Senate News & Analysis

Nine Thoughts After the Alabama Senate Runoff

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 26, 2017 · 9:56 PM EDT

A year ago, the idea that former Alabama supreme court justice Roy Moore would be elected to the U.S. Senate was absurd. But he took one giant step closer to that reality with a convincing victory over appointed-Sen. Luther Strange in Tuesday’s special Republican runoff. 

The recent result wasn’t…

LGBTQ Women Balance Opportunity, Possible Extinction in Congress

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 21, 2017 · 9:41 AM EDT

It’s been almost 20 years since Tammy Baldwin’s historic election, yet just one woman has followed her through the LGBTQ glass ceiling. And if both women lose competitive races in 2018, the next Congress could be without any LGBTQ women.

While the lack of LGBTQ women in Congress is inextricably…

Alabama Senate Special: What’s Moore Strange Than a Democratic Opportunity in the South?

by Leah Askarinam September 15, 2017 · 2:30 PM EDT

BIRMINGHAM- What began as a controversial appointment to replace Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions has devolved into a confusing battle within the Republican Party.

Alabama Republicans selected former state Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore and appointed Sen. Luther Strange over a handful of candidates (including Rep. Mo Brooks) in a Continue Reading

Report Shorts - Arizona Senate, New Jersey Senate

September 15, 2017 · 2:24 PM EDT

Arizona Senate. After publicly feuding with President Donald Trump, GOP Sen. Jeff Flake has been bumped from the headlines, but his re-election next year is still very much in doubt. 

A Democratic poll, conducted August 30-September 1 by GBA Strategies for Senate Majority PAC, showed the senator in deep electoral trouble.…

‘Scam PACs’ Strike Again in Utah, Wisconsin

by Nathan L. Gonzales September 13, 2017 · 12:31 PM EDT

Mysterious and misleading political action committees are nothing new, but two recent examples demonstrate just how brazen some PACs are becoming in their money-grabbing email pitches.

“BREAKING: Sheriff Clarke Resigned,” announced the subject line of a Sept. 2 email from the Sheriff David Clarke for U.S. Senate (Official Draft Campaign).…

Arizona Senate: Flake Re-Election Race Heats Up

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 18, 2017 · 12:30 PM EDT


After Donald Trump won Arizona’s 11 electoral votes in 2016, despite his historic unfavorable ratings, it looked like The Grand Canyon State was firmly in the Republican column. But GOP Sen. Jeff Flake is feeling political pressure from both Democrats and Trump supporters and may find himself squeezed…

Merkley’s Mild Town Hall in a Red County

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 17, 2017 · 1:52 PM EDT

DALLAS, Ore. — With a divided country and two divided parties, town halls are supposed to be ground zero for angst, anger, and animosity, but not in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Donald Trump carried Polk County in the last presidential election but Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley found a largely sympathetic audience…

Alabama Senate: Potential for Moore Makes Seat Less Safe

August 16, 2017 · 12:15 AM EDT

The Alabama Senate special election certainly isn’t a toss-up, but the potential that former state supreme court justice Roy Moore becomes the GOP nominee creates the possibility for a Democratic upset.

President Donald Trump’s polarizing persona is creating significant risk for congressional Republicans in next year’s midterm elections. But his…

Kid Rock for Senate and the Myth of Donald Trump’s Success

by Nathan L. Gonzales August 4, 2017 · 2:29 PM EDT

Just because Donald Trump was elected president doesn’t mean that Congress is about to be flooded with celebrities.

According to conventional wisdom, Trump’s victory was a precursor for other celebrities to join the political fray, including Robert Ritchie, a.k.a. Kid Rock, the 46-year-old rap rock star who is still considering…

When Congressional Spouses (Allegedly) Misbehave

by Nathan L. Gonzales July 24, 2017 · 8:59 AM EDT

With congressional job approval hovering around 17 percent, members of Congress are carrying their own baggage into their re-election races, even without the weight of a spouse in legal trouble.

Jane Sanders isn’t a stranger to the spotlight, as her husband, Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, ascended the political…