California: Ex-Rep. Ose May Challenge Freshman Bera

Bera, above, could face a 2014 challenge from Ose, a former member of Congress. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former Republican Rep. Doug Ose told the Sacramento Bee that he is considering a challenge to freshman Rep. Ami Bera, D-Calif.

“It’s very easy to say ‘I’m going to run for Congress,’ but having done it four times now, it’s not a simple task,” Ose told the newspaper. “There’s a lot that goes into it.”

The Sacramento-area 7th District became one of the most competitive in California after an independent redistricting commission redrew the lines in 2011. Bera toppled former GOP Rep. Dan Lungren last year by a little more than 3 points, and is now included in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s incumbent retention program. Full story

California: Bera Defeats Lungren

Democrat Ami Bera was called the winner of a close election in California on Thursday. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Democrat Ami Bera has officially prevailed over House Administration Chairman Dan Lungren, R-Calif., who becomes the 24th House incumbent to lose in the Nov. 6 elections.

The Associated Press called the race Thursday, more than one week after Election Day, with Bera leading by about 5,700 votes. Vote counting has been slow in the Sacramento-area district, where Bera’s lead on election night was only 184 votes.

With the race in the 7th District called, there are now four outstanding House races. They are in California’s 52nd District, Florida’s 18th District, North Carolina’s 7th District and Arizona’s 2nd District. A fifth race in Louisiana’s 3rd district between two GOP members will be decided in a December runoff. Full story

Day 9: Latest Update on Outstanding House Races

Patrick Murphy is on Capitol Hill this week for new member orientation even though his race against Rep. Allen B. West hasn't been called yet. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Democratic candidates continue to hold on to their small leads in the five outstanding House races. Here are the latest numbers as of Wednesday afternoon:

• Arizona’s 2nd
  Democratic Rep. Ron Barber has about a 650 vote lead over Republican Martha McSally, according to the Arizona Secretary of State Office’s latest numbers.

• California’s 7th
  Democrat Ami Bera is well ahead of Republican Rep. Dan Lungren by about 3,800 votes. Full story

Five House Races Still Outstanding

Rep. Ron Barber leads his GOP challenger, but the race has not yet been called. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Five House races remain unresolved almost a week after Election Day.

The two main developments since Friday in uncalled races were in California and Arizona. Earlier today, Democratic former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema won the race against Republican Vernon Parker in Arizona’s 9th district. On Friday night, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R) formally conceded to Democrat Raul Ruiz. Here are the races still up in the air: Full story

Handful of House Races Still Uncalled

The 113th Congress isn’t set yet. The winners in six House races remain unclear.

Here’s an update on those races:

• In Arizona’s 2nd district, retired Air Force Col. Martha McSally (R) led Rep. Ron Barber (D), but there are early ballots and provisional ballots left to be counted. Both parties felt confident that the outcome of this race would be in their favor, but it might take a while to find out who is right. “It’s just gonna drag on there for a week or two,” one Arizona Democratic political insider said.
• In Arizona’s new 9th district, former state Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D) led ex-Paradise Valley Mayor Vernon Parker (R) by about 2,700 votes, but many, many ballots remained to be counted, and the race has not yet been called by the Associated Press.
• In California’s 7th district, physician Ami Bera (D) led Rep. Dan Lungren (R) by the slimmest of margins — 184 votes, according to the AP. A margin like that could make this race ripe for a recount, which must be requested by one of the candidates. Full story

Bill Clinton to Hit Stump for House, Senate Democrats

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

President Barack Obama isn’t the only Democrat running this year that’s benefiting from appearances by Bill Clinton.

For the past month, since his well-received speech at the Democratic National Convention, the former president has hit the campaign trail for Obama. He has said his top goal is returning Obama to the White House, but he’s also finding time in the final push before Election Day for some downballot Democrats who also find themselves in close races and could use the boost Clinton can provide. Full story

Liberal Super PACs Announce New House Race Advertising

Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle is among the Republicans being targeted by a new liberal super PAC. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A super PAC led by Jonathan Soros, the son of liberal financier George Soros, today announced the eight lawmakers it will target via direct mail, phone contact and Internet advertising.

The New York Times has described the group, Friends of Democracy, as “The Super PAC That Aims to End Super PACs.” Earlier this year, the Times reported that the group was targeting “10 to 15 House lawmakers whose records and public statements have not been supportive of what Mr. Soros calls a system of ‘citizen-led’ elections.”

Full story

California: AFSCME Hits Dan Lungren, Chamber Slams Ami Bera

Outside groups continue to rain dollars on California, the new home of Congressional competition.

This week the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and a national labor union both hit the airwaves with significant buys in California’s 7th district. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees dropped $800,000 on an ad that ties Rep. Dan Lungren (R) to Wall Street.

Lungren is among several Golden State incumbents in competitive races this year. Roll Call rates his race a Tossup.

Full story

Nancy Pelosi Rallies California Delegates for House Race Push

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and a number of other Democratic leaders packed an expansive hotel ballroom this morning to rally the California delegation, highlighting the state’s importance in winning back the House.

Along with numerous mentions of President Barack Obama, the breakfast program focused largely on House races. Guest speakers include Reps. Jared Polis (Colo.) and Donna Edwards (Md.), who co-chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue program that helps candidates running for GOP-held seats.

“California is essential to it all,” Pelosi said. Full story

California: Dan Lungren, Ami Bera Tied In Democratic Poll

A new poll shows Republican Rep. Dan Lungren (above) tied with his Democratic challenged in the race for California's 7th district. (Bill Clark CQ/Roll Call File Photo)

A Democratic poll released this morning found physician Ami Bera (D) and Rep. Dan Lungren (R) dead even in California’s 7th district.

Both got 47 percent, with 6 percent undecided. It’s their second straight matchup in the Sacramento area, but the district was altered in favor of Democrats during redistricting.

The poll also found President Barack Obama ahead of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, 52 percent to 44 percent. Full story

NRCC Hits California Dems in Ads; DCCC Robocalls on Health Care Repeal

The National Republican Congressional Committee will begin airing new ads Tuesday attacking California Democratic Reps. Lois Capps, John Garamendi and Jerry McNerney on the 2010 health care law, days after the Supreme Court ruled it to be constitutional.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began live-calling and robocalling residents in 10 targeted districts, knocking mostly Republican incumbents for wanting to repeal the health care law.

California: Dan Lungren Raises Half-Million in First Quarter

(Scott J. Ferrell/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) will report raising a stunning $513,000 in the first quarter, according to numbers obtained by Roll Call.

The three-month haul is about three times what he raised in the prior quarter and marks the first time in nearly three years that he will have posted a stronger quarter than physician Ami Bera (D), a prodigious fundraiser whom Lungren defeated by 7 points in 2010 despite being outspent by $900,000. Full story

Fundraising Numbers Continue to Trickle In

First-quarter fundraising numbers continue to trickle in as the Sunday deadline to file reports with the Federal Election Commission approaches.

The first fundraising period of election years offers indications of which candidates are gaining momentum heading into primary season. It’s the last quarterly report before about half the states hold their Congressional primaries.

This is another daily roundup of candidates who released their numbers in the past 24 hours. It’s heavy on Democrats, who are looking to hold the Senate and win back the House majority.

Senate:

• Arizona: Former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona raised $800,000 in his first full quarter as a candidate. He has $1.1 million in cash on hand. The large amount shows that the fundraising prowess he showed in the fourth quarter was more than just low-hanging fruit.
  
• Connecticut: Rep. Christopher Murphy (D) brought in $855,000 for his Senate campaign to replace retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman (I). He will report about $3 million in the bank. Full story

Anti-Incumbent Super PAC Adds Jones, Moran to Target List

Rep. Walter Jones Jr. is one of two Members that an anti-incumbent super PAC has decided to target. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 7:39 p.m. | The Campaign for Primary Accountability plans to launch spending crusades against Reps. Walter Jones Jr. (R-N.C.) and Jim Moran (D-Va.) as part of the super PAC’s growing list of targeted races.

The deep-pocketed super PAC also announced a “Watch List” of more than two dozen veteran Members whom it plans to evaluate and potentially target during the height of primary season during the next three months. Full story