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According to the newest projection, Democrats could win as many as seven Senate seats in two weeks, and the implications of the size of their victory will be felt in years to come.

The Cook Political Report now projects that Democrats will win 5-7 Senate seats:



Since 1998, no party has won less than 67 percent of the seats in Toss Up. While the 2016 election has broken every political science rule and trend, we’d be surprised if this becomes one of them.

As such, we are increasing the range of expected Democratic pick ups to five to seven seats. This means that we feel that the prospect that Democrats will have at least 51 seats is greater than the odds of a tied Senate, or of Republicans somehow holding their majority.

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Cook Political Report Senate Projection Map:

Democrats have to pick up as many seats as they can in 2016 because the 2018 midterm Senate map is loaded with challenges. Democrats will be defending seats in five red states Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia. Democrats will also be defending seats in Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Virginia.

If Democrats win seven seats in 2016, it will give them more wiggle room to lose a few seats while still keeping their Senate majority in 2018. A big 2016 will make it much easier for Democrats to keep the Senate in 2018.

Taking back the majority was the initial goal for Democrats. In the last two weeks of the election, Democrats need to take advantage of the favorable election climate to win as big of a majority as possible.

Their success or failure may determine whether or not the Senate stays in Democratic hands beyond 2018.

Voting in 2016 is important for dozens of reasons, but one of the most important is that a vote for a Democratic Senate candidate in 2016 will make it easy for the party to maintain their majority in 2018.

A vote in 2016 may help to prevent a Democratic loss in 2018.