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Republican House Seats Potentially At Risk
Townhall.com ^ | March 22, 2018 | Scott Rasmussen

Posted on 03/22/2018 8:41:23 AM PDT by Kaslin

Democrats must pick up 23 seats to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives this November. They have plenty of openings since 68 seats currently held by Republicans are at varying levels of risk.

A race-by-race analysis at ScottRasmussen.com shows that 28 of these Republican seats are at a high level of risk (Democrat favored, Toss-Up, Tilt Republican). Fourteen more are modestly competitive while leaning in the GOP direction. Finally, 26 others might be at risk depending upon the political environment this fall.

Seven Republican seats are already tilting or leaning to the Democrats. These are races where Republican incumbents like Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27) retired.

Another 13 races are rated as pure toss-ups bringing the number of top-tier Democratic opportunities to 20. Five (5) are found in Pennsylvania due to a court-ordered redistricting plan and most are suburban districts.

Given that midterm election dynamics typically favor the party out of power, all 20 GOP seats rated as toss-ups or tilting in the Democratic direction could easily flip from R to D in November. Adding to the challenge for Republicans is that there are very few opportunities for GOP gains. Only two Democratic seats are rated as toss-ups.

While these realities are encouraging for Democrats, they can't win the majority without defeating some Republican candidates who are currently favored. In fact, control might be determined by the results in eight (8) Republican seats currently rated as barely tilting in favor of the incumbent party. While each race has its own distinct characteristics, the results are likely to be reflective of the national political dialogue.

For example, Minnesota-3 could be decided by the electoral power of the Republican tax-cuts. In a district Clinton won by 9 points, Democrats hope to use that issue against incumbent Republican Erik Paulsen. On the other hand, Paulsen believes that "tax cuts and regulatory reform have created real momentum in our economy." If the tax cut message works, it will help Paulsen keep his job along with many other Republicans in competitive districts.

In Texas-3, John Culberson was seen early on as a potential target for Democrats. Clinton narrowly won his district and the incumbent was slow to build a campaign team and fundraise. But he may have caught a break due to the deep divide between progressives and more centrist candidates. National Democratic strategists openly opposed progressive Laura Moser in the primary, but she made it to the run-off anyhow.

The Democratic civil war may benefit Culberson and other Republicans hoping to keep their jobs. If progressive candidates like Moser are nominated, it could turn off more pragmatic voters. On the other hand, if more centrist Democrats are nominated, it's not clear whether progressive voters will maintain their enthusiasm to vote in November.

If tax cuts and the Democratic civil war help candidates like Paulsen and Culberson win, the GOP might have a decent election night and retain narrow control of the House. Still, even a good night for Paul Ryan's party would probably mean losing 15-20 seats.

On the other hand, there's a lot of potential upside for the Democrats. With 68 Republican seats at risk, Nancy Pelosi's team can dream of a victory as big as the Republican gains in 2010.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 115th; 2018midterms; campaigns; midtermelection
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Under no circumstances can we allow the dems to take Congress back
1 posted on 03/22/2018 8:41:24 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
"Under no circumstances can we allow the dems to take Congress back"

Civil war within 12 months?

2 posted on 03/22/2018 8:44:16 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("I will now proceed to entangle the entire area".)
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To: Kaslin
A race-by-race analysis at ScottRasmussen.com shows that 28 of these Republican seats are at a high level of risk

How many Democrat seats are at a high level of risk to switch to Republican?

3 posted on 03/22/2018 8:44:26 AM PDT by olezip
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To: Kaslin

So they discuss potential GOP at risk or possible turn over seats.
What about the Dems? Are everyone of their seats secure for them?


4 posted on 03/22/2018 8:46:10 AM PDT by deport
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To: olezip
olezip :" How many Democrat seats are at a high level of risk to switch to Republican? "

Unknown how many Democrat seats at risk, but
it is more difficult to "get out the vote" in a non-presidential election year.
Many voters will get complacent and fail to show up to vote.
Complacency is the conservative challenge, not the Democrats.
Volunteer to rally the troops !

5 posted on 03/22/2018 8:53:45 AM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: Kaslin
Reality check. The way the Republicans did this budget and that they did not stand up for ANYTHING in the Deplorable Agenda means that Republicans will have a hard time being elected for so much as local dogcatcher. Don't ask us to vote for "the lesser of two evils". The lesser of two evils is the Dems, since they don't lie about their agenda during campaign season.

Do they seriously think this will help them in November? It'll help the dems who will use it as a campaign plus what great negotiators they are.

Beyond disgusted.

6 posted on 03/22/2018 8:53:53 AM PDT by grania (Deplorable and ProMy ud of It!)
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To: Kaslin

I’m all out of give a damn.

/shrug


7 posted on 03/22/2018 8:57:21 AM PDT by chris37 (Laws donÂ’t prevent criminals from committing crimes. Guns prevent criminals from committing crimes.)
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To: grania

The Republican Party needs an enema, and getting wiped out in November is one way to do it.

Sure it will impact Trump in the short-term, but hopefully they’ll have their act together for 2020, and get rid of the deadwood in the meantime.


8 posted on 03/22/2018 8:59:26 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: olezip
How many Democrat seats are at a high level of risk to switch to Republican?

None. He lists two as toss-ups and a couple as only tilting Democrat. Three issues are apparently feeding the chance of Democrat pickups. The first is the tax bill and what the loss of the SALT deduction does to Republicans in Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, California, and New Jersey. The second is the Pennsylvania redistricting. And the third are the large number of retirements removing any advantage an incumbent might have. On the other hand the election is over seven months away. A lot can happen in that time.

9 posted on 03/22/2018 8:59:45 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

The fourth issue feeding the chance of Democrat pickups is that the GOP has so badly damaged their credibility as a political party that even many voters in their own base will stay home.


10 posted on 03/22/2018 9:08:12 AM PDT by Alberta's Child ("I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's.")
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To: Kaslin

Fight like every seat is at risk!


11 posted on 03/22/2018 9:09:19 AM PDT by Andy from Chapel Hill
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill

Absolutely.


12 posted on 03/22/2018 9:11:22 AM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero)
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To: Psalm 73

Civil War? So be it! If the president doesn’t veto this proposed budget I will not vote this November. If that means the rats take over; they are already in charge as far as I am concerned. Bring a CW on and I’ll gather up my guns and join in. Every country can use a revolution once in a while and at present we are nearly there.

(Not that my vote matters here in rat infested NJ anyway).


13 posted on 03/22/2018 9:12:21 AM PDT by New Jersey Realist ( (Be Nice To Your Kids. They Will Pick Out Your Nursing Home))
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To: chris37

figures


14 posted on 03/22/2018 9:12:38 AM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero)
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To: Kaslin

After this budget bill there will be far more “at-risk” seats.

People stay home when the only option is a sell-out loser.


15 posted on 03/22/2018 9:16:31 AM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: Psalm 73

The fear of this must be instilled in the libs.

They need to know in no uncertain terms that any action taken against the rightfully elected president of the United States will be viewed as a hostile attack on our country. It will be viewed as sedition and rebellion and dealt with as such.


16 posted on 03/22/2018 9:17:55 AM PDT by sipow
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To: dfwgator
So you are for repeating the 2006 midterm election. Do you realize that if we lose the House the rats will impeach President Trump, and if we lose the Senate, they will remove him from Office

WAKE UP!!!

17 posted on 03/22/2018 9:18:00 AM PDT by Kaslin (Politicians are not born; they are excreted -Civilibus nati sunt; sunt excernitur. (Cicero)
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To: Kaslin

Yeah, it’s not hard to calculate, is it?


18 posted on 03/22/2018 9:18:56 AM PDT by chris37 (Laws donÂ’t prevent criminals from committing crimes. Guns prevent criminals from committing crimes.)
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To: Kaslin

If the messaging for the fall from the GOP is going to be the same as they used in the PA-18 special election, the republicans will lose the house. PERIOD.

They will gain Senate seats, but they are going to lose far more than 22 or 23 seats and lose the house.

I have never seen such utter incompetence in all my life.


19 posted on 03/22/2018 9:19:04 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: Kaslin

Then he had best get to leading these useless jerks.


20 posted on 03/22/2018 9:20:13 AM PDT by chris37 (Laws donÂ’t prevent criminals from committing crimes. Guns prevent criminals from committing crimes.)
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