* In a surprise announcement, Rep. Jon Runyan (R-N.J.) has decided not to seek a third term in Congress. His New Jersey district leans "blue," and Democrats see this as a strong pick-up opportunity.
* In another surprise, pseudo historian David Barton told Glenn Beck's website this morning that he will not take on Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in a primary next year. Barton said "the time is just not right for me."
* In the closely watched run-off election in Alabama's 1st congressional district, former state Sen. Bradley Byrne (R) held on to defeat Tea Party activist Dean Young (R), 53% to 47%.
* As Rachel talked about on the show last night, Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) launched his re-election bid yesterday. Earlier in the year, the embattled governor suggested he may quit rather seek a second term.
* In about an hour, former Rep. Steve Daines (R) will kick off his Senate campaign in Montana, hoping to replace retiring Sen. Max Baucus (D). Daines, generally considered the frontrunner, will likely take on Lt. Gov. John Walsh (D) next year.
* In Arkansas, freshman Rep. Tom Cotton (R) is giving up his seat to run for the Senate, and yesterday, former FEMA Director James Lee Witt (D) announced he's running for the open House seat.
* And in Wyoming, Senate hopeful Liz Cheney (R) endorsed expansive NSA surveillance efforts over the summer, but she's now walking back her position. "There are legitimate questions and concerns that have to be answered about what the NSA has been doing," Cheney told the Casper Star-Tribune over the weekend.