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Why Democrats Are Already Jumping Aboard the Hillary Clinton Bandwagon

Josh Kraushaar | 9:57 a.m.

Claire McCaskill's endorsement was a bow to reality: No Democrat wants to challenge Clinton in 2016.

McDonald’s Puts Latinos on the Promotion Track

Naureen Khan | June 13, 2013

An innovative workforce training progam is giving nonnative English speakers the skills they need to advance.

Why Senate Democrats Will Miss Frank Lautenberg

Michael Catalini | June 3, 2013

Senate Democrats have many reasons to miss Frank Lautenberg.

Why College Sports Are Giving GOP Governors a Headache

Michael Catalini | May 31, 2013

Chris Christie and Tom Corbett are taking fire over their handling of scandal-ridden athletic departments.

Why Ricin Is the Domestic Terrorist's Toxin of Choice

Matt Vasilogambros | May 30, 2013

The deadly toxin ricin is behind a slew of attacks on high-profile officials once again, this time through letters addressed to President Obama and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Michele Bachmann Could Follow a Well-Worn Path to Punditry

Chris Frates | May 29, 2013

The Minnesota Republican will have a glide path from firebrand public official to handsomely paid pundit when she retires at the end of this term.

Jersey Shore Reunion: What's in It for Obama and Christie?

Michael Catalini | May 28, 2013

The president and the GOP governor get together on the coast for a visit freighted with politics.

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

Ben Terris | May 14, 2013

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

In Massachusetts, Gomez Internal Poll Shows Close Race

Alex Roarty | May 12, 2013

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.

Why Benghazi is a Blow to Obama and Clinton

Ron Fournier | May 9, 2013

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

Inside The American Crossroads And Koch Post-Mortems

Reid Wilson | May 9, 2013

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

Will Millennials Become Generation X-treme?

Ron Fournier | May 5, 2013

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

Average Unwed Mom? See Her Characteristics

Jody Brannon | May 1, 2013

The demographics of unmarried women who have children are changing.

How Democrats Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Super PAC

Ben Terris | April 30, 2013

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

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

Jill Lawrence | April 26, 2013

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

'Press Pass' Wins Political Pursuit

Sarah Mimms and Dan Roem | April 25, 2013

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...

Millennials Are the Unluckiest Generation

Derek Thompson | April 25, 2013

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

The Week That Kicked Off The Battle For The Senate

Reid Wilson | April 25, 2013

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

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

Steven Shepard | April 21, 2013

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...

This Is What Relief Looks Like: Boston Celebrates After Bombing Suspect Arrested

Brian Resnick | April 20, 2013

Inside the Cover: Who Wants To Run For Congress?

National Journal Staff | April 19, 2013

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.

House Majority PAC Slams Sanford Over Ethics Violations in New Ad

Sarah Mimms | April 17, 2013

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...

Progressives Fight Obama on Entitlements with Eye on 2014

Rebecca Kaplan | April 10, 2013

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.

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

Elahe Izadi | April 5, 2013

Research shows attractive candidates receive more support.

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

Ben Terris | April 2, 2013

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

Colbert Busch Leads Sanford, Bostic in Internal Poll

Sarah Mimms | April 1, 2013

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....

Democrats Recruiting Tipton Challengers

Scott Bland | March 27, 2013

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...

A Republican Divide in Sharp Relief

Reid Wilson | March 21, 2013

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

DCCC Expands Its Voter-Outreach Efforts

Alex Roarty | March 19, 2013

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

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

Scott Bland | March 14, 2013

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...

At CPAC, Ken Cuccinelli Moves to the Center

Beth Reinhard | March 14, 2013

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

EMILY's List Sets Sights on Statehouses in 2014

Scott Bland | March 11, 2013

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...

Sanford Touts Fiscal Conservatism in Third TV Ad

Sarah Mimms | March 7, 2013

With less than two weeks to go before the special election primary to fill his old seat in Congress, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is up with his third television spot. The ad is another direct-to-camera appeal highlighting the Republican's fiscal record as governor and in the House; it appears to have been filmed along with his previous two spots, which hit on similar themes.

Opinion: Great Recession Turning Millennials Into Their Great-Grandparents

Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais | February 28, 2013

Consumers born from 1982 to 2003 are more frugal and restrained. Businesses should take notice.

Poll Shows Quinn on Verge of Avoiding Runoff in N.Y. Mayor's Race

Steven Shepard | February 27, 2013

A new poll released Wednesday confirms that New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is nearing the critical 40-percent mark in this September's Democratic mayoral primary, the threshold for avoiding a runoff with the second-place finisher. The Quinnipiac University poll shows Quinn with 37 pe...

2-Party System? Not to a Generation Immune to Hue

Jody Brannon | February 19, 2013

Changing demographics mean voters care more about personality than party labels. That could mean the emergence of a third party.

Debating the Future of the Two-Party System

Ron Fournier | February 19, 2013

For all of its advantages, the status quo is a bad bet. Responding to a reader's defense of the two-party system.

Sanford Invokes 'God of Second Chances' in First Ad

Sarah Mimms | February 18, 2013

Former Gov. Mark Sanford released his first ad of the special election race for South Carolina's First District on Monday, highlighting his record of fiscal conservatism during his tenure as governor, while also addressing the scandal that nearly brought it to an end.

Infographics Highlight Portrait of Hispanic Population in 2011

Doris Nhan | February 15, 2013

Pew Research Hispanic Center has released an updated statistical portrait of the U.S. Hispanic population based on 2011 data, showing population growth of 48 percent to 51.9 million since 2000.

Can Marco Rubio Live Up to the Hype?

Beth Reinhard and Scott Bland contributed | February 14, 2013

He's the GOP's Barack Obama, a fresh-faced politician with an immigrant name, a playlist full of rap, and a collection of fawning press clips. The challenge: He's selling the same old party message.

Republican Leaders Worry Their Party Could Divide in Two

Ron Fournier | February 14, 2013

Behind the scenes, Republican leaders are sourly predicting a party-busting independent presidential bid by a tea-party challenger, like Sen. Rand Paul, in 2016.

Why Rand Paul Is Marco Rubio's Biggest Political Threat

Michael Catalini | February 12, 2013

Paul is acting like he’s already preparing a future presidential campaign, courting activists from early-primary states, smoothing out his positions on foreign policy, and delivering a high-profile national address, competing against a potential future GOP rival, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

The Most Important Demographic Percentage to Know for 2050

Jody Brannon | February 7, 2013

A Pew report estimates that 93 percent of the growth of the working-age population by 2050 will be immigrants and their U.S.-born children.

Debbie Halvorson Says Michael Bloomberg Trying to Buy Ill. Special Election

Christopher Peleo-Lazar | February 7, 2013

Former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, D-Ill. has an unusual perspective on New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's independent expenditure campaign against her in Illinois's 2nd Congressional Disrict. Bloomberg's Independence USA super PAC is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising against Hal...

5 Ways Marco Rubio Is Not Your Grandfather’s Republican

Elahe Izadi | February 6, 2013

The biggest reason Marco Rubio stands out in the Republican party: He's culturally hip.

The GOP's Senate Fight Is About Personality, Not Ideology

Michael Catalini | February 5, 2013

All of the weak Republican nominees are known as much for their confrontation as their conservatism.

Crowded GOP Primary Expected in Race to Take on Hagan

Jordain Carney | January 31, 2013

Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., drew her first Republican challenger on Saturday when physician Greg Brannon entered what is expected to be a crowded GOP primary field. Brannon likely will face an uphill challenge, as he'll have to compete for fundraising with more established potential GOP candidates. Fro...

DCCC and NRCC Start 2014 on Equal Cash Footing

Scott Bland | January 31, 2013

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised over $1.9 million from the end of November through the end of 2012, according to a DCCC aide, while the National Republican Congressional Committee reported taking in $605,000 from November 27 through December 31. With that, the two House commit...

From Brooklyn's Mix of Politics and Religion, Confict Arises

Sarah Goodyear - The Atlantic Cities | January 31, 2013

Hasidic conservatives, against bicycle lanes and for modest dress, influence commerce, zoning decisions and elections in melting pot Williamsburg.

Outside Groups Displacing Party Committees in Some Races

Scott Bland | January 30, 2013

When elected officials deign to mention outside groups, it's usually to decry a smear or lament that campaign messaging has been taken out of their hands. But Tuesday, a handful of newly elected House Democrats looked straight into a camera to sing praises for one super PAC. Seven Democratic freshm...

Obama to Congress: No Repeat of Obamacare on Immigration

Jill Lawrence | January 29, 2013

Obama signals he won't be as patient on immigration as he was on health care. He tells Congress to move quickly or he'll demand an immediate vote on his own plan.

Sarah Palin and the End of an Era

Jill Lawrence | January 26, 2013

Palin is leaving Fox as polls show Tea Party influence at an all-time low and top Republicans want the GOP to stop being "the stupid party."

How Control of the Senate Could Lie in One Freshman's Decision

Michael Catalini | January 25, 2013

At a time when Republicans are searching for a strategy after the defeats of 2012, a rising star is poised to help the party achieve at least one of its goals--winning back the Senate. Freshman Rep. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, an Iraq war veteran, with two Harvard degrees and an insider's understanding of Washington, is new to the House but is already being talked about as a challenger to Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor.

GOP Plots Path Back to Power

Beth Reinhard | January 24, 2013

With President Obama’s second inauguration still ringing in their ears, Republican national party leaders are hunkering down for three days of soul-searching.

Post-Partisan No More: Who Is the New Obama?

Ron Fournier | January 22, 2013

Obama's inaugural address buried the brand he rode to the White House. Will the new approach work? The GOP won't make it easy.

Chastened by His Times, Obama Falls Short of History in Inaugural Address

Ron Fournier | January 21, 2013

“We cannot mistake absolutism for principle," Obama tells both allies and rivals.

National Journal Congressional Connection Poll Topline Results Jan. 14, 2013

National Journal Staff | January 17, 2013

National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, a national poll that tracks the public’s priorities for Congress and Washington -- and its opinions on the policies that Congress is debating. Below are the topline results from the week's Congressional Connection poll.

The Rise of Radical Pragmatism?

Ron Fournier | January 14, 2013

Readers respond to talk of "brewing revolution" at No Labels conference.

The Shift Of King Coal

Reid Wilson | January 14, 2013

The coal industry still dominates in Appalachia, and that's becoming very bad news for the Democratic party.

Obama Has Already Cemented His Legacy, Like It or Not

Jill Lawrence | January 11, 2013

Love it or hate it, the president has already made his mark on health care, gay rights, and the economy.

The Calculated Bipartisanship of Chris Christie

Michael Catalini | January 7, 2013

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's bashing of House Republicans may be good theater, but it's also in recognition that he's up for reelection in November.

Why Mitch McConnell Is Safe From Tea Party Opposition

Michael Catalini | January 4, 2013

McConnell's tireless work protecting his conservative flank back home played an underappreciated role in allowing him to cut a fiscal-cliff compromise with Vice President Joe Biden that has earned him sharp criticism from the Right.

Meet the Large-Animal Vet Who's Gunning for the GOP Establishment

Ben Terris | January 3, 2013

Ted Yoho and his fellow GOP House freshmen promise to make John Boehner’s life even more hellish.

Opinion: Mexican-American Kids Have Better Social Skills, Misunderstood by Institution

Bruce Fuller and Claudia Galindo and Alma Guerrero | January 2, 2013

Turns out that a rather conservative upbringing – mixed with ample affection – yields kids who enter school with remarkable social agility and emotional maturity, according to a study, tracking more than 4,700 young children nationwide, published in December.

Opinion: The Stay-at-Home Millennial Generation Is Moving Out

Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais | December 21, 2012

Millennials are moving out of their parents' homes at growing rates. This may be the first sign that a generation described or even accused of "failing to launch" is now on its way to shaping its own distinctive destiny and that of America in areas such as marriage, family formation, and child-rearing.

McConnell Team Privately Rooting Judd On

Josh Kraushaar | December 21, 2012

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is actively preparing for a Kentucky Senate race against actress Ashley Judd, but he doesn't seem at all bothered by his own campaign's polling showing the race surprisingly competitive. That's because McConnell insiders privately are rooting Judd on, convince...

How the Fiscal Cliff Battle Is Really Just a Battle of Demographics

Ronald Brownstein | December 20, 2012

Washington’s battle over the fiscal cliff is best understood as a confrontation not only between Democrats and Republicans, but also as an early skirmish in what could be a decades-long struggle for resources and influence between the Brown and the Gray.

Behind the Fiscal Cliff is a Demographic Struggle

Ronald Brownstein | December 20, 2012

Washington’s battle over the fiscal cliff is best understood as a confrontation not only between Democrats and Republicans, but also as an early skirmish in what could be a decades-long struggle for resources and influence between the Brown and the Gray.

Ex-NRCC Polling Director: Embrace Robo-Polls

Steven Shepard | December 19, 2012

Brock McCleary, the former deputy political and polling director of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has a message for media outlets that do not report the results of automated polls -- a list that includes The New York Times, ABC News, NBC News, and, yes, National Journal and Hotlin...

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