Gordon Smith

With all the attention on the monumental presidential contest and local eyes watching to see whether Democrats can capture the state Senate, a handful of U.S. Senate races have not received much attention in these parts. But Sen. Charles......

by James Oliphant Twelve Senate races are considered to be close this Election Day. The outcome could have a significant impact on the balance of power on the Hill. Democrats are chasing a 60-vote majority, which would allow them to......

In the presidential race, Obama has 52 percent with a turnout just short of 120 million -- a bit less than some were projecting yesterday. But the 52 percent -- a majority of the country -- will be an......

by James Oliphant Democrats may have picked off another GOP seat in the Senate. This morning, the Oregonian, Portland's newspaper, is projecting that Jeff Merkley has unseated Republican incumbent Sen. Gordon Smith. If that occurs, it would be the sixth.....

A few developments tonight: The Raleigh News and Observer has declared Obama the "unofficial winner" of North Carolina, with a lead of more than 13,000 votes pending the counting of provisional ballots. With 81 percent of the vote counted and......

President George W. Bush's first-ever retraction of a pardon - for convicted real-estate scammer Isaac Toussie - has the potential to become a defining legal precedent. If so, Toussie, 37, will have found the weirdest way yet to follow......

The ad below is being aired in an Oregon Senate race, where Democrat Jeff Merkley is getting ready to run against Republican incumbent Gordon Smith. It's probably not the first time a politician has used his kid this way, but......

More than 50 ethics scholars have signed a letter asking President Bush to support medical research using cells from human embryos, and more U.S. senators went on record Friday as supporting the research. "We urge you not to close this door on what might...

The House Republican prosecutors and White House lawyers turned the impeachment trial over to the Senate jury yesterday, after prosecutors implored senators to rise above their political interests, ignore White House "spin" and remove President Clinton...

After weeks of taking evidence, hearing arguments and deliberating privately, the Senate is prepared today to acquit President Clinton in a vote that is likely to deny the House prosecutors even a simple majority for conviction. A third day of closed-...

WASHINGTON - Voting overwhelmingly, Congress gave President Bush sweeping powers yesterday to use military force to avenge Tuesday's terrorist attacks. But it stopped short of granting the president open-ended authority to prevent future attacks. The...

Here are the results of elections around the nation Tuesday. Not all returns were available at press time. ALABAMA Governor: Democratic Gov. Donald Siegelman won reelection over Republican Rep. Bob Riley. Senate: Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions held...