Loretta Sanchez

In the era of data and metrics and models in political analysis, at least one question still remains: How do we quantify the strength of individual candidates?

Arguing over whether a candidate or incumbent is good or bad is an age-old tradition in the political media and among party operatives. Typically, candidate strength is measured by fundraising or the margin of a win or loss. But that can fail to account for the particular election cycle or the possibility that any candidate running on a particular party’s line in a particular year or state would do just as well.

This is the fourth installment in “Battle Tested,” a series analyzing early campaigns of some Democrats seeking the 2020 presidential nomination. Earlier pieces focused on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Cory Booker and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

In November 2008, Kamala Harris was sprinting through Burbank airport with her campaign adviser, Ace Smith.

The Congressional Management Foundation has launched new awards for Congress, the Democracy Awards, to recognize nonlegislative achievements.

Five awards will be given out next summer. A Republican and a Democrat will be awarded in each of four categories:  innovation, transparency and accountability, constituent service, and a “Life in Congress” award for workplace environment, the foundation announced. A fifth award will be given to one member and one congressional staffer for lifetime achievement. 

The House Democrats who will decide this week whether it’s time for younger, less-tenured leadership have served in the chamber an average of close to six full terms, and nearly six in 10 are over the age of 60. 

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has drawn criticism for not fostering leadership opportunities for younger caucus members. The 76-year-old Californian, who has been the chamber’s top Democrat since 2003, is facing a challenge from 43-year-old Tim Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Ohio, who says that after four straight disappointing elections for House Democrats, it’s time for a change at the top. 

Two white men and four women walk into a room. That’s it — no joke, that’s just what the Senate freshman class looks like, so far.

The Louisiana Senate race to replace retiring Sen. David Vitter, to be decided in a Dec. 10 runoff, will determine the seventh freshman. 

Democrat Lou Correa will defeat Democrat Bao Nguyen in California’s 46th District, The Associated Press projects.

The seat opened after incumbent Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez opted to run for the Senate. 

Democrat Kamala Harris will defeat Rep. Loretta Sanchez in California’s open-seat Senate race, The Associated Press projects.

Harris led Sanchez 65 percent to 35 percent with 5 percent of precincts reporting.

Thirteen House members — and one non-voting delegate from Puerto Rico — gave up their posts to run for statewide office this year, with varying success.

Three of those races, the Maryland, Indiana and Louisiana Senate campaigns, pitted colleagues in the House against each other. While the majority were vying for Senate seats, Democrats John Carney, of Delaware and Pedro Pierluisi, or Puerto Rico, made bids for governor. Here is a round-up of their positions as polls opened on Tuesday.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ Senate campaign is hitting Rep. Loretta Sanchez for failing to disclose her husband’s tax information.

Sanchez released her tax returns, showing she earned $156,674 in 2015 and paid $36,606 in state and federal income taxes, but declined to release the information of her husband, lawyer John Einwechter.

With a comfortable lead in her Senate campaign, California Attorney General General Kamala Harris is turning her attention to helping some down-ballot Democrats in their races.

Most polls show Harris beating 10-term Rep. Loretta Sanchez, by double digits. The two Democrats finished 1-2 in the state’s open primary to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.