NC Democrats’ parity in Congress delegation may be fleeting
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Congressional Republicans say their party may see its numbers dwindle as Democrats regain control of the House, giving them a much more difficult time in terms of passing legislation.
But Democrats say they have the numbers on their side after taking back the House Nov. 4. That may be only temporary, but it underscores the challenge that Democrats face in turning out voters, who have the highest approval ratings of any party in America.
As a result, many analysts say Democrats will have to raise their game if they want to make inroads this November.
Republican freshmen have to convince more moderate Democrats from red states and districts to vote for them come Election Day.
“You start at a certain point — when you get above a 40 percent level of vote success,” said Bill Daley, executive director of the Republican Governors Association.
That’s why some GOP insiders are predicting Democrats will have to work hard to convince voters that they’re on the up and up.
“There’s just going to be more and more of a challenge going forward,” said Scott Lilly, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Lilly said he expects there to be more primary battles this year, as Republicans try to unify the party behind new leaders, including first-term Nevada Rep. Joe Heck and Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston. But it’s not only up to the new members of Congress to make inroads in their respective primaries.
Some of the top operatives for Democratic House candidates are preparing for a much more traditional challenge, where they’ll need to run their campaigns with a more traditional voter base, said one Democrat in the race.
“The Democrats are going to continue to be in a very difficult place, as a party,” said Mark Longabaugh, a spokesman for Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chairman Steve Israel.
“If you turn out to be in the midterm, what message are you going to send to the voters? Because it is a midterm election, you’re going to have to turn out voters that were not excited by you in the first place, and you’re going to have to get those voters back,” Longabaugh said.
House and Senate Democrats will be able to draw on the party’s base for their campaigns,
