Do Georgia Democrats see a realistic opportunity to flip the state House of Representatives back to Democratic control for the first time in 15 years?

House Minority Leader Bob Trammell, who represents a rural district, was asked how his party sees its prospects of coming out on top in the costly race to control the chamber while on Tuesday’s Political Rewind on GPB.

Various groups – such as Fair Fight PAC, which was founded by former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams – are vowing to pour money into the battle over the House. Republicans, meanwhile, have announced that they plan to spend $10 million to defend vulnerable seats – and maybe even try to win some back.

Flipping the House will be an uphill slog for Democrats, but it represents their best shot of whittling away at Republican control over all aspects of state government in Georgia.

“The House majority is certainly within our reach in 2020,” said Trammell, who will also be simultaneously fighting to keep his job representing a swing district that voted for President Donald Trump.

To pull off the upset, House Democrats would have to win 16 seats next year. Democrats now hold 75 seats of 180 in the House after flipping 11 districts in 2018; two years ago, they held just 62.

“There is no question that there will be more money spent by both parties in the legislative races in 2020 than probably ever in the history of Georgia,” he said. “But money without message is a complete waste.”

Trammell’s response on the show provides a glimpse of what the 2020 pitch will be to voters: A new majority in power is the only way to prevent anti-abortion measures like the “heartbeat” bill, which outlaws most abortions after about six weeks into a pregnancy, or advance any one of the dozen Democrat-sponsored bills that would tighten up the state’s gun laws.

The top House Democrat also said Republican loyalty to Trump will be a “gift” for his party next year.

Heath Garrett, a Republican strategist and another panelist on Tuesday’s show, said Republicans were “caught flat-footed” last year and fell short of where Trump set the bar in 2016. He said they don’t plan on letting that happen again next year.

“There are good messages from good Republican candidates that I think are going to create a uniquely competitive environment that I think are going to allow us to win back a few (seats) and defend the ones that other people are already giving to the Democrats, I think, prematurely,” Garrett said.

Even if Democrats seize control of the House, the state Senate will likely still be under Republican leadership, as will the governor’s mansion. Republican Gov. Brian Kemp was just elected to a four-year term last year.