Go to HHH home page.
Smart Politics
 


Massachusetts


Off the Radar? Chechnya Never Mentioned in Public by Obama

Bill Clinton and George W. Bush discussed the troubled region nearly 100 times over a 10-year period that saw two Chechen wars and high-profile terrorist acts that killed several hundred Russians.

Scott Brown: To New Hampshire with Love?

Nearly 40 percent of New Hampshire U.S. Senators in state history have been educated in Massachusetts and more than one in six were born in the Bay State.

The Five-Timers Club: Gubernatorial Edition

Thirty-seven governors in U.S. history were elected into office at least five times but only 10 served in the 20th or 21st Centuries; four members of the Club are alive today.

Scott Brown: The Return of the King?

If Scott Brown wins Massachusetts' U.S. Senate special election in June he will return to the chamber with the eighth shortest gap in service in history.

Massachusetts to Hold Senate Elections at Rate Not Seen in 50+ Years

It has been more than 50 years since a state has held three Senate elections in three consecutive years or four Senate contests over a five-year span.

Democrats Amass 144 Consecutive US House Victories in Four Northeastern States

Democratic nominees have won 144 U.S. House contests in a row in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and Rhode Island.

20 Presidential Tickets That Lost Both Home States

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are not alone in failing to carry their home states this election cycle, although theirs is the first such ticket in 40 years.

Romney Suffers 2nd Worst Home State Loss in Presidential Election History

Only John Frémont in 1856 lost his home state by a larger margin than Romney out of 100+ major party presidential nominees on the ballot since the formation of the Democratic Party in 1828.

Schizophrenic Electorates or Short Obama Coattails? D/R Split Ticket Voting in 2012

Connecticut, Michigan, Nevada, Virginia, and Wisconsin are five of 18 states never to split their ticket by voting for a Democratic presidential nominee and a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in the same cycle.

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.

Can Massachusetts GOP End Its 88 US House Seat Pick-Up Drought in Frank's Open 4th CD?

Bay State Republicans have the second biggest dry spell in the nation and have picked off just 2 of 284 Democratic U.S. House seats since 1944.

Mitt Romney's Gold Star for Electability

It has been 115 years since a presidential candidate was nominated from a state without a single U.S. Representative from his own party.

Romney's Strongest 2012 Fundraising Locales Identical to 2008: UT, CT, DC, MA, ID

Per capita itemized donations to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign are led by the same five locales in each of his White House bids.

Romney Remains Lone Blue State GOP Presidential Candidate

Nine of the 10 announced GOP candidates hail from red or purple states.

Gillibrand Scores Biggest Fundraising Surge Among 2012 U.S. Senate Incumbents

New York junior Senator jumps from #17 to #5 for cash on hand among 2012 U.S. Senate incumbents last quarter.

2012 U.S. Senate Incumbent Cash on Hand Rankings

Most "safe" incumbents lagging behind the pack in cash on hand through 2010

Which States Have the Longest-Serving U.S. House Delegations?

Alaska, Massachusetts, and Michigan boast the longest average length of service; Democrats average 5+ years more experience than Republicans

Nancy Pelosi 1 of 8 House Democrats to Win by Bigger Margin in 2010 than 2008

Only 3 percent of 230 Democratic U.S. House incumbents on the ballot increased their margin of victory in 2010 compared to 2008; Nancy Pelosi had the second largest increase

You Say You Want a Revolution? Third Party Gubernatorial Candidates Thriving in 2010

Third party gubernatorial candidates rivaling 1994 for their best showing since the Great Depression

The 50 Safest U.S. House Districts in the Nation (2002-2008)

Democrats currently hold 43 of the 50 least competitive seats in the nation; John Lewis (GA-05), Kendrick Meek (FL-17), and Richard Neal (MA-02) have not faced a challenger since new district lines were drawn in 2002

1 2  


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