DemDaily: 2018: The Current Count
January 3, 2018
MN Lt. Governor Tina Smith will serve as interim US Senator
The second - Democrat Tina Smith, will serve as Minnesota's interim Senator until a November, 2018 special election is held to formally replace Al Franken, who officially resigned Tuesday.
The Count
The two new Senators narrow the GOP's majority in the United States Senate to a slim lead of 51 Republicans and 49 Democrats in the United States Senate.
|
A total of 34 of the 100 US Senate seats will be up for election this November, with the Democratic Party defending 26 seats (including two Independents), and Republicans seeking a hold on their current seven. This means Democrats will need to pick up a net gain of two seats to take the majority in 2018.
|
While three of the GOP seats are open following the declared retirements of Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Bob Corker (R-TN) and now Orrin Hatch (R-UT), all the Democratic seats are held by incumbents running for re-election, with the exception of Minnesota.
Republicans may also be facing two additional special elections in 2018 if Senators John McCain (R-AZ), who is not up until 2022, and Thad Cochran (R-MS), up in 2020, are forced to retire early for health reasons.
By most assessments, as of today, control of the US Senate will come down to key contests in Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming.
The Status of the Senate
|
Republican Seats Up in 2018 (8)
|
|
| Safe/Likely Republican (6) | Wicker (MS), Fischer (NE), Corker/Open (TN), Cruz (TX), Hatch/Open (UT), Barrasso (WY) |
| Lean/Toss Up Republican (2) | Flake/Open (AZ), Heller (NV) |
|
Democrats Seats Up in 2018 (26)
|
|
| Safe/Likely Democrat (18) | Feinstein (CA), Murphy (CN), Carper (DE), Hirona (HI), King (MN/Ind), Cardin (MD), Warren (MA), Stabenow (MI), Klobuchar (MN), Smith/Special Election (MN), Menendez (NJ), Heinrich (NM), Gillibrand (NY), Casey (PA), Whitehouse (RI), Sanders (VT/Ind), Kaine (VA), Cantwell (WA) |
| Lean/Toss Up Democrat (8) | Nelson (FL), Donnelly (IN), McCaskill (MO), Tester (MT), Heitkamp (ND), Brown (OH), Manchin (WV), Baldwin (WI) |
The Status of the House
In additional to the US Senate races, all 435 Members of the US House of Representatives are up in 2018, and they are exiting in record numbers.
|
The GOP currently holds the majority with 241 Republican seats to Democrats' 194 (including three vacancies). It will take a net gain of 24 seats for Democrats to win the House in 2018
|
With just two-year terms, House incumbents are much more vulnerable to the political environment and, between the Trump backlash and the growing number of sexual harrassment allegations, an unprecedented 39 Members have announced their resignations, retirements or plans to vacate office to run for another office.
Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-TX), the latest to announce he will not seek re-election following sexual harrassment allegations
DemList will keep you informed!
DemList
Connecting you to The Party
Connecting you to Each Other
Kimberly Scott
Publisher
Help DemList with a Contribution Today. Follow DemList on Facebook and Twitter
Sources: Ballotpedia, Wikipedia
