SoCalNoMore
Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2013
- Messages
- 107
The fight to protect our 2a is far from over. One thing we know is that Gun-grabbers are very organized and use headlines/lies and emotion to get people to follow their miss-guided way.
With what little time I do have, I just want to help make it easier for folks to make themselves heard.
Please visit these links and use the form letter to send off to your states officials.
http://www.ruger.com/micros/advocacy/
http://capwiz.com/gunowners/home/
http://www.popvox.com/blog/2013/issue-spotlight-firearms-113th/
Here is a list of important races in 2014 and notes for each;
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2014
1. Lamar Alexander (Tennessee)
Before election to the Senate in 2002, Alexander was governor of Tennessee, US Secretary of Education, and a two-time presidential candidate. Alexander resigned from his position as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference in 2012, the number three position in the GOP Senate leadership.
2. Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Chambliss’ two Senate victories have been highly publicized. In 2002, he won a controversial race against Vietnam War veteran Max Cleland and in 2008 Chambliss had to win a run-off election.
3. Thad Cochran (Mississippi)
After three terms in the US House of Representatives, Cochran won his first US Senate race in 1978. During his tenure, Cochran has procured many earmarks for Mississippi, becoming one of the “Kings of Pork.”
4. Susan Collins (Maine)
One of the Senate’s last remaining self-identified Republican moderates, Collins is nearing the end of her third term. Collins often breaks with her party as she did in 2009 to vote for President Obama’s stimulus package.
5. John Cornyn (Texas)
Cornyn was first elected to the US Senate in 2002. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, an influential organization which fundraises for GOP Senate candidates.
6. Mike Enzi (Wyoming)
Enzi was first elected to the US Senate in 1996. Although not as well-known as the other names on the law, Enzi was a significant contributor to the Sarbes-Oxley Act which strengthened the regulatory oversight of publicly traded companies.
7. Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Elected to the US House of Representatives in the Republican wave of 1994, Graham won his Senate seat in 2002. Well-known for his strong support of interventionist foreign policies, Graham has also prominently broken with many in his party on immigration and climate change.
8. James Inhofe (Oklahoma)
First elected to the US Senate in 1994, Inhofe is regularly recognized as one of the more conservative members in the GOP caucus. As opposed to Graham, Inhofe is vocal in his rejection of man-made global warming and climate change.
9. Mike Johanns (Nebraska)
A former governor of Nebraska and US Secretary of Agriculture, Johanns won his first Senate term in 2008. Johanns has a stated goal of repealing the Affordable Care Act, but his own proposal to repeal the tax reporting rule of the law failed in 2010.
10. Mitch McConnell (Kentucky)
First elected to the US Senate in 1984, McConnell is the Republican Senate Leader and the longest-serving US Senator in Kentucky history. A prolific earmarker, McConnell will be running for his sixth term in 2014.
11. Jim Risch (Idaho)
A former governor of Idaho, Risch was elected to the US Senate in 2008, succeeding the disgraced Larry Craig. In 2011, Risch was criticized for being one of the five possible senators who, through an anonymous hold, killed the Whistleblower Enhancement Act, which would have granted greater protection to federal employees who reveal abuses committed by the federal government.
12. Pat Roberts (Kansas)
After serving several terms in the US House of Representatives, Roberts won a Senate seat in 1996. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the George W. Bush administration, Roberts worked to stop the flow of sensitive intelligence information to the press. He has also been widely criticized for “fixing” the intelligence that resulted in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
13. Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
First elected to the US Senate in 1996, Sessions regularly ranks as one of its more conservative members. During the lame duck session of 2010, Sessions was one of the leaders who helped defeat the Dream Act.
Democrat Senators up for re-election in 2014
1. Max Baucus (Montana)
Baucus is the longest-serving US Senator in the history of Montana, having first won election in 1978. He has voted to allow concealed carry and was a major player in the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
2. Mark Begich (Alaska)
Begich is the former mayor of Anchorage and defeated Ted Stevens in 2008, the longest-serving Republican US Senator in history. In his term in the Senate, he has supported the Affordable Care Act, but representing Republican and independent-rich Alaska, Begich has advocated ANWR drilling and gun rights.
3. Chris Coons (Delaware)
Coons won election in 2010 to claim the seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden. He defeated Tea Party candidate Christine O’Donnell.
4. Dick Durbin (Illinois)
The Democratic Senate Whip, the second-highest position in the party’s Senate leadership, Durbin is nearing the end of his third term. Durbin is a force in the Senate for liberal causes such as passing health care reform and energy policy.
5. Al Franken (Minnesota)
Well-known as a comedian before defeating Republican Norm Coleman in 2008, Franken has used his position in the Senate to try to curtail the power of credit agencies that contributed to the financial crisis.
6. Kay Hagan (North Carolina)
Hagan came to the Senate after beating Republican US Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2008. Hagan was a supporter of the Affordable Care Act and worked to include provisions in the new law to benefit her constituents such as the Rural Physicians Pipeline Act to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas.
7. Tom Harkin (Iowa)
First elected to the US Senate in 1984, Harkin was also a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992. Harkin co-authored 1990′s Americans with Disabilities Act.
8. Tim Johnson (South Dakota)
First elected to the US Senate after serving South Dakota’s at-large congressional district, Johnson is nearing the end of his third term. Johnson’s career has primarily involved appropriating earmarks including money for research grants, a children’s home, and keeping open Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.
9. John Kerry (Massachusetts)
First elected to the US Senate in 1984, Kerry was the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and is occasionally mentioned as a potential successor to Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. In office, Kerry has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was a key player in the passage of New START, an arms reduction treaty.
10. Mary Landrieu (Louisiana)
A member of the moderate New Democrat coalition, Landrieu is nearing the end of her third term. She is currently the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
11. Frank Lautenberg (New Jersey)
The oldest US Senator currently serving, Lautenberg was in the Senate from 1982-2001 before retiring and subsequently returning in 2003. A supporter of legislation for public transportation, Lautenberg will be 90 years old in 2014 and has not indicated whether he will retire again.
12. Carl Levin (Michigan)
First elected to the US Senate in 1978, Levin is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. With Republican Senator John McCain, Levin was a co-sponsor of the controversial 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
13. Jeff Merkley (Oregon)
Defeating two-term incumbent Gordon Smith in 2008, Merkley broke with many in his party in 2009 by opposing the re-confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and again in 2011 when he voted against the debt ceiling compromise.
14. Mark Pryor (Arkansas)
First elected in 2002, Pryor was one of seven Democrats in the so-called “Gang of 14” to block Republican implementation of the “nuclear option” to halt Democratic filibusters of Republican judicial appointments. Serving a culturally conservative state, Pryor has broken with his party on abortion, supporting it only in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother.
15. Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Reed was first elected to the US Senate in 1996. In his tenure, he has compiled one of the more liberal voting records in the Senate.
16. Jay Rockefeller (West Virginia)
Although from one of the wealthiest families in the world, Rockefeller has achieved a liberal voting record that has focused on poverty reduction and health care reform. If he decides to run for re-election in 2014, Rockefeller will be attempting to win his sixth term.
17. Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
Defeating Republican incumbent John Sununu in 2008, Shaheen is the first woman to represent New Hampshire in the US Senate. During her first term, Sheheen has worked on energy issues with Republican Susan Collins.
18. Mark Udall (Colorado)
Elected to the US Senate in 2008, Udall comes from a well-known political family after serving in the House of Representatives. It was Udall’s proposal that the two parties sit side-by-side for the 2011 State of the Union address and not separated as they usually do.
19. Tom Udall (New Mexico)
Like his cousin, Tom Udall was also elected to the US Senate in 2008 and is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
20. Mark Warner (Virginia)
A former governor of Virginia, Warner was first elected in 2008. During his time in office, Warner has worked on deficit reduction plans.
NRA Ranked Senators
1. Max Baucus, Montana (NRA Rating: A+). Baucus appeared to oppose any federal action on gun law reform, saying in a statement that “Before passing new laws, we need a thoughtful debate that respects responsible, law-abiding gun owners in Montana instead of a one-size-fits all directives from Washington.”
2. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota (NRA Rating: A). In a local television appearance before President Obama’s announcement, Heitkamp accused the White House of having ulterior motives besides preventing mass killing, claiming “There isn’t any amount of gun regulation or gun executive orders that will solve the problem of identifying people who could potentially do this and making sure they get the help and their families get the help so they don’ t do this. I’ve said it all along that this is wrong headed…I think it is an agenda driven by something other than school shootings.”
3. Tim Johnson, South Dakota (NRA Rating: A). Like Baucus, Johnson argued against federal solutions: “We in South Dakota have far fewer problems with guns than they do in New York or New Jersey and it makes common sense to not have one size fits all.”
4. Joe Donnelly, Indiana (NRA Rating: A). Donnelly simply said that “I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” pointed to his NRA endorsement, and rejected the assault weapons ban plan of Obama’s proposal.
5. Mark Begich, Alaska (NRA Rating: A). Begich cited his support for mental health legislation, but demurred on gun restrictions, saying “there is no quick fix when it comes to keeping our families and communities safe. We must make smart investments to increase our safety while ensuring Americans’ Second Amendment rights are protected.”
6. Joe Manchin, West Virginia (NRA Rating: A). Manchin blamed a “culture of mass violence” rather than the spread of deadly weapons, wishing the president had created a “national commission [to] build the consensus we need for real action backed not only by gun control advocates, mental health experts and entertainment industry executives but also by law-abiding gun owners who fully understand the history and heritage of firearms in America.”
7. Jon Tester, Montana (NRA Rating: A-). Tester refused to take a position, saying “As Congress considers ways to address gun violence, we must look at all aspects of this issue. Our priority must be keeping all Americans–especially our kids–safe. I will look closely at all proposals on the table, but we must use common sense and respect our Constitution.”
8. Harry Reid, Nevada (NRA Rating: B). Reid, like Tester, wouldn’t say one way or another: “I thank the President’s task force for its thoughtful recommendations. I am committed to ensuring that the Senate will consider legislation that addresses gun violence and other aspects of violence in our society early this year. The tragedy at Sandy Hook was just the latest sad reminder that we are not doing enough to protect our citizens – especially our children – from gun violence and a culture of violence, and all options should be on the table moving forward.”
Gubernatorial Seats up for re-election in 2014
1. Texas- I still don’t expect Governor Rick Perry (R) to seek re-election to a 4th full term in 2014 because of weak approval ratings and horrible backlash he’s suffering from his presidential campaign (or lack thereof). It also doesn’t help that State Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) has ambitions to be governor in two years, Abbott has raised $12 million in his campaign war chest in a possible primary bloodbath, and some political analysts think Perry will forgo an uphill re-election bid for governor in 2014 to go campaign for the Presidency in 2016.
If George P. Bush (the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush) could run for governor in the GOP field, which would lead to an ugly bloobath with Abbott, who will have the backing of Perry’s staunchest supporters.
The Democrats will be pushing San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro (D) to run for governor, despite Castro’s claims to continue finishing up his term as mayor (he has two more two-year terms left in 2013 and 2015 before city term limits kick in by 2017). Other than that, it’s GOP HOLD regardless.
2. Arkansas-OPEN: with popular Governor Mike Beebe (D) being term-limited from seeking a 3rd term in office, the Arkansas Democrats are facing a devastating headwinds in the Natural State because they’re losing more influence and clout every single day. For the Republicans, Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr (R) is considered the early frontrunner for the nomination. AR Secretary of State Mark Martin (R) is also considered as a gubernatorial candidate. On the Democratic side, State Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) is running for the governorship (hoping to be the 3rd State AG to become governor since Bill Clinton in 1978 and Beebe in 2006-unless I forgot to mention anyone else).
Other Democrats being mentioned as contenders for the Arkansas governor’s mansion are former Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter (D) and former United States Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).
3. South Carolina: Governor Nikki Haley (R) is popular on the national media level, but like Jack said Haley is facing political embarrassment over ethics violations, political scandals, etc., There are rumors that SC State Treasurer Curtis Loftis (R) hasn’t ruled out a primary challenge against Haley in 2014.
4. Illinois: Governor Patrick Quinn (D) is up for re-election to a 2nd full four-year term in 2014, but he could face competition from IL State AG Lisa Madigan (D). On the GOP side, IL State Treasurer Dan Rutherford (R) and US Rep. Adam Schock (R-IL) are potential candidates.
5. Connecticut: Gov. Dan Malloy (D) and former US Amb. to Ireland Tom Foley (R) are headed towards a rematch in 2014.
6. Pennsylvania: Gov. Tom Corbett (R) is up for re-election in 2014, but could face possible Democratic challengers from United States Senator Bob Casey, Jr., (D-PA) or former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who is rumored to be “missing the spotlight in Harrisburg”
7. New Mexico: Governor Susana Martinez (R) is seeking re-election in 2014 and she’s a rising star in the National GOP and Tea Party to boot with sky-high approval ratings. For the Democrats, State Attorney General Gary King (D) has announced he’ll seek the governorship, but he’s going to be a major underdog with Martinez leading by double digits in the recent poll 51-39 and also leads State Auditor Hector Banderas (D), 50-37.
8. Ohio: Let’s see if the DNC Machine really wants to stick it to Kasich by recruiting either former Governor Ted Strickland (D), former OH Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D), former OH State Attorney General Richard Corday (D) or Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (D) to run against embattled Governor John Kasich (R).
9. Alabama: Governor Robert Bentley (R) could be facing the same two GOP primary opponents in Tim James (R) and Bradley Byrne (R) again in a bloodbath primary in 2014. Bentley faced these two back in 2010 and the AL Democrats don’t have any strong candidates.
10. Maryland-OPEN: O’Malley is term-limited from the governorship in 2014, but I expect Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown (D) to win the Democratic nomination and the general election being Maryland’s first Black Governor and the 4th overall since Wilder, Paterson and Patrick-if he pulls it off.
11. Massachusetts-OPEN: With Governor Deval Patrick (D) leaving Beacon Hill after 2 terms, the MA Dems are going to have an ugly primary and on the GOP side, I’m still wondering will outgoing US Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) run for the governorship or John Kerry’s US Senate seat in 2014 since both seats are on the ballot in 2 years.
12. Arizona-OPEN: Tea Party darling Governor Jan Brewer (R) is term-limited from seeking a 2nd full four-year term in 2014 despite serving 1 full term and having served out Napolitano’s second term. On the GOP side, AZ Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R-who questioned Obama’s birth certificate and patriotism) is running for the governorship. The Democrats have former Tempe Mayor Neil Guiliano (D) as a potential candidate if he runs….
With what little time I do have, I just want to help make it easier for folks to make themselves heard.
Please visit these links and use the form letter to send off to your states officials.
http://www.ruger.com/micros/advocacy/
http://capwiz.com/gunowners/home/
http://www.popvox.com/blog/2013/issue-spotlight-firearms-113th/
Here is a list of important races in 2014 and notes for each;
Republican Senators up for re-election in 2014
1. Lamar Alexander (Tennessee)
Before election to the Senate in 2002, Alexander was governor of Tennessee, US Secretary of Education, and a two-time presidential candidate. Alexander resigned from his position as chairman of the Senate Republican Conference in 2012, the number three position in the GOP Senate leadership.
2. Saxby Chambliss (Georgia)
Chambliss’ two Senate victories have been highly publicized. In 2002, he won a controversial race against Vietnam War veteran Max Cleland and in 2008 Chambliss had to win a run-off election.
3. Thad Cochran (Mississippi)
After three terms in the US House of Representatives, Cochran won his first US Senate race in 1978. During his tenure, Cochran has procured many earmarks for Mississippi, becoming one of the “Kings of Pork.”
4. Susan Collins (Maine)
One of the Senate’s last remaining self-identified Republican moderates, Collins is nearing the end of her third term. Collins often breaks with her party as she did in 2009 to vote for President Obama’s stimulus package.
5. John Cornyn (Texas)
Cornyn was first elected to the US Senate in 2002. He currently serves as the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, an influential organization which fundraises for GOP Senate candidates.
6. Mike Enzi (Wyoming)
Enzi was first elected to the US Senate in 1996. Although not as well-known as the other names on the law, Enzi was a significant contributor to the Sarbes-Oxley Act which strengthened the regulatory oversight of publicly traded companies.
7. Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Elected to the US House of Representatives in the Republican wave of 1994, Graham won his Senate seat in 2002. Well-known for his strong support of interventionist foreign policies, Graham has also prominently broken with many in his party on immigration and climate change.
8. James Inhofe (Oklahoma)
First elected to the US Senate in 1994, Inhofe is regularly recognized as one of the more conservative members in the GOP caucus. As opposed to Graham, Inhofe is vocal in his rejection of man-made global warming and climate change.
9. Mike Johanns (Nebraska)
A former governor of Nebraska and US Secretary of Agriculture, Johanns won his first Senate term in 2008. Johanns has a stated goal of repealing the Affordable Care Act, but his own proposal to repeal the tax reporting rule of the law failed in 2010.
10. Mitch McConnell (Kentucky)
First elected to the US Senate in 1984, McConnell is the Republican Senate Leader and the longest-serving US Senator in Kentucky history. A prolific earmarker, McConnell will be running for his sixth term in 2014.
11. Jim Risch (Idaho)
A former governor of Idaho, Risch was elected to the US Senate in 2008, succeeding the disgraced Larry Craig. In 2011, Risch was criticized for being one of the five possible senators who, through an anonymous hold, killed the Whistleblower Enhancement Act, which would have granted greater protection to federal employees who reveal abuses committed by the federal government.
12. Pat Roberts (Kansas)
After serving several terms in the US House of Representatives, Roberts won a Senate seat in 1996. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the George W. Bush administration, Roberts worked to stop the flow of sensitive intelligence information to the press. He has also been widely criticized for “fixing” the intelligence that resulted in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
13. Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
First elected to the US Senate in 1996, Sessions regularly ranks as one of its more conservative members. During the lame duck session of 2010, Sessions was one of the leaders who helped defeat the Dream Act.
Democrat Senators up for re-election in 2014
1. Max Baucus (Montana)
Baucus is the longest-serving US Senator in the history of Montana, having first won election in 1978. He has voted to allow concealed carry and was a major player in the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
2. Mark Begich (Alaska)
Begich is the former mayor of Anchorage and defeated Ted Stevens in 2008, the longest-serving Republican US Senator in history. In his term in the Senate, he has supported the Affordable Care Act, but representing Republican and independent-rich Alaska, Begich has advocated ANWR drilling and gun rights.
3. Chris Coons (Delaware)
Coons won election in 2010 to claim the seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden. He defeated Tea Party candidate Christine O’Donnell.
4. Dick Durbin (Illinois)
The Democratic Senate Whip, the second-highest position in the party’s Senate leadership, Durbin is nearing the end of his third term. Durbin is a force in the Senate for liberal causes such as passing health care reform and energy policy.
5. Al Franken (Minnesota)
Well-known as a comedian before defeating Republican Norm Coleman in 2008, Franken has used his position in the Senate to try to curtail the power of credit agencies that contributed to the financial crisis.
6. Kay Hagan (North Carolina)
Hagan came to the Senate after beating Republican US Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2008. Hagan was a supporter of the Affordable Care Act and worked to include provisions in the new law to benefit her constituents such as the Rural Physicians Pipeline Act to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas.
7. Tom Harkin (Iowa)
First elected to the US Senate in 1984, Harkin was also a contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1992. Harkin co-authored 1990′s Americans with Disabilities Act.
8. Tim Johnson (South Dakota)
First elected to the US Senate after serving South Dakota’s at-large congressional district, Johnson is nearing the end of his third term. Johnson’s career has primarily involved appropriating earmarks including money for research grants, a children’s home, and keeping open Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.
9. John Kerry (Massachusetts)
First elected to the US Senate in 1984, Kerry was the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and is occasionally mentioned as a potential successor to Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. In office, Kerry has served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was a key player in the passage of New START, an arms reduction treaty.
10. Mary Landrieu (Louisiana)
A member of the moderate New Democrat coalition, Landrieu is nearing the end of her third term. She is currently the Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
11. Frank Lautenberg (New Jersey)
The oldest US Senator currently serving, Lautenberg was in the Senate from 1982-2001 before retiring and subsequently returning in 2003. A supporter of legislation for public transportation, Lautenberg will be 90 years old in 2014 and has not indicated whether he will retire again.
12. Carl Levin (Michigan)
First elected to the US Senate in 1978, Levin is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. With Republican Senator John McCain, Levin was a co-sponsor of the controversial 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
13. Jeff Merkley (Oregon)
Defeating two-term incumbent Gordon Smith in 2008, Merkley broke with many in his party in 2009 by opposing the re-confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and again in 2011 when he voted against the debt ceiling compromise.
14. Mark Pryor (Arkansas)
First elected in 2002, Pryor was one of seven Democrats in the so-called “Gang of 14” to block Republican implementation of the “nuclear option” to halt Democratic filibusters of Republican judicial appointments. Serving a culturally conservative state, Pryor has broken with his party on abortion, supporting it only in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life of the mother.
15. Jack Reed (Rhode Island)
Reed was first elected to the US Senate in 1996. In his tenure, he has compiled one of the more liberal voting records in the Senate.
16. Jay Rockefeller (West Virginia)
Although from one of the wealthiest families in the world, Rockefeller has achieved a liberal voting record that has focused on poverty reduction and health care reform. If he decides to run for re-election in 2014, Rockefeller will be attempting to win his sixth term.
17. Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire)
Defeating Republican incumbent John Sununu in 2008, Shaheen is the first woman to represent New Hampshire in the US Senate. During her first term, Sheheen has worked on energy issues with Republican Susan Collins.
18. Mark Udall (Colorado)
Elected to the US Senate in 2008, Udall comes from a well-known political family after serving in the House of Representatives. It was Udall’s proposal that the two parties sit side-by-side for the 2011 State of the Union address and not separated as they usually do.
19. Tom Udall (New Mexico)
Like his cousin, Tom Udall was also elected to the US Senate in 2008 and is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
20. Mark Warner (Virginia)
A former governor of Virginia, Warner was first elected in 2008. During his time in office, Warner has worked on deficit reduction plans.
NRA Ranked Senators
1. Max Baucus, Montana (NRA Rating: A+). Baucus appeared to oppose any federal action on gun law reform, saying in a statement that “Before passing new laws, we need a thoughtful debate that respects responsible, law-abiding gun owners in Montana instead of a one-size-fits all directives from Washington.”
2. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota (NRA Rating: A). In a local television appearance before President Obama’s announcement, Heitkamp accused the White House of having ulterior motives besides preventing mass killing, claiming “There isn’t any amount of gun regulation or gun executive orders that will solve the problem of identifying people who could potentially do this and making sure they get the help and their families get the help so they don’ t do this. I’ve said it all along that this is wrong headed…I think it is an agenda driven by something other than school shootings.”
3. Tim Johnson, South Dakota (NRA Rating: A). Like Baucus, Johnson argued against federal solutions: “We in South Dakota have far fewer problems with guns than they do in New York or New Jersey and it makes common sense to not have one size fits all.”
4. Joe Donnelly, Indiana (NRA Rating: A). Donnelly simply said that “I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment,” pointed to his NRA endorsement, and rejected the assault weapons ban plan of Obama’s proposal.
5. Mark Begich, Alaska (NRA Rating: A). Begich cited his support for mental health legislation, but demurred on gun restrictions, saying “there is no quick fix when it comes to keeping our families and communities safe. We must make smart investments to increase our safety while ensuring Americans’ Second Amendment rights are protected.”
6. Joe Manchin, West Virginia (NRA Rating: A). Manchin blamed a “culture of mass violence” rather than the spread of deadly weapons, wishing the president had created a “national commission [to] build the consensus we need for real action backed not only by gun control advocates, mental health experts and entertainment industry executives but also by law-abiding gun owners who fully understand the history and heritage of firearms in America.”
7. Jon Tester, Montana (NRA Rating: A-). Tester refused to take a position, saying “As Congress considers ways to address gun violence, we must look at all aspects of this issue. Our priority must be keeping all Americans–especially our kids–safe. I will look closely at all proposals on the table, but we must use common sense and respect our Constitution.”
8. Harry Reid, Nevada (NRA Rating: B). Reid, like Tester, wouldn’t say one way or another: “I thank the President’s task force for its thoughtful recommendations. I am committed to ensuring that the Senate will consider legislation that addresses gun violence and other aspects of violence in our society early this year. The tragedy at Sandy Hook was just the latest sad reminder that we are not doing enough to protect our citizens – especially our children – from gun violence and a culture of violence, and all options should be on the table moving forward.”
Gubernatorial Seats up for re-election in 2014
1. Texas- I still don’t expect Governor Rick Perry (R) to seek re-election to a 4th full term in 2014 because of weak approval ratings and horrible backlash he’s suffering from his presidential campaign (or lack thereof). It also doesn’t help that State Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) has ambitions to be governor in two years, Abbott has raised $12 million in his campaign war chest in a possible primary bloodbath, and some political analysts think Perry will forgo an uphill re-election bid for governor in 2014 to go campaign for the Presidency in 2016.
If George P. Bush (the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush) could run for governor in the GOP field, which would lead to an ugly bloobath with Abbott, who will have the backing of Perry’s staunchest supporters.
The Democrats will be pushing San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro (D) to run for governor, despite Castro’s claims to continue finishing up his term as mayor (he has two more two-year terms left in 2013 and 2015 before city term limits kick in by 2017). Other than that, it’s GOP HOLD regardless.
2. Arkansas-OPEN: with popular Governor Mike Beebe (D) being term-limited from seeking a 3rd term in office, the Arkansas Democrats are facing a devastating headwinds in the Natural State because they’re losing more influence and clout every single day. For the Republicans, Lieutenant Governor Mark Darr (R) is considered the early frontrunner for the nomination. AR Secretary of State Mark Martin (R) is also considered as a gubernatorial candidate. On the Democratic side, State Attorney General Dustin McDaniel (D) is running for the governorship (hoping to be the 3rd State AG to become governor since Bill Clinton in 1978 and Beebe in 2006-unless I forgot to mention anyone else).
Other Democrats being mentioned as contenders for the Arkansas governor’s mansion are former Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter (D) and former United States Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).
3. South Carolina: Governor Nikki Haley (R) is popular on the national media level, but like Jack said Haley is facing political embarrassment over ethics violations, political scandals, etc., There are rumors that SC State Treasurer Curtis Loftis (R) hasn’t ruled out a primary challenge against Haley in 2014.
4. Illinois: Governor Patrick Quinn (D) is up for re-election to a 2nd full four-year term in 2014, but he could face competition from IL State AG Lisa Madigan (D). On the GOP side, IL State Treasurer Dan Rutherford (R) and US Rep. Adam Schock (R-IL) are potential candidates.
5. Connecticut: Gov. Dan Malloy (D) and former US Amb. to Ireland Tom Foley (R) are headed towards a rematch in 2014.
6. Pennsylvania: Gov. Tom Corbett (R) is up for re-election in 2014, but could face possible Democratic challengers from United States Senator Bob Casey, Jr., (D-PA) or former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who is rumored to be “missing the spotlight in Harrisburg”
7. New Mexico: Governor Susana Martinez (R) is seeking re-election in 2014 and she’s a rising star in the National GOP and Tea Party to boot with sky-high approval ratings. For the Democrats, State Attorney General Gary King (D) has announced he’ll seek the governorship, but he’s going to be a major underdog with Martinez leading by double digits in the recent poll 51-39 and also leads State Auditor Hector Banderas (D), 50-37.
8. Ohio: Let’s see if the DNC Machine really wants to stick it to Kasich by recruiting either former Governor Ted Strickland (D), former OH Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D), former OH State Attorney General Richard Corday (D) or Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (D) to run against embattled Governor John Kasich (R).
9. Alabama: Governor Robert Bentley (R) could be facing the same two GOP primary opponents in Tim James (R) and Bradley Byrne (R) again in a bloodbath primary in 2014. Bentley faced these two back in 2010 and the AL Democrats don’t have any strong candidates.
10. Maryland-OPEN: O’Malley is term-limited from the governorship in 2014, but I expect Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown (D) to win the Democratic nomination and the general election being Maryland’s first Black Governor and the 4th overall since Wilder, Paterson and Patrick-if he pulls it off.
11. Massachusetts-OPEN: With Governor Deval Patrick (D) leaving Beacon Hill after 2 terms, the MA Dems are going to have an ugly primary and on the GOP side, I’m still wondering will outgoing US Senator Scott Brown (R-MA) run for the governorship or John Kerry’s US Senate seat in 2014 since both seats are on the ballot in 2 years.
12. Arizona-OPEN: Tea Party darling Governor Jan Brewer (R) is term-limited from seeking a 2nd full four-year term in 2014 despite serving 1 full term and having served out Napolitano’s second term. On the GOP side, AZ Secretary of State Ken Bennett (R-who questioned Obama’s birth certificate and patriotism) is running for the governorship. The Democrats have former Tempe Mayor Neil Guiliano (D) as a potential candidate if he runs….
Last edited:
