Posts by Dr. Eric Ostermeier
A Brief Look at Indiana’s Rich History of Landing Vice-Presidential Nominees
The Hoosier State has produced the second largest number of running mates in U.S. history.
Read MoreBayh Could Succeed Same US Senator Twice for Just 2nd Time in US History
It has been 135 years since the last – and only – time one senator directly followed another twice in the chamber.
Read MoreThe Real Law and Order Party
On Monday, Donald Trump proclaimed himself the “law and order candidate” – resurrecting Richard Nixon’s 1968 campaign rhetoric. More than a century prior, the actual Law and Order Party had electoral success for a brief period in Rhode Island. Formed in the early 1840s in response to the Dorr Rebellion (a movement led by Thomas…
Read MoreHard to Say Good-Bayh?
Evan Bayh’s headline-making entrance into Indiana’s 2016 U.S. Senate race brings a familiar name back to the front page in Hoosier State politics. Bayh previously served two terms in the chamber before retiring in 2010 while his father, Birch, served three terms ending with a 7.4-point loss to Republican Dan Quayle during the Reagan Revolution…
Read MoreBayh and Feingold Could Become 1st Pair of Ex-US Senators to Return to Chamber in 60 Years
It has been 30 cycles since the last time multiple former Senators returned to their old job in the same cycle.
Read MoreDemocrats Seek to Extend, Tie Record Gubernatorial Winning Streaks in 2016
After the 2016 cycle, the party could reach record winning streaks for governor in five states across three regions of the country.
Read More6 Elected Officials Who Gave Up Their Seats Only to Lose as Their Party’s VP Nominee
Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s name may be added to a very short list of failed vice-presidential nominees who gave up their seats along the way.
Read MoreIt’s All Relative: Massachusetts US Senate Edition
One-quarter of all Bay State U.S. Senators were preceded by a family member in Congress; Joe Kennedy III would become the 14th.
Read MoreCould Democrats Lose the Presidency and Make Gains in the US House?
It has been 120 years since the last time a party lost the White House and still netted the 30 seats Democrats need to win back the chamber in 2016.
Read MoreGlenn Wins Colorado GOP US Senate Primary Against Record-Breaking Field
The five-candidate field was the largest across the 78 Democratic and Republican primaries conducted for the office in the state since 1912.
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