With Hillary Clinton running strongly, it seems likely that the Democrats will regain control of the US Senate in this fall’s elections.
The Republicans must defend 24 seats to the Democrats total of 10 seats.
They seem certain to win New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin at the least, and only have one seat in Nevada in danger of being lost to the Republicans.
The Democrats have a good chance also in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri and Arizona.
Of course they will not win all of these seats, but if they gain five and do not lose Nevada, they have 51 members of their caucus, and if they win 4, with Tim Kaine as Vice President, they will gain the majority.
However, having more members is crucial to help promote the future of the Supreme Court, which is likely to have several new members over the next few years.
Right now, many Republicans are running ahead of Donald Trump, so it may be that the Democrats will have trouble gaining more than a minimum majority, but the situation is very fluid, and no clear cut prediction as to the makeup of the Senate next year is possible yet, with 75 days to go until the election.
Professor,
I’m not too sure NH is “certain”. While the latest poll shows 50/40 in favor of Hassan, I don’t get the sense it is a slam dunk.
Ayotte has hurt herself by playing both ends against the middle and got caught in the McCain/Graham vortex on foreign policy.
She could have been a moderate in the Olympia Snowe/Susan Collins mode, but started to play coy trying to establish her position in the Senate.
She did have a somewhat bipartisan repution as AG in NH ,so much so that she was reappointed by a Democratic governor.
She has paired with Senator Shaheen on many issues such as veteran’s issues and the opiod crisis.
She is no buddy of The Donald, but somewhat tried to play the role of party supporter by ” supporting, but not endorsing” him. Talk about an oxymoronic position.
I can really see GOP voters going for Clinton as a protest vote, but still vote for Ayotte.
That’s my honest assessment of the campaign thus far in the Granite State.
Very interesting and perceptive, Paul.
Do you reside in New Hampshire? LOL
Professor, Yes.
Born and raised in Mass., but a resident of NH for over 35 years. My work still involves travels almost exclusively in Mass. So, I consider myself a dual citizen. LOL!
So you are a New England Yankee LOL except, Paul, you support the Boston Red Sox against the NY Yankees! 🙂 LOL
Just look at the avatar/icon next to my name. It’s Fenway Park from a snapshot I personally took. Both teams have a long heritage and until 2004, it was frustrating being a Red Sox fan, although when I was growing up, the Red Sox were truly horrible and I adored the Yankee teams of the early 60’s that featured Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Elston Howard, Bobby Richardson, Roger Maris, Clete Boyer, Tom Tresh, Joe Pepitone, Al Downing, Jim Bouton, et al.
After the Yankee dynasty crumbled after 1964, the Red Sox built up their farm system to become Don Quixote in 1967, the tide turned somewhat….Ah, memories!
I am a great baseball fan, and preferred the Dodgers but admired the Yankee stars too. Later, the Mets and somewhat the Marlins, although the latter was always and still is disillusioning!
My original interest in history, Paul, was baseball history, and I was the expert in the neighborhood, lol–not much of an athlete, but an expert on baseball stats and history.
When the quiz shows were on tv, I knew all the baseball answers, lol, and my dad said I should apply to be on the show lol hahaha! 🙂
Another diversion. NH holds a unique place in baseball history.
When Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe and Roy Campanella were not too far behind.
Jackie was assigned to play in Montreal for the Royals. Newcombe and Campanella were assigned to lower level Class B-Nashua in 1946.
Thus, Nashua holds the distinction of having the first black professional ball players in the country since the 1890’s because Robinson played for a team in Canada!
The ballpark in Nashua is still used for high school and college teams and is a beautiful little gem of a ballpark.The two access roads into the stadium are named Campanella Way and Newcombe Drive. There is a placque commemorating that historic fact on the concourse.
Fascinating, and if that had been asked on a quiz show with me on it, lol, i would have lost! HAHAHA! 🙂
Play on words. If The Donald had access to the black suitcase with the codes, what would he do the first time he lost his temper?
(Answer: Newcombe (Nuke ’em! LOL!).
HAHA! Funny, but NOT funny if it involves the Donald!