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After 2012 House Defeats, GOP Sees (Again) Golden Opportunity in California

Scott Bland | May 23, 2013

About the only good thing you could say about California Republicans' election night in 2012 is that from adversity comes opportunity. Among other negative results for the party, three Democratic House candidates -- Reps. Ami Bera, Raul Ruiz, and Scott Peters -- unseated long-term Republican incumbe...

Congress: The Next Generation

Sarah Mimms | May 20, 2013

Former lawmakers are helping their children in so many races this year that we might as well dub next Election Day Take Your Kid to Congress Day. Republican businessman Mike Collins announced Thursday that he'll run for Rep. Paul Broun's open seat in Georgia. Funny enough, his father, former Rep. M...

5 Staffers to Watch Among House Freshmen

Amy Harder | May 12, 2013

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.

The Democratic Comeback To Voter ID

Reid Wilson | May 2, 2013

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

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

Josh Kraushaar | May 1, 2013

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.

A Polarized Committee Reflects a Gridlocked Congress

Amy Harder | April 17, 2013

Shortly after Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., won the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in December 2010, he invited all the former committee chairmen and their wives to dinner at Carmine’s in downtown Washington.

5 Roadblocks to Immigration Reform

Michael Catalini | April 15, 2013

Even with bipartisan support in the Senate, immigration reform could stumble on its way through Congress.

5 Controversial Measures From GOP Legislatures and Why They Matter

Michael Catalini | April 4, 2013

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

Opening Day in Washington: Baseball and the Presidency Through the Years

Michael Catalini | March 29, 2013

House Democrats See Potential Gains in 2014 Without Obama on the Ticket

Alex Roarty | March 28, 2013

DCCC officials say they have found a silver lining amid much pessimism about the 2014 midterm elections.

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...

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

Courtney McBride | March 25, 2013

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...

Berman Joins Covington; Ambassador Returns

Mike Magner | March 18, 2013

Four new members have been appointed to the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, which provides grants to projects that increase public access to historical records.

Mapping Out Obama's Middle East Trip

Matt Vasilogambros | March 18, 2013

From the museum that holds the Dead Sea Scrolls to the ancient city of Petra, here are the stops President Obama will visit on his Middle East trip.

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

Doris Nhan | March 15, 2013

Use this interactive tool to explore the difference between minority representation in the 113th Congress and minority populations across the U.S.

FitzGerald Officially Exploring Ohio Gubernatorial Run

Alex Brown | March 11, 2013

After months of talk and speculation, one Ohio Democrat has taken the first step toward a challenge of Gov. John Kasich: Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, who many consider the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, announced Monday he is launching an exploratory committee to run for governor.

Boustany Says He Won't Challenge Landrieu

Sarah Mimms | March 4, 2013

Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., has decided not to run against Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, less than three weeks after floating the possibility of his candidacy, his spokesman said Monday. "While Congressman Boustany is honored to have been encouraged to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014, he remains...

How the House Holds the Senate GOP Hostage

Alex Roarty | March 3, 2013

Upper-chamber Republicans prefer a more circumspect approach, but they are increasingly defined by their hard-line House counterparts.

High Court's Conservatives Cast Doubt on Key Voting Rights Act Provision

Scott Bland | February 27, 2013

The conservative and liberal wings of the Supreme Court sparred Wednesday morning over the future of the Voting Rights Act, as the Court heard arguments in a case that challenges one of the central pillars of the law protecting racial minorities' right to vote. The case, Shelby County, Ala. v. Hold...

Republicans Say They Have Almost Even Odds of Taking Control of the Senate

Michael Catalini and Naureen Khan and Peter Bell | February 21, 2013

How likely are the Democrats to take over the House in 2014? Political Insiders weigh in.

The Oddest Pairings of Senators By State

Ben Terris and Brian Resnick | February 21, 2013

How could one state elect such wildly different legislators?

Pat Murphy Promises to 'Continue the Fight' in Bid for Bruce Braley's Seat

Alex Brown | February 19, 2013

Iowa state Rep. Pat Murphy says he's ready to "continue the fight" of Rep. Bruce Braley, as he seeks the Democrat's seat in Congress. And as for the current and former representatives who share his name, well, the more the merrier. "We can't have enough Pat Murphys," he said in a phone interview. A...

Why Democrats Think They Can Retake the House in 2014

Alex Roarty | February 15, 2013

In a memo sent to House Democrats on Friday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said the caucus is in a stronger political position to start the 2014 campaign than in either of the last two cycles -- an argument aimed at rebutting the hardening belief in Washington...

Boustany Considering Senate Bid

Sarah Mimms | February 14, 2013

Add Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., to the list of potential challengers to Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in 2014. Boustany's campaign declined to say whether the congressman is actively looking at the race, but noted that "many local officials and community leaders approached Congressman Boustany to...

Early Poll: Capito Positioned to Capture W. Va. Senate Seat for GOP

Steven Shepard | February 11, 2013

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., is the early, prohibitive favorite to succeed Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller, according to the results of a GOP poll released Monday. The survey, conducted by the Charleston-based Mark Blankenship Enterprises, shows Capito with an 18-point lead over Democratic R...

Immigrant Share of the Population Could Reach Huge 1900 Levels

Niraj Chokshi | February 7, 2013

Immigrants and their children could soon make up as much of the population as they did during the immigrant boom at the beginning of the 20th century, according to an analysis from the Pew Research Center.

Why Reforming the Primary Process Would Produce a More Productive Congress

Josh Kraushaar | February 6, 2013

Closed party primaries are the leading culprit behind growing polarization.

NRCC and DCCC Start 2014 Election Cycle on Level Financial Field

Alex Roarty | January 31, 2013

The National Republican Congressional Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee begin the 2014 election cycle on nearly equal financial footing, according to fundraising reports each will file Thursday with the Federal Election Commission.

How to Be a Speaker of a Legislative Body: There's a Seminar for That!

Ben Terris | January 25, 2013

More than a dozen new speakers of State Houses head to Texas for lessons in governing.

The Waxman-Berman Machine Finally Shuts Down

Shane Goldmacher | January 24, 2013

For more than two decades in Southern California, if you wanted to run for office, you had to deal with the team of Howard Berman and Henry Waxman. That era is officially over with Berman’s loss last fall.

Cordray Appointment Narrows Ohio Governor Field

Alex Brown | January 24, 2013

The field of potential Democratic challengers to Gov. John Kasich narrowed by one today, with news that President Obama is renominating Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. With Cordray out of the race, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald told the Columbus Dis...

Republicans Embark on a Weekend of Self Help

Ben Terris | January 17, 2013

With seminar titles such as “What Happened and Where Are We Now?” the GOP hopes to turn spirits around at their annual retreat.

In Congress, Compromise Is a 4-Letter Word

Ron Fournier | January 17, 2013

It’s rare for lawmakers to socialize across party lines. It’s rarer still for them to agree. But frustration breeds common cause.

6 Potential Roadblocks to Immigration Reform

Rebecca Kaplan | January 16, 2013

There's no shortage of political will to get immigration reform done in this Congress, but attempts at an overhaul of the system have failed before, and lawmakers still have several major hurdles to overcome this time.

What Gets in the Way of Immigration Reform

Rebecca Kaplan | January 16, 2013

There's no shortage of political will to get immigration reform done in this Congress, but there are still some major roadblocks that could get in the way. Here's a look at the hurdles ahead.

Exclusive: GOP Targets Seven House Democrats It Calls Vulnerable

Alex Roarty | January 15, 2013

Vowing to expand their majority, House Republicans have identified seven Democrats they consider top targets for the midterm elections, according to a National Republican Congressional Committee memo obtained by National Journal.

Sutton, FitzGerald Meet as Both Consider Challenging Kasich

Alex Brown | January 15, 2013

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and former Rep. Betty Sutton spoke Saturday at a banquet for Franklin County Democrats in a possible preview of the party's gubernatorial primary contest in Ohio. Both are working to gain traction as they consider launching bids. A source in the room said the...

Are Voters Really Bothered by GOP Turmoil?

Alex Roarty | January 10, 2013

Democrats say they can win back the House by depicting the GOP as too fractious to get anything done. We’ll see.

It's Not Just Partisanship That Divides Congress

Ronald Brownstein and Scott Bland | January 10, 2013

The same demographic trends that helped Republicans keep the House will hurt their shot at the presidency. And the trends that propelled Obama to reelection will impede Democrats from retaking the House.

Lots of Holdovers on DCCC Staff

Alex Roarty | January 9, 2013

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s retention of so many staffers from the last election cycle indicates that, by and large, House Democrats were happy with a performance that saw them gain eight seats last year. Here's the DCCC staff announcement.

Childhood Poverty Threatens California’s Economic Prosperity

Rosa Ramirez | January 8, 2013

The increasing number of California's Latino youth growing up in poverty threatens the long-term economic prosperity of the state with perhaps the nation’s largest economy, a new report indicates.

DesJarlais Gets First Official Primary Opponent

Julie Sobel | January 2, 2013

Embattled Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn., has his first official primary opponent. State Sen. Jim Tracy, who in 2010 very narrowly lost an open-seat primary to now-Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., launched his campaign, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reports, saying that DesJarlais “has betrayed and...

America's Greatest Economic Weakness in 2012 Was Its Government

David Rohde for The Atlantic | December 31, 2012

Barack Obama said it himself in his first post-election press conference. Speaking at the White House on November 14, Obama said conversations with families, workers and small business owners along the campaign trail had left him convinced that average Americans deserved more from Washington.

11 Data-Rich Stories on Demographic Shifts in The Next America

Jody Brannon | December 17, 2012

Consider this collection of stories, rich in census and other data, that inform changes ahead in the workforce, immigration policy, and communities such as San Diego.

The City-Bound Majority

Peter Bell and Brian McGill | December 13, 2012

Counties won by Democratic candidates for president

Texas, 33rd House District: Marc Veasey (D)

November 6, 2012

Marc Veasey, the Democrat from the newly drawn 33rd District, has enjoyed a relatively smooth political ascent. Since his first campaign in 2004, he has won elections for state office with at least 90 percent of the vote and, despite a hard-fought primary in 2012, pulled away with an easy victory in the fall. Thanks to the district’s heavy Democratic leanings, the win made him a lock in the general election.

Mixed Race Americans Discuss Race, Politics

Next America Staff | October 31, 2012

More and more Americans identify as multiracial, according to census figures, and that also colors their impressions of politics.

NJ Topics Redistricting

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