Kinzinger, Schock Plead for Immigration Overhaul

An immigration overhaul may seem like a toxic issue to most in the GOP, but, in Illinois, it’s a battle cry.

Boozman 'Responding Well' After Emergency Heart Surgery, Doctors Say

Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., is recovering from emergency heart surgery he underwent Tuesday.

Brain Drain: Self-Imposed Term Limits Shuffle Committees, House GOP Leadership

House Republicans are facing a brain drain of historic proportions atop their committees — as many as half of their chairmen could be forced to step down next year, thanks to a 20-year-old rule.

Front-runner Emerges in GOP Special Election for Trey Radel Seat

Florida Republicans head to the polls for a special election Tuesday to pick a nominee to succeed former Rep. Trey Radel, who exited Congress earlier this year following his arrest for cocaine possession that culminated in a national scandal for Republicans.

Black Caucus Open to Working With 'Nice Guy' Ryan

Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., said Tuesday the Congressional Black Caucus is open to working with House Budget Committee Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., on bipartisan legislative action on reducing poverty.

Clay Aiken Releases First TV Ad in North Carolina House Race

“American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken, who is running for a North Carolina House seat as a Democrat, launched his first TV ad Tuesday — a bio spot highlighting his difficult childhood and his recent help for children with Autism.

• Clay Aiken Slammed in TV Ad

Senator Rides Snowmachine Across Arctic in Latest Ad

Alaska Sen. Mark Begich hops back on a snowmachine in his latest TV ad, cruising across a frozen Arctic Ocean to highlight his efforts over the last five years to win approval for oil drilling.

Republican, Democrat Enter Wide-Open Wisconsin Race for Congress

Two more candidates have entered the race to fill retiring GOP Rep. Tom Petri’s House seat in Wisconsin.

Menendez Not Staying Quiet at Foreign Relations

The U.S. Agency for International Development’s much-maligned Twitter-esque program in Cuba had a quick defender on Capitol Hill — Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez.

Boston Marathon Debrief: Staffers, Members Reflect

“[We] are reminded that no act of violence, no matter how senseless, can ever take away from the world-class athletic event that the Boston Marathon is and always will be.” — Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

White House, Perez Continue Unemployment Extension Push (Updated)

The White House and Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez continue to press the House to pass an unemployment benefits extension — but so far there’s no word of a new offer to sweeten the pot for Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio.

GOP Senate Hopeful Rebuts 'War on Women' in First TV Ad

Senate hopeful Terri Lynn Land, a Republican, is up with her first ad of the cycle in Michigan, making fun of the idea that she — a woman — is waging a war on women.

Leach, Boyle Go On Air in Philly-Area House Race (Updated)

Pennsylvania state Sen. Daylin Leach and state Rep. Brendan Boyle, two of the four Democrats vying for a Philadelphia-area House seat, launched the first TV ads of the race on Tuesday — one month out from the hotly contested primary.

Obama’s Foreign Policy Impacts 2014 Elections — Really

Foreign policy could have an indirect yet significant impact on the midterm elections, making the issue more relevant than you otherwise might assume.

Ranking Member Fundraising Battle: Pallone Gets Cash From Tech, Health Care Industries

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. received donations from health care groups and technology giants, and gave money to more than a dozen fellow Democrats, including some in vulnerable seats, a new filing for his leadership political action committee shows.

Internal Poll: GOP Primary Wide Open in Alabama Race

A new internal poll shows the crowded primary in Alabama’s open 6th District is wide open less than two months before the primary, according to information provided first to CQ Roll Call.

Miriam’s Kitchen Carves Out New Award for Chris Murphy

Miriam’s Kitchen is so impressed with Sen. Christopher S. Murphy’s humanitarian work that the homeless aid group plans to honor the freshman lawmaker with the inaugural “Mission Possible Champion of the Year” award on May 3.

President Pressured to Use Pen for LGBT Workers

It could be dubbed the federal contractor trifecta.

Calendar: 10 Years of Sixth & I, Poetic Justice at Hill Center

Happy “Sixth and I Day” Washington! To celebrate 10 years since the synagogue at 600 I St. NW was re-dedicated as the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, not just as a center of worship but a venue for music and other cultural and community events, the District has proclaimed Tuesday as “Sixth & I Day.”

Georgia Republicans Brawl for Conservative Mantle in Senate Debate

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Seven Republican Senate hopefuls stood before a mammoth American flag Saturday afternoon for the sixth of seven debates hosted by the state GOP.

Mitt Romney Endorses in Targeted Arizona House Race

Mitt Romney threw his support behind Arizona state Speaker Andy Tobin on Monday, marking the latest candidate Romney has endorsed in the midterm elections.

Retirements Open Door for New Virginia Candidates

Virginia’s proximity to Capitol Hill makes a seat in Congress a desirable landing spot for politicians in the Old Dominion State. As a result, many of Virginia’s members of Congress stick around for a long time.

Secret Service, D.C. Officials Talk Traffic

The stern letter Mayor Vincent Gray sent to the Secret Service following a series of early March street closures earned the city’s law enforcement leaders a sit-down with the agency.

Biden Meets U.S. Congressional Delegation in Ukraine

Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was expected to meet with a congressional delegation of members in Ukraine on Monday to discuss the unrest in the region and how the United States can support Ukraine’s independence.

House Democrats Raise More Money Than GOP in March

The House Democrats’ political arm raised about $400,000 more than its GOP counterpart in March — although both committees posted strong fundraising last month.

• 8 House Race Ratings Changes Boost GOP, Democrats

Mitch McConnell Launches Ad for Final Month of Primary

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s latest TV ad kicks off his closing argument for the final month of the Kentucky Republican primary and sets up his message for the start of the general election.

Republican Marks First TV Foray in Hollywood House Race

A Republican candidate in the crowded race to replace Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., went on the air Monday with the first television spot of the ultra-competitive contest.

Good Friday News Dump Riles Keystone Supporters on the Hill

Reaction to news that the State Department would take more time to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project was swift and predictable.

Reid, Heller Still Hope for House Action on Unemployment Extension

Updated 7:36 a.m. April 19 | Top Senate backers of an unemployment extension say there’s still hope for a deal and are working to set up a meeting with Speaker John A. Boehner.

• Heller Calls Bundy Ranch Supporters 'Patriots;' Reid Sticks With 'Domestic Terrorists' (Video)

Jack Kingston Works His Base at Rural Cookout

GLENNVILLE, Ga. — Rep. Jack Kingston, who’s represented Savannah in Congress for the last two decades, was at home Thursday evening in nearby Tattnall County, where elected officials and candidates streamed in to put their face in front of the loads of sheriffs, police and first responders gathered on the grounds of a rural pond house.