“Significant” special elections: special elections usually are triggered when someone dies, resigns, or gets elected or appointed to another office, leaving the seat vacant. Both parties reflexively spin such wins as significant harbingers of future campaigns.  

— From “Dog Whistles, Walk-Backs & Washington Handshakes: Decoding the Jargon, Slang, and Bluster of American Political Speech ,” by Chuck McCutcheon and David Mark.    

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The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress


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