Droves of Democrats exiting the House create massive problems ahead of midterms

[Counselor706]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) hopes to keep the House majority past the midterms are slimming as droves of vulnerable Democrats continue to announce retirement or seek higher office*instead of fighting tough reelection.

Democrats are also facing redistricting across the country and a president whose approval ratings are cratering.

With the news of retirements and members seeking other offices, there have even been reports showing Pelosi herself contemplating leaving elected office. “Sometime in the not-so-distant future, probably after next year’s midterm elections, Pelosi will announce that she’s stepping down,” the Atlantic wrote.

Democrats trying to fight to stay in the majority are also facing tough redistricting battles. Politico recently outlined the House Democrats spending their last two elections (2018 and 2020) talking about their achievements of unseating members in red districts — which have since gotten more competitive over the years. However, they did not realize the majority of the districts where millions of dollars and hundreds of hours were spend fighting could disappear after redistricting.

Source

 

[KeithD]

Democrats retiring doesn't really have any ipso facto connection to Republicans taking their seats. And the same for the Republicans retiring. That doesn't automatically give the seat to a Democrat.

 

[LupusDei]

And, wasn't it speculated that Republicans have reached peak gerrymandering already and can only be at best defensive this cycle? Sure, they get two additional seats from TX, but overall it may not be at all that bad even though Republicans control a lot more redistricting than Democrats.

 

[wallstreetguy]

GOP will never have power again. Democrat lawyers are smarter and more ruthless. And Wall St, Silicon Valley and other billionaires will fund them to the ends of the earth.
Remember, 81 million Americans voted for a guy who, on Election Day, mixed up his dead son with his 14 year old granddaughter.
Nope, the Thousand Year Democratic Reich has begun.

 

[bellisarius]

And, wasn't it speculated that Republicans have reached peak gerrymandering already and can only be at best defensive this cycle? Sure, they get two additional seats from TX, but overall it may not be at all that bad even though Republicans control a lot more redistricting than Democrats.

Yes, that is one speculation. But so was "Peak Oil." Although no matter who is doing the redistricting gains or losses aren't going to be great.

One of the consequences not mentioned in the article is that of those democrats 'retiring' is they are now no longer beholding to the party WRT votes between now and then. They have freed themselves to vote either their conscience or for their constituency.

 

[YDB95]

This week, two longtime Democrats, Reps. David Price (D-NC) and Mike Doyle (D-PA), both loyal confidants to Pelosi, announced their retirement. Additionally, last week Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY), another Pelosi loyalist and chairman of the House Budget Committee, announced he was retiring from public life.

These three Democrats joined the five other retirees, the majority of whom represent highly competitive districts: Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) announced in October 2019 that she would only be running for one more term in Congress, which expires in 2022; Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX) and Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) announced their retirements in March; Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced she would not seek reelection in April; and scandal-ridden Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) announced he would be retiring in August.

All but one of those members (Yarmouth) come from dependably blue districts. If the Dems lose the House, it won't be because of those seats.

 

[ll74]

More droves of Republicans have left recently than Democrats

 

[Cubantripod]

The president loses seats during the midterm.