Democrats' fear: 2020 race killing chances to win Senate

[brooklynite]

Axios

Democrats have more than beating President Trump to fret in 2020: They face an uphill battle to win the Senate, and the possibility of losing House seats, too.

Reality check: The Senate looks tough to win back for Democrats, who have suffered a string of recruiting disappointments:

Democrats need four seats to win a majority — but very few Republican incumbents look beatable right now. Susan Collins, who sits atop the list, is fairly popular in Maine.

The other two most vulnerable Republicans are Sens. Cory Gardner of Colorado and Martha McSally of Arizona, who's being challenged by Mark Kelly, the retired astronaut turned gun-control advocate.

[TwilightZone]

1. The math doesn't work, but we knew that.

The race isn't "killing chances" to win the Senate - 2020 was always going to be a problem from a math standpoint.

[NewJeffCT]

4. In a normal year, Republicans would have picked up 6-8 seats in the Senate

in 2018. They picked up two.

Yes, the map is not great for Democrats in 2020, but it was a lot worse last year.

I think O'Rourke, Abrams, Hickenlooper and Bullock would have been far better served running for Senate. Even if Bullock. Abrams and O'Rourke all lost, they would have forced their opponents and the RSCC and RNC to spend money in those states defending their candidates.

Collins is still going to be tough in Maine because I'm not sure I've seen any Democratic candidates there that have statewide name recognition. (I was hoping for Susan Rice, but she likely would have had to move to Maine permanently last year...)

[Goodheart]

2. Here's the reality: 35% of our population controls 60% of our Senate seats

The Constitution is at fault.

[zipplewrath]

3. It's going to get worse

By 2040 it is projected that 70% of the country will live in just 15 states. The result will be that 30% of the country will control 70% of the senate. Not sure a government can long function with such an arrangement.

[colsohlibgal]

5. It Is Outrageous

And most democrats in office just will not go there. The Electoral College is ridiculous but unfortunately most democrats refuse to pound his home.

Our system is so rigged in favor of the republicans.

[Polybius]

8. The EC isn't purposely rigged in favor of Republicans though

When it was written, there was no Republican Party.

[pecosbob]

15. It was created to protect the political power of small population states, as was the Senate

[riverine]

6. If Susan Collins is the best pickup opportunity

then the Senate won't turn blue.

[brooklynite]

9. Cory Gardner (CO) is the best pickup chance...

...and we have other candidates:

Dan Baer (D) - Ex-US Ambassador & Ex-Depy Asst US Secretary of State
Derrick Blanton (D) - Progressive Activist
Diana Bray (D) - Psychologist & Envinronmental Activist
Ellen Burnes (D) - College Professor, Economist & Ex-Boulder County Democratic Chair
Kerry Donovan (D) - State Sen.
Lorena Garcia (D) - Nonprofit Group Executive
Stan Garnett (D) - Ex-Boulder County District Attorney
Jena Griswold (D) - Secretary of State & Attorney
Mike Johnston (D) - Ex-State Sen., Businessman & Ex-High School Principal & '18 Gov Candidate
Cary Kennedy (D) - Ex-State Treasurer & Ex-City of Denver CFO
Dustin Leitzel (D) - Critical Care Pharmacist
Alice Madden (D) - Ex-State House Majority Leader, Attorney, University Official & Ex-Gubernatorial Aide
Keith Pottratz (D) - Computer Consultant & Navy Veteran
Andrew Romanoff (D) - Ex-State House Speaker, Attorney, '10 Candidate & '14 US Rep Candidate
Joe Salazar (D) - Ex-State Rep., Attorney & '18 Atty Gen Candidate
Stephany Rose Spaulding (D) - Baptist Minister, College Professor & '18 US Rep Nominee
John Walsh (D) - Ex-US Attorney
Angela Williams (D) - State Sen., Ex-State Rep & Insurance Agency Owner
Trish Zornio (D) - Research Scientist

Martha McSally (AZ) is second best, and we have Astronaut (and Gabby Giffords' husband) Mark Kelly.

[treestar]

7. That was said last time

Does it ever look good for Democrats? We have turned the Senate before. And right now it is 52-48, so that's close.

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. If only there was an issue the Dems could take a stand on, that would make GOP candidates vulnerable

What could it be...?

[Buckeyeblue]

11. Winning the Senate is as important as winning the presidency

If we beat Trump but the R's still control the Senate we will not get a single judge through. Of course, the R's won't either.

[corbettkroehler]

12. The 50-State Strategy Is Key And We Must Start Now

I maintain that a candidate's ability to energize the entire base after the convention and create spillover into the congressional races should be a factor in determining our vote in the primary.

[uponit7771]

13. +1, Can they afford it ?! This sounds like common sense seeing we can't win were we don't compete

[corbettkroehler]

14. You're So Right - Howard Dean's Democracy Bonds Program Was Genius

When i read his original email announcement for the Democracy Bonds program when he was DNC Chair, I was drawn like a magnet to his key point that Democrats need the funds in order to MAINTAIN the infrastructure throughout every year, rather than the on-again-off-again approach which has failed us.

I couldn't reach for my credit card fast enough and my original Democracy Bond remains framed on my wall.

[struggle4progress]

16. "Coming up next: Dems had really better not try to win or they might actually lose!"