Sean Lengell

Democrat’s appeal keeps Senate race tight in N.D.

When longtime Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad announced last year he wouldn't seek re-election in 2012 as North Dakota's senior senator, Republicans smelled blood. Published October 14, 2012

Senate candidates looking for a lift on Romney’s coattails

As Mitt Romney sank in the polls in September, so did the fortunes of many Republican Senate candidates, seemingly putting control of the upper chamber out of the party's reach. Published October 11, 2012

GOP friends buy $17 million in ads

With November elections just around the corner, two Republican-friendly groups independently announced Tuesday that they collectively were spending $17 million to influence races in several battleground states nationwide. Published October 2, 2012

Strong Republican a Senate long shot in Hawaii

When the junior senator from Hawaii, Democrat Daniel K. Akaka, announced last year that he wouldn't seek a fifth term, the Republican Party immediately set its sights on the seat, viewing it as a tough but possible pickup in its quest to retake control of the Senate. Published October 1, 2012

Parties cut off campaign aid in House races where going gets tough

With Election Day a little more than a month away, both parties are performing painful triage operations in the battle to control the House, pulling resources from candidates with no chance of winning — or at least too small to be worth the effort — in order to concentrate money on more promising races. Published September 27, 2012

It’s a whole new brew for brash tea party hero West

Rep. Allen B. West, whose acerbic tongue and unabashed conservative swagger made him a tea party hero nationally two years ago during a successful run for Congress, is finding life on the campaign trail different -- and more difficult -- this year as he is locked in a battle to save his Florida seat. Published September 26, 2012

Farm bill left to die on vine before recess

As Congress bolts Washington this week for its pre-election recess, it will let lapse the massive federal farm bill, setting up a path for agricultural supports and subsidies to expire and return to a 1940s-era system — a scenario neither party nor the farm community is happy about. Published September 20, 2012

House GOP to try to block waiver of welfare work rule

House Republicans will take one last shot at President Obama's executive authority before rushing home for November's elections when they vote this week on a bill blocking him from waiving work requirements from the bipartisan 1996 welfare reform law. Published September 19, 2012

Battles over federal voter-ID laws heating up in Congress

During a campaign season in which several states have approved controversial new voter-identification laws, the battle has shifted to the federal level, where competing partisan bills face off in Congress. Published September 18, 2012

U.N. Ambassador Rice says attack in Libya ‘spontaneous’

Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that last week's deadly attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya was a spontaneous reaction to an Internet video offensive to Muslims and not a premeditated response to U.S. foreign policy in the Arab world. Published September 16, 2012

Analysts see GOP holding House

With the congressional primaries done and the field of candidates set, political experts are predicting Democrats will chip away at the Republicans' substantial advantage in the House but fall short of a takeover. Published September 13, 2012

Farm bill has hard Hill row to hoe

Congress is poised to punt on yet another major legislative matter, as hope is drying up for a new farm bill ahead of an end-of-month deadline, increasing the likelihood the measure won't be done until after the November elections. Published September 12, 2012

Russian trade bill lacks full support

A pending deal to improve trade relations with Russia continues to simmer on the legislative back burner, as House Republicans this week blamed President Obama for failing to deliver Democratic support. Published September 11, 2012

Boehner fears nation may fall off ‘fiscal cliff’

House Speaker John A. Boehner said he's not optimistic Congress will be able to steer clear of the "fiscal cliff" looming at year's end, blaming the Senate and White House for failing to work House Republicans on drafting a plan. Published September 11, 2012

Congress to take up a stopgap spending bill

With a "fiscal cliff" looming less than four months away, Congress ended its five-week summer break Monday and got back to work — though lawmakers aren't expected to solve the budget crisis or any other sticky issues before leaving town again. Published September 10, 2012

Democrats recall Bush more than GOP did

While Republicans rarely brought up former President George W. Bush at their convention last week, Democrats gleefully have paraded him through theirs, saying he left President Obama a mess he's still working to clean up. Published September 6, 2012

Dems rev up attacks on Romney at DNC

Speakers at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday evening amped up attacks on Mitt Romney, repeatedly portraying the GOP presidential candidate as a ruthless and heartless former businessman who doesn't understand the struggles of average Americans. Published September 5, 2012

Caucus leader vows get-out-the-vote campaign

While enthusiasm for President Obama among black voters has waned a bit since his first run at the White House in 2008, the Democratic Party will do what is necessary to ensure black voters turn out to secure his re-election, the head of the Congressional Black Caucus said in an interview Wednesday. Published September 5, 2012

Pelosi says Dems’ takeover of House is within reach

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi isn't a mathematician, but on Wednesday she shared with reporters an intricate arithmetical formula that shows a "very doable" path for Democrats to win back the House in the November elections. Published September 5, 2012

Obama’s road to renomination had few real hurdles

President Obama is poised to win his party's nomination unanimously at this week's Democratic National Convention after quixotic candidates in Oklahoma and West Virginia who won sizable chunks of primary votes weren't eligible to collect delegates. Published September 4, 2012