Archive for 2006
IA-1: Dems Best Chance for a Pick-Up in Upper Midwest
Smart Politics’ continuing look at competitive US House races across the Upper Midwest began yesterday with a discussion of the Republican’s best shot at picking up a seat (IA-3). On the other side of the spectrum is Iowa’s 1st Congressional…
Read MoreIA-3: GOP Has Sights Set On Boswell
As Election Day draws nearer, the importance of US House races in the Upper Midwest will be seen through an increased number television advertisements, more money injected into the campaigns by political parties and campaign committees, and more public…
Read MoreMN Senate: Klobuchar Opens Up Remarkable Lead In ‘Controversial’ New MN Poll
Smart Politics normally does not blog on the results of a single poll; this site endeavors to provide more than the horserace angle to politics. However, the recent Minnesota Poll released Sunday night does warrant some discussion. DFL nominee…
Read MoreWI Primary Roundup: Incumbents Sail, with One Notable Exception
Official results will not be released by the Wisconsin State Elections Board until September 26th, but it is unlikely any statewide or district incumbents broke a sweat last Tuesday night…with the exception of Peg Lautenschlager in her bid to remain…
Read MoreSD Governor: History Is On Rounds’ Side…Unless…
South Dakota boasts a fascinating political history, peppered at the edges with contradictions in partisan preferences among its electorate. On the one hand, democrats have more than held their own in federal congressional statewide elections, winning 9 of the…
Read MoreDropping Gasoline: Dropping Support for Democrats?
Upper Midwesterns have certainly rejoiced at the drop in gas prices during the past few weeks. The current price for a gallon of gas in the Midwest is now $2.45, falling 15 cents a gallon from a week ago and…
Read MoreMN State Legislative Incumbents Hold Serve
No news was good news for the four Minnesota state legislative incumbents challenged in Tuesday’s primary—each of whom enjoyed a double-digit victory to move on to November’s general election. The big story was in District 12, where GOP incumbent…
Read MoreState Legislative Incumbents: Coasting in MN, Challenged in WI
While most interest and suspense among the public in election years is reserved for November, primaries can highlight the differences among states in the power of state legislative incumbency in deterring challenges from within one’s own party. Primaries today in…
Read MoreWill Wisconsin End Unprecedented 153-Year Ban on Death Penalty?
Wisconsin is one of 13 states plus the District of Columbia that does not currently offer the death penalty as a sentencing option in its criminal courts. The death penalty was abolished in the Badger State in 1853—nearly 120 years…
Read MoreWhere Have All the 3rd Party Minnesota Candidates Gone?
In recent years Minnesota has lead all Upper Midwestern states with the highest percentage of successful third party campaigns in state legislative races. While third party candidates still have a significant presence in the Gopher state (especially in state-wide elections),…
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