Topic: Alexi Giannoulias

Senate's 16 new members arrive on Capitol Hill: Who are they?

Starting this Monday, the Senate welcomes 16 fresh faces to the Capitol’s marbled halls. While they won’t be sworn into office until January, these newly-elected members – three Democrats and 13 Republicans – come to Washington to tour the buildings, learn rules of decorum, and meet with their future coworkers. The new Senators come largely from open seats where both parties had a new candidate on the ticket and include a handful of tea partyers.

Democrats lose Obama's old Senate seat to Mark Kirk

Republican Mark Kirk won the close Illinois Senate race, despite several mistakes and President Obama's hard push hard for Alexi Giannoulias, the Democratic candidate.

10 races to watch

10 of the closest statewide races heading into Election 2010

Election 2010 has no shortage of nail-biters. According to The Cook Political Report, eight Senate races and – amazingly – 17 gubernatorial races remain toss-ups. While this list leaves off a few of those (the Senate races in Washington, Alaska, and Kentucky, for instance), here’s what’s going on in 10 of the closest statewide elections:

Why Illinois' pivotal Senate race stirs so little enthusiasm

A Tuesday debate between Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk offered personal attacks and a nasty tone as the candidates tried to shake up the race. It didn't appear to work.

Illinois battle: Could Democrats lose Obama's old Senate seat?

Despite fundraising appearances from the Obamas, Alexi Giannoulias (D), the state treasurer, is in a dead heat with Mark Kirk (R), who represents Illinois’s 10th District.

2010 Senate races: Four key debates this week could be game-changers

Many voters don't tune into the campaigns until debate season, which this week includes clashes in four 2010 Senate races: Connecticut, Florida, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan will campaign for Democrats

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan says education should put politics and ideology aside, but said he would hit the campaign trail in October.

Could Mike Castle be part of a new Republican middle?

Ultra-conservative 'tea party' candidates have gotten most of the attention this election cycle. But Mike Castle of Delaware is one of several moderate conservatives who could also win this fall.

Ground zero mosque flap: how Obama and Democrats can recover

Time to change the subject from the ground zero mosque controversy to something else, like jobs and the economy, say Democratic strategists. But the issue continues to draw comments from Democratic candidates.

Obama as ATM: Democrats want him as fundraiser, not campaigner

As the election season ramps up in August, President Obama is putting on his fundraiser hat, attending $30,000-a-plate dinners but not spending much time campaigning for candidates.

Blagojevich defense gets to question key witness

Blagojevich chief of staff testified for four straight days as prosecutors tried to show jurors that Blagojevich sought cash and a well-paying job for his decisions as Illinois governor.

GOP picks Bill Brady to challenge Illinois governor Quinn

Both incumbent Governor Pat Quinn and GOP candidate Illinois Sen. Bill Brady won their primary races by slim margins. The race to fill President Obama's former US Senate seat will be hard-fought as well.

In fight for Illinois Senate seat, both sides already dealing blows

The Illinois Senate seat formerly held by Barack Obama stands a decent chance of going to a Republican, analysts say. Primary voters on Tuesday selected Rep. Mark Kirk (R) to vie against state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D).

Illinois primary: how the Scott Brown win has changed strategies

Illinois has been a reliably Democratic state, but the Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts has changed political assumptions.

Illinois primary: GOP jockeys to make gains in Obama's home state

Obama's former Senate seat and the governor's office are up for grabs in 2010. The GOP is likely to emerge from the Illinois primary on Tuesday with candidates who can compete well in this blue state.

Kirk’s Senate bid a crusade against Illinois corruption

The Republican congressman and Afghan war veteran is a moderate who has worked across the aisle.

A short Senate tenure for Illinois's Burris

Democrats stand a better chance of retaining the seat in 2010 now that Burris – tarred by the Blagojevich connection – has bowed out, analysts say.

Who will fill Obama’s Senate seat?

The Illinois governor has promised to name someone before the end of the year.