Fighting For Jobs

2013 Virginia Primary Election Recap

Fight For Jobs — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:53:02 +0000

The ballot is set and the race is heating up. Tuesday marked the final step in setting the tickets for the Virginia 2013 statewide elections. The Republicans selected their nominees in May at a convention, but now the Democrats have narrowed down their field. Terry McAuliffe will be the Democratic nominee for Governor, Ralph Northam for Lieutenant Governor, and Mark Herring rounding out the ticket as the Attorney General nominee. The Republicans nominated Ken Cuccinelli for Governor, E.W. Jackson for Lieutenant Governor, and Mark Obenshain for Attorney General. The general election takes place November 5, 2013.

At the top of the ticket, McAuliffe and Cuccinelli have already started campaigning, but now that the nomination phase is complete, the candidates will be called on to make more statements and outline their positions. With both sides beginning to sling mud, it is important to find out where the candidates stand on the issues that really matter to Virginians. The Virginia Prosperity Project will continue to monitor the race and bring employers, employees, and their families the information that will allow voters to make an informed choice about which candidates will continue to allow Virginia to prosper. Where McAuliffe and Cuccinelli stand on health care, transportation, minimum wage, trade, and taxes matter to hardworking Virginians. These issues are tied to why Virginia continues attract business, grow its economy, and allow the Commonwealth’s citizens to thrive.

Bonner to Resign from Congress

Fight For Jobs — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:30:05 +0000

Representative Jo Bonner, a Republican serving Alabama’s 1st District, has announced that he will be stepping down from his seat effective August 15. Bonner accepted the position of Vice Chancellor of Government Relations and Economic Development at the University of Alabama. He has served just over ten years in the House and ran unopposed his most recent re-election bid last November. In a press release, Congressman Bonner said that he wasn’t looking for a change, but that the opportunity at the University of Alabama found him. He currently serves on the House Committee on Appropriations.

Once Congressman Bonner vacates the seat, Governor Robert Bentley will call a special election. Alabama is, with the exception of Representative Terri Sewell, a strong Republican state and should stay safely in Republican hands. Because Bonner’s departure was so sudden, no official candidates have come forward. Some possibilities on the GOP side are state Senators Trip Pittman, Bill Hightower, and Rusty Glover. Potential Democrats might include state Senators Vivian Davis Figures and Marc Keahey.

Michele Bachmann Won’t Seek Reelection

Fight For Jobs — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:52:44 +0000

There will be another open seat in the House when voters go the polls in 2014. Surprising many, Representative Michele Bachmann (R, MN-6) announced via a video on her website that she won’t be seeking reelection to a fifth term. The former presidential candidate and tea-party mainstay was expected to face a tough challenge from Democrat Jim Graves who came within 1.2% of defeating her last November. Despite what would likely have been an uphill battle for reelection, Bachmann said that her decision had nothing to do with her prospects but rather her belief that she had served her time. In the video, Bachmann said, “I have every confidence that if I ran, I would again defeat the individual who I defeated last year, who recently announced he is once again running.”

Jim Graves had official announced his decision to challenge Bachmann, but with her exit, Graves also announced his departure. Graves looked like a strong contender against Bachmann heading into 2014, but with more moderate Republicans now seeing an opportunity, the seat is a harder pick-up for Democrats. The 6th District is a more conservative suburban district that will be a challenge for Democrats to put in play without the divisive Bachmann in the mix. Romney took the district by almost 15% in 2012. No major contenders have had a chance to express their interest, but expect the Republican that emerges in this race to have the advantage.

State Unemployment Rates

Fight For Jobs — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:33:37 +0000

The economy is always a major headline in elections, especially unemployment rates. When looking at the unemployment numbers for the states that have governors up for reelection in 2014, 14 states currently have unemployment rates higher than the national average of 7.5%. How significantly will these numbers affect the elections? While it is true that several of the nation’s most unpopular governors are on this list, including Chafee (I-RI), Quinn (D-IL) and Corbett (R-PA), other governors with high unemployment rates are relatively popular. Nevada has one of the highest unemployment rates right now with 9.6% unemployment, yet Gov. Sandoval (R) has positive approval ratings. While unemployment rates may not predict the outcomes of races, it is certainly a factor to keep in mind going into the 2014 elections.

States with gubernatorial elections that have unemployment rate higher than national average:

State	Governor	Unemployment Rate (April 2013)
US	n/a	7.5
AZ	Brewer (R)	7.9
CA	Brown (D)	9.0
CT	Malloy (D)	8.0
GA	Deal (R)	8.2
IL	Quinn (D)	9.3
MI	Snyder (R)	8.4
NV	Sandoval (R)	9.6
NJ – 2013	Christie (R)	8.7
NY	Cuomo (D)	7.8
OR	Kitzhaber (D)	8.0
PA	Corbett (R)	7.6
RI	Chafee (I)	8.8
SC	Haley (R)	8.0
TN 18	Haslam (R)	8.0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

MO Special & NJ Primary Election Results

Fight For Jobs — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:20:35 +0000

Missouri 8th District: State Rep. Jason Smith (R) has won the special election to replace former Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (R) who resigned in January to join the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The state parties choose the special election nominees and the seat was expected to stay in Republican hands. The Democratic nominee was state Rep. Steve Hodges. The current House breakdown is now 234 Republicans and 201 Democrats.

New Jersey: New Jersey held its primary yesterday for the statewide November elections. Gov. Chris Christie (R) and state Sen. Barbara Buono (D) are now the official gubernatorial nominees. This has not been a competitive race so far, with Christie maintaining a 30 point lead over Buono. Besides the gubernatorial race, all 120 state legislative seats are up for reelection. Overshadowing the NJ primary is the recent news of Sen. Lautenberg’s (D) passing. Attention has been focused on Gov. Christie and who he will appoint as successor, Republican or Democrat, to Lautenberg’s seat in advance of a special election in August.

2014 Open Seat Outlook: Governors

Fight For Jobs — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:18:07 +0000

In last week’s blog, BIPAC delivered an overview of all eight open U.S. Senate seats and all nine U.S. House seats. This week we have focused on the six open governors’ races being held between now and the end of 2014. Of the 36 states that have governor races next year, only five of them are open seats, four of which are term limited. Also included in our analysis is the gubernatorial election in Virginia in 2013. The only governor choosing not to seek reelection is Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick (D). This differs significantly from the extremely high number of U.S. Senators who are leaving Congress due to partisanship and age. It is unlikely we’ll see any current governors announce they aren’t seeking another term barring any major events or scandals. We do know however, that as of today there will be at least six new governors heading into 2015. Below is an overview of those states and what we can expect to see between now and Election Day.

Arkansas

Gov. Mike Beebe (D) is limited to serving only two terms as governor. Beebe won first in 2006 and again in 2010 by large margins and will be leaving office very popular with a 68% approval rating. Despite twice electing a Democrat to the governor’s mansion, Arkansas has shifted fast and hard in recent years becoming a more Republican state (Romney won 60% of the vote), and as a result this election is going to be very competitive. Two Democrats have announced their intention to run, former Lt. Governor Bill Halter (D) and former U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (D). Several other individuals are considering runs in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, the list is much shorter. Three individuals have declared their candidacies: former U.S. Rep. Asa Hutchison (R), state Rep. Debra Hobbs (R) and businessman and former U.S. Senate candidate Curtis Coleman (R). Hutchison ran unsuccessfully for governor against Beebe in 2006 and is the current front runner on the Republican side. In the few polls that have been fielded, Hutchison leads among all the Democratic opponents, but it’s too early to say he’s a shoe-in. Also affecting the top of the ballot will be the U.S. Senate race in 2014. Sen. Mark Pryor (D) is seen as one of the most vulnerable Senators facing reelection next year.

Arizona

Gov. Jan Brewer (R) was Arizona’s Secretary of State when former Governor Janet Napolitano (D) was picked to serve as Sec. of Homeland Security in the Obama Administration in 2009. Because Arizona does not have a lieutenant governor, the next position in line to fill a gubernatorial vacancy is secretary of state. As a result, Brewer was sworn in as governor in January of 2009. Gov. Brewer has been a controversial governor on issues such as immigration, redistricting and, more recently, Medicaid expansion. Her popularity has taken a rollercoaster ride over her tenure and it’s unclear where her approvals will be when her term ends. Despite growing Hispanic and Latino populations that increasingly identify with Democrats, Arizona is still fairly conservative. As a result, the field for the Republican nomination is growing every day. Of the candidates who have declared or shown interest, Sec. of State Ken Bennett (R) seems to be a favorite pick but he has yet to formally announce. Former Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman (R) and 2010 AG candidate Andrew Thomas (R) are the only two individuals to have publicly declared their candidacies. Individuals considering the Democratic nomination are former Board of Regents Chair Fred Duval (D), state Rep. Chad Campbell (D) and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton (D). Duval officially announced his intention to run in April and has already received endorsements from three former Democratic governors and is the presumed frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.

Maryland

Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is also term limited and will leave office with a reputation as a stalwart for the Democratic Party and liberal policies. During his tenure he repealed the death penalty, signed same-sex marriage legislation, as well as stricter gun control laws. His ambitions for the presidency in 2016 are no secret, and he is finishing his term with modest approval ratings. Despite not being overwhelmingly popular compared to other Democratic governors, his endorsement of Lt. Governor Anthony Brown (D) should be enough for Brown to secure the Democratic nomination. Maryland’s deep blue tilt should all but guarantee Brown a seat in the governor’s mansion. However, it is still early and state Rep. Heather Mizeur (D) and Attorney General Douglas Gansler (D) are also planning to run for the nomination. A Republican winning the general election isn’t likely, but there are still a number of candidates considering a run for the nomination. The individuals most likely to announce as of today are state Delegate Ron George (R) and Harford County Executive David Craig (R).

Nebraska

Gov. Dave Heineman (R) is term limited and is expected to leave office well-liked with approval ratings in the 60s or 70s. Nebraska is a conservative state and the next governor is very likely to be a Republican. The subject that is shaping the governor’s race more than anything else is the open U.S. Senate seat that was created when Sen. Mike Johanns (R) announced his decision not to run for reelection. As a result, there are two statewide offices open at the top of the ticket in Nebraska in 2014. Several Republicans are interested in the opportunities creating large candidate pools in both primaries, and Heineman’s recent decision not to run for the Senate seat has left the field wide open for both races. For the governor’s race, state Sen. Charlie Janssen (R) is the only Republican to officially announce he’s running. Others are sure to jump in but it will depend on who gets into the Senate race. On the Democratic side, a handful of candidates are considering but no one has officially announced because of the uncertainty surrounding the Senate race. Time is needed to tell how this election will turn out.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is one of 12 states that do not have gubernatorial term limits. Gov. Deval Patrick (D) will not seek a third term for governor despite being eligible to do so, and even though he had a rough first term Patrick should leave office relatively well-liked. It’s still early in the cycle but the pool of candidates stepping up to run has been small and the process has been slow. Two candidates have officially declared to run: Joseph Avellon (D), a business executive and former Chairman of The Wellesley Board of Selectman, and Evan Falchuk (I), an attorney running as an Independent. No Republican candidates have announced, but Charlie Baker Jr. (R) a health care CEO and former cabinet secretary is mentioned frequently. He ran for governor in 2010 but lost to Gov. Patrick by six points. Also mentioned is former U.S. Senator Scott Brown (R), but he has not made a decision and has also been eyeing the New Hampshire Senate race. In recent elections Massachusetts voters have elected Republican governors to balance out the liberal legislature. Before Gov. Patrick’s election, Republicans held the governor’s mansion since 1990. But with Democrats having a 3 to 1 voter registration edge over Republicans, unless a standout Republican wins the nomination, the next governor is more likely to have a D next to his/her name than an R.

Virginia

The Virginia governor’s race is being held in November of 2013 instead of 2014, but it is one of only a handful of open governor’s seats this cycle and is certainly worth mentioning. Virginia only allows governors to serve one term at a time, and Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) is termed out at the end of this year. The race to become Virginia’s next governor has made significant headlines. Virginia’s evolution as a swing state and history of acting as an off-year thermometer for how voters are feeling about national politics makes this a marquee race. The Republican nomination became official two weekends ago when Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R) was nominated by a state Republican convention. The primary for the Democratic front runner is not until June 11th, but former DNC Chair and businessman Terri McAuliffe (D) is guaranteed to win the nomination. The two candidates have left something to be desired for Virginia voters. Cuccinelli’s strong stances on social issues alienate key moderate voters, and Terri McAuliffe, who lost the Democratic nomination in 2011, is seen more as a national party figure, as opposed to a local in tune with the needs of Virginians. This race is going to be very competitive and surveys have shown the candidates taking turns in leading the polls. A component of who wins this race will depend on how disciplined that candidate is in advocating what he is for, as opposed to what his opponent is against.

2014 Open Seat Outlook: House

Fight For Jobs — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:15:00 +0000

Summer is on our doorstep and we are nearly to the halfway point of 2013. The races for 2014 are beginning to take shape as federal legislators determine whether they will run for reelection or hang up their hats to begin a life of retirement, relaxation or their next professional adventure. The open seats created by U.S. Senators deciding to leave are also creating open seats in the House because Representatives are trying to run for the newly open Senate seats. Because open seats create the most opportunity for change in party control, competitiveness and unpredictability, we have created a 2014 overview of all the current open seats up in the House for next year’s election.

U.S. House of Representatives: 9 Open Seats (5 R, 4 D)

Iowa 1: Rep. Bruce Braley (D) is running for Senate to replace Sen. Tom Harkin (D) creating an open seat. Braley has represented this district since 2006. Barack Obama won this district 55.9% to Romney’s 42.3% illustrating that this is a fairly Democratic district. Several individuals have shown interest in running which means we can expect to see very crowded primaries for both parties. The individuals leading the pack today are Iowa state Rep. Pat Murphy (D) who was Speaker of the legislature from 2007 to 2011 (Murphy announced in Feb.), former television anchor and state Senator Liz Mathis (D), businessman Rod Blum (R) who narrowly lost the primary for this seat last year with 47% of the vote, and former Cedar Rapids Mayor Paul Pate (R) who has the best name ID out of all the candidates. The filing deadline is not until next spring and of all the open House seats, this one is the least partisan, but as of today, D’s still have an advantage.

Georgia 10: Rep. Paul Broun (R) is running for Senate to replace Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) creating an open seat. This seat is very conservative and Broun has represented the district since 2006. Mitt Romney won this seat with 62.5% of the vote in 2012, but a third of all residents are minorities, and those demographics are expected to grow in coming years so you can expect to see the dynamics of this district evolve. Two individuals have announced their intentions to run – state Rep. Donna Sheldon (R), the chairwoman of the GOP Caucus, and Jody Hice (R), radio host and Southern Baptist pastor. This seat should easily stay in Republican hands and most of the action will be seen in the primary.

West Virginia 2: Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R) is running for Senate to replace Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D) creating an open seat. Capito has represented this conservative district since 2000 and Mitt Romney won the district with 60% of the vote. There are a number of candidates from both parties interested in this seat. Although the district leans Republican, it is not out of the question for a strong Democrat to make this competitive. The top contenders so far are Nick Casey (D), former state Democratic Chair, state Sen. Eric Wells (D) -his wife is Sec. of State Natalie Tennant who has been mentioned to run for Senate- and state Sen. Herb Snyder (D). On the Republican side, numerous names have been mentioned but the names at the top are House Minority Leader Tim Armstead (R), Senate Minority Leader Mike Hall (R), former state Republican Party Chairman Mike Stuart (R) and state Delegates Eric Nelson (R), Patrick Lane (R) and Steve Harrison (R).

Louisiana 6: Rep. Bill Cassidy (R) recently announced he is running for the Senate in a challenge to current Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu, creating an open seat in Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District. Cassidy has represented this very Republican district since 2008. President Barack Obama lost this district by 34 points in 2012, making this a very attractive seat for local conservatives. The district includes Baton Rouge and surrounding suburbs. Most of the contenders for the seat are state representatives or state senators, but also considering the seat is former Rep. Jeff Landry (R) who lost in a member vs. member election last year. The only catch is that he does not technically live in the district.

Georgia 1: Another Congressman from the Georgia Delegation, Rep. Jack Kingston (R), is also running for Chambliss’ open seat, creating another open seat. Kingston has served in the 1st District since 1993. The district leans Republican, and voted for Romney with 56% of the vote in 2012. There are currently three candidates, state Sen. Buddy Carter (R), Darwin Carter (R), a businessman who worked in President Reagan’s administration, and David Schwarz (R), a Republican consultant and former Kingston staffer.

Georgia 11: Rep. Phil Gingrey (R) is also running for Saxby Chambliss’ (R) open senate seat. Gingrey has served in the 11th District since 2003. With Romney and Gingrey both winning over 60% of the vote in this district in 2012, it is safe to say this is a red seat. Several Republicans have already announced their candidacy for the open seat, including businesswoman Tricia Pridmeore (R) who previously worked in Gov. Nathan Deal’s administration, former House Rep. and federal prosecutor Bob Barr (R), state Sen. Barry Loudermilk (R) and state House Majority Whip Edward Lindsey (R).

Hawaii 1: For the past few months, it was unclear if Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D) would challenger Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) or Sen. Brian Schatz (D) in the 2014 elections. Abercrombie did not follow Sen. Inouye’s dying wish to appoint Hanabusa to the Senate, and instead chose his Lieutenant Governor, Schatz. Hanabusa has decided to challenge Schatz in the Democratic Primary, officially creating an open seat in Hawaii’s 1st District. The district is extremely Democratic and voted overwhelmingly for Obama in 2012. A crowded Democratic primary is expected to replace Hanabusa, but right now there is only one declared candidate, Councilman Stanley Chang (D).

Michigan 14: Rep. Gary Peters (D) is running for Senate to replace retiring Sen. Carl Levin (D) creating an open seat in Michigan’s congressional delegation. The 14th District leans far to the left. President Obama won the district with over 80% of the vote last year with black voters making up just under 60% of the district’s constituents. Several Democrats have said they are interested in the race including former U.S. Rep. Hansen Clarke (D) and state Rep. Rudy Hobbs (D) – both have officially declared. One Republican has been mentioned, the 2010 and 2012 Republican nominee, businessman, and tea party activist John Hauler (R).

Pennsylvania 13: Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D) is challenging Gov. Tom Corbett (R) for the governor’s mansion in 2014. This is the only open seat in the House in which the incumbent member is not running for the U.S. Senate. Schwartz was first elected to this district that covers the northern corner of Philadelphia in 2004. This is a left leaning district that President Obama won in 2012 with 66% of the vote. Several candidates are interested in the Democratic Primary including state Rep. Brendan Boyle (D), physician and activist Valerie Arkoosh (D), state Sen. Daylin Leach (D) and former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (D). No candidates have announced on the Republican side.

Click here for 2014 Open Seat Outlook: Senate

2014 Open Seat Outlook: Senate

Fight For Jobs — Thu, 30 May 2013 14:13:01 +0000

May is almost over and we are nearly to the halfway point of 2013. The races for 2014 are beginning to take shape as federal legislators determine whether they will run for reelection or hang up their hats to begin a life of retirement, relaxation or their next professional adventure. In Congress, most attention is focused on the U.S. Senate because of the increasing potential for Republicans to win control of the chamber next year. Currently Democrats hold 53 seats, Republicans hold 45 and two Independents caucus with the Democrats. In order for Republicans to gain control of the Senate, they need to pick up at least six seats currently held by Democrats. Already, six Democrats have announced their retirement creating open seats. Open seats create the best opportunity for pick-ups by opposing parties because candidates don’t have to unseat incumbents who typically have more fundraising and party support than challenger candidates.

U.S Senate: 8 Open Seats (6D, 2R)

Georgia: Saxby Chambliss (R)

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, currently serving his second term, has announced that he is sick of partisan politics and will not be seeking a third term. He was also one of the more vulnerable Republicans up in 2014 and was expected to face a primary challenger from the right. This is traditionally a conservative seat, but a contentious Republican primary could make this more competitive. Currently there are four Republican candidates vying for the nomination-Reps. Paul Broun (R), Phil Gingrey (R) and Jack Kingston (R), and Secretary of State Karen Handel (R). There are no declared Democratic challengers yet. Rep. John Barrow (D) has declined to run, though Michele Nunn (D), daughter of former GA Senator Sam Nunn, could potentially enter. Georgia is a conservative state, but an ugly Republican primary could create an opportunity for a credible Democrat.

Iowa: Tom Harkin (D)

Currently serving in his fifth term, 73 year old Sen. Tom Harkin has cited age as his primary reason to retire. The frontrunner on the Democratic side is Rep. Bruce Braley (D), from Iowa’s 1st Congressional District, who has been endorsed by Harkin. On the Republican side, several Republican potentials have all declined to run, including Lt. Gov Kim Reynolds (R), Rep. Tom Latham (R) and Rep. Steve King (R), leaving the race wide open. Harkin’s departure leaves the Chairmanship of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions open, assuming the Democrats keep control of the Senate.

Michigan: Carl Levin (D)

After 34 years in office, the current Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Carl Levin has announced his retirement. Rep. Gary Peters (D) has announced his Senate candidacy and is not expected to face any serious Democratic competition. There are no declared candidates on the Republican side yet, but Reps. Mike Rogers (R) and Justin Amash (R) have both been floated as potentials.

Montana: Max Baucus (D)

Sen. Baucus is the most recent Senator to announce his retirement from the Senate. He has served six terms and is chair of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, but was expected to face a tough race in 2014 – Montana is a red leaning state that went to Romney in 2012. This may be a difficult seat for Democrats to hold on to, though they are currently courting Brian Schweitzer (D), a popular former Governor. Possible Republican candidates include Rep. Steve Daines (R), former Rep. Denny Rehberg (R) and former Gov. Marc Raicot (R).

Nebraska: Mike Johanns (R)

The least senior Senator on this list, Sen. Mike Johanns has announced his retirement after serving only one term in the Senate. This seat is expected to stay Republican. Candidates include current Gov. Dave Heineman (R) who is term limited, and all three Nebraska Congressmen, Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R), Adrian Smith (R) and Lee Terry (R).

New Jersey: Frank Lautenberg (D)

89 year old Sen. Frank Lautenberg has decided it is finally time to retire. Just as Nebraska is a safe Republican seat, New Jersey is expected to stay in Democratic hands. Newark Mayor Corey Booker (D) garnered a lot of attention when he announced his intention to run for the seat before Lautenberg’s decision to retire, but he could face a formidable primary challenger in Rep. Frank Pallone (D).

South Dakota: Tim Johnson (D)

This was an expected retirement; Sen. Tim Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2006 and is still recuperating. This does, however, give Republicans another shot at gaining a seat. South Dakota trends red and Romney carried it in 2012. It also appears that top tier Democrats will not be running for the seat, including Former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) and Johnson’s son, Brendan Johnson (D). The potential Democratic candidate right now is Rick Weiland (D), former aide and friend of former Sen. Tom Daschle. On the Republican side, possible candidates are former Gov. Mike Rounds (R) and Rep. Kristi Noem (R). Johnson’s departure also leaves the Chairmanship to the Senate Banking Committee available, assuming the Democrats can keep control of the Senate.

West Virginia: Jay Rockefeller (D)

Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s retirement from the Senate gives the Republicans another good chance at a seat pickup – Romney won West Virginia by 27 points. The five term Senator is also another long-serving Senator giving up a chairmanship, this time on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Rep. Shelly Moore Capito (R) has already announced her candidacy and seems to have the Republicans rallying around her. There are no announced Democratic candidates yet, but names being floated include attorney Nick Preservati (D), a pro coal businessman, state Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Robin Davis (D) and Secretary of State Natalie Tennant (D).

Click here for 2014 Open Seat Outlook: House

Partisanship Of State Governments From 1992-2013

Fight For Jobs — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:26:17 +0000

Partisanship Of State Governments From 1992-2013 infographic by AttwoodDigital.

A New Kind of Population Growth

Fight For Jobs — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:05:48 +0000

There is a new trend in America’s population growth. Immigration is the focus of new data from the Census Bureau and has been garnering political steam in Congress. For the first time since the Census Bureau began tracking population growth in 1850, immigration is poised to pass natural increases as the primary driver of population growth in the United States within the next 15 to 25 years. Natural increases are falling behind as the fertility rates decline and baby boomers are aging. Supplementing the aging American population would be the immigration of a younger, more diverse population.

Depending on the immigration reform working its way through Congress now and Census projections, the U.S. population could reach 400 million by mid-century and non-Hispanic whites would become a minority sometime between 2041 and 2043. This demographic shift places increased importance on the bills and proposals being discussed on Capitol Hill. In the Senate, the bipartisan Gang of Eight’s Immigration Bill is in the Judiciary Committee for the amendment process. The more contentious amendments are likely to be discussed next week. The path for reform in the House is much more complicated and divided. Representatives have had a harder time finding common ground and have yet to submit their own bill. Some House Republicans have argued they cannot accept a bill that doesn’t solve illegal immigration. What kinds of compromise the House and Senate can come to will likely impact the rate and type of immigration America sees in the coming decades.