Dems aim for, and GOP worries about, midterm election wave
WASHINGTON — Buoyed by a string of Republican retirements and President Donald Trump’s persistently low approval rating, Democrats are increasingly hopeful about their chances for a midterm election wave that would give them control of the House and deliver a blow to the president.
The number of Republicans bowing out rather than bearing down for tough races is the latest worrisome sign for the GOP. Combine that with Trump’s ability to unite Democrats in opposition and historical headwinds, and some Democrats are optimistic.
“We don’t have an Obama figure energizing us; we have Trump energizing us,” said Democratic Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia, as he described standing-room-only gatherings at local Democratic events. “Who is the D? Show me who the D is, so I can vote for them,” he said of voter sentiments. “I think it’s shaping up into that kind of election.”
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, who is leading Democrats’ House campaign effort, said there is a “clear path to a majority,” something he said he never saw in 2016.