Expanding map creates tough choices for GOP

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Expanding map creates tough choices for GOP
By Melanie Zanona - 04/04/18 06:00 AM EDT

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Republicans are bracing for tough midterm elections, with anxiety running high over whether anti-Trump sentiment could hurt the GOP at the polls.

The GOP election strategy has been further scrambled by Democrat Conor Lamb’s upset victory in a Pennsylvania special election last month, which suggested the GOP could even be vulnerable in areas of the country where Trump was strong in 2016.

Historically, the president’s party loses about 32 seats on average during the midterms. Democrats will win back the majority if they flip a net 23 seats.

There are nearly two dozen Republicans running in races that are currently rated as toss-ups, including Reps. Leonard Lance (N.J.), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.), Rod Blum (Iowa), Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), John Culberson (Texas), Jeff Denham (Calif.), Barbara Comstock (Va.), Erik Paulsen (Minn.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.).

Meanwhile, there are more than a dozen other races where Republicans have an advantage but the seats are still considered competitive. That list includes some lawmakers who were outraised by their Democratic challengers in the last quarter of 2017, including Reps. Mia Love (Utah), Steve Chabot (Ohio), Mimi Walters (Calif.) and Dave Brat (Va.).

Following Lamb’s upset victory over Republican state Rep. Rick Saccone, the Cook Political Report changed 10 race ratings toward Democrats, illustrating how an already difficult playing field could become even more treacherous.

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http://thehill.com/homenews/house/381537-expanding-map-creates-tough-choices-for-gop?userid=57999