User:Alex Sweidel

I am an intern at the Sunlight Foundation, where I mainly write and edit for Congresspedia, and also work with the Sunlight Network. I will be a senior at George Washington University, where I major in Political Science and minor in Physics. I'm the Administrative Director and Co-President of the GW chapter of the Roosevelt Institution, a student public policy think tank. I'm originally from Garland, TX, but I now live in DC.

In addition to regular updates of Congresspedia's articles and front page, I have so far created or worked extensively on the following pages:

• Trade Act of 2002
• Tariff Relief Assistance for Developing Economies (TRADE) Act of 2007
• Fair Tax Act of 2007
• Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007
• Safe Food Act of 2007
• CLEAN Energy Act of 2007
• U.S. congressional action on climate change
• Peru-United States Free Trade Agreement
• No Child Left Behind
• Ted Stevens investigation

Please feel free to leave a comment or question on my talk page.

Current headlines

This week

• After returning from a four day trip to the Middle East, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) called on President Bush to begin a troop withdrawal from Iraq by Christmas 2007.(Washington Post story)

• Rep. Bob Filner was charged with assault and battery, a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a $2,500 fine and up to one year in prison, following an incident at Dulles airport.(The Hill story)

Last week

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) announced his intention to introduce nationwide bridge repair legislation once Congress reconvenes in September.(CQ story)

• It was revealed that Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) secured $6 million in earmarks that could have benefited a questionable real estate purchase, which the Senator recently sold back amid controversy.(TPM Muckraker story)

• Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) announced his intention to return to his home state for the first time since suffering a brain aneurysm on Dec. 13, 2006.(Roll Call story)

• Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), reversing an earlier decision, returned all illegal campaign contributions he received from the seafood industry.(TPM Muckraker story)

• Just before the August congressional recess, the House passed comprehensive energy legislation, which would be funded through increased taxation on oil and gas companies.(CQ story)

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2008 Elections Candidate listings

Alabama

1st Congressional District

• Jo Bonner (Republican incumbent)
  • Benjamin Lodmell (Democratic challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• Terry Everett (Republican incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Mike Rogers (Republican incumbent)
  • Greg Pierce (Democratic challenger)

4th Congressional District

• Robert Aderholt (Republican incumbent)
  • Greg Warren (Democratic challenger)

5th Congressional District

• Bud Cramer (Democratic incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Spencer Bachus (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• Artur Davis (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Jeff Sessions (Republican incumbent)
  • Johnny Swanson (Democratic challenger)

Alaska

At-large congressional district

• Don Young (Republican incumbent)
  • Diane Benson (Democratic challenger)

Senate election

• Ted Stevens (Republican incumbent)
  • Frank Vondersaar (Democratic challenger)
  • Rocky Caldero (Democratic challenger)
  • Ted Gianoutsos (Veterans Party challenger)

Arizona

1st Congressional District

• Rick Renzi (Republican incumbent)
  • Allan Affeldt (Democratic challenger)
  • Howard Shanker (Democratic challenger)
  • Mary Kim Titla (Democratic challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• Trent Franks (Republican incumbent)
  • John Thrasher (Democratic challenger)

3rd Congressional District

• John Shadegg (Republican incumbent)
  • Bob Lord (Democratic challenger)

4th Congressional District

• Ed Pastor (Democratic incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Harry Mitchell (Democratic incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Jeff Flake (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• Raul Grijalva (Democratic incumbent)
  • Gene Chewning (Republican challenger)

8th Congressional District

• Gabrielle Giffords (Democratic incumbent)

Arkansas

1st Congressional District

• Marion Berry (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Vic Snyder (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• John Boozman (Republican incumbent)
  • John Burnett (Democratic challenger)

4th Congressional District

• Mike Ross (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Mark Pryor (Republican incumbent)
  • Rebekah Kennedy (Green Party challenger)

California

1st Congressional District

• Mike Thompson (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Wally Herger (Republican incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Dan Lungren (Republican incumbent)
  • Art Tuma (Libertarian challenger)

4th Congressional District

• John Doolittle (Republican incumbent)
  • Charlie Brown (Democratic challenger)
  • Eric Egland (Republican challenger)

5th Congressional District

• Doris Matsui (Democratic incumbent)
  • Paul Smith (Republican incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Lynn Woolsey (Democratic incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• George Miller (Democratic incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Nancy Pelosi (Democratic incumbent)
  • Cindy Sheehan (Independent challenger)

9th Congressional District

• Barbara Lee (Democratic incumbent)
  • John Den Dulk (Republican challenger)

10th Congressional District

• Ellen Tauscher (Democratic incumbent)
  • Nicholas Gerber (Republican challenger)

11th Congressional District

• Jerry McNerney (Democratic incumbent)
  • Dean Andal (Republican challenger)

12th Congressional District

• Tom Lantos (Democratic incumbent)

13th Congressional District

• Pete Stark (Democratic incumbent)

14th Congressional District

• Anna Eshoo (Democratic incumbent)

15th Congressional District

• Mike Honda (Democratic incumbent)

16th Congressional District

• Zoe Lofgren (Democratic incumbent)

17th Congressional District

• Sam Farr (Democratic incumbent)

18th Congressional District

• Dennis Cardoza (Democratic incumbent)

19th Congressional District

• George Radanovich (Republican incumbent)

20th Congressional District

• Jim Costa (Democratic incumbent)
  • James Lopez (Republican challenger)

21st Congressional District

• Devin Nunes (Republican incumbent)

22nd Congressional District

• Kevin McCarthy (Republican incumbent)

23rd Congressional District

• Lois Capps (Democratic incumbent)
  • Don Regan (Republican challenger)

24th Congressional District

• Elton Gallegly (Republican incumbent)
  • Jill Martinez (Democratic challenger)
  • Brett Wagner (Democratic challenger)
  • Chip Fraser (Democratic challenger)

25th Congressional District

• Buck McKeon (Republican incumbent)

26th Congressional District

• David Dreier (Republican incumbent)
  • Russ Warner (Democratic challenger)
  • Hoyt Hilsman (Democratic challenger)

27th Congressional District

• Brad Sherman (Democratic incumbent)

28th Congressional District

• Howard Berman (Democratic incumbent)
  • Byron De Lear (Green Party challenger)

29th Congressional District

• Adam Schiff (Democratic incumbent)

30th Congressional District

• Henry Waxman (Democratic incumbent)

31st Congressional District

• Xavier Becerra (Democratic incumbent)

32nd Congressional District

• Hilda Solis (Democratic incumbent)

33rd Congressional District

• Diane Watson (Democratic incumbent)

34th Congressional District

• Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic incumbent)

35th Congressional District

• Maxine Waters (Democratic incumbent)

36th Congressional District

• Jane Harman (Democratic incumbent)
  • Marcy Winograd (Democratic challenger)

37th Congressional District

• Open race - Juanita Millender-McDonald (D) died on April 22, 2007. A special run-off election will be held on August 21, 2007, to determine the incumbent.
  • Laura Richardson (Democratic nominee)
  • John Kanaley (Republican nominee)
  • Herb Peters (Libertarian nominee)
  • Daniel Abraham Brezenoff (Green Party nominee)

38th Congressional District

• Grace Napolitano (Democratic incumbent)

39th Congressional District

• Linda Sanchez (Democratic incumbent)

40th Congressional District

• Ed Royce (Republican incumbent)
  • Florice Hoffman (Democratic challenger)

41st Congressional District

• Jerry Lewis (Republican incumbent)
  • Tim Prince (Democratic challenger)

42nd Congressional District

• Gary Miller (Republican incumbent)
  • Ron Shepston (Democratic challenger)
  • Ed Chau (Democratic challenger)

43rd Congressional District

• Joe Baca (Democartic incumbent)
  • Scott Folkens (Republican challenger)

44th Congressional District

• Ken Calvert (Republican incumbent)
  • Louis Vandenberg (Democratic challenger)
  • Bill Hedrick (Democratic challenger)

45th Congressional District

• Mary Bono (Republican incumbent)

46th Congressional District

• Dana Rohrabacher (Republicain incumbent)

47th Congressional District

• Loretta Sanchez (Democratic incumbent)

48th Congressional District

• John Campbell (Republican incumbent)

49th Congressional District

• Darrell Issa (Republican incumbent)

50th Congressional District

• Brian Bilbray (Republican incumbent)
  • Nick Leibham (Democratic challenger)

51st Congressional District

• Bob Filner (Democratic incumbent)

52nd Congressional District

• Open race - Duncan L. Hunter (R) is running for President.
  • Duncan D. Hunter (Republican candidate)

53rd Congressional District

• Susan Davis (Democratic incumbent)

Colorado

1st Congressional District

• Diana DeGette (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Open race - Mark Udall (D) is running for Senate.
  • Joan Fitz-Gerald (Democratic candidate)
  • Will Shafroth (Democratic candidate)
  • Jared Polis (Democratic candidate)

3rd Congressional District

• John Salazar (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Marilyn Musgrave (Republican incumbent)
  • Angie Paccione (Democratic challenger)
  • Betsy Markey (Democratic challenger)
  • Eric Eidsness (Democratic challenger)

5th Congressional District

• Doug Lamborn (Republican incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Tom Tancredo (Republican incumbent) (???????)

7th Congressional District

• Ed Perlmutter (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Open race - Wayne Allard (R) is retiring.
  • Mark Udall (Democratic candidate)
  • Bob Schaffer (Republican candidate)

Connecticut

1st Congressional District

• John Larson (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Joe Courtney (Democratic incumbent)
  • Sean Sullivan (Republican challenger)

3rd Congressional District

• Rosa DeLauro (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Christopher Shays (Republican incumbent)
  • Jim Himes (Democratic challenger)

5th Congressional District

• Chris Murphy (Democratic incumbent)
  • David Cappiello (Republican challenger)

Delaware

At-large congressional district

• Mike Castle (Republican incumbent)

Senate election

• Joe Biden (Democratic incumbent) (???????????)

Florida

1st Congressional District

• Jeff Miller (Republican incumbent)
  • Joe Roberts (Democratic challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• Allen Boyd (Democratic incumbent)
  • Mark Flowers (Republican challenger)
  • Robert Ortiz (Republican challenger)

3rd Congressional District

• Corrine Brown (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Ander Crenshaw (Republican incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Ginny Brown-Waite (Republican incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Cliff Stearns (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• John Mica (Republican incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Ric Keller (Republican incumbent)
  • Charlie Stuart (Democratic challenger)
  • Corbett Kroehler (Democratic challenger)
  • Mike Smith (Democratic challenger)
  • Quoc Van (Democratic challenger)
  • Todd Long (Republican challenger)

9th Congressional District

• Gus Bilirakis (Republican incumbent)
  • Bill Mitchell (Democratic challenger)

10th Congressional District

• Bill Young (Republican incumbent)
  • Samm Simpson (Democratic challenger)

11th Congressional District

• Kathy Castor (Democratic incumbent)
  • Eddie Adams (Republican challenger)
  • Tim Fasano (Republican challenger)

12th Congressional District

• Adam Putnam (Republican incumbent)

13th Congressional District

• Vern Buchanan (Republican incumbent)
  • Christine Jennings (Democratic challenger)
  • Mike LaFevers (Democratic challenger)

14th Congressional District

• Connie Mack (Republican incumbent)

15th Congressional District

• Dave Weldon (Republican incumbent)
  • Bob Bowman (Democratic challenger)
  • Paul Rancatore (Democratic challenger)
  • Steve Blythe (Democratic challenger)

16th Congressional District

• Tim Mahoney (Democratic incumbent)
  • Hal Valeche (Republican challenger)

17th Congressional District

• Kendrick Meek (Democratic incumbent)

18th Congressional District

• Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican incumbent)

19th Congressional District

• Robert Wexler (Democratic incumbent)

20th Congressional District

• Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic incumbent)

21st Congressional District

• Lincoln Diaz-Balart (Republican incumbent)
  • Frank Gonzalez (Democratic challenger)

22nd Congressional District

• Ron Klein (Democratic incumbent)
  • Marc Flagg (Republican challenger)
  • Allen West (Republican challenger)

23rd Congressional District

• Alcee Hastings (Democratic incumbent)
  • Ray Sanchez (Democratic challenger)
  • Marion Thorpe (Republican challenger)

24th Congressional District

• Tom Feeney (Republican incumbent)
  • Clint Curtis (Democratic challenger)

25th Congressional District

• Mario Diaz-Balart (Republican challenger)

Georgia

1st Congressional District

• Jack Kingston (Republican incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Sanford Bishop (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Lynn Westmoreland (Republican incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Hank Johnson (Democratic incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• John Lewis (Democratic incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Tom Price (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• John Linder (Republican incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Jim Marshall (Democratic incumbent)
  • Rick Goddard (Republican challenger)

9th Congressional District

• Nathan Deal (Republican incumbent)

10th Congressional District

• Paul Broun (Republican incumbent)
  • Bobby Saxon (Democratic challenger)

11th Congressional District

• Phil Gingrey (Republican incumbent)

12th Congressional District

• John Barrow (Democratic incumbent)

13th Congressional District

• David Scott (Democratic incumbent)
  • Deborah Honeycutt (Republican challenger)

Senate election

• Saxby Chambliss (Republican incumbent)
  • Vernon Jones (Democratic challenger)
  • Dale Cardwell (Democratic challenger)
  • Rand Knight (Democratic challenger)

Hawaii

1st Congressional District

• Neil Abercrombie (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Mazie Hirono (Democratic incumbent)

Idaho

1st Congressional District

• Bill Sali (Republican incumbent)
  • Larry Grant (Democratic challenger)
  • Rand Lewis (Democratic challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• Michael Simpson (Republican incumbent)

Senate election

• Larry Craig (Republican incumbent)
  • Larry LaRocco (Democratic challenger)

Illinois

1st Congressional District

• Bobby Rush (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Dan Lipinski (Democratic incumbent)
  • Mark Pera (Democratic challenger)

4th Congressional District

• Luis Gutierrez (Democratic incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Rahm Emanuel (Democratic incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Peter Roskam (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• Danny Davis (Democratic incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Melissa Bean (Democratic incumbent)
  • Steve Greenberg (Republican challenger)
  • Bill Scheurer (Independent challenger)
  • Randi Scheurer (Democratic challenger)

9th Congressional District

• Jan Schakowsky (Democratic incumbent)

10th Congressional District

• Mark Kirk (Republican incumbent)
  • Dan Seals (Democratic challenger)
  • Jay Footlik (Democratic challenger)

11th Congressional District

• Jerry Weller (Republican incumbent)

12th Congressional District

• Jerry Costello (Democratic incumbent)

13th Congressional District

• Judy Biggert (Republican incumbent)

14th Congressional District

• Open Race - Dennis Hastert (R) is retiring.
  • John Laesch (Democratic candidate)
  • Jotham Stein (Democratic candidate)
  • Bill Foster (Democratic candidate)

15th Congressional District

• Tim Johnson (Republican incumbent)

16th Congressional District

• Donald Manzullo (Republican incumbent)
  • Robert Abboud (Democratic challenger)

17th Congressional District

• Phil Hare (Democratic incumbent)

18th Congressional District

• Open race - Ray LaHood (R) is retiring.

19th Congressional District

• John Shimkus (Republican incumbent)

Senate election

• Dick Durbin (Democratic incumbent)
  • Steve Sauerberg (Republican challenger)
  • Andy Martin (Republican challenger)

Indiana

1st Congressional District

• Peter Visclosky (Democratic incumbent)
  • Mark Leyva (Republican challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• Joe Donnelly (Democratic incumbent)
  • Luke Puckett (Republican challenger)

3rd Congressional District

• Mark Souder (Republican incumbent)
  • Michael Montagano (Democratic challenger)

4th Congressional District

• Stephen Buyer (Republican incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Dan Burton (Republican incumbent)
  • John McGoff (Republican challenger)

6th Congressional District

• Mike Pence (Republican incumbent)
  • Barry Welsh (Democratic challenger)

7th Congressional District

• Julia Carson (Democratic incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Brad Ellsworth (Democratic incumbent)

9th Congressional District

• Baron Hill (Democratic incumbent)
  • Aaron Hankins (Republican challenger)

Iowa

1st Congressional District

• Bruce Braley (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Dave Loebsack (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Leonard Boswell (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Tom Latham (Republican incumbent)
  • Selden Spencer (Democratic challenger)

5th Congressional District

• Steve King (Republican incumbent)
  • Rob Hubler (Democratic challenger)

Senate election

• Tom Harkin (Democratic incumbent)
  • Steve Rathje (Republican challenger)

Kansas

1st Congressional District

• Jerry Moran (Republican incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Nancy Boyda (Democratic incumbent)
  • Jim Ryun (Republican challenger)
  • Lynn Jenkins (Republican challenger)

3rd Congressional District

• Dennis Moore (Democratic incumbent)
  • Joel Balam (Republican challenger)
  • Nick Jordan (Republican challenger)

4th Congressional District

• Todd Tiahrt (Republican incumbent)

Senate election

• Pat Roberts (Republican incumbent)

Kentucky

1st Congressional District

• Ed Whitfield (Republican incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Ron Lewis (Republican incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• John Yarmuth (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Geoff Davis (Republican incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Harold Rogers (Republican incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Ben Chandler (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Mitch McConnell (Republican incumbent)

Louisiana

1st Congressional District

• Bobby Jindal (Republican incumbent)
  • Gilda Reed (Democratic challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• William Jefferson (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Charlie Melancon (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Jim McCrery (Republican incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Rodney Alexander (Republican incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Richard Baker (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• Charles Boustany (Republican incumbent)

Senate election

• Mary Landrieu (Democratic incumbent)

Maine

1st Congressional District

• Open race - Tom Allen (D) is running for Senate.
  • Chellie Pingree (Democratic candidate)
  • Michael Brennan (Democratic candidate)
  • Ethan Strimling (Democratic candidate)
  • Adam Cote (Democratic candidate)
  • Charlie Summers (Republican candidate)

2nd Congressional District

• Michael Michaud (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Susan Collins (Republican incumbent)
  • Tom Allen (Democratic challenger)

Maryland

1st Congressional District

• Wayne Gilchrest (Republican incumbent)
  • Andy Harris (Republican challenger)
  • Frank Kratovil (Democratic challenger)
  • Christopher Robinson (Democratic challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• John Sarbanes (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Albert Wynn (Democratic incumbent)
  • Donna Edwards (Democratic challenger)
  • George Mitchell (Democratic challenger)
  • Michael Starkman (Republican challenger)

5th Congressional District

• Steny Hoyer (Democratic incumbent)
  • James Cusik (Democratic challenger)

6th Congressional District

• Roscoe Bartlett (Republican incumbent)
  • Frank Nethken (Republican challenger)

7th Congressional District

• Elijah Cummings (Democratic incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Chris Van Hollen (Democratic incumbent)
  • Meyer Marks (Republican challenger)

Massachusetts

1st Congressional District

• John Olver (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Richard Neal (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• James McGovern (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Barney Frank (Democratic incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Open race - Marty Meehan (D) resigned on July 1, 2007. A special election will be held on October 16, 2007, with a special primary on September 4, 2007, to determine the incumbent. (??????????????)

6th Congressional District

• John Tierney (Democratic incumbent)
  • Rick Barton (Republican challenger)

7th Congressional District

• Edward Markey (Democratic incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Michael Capuano (Democratic incumbent)

9th Congressional District

• Stephen Lynch (Democratic incumbent)

10th Congressional District

• William Delahunt (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• John Kerry (Democratic incumbent)
  • Jeff Beatty (Republican challenger)

Michigan

1st Congressional District

• Bart Stupak (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Peter Hoekstra (Republican incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Vernon Ehlers (Republican incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Dave Camp (Republican incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Dale Kildee (Democratic incumbent)
  • Bill Kelly (Republican challenger)

6th Congressional District

• Frederick Upton (Republican incumbent)

7th Congressional District

• Tim Walberg (Republican incumbent)
  • Jim Berryman (Democratic challenger)
  • David Nacht (Democratic challenger)

8th Congressional District

• Mike Rogers (Republican incumbent)

9th Congressional District

• Joseph Knollenberg (Republican incumbent)
  • Rhonda Ross (Democratic challenger)
  • Gary Peters (Democratic challenger)

10th Congressional District

• Candice Miller (Republican incumbent)

11th Congressional District

• Thaddeus McCotter (Republican incumbent)

12th Congressional District

• Sander Levin (Democratic incumbent)

13th Congressional District

• Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (Democratic incumbent)

14th Congressional District

• John Conyers (Democratic incumbent)

15th Congressional District

• John Dingell (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Carl Levin (Democratic incumbent)

Minnesota

1st Congressional District

• Tim Walz (Democratic incumbent)
  • Dick Day (Republican challenger)
  • Randy Demmer (Republican challenger)
  • Mark Meyer (Republican challenger)

2nd Congressional District

• John Kline (Republican incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Jim Ramstad (Republican incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Betty McCollum (Democratic incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Keith Ellison (Democratic incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Michele Bachmann (Republican incumbent)
  • Bob Olson (Democratic challenger)
  • Bob Hill (Democratic challenger)

7th Congressional District

• Collin Peterson (Democratic incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Jim Oberstar (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Norm Coleman (Republican incumbent)
  • Al Franken (Democratic challenger)
  • Mike Ciresi (Democratic challenger)
  • Jim Cohen (Democratic challenger)

Mississippi

1st Congressional District

• Roger Wicker (Republican incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Bennie Thompson (Democratic incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Charles Pickering (Republican incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Gene Taylor (Democratic incumbent)

Senate election

• Thad Cochran (Republican incumbent)

Missouri

1st Congressional District

• William Lacy Clay (Democratic incumbent)

2nd Congressional District

• Todd Akin (Republican incumbent)

3rd Congressional District

• Russ Carnahan (Democratic incumbent)

4th Congressional District

• Ike Skelton (Democratic incumbent)

5th Congressional District

• Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic incumbent)

6th Congressional District

• Sam Graves (Republican incumbent)
  • Kay Barnes (Democratic challenger)

7th Congressional District

• Roy Blunt (Republican incumbent)

8th Congressional District

• Jo Ann Emerson (Republican incumbent)

9th Congressional District

• Kenny Hulshof (Republican incumbent}

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Legislative portal story archives

National Security and Foreign Policy

• Both the House and Senate passed on May 24 the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act of 2007 (H.R.2206), which funds the Iraq War through September 2007 without a troop withdrawal deadline or timetable.

• The House passed the FY 2008 Defense Department authorization on May 17 in a 397-27 vote.

• The Senate failed to invoke cloture on May 16 on an amendment (S.AMDT.1098) by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) to end all funding for the Iraq War and set a March 2008 deadline for troop withdrawal.

• President Bush vetoed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R. 1591), which included a deadline for U.S. combat troop withdrawal from Iraq, on May 1.

• On Apr. 26, Congress passed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R. 1591), which would establish a series of benchmarks for progress in the Iraq War and set a deadline for troop withdrawal of no later than April 1, 2008.

• The Senate passed S.4, a bill similar to one passed in the House to implement many of the 9/11 commission recommendations, on March 13.

• The Senate failed again to invoke cloture on Feb. 17 on a non-binding resolution opposing President Bush's proposed troop "surge" in Iraq.

• The House passed a non-binding resolution sponsored by House Armed Services Committee Chair Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), which disapproved of President Bush's proposed troop "surge" in Iraq, on Feb. 16.

• A cloture vote failed in the Senate on Feb. 5 on a compromise non-binding resolution, proposed by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), which opposed President Bush's troop "surge" in Iraq and required the president to submit a progress report on Iraq to Congress every 30 days.

• The House passed a bill (H.R. 1) implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission on Jan. 10, as part of the new Democratic majority's "First 100 Hours" agenda.

Elections and Government Policy

• The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee approved the District of Columbia Fair and Equal Voting Rights Act on Jun. 13 by a vote of 9-1. The bill would grant a voting seat in the House to the District and provide an additional seat for Utah. (The Washington Post story)

• Democratic leaders in the Senate announced on Jun. 13 their intention to disclose all earmarks after they leave the Appropriations Committee, and publish the information on their website. (Roll Call story)

• After GOP members successfully stalled the appropriations process in the House, on Jun. 13, House Republicans and Democratic leaders came to a tentative agreement over earmark disclosure in the FY2008 appropriations bills. (The Hill story)

• It was revealed on Jun. 13 that Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) secured more earmarks than any other senators in the 2008 Defense Department authorization bill.

• After President Bush called for doubling U.S. aid for global HIV/AIDS relief, a House Appropriations subcommittee approved on Jun. 5 a measure allowing the president, now or in the future, to waive current laws requiring one-third of U.S. aid for HIV/AIDS prevention to be spent on abstinence-only programs. (AP story)

• House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Jun. 1 her intention to create an independent ethics commission that would allow outside groups to file complaints against members of Congress, which previously could only be filed by other members.

• President Bush called for an additional $30 billion in the FY 2008 budget for AIDS relief in Africa as part of a continuation of PEPFAR (President's Emergency Program for AIDS Relief), on May 30. (New York Times story)

• The House passed on May 24 both the Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007 (H.R.2317), which would require registered lobbyists to file quarterly reports on contributions for certain recipients, and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (H.R.2316), which would provide more rigorous requirements regarding disclosure and enforcement of lobbying laws and regulations.

• The Justice Department confirmed in May that it remains opposed to a bill currently in Congress which would grant the District of Columbia a voting member of the House. (Roll Call story)

• The House passed the Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007 (H.R.1255), which would restore the 1978 law making presidential records public after 12 years that President Bush amended by Executive Order to allow documents to be withheld indefinitely, on Mar. 14 by a veto-proof margin of 333-93.

Food and Agriculture Policy

• During markup on Jun. 14, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry voted along partisan lines, 6-5, to defeat an amendment to the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 which would have allowed private contractors to administer food stamp programs, and forwarded their final bill to the full Agriculture Committee.(CQ story)

• The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture forwarded the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 to the full Agriculture Committee after markup on Jun. 7.

• The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture Programs forwarded the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 to the full Agriculture Committee after markup on Jun. 6.

• The House requested an "Executive Comment" from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 on May 31.

• The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry forwarded the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 to the full Agriculture Committee following markup on May 24.

• Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) introduced the Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007 (H.R.2419), to continue the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 for another five years, on May 22.

• Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) introduced the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 (H.R. 2010), which would allow the Secretary of Commerce to increase the permittance of offshore fish farming, on Apr. 24.

• Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) introduced the House version of the Safe Food Act of 2007 (H.R.1148) in the House on Feb. 16.

• Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) introduced the Safe Food Act of 2007 (S.654) in the Senate, which would establish a Food Safety Administration, responsible for ensuring the security of the food supply from all forms of contamination, on Feb. 15.

• The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing regarding the National Uniformity of Food Act on Jul 27, 2006.

• The National Uniformity of Food Act (S.3128), which passed the House, was introduced to the Senate on May 22, 2006, by Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

• The House passed the National Uniformity of Food Act (H.R.4167), which would prohibit states or local governments from establishing or continuing requirements imposed on food that are not identical to federal requirements, on March 8, 2006, by a vote of 283-139.

Infrastructure and Transportation Policy

• The Department of Transportation responded to accusations by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) on Jun. 13, denying that it violated anti-lobbying restrictions regarding state emission standards. (The Hill story)

• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) accused the Department of Transportation on Jun. 12 of improperly lobbying Congress regarding requests to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by California and other states to set their own emission standards higher than federal law mandates. (The Hill story)

• The House passed the Safe American Roads Act of 2007 on May 15 in a vote of 411-3. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.) and would restrict the number of trucks originating in Mexico coming into the U.S..

• The Safe American Roads Act of 2007 was introduced to the House on Mar. 29 by sponsor, Rep. Nancy Boyda (D-Kan.). The bill would the number of trucks originating in Mexico coming into the U.S..

• The House passed the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), on Mar. 27 in a vote of 299-124. The bill would improve security of railroads, public transportation, and over-the-road buses.

• The House passed a bill on Mar. 26 to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.), would modify spending allotments for a variety of transportation projects.

• Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) introduced the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007 to the house on Mar. 8. The legislation would create a national strategy for rail and public transportation security.

• Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007, which would restructure Amtrak's debt as well as provide funding for security improvements, on Jan. 16.

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