Maine: Chellie Pingree Passes on Senate Bid

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Maine Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree has opted not to run for retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe’s seat.

“After careful consideration I have decided to run for re-election to the U.S. House this year,” she said in a statement. “There is much at stake in this election and although the prospect of running for and possibly serving in the United States Senate was very exciting, in the end I concluded that I will best serve the people of Maine by running for re-election to the House.” Full story

Marcy Kaptur Defeats Dennis Kucinich in Ohio

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated: 12:35 a.m. | Rep. Marcy Kaptur defeated fellow Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich in a redistricting-forced primary tonight, capping the Congressional career of Cleveland’s one-time “Boy Mayor” and the House’s resident peace advocate.

Kaptur, the dean of the Ohio delegation, beat the two-time presidential candidate by a margin of 56 percent to 40 percent, according to results from the Associated Press.

Speaking by phone on MSNBC after midnight, Kaptur said she hadn’t yet spoken to Kucinich or gotten a concession from him. “We really haven’t had a chance to connect yet. But we will,” Kaptur said, adding that it had been “a very intense campaign.” Full story

Nebraska: Bruning Internal Poll Shows Big Lead

A poll conducted for Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning showed him with a wide lead in the GOP Senate primary. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

An internal poll commissioned by Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning’s Senate campaign showed him holding a strong lead over his Republican primary rivals.

Bruning garnered 52 percent, followed by state Treasurer Don Stenberg, who got 19 percent, and state Sen. Deb Fischer, who got 11 percent.

Full story

Maine: Poll Shows Independent Leading Senate Race

A poll on the open-seat Maine Senate race was released today showing Democrats could have trouble winning a three-way contest.

The Public Policy Polling survey showed Rep. Chellie Pingree, who’s considering running for the Democratic nomination, soundly beating GOP contenders. But when factoring in now-declared Independent candidate former Gov. Angus King, Pingree falls to second place behind King.

The poll was the source of  much discussion on Monday among Maine political operatives. Several unaligned Democrats privy to the results Monday were spooked and expressed uncertainty about a Democratic victory given the dynamics of a three-way contest. Full story

Ohio: Four Democrats Seek New Columbus Seat

Former Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy is the favorite to win the Democratic primary in Ohio's 3rd district. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

As the White House hopefuls fight to win the Buckeye State in today’s GOP primary, several Democrats are vying for a ticket to Capitol Hill in a lesser-watched open-seat primary. Full story

Illinois: Schneider Airs First TV Spot in 10th District

(Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Businessman Brad Schneider went up with his first television advertisement in Illinois’ 10th district race, marking the second Democrat in that primary to hit the airwaves. Full story

North Carolina: Pittenger to Join GOP Field to Replace Myrick

Former state Sen. Robert Pittenger (R) is set to announce his candidacy today for North Carolina’s open 9th district, currently represented by retiring Rep. Sue Myrick (R). Full story

Michigan: Another Democrat Challenges Justin Amash

Former state Rep. Steve Pestka announced Monday that he will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Justin Amash (R) in the fall. Full story

Maine: King Enters Senate Race; Democrats Express Unease

Former Maine Gov. Angus King (I) declared his candidacy to succeed retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) this evening.

Despite his lack of official party affiliation, state operatives have repeatedly described King as a worthy opponent, more frontrunner than spoiler. His political ideology is described as socially moderate or liberal and fiscally conservative.

And the middle ground is where King is planting his flag.

“In a closely divided Senate, I can be a broker for common sense,” King said in his announcement at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. “In a national debate that’s largely taken over by the extremes … I can speak for the middle.”

Full story

Maine: Indie Angus King Set to Run for Olympia Snowe Seat

Former Maine Gov. Angus King (I) will throw his hat into the race to succeed retiring Sen. OIympia Snowe (R), according to local reports. He will make the announcement tonight at Bowdoin College.

The Portland Press Herald and Boston Globe are reporting that King will run as an Independent, a factor that will make the normal political calculus difficult to determine. King was originally a Democrat, but he served as an Independent governor in the 1990s and early 2000s. In an interview last week with Roll Call, King declined to indicate which party he would caucus with if elected as an Independent.

Among the Democrats weighing Senate bids are Rep. Chellie Pingree and ex-Gov. John Baldacci. Republicans mulling the open-seat contest are Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers, state Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and Attorney General William Schneider. Full story

Maryland: Bill Clinton Backs John Delaney

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

President Bill Clinton has endorsed businessman John Delaney in the Democratic primary in Maryland 6th district.

“John Delaney is a lifelong Democrat who has real life job creation experience, he’s a progressive business leader with a long record of civic activism and charitable causes,” Clinton said in a statement.

Delaney raised more than $800,000 for then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, according to the Washington Post.

Full story

Ohio: Members Send Late Money to Marcy Kaptur

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Just days before Ohio Democratic Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Dennis Kucinich square off in a primary, two fellow Democrats, including Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), picked sides.

Earlier this week, Rep. David Price’s (D-N.C.) re-election committee and Durbin’s Prairie political action committee each donated $1,000 to Kaptur. The Congresswoman also received a $1,000 check from Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s (D-Conn.) campaign at the start of this year, according to online fundraising records. Both Price and DeLauro serve with Kaptur on the Appropriations Committee. Durbin, also an appropriator, was first elected to the House in 1982, the same year as Kaptur.

Kucinich’s fundraising reports from this year did not show any transfers from his Congressional colleagues. However, the late Rep. Tom Lantos’ (D-Calif.) campaign committee donated $2,000 to Kucinich in early February. Full story

Utah: Mitt Romney Urges Support for Orrin Hatch in Ad

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is leaning on one of the most well-known names in the state to help him win a seventh term.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is heading into the final weekend before Super Tuesday, lent his voice to a radio ad launched today by the Hatch campaign.

In the ad, Romney, who endorsed Hatch in September, explains the importance of Hatch’s potential chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee — one of Hatch’s leading arguments for re-election — and encourages voters to attend local precinct caucuses on March 15 to elect delegates to the state convention. Full story

Gary Condit’s Son Set to Launch Bid for Congress

Chad Condit, the son of former California Rep. Gary Condit, appears set to launch a campaign for Congress as an independent in California’s Central Valley.

Condit, 45, who most recently served as a state legislative aide, has launched a website, Twitter account and YouTube channel but has not made a formal announcement. However, a story published on ivn.us includes an interview with Condit in which he confirms he is running. Full story

Arizona: Democrats Looking Ahead to Fall Campaign for Gabrielle Giffords’ Seat

Arizona state Rep. Steve Farley announced today he is running this fall in the 2nd district, the Tucson-area seat that closely resembles the district formerly held by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D).

The Democrat’s candidacy is significant because he has close ties to Giffords, who resigned in January. He told Roll Call he discussed his candidacy with Giffords’ husband, Mark Kelly, but did not reveal the details of the conversation. Full story