Democrats, Congress | featured news

Hours before President Barack Obama's official swearing-in to a second term, top Democrats predicted a victory for the broadest component of the White House's push to change the nation's gun laws.

Stephen Colbert may have "run for president," but his sister is actually going to run for Congress Elizabeth Colbert-Busch's soon-to-be-official campaign has informed South Carolina Democratic Party executive director Amanda Loveday that it will file Tuesday for the special election for appointed Sen. Tim Scott's (R-S.C.) old House seat, Loveday has told the Washington Post.

The battle for the House was pretty even in 2012, with Democrats winning slightly more of the popular vote but Republicans holding a strong 33-seat majority thanks to a map that favors their party. And it will be very difficult for Democrats to win back the majority in 2014, because the president's party has rarely gained House seats in a midterm election.

Jesse Jackson Jr.'s resignation from Congress might end his once-promising political career but it doesn't mark the end of troubles for the civil rights icon's son... Just two weeks after voters re-elected him to a ninth full term, Jackson on Wednesday sent his resignation letter to House Speaker John Boehner, citing his ongoing treatment for bipolar disorder and admitting "my share of mistakes" while confirming publically for the first time that he's the subject of a federal probe and cooperating with investigators.

Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she will run to keep her job as the Democratic leader in the House after a pair of elections that kept the party in the minority there even as Democrats gained seats in the Senate and a second term for President Barack Obama.

In a widely expected move, independent Senator-elect Angus King of Maine announced Wednesday that he will join the Democratic Senate caucus, bringing the Democrats to a 55-senator majority in the new Congress, which convenes in January.

...Jackson is discussing a plea deal with the Justice Department, which is investigating his alleged use of campaign funds to decorate his house and buy a $40,000 Rolex for a female friend. Jackson won reelection last week with more than 60 percent of the vote. A plea deal could require jail time and his resignation, according to reports.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has left the Mayo Clinic, where he was being treated for bipolar disorder for the second time since taking a leave of absence in June... Jackson remains under a U.S. House committee's investigation into his dealings with imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

CBS News reported the Illinois Democrat is working on a deal stemming from allegations he misused campaign funds.

The top Democrat in Congress called Wednesday for a quick solution to Washington's "fiscal cliff" in an upcoming post-election session of Congress....