Decades-old GOP winning streaks are suddenly at risk
Democrats are running surprisingly competitive races in traditionally Republican territory across the country this midterm election cycle , and it's putting GOP winning streaks at risk that stretch as far back as the 1930s. Why it matters: Democrats hope ending political droughts in states such as Kansas, Texas and South Carolina will help make inroads in what has long been off-limits territory.…
Democratic candidates are making surprising inroads in traditionally Republican strongholds during the 2022 midterm elections, potentially ending decades-long GOP winning streaks that date back to the 1930s. These shifts in voting patterns could open doors to seats that have been off-limits for Democrats in key states such as Kansas, Texas, and South Carolina.
In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall is facing a tough challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton, a Methodist pastor who has raised significantly more funds and is leading in the polls. The race is being rated as a tossup by the Cook Political Report, marking the first time since 1932 that a Democrat has a shot at winning a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas.
Texas, long a Democratic heartland, has seen Democratic Rep. James Talarico making waves in the Senate race against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico is within single digits of Paxton in the polls, and the race is also being rated as a tossup by the Cook Political Report, suggesting a possible upset given that Democrats last won a Senate seat in the state in 1988.
South Carolina's Democratic Senate candidate, Annie Andrews, is trailing Republican incumbent Sen. Darline Graham by a few percentage points in polls. Andrews has raised substantial funds, while Graham has struggled as a political newcomer. However, Democrats have not won a U.S. Senate seat in the state since Fritz Hollings was reelected in 1998.
In gubernatorial races, Texas has not elected a Democratic governor since Ann Richards in 1990, but Democrat Gina Hinojosa is in a close race with Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, who is expected to win. Similarly, Democrat David Jolly in Florida and Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia are both aiming to become the first Democrats elected governor in their states since 1998.
In Montana, Democrats hope former smokejumper Sam Forstag's populist appeal will help him defeat Republican nominee Aaron Flint, a veteran and radio host, marking the first time Democrats have won a U.S. House seat in the state since 1994.
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