December 2012
By Eric Ostermeier on December 27, 2012
A look back at a few of the most illuminating, odd, and controversial reports published by Smart Politics this year.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 21, 2012
Only 1 of 25 New Jersey U.S. Senate incumbents have lost their renomination bids since the state's first direct election in 1916.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 19, 2012
What rules could be introduced in the Senate to ensure the filibuster is no longer a 'strategy for hijacking' the chamber and 'demoralizing the country?'
By Eric Ostermeier on December 18, 2012
The late Senator from Hawaii served with 218 Democrats, 189 Republicans, and five independents and those from third parties; more Minnesotans served with Inouye than Senators from any other state (14).
By Eric Ostermeier on December 17, 2012
While 27 percent of House Democrats issued official press releases on the Newtown, Connecticut murders, only 6 percent of Republicans did so and no GOPer mentioned the word 'gun' in their statements.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 14, 2012
Six new faces entering the Senate in January served in the House and 51 overall; Hawaii, Virginia, and Massachusetts have the highest all-time rate of choosing Senators with House experience.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 13, 2012
Gubernatorial incumbents from Michigan are victorious more than three-fourths of the time in general election bids with Republican incumbents at more than 80%.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 12, 2012
Two Minnesota-born U.S. Senators have been elected to seats outside of the Gopher State over the last two cycles.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 10, 2012
Only one sitting U.S. House member has been appointed out of 15 appointments to the U.S. Senate from South Carolina; only four of these appointed senators were subsequently elected to the chamber
By Eric Ostermeier on December 7, 2012
DeMint will join the likes of Charles Pinckney, Thomas Sumpter, John Calhoun, and Strom Thurmond - former South Carolina U.S. Senators who resigned from the highest legislative office in the land.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 6, 2012
A study of more than 325 sitting U.S. Senators on the ballot since 1990 finds women have been reelected at exactly same rate as men - 87 percent.
By Eric Ostermeier on December 4, 2012
The Romney-Obama contest ranked among the Top 5 most competitive races ever in three states (AK, FL, NC) and the Top 5 least competitive in six (HI, MD, OK, UT, WV, WY).
By Eric Ostermeier on December 3, 2012
States have voted more frequently for a presidential nominee of a different party than its sitting governor across 600 contests since 1968; even more so in battleground states.
