Top Items:
Robert Tanner / Associated Press:
Republican wins bellwether House race — A former Republican congressman narrowly beat his Democratic rival early Wednesday for the right to fill the House seat once held by jailed Randy "Duke" Cunningham, a race closely watched as a possible early barometer of next fall's vote.
Discussion:
The Fix, MyDD, The RCP Blog, The Moderate Voice, Instapundit.com, The Washington Monthly, PoliBlog, Don Surber and Sister Toldjah
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Chris Bowers / MyDD:
Post Election Thoughts — In 2004, Busby lost the CA-50 by 22.0%. Today, it looks like she will lose by around 4.5%. And that was with the NRCC spending $4.5M on the race. If Republicans want to spin losing 18 points after spending $4.5M of committee money as a good thing, go for it.
Discussion:
The Plank, Firedoglake, Democrats.com, RedState, Swing State Project, Fact-esque, Decision '08 and The Stakeholder
San Diego Union-Tribune:
Bilbray edges out Busby — Rep. Filner beats Democratic rival in latest rematch — Republican Brian Bilbray beat Democrat Francine Busby early Wednesday in a close race to replace imprisoned former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham in the 50th Congressional District, a contest seen as a gauge …
Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Republican Wins House Race in Calif. — SAN DIEGO, June 7 — A Republican former congressman slipped to victory in a special election here Tuesday, staving off what would have been a highly embarrassing Democratic victory in a solidly Republican district. National Republicans poured …
Washington Post:
Republican Wins Bellwether California Election — The California Congressional seat vacated by jailed former representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham will remain in Republican hands after a special election Tuesday in which a lobbyist narrowly defeated a Democratic school board member.
Discussion:
NewsBusters.org, Hugh Hewitt, Right Wing Nut House, The Emerging Democratic …, The Strata-Sphere, Hot Air and The RCP Blog
Michael Finnegan / Los Angeles Times:
Preschool Funding Measure Trails — Brown Wins Attorney General Primary; Race for Governor Close — After months of vitriolic campaigning, the Democratic primary for governor was too close to call in the hours after polls closed in Tuesday's election, while Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown won …
Discussion:
Roger L. Simon, Hotline On Call, The Original Blog, MSNBC and Patterico's Pontifications
Matt Stoller / MyDD:
Progressive Messaging Wins: Tester, Angelides, Winograd, and Bilbray?
Progressive Messaging Wins: Tester, Angelides, Winograd, and Bilbray?
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
Supporters lose in gay marriage ban vote — WASHINGTON - The Senate on Wednesday rejected a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, dealing a defeat to President Bush and Republicans who hoped to use the measure to energize conservative voters on Election Day.
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R. Jeffrey Smith / Washington Post:
Retirement Account of DeLay's Wife Traced — With Disclosure, Family's Known Benefits From Ties With Lobbyist Exceed $490,000 — A registered lobbyist opened a retirement account in the late 1990s for the wife of then-House Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) and contributed thousands of dollars …
Discussion:
TPMmuckraker
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USA Today:
DeLay: GOP's 'panic, depression' risk losing elections — WASHINGTON — Former House majority leader Tom DeLay said he's "disappointed" in three ex-associates who pleaded guilty in a federal probe of political corruption, but he said their admissions "doesn't mean I knew" of their efforts to bribe Congress.
Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
Senate Contender in Florida Presses On — VENICE, Fla. — Undaunted by a run of horrific poll numbers, staff turmoil and public doubts from leaders of her party, Representative Katherine Harris is thinking confidently beyond November. — Once Ms. Harris wins her race for a Senate seat …
Bob Kemper / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
McKinney deal may be in works — Lawyer rejects talk of any negotiations — WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors investigating the confrontation between Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia and a Capitol police officer have been talking privately with McKinney's office in hopes of resolving …
Discussion:
PhotoDude.com, Passionate America, Wonkette, A Blog For All and FullosseousFlap's Dental Blog
New York Times:
Block the Vote, Ohio Remix — If there was ever a sign of a ruling party in trouble, it is a game plan that calls for trying to win by discouraging voting. — The latest sign that Republicans have an election-year strategy to shut down voter registration drives comes from Ohio.
TigerHawk:
The northern border and the Maple Leaf jihad — Regular readers know that I am a bit "soft" on illegal immigration, at least insofar as I do not subscribe to every argument offered by those who believe that illegal immigration from Mexico is an enormous problem requiring an immediate solution.
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
Salvaging Iraq — The images from Iraq are of hell on earth: On Sunday 12 Iraqi students traveling to Baqubah to take their final exams were dragged from a bus and killed because they practiced the wrong religion. The next day gunmen dressed in police uniforms kidnapped 56 people near …
Washington Post:
Technology Sharpens the Incumbents' Edge — Redistricting Also Complicates Democrats' Effort to Take Control of House — In Ohio's 1st Congressional District, Republican incumbent Steve Chabot is running up against his toughest reelection challenge in years. But his Democratic opponent is running up against Chabot's computer.