Seth McLaughlin

Chris Christie’s former ally pleads guilty in ‘Bridgegate’ scandal

A former official of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey appointee by Gov. Chris Christie pleaded guilty Friday in the role he played in the 2013 George Washington Bridge scandal.

Mike Huckabee rolls out ‘official announcement’ introductory video

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee takes aim at Bill and Hillary Clinton as part of a new video that will introduce him at his "official announcement" on Tuesday in Arkansas.

Jeb Bush 2016 campaign trails Mitt Romney 2012 bid in enthusiasm at same point in race

There is less enthusiasm for Jeb Bush at this point in the Republican presidential race than there was for Mitt Romney four years ago, according to party operatives who say it signaled weariness over another Bush candidacy and reflected a stronger field this time.

Jeb Bush slams decision to play Orioles game without fans following riots

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a likely 2016 presidential contender, criticized the decision of the Baltimore Orioles to bar fans from attending a game this week as a result of riots in the city.

Ted Cruz ‘hitting on a lot of cylinders’ in presidential campaign

Sen. Ted Cruz's month-old presidential campaign has won strong reviews from GOP insiders in key states who say he's managed to tap into the anti-establishment sentiment of primary voters, and his allies have proved they have the ability to raise tens of millions of dollars to boost his bid.

Ted Cruz: Obama has ‘inflamed’ racial tensions

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said Wednesday that President Obama has "inflamed racial tensions in this country" and that the Democrat has missed a prime opportunity to unify the nation.

Bobby Jindal ‘dark horse’ for 2016 GOP presidential bid, kingmakers say

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is still trying to earn a second look from GOP primary voters, after his widely panned 2009 State of the Union response put a dent in his billing as a new face of the GOP.

Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush back Patriot Act ahead of NSA phone snooping debate

The defense hawks are on the rise in the Republican presidential field, defending the Patriot Act just as Congress prepares for a make-or-break debate over the future of the NSA's phone-snooping program.

Ted Cruz signs pledge not to raise taxes if elected as president

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas signed the influential Americans for Tax Reforms' pledge not to raise taxes if elected president in the 2016 election.

Marco Rubio: I would love to win support from the Koch brothers in 2016

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said Thursday that he is aligned with the conservative Koch brothers on most issues and would "love" to win their support in the 2016 presidential race.

Scott Walker breaks from GOP on border limits

The latest Census Bureau projections show immigrants will account for 14.8 percent of the U.S. population early in the next decade, setting an all-time record and raising questions about whether the country has the ability to assimilate newcomers at such a torrid pace.

New Jersey’s largest teachers union pulls out of pension talks

The New Jersey Education Association said Tuesday that it has pulled out of talks with a commission appointed by Gov. Chris Christie that the Republican had hoped would yield a deal that could put the state on stronger fiscal footing.

Carly Fiorina, 2016 White House hopeful, taking long-term fundraising approach

Carly Fiorina is preparing to challenge conventional campaign wisdom that says the Republican presidential nominee must place in the top three in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, instead preparing a longer but less-expensive campaign strategy.

Rand Paul stands out in packed GOP field, analysts say

Standing out among the giant field of potential GOP candidates is tough, but Sen. Rand Paul will likely have an easier time of it than the others when they descend on New Hampshire this week.

Tea Party Express offers congressional ‘Solutions for America’ book

Sick of the tea party being portrayed as nothing more than a collection of obstructionists, a national branch of the grassroots movement has teamed up with dozens of conservative lawmakers on a book that offers solutions to the nation's biggest challenges.

Chris Christie offers ideas to preserve Social Security

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that Social Security benefits must be curtailed in order to preserve the program for future generations, wading into a tricky political issue at the heart of the debate over federal spending and debt.

Marco Rubio launches 2016 White House bid with inspirational personal story

Sen. Marco Rubio hailed his personal story as the son of Cuban immigrants as he announced his run Monday for the Republican presidential nomination — once again tapping the same biography that helped make him a rising GOP star five years ago.

NRA convention: 2016 Republican hopefuls vow to defend gun rights, slam Obama, Clinton

An invigorated National Rifle Association tested the mettle of potential 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls and ramped up for an expected battle against Hillary Rodham Clinton — though the gun rights group said it also will keep a watchful eye during President Obama's final years in office.

Lindsey Graham: ‘We are at war’ and must kill Islamic extremists

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Friday that the Obama administration has left the nation vulnerable to an attack, and urged those who turned out for the NRA's annual meeting to make sure that the next president takes the fight to Islamic militants.

Marco Rubio: Obama has been a ‘weak president’