Go to HHH home page.
Smart Politics
 


U.S. Senate


House and Senate GOP Rooting for NL Victory in Tuesday's All-Star Game

Since 1950, gains of 5+ Republican seats in the U.S. Senate and 10+ seats in the House have always been preceded by a National League victory.

History Gives Baldwin, Neumann Long Odds in Wisconsin US Senate Bids

Only two of 15 ex- or sitting Badger State U.S. Representatives have run successful U.S. Senate campaigns; two more may go down in 2012.

McCain, Rubio, GOP Dominate Broadcast Media Coverage of US Senators in 2012

Republican senators are mentioned in more than twice as many news stories as their Democratic counterparts with John McCain and Marco Rubio leading the GOP to eight of the Top 10 slots.

Will Confidence in Supreme Court Erode or Rebound After Obamacare Decision?

The U.S. Supreme Court's net confidence rating during Barack Obama's presidency is at an all-time low since Gallup's measurement began in the early 1970s.

Climbing the Ladder

When Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley won reelection for a sixth term in November 2010 he and his fellow Iowa U.S. Senator, Democratic Tom Harkin, were 11th on the all-time list for the longest-serving delegation members serving together to the nation's upper legislative chamber. After the first 17+ months of the...

Fun Facts in Texas U.S. Senate Primary Election History

Nearly 40 percent of Lone Star State Democratic primaries for U.S. Senate have gone to a runoff since 1916 with the second place candidate winning in more than half of the runoff elections.

Look to Senate Race, Not Walker Recall for Romney vs Obama Tilt in Wisconsin

The Badger State has voted for the same party in presidential and U.S. Senate races in 14 of 16 cycles over the last century.

GOP Seeks First Grip on Both US Senate Seats in Decades in Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin

The last time Florida Republicans held both Senate seats was 1875; WI (1957), ND (1960), and NE (1976) could also see an end to a decades-long Democratic presence in its state delegations.

Fischer Edges Bruning in 2nd Closest Nebraska GOP US Senate Primary in History

Only Hugh Butler's 3.3-point victory in 1940 was more narrowly decided than the Cornhusker Republican Senate contest on Tuesday out of 37 contests since 1916.

Lugar Could Become Just 2nd 6-Term Senator to Lose Renomination Bid in 100 Years

Only one six-term U.S. Senator has lost his party's nomination out of two-dozen who completed their sixth term in the direct election era.

Wisconsin's Other Big Ticket Summer Election: The Republican US Senate Primary

Republicans have won 15 of 28 general election U.S. Senate contests after holding a contested primary and just 1 of 8 when uncontested.

Angus King Embarks On Well-Trodden Pathway to Maine US Senate Seat

Nine sitting or former governors have been elected U.S. Senator in the Pine Tree State including four during the popular vote era.

Will Snowe Retirement Give Maine Democrats Rare Congressional Delegation Majority?

Democrats have held a majority of U.S. Senate and U.S. House seats from Maine for just seven out of 79 cycles since the formation of the GOP in the 1850s.

Will the Glass Ceiling Shatter in Iowa and North Dakota This November?

Five states have yet to elect a woman to Congress including two in the Upper Midwest.

Al Franken on Al Franken

"I think I've done a pretty good job, actually."

Joe Kennedy III May Reboot the Kennedy Dynasty's Congressional Franchise

Five Kennedys in Joe's ancestral line have logged more than 92 years of service in Congress - besting the Longs of Louisiana by 21 years.

Could Bob Kerrey be the Dan Coats of 2012? Interrupted US Senate Tenures Across History

Over the last 222 years, 150 U.S. Senators have had a gap in service in the nation's upper legislative chamber - lasting more than a decade for 32 of them.

Jon Kyl: The Big Gun with the Short Name

At six letters, Kyl has the shortest legal first and last name out of the 1,931 men and women to serve in the U.S. Senate; that's a far cry from Frederick Frelinghuysen.

Can Democrats Save Their North Dakota U.S. Senate Seat in 2012?

Heidi Heitkamp would be just the second current or former ND Attorney General elected to the US Senate while Rick Berg attempts to be the seventh US Representative.

Heller vs. History: How Often Do Appointed US Senators Hold Their Seats?

Less than one-third of appointed U.S. Senators retain their seat; number improves to 65 percent for those making it onto the general election ballot.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12  


Political Crumbs

Seasoned Senators in Wisconsin

Of the 15 men and women that have served in the U.S. Senate from Wisconsin since popular vote elections were introduced a century ago, Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin rank among the oldest upon first entering the chamber. Johnson began his tenure at the age of 55 years, 8 months, and 26 days in January 2011, which is the oldest of any elected Wisconsin Senator during this popular vote era. The next oldest, Alexander Wiley, was more than one year younger when he took his seat in 1939 (54 years, 7 months, 8 days). Tammy Baldwin comes in at #6 being 50 years, 10 months, and 23 days when she took office in January of this year. The youngest elected Senator from the Badger State was Robert La Follette, Jr. at 30 years, 7 months, and 24 days (1925) when he took the seat of his legendary deceased father.


Party Like It's 1986?

Tim Johnson's retirement opens up an opportunity for Republicans to gain control of both U.S. Senate seats in South Dakota for the first time since the convening of the 100th Congress in January 1987 (Tom Daschle ousted incumbent GOPer James Abdnor in the 1986 election). South Dakota is currently tied with Nevada and Washington for the 22nd longest streak in the nation since Republicans held both Senate seats at 26+ years. Neighboring North Dakota has the 13th longest streak (August 1960) with three states last seeing a GOP hold on both seats in the 1800s: Louisiana (November 1872), Florida (March 1875), and Arkansas (March 1885).


more POLITICAL CRUMBS

Humphrey School Sites
CSPG
Humphrey New Media Hub

Issues />

<div id=
Abortion
Afghanistan
Budget and taxes
Campaign finances
Crime and punishment
Economy and jobs
Education
Energy
Environment
Foreign affairs
Gender
Health
Housing
Ideology
Immigration
Iraq
Media
Military
Partisanship
Race and ethnicity
Reapportionment
Redistricting
Religion
Sexuality
Sports
Terrorism
Third parties
Transportation
Voting