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Monday's Campaign Round-Up, 11.17.14

Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
 
* In Alaska's gubernatorial race, Bill Walker (I) defeated incumbent Gov. Sean Parnell (R), with the latter conceding the race over the weekend. Walker, who ran with a Democratic running mate, will be Alaska's first independent governor.
 
* In Alaska's U.S. Senate race, Sen. Mark Begich (D) still has not conceded -- the AP and NBC News both called the race late last week -- and apparent Sen.-elect Dan Sullivan (R) is on Capitol Hill seeking committee assignments for the next Congress.
 
* There were plenty of unresolved U.S. House races after Election Day, but of the 11 too-close-to-call contests that have been resolved over the last two weeks, Democrats have prevailed in all of them. That might take some of the sting off a rough year.
 
* Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) has had some serious health issues during his first term in the Senate, but asked late last week about his future plans, the Republican replied, "No frickin' way am I retiring."
 
* On a related note, it's far too early to know who might take Kirk on in Illinois in 2016, but Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has said she's "interested, open, and curious" about the race.
 
* In other 2016 news, Democrats have chosen Sen. Jon Tester (D) of Montana as the new chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The party has not yet chosen a new leader for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, but Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has narrowed the field to five candidates.
 
* And on the other side of the aisle, Senate Republicans chose Sen. Roger Wicker (R) of Mississippi as the new head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Wicker beat out Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) who also wanted the gig.