GOP poised for historic statehouse wins

(Charlie Neibergall / AP)

GOVBEAT | Republicans have the opportunity to take control of a record number of state legislative chambers across the country this year, as Democrats play defense in unfavorable terrain.

Latest Politics News

Ferguson police chief to exit, law enforcement officials say

They would not say when Thomas Jackson would step down or under what circumstances.

Orbital Sciences Corp. investigates rocket-launch failure

Orbital Sciences Corp. investigates rocket-launch failure

The firm says development of a new rocket engine could be accelerated if the old Russian engine is to blame.

Column

In the Loop: Got Ebola? Call a doctor. Or maybe a lawyer.

In the Loop: Got Ebola? Call a doctor. Or maybe a lawyer.

A D.C. law firm is hard at work anticipating your dread-disease needs. Just in case.

8 things you didn’t read today (but should have)

8 things you didn’t read today (but should have)

Polls, games and money, money, money.

Video

GOP releases timeline of IRS targeting scandal

GOP releases timeline of IRS targeting scandal

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee released a timeline this week outlining the Republican version of the events comprising the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting scandal.

Holder sees Frank Underwood -- but thinks Dick Cheney

Holder sees Frank Underwood -- but thinks Dick Cheney

Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, in wide-ranging interview, say Frank Underwood reminds him of “a pretty bad vice president.“

The Republican version of the IRS targeting scandal, in one timeline

The Republican version of the IRS targeting scandal, in one timeline

Republicans on the House oversight committee released a video this week detailing their version of how the scandal evolved.

Chris Christie yelled at someone today, because the Earth continues to spin

Chris Christie yelled at someone today, because the Earth continues to spin

The governor gave a protestor the full Christie.

Video

Chris Christie goes off on protester at Sandy event

Chris Christie goes off on protester at Sandy event

At an event in Belmar, N.J. marking two years since Hurricane Sandy pummeled the East Coast, Gov. Chris Christie (R) let loose on a protester heckling him from the crowd.

Early vote update: North Carolina Democrats are banking a lot of votes

Early vote update: North Carolina Democrats are banking a lot of votes

Our semi-regular look at the state of early voting across the country.

Arab views on governance after the uprisings

Arab views on governance after the uprisings

Concerned about the effects of rapid political change, have Arab publics changed their beliefs about the best type of political system?

The story of the 2014 election, as told on Snapchat

The story of the 2014 election, as told on Snapchat

Tell us how you feel.

Grandmas in Maine l-o-v-e talking about the election on Facebook

Grandmas in Maine l-o-v-e talking about the election on Facebook

Well, not *love.* But they’re talking about the midterms more than most people.

Guam: A high concentration of veterans, but rock-bottom VA funding

Guam: A high concentration of veterans, but rock-bottom VA funding

The U.S. territory of Guam ranks dead last for per capita VA funding, despite its relatively large veteran population. This PBS documentary examines the issue.

The national environment is terrible for Democrats, say Democrats

The national environment is terrible for Democrats, say Democrats

It always the darkest just before it goes completely black.

Another Zambian president dies in office. What happens now?

Another Zambian president dies in office. What happens now?

Despite focus on the vice president’s race, who takes power following Zambian President Michael Sata’s death is rather straightforward, given constitutional stipulations on succession.

Video

Campaign 2014: Free at Last PAC 'Elbert Guillory: Mary Landrieu is Not Helping Blacks'

Campaign 2014: Free at Last PAC 'Elbert Guillory: Mary Landrieu is Not Helping Blacks'

Louisiana state senator Elbert Guillory goes after Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) in this attack ad from Free at Last PAC.

Pentagon scientists win first Guinness World Record

Pentagon scientists win first Guinness World Record

DARPA program wins record for developing world’s fastest electric circuit.

Navajo Nation presidential campaign in turmoil

Navajo Nation presidential campaign in turmoil

A presidential candidate is out after he was deemed insufficiently fluent in the tribal language.

Video

Campaign 2014: Our America PAC 'Elbert Guillory: Send Hagan Home'

Campaign 2014: Our America PAC 'Elbert Guillory: Send Hagan Home'

Our America PAC released this ad, which features Louisiana state senator Elbert Guillory slamming Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.).

Video

Warren skewers Scott Brown while stumping for Shaheen

Warren skewers Scott Brown while stumping for Shaheen

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) spoke in support of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) during a rally Saturday in Concord, N.H. Shaheen is running against Scott Brown (R) who Warren defeated to win her Senate seat in 2012.

Elbert Guillory is trying to help Republicans by playing the race card. It’s not working.

Elbert Guillory is trying to help Republicans by playing the race card. It’s not working.

The conservative playbook on how to court black voters need to be re-written.

Marijuana legalization in Oregon is anyone’s game, poll finds

Marijuana legalization in Oregon is anyone’s game, poll finds

Tuesday’s vote will come down to the wire, recent polls suggest.

Today’s most depressing poll for Democrats

Today’s most depressing poll for Democrats

Young people prefer a GOP-controlled Congress? What?

Video

Campaign 2014: Florida GOP 'Then or Now'

Campaign 2014: Florida GOP 'Then or Now'

The Florida GOP released this ad, which uses Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist's own words against him.

Video

Campaign 2014: NARAL Pro-Choice 'Cory Gardner banned birth control'

Campaign 2014: NARAL Pro-Choice 'Cory Gardner banned birth control'

In this radio ad, paid for by NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado, Republican senate candidate Cory Gardner (CO) is attacked for his stance on access to contraception.

How Putin turned Ukraine to the West

How Putin turned Ukraine to the West

In a watershed election, Ukraine elects a solidly pro-Western parliament for the first time.

The richness of Tunisia’s new politics

The richness of Tunisia’s new politics

In Tunisia’s nascent democracy politics is not about secularism versus Islamism.

NoVa’s congressional candidates talk federal workforce — the complete collection

NoVa’s congressional candidates talk federal workforce — the complete collection

Columnist Joe Davidson interviewed all candidates vying for two Northern Virginia congressional seats.

Former State Dept. deputy Bill Burns to head Carnegie Endowment

Former State Dept. deputy Bill Burns to head Carnegie Endowment

The retired diplomat had landed at the esteemed international think tank

Who’s talking about the election on Facebook by state, gender and age

Who’s talking about the election on Facebook by state, gender and age

Mainers were most active over a three-month period, according to data provided by Facebook.

Democrats needs black voters on Election Day. But they need white Southerners even more.

Democrats needs black voters on Election Day. But they need white Southerners even more.

A multiracial coalition is hard to find.

Want to get young people registered to vote? Go to concerts. Lots of them.

Want to get young people registered to vote? Go to concerts. Lots of them.

Meet HeadCount, one of the many groups trying to do the impossible — get young people to vote.

Universities say they regret sending Montana voters election mailers criticized for being misleading

Universities say they regret sending Montana voters election mailers criticized for being misleading

Stanford and Dartmouth are spending $58,000 to send letter apologizing for an official-looking mailer sent out as part of a research project by their staff.

How influential will Latinos be in Georgia and Kansas?

How influential will Latinos be in Georgia and Kansas?

There is much to gain by mobilizing Latinos in these states.