IN CYCLE

This is Washington lingo for “up for reelection.” Since Senate terms are six years long, but elections are every two years, only one-third of the Senate is up for reelection at any given point. For Senators and their staff, being in or out of cycle can mean major changes in day-to-day life. If you are out of cycle and reelection is several years away, it’s easier to take an unpopular stand on a tough issue like immigration. When you are in cycle, with an election looming or even a primary opponent, it can color every policy decision for those two years.

Next Term: KEY VOTE