House races

Dueling press releases from House Democratic and Republican campaign groups released Tuesday show Democrats want to focus on social issues while the GOP wants to zero in on taxes heading into Tuesday night's State of the Union speech.

The competing messages reflect the reality that the GOP feels its strongest arguments are on economic issues, which they rode to great success in the 2010 midterm elections, while Democrats want to keep the focus on social wedge issues that helped them win big in 2012.

Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) is threatening to sue the Chicago Sun-Times over a story that he was once again behind on child support payments to his ex-wife.

Walsh, whose already uphill 2012 reelection chances were hurt by a series of stories that his ex-wife was suing him over more than $100,000 in unpaid child support payments, eventually reached a settlement that included a joint statement saying he wasn't a "deadbeat dad."

On Monday the Sun-Times published a story saying he was once again behind on payments to her that were dictated in the settlement. The story said Walsh had filed court papers seeking to end his obligation to pay more than $2,000 per month in child support after his job in Congress had ended.

Iowa businessman Mike Sherzan (D) announced his bid for the seat held by Rep. Tom Latham (R-Iowa) on Monday.

"The old Washington ways aren't working. It's time for a new approach to break through the gridlock and get something done," Sherzan said in a statement.

Sherzan, who has been recruited by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, is the first Democrat to enter the race. The district is competitive, though it leans a bit Republican, and Latham defeated former Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa) by a comfortable margin there in 2012 after their districts were combined.

Latham is mulling a bid for the Senate, which would give Democrats a better chance at picking up the seat.

Three of Iowa's four congressmen are seriously considering running for retiring Sen. Tom Harkin's (D-Iowa) seat, which could lead to a number of open-seat House races, all in districts that could be competitive.

This post was updated at 6:55 p.m. to correct the district Sherzan is running in. He will run in Latham's district.

The National Republican Congressional Committee announced its regional political staff going into the 2014 cycle on Monday.

A Massachusetts State Representative announced he will run for Rep. Edward Markey's (D-Mass.) seat, banking on the congressman's win in the special election to replace Secretary of State John Kerry (D).

Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert will fundraise for his sister's House campaign in late February, according to the Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C.

Colbert's sister, Elizabeth Colbert-Busch (D), is running to fill the seat of now-Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in the House. The Charleston-based district leans Republican and has a number of GOP candidates in the race.

Read more...

Democratic campaign strategists believe Republican opposition to the gun control push led by President Obama will make the GOP vulnerable with voters in suburban districts — the very seats Democrats are focusing on in their bid to regain the House majority.

Democratic Illinois Reps. Danny Davis and Bobby Rush praised Cook County Administrator Robin Kelly (D)'s efforts to address gun violence.

Local Republicans have selected Missouri state Rep. Jason Smith (R) to run for the seat once held by former Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), according to the Southeast Missourian, a decision that is tantamount to a victory for Smith in the heavily Republican district.

Former Cook County Administrator Robin Kelly (D) released an ad Thursday touting her position on gun control, an attempt to focus on an issue that seems to be hurting former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, one of her competitors for the Democratic nomination for Illinois' 2nd district.