ABOUT:
Defense policy analysis, commentary and discussion.Nathan L. Gonzales is political editor of The Rothenberg Political Report, a nonpartisan political newsletter covering U.S. House, Senate and gubernatorial campaigns, and presidential politics. He has been with the Report for over nine years and is also a contributing writer for Roll Call, the Capitol Hill newspaper.
Since 2002, Nathan has worked as an off-air consultant for ABC NEWS on their Election Night Decision Desk. Previously, he worked for CNN.com and as associate producer for CNN’s “Capital Gang.”
His quotes have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and USA Today, as well as numerous state and regional newspapers all across the country. Nathan has also appeared on CNN, Fox News Channel, and other local network affiliates.
Nathan, an Oregon native, holds a M.A. from the George Washington University (Washington, D.C.), a B.A. from Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, Calif.), and has interned in the White House Press Office. He is married with two children and lives in Washington, D.C.
When Democrats float the idea of a Republican senator joining President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, it usually means they know they can’t defeat the incumbent in an election.
Massachusetts Republican Richard Tisei married his longtime partner earlier this month in the aftermath of losing one of the closest congressional races in the country — and probably just a few months before he begins another House campaign.
Ten years ago, the open-seat race in Maine’s 2nd District was one of the most competitive in the country. The seat is open again, but it may be further out of reach for Republicans this time.
Former Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Ill., is going to put a Democratic gerrymander to the test.
As a political analyst, it’s easy to criticize candidates for not raising enough money. But it’s also easy to forget how hard it is to raise money. And it’s no wonder that most potential candidates pause before taking the plunge into a congressional race because of the burden of fundraising.
The two House campaign chiefs faced off on MSNBC’s “The Daily Rundown” this morning. But how close was their analysis of the House playing field to reality?
There are many wide-open spaces but few competitive races in the Rocky Mountain West. Even though the important contests are few, they could be good indicators of which party has the upper hand next fall.
Even in good Republican years, the West has proved to be something of a Democratic firewall. But in 2014, Republicans will likely need to win a big Senate race in Alaska to have any chance of flipping the chamber. And if the GOP were to suffer a three- or four-seat loss in California House seats, it might well put its control of the U.S. House in jeopardy.
The battle for the Southwest boils down to two states: Arizona and Texas. And unless Republicans redraw the congressional map in the Lone State State once again — highly unlikely — there are not many competitive races.
The Hawkeye State dominates the list of competitive races in the Plains. After the region hosted the high-profile North Dakota and Missouri Senate races in 2012, its trio of Senate races this cycle are likely to see action in the primaries — but not in November.
This cycle, the South is dominated by competitive Senate races. That doesn’t mean there won’t be critical House races (including Florida’s 18th and 26th districts) or other interesting contests (such as the crowded Republican primary in Georgia).
Democratic Rep. Michael H. Michaud’s decision to explore a gubernatorial bid in Maine is a good example of competing interests of campaign committees.
The Midwest has traditionally been the land of the House races. But the open Senate seat in Michigan is unlikely to become very competitive, and Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is closer to making his race a laughingstock than Republicans are to defeating him.
It’s not very often that the party out of power encourages the incumbent to seek re-election, but that’s the case in Pennsylvania.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, gay candidates and their spouses could face different campaign finance guidelines depending on their state.
A lone competitive Senate race in West Virginia and a few competitive House seats set the stage in the Mid-Atlantic region next year.
Former Rep. Mark Schauer announced his gubernatorial campaign in late May, rejuvenating Democratic hopes of defeating GOP Gov. Rick Snyder in Michigan next year.
Not long ago, Democratic Gov. John W. Hickenlooper of Colorado looked like a sure bet for a second term in 2014 — and a place on the list of dark-horse candidates for the 2016 presidential contest.
After Connecticut Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy guided the state through the Newtown shootings, it’s not unreasonable to expect a rally-around-the-flag dynamic for him. But that hasn’t happened.
Even in the best of times, New England isn’t particularly friendly to Republicans. Today, the GOP boasts just two members — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire — as the only elected officials at the federal level in the six-state region.
Democrats believe Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad is vulnerable, but it will be almost a year before they know who will be their nominee to take on the Republican.
After a narrow victory in 2010 and a polarizing first year in office, Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich was one of Democrats’ top gubernatorial targets. But now, some Democrats acknowledge an uptick in the Republican’s job approval numbers, and Kasich barely cracks the list of top five vulnerable Republican governors.
You can’t beat someone with no one. In Nevada, Democrats are searching for a candidate to take on Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval. So far, those efforts have come up short.
What do you call a politician who supports the Defense of Marriage Act and a balanced federal budget? Today, that describes a conservative Republican. Sixteen years ago, that was a two-term Democratic president.
After three consecutive competitive Senate elections in Massachusetts, it looks like we’re in for a dry spell.
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