Michigan Democrats target four seats to retake House as GOP counter-attacks
Michigan Democrats are targeting Oakland County districts as part of their bid to regain control of the state House of Representatives, but Republicans have a $3 million fundraising advantage and are counter-attacking in two Metro Detroit districts.
All signs point to a close race for control of the Michigan House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a 58-52 majority. Changing demographics in Oakland County, a traditional Republican stronghold where Democrats have recently made gains, and the impact of the race between Democrat Joe Biden and President Donald Trump have some experts watching four Republican House districts closely — including one in Kalamazoo.
The GOP majority drew House districts in 2011 so its candidates could absorb at least a six-percentage point loss by the Republican nominee at the top of the ticket, but any greater loss could put some once-secure GOP seats up for grabs, said Adrian Hemond, partner and CEO of the political consulting firm Grassroots Midwest.
“Even more than most years, everything counts on the top of the ticket,” said Hemond, a Democratic consultant. “You’re not coming out to vote because of a House race. You’re coming out to vote for president.”
The toughest challenges for Republicans are likely to be in Oakland County, where Democrats have flipped seats and where Gov. Gretchen Whitmer won by nearly 17 percentage points in 2018, said Brian Began, director of research and elections at Grassroots Midwest.
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/08/21/michigan-democrats-eye-four-seats-retake-house-gop-fight-back/3338514001/
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