NPR logo NPR
Stories By

S.V. Dáte

It's a long shot, but there's a scenario where control of the Senate might not be known until Jan. 6 — three days after the start of the next Congress. That's when Republican David Perdue and Democrat Michelle Nunn will face each other in a Georgia runoff if one of them fails to win 50 percent on Tuesday.

It's a long shot, but there's a scenario where control of the Senate might not be known until Jan. 6 — three days after the start of the next Congress. That's when Republican David Perdue and Democrat Michelle Nunn will face each other in a Georgia runoff if one of them fails to win 50 percent on Tuesday. David Tulis/AP hide caption

itoggle caption David Tulis/AP

It's All Politics

What If The Senate Isn't Decided On Election Day?

The election outlook is promising for the GOP. But there are a few scenarios that could have America waiting well beyond Nov. 4 to know which party controls the Senate.

The flier sent to Montana voters by political scientists at Stanford University and Dartmouth College to study voter interest in nonpartisan races. Fliers were also sent to voters in California and New Hampshire.

The flier sent to Montana voters by political scientists at Stanford University and Dartmouth College to study voter interest in nonpartisan races. Fliers were also sent to voters in California and New Hampshire. Stanford University/Dartmouth College hide caption

itoggle caption Stanford University/Dartmouth College

It's All Politics

Political Scientists Find A Guinea Pig: Montana

To see if it affected voter interest, researchers sent fliers to Montana voters ranking their nonpartisan Supreme Court candidates by ideology. State officials did not appreciate the experiment.

This fan at the base of the lectern for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist Wednesday delayed the gubernatorial debate between Crist and Governor Rick Scott. The Scott campaign believed the fan violated the debate rules.

This fan at the base of the lectern for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist Wednesday delayed the gubernatorial debate between Crist and Governor Rick Scott. The Scott campaign believed the fan violated the debate rules. CBS 4 Pool/AP hide caption

itoggle caption CBS 4 Pool/AP

The Two-Way

How The Florida Governor's Debate Became #Fangate

Republican Gov. Rick Scott's campaign wanted organizers to cancel Wednesday night's debate if Democrat Charlie Crist was allowed to use a fan at his podium.

President Obama, is watched by Mark Miller, back second from left, Ellyn Miller, and their son Jake Miller, left, as he signs the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, into law in the Oval Office this spring. The Democratic and Republican parties complained to the Federal Election Commission that the law took away public funding for their political conventions.

President Obama, is watched by Mark Miller, back second from left, Ellyn Miller, and their son Jake Miller, left, as he signs the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, into law in the Oval Office this spring. The Democratic and Republican parties complained to the Federal Election Commission that the law took away public funding for their political conventions. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

It's All Politics

FEC Greenlights More Convention Cash For Political Parties

The Federal Election Commission approved a request from the Democratic and Republican parties to replace lost public funding with more donations from individuals — up to $32,400 per person per year.

Republican strategist Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS group is planning to spend at least $23 million in key Senate races in the final two months of the campaign. The group is a tax-exempt non-profit and is allowed to keep the names of its donors secret.

Republican strategist Karl Rove's Crossroads GPS group is planning to spend at least $23 million in key Senate races in the final two months of the campaign. The group is a tax-exempt non-profit and is allowed to keep the names of its donors secret. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Rich Pedroncelli/AP

It's All Politics

Democrats Winning Big Money, GOP Winning Big Secret Money

Democrats have the biggest-spending superPAC so far in Senate Majority PAC, but that could be overshadowed by secretly funded Republican-leaning groups Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity.

Vice President Biden laughs as he is introduced by DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., at the DNC Women's Leadership conference in Washington, Friday. At the event, Biden praised former GOP Sen. Bob Packwood, who resigned from the Senate in 1995 after allegations of sexual misconduct.

Vice President Biden laughs as he is introduced by DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., at the DNC Women's Leadership conference in Washington, Friday. At the event, Biden praised former GOP Sen. Bob Packwood, who resigned from the Senate in 1995 after allegations of sexual misconduct. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP

It's All Politics

What Happens In A 50-50 Senate? Even More Joe Biden

With polling suggesting there's a decent chance of a tied Senate next year, the gaffe-prone vice president could cut an even higher profile.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada (left) talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The two Senate leaders were on opposite sides of a proposed constitutional amendment to limit fundraising and spending in campaign politics.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada (left) talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The two Senate leaders were on opposite sides of a proposed constitutional amendment to limit fundraising and spending in campaign politics. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

itoggle caption J. Scott Applewhite/AP

It's All Politics

Voters Hate Money In Politics ... Sort Of

Voters overwhelmingly tell pollsters they dislike how much money is in politics. But they don't consider it a major issue.

Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf is reflected on a tabletop as he speaks about the office's annual Budget and Economic Outlook during an October 2013 news conference in Washington. A CBO study released Thursday projects a slight increase in the 2014 budget deficit.

Congressional Budget Office Director Douglas Elmendorf is reflected on a tabletop as he speaks about the office's annual Budget and Economic Outlook during an October 2013 news conference in Washington. A CBO study released Thursday projects a slight increase in the 2014 budget deficit. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption

itoggle caption Jacquelyn Martin/AP

It's All Politics

CBO Forecast: There's Good News And Bad News

The nonpartisan budget office reports growth that's slower than expected, but also that the Affordable Care Act's changes to Medicare are successfully holding down costs.