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National Journal Coverage
Ed Markey Ad

Watch the First Campaign Ad to Invoke the Newtown Shootings

Locked in a close Massachusetts Senate race, Ed Markey goes negative against Gabriel Gomez.
Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio Makes His Move For 2016

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio hasn’t popped up in an early-primary state in six months, leaving potential Republican rivals like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal to make the rounds while he carried the torch for his immigration reform plan.

Poll: How Damaging Is the IRS Controversy to Obama?

Most Republicans and half of Democrats say the issue will haunt the president.

Poll: Will the Benghazi Controversy Hurt a Possible Presidential Run by Hillary Clinton?

Says one Republican, "The 3 a.m. call came, and she was sleeping. Not a stellar example of leadership."

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

Former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez on Friday will launch his first television ad of the general election, emphasizing his military background. "I had a calling from an early age to serve my family's adopted country," Gomez says in the spot after introducing himself in Spanish. The ad does not mention...

Local Democrats Breaking With Party To Endorse Chris Christie

Trailing badly in the polls, New Jersey state Sen. Barbara Buono, the likely Democratic nominee for governor in the fall, is doing her best to link Gov. Chris Christie to the national GOP. “I didn’t think the Republicans could find anybody that was as out of touch with middle class values as, yo...
Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli

Poll: McAuliffe Holds Slight Lead in Va. Gov. Race

Former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe has taken a slight lead over Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in Virginia's gubernatorial race, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday morning. McAuliffe leads Cuccinelli, 43 percent to 38 percent, with 17 perce...
naturization ceremony

Immigration Will Soon be the Biggest Population Driver—For the First Time Since 1850

Some time in the roughly next 15 to 25 years, immigration will become the primary driver of U.S. population growth, overtaking “natural” increases for the first time in nearly 200 years.
Cory Booker Stanford Man

Cory Booker Scores Contributions From Famous Athletes

Cory Booker is quite popular in Hollywood. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported his week that guests at a recent Los Angeles fundraiser for the Newark Mayor included Steven Spielberg and Bruce Willis. He previously has received contributions from directors Ron Howard and Rob Reiner. But Booker's big-n...
Schatz

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

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii, may not be running for governor of her state, but she's still running against Gov. Neil Abercrombie as she gears up for a 2014 Senate primary. Nothing official has been worked out yet, but Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz will be able to count on strong support from th...
Bart Stupak

Bipartisanship, Wolverine State-Style

Who says bipartisanship is dead? Not GOP Rep. Fred Upton or former Rep. Bart Stupak. Upton raised almost half a million dollars last quarter, the largest haul in the Michigan delegation. Nestled amid the political action committees and industry bigwigs who donated to Upton earlier this year is a $50...
food truck

How Can Conservatives Win Over Young Voters? Go For Their Guts.

It's a lot easier to get young voters to care about government overreach if you're talking about food trucks.
Stephane Herseth Sandlin

Obama's Struggles Hampering Democratic Recruitment

It's tough to persuade Democrats to run in a challenging political environment.
Gabriel Gomez

In Massachusetts, Gomez Internal Poll Shows Close Race

Democratic Rep. Ed Markey holds only a narrow advantage against Republican Gabriel Gomez in the special election for Senate in Massachusetts, according to an internal poll from the GOP candidate’s campaign, the latest sign the blue state race will be more competitive than Democrats expected.
Jennifer Cox

5 Staffers to Watch Among House Freshmen

Running an office of a freshman member of Congress is never easy, but certain lawmakers and their top aides have especially unique challenges. Meet the chiefs of staffs of five House members whose election to Congress is somehow notable or newsworthy.
Obama Speaks about Economy

Blacks and Hispanics More Optimistic About Economy Than Whites

Despite significant wealth and income gaps, and higher than average unemployment rates, Hispanics and African-Americans are more optimistic about their economic prospects and the direction of the country than whites, recent polls show.
Harvesting wheat crop

Congress Poised to Move on Farm Bill

The atmosphere on Capitol Hill for the farm bill suddenly seems to be full speed ahead.
IRS

IRS Blunder Gives Republicans Ammunition in Effort to Defund the Agency

The Internal Revenue Service’s admission that it inappropriately targeted conservative political groups for special scrutiny during the 2012 presidential election only gives congressional Republicans more ammunition as they try to defund and weaken the agency.

Inside the Cover: The Coming GOP Civil War Over Climate Change

In this week's National Journal cover story, Coral Davenport explores the Republican party's relationship with climate change. In this video, get inside the story with the author herself.
Chris Christie

The Coming GOP Civil War Over Climate Change

Science, storms, and demographics are starting to change minds among the rank and file. 
Mark Sanford

If Democrats Can’t Beat a Confessed Adulterer, What Chance Do They Have?

Mark Sanford’s win in South Carolina shows how difficult it will be for liberals to reclaim control of the House. 
Illegal Immigrants

Poll: Will the Senate Immigration Bill Get 70 Votes?

Republicans say it won't, while Democrats are more divided.

Poll: Which Senator Is Most Likely to Change His or Her Vote on Background-Check Legislation?

Democrats look to Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H.
Hispanic Voters

As Hispanic Vote Lags, Millions of Votes Left on the Table

Less than half of all eligible Hispanics turned out to vote in 2012, according to census data, suggesting they have yet to flex their political muscle.
Washington Early Voting

How We Register

If you're between the ages of 18 and 24, chances are you registered to vote when you visited the Department of Motor Vehicles. If you're over the age of 65, you probably registered to vote at some other government office.Those are the findings of a new Census Bureau survey that asked Americans how t...
Obama and Clinton

Why Benghazi is a Blow to Obama and Clinton

Both parties are wrong about the scandal: It’s not Watergate and it’s not nothing.
*TEST*

Inside The American Crossroads And Koch Post-Mortems

Conservatives identify what went wrong in 2012 -- and how to fix their problems.
John Barrow

Senate Democrats Starting On The Defensive

Facing a difficult landscape in 2014, Democrats having trouble recruiting for Republican-held seats.
Obama

The Diminishing Returns of Big-Data Campaigning

What if we were all wrong about the Obama campaign’s vaunted technological advantage?
John Barrow

Barrow Won't Run for Senate As Dems Eye Backup

Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., will not run for retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss's seat in 2014, he announced in a press release this afternoon. "I enjoy my work on behalf of the folks in the 12th District, and I look forward to continuing to serve them in the House of Representatives," Barrow said. Barrow...
PEOPLE-Comics2

Life in Politics Can Be Comic

While tens of thousands of people make a living in politics, Darren Davis seems to have discovered a niche in political comics.
John Kasich

Ohio Tea Party Groups Considering GOP Insurrection

The Ohio tea party's fracturing of the state GOP could be a serious worry, we noted last Friday, if the harsh rhetoric is followed by real action. Today, a report in the Columbus Dispatch shows just how bad things have gotten in the Buckeye State. Tea party groups, writes Joe Hallett, are consideri...
Mark Sanford

What To Watch For in Tonight's South Carolina District 1 Special Election

On Tuesday, voters in South Carolina’s 1st District will be heading to the polls in a special election to fill the vacant seat once held by now-Sen. Tim Scott. The race, between former GOP Gov. Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch, best known as comedian Stephen Colbert’s sister, is neck-and-neck. The Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up. Here’s what to watch for.
Young Voters

Will Millennials Become Generation X-treme?

Harvard study suggests leaders must act urgently to prevent polarization and apathy among young Americans.
Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio: A Successful Salesman for Immigration Reform?

Recess has been tough for Marco Rubio.
Rep. Steve King

Steve King Won't Run for Senate, Leaving Iowa Republicans Empty-Handed

Iowa Rep. Steve King won't be running for Senate, he announced in a tweet Friday night. The conservative firebrand had frozen the GOP field, as his entry into the race would have made him the favorite for the nomination. King, like Rep. Tom Latham before him, cited work in the House as reason not t...
John Kasich

Tea Party Groups Clash With Kasich in Ohio

Ask an Ohio Democrat about Gov. John Kasich and you'll likely hear him described as a partisan bully who caters to the extreme wing of his party with legislation that punishes the middle class. Ask a member of the Tea Party and you'll probably hear a different story. Kasich, say some conservative ac...

In Massachusetts, Kids Poll the Darndest Things

The first post-primary poll in next month's Massachusetts Senate special election was released Thursday, but while the survey carried the name of a prominent Boston university, it wasn't conducted by the school or its faculty. The automated poll was conducted by a newly-reinstated student group on c...
Absentee voting in Florida

How Colorado's Forthcoming Election Law Incentivizes The GOP

The Colorado state Senate on Thursday passed legislation requiring the state to conduct its elections entirely by absentee ballot. The party-line vote, and Gov. John Hickenlooper's likely signature, means Colorado will become the third state, alongside Washington and Oregon, to hold elections entirely by mail.
Yvette Clarke, Charlie Rangel, Juamaane Williams

How Democrats Could Blow Immigration

In their zeal to reach an agreement with Republicans, party strategists risk alienating the usually reliable Black Caucus. 

Poll: What Are the Chances Congress Will Pass a Major Tax-Reform Bill?

A majority of Insiders say prospects are poor.

Poll: What Impact Will the Boston Bombings Have on Immigration Reform?

Neither party’s Insiders expect much of an effect.
Jack Kingston

Tea Party Hopes for a Peachy 2014 in Georgia

Three open House races and an open Senate seat make Georgia one of the nation’s best opportunities.
Unemployment

Why No One’s Winning in Washington

Republicans needed to move to the center. The Democrats needed to fix the economy. Oh well.
Early Voting In Ohio

The Democratic Comeback To Voter ID

In Colorado, Democrats looking to liberalize voting laws to their advantage.
Lindsey Graham

Why Lindsey Graham's Support for Immigration Reform Isn't Popular in South Carolina

The Republican senator is still in solid position for reelection, but he has reason to worry.
Lamar Smith

Meet the Yahoo Caucus

Congress is filled with informal caucuses, from the Black Caucus to the Wine Caucus. I have a new one to propose, which might be among the largest: the Yahoo Caucus.
Newborn Babies and Mortality

Average Unwed Mom? See Her Characteristics

The demographics of unmarried women who have children are changing.
Scott Holcomb

Holcomb Considering Ga. Senate, Gubernatorial Bids

Georgia state Rep. Scott Holcomb says he is considering running for his state's open Senate seat in 2014, even as the Peach State's Democratic Party brass tries to narrow down the field to a single candidate. "It's fair to say that I'm thinking about it, and that's largely a function of many people...
North Carolina 12

Prepare for a Special Election in the Craziest-Shaped Congressional District in the Country

If Rep. Melvin Watt winds up going to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, he'll be leaving behind an incredibly gerrymandered district in North Carolina.
Supreme Court Oral Arguments

African-Americans, the Last Democratic Holdouts on Gay Marriage?

Just as President Obama has offered high-profile support and Jason Collins came out as gay, black public opinion is also changing.
Nick Rahall

Rahall Won't Run For Senate

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., will soon announce he is running for a 20th term in the House, taking a pass on the race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller, according to a statement obtained by Hotline On Call. "With U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller retiring at the end of this term, it is m...
Mark Sanford

How Democrats Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Super PAC

A day with House Majority PAC shows why unlimited spending is the norm, on both sides of the aisle.
Terry McAuliffe and Ken Cuccinelli

Virginia Governor's Race Overshadowed By Scandal

Ken Cuccinelli and Terry McAuliffe's ties to controversial companies have become fodder for attacks.
google now

Google Now: Bringing Us One Step Closer to the Star Trek Computer

The firm is doubling down on search that is conversational, contextual, and personal.
Gary Peters

Gary Peters To Announce Senate Bid

Rep. Gary Peters will announce this week that he's running to replace retiring Sen. Carl Levin, sources tell The Hotline, giving Democrats another top recruit in a state critical to their hopes of keeping the Senate next year.
Colbert Busch

Black Voters Are Key to a Colbert Busch Win in South Carolina

The Democrat is airing a radio ad accusing Mark Sanford of voter suppression.
Senate Immigration

Asylum and Entry/Exit Systems Get Another Look in Congress After Boston

The impact of the bombings on the immigration debate has narrowed in on just two isolated policy arenas.
Elizabeth Colbert

Colbert Busch Outraises Sanford Nearly Two-to-One

Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch raised nearly twice as much money as did former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford over the last two months, ahead of the May 7 special election for the Palmetto State's 1st District seat, according to documents filed with the Federal Election Commission late on Thursd...
Hispanics and religion

Hispanics Actually Don't Share Republican 'Faith and Family' Values

There's a gulf between how the GOP and the voters it needs define social and cultural issues.
denhamprofile

Democrats Land Buzzy Recruit in Another Obama-GOP House District

House Democrats have landed a recruit to run against Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., in the Central Valley's 10th Congressional District. Farmer and beekeeper Michael Eggman announced Tuesday that he will seek the seat, which was one of 17 in the country to split its votes between a Republican congressm...
Marco Rubio

Special Interests Shadow Immigration Reform

Supporters are fending off charges that the legislation caters to the K Street crowd.
Political Pursuit 2013

'Press Pass' Wins Political Pursuit

After five rounds of intense trivia, jokes and a few beer breaks, the Press Pass team claimed victory at our Fifth Annual Political Pursuit event. Roll Call's Shira Toeplitz, Washington Post's Chris Cillizza, New York Times' Carl Hulse, Washington Post's Paul Kane and Cook Political Report's Amy Wa...
Youth unemployment

Millennials Are the Unluckiest Generation

Entering the workforce during a recession puts young people behind from the start. 
Aerospace

Five Cool Innovations to Lift Workers Into the Middle Class

From rent-subsidized apartments for single moms to an online medical clinic that saves $88 per diagnosis, American ingenuity works. 
Obama

The 1 Chart That Could Sever Obama's Coalition

Continuing economic dissatisfaction could dissolve the powerful electoral coalition that powered both of President Obama's victories.
McCain at State of the Union

Schumer Thinks Senate Needs More Than 60 Votes for Immigration to Push House to Act

Just breaking up an expected GOP filibuster of immigration legislation may not be enough. 
Rep. Bob Goodlatte Virginia Republican

Now the House Takes On Immigration

The Senate got lots of attention for its Gang of Eight. Now the House is taking a crack at reform.

Mitch McConnell, Super Populist

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is a staid, understated politician. He doesn't give pulpit-pounding speeches, and he rarely electrifies an audience. That's what makes this video, released today by McConnell's campaign team, so remarkable. Remember those Tim Pawlenty videos folks compared to...
Michigan jobs

Being In the Middle Class Means Worrying About Falling Behind

After years of economic turmoil, most families now believe the most valuable—and elusive—possession in American life is economic security.
Colleen Hanabusa

Is Brian Schatz Already Winning Hawaii's Invisible Primary?

A competitive Hawaii Senate race is all but official. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and other outlets reported Tuesday that Democratic Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has decided to challenge appointed Sen. Brian Schatz and try to make good on the late Sen. Daniel Inouye’s deathbed request that Hanabusa repl...
Capitol dome

The Week That Kicked Off The Battle For The Senate

Republicans in position to take back the upper chamber, if they can avoid self-destructive tendencies.
Arturo Rodriguez

Agricultural Workers and Farmers Unite to Push Congress on Immigration Reform

The sight of the head of the United Farm Workers and farmer representatives testifying side by side before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday to promote the farmworker section of the immigration-reform bill was an extraordinary moment in American agriculture.

Whitaker Prepares For Senate Bid While Awaiting King's Decision

Iowa Republicans may not have a Senate candidate yet, but former U.S. Attorney Matt Whitaker is readying to fill the void if Rep. Steve King takes a pass on the race. "It's smart to take steps to move forward no matter what [King's] decision is," Whitaker said. "At some point in time the race needs...
Immigrants out of the shadows

The 8 Senators Who Hold Immigration Reform in the Balance

A look at the positioning of key conservative senators and how the legislation is faring with the GOP base.
Rep. Justin Amash

Mich. GOP Establishment Hopes for Rogers, Frets Over Amash

Longtime Michigan Republican operatives are open about their desire to see Rep. Mike Rogers run in the state's open-seat Senate race, but they're worried Rep. Justin Amash -- who possesses little regard for the GOP establishment -- won't let the possibility of a damaging primary derail his ambition...
Brian Schweitzer

Democrats Need Working-Class Heroes to Keep Control of Senate

For Republicans, the Senate won't be won in the deep South. They'll need to pick off blue-collar Democratic states like Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan.
Barbara Buono

Poll: Buono Still Not Gaining Traction in N.J.

New Jersey state Sen. Barbara Buono is finding out that it's difficult to close a 30-plus-point gap in the polls when roughly four out of five voters don't know anything about you. A new Quinnipiac University poll released early Wednesday shows Buono, the almost-certain Democratic nominee in this y...
Nick Rahall at Energy Independence Press Conference

NRCC Recruiting Freshman State Legislator to Challenge Nick Rahall

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., one of Republicans' top targets in 2014, may soon get his first challenger: The National Republican Congressional Committee is in the process of recruiting state Sen. Bill Cole to run for the seat. The NRCC sent staffers to West Virginia last week to meet with Cole, accord...
Lynch and Markey

Democrats Argue Over Who's Tougher on National Security After Boston Bombings

National security was a contentious topic at Monday night's Democratic debate.
Eric Garcetti

Poll Shows Garcetti Leading Greuel in L.A. Mayoral Runoff

City Councilman Eric Garcetti holds a 10-point lead over Controller Wendy Greuel with a month to go before the May 21 runoff to become Los Angeles' next mayor, according to a new USC Price/Los Angeles Times poll released Sunday. The poll, featured on the front page of the Times' Sunday editions, sh...
Markey Lynch

Poll: Markey Leads Lynch By 10 Points As Campaigns Set to Resume

With a little more than a week left before the special election primary in Massachusetts, Rep. Edward Markey holds a 10-point lead in the Democratic primary over Rep. Stephen Lynch, according to a Western New England University Polling Institute survey unveiled late Saturday by the Republican of Spr...
Boston house crime scene

Were Boston Bombers Lone Wolves or Long Arm of al-Qaida?

What pushed two seemingly normal young immigrants past the tipping point of youthful anger and into wanton terrorism?

Inside the Cover: Who Wants To Run For Congress?

In this week's National Journal cover story, Shane Goldmacher looks at why anyone would want to run for Congress. In the video above, go inside the story with the author himself.
Joe Baca

Baca's Comeback Bid: Aguilar Not 'Viable'

Former Democratic Rep. Joe Baca fired back at congressional rival Pete Aguilar Wednesday, saying in an interview that he only got into the race for California's 31st Congressional District because local community leaders came to him in search of a viable candidate. Baca also distanced himself from p...
Rep. Steve King

King on Possible Senate Run: 'I Can See a Path to Victory'

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is still considering running for Senate, telling National Journal that he sees "a path to victory" in polling conducted on his behalf, but his "gut hasn't quite lined up yet." In an interview with NJ's Fawn Johnson, published in the new issue of National Journal, King says...
Heidi Heitkamp

Why Would Anyone Want to Run for Congress?

How both political parties seduce (and sometimes browbeat) ordinary citizens into seeking a position in the nation’s most despised club. 
Barack Obama, John McCain

Why John McCain Is Barack Obama’s New Best Friend

The two have their eyes on history as they transcend years of friction. The upshot could be good for the country.

Poll: Should John Boehner Allow Immigration Legislation to Go Through the Committees?

Insiders from both parties see regular order as the smart move. 

Poll: Will the Gang of Eight’s Immigration-Reform Proposal Help Your Party?

Democratic and Republican Insiders have high hopes, but for different reasons. 
Patrick Murphy

House Fundraising Winners and Losers

The path back to a House majority is incredibly difficult for Democrats. But there was a lot of good news for them in the first set of campaign finance reports of the 2014 election cycle. For the big winners of the first quarter, just look toward the top of the list. A pair of Florida freshmen, Dem...
NRA Protest

Why the Senate Vote May Signal 2016 Problems for the Gun Lobby

The outcome of Wednesday’s dramatic Senate vote on expanding background checks simultaneously demonstrated the difficult geography confronting gun-control advocates in the Senate and the potentially daunting math facing gun-rights proponents in the Electoral College.
Barack Obama

In Boston, Obama Finds His Voice and the Nation's: 'We Will Run Again'

Standing ovations greet Obama at interfaith service where he vows: "We will run again."
John Kasich

Poll: Kasich Leads Dems FitzGerald, Cordray

While Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald solidifies his frontrunner status for the Democratic nomination, he trails Gov. John Kasich in a potential general election matchup, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. Kasich owns a 46-percent-to-37-percent edge over FitzGerald...
Fred Upton

5 Things Immigration, Gay Marriage, and Gun Control Have That Climate Change Doesn't

The amount of change happening in Washington is impressive, but this kind of sea change can’t happen right now with energy and climate policy. Here's why.
Rep. Fred Upton

A Polarized Congress Tests Fred Upton’s Instincts

In the final days of the last Congress, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton spoke out against a bill to provide roughly $50 million to aid the victims of superstorm Sandy.
Landrieu and Pryor

Senate Fundraising Winners and Losers

The Senate map favors Republicans this cycle, but Democrats are off to a hot fundraising start. Here are our first-quarter winners and losers: Winners: Red State Democrats: To win back the majority, Republicans probably need to unseat a majority of the five Democratic incumbents seeking reele...
Sanford primary

House Majority PAC Slams Sanford Over Ethics Violations in New Ad

House Majority PAC released a blistering attack ad on Wednesday, going after former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford for going on a "taxpayer-fueled spending spree" during his time in office. The ad focuses on the $74,000 fine Sanford paid in 2010 to settle an ethics case against him for using st...
Rand Paul

11 Things We Learned About Rand Paul at Breakfast

Sen. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican and potential GOP candidate for president, chatted with reporters over scrambled eggs and sausage at a breakfast event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor on Wednesday. Here is what we learned.
U.S.-Mexico Border

Why the Immigration Plan Really Could Give Us Border Security

The "Gang of Eight" plan is encouraging news for legalization advocates, but first there’s the little issue of securing the border.
potd417

Play of the Day: What Republicans Can Learn From BuzzFeed

Fast forward to 3:10 to see how Buzzfeed can draw inspiration from the NRCC.
Steve King

Observers Say King's Fundraising Points Away From Senate Run

If Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, is a soon-to-be Senate candidate, he isn't fundraising like one, and his latest Federal Election Commission reports have contributed to a growing buzz that the outspoken conservative will take a pass on his state's open-seat Senate race. To some political observers, the...
Boston aftermath

Experts Skeptical Homegrown Terrorists Were Behind Boston Bombings

While officials are still investigating who was behind the deadly bombings at the Boston Marathon, President Obama made it clear on Tuesday that authorities are still unclear whether domestic or foreign actors are responsible for the attack.
Joe Baca

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

Voters and donors, not to mention candidates, are just starting to recover from the nationwide intensity of the 2012 election. But a Democratic recruit in an important California congressional race is already hammering away at a fellow Democratic primary opponent. It's one of the first direct attack...
Immigration rally

Deportees Can Come Back Under Draft Immigration Bill

Immigrants who were in the United States before Dec. 31, 2011 and were deported for noncriminal reasons could return to the country in a provisional legal status if they a legal spouse or child in the country or if they qualify for the Dream Act, according to a summary of the immigration bill slated to be unveiled this week in the Senate.
Marco Rubio

Immigration Reform Isn't Hurting Marco Rubio's Bottom Line

Though championing immigration reform is widely viewed as a political gamble for Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, it hasn't hurt his bottom line.
Bruce Braley

Braley Has $1 Million On Hand, As Republicans Seek A Senate Candidate

Just more than two months into his Senate campaign, Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, has a million-dollar head start as Republicans seek to find his opponent. Braley raised $1.07 million in the first quarter of 2013, $856,875 of which came from his nascent Senate committee. The remainder was raised by hi...
Warren

Why Evangelicals Back Obama on Immigration (and Why They Should Agree on Guns and Climate Change, Too)

Pragmatic mega-church leaders are savvy about demographic shifts.  
Pat Toomey

How Pat Toomey Became the Face of the Blue State GOP

The senator from Pennsylvania could have followed Rick Santorum. Instead, he's moving to the center on guns and gay rights. 

Poll: Which Senate Seats Are Likeliest to Flip?

Insiders say those of Democrats Tim Johnson and Jay Rockefeller are the most vulnerable.

Poll: Is It Politically Advantageous for Obama to Cut Medicare and Social Security?

Insiders from both parties say it is, though more Democrats are skeptical. 
Mark Pryor and David Pryor

Senate Fundraising Roundup: Clinton Boosts Pryor, Schatz Starts Strong, and Franken Burns on Both Ends

With the Federal Election Commission's April 15 first-quarter reporting deadline coming up quickly, a number of senators chose to release fundraising numbers a little early on Thursday. The first fundraising report of a new election cycle is the least important, but there are still some interesting...
Mitch McConnell

Report: Democratic Activists Admitted Recording McConnell Meeting

Members of the liberal group Progress Kentucky told a local Democratic official that they secretly recorded a private conversation between Mitch McConnell and his campaign aides, according to a published report from a local public radio station, a bombshell revelation that, if true, might lead to cr...
Raul Grijalva Keith Ellison

Progressives Fight Obama on Entitlements with Eye on 2014

For progressive Democrats in Congress, a fight with President Obama over the inclusion of cuts to Social Security in his budget proposal may be just a warm-up for the real looming battle: the 2014 midterms.
Rand at Howard U.

Rand Paul Gets Skeptical Hearing At Howard University

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky took his message of GOP inclusion to historically black Howard University Wednesday, where he received a polite but tough reception.
Christine Quinn

Poll: Quinn's Primary Lead Shrinks After Hits From Both Sides

Besieged on both her left and her right, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's commanding lead in September's Democratic mayoral primary is showing signs of slippage, a new poll released on Wednesday suggests. The Quinnipiac University poll still shows Quinn leading her closest Democratic...
New Orleans, Startup City

Is New Orleans America's Next Great Innovation Hub?

The Big Easy doesn't want fewer bachelor parties. It just wants more bachelor's degrees. 
Mike Ross Retirement

Mike Ross To Launch Arkansas Gubernatorial Campaign Next Week

Former Arkansas Rep. Mike Ross will announce on April 17 that he's running for governor, according to an email sent out Tuesday by a local Democratic chapter within the state. Ross will fly to different cities throughout Arkansas on the day of his announcement, said Democratic insider Gary Grimes,...
Kamala Harris

Offended by Obama's 'Best-Looking Attorney General' Gaffe? Well, Looks Still Matter in Politics

Research shows attractive candidates receive more support.

Video: Inside This Week's Cover Story

In this week’s cover story, National Journal’s George Condon discusses race under the Obama administration.
Unemployment in DC

Has Obama Done Enough for Black Americans?

For many, this is still a land of unequal opportunity. A history-making president may not be enough. 
Charles Schumer, Marco Rubio

The Rubio Trap

Liberal groups have one message for Democrats negotiating with the Florida Republican: Don't give in. 

Poll: Which Senate Incumbents Are Most Vulnerable?

Democratic Insiders say it's Mark Pryor or Kay Hagan, while Republicans point to Hagan by a wide margin.

Poll: Even Democrats Say the NRA Is Beating the White House on the Gun Debate

Insiders from both parties see Obama struggling on the issue.
Newt Gingrich

For Newt Gingrich, a Future in Ideas

The former House speaker wants to turn great ideas into bills, but from the outside.
Rep. John Fleming, R-La., once operated 30 Subway restaurants and had a stake in 130 UPS stores, from Mississippi to Texas.

Fleming Won't Join Cassidy In La. Senate Run

Rep. John Fleming, R-La., will not run for the Senate in 2014, he said in a statement today, citing fellow Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy's official entry into the race Wednesday and the necessity of party unity ahead of what is expected to be a tough battle against incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Land...
Michael Rubio

How a Calif. Legislative Race Complicated DCCC Recruiting Efforts

State legislatures, home to innumerable ambitious politicians pondering their next moves, are fertile ground for congressional recruiting. But in California's Central Valley, the state Senate has diverted Democrats’ congressional talent pipeline. An unexpected vacancy enticed a prospective Democra...
North Dakota

5 Controversial Measures From GOP Legislatures and Why They Matter

Democrats plan to take advantage of controversial laws in the states to attack Republicans.
Hillary Clinton

Hillary Watch: Her Book, the Mark Penn Test, and James Carville Signs On

It may still be only 2013, but Hillary Rodham Clinton's last week has plenty of people thinking more about 2016. Here's the latest on what could be the start of a presidential campaign.
Scott Rigell, R-Va.

One Congressman, Rand Paul, the GOP, and What Ails American Politics

Rep. Scott Rigell stayed true to conservatism but was punished for his moderation and common sense.
Stephen Colbert

For Whom Does the Colbert Bump, Bump?

Think Stephen Colbert isn’t a looming presence in his sister Elizabeth Colbert Busch’s campaign for office? Well, how did you pronounce her name?
Mark Sanford voting

Mark Sanford Wins S.C. Runoff, but Colbert Busch Still Blocks His Path to Redemption

The former governor outraised Bostic more than 15-1 in the pre-runoff period and had represented the district in the 1990s.
Rep. Mike Ross

Mike Ross Moves Closer To Launching Gubernatorial Bid in Arkansas

Former Democratic Rep. Mike Ross might be moving closer toward jumping into the Arkansas governor's race. A spokesperson for Southwest Power Pool confirmed Tuesday that Ross had resigned from his job with the organization to pursue an opportunity in public service. Ross' departure was originally re...
Obama and youth vote

Could a Maryland Town Allow 16-Year-Olds to Vote?

One Maryland town wades into a national debate over when citizens are old enough to cast ballots.
Mark Sanford

GOP Runoff in South Carolina Is Mark Sanford's to Lose

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford faces another potential speed bump on his road to redemption when voters choose between him and Curtis Bostic on Tuesday for the Republican nomination in the state's 1st Congressional District.
Frank Niceley

Tennessee's Colossally Bad Plan to Change Its Primary System

Most people hear bad ideas almost every day.  But only occasionally do you hear a colossally ill-conceived idea, one that you really have to wonder about someone who dreamed it up.
Nikki Haley

Democrats Spy Opportunities in Ruby-Red South Carolina

Sanford's and Haley's vulnerabilities hearten Democrats in typically hostile political territory.
Elizabeth Colbert Busch

Colbert Busch Leads Sanford, Bostic in Internal Poll

The "Colbert Bump" seems to be in effect in South Carolina's First District, where Stephen Colbert's sister, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, has a slight lead over both former Gov. Mark Sanford and former Charleston County Councilor Curtis Bostic, according to a poll conducted last week for her campaign....

Citing Health Reasons, Potential DCCC Recruit Drops Out of Latham Race

Businessman Mike Sherzan, an early Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recruit, halted his campaign Monday in Iowa's 3rd congressional district, citing "personal health issues." Sherzan had been mounting a campaign against GOP Rep. Tom Latham, telling Hotline On Call in February that "it's...
Bill Cassidy

Bill Cassidy to Report $500K Haul Ahead of Possible Landrieu Challenge

Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-La., will report raising more than $500,000 in the first quarter of 2013, as he continues to mull a bid against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu next year, according to a release from his campaign. Spokesperson John Cummins declined to release a specific number, citing additional r...
Sunlight Drones

April Fools! Using the Day of Hijinks to Advance a Message

Leave it to the wonks and activists who work in Washington to turn an occasion for hijinks into a chance to further what they do every day: Attack their opponents and peddle their causes.
Politically Incorrect

The Politically Incorrect Caucus: 6 Controversy-Prone House Members

Rep. Don Young's ethnically charged reference to Hispanic ranch workers as "wetbacks" on an Alaska radio program reminded us of other controversial members of the 113th Congress.
Trumka

3 Ways Work Visas Could Still Blow Up the Immigration Bill

"Future Flow" has always lurked as the ogre that might not be tamed.
Mark Pryor and David Pryor

Senate Democrats Are Betting on Family Dynasties to Win Red States

Senators are hoping that voters will be looking for familiar faces over fresh ones in the 2014 midterms.
Steve King

If Steve King Runs for the Senate, His Opponents Will Have a Lot to Work With

The staunch Iowa conservative isn't afraid to speak his mind.
Jim Matheson

Matheson, Amash Split From Parties Most Often

The Democrat and Republican have voted against their parties more often than any other House members in the 113th Congress.
Beer Brewer

Will Alabama Finally Let Its Citizens Brew Their Own Beer?

Home-brewing is legal in 49 states. Alabama may soon join the fun.
Joe Garcia Colorado

Democrats Recruiting Tipton Challengers

At least two Democrats are considering running against Rep. Scott Tipton, R-Colo., next year: state Sen. Gail Schwartz and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. Multiple state Democrats confirmed Schwartz and Garcia are being recruited to run in the state's 3rd Congressional District. Schwartz, a two-term senator a...
Charlie Crist Senate Judiciary Committee

Fla. Dems Pray for Crist's Resurrection

There are more than 4.7 million registered Democrats in Florida, but it looks more and more like only one is a viable -- and willing -- potential candidate to challenge vulnerable Gov. Rick Scott: former GOP Gov. Charlie Crist, who joined the Democratic Party in December. 2010 nominee Alex Sink and...
Markey

Poll: Markey Leads Lynch, But Many Are Undecided

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Republican former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan currently lead their respective party primaries in the upcoming Massachusetts Senate special election, but significant numbers of voters in both parties remain undecided, according to a new poll conducted for Boston-ba...
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Poll: Christie Still Crushes Buono in N.J. Race

Seven-in-ten voters approve of the job New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is doing in a new poll released on Tuesday, and the Republican incumbent continues to lead Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono by 35 points in his November reelection bid -- leading the director of the Quinnipiac poll to say Chris...
Obama naturalization

Why the Fight Over Work Visas Won't Doom the Immigration Bill

Make no mistake. The immigration bill being crafted by the “Gang of Eight” senators will include foreign work visas despite warnings from both business and labor that their talks over the issue have broken down.
Wendy Greuel

Clinton Backs Greuel in L.A. Mayor's Race

Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Wendy Greuel on Monday became the latest beneficiary of Bill Clinton's five-year thank-you tour, when the former president endorsed her over another Democrat in the upcoming runoff election. Greuel, the city's controller, served as a senior advisor at the Department of Ho...
Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann Faces Ethics Review

Investigators with the Office of Congressional Ethics are interviewing former aides to Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., about alleged campaign-finance violations, the Daily Beast reported.
Caitlin Halligan

Halligan's Withdrawal Is a Victory for GOP and Gridlock

Obama loses the battle to get his pick onto a court considered an on-ramp to the Supreme Court.
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

The Unfinished Agenda of Outgoing FCC Chairman Genachowski

Julius Genachowski is out as FCC chairman. He has accomplished a lot, but he also leaves a lot for his successor to do—over the short, medium, and long terms.
John Boehner, Eric Cantor

A Republican Divide in Sharp Relief

There's a growing split between the party's elites, based in D.C. and New York, and the increasingly vocal grassroots.
Rand Paul

Can Rand Paul Bring Libertarians Into the GOP?

Mainstream Republicans may not welcome them, but the party could use the lift.

Insiders Agree Democrats Will Nominate Clinton in 2016

Repulicans are torn between Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush.
Raul Labrador

Border Triggers Could Sink Immigration Deal

Republicans' insistence that border-security benchmarks be met before legalizing 11-12 million illegal immigrants could sink the emerging compromise measure.
Rick Perry

The Man Who Could Turn Texas Blue: Rick Perry

By opposing Medicaid expansion, the governor could hurt the GOP in a must-win state.
Haley Barbour

Haley Barbour: Immigration Bill Isn't Going to Change Many Hispanic Voters' Minds

The former RNC chairman supports immigration reform, but remains skeptical of immediate results.
DACA application

DREAMers in 3 Charts: Rate of Applications and Where They're From

The number of approvals for deferred-action status is approaching a quarter-million undocumented immigrants, but the submission rate for so-called DREAMers to secure the right to remain in the U.S. is slowing.
Rick Perry

Rick Perry: The Presidential Candidate Ahead of His Time

The Texas governor ran an awful campaign in 2012.  But his platform is now belatedly being embraced by party leaders.
Rand Paul

Seeking a Bigger Audience, Tea-Party Hero Embraces Immigration Reform

Rand Paul suppports legalizing undocumented immigrants, signaling an interest to expand his following beyond the tea party movement.
Steve Israel

DCCC Expands Its Voter-Outreach Efforts

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee rounded out its leadership team Wednesday, announcing a plethora of lawmakers to head outreach efforts to different voter groups.
Sen. Rand Paul

Why Rand Paul's Hispanic Pitch Is Doomed

He's pushing the idea that Hispanics are natural Republicans. The polling says that's wrong.
Scott DesJarlais

Why Are Republicans Raising Money for a Scandal-Plagued Congressman?

In Tennessee, Rep. Scott DesJarlais is a pariah. In D.C., he's being feted at fundraisers.
Myron Fleming

Retiring Senate Doorkeeper Has Seen Good Times and Bad

When Myron Fleming arrived on Capitol Hill in 1963, he recalls a woman hurling a racial remark his way not long after he was hired.
Pearceprofile

Meet the RNC's Curious Poster Boy for Hispanic Outreach

How can Republicans win back Hispanic voters? According to Reince Priebus, they need to study how Congressman Steve Pearce did it. "When a conservative like Steve Pearce in New Mexico wins in a predominantly Latino district, we need to glean the lessons of his approach," said Priebus, who on Monday...
Reince Priebus

Why the RNC's Reforms Don't Solve the GOP's Problem

The Republican Party's base still controls the debate in Washington.
Nikki Haley

How to Shrink the Dangerous Republican Empathy Gap

The GOP ought to pray that Rob Portman's gay-marriage conversion is more defining than CPAC. The country should, too.
Hispanic voters

GOP Can't Win Latinos Over Immigration

Earlier this winter, Ann Coulter brought her usual light touch to the question of the Hispanic vote. The author of Godless: The Church of Liberalism argued in a column that Republicans who support immigration reform in an effort to court Latinos are wasting their time. “It’s not clear that amnesty wins any Hispanics,” Coulter wrote, “apart from the ones who can’t vote (because they’re illegal) and their ethnic ‘spokesmen,’ whose power increases as the Hispanic population grows.” Hispanics gravitate toward Democrats, she insisted, because they believe in more government, and no immigration courtship will seduce them.
Mark Sanford

The Five Candidates Most Likely to Take On Mark Sanford

Though the race for first place in Tuesday's special GOP primary in South Carolina's First District is a foregone conclusion, the battle to take on former Gov. Mark Sanford in an almost-guaranteed April 2 runoff is wide-open, according to several Republicans in the state. The list of candidates who...
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC

Rand Paul Narrowly Defeats Marco Rubio in CPAC Straw Poll

Conservative divide reflects two different visions for the future of the party.
Steve King at CPAC

Steve King at CPAC: Happy Conservative Warrior

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- One day after Jeb Bush's plea for a big-tent Republican Party, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, used his CPAC speech to encourage a renewed emphasis on the very social arguments that threaten to splinter the conservative movement. As Republicans debate his general election viability...
immigrant salon owner

How Immigrants Forestall Death of More Than 1 in 3 U.S. Counties

America hasn’t seen such dismal census numbers on population shifts since the days of newsreels, dust bowls, and the mother of all depressions.

Colbert Busch Releases Second TV Ad

Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch released her second TV ad Wednesday in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District special election to replace now-Sen. Tim Scott. The ad focuses on her connection to the state and experience creating jobs.
Romney

Mitt Romney's CPAC Speech Was As Lackluster As His Campaign

But the former presidential nominee's speech was a reminder of his political mistakes during the 2012 presidential campaign. 
113th Congress

Map: Compare the Diverse 113th Congress With a Diversifying U.S. Population

Use this interactive tool to explore the difference between minority representation in the 113th Congress and minority populations across the U.S.
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC

A Pair of Senators Clash Over GOP Direction

For a life-sized representation of the identity crisis that’s been plaguing the Republican Party since the 2012 election, look to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Al Franken

No Joke: Al Franken Is Getting Campaign Help From Conan O'Brien

Facing a competitive Senate reelection in a year, the comedian-turned-senator is turning to a celebrity friend to help raise money for his 2014 campaign bid. 
Marco McMillian

The Elusive Truth Behind Murder of a Black, Gay Mayoral Candidate in Mississippi

It’s tempting to think Marco McMillian was killed because of his race, his sexuality, or because he was running for mayor. The truth is more elusive.
Romney and the Governors

Christie and McDonnell Aren't the Only Governors Missing From CPAC

It’s not just Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell who are missing from the lineup at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Of the roughly 250 activists, thinkers, politicians, and media stars on the three-day program, only four are governors.
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC

The GOP's Identity Crisis: Marco Rubio Versus Rand Paul

The two ambitious senators are already clashing over the Republican party's direction.
CPAC 2013

At CPAC, Young Conservatives Calling for Change

On immigration and gay marriage, there's a big GOP divide between young and old.
Hispanic voters

Republicans Can't Win Latinos With Immigration Reform

From big government to gay rights, America's fastest-growing demographic bloc aligns with Democrats. 

Republican Insiders Doubt a Grand Bargain Will Be Reached

But then again, so do Democrats. Plus: Neither party expects to gain much much politically from the upcoming budget process.
Scott DesJarlais

Congressman Hosts Fundraiser for Scandal-Plagued Colleague, But Won't Show Up

Even though he's hosting a fundraiser next week for the campaign of scandal-plagued Rep. Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, Rep. John Kline of Minnesota is distancing himself from the event, with a spokesman claiming he never planned to attend in the first place. 
Rand Paul and Marco Rubio at CPAC

Let the 2016 Primaries Begin: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul Duel at CPAC

The two leading Republican presidential contenders offered very different ideas for the GOP's future.
Rep. Steve Israel

DCCC's 2014 Effort Begins With Member-Driven Recruiting Push

The current crop of House Democrats includes the party's largest freshman class in two decades, and about a dozen of those freshmen have committed significant time in their young congressional careers to making sure the next class is also sizable. Twelve newly-elected Democrats are participating in...
Ken Cuccinelli

At CPAC, Ken Cuccinelli Moves to the Center

Virginia's Republican candidate for governor tacks to the middle in speech to conservative activists.
Collins

Why the GOP Won't Be Run Out of New England

At a time when the party is on the decline in the Northeast and in disarray in Maine, Sen. Susan Collins is well positioned to win a fourth term.
Idaho population

Report: Hispanic Population in Idaho Bloomed by 73 Percent Over 10 Years

The Hispanic population in Idaho grew by 73 percent over past decade, a dizzying number considering that in the U.S. overall, Hispanics grew by 43 percent between 2000 and 2010.
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio before he became Pope Francis

New Pope Reflects Spanish-Speaking Catholics' Importance to the Church

The selection of Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, a 76-year-old Jesuit who is an advocate for the poor, as the first pontiff from outside Europe should please many U.S. Catholics, almost 30 percent of whom are of Hispanic or Latino heritage.
East Los Angeles Hispanics

An Ingenious Business Model: Speak Spanish and Serve Immigrants

For one North Carolina credit union, courting Latino immigrant members is a risk that pays off.
Marco Rubio water sip

Why Politicians Need to Beware of the Meme

In this rapid online environment, attention spans are short. Push jokes too often and you run the risk of looking lame.
Stephen Lynch campaigning

Lynch, Markey Both Hitting TV Tuesday in Mass. Senate Primary

Rep. Stephen Lynch's, D-Mass., Senate campaign will run its first television ads on Tuesday, going on air the same day Rep. Edward Markey, Lynch's rival for the Democratic nomination, will begin his own TV push. According to a Monday filing with the Federal Communications Commission, Lynch is spend...
Gina Raimondo

EMILY's List Sets Sights on Statehouses in 2014

Record numbers of women were elected to Congress last year, many of them Democrats bolstered by EMILY's List. Now, the Democratic women's group is turning its eye to executive positions ahead of the 2014 midterms, hoping to expand the thin ranks of Democratic women governors. Congress will remain a...
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