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Can the Republicans recapture a House majority? Many pundits compare the 2010 Congressional elections with 1994, when the GOP recaptured the U.S. House by gaining 54 seats (75 new GOP members were elected; some replaced incumbent Republicans). Is that possible in 2010? We analyze the House races in which there is a viable Republican candidate in districts with open seats or vulnerable incumbents. The list of possible turnover seats is....
In 1994, 54 new GOP seats were enough to take over the House majority. The current party count in the House is 254 Democrats to 181 Republicans, a 73-seat majority. Changing an incumbent Democratic seat to Republican in 37 seats would take over the House majority in 2010. The 44 vulnerable Democrats listed below are sufficient, in other words. As in our Senate analysis below, we list only races where the opposing candidate is viable (although some of the Democratic retirees are in safe Democrat districts). Certainly, in this longer House list, we missed a few which will be upsets. In other words, a GOP takeover of the House is politically possible, not just mathematically possible. But we don't predict a GOP takeover, because there are just too many seats that the GOP would need to win. Why is that? In 2010, the anti-incumbent fervor seems as strong as in 1994, to be sure. But in 1994, Newt Gingrich engineered the House takeover via a nationwide campaign called The Contract With America. Voters therefore recognized the nationwide importance of their local district races, and candidates stepped up accordingly, and donors donated accordingly, making many more viable challengers. In 2010, the equivalent nationwide campaign is the Tea Party movement. While the Tea Party has succeeded in getting candidates elected in several races, they have not yet matured sufficiently to be able to RECRUIT candidates, as Newt Gingrich did in 1994. In summary, we predict major Democratic losses in both the House and the Senate, but we just don't see enough viable challengers for the Republicans to take over either chamber. Click for issues stances for House incumbents and challengers
Can the Republicans recapture a Senate majority? With Scott Brown's special election in Jan. 2010, the Democrats lost their supermajority in the Senate. (A supermajority of 60 seats out of 100 means that the Republicans could not mount a filibuster to block a bill from passage). Now, with the economy sputtering and the Tea Party rallying from the Brown victory, pundits ponder whether the Democrats will lose their majority in November. The majority party chairs all Senate committees, which means they decide which bills reach the Senate floor, and have final say over the content of the bills too. Several recent primary elections vouch for the electorate's dissatisfaction with the incumbent Congress: Arlen Specter (D, PA) and Bob Bennett (R, UT) both lost their seats before the general election season even began. The Tea Party scored a second major victory when Rand Paul defeated the party favorite Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R, KY). But to throw the bums out, there have to be challengers to replace them. Are there enough viable challengers against incumbent Democrats for the Republicans to take over the Senate? From the current 59-41 Democratic majority, the Dems would have to lose 10 seats to Republicans. We analyze here whether that is mathematically and politically possible:
There has been a lot of talk about Harry Reid (D, NV) losing his seat -- but there are no viable Republican challengers. Same for Chuck Schumer (D, NY) -- he's unpopular but there are no Republicans capable of unseating him. Anger against incumbents is healthy for democracy; but to have an effect at the ballot box, there needs to be someone else to vote for. The bottom line: Republicans must win in all ten of the states we list in the first half, and must also stave off viable Democratic challengers in all seven of the states we list in the second half above. It is possible there will be an upset in a race we did not list above, but that would be front-page-news-level-upset. If the Republicans miss even one of those 17 races, then the Senate is a 50-50 tie with Vice President Joe Biden giving the Dems the majority. In other words, the Republicans have a MATHEMATICAL chance of taking back the Senate, but no POLITICAL chance. Click for issues stances for Senate incumbents and challengers
Critical congressional nominees decided in 3 states.
Click for House races and Senate races.
Critical congressional nominees decided in 4 states.
Click for House races and Senate races.
Elected as Republican, runs for Senate as Independent Gov. Charlie Crist heads to St. Petersburg today to announce that he is snubbing the Republican Party and running for the U.S. Senate as in independent. Florida has never had a third-party or non-party affiliated governor or U.S. senator. Republican frontrunner Marco Rubio spent the morning thanking supporters while saying a three-candidate race will change nothing in his campaign message and strategy. Rubio quietly registered as a candidate for the Senate in early 2009, when Crist was widely seen as the Republican frontrunner in the race. But today, Crist is a Republican Party pariah and polls show Rubio holds a wide lead in a primary race. ``Today feels like an election day,'' Rubio told volunteers as a gaggle of media surrounded him. But Thursday was ``no celebration,'' he said: ``This is still an election. No one has cast any votes yet.'' Will GOP leaders shun Crist? “I will not be seen anywhere in public with the governor. I will not be participating in anything with the governor,” said House budget chief David Rivera, a Marco Rubio supporter and Miami Congressional candidate. “He is still the duly-elected governor of the state. He just happens to be a candidate with no party affiliation running for the U.S. Senate. We still have to respect that,” House Speaker Larry Cretul, R-Ocala said. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of Florida voters found that in a race against Crist and Meek, Rubio would pull 37 percent, Crist 30 percent and Meek 22 percent. Asked if his campaign started as a David and Goliath bout, Rubio said ``I always remind people that David won.'' Click for issues stances for Gov. Charlie Crist(I), Rep. Kendrick Meek(D), or Speaker Marco Rubio(R)
Obama to announce replacement for John Paul Stevens The White House has begun floating trial balloons for candidates President Obama might appoint to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.
Click for complete records of John Paul Stevens's issue stances.
John Paul Stevens announces retirement Justice John Paul Stevens, 89, who served on the high court for a near record breaking 34 years, announced his retirement today, giving President Barack Obama his second chance to name a Supreme Court justice. The announcement comes 11 days before Stevens' 90th birthday. When he turns 90, Stevens will be only the second Supreme Court Justice to pass such a milestone on the bench. Stevens wrote in a letter to the president, stating his retirement would be "effective the next day after the Court rises for the summer recess this year." The last day of oral arguments is April 28 and the last day of the court will be sometime in the last week of June. Click for complete records of John Paul Stevens's issue stances.
Excerpts from archives speeches and debates. We cover major political events during the off-season, such as political conventions and major speeches. Often these comprise the early "invisible primary" for positioning for upcoming electoral primaries. We cover five such events for early 2010:
Click for our Political Archive.
Excerpts from Governors and challengers. Governor's races are now getting started. Unilke Congress, most governors are term-limited. Our coverage of governors' races starts with previously-elected challengers, including:
Click for Governor's list by state.
Excerpts from Governors' State of the State speeches. Throughout the early months of 2010, Governors delivered their annual State of the State addresses to their respective state legislatures. See Feb. 3 entry below for early speeches; Our final round of coverage includes governors who delivered the speech in February, including:
Click for excerpts from Governors' State of the State speeches.
Races for the 112th Senate. Our 2010 Senate race coverage expands this week to include candidate interviews. This adds a third round of candidates to the first two rounds (listed below March 15 and Jan. 9).
Click for complete details of VoteMatch candidate interviews.
Final Healthcare bill in US House OnTheIssues.org opens our coverage of healthcare reform with an attempt at clarifying the contents of the healthcare bill. This bill is by far the most significant political legislation of the current Congress. Discussions about healthcare reform gave rise to the Tea Party movement, as part of Town Hall protests in August 2009. Blocking this legislation in the Senate (by creating a 41st vote against its passage) is credited with the upset victory of Scott Brown (R, MA). Pres. Obama has declared this legislation core to his presidency, and it will likely be a decisive factor in many 2010 House and Senate races. Yet few people know exactly what the bill contains. This is partly because the bill is several thousand pages long; partly because the level of rhetoric on both sides is so high; and partly because legislation is inherently messy (which is why OnTheIssues.org does not report on bills until votes actually occur). We plan to report on this bill in its entirety over the coming months, including its content and candidate commentary. To get started, we link to the contents of the bill itself. That, too, has become controversial, with Pres. Obama promising to post on the Internet the full contents, but many commentators unable to find the final text. Our opening salvo:
Click for complete records of past Health Care legislation.
Races for the 112th Senate. Our 2010 Senate race coverage expands this week with a second round of candidate pages. The first round (see Jan. 9 below) included new Senate pages for candidates who already had OnTheIssues.org pages, either from a House or Governor position, or a previous Senate challenge. This second round includes new challengers who are added to the OnTheIssues.org pages for the first time. We will expand their coverage during the course of the Senate race to attempt to answer all 20 SenateMatch questions, so that you can compare your views with theirs, using our 20-question Quiz. The list of candidates is always changing, so there will be a third round of additional candidates, and perhaps a fourth. Some candidates have already dropped out of the race -- Beau Biden of Delaware (Vice President Joe Biden's son) announced his withdrawal on Jan. 25 (hence opening the field to several new Democratic challengers, whom we will cover in the next round). On Feb. 2, the Senate primary was held in Illinois: Mark Kirk knocked out Andy Martin on the GOP side (we had covered both). Alexi Giannoulias won the Democratic primary, and we add his page below. We will cover all future changes as the race progresses!
Click for status of members of the 111th Senate.
Click for coverage of Congressional races Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R, FL-21) previously announced his retirement. His brother who is also in Congress, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R, FL-25) announced today that he would run for his brother's seat instead of his own. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D, RI-1) also announced his retirement this weekend, ending the Kennedy family political legacy.
Click for coverage of 111th Congress
Races for the 112th Congress. All 435 members of Congress are up for election in 2010. Following is a list of issue stances of some of their challengers.
Click for status of members of the 111th Congress.
Special election to be scheduled in May 2010 Rep. Murtha was hospitalized with gallbladder problems in December 2009, and had surgery January 28 at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Murtha's large intestine was damaged during the normally routine laparoscopic surgery, causing an infection. Due to the complication, Murtha was again hospitalized two days later, and died on the afternoon of February 8, 2010, in the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia with his family by his side.
Click for complete records of Rep. John Murtha's issue stances & voting record.
Excerpts from Governors' State of the State speeches. Throughout January and February, Governors will deliver their annual State of the State addresses to their respective state legislatures. Our first round of coverage includes governors who delivered the speech in January; we'll do another round after the later speeches are delivered. This first round includes:
Click for excerpts from Governors' State of the State speeches.
Click for Q+A from Republican members of Congress President Obama attended the House Republican Retreat in Baltimore, and took questions from some Republican House members in attendance. The Republican Retreat is an annual event where the Republican Caucus meets to plan their Congressional agenda for the year. Since this year's Retreat occurred shortly after the State of the Union address, most of the questions responded to Pres. Obama's comments during that speech. Click for excerpts from the 2010 GOP House Retreat
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| State of the Union speech: Jan. 27, 2010 | |
This was Pres. Obama's first formal State of the Union speech -- his 2009 address to a joint session of Congress was popularly called the "State of the Union" address, but that speech was not constitutionally required of an incoming president.
Pres. Obama used this speech to summarize his first year in office, and focused on the economic woes of the deep recession as well as the cynicism in the electorate resulting from those woes. The cynicism was expressed most dramatically by the election of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts, which is usually a "safe" Democratic seat. The special election to replace Ted Kennedy happened to be held one week prior to the State of the Union speech, and Senator-Elect Brown was alluded to by Pres. Obama, and cited by name in the Republican response. Brown's election makes passage of Obama's healthcare reform much more difficult, and indicates that the public is dissatisfied with how the Congress has ignored the voice of the people on this issue and others.
Obama's remedy for public cynicism is to call for a reduction in partisanship. However, he then points out that the Democrats still have a large majority in the Senate (59-41 even with Brown) and that they need to get healthcare done, i.e., without Republican input. Obama then calls for Republicans to join in the healthcare process and calls for their input -- implying that they have not offered any constructive suggestions. In the Republican response, the Governor of Virginia lays out the two standard Republican ideas on healthcare reform: allowing cross-state insurance purchasing, and tort reform. Indeed, the Republicans have been pushing those ideas for years -- and if Obama truly cared about Republican input, he would call for those two ideas to be included in the healthcare reform bill. Obama instead sounds partisan -- both on healthcare and on cynicism -- despite his call for a reduction in partisanship.
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| Scott Brown wins: Jan. 21, 2010 | |
Scott Brown did manage to defeat Martha Coakley for Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat, pulling off the largest political upset in years. Defeating the Democratic healthcare bill was a major part of his platform, and certainly the issue spotlighted by Democrats and Republicans alike as the greatest reason why the Massachusetts race mattered. Brown’s victory bodes well for the GOP, looking to capitalize on voter frustration over the healthcare debate and other priorities of the Obama Administration in the 2010 midterm elections. If a Republican could win a Senate seat in Massachusetts for the first time in four decades by lambasting Democratic healthcare reform efforts, then there is a distinct possibility that the GOP will make major gains, if not win an outright majority, at the next polls.
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| Massachusetts Senate Election Prediction: Jan. 17, 2010 | |
OnTheIssues.org completes our coverage of the Massachusetts special election with a prediction based on coverage of the general election debates. The debate coverage includes issue stances on all hot topics from all three candidates.
Our election prediction is that Attorney General Martha Coakley will eke out a narrow victory due entirely to the "Democratic Machine" in places like Boston. State Senator Scott Brown and the Republican Party nationwide will justifiably declare moral victory because the vote was a referendum on the lack of public input in healthcare reform. Both sides will claim that this election foretells their own victory in the Congressional races in November.
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| Sens. Dodd and Dorgan announce retirement: Jan. 9, 2010 | |
OnTheIssues.org begins its coverage of the 2010 Senate races by focusing on the 11 races (so far) in which the incumbent is not running for re-election. Those incumbents, and the challengers we are covering so far, are:
| Retiring incumbent | Covered challengers |
|---|---|
| CT: Chris Dodd(D) | Rep. Rob Simmons(R) |
| DE: Ted Kaufman(D) |
Gov. Mike Castle(R)
Christine O'Donnell(R) |
| FL: George LeMieux(R) |
Gov. Charlie Crist(R)
Rep. Vern Buchanan(R) Rep. Kendrick Meek(D) Sen. Bob Smith(I) |
| IL: Roland Burris(D) |
Rep. Mark Kirk(R)
Andy Martin(R) |
| KS: Sam Brownback(R) |
Rep. Jerry Moran(R)
Rep. Todd Tiahrt(R) |
| KY: Jim Bunning(R) | Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo(D) |
| MA: Paul Kirk(D)
VoteMatch quiz for Jan. 19 Special Election |
Attorney General Martha Coakley(D)
State Sen. Scott Brown(R) Joe L. Kennedy(L) |
| MO: Kit Bond(R) | Roy Blunt(R) |
| ND: Byron Dorgan(D) | Gov. John Hoeven(R) |
| NH: Judd Gregg(R) | Rep. Paul Hodes(D) |
| OH: George Voinovich(R) | Rep. Rob Portman(R) |
| Additional hot races where incumbent is challenged: | |
| Challenged incumbent | Hot challenger |
| HI: Daniel Inouye(D) | Gov. Linda Lingle(R) |
| IN: Evan Bayh(D) | Rep. John Hostettler(R) |
| LA: David Vitter(R) | Rep. Charles Melancon(D) |
| NY: Kirsten Gillibrand(D) | Rep. Harold Ford(D) |
| PA: Arlen Specter(D) |
Rep. Joe Sestak(D)
Rep. Pat Toomey(D) |
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| Massachusetts Senate VoteMatch Quiz: Jan. 4, 2010 | |
OnTheIssues.org is pleased to announce the publication of the Massachusetts Senate VoteMatch Quiz for the general election to replace Ted Kennedy.
The quiz now includes Joe L. Kennedy (no relation to Ted Kennedy), a late entry into the race, representing the Libertarian Party.
You answer 20 questions about your political beliefs; then the VoteMatch quiz compares your answers to those of the 6 Senate candidates, and scores each candidate relative to your answers.
The VoteMatch Quiz has been our most popular feature since its introduction in 1999; it's fun and informative! The 6 candidates in the MA Senate race are:
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| First Massachusetts Senate Debate: Dec. 23, 2009 | |
Democrat Martha Coakley and Republican Scott Brown clashed bitterly last night in the first debate of the US Senate race to be televised, repeatedly arguing over the traditionally partisan issues of taxes, the scope of government, and one-party rule in Washington.
The debate, which also included independent candidate Joseph L. Kennedy, was the last major campaign event before voters turn their attention to opening Christmas presents and buying champagne for New Year’s. The special election to fill the seat of the late Edward M. Kennedy is Jan. 19.
Kennedy, who is an active Libertarian running as an independent, demonstrated last night why Brown has sought to minimize him and Coakley has wanted him involved in the debates: He used nearly every speaking opportunity to challenge Brown from the right, saying the state senator has not done enough to cut spending, limit taxes, and make his voting record accessible. “I challenge him to show me three bills that he has personally submitted that cut $1 billion on spending,’’ Kennedy said.
The line of attack clearly frustrated Brown, who said, “My record speaks for itself.’’
There are several other debates being planned next month, though most have not been finalized. [Coakley insists that Joe L. Kennedy be included in all future debates; Brown would prefer more one-on-one debates].
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| Rep. Parker Griffith (D, AL-5) switches to Republican Party: Dec. 22, 2009 | |
Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Carney (D) announced tonight that he would not switch to the Republican party despite a personal phone call today from Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) urging him to do so.
"I am flattered by the overtures of Sen. McCain and other Republican Party officials and consider their outreach a sure sign that I have worked in a truly bipartisan manner," said Carney in a statement. "I appreciate the Republican Party's outreach, but I have no plans to change parties."
Carney won the northeastern Pennsylvania 10th district in 2006 thanks, in large part to the scandal surrounding then Rep. Don Sherwood (R). Carney won re-election in 2008 despite the fact that McCain won the seat 54 percent to 45 percent.
McCain's call to Carney signals a coordinated Republican effort to capitalize on the party switch on Tuesday of Alabama Rep. Parker Griffith, the first Democrat to switch to the GOP since Rep. Rodney Alexander in 2004.
Republicans insist there are others like Griffith out there and that the legislative course the House majority has steered is acting as a impetus to push Democrats out of the party.
Again, a single seat like Griffith's doesn't make a huge difference in the grand scheme of the battle for the House where Democrats hold a 40-seat majority. But, the symbolic import of a Democrat abandoning the party when it hold all the levers of power in Washington should not be underestimated.
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| Massachusetts Senate Primary Debates: Dec. 6, 2009 | |
The candidates for the MA special Senate election have done a great job hiding their views on the issues for as long as they could -- but every candidate has to participate in SOME debates. And the mainstream press have done a great job asking candidates about Tiger Woods rather than reporting the candidate's stances on the issues -- but they too sometimes let issues slip into their horserace-oriented articles. OnTheIssues.org scours the internet to find issue stances, and we report them today to good citizens and voters.
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| Massachusetts Senate VoteMatch Quiz: Dec. 1, 2009 | |
OnTheIssues.org is pleased to announce the publication of the Massachusetts Senate VoteMatch Quiz for the special election to replace Ted Kennedy.
You answer 20 questions about your political beliefs; then the VoteMatch quiz compares your answers to those of the 6 Senate candidates, and scores each candidate relative to your answers.
The VoteMatch Quiz has been our most popular feature since its introduction in 1999; it's fun and informative! The 6 candidates in the MA Senate race are:
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| Sarah Palin releases autobiography: Nov. 17, 2009 | |
One year ago, Sarah Palin burst onto the national political stage like a comet. Yet even now, few Americans know who this remarkable woman really is.
On September 3, 2008 Alaska Governor and vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin delivered a speech at the Republican National Convention that electrified the nation and instantly made her one of the most recognizable women in the world.
In this eagerly anticipated memoir, Palin paints an intimate portrait of growing up in the wilds of Alaska; meeting her lifelong love; her decision to enter politics; the importance of faith and family; and the unique joys and trials of life as a high-profile working mother. She also opens up for the first time about the 2008 presidential race, providing a rare, mom's-eye view of high-stakes national politics—from patriots dedicated to "Country First" to slick politicos bent on winning at any cost.
Going Rogue traces one ordinary citizen's extraordinary journey and imparts Palin's vision of a way forward for America and her unfailing hope in the greatest nation on earth.
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| Election Day results: Nov. 3, 2009 | |
Former U.S. Attorney Christopher J. "Chris" Christie (R-NJ) defeated incumbent Jon S. Corzine (D-NJ) who spent millions of dollars of his own money trying to win a second term in New Jersey.
The victory of Robert F. "Bob" McDonnell (R-VA) over R. Creigh Deeds (D-VA) in Virginia was expected, but still embarrassing for Democrats. McDonnell will succeed Governor Tim Kaine (D-VA) who is the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Deeds lost to McDonnell four years ago in the race for state attorney general.
In California, Lieutenant Governor John R. Garamendi (D-CA) easily defeated former J.P. Morgan Chase assistant general counsel David Harmer (R-CA) to win the seat vacated by Undersecretary of State Ellen O. Tauscher (D-CA).
But the most defining race of the evening was the Democratic victory in New York’s 23rd Congressional District where Bill Owens (D-NY) defeated Douglas L. Hoffman (R-NY) to succeed Navy Secretary John M. McHugh (R-NY). With Owens’ victory, Democrats now hold 27 of the Empire State’s 29 congressional seats. The significance of the race, however, does not come from the Democratic pick-up. Rather it comes from the ideological battle which marred the contest. Republicans had nominated state Assembly member Dierdre K. Scozzafava (R-NY) as their candidate in the special election. Despite her overall conservative record in the state assembly, Scozzafava’s support for abortion rights, gay marriages and labor unions was unpalatable to national conservatives. They found an outlet for their frustration in accountant Douglas L. Hoffman. Scozzafava said conservatives’ hatred and lies forced her out. She then turned around and endorsed her former Democratic rival over Hoffman.
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| Jack E. Robinson announces for MA Senate: Oct. 29, 2009 | |
Jack E. Robinson today announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate.
Robinson is participating in the Special Election to fill the seat created by the unfortunate passing of Sen. Ted Kennedy, and will be running against one other Republican candidate.
“I am excited to kick off a very positive and forward looking campaign,” said Robinson. “Our campaign will be one of fresh ideas and a fresh perspective, focusing on the issues and providing solutions for the people of Massachusetts.”
“The last thing we need is to transport Beacon Hill thinking to Capitol Hill,” said Robinson.
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| Massachusetts Senate race coverage in detail: Oct. 13, 2009 | |
Today we begin detailed issue coverage of the Massachusetts Senate race. As usual, the mainstream press covers the "horse race" while barely touching on the issues, and then pretend they're "covering" the race. OnTheIssues.org instead presents the candidates' issue stances in detail, based on the following sources:
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| Massachusetts Senator Paul Kirk sworn in: Sept. 25, 2009 | |
Paul G. Kirk Jr. was sworn in this afternoon to start his four-month stint as junior senator from Massachusetts, stepping into a high-profile role while trying to leave the controversy over his appointment behind.
Kirk was formally sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden on the Senate floor. The gallery -- including Kennedy's widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy; his sons Patrick and Ted Kennedy Jr.; other relatives, and more than a dozen of Kirk's relatives -- burst into cheers.
[Sen. Kirk's appointment was made possible by a controversial legislative change allowing Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint an interim senator.
Sen. Kirk's term ends in Jan. 2010, when a special election will decide his successor].
| DEMOCRATS RUNNING (as of Sept. 27) | REPUBLICANS RUNNING |
|---|---|
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| Rep. John McHugh (R, NY) resigns: Sept. 16, 2009 | |
More than three months after he was tapped by President Obama to serve as secretary of the Army, Rep. John McHugh was finally confirmed to that post this evening by the US Senate by a voice vote. McHugh had been expected to be confirmed prior to the Senate's summer break, but two Kansas Republicans - Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts - blocked that vote due to their anger over the prospect of Guantanamo detainees being sent to their state. The two lawmakers ended their ban earlier today after discussions with the Obama administration assuaged their fears.
Gov. David Paterson has been speculated to desire a special election in NY-23 to be held concurrent with the November general, in part because it would hold down costs.
| Other 2009 Special Elections in U.S. House | |
| Kirsten Gillibrand (D, NY-20) Resigned Jan. 26; appointed as US Senator | March 31, 2009: Scott Murphy elected |
| Rahm Emanuel (D, IL-5) Jan. 21: Appointed White House Chief of Staff | April 7, 2009: Michael Quigley elected |
| Hilda Solis (D, CA-32) Resigned Feb. 24, appointed Secretary of Labor | July 14, 2009: Judy Chu elected |
| John M. McHugh (R, NY-23) Sept. 16: Confirmed as Secretary of the Army | Election likely scheduled for Nov. 3, 2009 |
| Ellen Tauscher (D, CA-10) Resigned June 26; appointed Under Secretary of State | Election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2009 |
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| Florida Senator George LeMieux sworn in: Sept. 10, 2009 | |
Minutes after he was sworn in Thursday, new Florida Sen. George LeMieux got an earful of advice from Vice President Joe Biden, cast his first vote -- against an Obama administration appointee -- and threatened to block passage of an energy bill that would put oil drilling rigs near the Florida shore.
The Republican also sought to tamp down speculation that he would consider taking on Florida's senior senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, in 2012. ``I'm not focused on running for any political position in 2010 or 2012,'' he told reporters after his first press conference, fielding questions on immigration, oil drilling, President Barack Obama's healthcare speech and committee posts he might seek.
Appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to fill the remainder of retired Sen. Mel Martinez's term, LeMieux scarcely mentioned the man considered his political twin, illustrating the delicate balance he is likely to seek as he promises to be his ``own man'' in Washington. ``There are tremendous issues facing this nation, and although my time in Washington will be brief, I intend to work hard every day to address these critical challenges and serve the people of this unique, diverse and wonderful state,'' said LeMieux, who has described himself as a ``Charlie Crist Republican.''
Crist, who is running for the Senate seat in 2010, didn't attend the swearing-in. LeMieux, who orchestrated Crist's 2006 gubernatorial win, was flanked by Nelson and former Sen. Connie Mack at the ceremony. ``I've got a lot of work to do here in Florida,'' Crist said in St. Petersburg. ``I certainly wish Sen. LeMieux all the best. I'm sure he'll do great for the people of Florida.'' LeMieux's first order of the day after a staff briefing and tour of his office: a speedy oath of office administered by Biden, who, as vice president, is president of the Senate.
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| Ted Kennedy succession: Aug. 31, 2009 | |
Amid fevered speculation about possible contenders for Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s seat, Gov. Deval Patrick scheduled a special election for Jan. 19 and said he would keep pushing the state legislature to change the law so he could name an interim successor.
Shortly before his death last week, Mr. Kennedy wrote legislative leaders asking them to revise the law so his seat would not stay vacant for months. The legislature indicated Monday that it would decide quickly whether to grant his request, scheduling a public hearing on the proposal for Sept. 9. Many lawmakers criticized the proposal in the days before Mr. Kennedy’s death, but legislative leaders, at least, have since hinted they would support it.
Massachusetts has not had an open Senate seat since 1984, and excitement is running high about two possible candidates in particular: Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy’s widow, and Joseph P. Kennedy II, his nephew. Ms. Kennedy reiterated on Monday that she was not interested in the seat, people close to the family said.
Joseph Kennedy, 56, a former congressman from Massachusetts, has $2 million in leftover campaign money. At a memorial service for his uncle last week, he spoke of the importance of public service and of chasing “the same goals and ideals that Senator Ted Kennedy lived his life for.” Friends say he is still considering whether to run.
Other possible contenders include Attorney General Martha Coakley, Representatives Michael E. Capuano, Stephen F. Lynch and Edward J. Markey; and former Representative Martin T. Meehan, who retired in 2007 to become chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Mr. Patrick ruled himself out as a candidate on Monday, saying he was focused on winning re-election next year.
Although the seat will almost certainly go to a Democrat, several Republicans are also said to be interested in running, including Kerry Healey, who was lieutenant governor under Gov. Mitt Romney, and Michael J. Sullivan, until recently the United States attorney in Massachusetts.
| RUNNING (as of Sept. 13) | NOT RUNNING |
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| Ted Kennedy succession: Aug. 20, 2009 | |
Senator Edward M. Kennedy, in a poignant acknowledgment of his mortality at a critical time in the national health care debate, has privately asked the governor and legislative leaders to change the succession law to guarantee that Massachusetts will not lack a Senate vote when his seat becomes vacant.
In a personal, sometimes wistful letter sent Tuesday to Governor Deval Patrick [and legislative leaders], Kennedy asks that Patrick be given authority to appoint someone to the seat temporarily before voters choose a new senator in a special election.
Although Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer, does not specifically mention his illness or the health care debate raging in Washington, the implication of his letter is clear: He is trying to make sure that the leading cause in his life, better health coverage for all, advances in the event of his death.
In his letter, which was obtained by the Globe, Kennedy said that he backs the current succession law, enacted in 2004, which gives voters the power to fill a US Senate vacancy. But he said the state and country need two Massachusetts senators.
“I strongly support that law and the principle that the people should elect their senator,’’ Kennedy wrote. “I also believe it is vital for this Commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election.’’
Under the 2004 law, if Kennedy were to die or step down, voters would select his successor in a special election to be held within five months of the vacancy. But the law makes no provisions for Massachusetts to be represented in the Senate in the interim. In the meantime, President Obama’s plan to overhaul the nation’s health care system, the fate of which may hinge on one or two votes, could come before Congress.
“I am now writing to you about an issue that concerns me deeply, the continuity of representation for Massachusetts, should a vacancy occur,’’ Kennedy wrote.
To ensure that the special election is fair, the senator also urged that the governor obtain an “explicit personal commitment’’ from his appointee not to seek the office on a permanent basis.
{Note: Sen. Kennedy passed away five days after the letter was made public.]
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| Gubernatorial debate coverage begins: Aug. 12, 2009 | |
New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with gubernatorial races in 2009. OnTheIssues coverage of their debates have begun:
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| Sen. Mel Martinez (R, FL) resigns: Aug. 7, 2009 | |
Sen. Mel Martinez told friends and supporters Friday in an e-mail that he'll step down from the Senate as soon as a replacement is appointed to fill out his term. ``My priorities have always been my faith, my family and my country and at this stage in my life, and after nearly 12 years of public service in Florida and Washington, it's time I return to Florida and my family,'' said Martinez, who had already ruled out a run for reelection in 2010.
In an extraordinary turn of events, Gov. Charlie Crist, the leading Republican to replace Martinez in the U.S. Senate, will have the power to appoint someone to fill the remainder of Martinez's term.
Crist has denied that he'd appoint himself. He's expected to make an announcement on a fill-in before the end of the August recess when the Senate returns to Washington. Some names already surfacing: former Sen. Connie Mack, former Gov. Bob Martinez and former Secretary of State Jim Smith. Some speculate that Crist might step down as governor, thereby elevating Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, who could then appoint Crist to the Senate.
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| Sonia Sotomayor confirmed: Aug. 6, 2009 | |
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who rose from the housing projects of the Bronx to the top of the legal profession, made history Thursday when the Senate confirmed her to become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
Sotomayor was easily confirmed in a 68-31 vote. Nine Republicans joined a unanimous Democratic caucus in supporting her nomination. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, supported Sotomayor but was not present for the vote because of illness.
Sotomayor, a 55-year-old federal appeals court judge, will be the 111th person to sit on the high court and the third female justice. She will be sworn in at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday.
Sotomayor was confirmed after senators spent a final day of debate rehashing arguments for and against her. Democrats continued to praised Sotomayor as a fair and impartial jurist with an extraordinary life story. Many Republicans portrayed her as a judicial activist intent on reinterpreting the law to conform with her own liberal political beliefs.
Among other things, Republican opponents emphasized concerns over her statements and rulings on hot-button issues such as gun control, affirmative action and property rights. They also raised questions about some of her most controversial speeches and statements, including her hope that a "wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences" would reach a better conclusion than a white man "who hasn't lived that life."
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| Sarah Palin (R, AK) resigns: July 26, 2009 | |
As thousands of cheering supporters vowed to keep her feisty, down-home political legacy alive, Sarah Palin stepped down as Alaska governor Sunday, pledging to continue fighting for independence from Washington and for Americans' personal freedoms "as that grizzly guards her cubs."
The hand-over to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell at a family-style picnic marked an unexpected end to a brief but remarkable governorship in which the 45-year-old hockey mom turned the Republican Party on its head and propelled Alaska's frontier-style, moose-meat-picnic politics into the national dialogue.
"Let's not start believing that government is the answer," she told the largely affectionate crowd of about 5,000 at Pioneer Park. "It can't help make you healthy or wealthy or wise. What can? It is the wisdom of the people. . . . It is God's grace, helping those who help themselves."
Betraying no sadness or second thoughts, she chastised those who question why she stepped down 18 months before the end of her term. "It should be so obvious to you," she said. "It is because I love Alaska this much, sir, that I feel that it is my duty to avoid the unproductive, typical politics-as-usual lame-duck session in one's last year in office. . . . I will be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right. And I have never felt that you need a title to do that."
Palin has declined to say what she plans to do next -- other than write a book and make public appearances, beginning Aug. 8 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Simi Valley. She has not ruled out a bid for the presidency in 2012. At Sunday's picnic, few supporters appeared to believe that she would stay out of the limelight for long.
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