Massachusetts: The Tipping Point
- Senator Ted Kennedy (D) dies and a special election was set to replace him without a Kennedy family member or protégé in the contest.
- Voters picked Scott Brown (R) over a somewhat clueless Democrat which encouraged tea party activists of their righteousness and reduced the GOP Senate magic number to 10.
- State treasurer Tim Cahill was elected as a Democrat but became an Independent to run for governor.
- Rep. Barney Frank (D MA 4) gets a financial services regulation bill enacted.
- Big-spending entrepreneur Rick Snyder took down two powerful “sure winners” in GOP gubernatorial primary.
- Rep. Carolyn Kirkpatrick (D MI 13) lost primary for her 8th term.
- Rep. Bart Stupak (D MI 1) decided not to run again after getting attacked on all sides over his negotiated settlement on health care and abortion.
- Rep. John Dingell (D MI 15) the longest-serving House member didn’t retire.
- Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) isn’t running again.
- Democratic primary voters rejected the convention-endorsed Margaret Anderson Kelliher for governor.
- Rep. Keith Ellison (D MN 5) is the first Muslim to serve in the House.
- Rep. Michele Bachmann (R MN 6) rivals Sarah Palin in the tea party camps.
- Democrats picked the Twin Cities for 2012 presidential nominating convention.
- No statewide race on the ballot
- All 4 House members are running again
- President Obama secured his place as a serious presidential contender in 2008 by winning the Missouri Democratic Primary after the Iowa caucuses.
- Missouri was the closest state in the 2008 Presidential Election, it was won by McCain by about 4000 votes.
- Senator Kit Bond (R) is retiring after four terms in the Senate and two terms as governor.
- No statewide races on the ballot
- Senator Max Baucus (D) chairs the Senate Finance Committee
- Senator Ben Nelson (D) almost brought down the health care bill over his provisions to benefit Nebraska.
- Nebraska’s allocation system for Electoral College votes gave the 2nd district to Obama in 2008.
- Tea party insurgents kept weak GOP establishment figure from winning a 13-way primary battle.
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) and his son Rory are both on the ballot.
- Governor Jim Gibbons (R) lost his primary
- Foreclosures and unemployment among highest in the nation.
- Obama voter turnout machine expanded voter registration to win in 2008
- After accepting, Sen. Judd Gregg (R) turned down an appointment as Secretary of Commerce.
- Senator Gregg also decided not to seek a 4th term
- Governors are elected every 2 years.
- Open Senate Republican primary chose the national party’s choice by a narrow margin.
- Chris Christie (R) won 2009 gubernatorial race, inspiring Republican candidates to run across the nation in 2010.
- Governor Chris Christie (R) says he isn’t ready or experienced enough to run for president.
- Senator Bob Menendez (D) chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC)
- No statewide races on the ballot.