Seth McLaughlin

Kevin McCarthy aims to become next House Speaker, if GOP can remain in power

For House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Tuesday's election could be the difference between achieving a dream of becoming speaker or trying to hang onto the leadership of a party out of power.

November 5, 2018

Former GOP Sen. John Warner endorses Rep. Brat’s Democratic rival

Former Republican Sen. John W. Warner has once again crossed party lines to endorse Democrat Abigail Spanberger in her tight race against GOP Rep. Dave Brat in Virginia's 7th Congressional District.

November 2, 2018

Liberal groups commission anti-Steve King banner to fly in Iowa

Liberal groups announced Friday they plan to fly a banner over Rep. Steve King's congressional district in Iowa this weekend declaring: "Steve King: Worst for Iowa Women."

November 2, 2018

Steve King’s support slips in Iowa after meeting with far-right Austrian party

Iowa Rep. Steve King on Thursday slapped down reports that he met with members of a far-right Austrian political group and aggressively pushed back against the assertion that he has anything in common with the man charged with killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue last weekend.

November 1, 2018

Randy Bryce’s quest to flip Paul Ryan’s district inches closer to reality

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan's hopes of leaving the Republican Party in control of the House could stumble in his own backyard, where Democrat Randy Bryce's "Iron Stache" nickname has helped raise his national profile and fill his campaign coffers in his quest to flip the Wisconsin seat.

October 31, 2018

Joe Donnelly and Mike Braun, Indiana Senate candidates, clash over Obamacare in final debate

Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly and his Republican challenger Mike Braun clashed over their views on health care in the final debate of the Indiana Senate race.

October 30, 2018

Volume of negative political ads increased in 2018, study finds

Voters getting their election information from television this year could be forgiven for thinking the parties are trying to send a bunch of monsters to Washington.

October 30, 2018

Voting rights battles in Georgia, Texas loom over midterm elections

The number of votes affected in each case is likely small, but the symbolism is huge as the debate over voting rights rages in some of the most-watched elections this year.

October 29, 2018

Kirsten Gillibrand vows to serve full six-year term

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is pledging to serve out a full six-year term if she wins re-election next month.

October 26, 2018

Democrats’ Senate control hopes dim after Kavanaugh battle

Democrats' dreams of flipping the Senate have dimmed over the past month as their candidates faltered in some key races, leaving Republicans confident that they will retain their grasp -- and the ability to advance at least part of President Trump's agenda.

October 25, 2018

Dean Heller increases Nevada Senate lead, Ted Cruz maintains lead in Texas Senate ace

Republican Sen. Dean Heller has expanded his lead over Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen in the Nevada Senate race, which has long been viewed as one of the Democrats' best bets for flipping a seat in the upper chamber.

October 24, 2018

Flyers, politicians aim to stir up Democratic base in Alabama, Georgia

In Alabama, voters are seeing a campaign-season flyer warning that hate crimes are on the rise -- with a photo of President Trump giving a thumbs-up next to photos of the Ku Klux Klan and a young boy wrapped in a "White Power" flag giving the Nazi salute.

October 23, 2018

Duncan Hunter, Chris Collins likely to win re-election bids despite indictments

The two men were indicted a couple of months ago — and now each is likely just weeks away from winning re-election.

October 22, 2018

Libertarians poll high enough to tip key races

A number of Libertarians' poll numbers are high enough to more than account for the difference between Republicans and Democrats in key midterm races.

October 21, 2018

Doug Jones represents conservative Alabama, votes like New England liberal

While other senators' votes got more attention, perhaps the most curious "No" vote on Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh came from Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, a Democrat who represents one of the reddest states in the country but has been voting, at times, like a New England liberal.

October 17, 2018

GOP’s Brian Kemp unable to shake liberal Stacey Abrams in Georgia governor’s race

Republicans have derided Stacey Abrams as a tax cheat and enabler of illegal immigrants, and dubbed her the "most radical liberal to ever run for governor" in Georgia. Yet GOP nominee Brian Kemp has been unable to shake Ms. Abrams, who has energized the Democratic base by running unapologetically from the party's left wing and could make history as the nation's first female black governor.

October 16, 2018