Conor Kenny's News Articles

By Congresspedia assistant editor Avelino Maestas

Heavy criticism from Republican House members and high gas prices appear to have made an impact on Democratic leaders in the House, as they are now preparing to debate legislation this week to allow some offshore drilling. In addition, the bipartisan group of senators pushing its own compromise legislation has grown to include 20 members. Also on the Hill's agenda this week is discussion of a second stimulus package amid growing concern about the deterioration of the country’s private financial system.

House Democrats on Tuesday are expected to begin debate on energy legislation that would allow some coastal states to determine whether drilling should be allowed off their shores. The bill would end a congressional moratorium – in place for more than 25 years – preventing drilling within 200 miles offshore. President Bush rescinded an executive moratorium earlier this summer.

The legislation proposed by the House Democratic leadership does not go as far as plans put forward by Republican lawmakers, as it would only authorize some states to approve drilling projects 50 miles out (drilling would be allowed off all coastal areas 100 miles out). It also differs significantly from legislation being prepared in the Senate.

More on this week's legislation and committee schedules after the break.

For full information, including candidates, click on a state's name

By Congresspedia assistant editor Avelino Maestas

Our wrap-up of Tuesday’s primary elections is pretty hefty, so we've split it into three parts; you can find results from Minnesota and Wisconsin in this post. Remember, we have a full list of candidates after the break, including the professions of all the challengers. You can find the candidates from New England at the Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont portals and at the New England wrap up, and mid-Atlantic candidates at the District of Columbia and New York portals and at the mid-Atlantic wrap up.

Minnesota
Al Franken (D) and Sen. Norm Coleman (R) easily dispatched the competition in their respective parties’ primary elections on Tuesday. Coleman, at one time behind Franken in polling, has opened a lead over the actor/comedian. Both candidates are performing well on the fundraising front, in what has become a high-visibility contest on the national level. A half-dozen candidates from other parties will join Coleman and Franken on the November ballot.

Unopposed in their respective primaries, Democrat Jigar Ashwin Madia and Republican Erik Paulsen are preparing for the general election in Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district. Incumbent Rep. Jim Ramstad (R) is retiring at the end of the 110th Congress.

There are a couple of freshman incumbents in Minnesota being targeted by the opposition. In CD-01, Republican Brian Davis is challenging Rep. Timothy Walz (D). Meanwhile, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) is trying to hold off a Elwyn Tinklenberg (D).

Wisconsin
In the 1st congressional district, Rep. Paul Ryan (R) was unopposed Tuesday, and Marge Krupp beat out two other Democrats for the shot to challenge the incumbent. Most of the incumbents appear to be favored for victory in the general election, though freshman Rep. Steve Kagen is facing a rematch of the 2006 election: he narrowly defeated Republican John Gard in that contest.

As part of Congresspedia's Wiki the Vote project, citizen journalists from around the country (and even some candidates!) have been logging information about the candidates' positions, biographies and records. A full list of the candidates and their professions are below, but you can also find them at their respective state portals via the Wiki the Vote project homepage. We need your help to find out more about these candidates, so if you know something about them please add it to their profile. (You can always contact one of the staff editors for help.)

For full information on a state's candidates, click its name at any point below.

By Congresspedia assistant editor Avelino Maestas

Our wrap-up of Tuesday’s primary elections is pretty hefty, so we've split it into three parts; you can find results from Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont in this post. Remember, we have a full list of candidates after the break, including job info for all the challengers. You can find midwestern candidates at the Minnesota and Wisconsin portals and at the midwestern wrap up, and mid-Atlantic candidates at the District of Columbia and New York portals and at the mid-Atlantic wrap up.

Delaware
Sen. Joe Biden was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He’s expected to easily be re-elected this November over challenger Christine O'Donnell. However, should he be elected Vice-President, an interim replacement would be named by the governor until a special election is held in 2010.

In the At Large House race, Karen Hartley-Nagle beat out two other candidates for the Democratic nomination to take on incumbent Rep. Mike Castle (R). Castle is favored for the general election.

New Hampshire
The general election this year will feature a couple of rematches. In the 1st congressional district, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) will face former Rep. Jeb Bradley (R), whom she defeated in 2006. The Senate race is also a rematch, between 2002 candidates Sen. John Sununu (R) and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D). Sununu narrowly won six years ago, but Shaheen may have an edge this year.

In CD-02, freshman Rep. Paul Hodes (D) will face Jennifer Horn in November.

Rhode Island
Republican voters nominated Robert Tingle to challenge Sen. Jack Reed (D), who is favored to win come November. The state’s incumbent House members, Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D) and James Langevin (D) were unopposed in the primary. Republican nominee Jon Scott will face Kennedy in the 1st district, while in CD-02 Langevin will be running against Mark S. Zaccaria (R).

Vermont
Rep. Peter Welch (D) is unopposed by major parties, but will face several other candidates.

As part of Congresspedia's Wiki the Vote project, citizen journalists from around the country (and even some candidates!) have been logging information about the candidates' positions, biographies and records. A full list of the candidates and their professions are below, but you can also find them at their respective state portals via the Wiki the Vote project homepage. We need your help to find out more about these candidates, so if you know something about them please add it to their profile. (You can always contact one of the staff editors for help.)

By Congresspedia assistant editor Avelino Maestas

Congress is returning to work this week, following a month off for campaigning in home districts and to allow for the Democratic and Republican conventions. A couple of oldies but goodies will top the agenda for senators and representatives: only one spending bill for the FY 2009 budget has been approved (for Military Construction-Veterans Affairs), and it was passed by just one chamber. Therefore, it appears likely Congress will work on a continuing resolution to keep the government running.

In addition, the question of energy development will emerge as a major issue, as Republicans are continuing to press for expanded offshore drilling while Democrats want to extend renewable energy tax breaks. Also, there are congressional primaries in several states tomorrow — there is more information below, and stay tuned tomorrow for a full election preview.