Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'incumbents'

Congressman-Elect Prepares For Freshman Term

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST

Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut, will soon begin his first term serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Himes, one of more than 60 incoming freshman to Congress, won his seat by defeating 10-term Republican incumbent Christopher Shays. The Congressman-elect shares what inspired him to run for office, and what he hopes to accomplish in his first term.

Senate Race Results Still Close In Minnesota

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

A winner was supposed to be declared already in the last U.S. Senate race to be decided — Minnesota. The too-close-to-call contest is between GOP incumbent Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. Instead, it looks like the new year will begin with the contest unresolved.

Minn. Panel Reviews Disputed Ballots

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:46:00 EST

In Minnesota, the five-person election canvassing board has met to begin reviewing disputed ballots in the Senate race between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and challenger Al Franken. The board is inspecting as many as 1,500 challenged ballots.

Once Snubbed By GOP, Now Hailed As Its Future

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST

Republicans are toasting Ahn "Joseph" Cao, who this week upset a longtime Democratic incumbent in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District. But not so long ago, the Vietnamese-American congressman-elect couldn't get any attention from GOP leaders.

Palin Campaigns For Incumbent In Ga. Senate Runoff

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:18:00 EST

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin urged Republicans in Georgia to turn out and vote for incumbent Sen. Saxby Chambliss in Tuesday's runoff election. Chambliss is facing Democrat Jim Martin. Neither candidate was able to garner 50 percent of the vote in last month's election.

Senator-Elect Begich: Alaskans Wanted Change

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

In the U.S. Senate race in Alaska, Democrat Mark Begich has claimed victory over six-term Republican incumbent Ted Stevens. The Anchorage Mayor's victory moves Senate Democrats within two seats of a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority. Senator-elect Begich tells Renee Montagne that he won because Alaskans were ready to focus on the future.

Fate Of Alaska Sen. Stevens Remains Uncertain

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

At this point Republican incumbent Ted Stevens is behind Democratic challenger Mark Begich by just over a thousand votes. Even if he's able to pull off a victory, Stevens still faces an expulsion vote in the Senate. His Republican colleagues put off a preliminary step toward one Tuesday — waiting to see what happens in Alaska.

In Alaska Senate Race, Challenger Takes Lead

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:33:00 EST

Democrat Mark Begich took an 814-vote lead over incumbent Ted Stevens in the race for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat. The approximately 30,000 votes that remain will be counted on Friday and next week. Kyle Hopkins, a reporter with the Anchorage Daily News, offers his insight.

GOP Desperate To Keep Ga. Senate Seat

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:08:05 EST

The U.S. Senate race in Georgia has yet to be decided. There is a runoff election next month between incumbent Republican Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin. Neither won more than 50 percent of the vote on Election Day. A Martin victory could help give Democrats a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

In Minn., Election Campaign Continues

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

It's more than a week after Election Day and Minnesota still doesn't know who its next U.S. senator will be. Both Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and his Democratic challenger, Al Franken, are holding almost daily news conferences, raising money for a recount fund and have hired election attorneys to guide them through what could be a monthlong recount.

Recount May Decide Franken, Coleman Senate Race

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

A tight Senate race from last week is getting even tighter. The latest numbers from Minnesota indicate incumbent Republican Norm Coleman is ahead of Democratic challenger Al Franken by slightly more than 200 votes. Franken talks with Renee Montagne about the narrow margin, which triggers an automatic recount next week.

Former NBA Star, Sacramento's First Black Mayor

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Sacramento last week elected its first black mayor, former NBA star Kevin Johnson. The 42-year-old businessman beat a two-term incumbent by running on a platform of change. At the same time, the non-profit organization Johnson founded, which works to revitalize poor neighborhoods with charter schools and redevelopment projects, is being investigated for misuse of public funds. Ben Adler of member station KXJZ reports.

Ore. Win Puts Democrats At 57 Senate Seats

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:19:00 EST

Two days after the election, Jeff Merkley, the speaker of Oregon's state House, defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, a moderate Republican. The victory gives the Democrats 57 seats in the Senate, still short of the filibuster-proof 60 seats.

Sen. Stevens Leading In Alaska

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST

It doesn't look like the Alaska senate race is going to be decided anytime soon. There are still tens of thousands of ballots to count. At this point, incumbent Republican senator Ted Stevens has a slight lead, despite his seven felony convictions.

Democrats Make Major Gains In Congress

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:42:00 EST

Democrats made gains in the House and Senate for the second straight election, knocking off some prominent Republican incumbents and winning open seats that had been held by the GOP. But they came up short of the 60 Senate seats needed to end filibusters.

Democrat Hagan Beats Incumbent Sen. Dole

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:15:00 EST

Relative unknown Kay Hagan has defeated Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina. A year ago, Dole was heavily favored to win the election. Hagan talks with Renee Montagne about why voters chose her over Dole.

Democrats Score In Push To Expand Majority

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Democrats have increased their effective majority to at least 56 seats in the 100-member Senate. They did not turn over a single seat to Republicans. All Democratic incumbents on the ballot prevailed.

The Governors' Races: Indiana, West Virgina

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:20:00 EST

As Americans in 11 states cast their ballots for governor, the first gubernatorial projection brought no surprise: Mitch Daniels, the Republican incumbent in Indiana, has held the Statehouse.

Congressional Races Heat Up As Election Draws Near

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

The national spotlight is on the presidential race, but there are also heated congressional races underway across the country. NPR Political Editor Ken Rudin discusse the key races, along with political science professor Paula McClain, including the North Carolina senate race between incumbent Rep. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic contender Kay Hagan.

Minnesota GOP Senator Faces Tough Re-Election

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:40:00 EDT

Sen. Norm Coleman is facing challenges from comedian-turned-Democratic politician Al Franken and third-party candidate Dean Barkley. Both are attacking the GOP incumbent for supporting the $700 billion bailout — calling it a hurried decision that makes citizens pay for bad government.

Democrat Challenges Incumbent In Oregon

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EDT

In Oregon, incumbent Republican Sen. Gordon Smith is running in a tight race against a relatively unknown Democrat, Jeff Merkley. The latest polls have Smith and Merkley very close, with Smith a few points behind. Oregon Public Broadcasting's Chris Lehman reports.

A Correspondent's Quest To Find Jesse Ventura

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 11:35:00 EDT

NPR correspondent David Welna explains how he hunted down Minnesota's reclusive former governor. Jesse Ventura finally talked with Welna in an empty parking lot in White Bear Lake about the Senate contest between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken — and whether or not he'll join in.

Tsvangirai Campaign Caves to Violence, Unrest

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has ended his hopes to become the country's next leader. Just days before a special runoff election, Tsvangirai cited fatal intimidation tactics allegedly by supporters of his opponent, incumbent President Robert Mugabe. Zimbabwe freelance reporter Jeffrey Barbee explains the recent developments.

RFK Assassination Sparked Secret Service Change

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:01:00 EDT

Before Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was killed, only incumbent presidential candidates were given Secret Service protection. Over the years the agency has developed criteria for which White House hopefuls receive security services.

London Mayoral Race Pits Colorful Candidates

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:00:00 EDT

Voters in London head to the polls Thursday to elect a new mayor. The contest is a match-up between two big personalities on London's political scene — the incumbent Ken Livingstone and his rival Boris Johnson. Host Steve Inskeep talks to Andrew Miller, political editor of the Economist magazine, about the election.