Speaker John Boehner makes his way to the House chamber on Wednesday J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
Republicans
Republican officials Rob Collins, Phil Cox and Matt Walter all seemed pleased at a briefing for journalists about the GOP's midterm election prospects, as did former first lady Mamie Eisenhower. Frank James/NPR hide caption
When it comes to the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling, Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Michelle Nunn must navigate between her state's conservative electorate and her national party. David Goldman/AP hide caption
Some voters are a lot more complicated than is commonly understood, a new Pew Research Center study suggests. In Denver, an election worker collects a mail-in ballot from a voter on Tuesday. Ed Andrieski/AP hide caption
Catching up with a national trend, more Hispanics say they are not affiliated with a particular religion — a shift that could make the gap between Latinos and Republicans even wider. iStockphoto hide caption
Republican Dan Patrick at his victory party on Tuesday. Patrick defeated incumbent David Dewhurst to capture the Texas GOP lieutenant governor's nomination. Patric Schneider/AP hide caption
Volunteer Tom Strain carries debris from an empty lot as part of an Earth Day cleanup effort in Camden, N.J. The Earth Day events celebrated on April 22 promote a sustainable and clean environment. Mel Evans/AP hide caption
President Obama, pictured here with Lilly Ledbetter, and congressional Democrats are working the equal pay issue hard in a midterm election year when they will need as many women to vote as possible. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption
Republican David Jolly, shown during a Nov. 23 campaign rally in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., once worked for the late congressman whose seat he's vying to fill. He has called for repeal of President Obama's health care law. Steve Nesius/AP hide caption
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks to reporters following a meeting with President Obama at the White House on Oct. 2. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption
Chairman of the House Budget Committee Paul Ryan at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday. Ryan has outlined the framework of a possible deal on the federal shutdown and the debt ceiling. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption
Hilary Clinton at last week's Clinton Global Initiative forum in in New York City. /PA Photos/Landov hide caption
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, speaks during the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa, in August. Justin Hayworth/AP hide caption
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seen in 2011, signed a bill barring licensed therapists from trying to turn gay teenagers straight. Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images hide caption
Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, a libertarian Republican, says recent surveillance leaks have "brought home" libertarian ideas. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption