Republican Senate

Former Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns has decided to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Chuck Hagel.  The decision comes as a ray of hope in what has otherwise been a steady stream of bad news.  Johanns was extremely popular as Governor before taking the job in the Bush administration as Secretary of Agriculture.  […]

According to Robert Novak, former Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey decided that he would run for the open seat if Sen. Chuck Hagel retired.  If true, this is bad, but certainly not devastating, news.  Kerrey remains popular in Nebraska and is one of very few Democrats who has shown an ability to win statewide.  His New […]

Sen. Chuck Hagel made the announcement that was preported over the weekend official today, saying that he will not seek reelection next year.  While the decision does create a competitive race where there wasn’t one before, some good news came on the day of the announcement.  Gov. Dave Heineman said that he “fully expect(s)” former […]

Months after he made one of the most bizarre announcements in political history, Sen. Chuck Hagel is holding another press conference on his political future this Monday.  According to the Omaha World-Herald, he has decided to retire.  The decision, which many anticipated, puts the seat in play and expands the playing field further in the […]

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey now appears likely to launch a bid for the seat expected to be vacated by Sen. Chuck Hagel.  Kerrey has said that he will not run against Hagel, but that he also expects that Hagel will call it quits.  A Kerrey candidacy would put the seat in play while maintaining a […]

Last week, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning announced that he plans to run for Senate regardless of whether Sen. Chuck Hagel runs for reelection.  Oregon tax activist Bill Sizemore is mulling a primary challenge of his own against Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith.  Now, retired Lt. Col. Joe Repya is publicly considering a primary challenge to […]

A third state has been added to the growing list of states that could feature Republican incumbents facing contested primaries.  According to one report, rumors abound that Sen. Jon Cornyn could be faced with a primary challenger.  If true, Texas would be added to Nebraska and Oregon as a place where Republicans will be fighting […]

Tipping his hand for the first time, Hagel for Senate announced two fundraisers schedule for next month. The announcement sets the stage for a divisive primary, splitting the Hagel/Heineman and Bruning/Osbourne factions of the Party.  According to a poll released by the Bruning camp, Bruning leads Hagel by nine points in the primary, but the […]

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning reversed course this week and said that he will now decide on a Senate bid independent of whether incumbent Sen. Chuck Hagel seeks reelection.  He formed an exploratory committee last month to take a look at a bid in the event that Hagel decided not to seek reelection.  Bruning attributed […]

Rumor has it that Sen. Kit Bond will retire from the Senate to take a position at the University of Missouri.  According to the rumor, Gov. Blunt would then make a similar mistake to former Sen. Frank Murkowski, who appointed his daughter to fill his seat.  Blunt, however, would go one step further and appoint […]