birdonapodium-blog

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Recent polls have shown a slight tightening of the race between incumbent senator Ron Johnson (R ) and Russ Feingold (D).  On average however, Feingold has maintained a 5-10 point lead.  This race is so much at risk for flipping back to the dems, that the Koch brothers decided not to spend money in support of the republican candidate.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/poll-russ-feingold-leads-ron-johnson-senate

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/koch-backed-group-cancels-million-in-ads-for-wisconsin-senate/article_f6f88d2b-1207-5717-bb49-b65431d11a6a.html

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Jason Kander (D) is turning the traditionally safely republican Missouri senate race into a tossup.  So much so in fact that super PACs from both sides are pouring money into the race. Republicans didn’t think they would need to expend so much of their resources to defend incumbent Roy Blunt (R ). 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/09/13/outside-groups-pouring-money-into-missouri-senate-race/90273398/

http://birdonapodium.tumblr.com/post/149694373482/jason-kander-d-missouri-mitt-romney-won

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State attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto (D) is in a close race with US congressman Joe Heck (R ) for the Nevada senate seat.  The race has become a proxy battle among special interests in an effort to flip out going senate minority leader Harry Reid’s (D) seat.  With a large number of voters still undecided, Masto’s numbers have room to grow.

http://www.kolotv.com/content/news/4-new-anti-Heck-ads-this-week-in-pricey-Nevada-Senate-race-392674811.html

http://birdonapodium.tumblr.com/post/149693292627/catherine-cortez-masto-d-nevada-us-senate

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In the Arizona senate race, state representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D) continues to face and uphill climb to unseat longtime incumbent senator John McCain   (R ) in the traditionally red state.  Kirkpatrick is hoping to find support among voters who are uncomfortable with GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric.  With McCain still endorsing Trump, there may an opportunity for Kirkpatrick to build some momentum among the state’s large Hispanic population.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/09/07/john-mccain-ann-kirkpatrick-arizona-senate-general-election-race/89919364/

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/azdc/2016/09/03/john-mccain-vs-ann-kirkpatrick-here-state-senate-race/89784870/

http://birdonapodium.tumblr.com/post/149692399022/ann-kirkpatrick-d-arizona-with-the-arizona

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Tom Nelson (D - Wisconsin 8th)

Incumbent Reid Ribble (R ) will not seek re-election for Wisconsin’s 8th district congressional seat.  Tom Nelson (D) will compete with Mike Gallagher (R ) for the open seat. 

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Pete Gallego (D -Texas 23rd)

In Texas’ 23rd district, former representative Pete Gallego (D) will try and win back the seat he lost to incumbent Will Hurd (R ) in the last election.

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Steve Santarsiero (D - Pennsylvania 8th)

Incumbent congressman from Pennsylvania’s 8th district Michael Fitzpatrick    (R ) will not seek re-election.  His brother Brian Fitzpatrick (R ) will face state representative Steve Sanarsiero (D) for the open seat.

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Colleen Deacon (D - New York 24th)

In New York’s 24th congressional district, Colleen Deacon will look to unseat incumbent John Katko (R ).

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Kim Myers (D - New York 22nd)

Incumbent Richard Hanna (R ) will not seek reelection for New York’s 22nd congressional district.  Small business owner Kim Myers (D) will compete with Claudia Tenney (R ) for the open seat. 

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Zephyr Teachout (D - New York 19th)

Incumbent Chris Gibson (R ) will not seek reelection for New York’s 19th congressional district.  Law professor Zephyr Teachout (D) will compete with John Faso (R ) for the open seat.

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Tom Souzzi (D - New York 3rd)

Incumbent congressman Steve Israel (D) will not seek re-election.  Tom Souzzi (D) will face the winner of a special republican primary to be held 10/6/2016 for the open seat.

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Ann Throne-Holst (D - New York 1st)

Freshman incumbent Lee Zeldin (R ) will face challenger Ann Throne-Holst (D), former Southhampton town board supervisor.

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Carol Shea-Porter (D - New Hampshire 1st)

Embattled incumbent congressman Frank Guinta (R ) has yet to secure his spot in the general election, the primary will be held on 9/13/2016.  The winner will face Carol Shea-Porter (D) who previously held the seat, but lost in her 2014 reelection bid to Guinta.

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Ruben Kiheun (D - Nevada 4th)

Incumbent congressman Cresent Hardy (R ) will face challenger and Nevada state senator Ruben Kiheun (D) in Nevada’s 4th congressional district. 

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Jackie Rosen (D - Nevada 3rd)

Incumbent congressman from Nevada’s 3rd district Joe Heck (R ) is running for the Nevada senate seat left open by incumbent senator and minority leader Harry Reid (D) against Catherine Cortez Masto (D).  Jackie Rosen (D) will compete against Jerry Tarkanian (R ) for the open congressional seat.  Rosen is one of the initial members of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue Program.

https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_Congressional_Campaign_Committee#Red_to_Blue

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Brad Ashford (D - Nebraska 2nd)

Incumbent congressman Brad Ashford will try and protect his seat as the Nebraska 2nd district representative against challenger Don Bacon (R ).  He will have the assistance of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Frontline Program.

https://ballotpedia.org/Democratic_Congressional_Campaign_Committee#Frontline_Program

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Angie Craig (D - Minnesota 2nd)

Incumbent John Cline (R ) will not seek reelection for Minnesota’s 2nd district congressional seat.  First time candidate Angie Craig (D) will face Jason Lewis (R ) for the open seat.  Minnesota’s 2nd district was the winner of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher flip-a-district campaign.