.m. Read More »

Not All Typos Are Created Equal

By Scott Bland

After Richard Hudson won the Republican House primary runoff in North Carolina's 8th District Tuesday night, National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions followed up with the typical congratulatory statemen...

HOUSE

House Race Rankings: Getting to Know You

By Scott Bland

Redistricting and the lack of a wave makes for a House landscape marked by broad uncertainty. Read More »

North Carolina Runoff Elections: Hudson Advances in 8th District

By Scott Bland

[9:40 p.m.] Former House staffer Richard Hudson won the Republican primary runoff in North Carolina's 8th District Tuesday, fending off Scott Keadle in a fierce primary that became a proxy war for different wings of the Washin...

About Allen West's Fundraising

By Scott Bland

Rep. Allen West , R-Fla., garnered attention this morning for the same reason he does every quarter: His campaign released another eye-popping fundraising total. This time, West's camp said he raised over $2.2 million in the second...

Outside Groups Helping Vulnerable House Democrats

By Scott Bland

Democratic outside groups, resigned to being outspent once more by their Republican counterparts, are trying to focus on spending their resources smartly this cycle. To that end, two prominent Democratic-aligned advocacy groups ar...

Meet Lungren's Up-And-Coming Challenger

By Scott Bland

If California is the most important target for congressional Democrats this cycle, then Ami Bera , running against GOP Rep. Dan Lungren in the 7th District, is the point of his party's spear. Read More »

McCotter Resigns From House

By Scott Bland

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter , R-Mich., has resigned his seat in the House of Representatives, capping a bizarre couple of months that had already ended his congressional career. Read More »

Democratic Poll: Sutton 41, Renacci 38

By Scott Bland and Sean Sullivan

Democratic Rep. Betty Sutton and Republican Rep. Jim Renaccci are running neck-and-neck according to a new poll conducted for two groups supporting Sutton in Ohio's 16th District race. Read More »

TV Ad Buys

By Reid Wilson, Scott Bland and Ryan Morris

Pete Stark Turning Over A New Leaf?

By Scott Bland

Rep. Mike Honda , D-Calif., set up a congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus at the end of June. The group aims to address the problems faced by people who are "physically or psychologically attacked on the basis of their skin color, et...

Sullivan, Bridenstine Didn't See Eye-To-Eye in Oklahoma

By Scott Bland

As we try to unravel what happened to Rep. John Sullivan , R-Okla., who shockingly lost his under-the-radar 1st District primary on Tuesday, it looks like GOP nominee Jim Bridenstine ran a fairly conventional tea party-style chal...

Rep. John Sullivan Loses Okla. 1st District GOP Primary

By Scott Bland

Rep. John Sullivan , R-Okla., lost his 1st District Republican primary Tuesday night to a challenger, Navy Reserve pilot Jim Bridenstine , who came at the incumbent from the right. Read More »

New York House Election Results

By Scott Bland and Sean Sullivan

Rep. Charlie Rangel , D-N.Y., and Democratic Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries cruised to victory in New York's marquee House primaries Tuesday night. Here's a rundown of other notable primary results in the state. Read More »

Rangel Wins Dem Primary in New York's 13th District

By Scott Bland

Rep. Charles Rangel , D-N.Y., survived the toughest primary challenge of his 41-year career Tuesday night, winning the nomination for a 22nd term in New York's 13th Congressional District. Read More »

Jeffries Defeats Barron In New York's 8th District Primary

By Scott Bland

Democratic Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries easily won the primary to succeed retiring Rep. Ed Towns , D-N.Y., in the state's 8th Congressional District Tuesday night. Read More »

Lamborn Survives Challenge From Blaha

By Scott Bland

Rep. Doug Lamborn , R-Colo., won his 5th District primary despite a stiff challenge from businessman Robert Blaha . Read More »

Rice, Tinubu Advance in South Carolina's 7th District

By Scott Bland

Former Georgia state Rep. Gloria Bromell Tinubu easily dispatched attorney Preston Brittain in the Democratic primary runoff in South Carolina's 7th District, while Horry County Councilman Tom Rice dispatched ex-Lt. Gov. Andr...

Previewing New York's House Primaries

By Kevin Brennan and Scott Bland

Dold Will Attend Republican National Convention

By Scott Bland

Given that Reps. Mark Critz , Jim Matheson , and a few other vulnerable Democratic congressmen have announced recently that they won't attend the Democratic National Convention this summer, it seemed worth posing the analogous que...

Rangel's Hidden Advantage in Tuesday's Primary

By Scott Bland

Rep. Charles Rangel , D-N.Y., faces the toughest primary challenge of his 41-year career Tuesday. Yet even that effort, fueled by Rangel's age and ethics problems and a steady march of demographic change in his redrawn congressiona...

Democrats Select Retired General Bill Enyart as Illinois 12th District Nominee

By Scott Bland

After a month in limbo, Democrats have a new nominee in Illinois's 12th Congressional District. The district's county Democratic chairs unanimously selected former Illinois National Guard commander Bill Enyart to take the reins Sa...

HOUSE RACES

Ad Buys Hint at House Battlegrounds

By Reid Wilson and Scott Bland

We're beginning to see the contours of the map House Democrats and Republicans will fight over in November. Redistricting, the 2010 Republican wave, and a dismally unpopular Congress are converging to create a volatile foundation fo...

Kelly Won't Challenge Barber in November

By Scott Bland

CONGRESS

Barber Wins Ariz. 8th District Special Election

By Scott Bland

Democrat Ron Barber, the former district director for ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, won the special election to replace his former boss as the representative from Arizona's 8th Congressional District. Read More »

Republicans Headed to Runoff in South Carolina's 7th District

By Scott Bland

Both party primaries in South Carolina's new 7th Congressional District will go to runoffs. The Associated Press called both races at 9:40 p.m. with 98 percent of precincts reporting. Read More »

Three Things to Watch in Arizona's Special Election

By Scott Bland

We published a more extensive preview of the special election in Arizona's 8th District, to replace Democratic ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , earlier this week. The polls close at 10 p.m. Eastern time tonight, and soon after we wil...

Previewing Arizona's Special Election, a National Dress Rehearsal

By Scott Bland

As the bruising special election to replace ex-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Congress comes to a close June 12, perhaps it's time to update an outdated piece of wisdom: No politics is local. Read More »

Reality Check: The Limitations of Clinton's Clout

By Scott Bland

When Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell won his member-versus-member primary last night over Rep. Steve Rothman in New Jersey's 9th Congressional District, Pascrell became the second Democratic incumbent in a row to win a member-me...

Lujan Grisham Wins NM-01 Dem Primary

By Scott Bland

Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham won a tight Democratic primary in New Mexico, narrowly edging state Sen. Eric Griego for the nomination. Read More »

House Democrats Suffer Setback in California

By Scott Bland

If current results in California hold, Democrats will be left without a general election candidate in one of their biggest House targets this November. It's just not the one people had their eyes on before Tuesday's all-party, top-t...

Lujan Grisham Wins NM-01 Dem Primary

By Scott Bland

Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham won a tight Democratic primary Tuesday in New Mexico's 1st District, narrowly edging state Sen. Eric Griego for the nomination. Read More »

Pascrell Defeats Rothman in N.J. 9th District Democratic Primary

By Scott Bland and Stephanie Palla

Updated at 12:51 a.m. Read More »

CONGRESS

Pascrell Defeats Rothman in N.J. 9th District Democratic Primary

By Scott Bland and Stephanie Palla

Rep. Bill Pascrell , D-N.J., has defeated fellow Rep. Steve Rothman in New Jersey's 9th District Democratic primary. Read More »

Payne Jr. Wins Dem Primary in New Jersey's 10th District

By Scott Bland

Newark City Council President Donald Payne Jr. has won the Democratic nomination to succeed his late father in New Jersey's Newark-based 10th Congressional District. Read More »

Varilek Wins South Dakota At-Large Democratic Primary

By Scott Bland

Matt Varilek , a former aide to Sen. Tim Johnson , D-S.D., has won the Democratic House primary in the state's lone congressional district, beating back a challenge from a county commissioner. Read More »

POLITICS

The New Mexico Primary to Watch

By Scott Bland

Of all the marquee House primaries taking place across six states Tuesday, none has gone to the wire like the three-way Democratic race in New Mexico's 1st District. Former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez was the early favorit...

Election Day Presents PCCC With Major Tests

By Scott Bland

As if the stakes weren't high enough already for candidates in Tuesday's primaries, several Democrats are fighting not just for their electoral futures but for the hopes of national Democratic groups. Read More »

The New Mexico Primary to Watch

By Scott Bland

Previewing the Pascrell-Rothman Primary in New Jersey

By Scott Bland

New Jersey's 9th Congressional District plays host to another member-versus-member House primary on Tuesday. Reps. Bill Pascrell and Steve Rothman face each other in a merged seat after redistricting. The primary between two for...

Previewing California's House Primaries

By Scott Bland

For the last decade, California's 53 congressional seats have been reliably uneventful. Thanks to the twin forces of redistricting reform and the new top-two primary system, that has completely changed this cycle, and the June 5 pri...

Chris Donovan's Finance Director Arrested

By Scott Bland

Connecticut state House Speaker Chris Donovan 's finance director, Robert Braddock Jr. , was arrested Wednesday night on federal charges of conspiring to launder campaign contributions, according to a report in the Hartford Courant . Read More »

NEED TO KNOW: HOUSE

California Democrats’ Family Feuds

By Shane Goldmacher and Scott Bland

New election rules in the Golden State will keep Democrats battling each other until the fall in some House districts. Read More »

POLITICS

Texas Primary Shows Limits to Hispanic Clout

By Scott Bland and Josh Kraushaar

Paul Kane wrote a must-read story in Thursday's Washington Post on the just-completed Texas primaries, concluding that Hispanic voters aren't taking advantage of their numbers to elect their own to Congress. It's something w...

Texas Primary Shows Limits to Hispanic Clout

By Scott Bland and Josh Kraushaar

Paul Kane wrote a must-read story in today's Washington Post on the just-completed Texas primaries, concluding that Hispanic voters aren't taking advantage of their numbers to elect their own to Congress. It's something we not...

Murphy Internal Poll Shows Him Tied With West

By Scott Bland

An internal poll released on Thursday by his Democratic challenger shows Rep. Allen West , R-Fla., in a dead heat for reelection to a second term. Read More »

GOP Establishment Gets Its Man in N.C.'s 7th District, but Goes to Runoff in 8th

By Scott Bland

The proxy battle between conservative PACs got a two-month extension in North Carolina's 8th District Tuesday night, as establishment Republican Richard Hudson and Club for Growth-backed Scott Keadle advanced to a GOP primary runoff. Read More »

Meadows and Patterson to GOP Runoff in N.C.'s 11th District

By Scott Bland

Businessmen Mark Meadows and Vance Patterson advanced to a runoff election in North Carolina's 11th Congressional District GOP primary. Read More »

Holding, and His Super PAC, Win N.C.'s 13th District GOP Primary

By Scott Bland

The presidential candidates' super PACs get all the attention, but super PACs focused on individual House races started the year with a victory Tuesday night, as ex-U.S. Attorney George Holding won the Republican primary in North ...

Pittenger, Pendergraph Advance to Runoff in N.C.'s 9th District

By Scott Bland

Former state Sen. Robert Pittenger and Mecklenburg Co. Commisioner Jim Pendergraph advanced to a Republican primary runoff in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District. Read More »

Brooks Defeats McIntosh in Indiana 5th District GOP Primary

By Scott Bland

Former U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks has won the Republican nomination in Indiana's 5th Congressional District, narrowly defeating former Rep. David McIntosh and six other challengers Tuesday night. Read More »

Bucshon Survives Primary in Indiana's 8th District

By Scott Bland

Rep. Larry Bucshon , R-Ind., has survived a tea party primary challenge in Indiana's 8th Congressional District, dispatching activist Kristi Risk Tuesday night. Read More »

Messer Wins GOP Primary to Replace Pence

By Scott Bland

Former state Rep. Luke Messer has won the Republican primary to replace GOP Rep. Mike Pence in Indiana's 6th Congressional District. Read More »

Previewing Indiana's House Primaries

By Scott Bland

The Republican presidential primary may be over, but that doesn't mean up-ballot GOP races will cease to affect House primaries. The battle between Sen. Richard Lugar and Treasurer Richard Mourdock for the Republican Senate nomi...

Previewing North Carolina's House Primaries

By Scott Bland

North Carolina is supposed to be one of the Republican Party's great prizes of this redistricting cycle. After drawing more favorable lines for a quartet of current Democratic House seats and protecting the current Republican delega...

West: Obama Policies 'Destroying the Black Community'

By Scott Bland

The prospect of running for reelection in a non-wave year, with President Obama atop the ticket, clearly has not curbed Rep. Allen West 's appetite for courting controversy. In a note on his Facebook page posted today, West acc...

DCCC Argues Redistricting Was a Wash

By Scott Bland

We have reported on several occasions that although redistricting was not the resounding Republican sweep that some predicted after the GOP won many state legislatures in 2010, Republicans still came away with an advantage because t...

DCCC Calls Are Double Trouble for Bucshon

By Scott Bland

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is making phone calls criticizing Rep. Larry Bucshon , R-Ind., ahead of his contested primary in the 8th Congressional District, according to a report in the Evansville Courier and Press . Read More »

Anti-Incumbent Super PAC Spending for McIntosh in Open Seat Race

By Scott Bland

The Campaign for Primary Accountability, a super PAC dedicated to taking down incumbents, will make its first independent expenditures in an open seat race in the next week. The PAC will spend money supporting Republican former Rep....

FEC Complaint Filed Against Aaron Schock

By Scott Bland

The Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 lodged a complaint today against Rep. Aaron Schock , R-Ill., with the Federal Elections Commission, "for illegal solicitation" of a super PAC donation from House Majority Leader Eric Ca...

Kaptur Defeats Kucinich in Ohio's 9th District Primary

By Scott Bland

Rep. Marcy Kaptur , D-Ohio, has defeated fellow Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich in the state's 9th District congressional primary. Read More »

CONGRESS

Kaptur Defeats Kucinich in Ohio's 9th District Primary

By Scott Bland

Rep. Marcy Kaptur , D-Ohio, has defeated fellow Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich in the state's 9th District congressional primary. Read More »

In Upset, Schmidt Goes Down in Ohio

By Scott Bland

In a stunning upset, Rep. Jean Schmidt , R-Ohio, lost the 2nd District Republican primary to veteran Brad Wenstrup Tuesday night, falling short in her reelection bid eight months before Election Day. The Cincinnati Enquirer re...

CONGRESS

In Upset, Schmidt Goes Down in Ohio

By Scott Bland

Previewing Ohio's House Race Primaries

By Scott Bland

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly indicated the time that polls close. 7:30 is the time that polls close. Read More »

CONGRESS

Washington Rep. Norm Dicks Retiring

By Billy House

Rep. Norm Dicks 's decision on Friday to retire at the end of the 112th Congress undoubtedly will set off a scramble to succeed him as the top Democrat on the omnipotent Appropriations Committee, and could become a factor in...

Grayson Wins DFA's Grassroots Contest

By Scott Bland

Former Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson , who lost his reelection bid in 2010 but is attempting a comeback in Florida's new 9th Congressional District, is the winner of Democracy for America's Grassroots All-Stars Contest. Grayson beat...

Rep. Dreier to Retire

By Scott Bland

Rep. David Dreier , R-Calif., the chairman of the House Rules Committee, on Wednesday announced on the House floor that he is not running for reelection. Read More »

Schweikert, Quayle Fight for Conservative Mantle

By Scott Bland

Updated at 2:15 p.m. Read More »

Bachus Leading, but Vulnerable to Wall Street Ties, Poll Shows

By Scott Bland

12:57 p.m. CORRECTION: The previous version of this post incorrectly identified Scott Beason's elected position. He is a state senator. Read More »

Quayle, Schweikert Officially in Primary in Arizona

By Scott Bland

Rep. Ben Quayle , R-Ariz., announced on Monday that he will run for reelection in the new Arizona 6th District instead of the new 9th District, pitting him against fellow GOP freshman Rep. Dave Schweikert in a primary. The move ...

FEC Takeaways: The Freshmen Are Fundraising Fine

By Scott Bland

Since the Federal Election Commission's fourth quarter filing deadline passed Jan. 31, we've had the opportunity to look over the House freshman class's fundraising numbers. One of the narratives that has emerged after earlier quart...

Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler to Retire

By Scott Bland and Josh Kraushaar

Rep. Heath Shuler , D-N.C., will not seek reelection next year, according to sources close to the candidate. The retirement is bad news for Democrats seeking to regain control of the House. The seat is a likely pickup for Republica...

Democrat Bonamici Wins Oregon Special Election

By Scott Bland

Updated at 11:25 p.m. Read More »

Democrat Bonamici Wins Oregon Special Election

By Scott Bland

Democrat Suzanne Bonamici will be the next member of Congress from Oregon's 1st District, filling the seat previously held by former Democratic Rep. David Wu . Read More »

Musical Chairs in Florida Senate, House Races

By Scott Bland and Sean Sullivan

Updated at 7:51 p.m. Read More »

Facing Tough Primary, Veteran Rep. Burton Bows Out

By Scott Bland and Sean Sullivan

-- Updated at 11:35 a.m. Read More »

FEC Wrap: One Day Out

By Kevin Brennan, Julie Sobel and Scott Bland

Some fundraising news, just one day away from the Jan. 31 deadline: Read More »

FEC Wrap: Friday News Dump Edition

By Sean Sullivan and Scott Bland

Here's your end of day FEC wrap, complete with several news dumps from some campaigns looking to unload some poor figures heading into the weekend: Read More »

FEC Wrap: The Latham Show

By Scott Bland and Sean Sullivan

Some notable House/Senate fundraising news from Thursday as we approach Jan. 31: Read More »

CONGRESS

Rep. Miller to Retire, Won't Challenge Rep. Price

By Scott Bland

Rep. Brad Miller , D-N.C., will retire rather than run against fellow North Carolina Democratic Rep. David Price in a new, merged district, according to a report in the Raleigh News & Observer . Read More »

Miller Won't Challenge Price

By Scott Bland

Updated at 11:16 a.m. Read More »

DCCC Touts December Fundraising Numbers

By Scott Bland

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $5.3 million in December, capping off $61.4 million of fundraising in 2011, according to figures given to The Hotline . The DCCC finished the year with $11.6 million cash on ha...

Duckworth Cruising in Own Poll

By Scott Bland

If the primary election was held today, it looks like Tammy Duckworth would cruise to the Democratic nomination in Illinois's 8th District. Since it's actually in less than two months, she probably will anyway. Read More »

Democrats Lead Republicans by 11 Points in Generic Ballot

By Scott Bland

Today's United Technologies/ National Journal Congressional Connection Poll showed Democrats with an 11-point lead over Republicans in a generic ballot question asked to registered voters. When asked if they would "rather see the...

FEC Wrap: West is Best (Again)

By Scott Bland and Sean Sullivan

Your day-end wrap of notable Senate/House fundraising news: Read More »

CONGRESS

With Giffords Stepping Down, Who Might Step Up?

By Billy House and Scott Bland

With Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., set to step down this week, who is lining up to succeed her? A number of names already are circulating as potential candidates, according to Arizona political sources. Read More »

CONGRESS

Rep. Giffords to Step Down This Week

By Billy House, Scott Bland and Niraj Chokshi

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., is stepping down from Congress this week, almost exactly one year after she was shot at close range at a campaign event, she said in a video posted to YouTube on Sunday. Read More »

House Democrats' Top Targets List: A Closer Look

By Scott Bland

Three dozen races make up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's list of top targets among open and Republican-held House seats. But the contests are better thought of not as a single list but as three groups. Almost a...

Platts to Retire From House

By Billy House, Sean Sullivan and Scott Bland

Rep. Todd Platts , R-Pa. will announce on Tuesday afternoon that he will retire at the end of this year, his sixth term in Congress. Read More »

NRCC Spending Money In Oregon Special Election

By Scott Bland

The National Republican Congressional Committee will begin airing a 30-second television advertisement in coordination with Republican Rob Cornilles 's campaign on Wednesday, marking the first time a GOP-aligned outside group has p...

Critz Feeling Labor's Love In Pennsylvania Primary

By Scott Bland

In a sign that labor is beginning to take sides in a hotly-contested member-versus-member Democratic primary, Rep. Mark Critz , D-Pa., will roll out the first union endorsement of his race against fellow Pennsylvania Democratic Rep...

When Congressional Candidates Harass

By Scott Bland

Candidates have been rising and fading ever more quickly in the Republican presidential race. But this afternoon, a (now-former) congressional candidate seems to have demonstrated the maximum speed of a political free-fall. Read More »

Audience members listen to Mitt Romney speak

NEED TO KNOW: POLITICS

Romney’s Makeover

By Ron Fournier

Mitt Romney’s New Hampshire strategy emerged from a 2010 dinner at a Bedford steakhouse. Read More »

Austria Not Running for Re-election

By Scott Bland

Rep. Steve Austria , R-Ohio, announced Friday that he will not run for reelection in 2012. He blamed the new Ohio redistricting map, which carved up his old 7th District and had forced him to file for reelection in the new 10th D...

DCCC Identifies More Endangered Incumbents

By Scott Bland

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added five more House members to its Frontline incumbent-protection program Friday. Read More »

Breaking Down the New Washington Map

By Sean Sullivan and Scott Bland

Washington state's bipartisan Redistricting Commission released a new congressional map proposal on Wednesday. The draft creates a new 10th District centered around the city of Olympia, shores up Republican Reps. Dave Reichert an...

Coble Won't Be Making Retirement Announcement this Afternoon

By Scott Bland

Rep. Howard Coble , R-N.C., will not announce whether he is retiring from Congress at today's 1 p.m. press conference in his district. Coble, who was just released from the hospital, will be addressing the media on his recent healt...

ECONOMY

The Anxious Generation

By Ronald Brownstein

Americans near the end of their careers are much more uneasy about their retirement prospects than those who have already stopped working, according to the latest Allstate/ National Journal Heartland Monitor poll. Read More »

INFOGRAPHIC: Marching in Lockstep

By Brian McGill and Scott Bland

CAMPAIGN 2012

Hard Economic Times Rob Young Voters of 'Hope'

By Scott Bland

A new report shows that nearly half of young Americans in a survey expect to be worse off than their parents. Read More »

An audience member at a town hall meeting

ELECTION PREVIEW: PRIMARY VOTERS

The GOP Electorate: Second Verse, Same as the First

By Ronald Brownstein

Gallup analyzes the Republican primary's voter base for National Journal . Read More »

Romney Largely Consistent on Flat Tax Issue

By Scott Bland

While presidential candidates Herman Cain and Texas Gov. Rick Perry have allied themselves with flat tax proposals, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has walked fine line on the issue, warning against proposals that cou...

Continent-Sized Storm

By Ryan Morris and Scott Bland

POLITICS

Census Sheds New Light on Toll of Great Recession

By Ronald Brownstein and Scott Bland

Many of the swing states likely to decide the 2012 presidential election have suffered the most from the Great Recession and its aftermath, according to a National Journal analysis of census data. That’s not good news for Obama ...

Controversial Congressional Candidate Allen West Visits Israel

POLITICS

Voters Willing to Look Past Ideology, Ethics Problems

By Ronald Brownstein and Scott Bland

The race between Democrat Ron Klein and Republican Allen West in Florida illustrates how wave elections can sweep in candidates who, under ordinary circumstances, would be considered out-of-step with their districts. Read More »

Carly Fiorina Holds Town Hall Meeting in Huntington Beach

POLITICS

Left Coast Surprise: Fiorina Looks Like The Stronger GOP Candidate

By Ronald Brownstein

Even California? Carly Fiorina, the more conservative of the Republicans running in California's two marquee races this year, is making Democrats sweat -- a sign of how strong the GOP tide is running. Ron Brownstein reports from Los...

The Saver

By Scott Bland

Salesman Philip Pirello of Erie, Pa., has put three kids through college by saving and cautiously investing. But he says government must look out for Americans' financial security. Read More »