DemDaily: 2017 Specials Signal Surge
December 14, 2017
2017 has already surpassed the average number of Special Elections for an "off year" and, in this political environment, 2018 may also prove to be a record year for resignations or early retirements.
A first glance at the results of this year's seven federal (US House or Senate) special elections shows more wins in the GOP column, with Republicans holding onto all five of their Congressional seats in Kansas (4th CD), Montana (At-Large), Georgia (6th CD), South Carolina (5th CD) and Utah (3rd CD), and Democrats holding onto their one Congressional in California 34, and flipping the only US Senate election (Alabama!) to their control.
But a closer look at the voter performance of those races, where the Democratic voting margin has been 16% higher than the average partisan lean in each seat, and 12% overall in both federal and state legislative special elections, provides a positive outlook for Democratic victories in 2018.
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The "partisan lean" refers to the the way a district has voted in the past election cycles - and its traditional performance in favor of one party or the other.
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The results point to a positive pattern for Dems who, regardless of the outcome of the election, are outperforming their GOP counterparts in 74% of those races.
Traditionally special elections are an indication of what can be expected in the mid-term elections and, combined with President Trump's historically low approval rating (at a mere 37.1%), Republicans may be facing huge losses next November.
Much can happen in one year but, for now, Democrats are looking at Happy Holidays!
DemList will keep you informed.
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