Posted on 11/06/2018 12:42:37 PM PST by yesthatjallen
The ranks of Republican governors are poised to thin after this year’s midterm elections, and some party strategists are bracing for major Democratic gains even in some of the most conservative states in the country.
Voters in 36 states will elect governors on Tuesday, including 26 states where Republicans currently hold the top job. Democrats are defending nine seats, and both sides are fighting over Alaska, where independent Gov. Bill Walker dropped his reelection bid late last month.
Virtually all of the most contested races are being fought on Republican turf.
Democrats are overwhelmingly likely to pick up governorships in Illinois, where Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) is running a long-shot bid for reelection, and New Mexico, where Gov. Susana Martinez (R) faces term limits.
Polls also show Democratic nominees ahead in open seat races in Michigan, Maine and Florida; of the 33 public surveys taken in Florida since the Aug. 28 primary, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (D) has led former Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) in 32.
In Nevada, Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak (D) is running even with or just ahead of Attorney General Adam Laxalt (R).
Two high-profile races in which Republican governors are retiring, in Ohio and Georgia, remain virtual toss-ups. Former Attorney General Richard Cordray (D) is tied with current Attorney General Mike DeWine (R) in Ohio, and former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (D) is locked in an increasingly contentious battle with Secretary of State Brian Kemp (R) in Georgia.
Democrats are even running close to Republicans in Kansas and South Dakota, two deep-red states. The party’s nominees are narrowly trailing or tied with Republican candidates in Oklahoma, New Hampshire and Alaska.
“These are all replays of 2014 races, which were such a low watermark for Democrats,” said Thad Kousser, a political scientist who studies state politics at the University of California-San Diego. “The Democrats probably can’t do any worse than Democrats did in the 2014 election.”
Republicans were virtually certain to give back some states to Democrats, given the zenith they reached after the 2014 elections. Republicans hold 33 of 50 governorships, the most the party has ever held.
“Polling shows that Democrats could have a good night, but there’s no clear evidence of a blue wave,” said Jon Thompson, a spokesman for the Republican Governors Association. “Republicans’ record fundraising and strong candidate recruitment gives the party a high chance of victory in numerous races.”
ETC...
Scott Wagner is probably the worst....I mean, THE WORST candidate I have ever seen the GOP put up there for statewide office. And that’s really saying something!
After watching video of him attacking a cameraman and threatening to stomp the current Governor’s face in golf cleats, I was almost too embarrassed to vote for him.
Inept, offputting, incompetent....I almost don’t have enough adjectives to describe this candidate or this campaign.
Add to that Lou Barletta yard signs that omit his last name when his #1 problem is NAME RECOGNITION!
The conspiracy theory in PA is that Republicans deliberately tank elections because many of them make a nice buck off of Democrat largesse, and I’m beginning to believe it.
And Conn.
Boy I really hope so. Think he has a shot?
Of not
GOP bailed on Michigan and didn’t support our Governor candidate at all.
Wrong. We have an incumbent 'dem running against a challenger 'Rat.
They really should check the pilot before turning on the GASLIGHT.
The poster should just link to the Hill rather than post all their garbage articles independently. Talk about bandwidth waste!
PA people need a lot of persuading, don’t they?
Just voted-there were no Wolf signs there.Bucks County PA.
No. Polis will win here.
GOP is uninspiring, incompetent and inept.
No wonder Democrats run rings around them.
Unlikely. Polis (D) has been consistently ahead by 5 to 8 points.
#1 lesson should be that if you have ever served in the State Legislature in Harrisburg, that is NOT a resume enhancement!
Nearly all Pennsylvanians regard every one of those guys, Democrat or Republican, as nothing but a bunch of crooks. Conor Lamb skated to a victory because most found the inexperienced newbie to be far preferable to Rick Saccone, a made member of the Harrisburg mob.
Likewise Wagner. Insider, Harrisburg crony. Everything voters do NOT trust here.
Voted a few minutes ago here in Cherokee county. Most democrats I’ve ever seen voting in my district.
Wolf doesn’t need signs. Wagner self-destructed.
All this article says is that the GOP is defending more seats. They provide zero evidence of any momentum indicating a shift.
Based on this, it is just as likely the 9 D mansions flip to Rs.
We’ll see.
I’m in SW PA (Pittsburgh suburbs) and there’s never been a ton of Wolf or Casey signs here either. Because signs don’t mean much to begin with, and because they aren’t needed in these 2 cases. Even the hard-core Rat poll worker down the street from me didn’t bother to put out Wolf or Casey signs, just one for state rep.
Wagner will be lucky to approach 45% tonight. Lou might get 47% or so. Trump tried damn hard to get Lou some momentum but we’re going to be stuck with the liberal Casey pup and his 46 IQ for the next 6 years.
I don’t know about other states, but Hogan will win in a virtual walkover here in Maryland.
Gloom and doom from The Hill. Why am I not surprised?
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!
Hopefully The Hill will be disappointed this evening.
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