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nkpolitics1212

(8,617 posts)
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:45 PM Feb 2017

2020 is the year Democrats regain control of the US Senate.

2018
Red State Democratic US Senators up for re-election
IN-Donnelly
MO-McCaskill
MT-Tester
ND-Heitkamp
WV-Manchin
Manchin wins re-election in a GOP wave.
(minus 4) 44D 56R
Purple State Democratic US Senators in
FL-Nelson
MI-Stabenow
MN-Klobuchar
OH-Brown
PA-Casey
WI-Baldwin win re-election
Democrats hold onto the NJ-Menendez seat.
Democrats pick up NV (Heller-R) and AZ (Flake-R)46D 54R
In 2020
Blue/Purple state Republican US Senators up for re-election
CO (Gardner)
GA (Perdue)- Democrats have force November/December runoff.
ME (Collins) Retirement or Primary challenge improves Democrats chances.
NC (Tillis)
Gardner-CO and Tillis-NC are likely to lose. 48D 52R
Democrats will hold onto VA-Warner.
Democrats defeat Trump and pick up red state Republican held US Senate seats in
IA (Ernst)
MT (Daines) Bullock-D runs
50D 50R with Democratic VP breaking a tie.




45 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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2020 is the year Democrats regain control of the US Senate. (Original Post) nkpolitics1212 Feb 2017 OP
Not unless we fix our broken election system. milestogo Feb 2017 #1
Start by sharp_stick Feb 2017 #4
Our legislature is dominated by Republicans who have created the mess. milestogo Feb 2017 #8
Gerrymanders can be broken Demsrule86 Feb 2017 #34
Well, what do you suggest we do? MoonRiver Feb 2017 #36
Hear, Hear! pat_k Feb 2017 #12
How do we take back state houses when electronic voting machines are rigged against us? milestogo Feb 2017 #20
Support effective organizations like pat_k Feb 2017 #23
thanks milestogo Feb 2017 #25
we are pretty much at the mercy of whether the russkies/repugs feel like hacking things or not. TheFrenchRazor Feb 2017 #30
If you are (or know) an attorney crazycatlady Feb 2017 #32
And fix money in Politics. JDC Feb 2017 #2
Ff we don't take control before then madokie Feb 2017 #3
Thanks! Much as I would like to agree that VA is spooky3 Feb 2017 #5
Democrats hold 4 seats in the VA US House. nkpolitics1212 Feb 2017 #13
I think you mean Comstock. spooky3 Feb 2017 #21
Ok--mcEachin just assumed office--a Republican spooky3 Feb 2017 #22
There will be no GOP wave in 2018. GOP will lose both House and Senate seats. LonePirate Feb 2017 #6
The only seat I see them losing is Nevada yeoman6987 Feb 2017 #26
Not listening to you yeoman6987. We will win both Houses. Kingofalldems Feb 2017 #27
Not if we get up off our asses and do some organizing. athena Feb 2017 #39
You are right. GOP have 8 seats total in 2018. yeoman6987 Feb 2017 #40
Trump and the Republican Party may be extremely unpopular by 2018. athena Feb 2017 #41
It stuns me but you are right yeoman6987 Feb 2017 #42
HOW?? What election? We now live in a dictatorship!! pangaia Feb 2017 #7
And Kaine is up for reelection in 2018. It might spooky3 Feb 2017 #9
AZ and NV are the two Republican held seats up in 2018 that are highly vulnerable to a nkpolitics1212 Feb 2017 #17
Thanks. There is also web speculation that Carly Fiorina spooky3 Feb 2017 #19
Not if they don't... pat_k Feb 2017 #10
Democrats have not learned their lesson during the Bush/Cheney era. nkpolitics1212 Feb 2017 #18
Yes. It's a tragedy. To date they've missed every opportunity ... pat_k Feb 2017 #24
It's pretty hopeless Calculating Feb 2017 #11
Yep Cosmocat Feb 2017 #33
Don't think like that crazycatlady Feb 2017 #35
We need the House to end these gerrymandered districts. muntrv Feb 2017 #14
Actually, its the other way around. Cant get the house without fixing the gerrymandering first. Warren DeMontague Feb 2017 #31
If Lindsey Graham loses a primary South Carolina could be in play. StevieM Feb 2017 #15
There will be no election in 2020... madinmaryland Feb 2017 #16
We are going to have to sustain momentum every day between now and then. joet67 Feb 2017 #28
If 45 has four full years, no country left, not hyperbole. sarcasmo Feb 2017 #29
Susan Collins won't lose her seat but she may run for governor in 2018 Zing Zing Zingbah Feb 2017 #37
Do you see LePage running against Angus King in 2018 or Do you see him running in 2020 to succeed nkpolitics1212 Feb 2017 #38
She'd be governor starting 2019 if she got elected Zing Zing Zingbah Feb 2017 #45
And the white house coolbreeze77 Feb 2017 #43
Democrats will take the White House in 2020. nkpolitics1212 Feb 2017 #44

milestogo

(16,829 posts)
1. Not unless we fix our broken election system.
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:47 PM
Feb 2017

We are going to keep losing representation until there are no elected democrats in office - unless we get control of our elections back.

sharp_stick

(14,400 posts)
4. Start by
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:50 PM
Feb 2017

getting involved with the State races. We need legislatures and Governors to fix this mess. We especially need it for 2020 when redistricting comes around.

milestogo

(16,829 posts)
8. Our legislature is dominated by Republicans who have created the mess.
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:57 PM
Feb 2017

They gerrymandered the redistricting in 2011, got caught, and are now being given the chance to do it again.

They have corrupted electronic voting. I think Clinton did win Wisconsin, but some of her votes were altered in the machines. I don't know how to fight this. But I don't think just voting for Dems is going to help if we have lost control of the elections.

MoonRiver

(36,926 posts)
36. Well, what do you suggest we do?
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 09:30 AM
Feb 2017

I am worried too, but plans to fight Democratic disenfranchisement are welcome, bigly!

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
12. Hear, Hear!
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:03 PM
Feb 2017

Take back the state houses!!

If we don't, we're going to see more insanity like this:

http://www.npr.org/2017/01/31/512636448/bills-across-the-country-could-increase-penalties-for-protesters

In North Dakota, where protests have gone on for months over construction of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, a lawmaker has introduced a bill that would allow motorists to run over and kill any protester obstructing a highway as long as the driver did not do it intentionally.

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
23. Support effective organizations like
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 10:57 PM
Feb 2017
https://www.verifiedvoting.org
http://www.commoncause.org/issues/voting-and-elections/
http://www.ncbcp.org
https://www.electiondefense.org


There are others, but these are the ones I keep an eye on for news, activities to support, etc. Verifiedvoting.org in particular has a good track record of on the ground, state-level efforts that are successfully shaping laws for the better. Also, https://www.electiondefense.org provides a way to check out what equipment is used where, and to find the "worst" offenders.

In many places, the unverifiable electronic voting machines put in place more than a decade ago are reaching "end of life." It's a critical time to work to influence replacement choices. Paranoid Republicans are potential allies in efforts to replace unverifiable electronic voting with paper ballots.

As horrific as the problems associated with electronic voting are, there is an "elephant in the living room." Namely, voter suppression through strategic under-allocation of resources to "certain areas" As far as I'm concerned, this is perhaps the greatest threat we face.

I am infuriated by the level to which we have come to accept long lines. Some even applaud when they see them, viewing it as evidence of high turnout. This is an incredibly damaging attitude.

Lines are tantamount to a poll tax. Time IS money. I have absolutely no doubt that for every 10-people waiting for an hour or more in a long line, at least one voter took a look and went home.

Early voting is great, but tragically, in many states, the existence of early voting is being abused as an excuse to decimate resources allocated on election day. Where feasible, one approach is to push for a move from mixed mail-in/polling place systems to 100% mail-in. Well-implemented 100% mail-in systems effectively address a host of problems. "Mixed" systems create problems.

Regardless of system, we are seeing intolerable cut-backs in number of polling places, etc., particularly in "poorer" jurisdictions.

Getting activists to take up this cause -- to make "0 tolerance for lines" our clarion call --is at the top of my list. I find myself pretty alone is the effort, but I do what I can to encourage organizations I think are effective to take up the cause. (And to do things like post about it on forums like DU.. eg. http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512586226 .)

We can only do what we can do -- and do our best not to give in to despair. I find that when I "do something," even if small, I become more aware of that there are so many others out there doing their bit too. it's a great antidote to the despair that threatens to overwhelm in these grim times.

 

TheFrenchRazor

(2,116 posts)
30. we are pretty much at the mercy of whether the russkies/repugs feel like hacking things or not.
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 06:16 AM
Feb 2017

a lot of dems seem to be oblivious to this.

crazycatlady

(4,492 posts)
32. If you are (or know) an attorney
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 09:21 AM
Feb 2017

Volunteer your time to your local Democratic Party on Election Day so you can be on call for any voting machine problems. It is a lot easier to address voting machine problems when you have a lawyer nearby.

spooky3

(34,476 posts)
5. Thanks! Much as I would like to agree that VA is
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:50 PM
Feb 2017

Blue-purple, and it definitely is in the urban areas, I think it will remain purple through 2020. A lot will depend on events between now and then.

Warner is a conservative to moderate Dem and probably will win then, however.

Re House--I wish we could change the districting, however. GOPers hold 8 of 11 Cong seats despite getting fewer votes statewide. The wonders of gerrymandering...

nkpolitics1212

(8,617 posts)
13. Democrats hold 4 seats in the VA US House.
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:04 PM
Feb 2017

3)Bobby Scott
4)Donald McEachin
8)Don Beyer
11)Gerry Connelly


Democrats need to target VA-10 (Cornstock-R)

spooky3

(34,476 posts)
21. I think you mean Comstock.
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:49 PM
Feb 2017

She's stronger than you might expect. She had a well-funded, connected challenger this year, but beat her pretty badly. From what I hear, Comstock is very good at "retail politics"--goes to every street fair, community meeting, fish fry, etc. she can, and is responsive to constituent help requests.

LonePirate

(13,431 posts)
6. There will be no GOP wave in 2018. GOP will lose both House and Senate seats.
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:55 PM
Feb 2017

Mid-term elections are consistently horrible for the incumbent president's party.

athena

(4,187 posts)
39. Not if we get up off our asses and do some organizing.
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 08:05 PM
Feb 2017

I'm not going to sit around and make predictions as if nothing is going to change in the next two years.

athena

(4,187 posts)
41. Trump and the Republican Party may be extremely unpopular by 2018.
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 08:52 PM
Feb 2017

But we have to make sure people are informed. Too many people watch Fox and only Fox. Sometimes, I tune into Fox during commercials and am amazed by their lack of coverage of what is going on. It's like watching the state-controlled media of a dictatorship.

This is why it's important to organize. The Republicans did it for decades. For some reason, Democrats seem to lack the desire to effect change. (And I'm talking about the grassroots.) If that changes, it will be a silver lining of Trump's "presidency".

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
42. It stuns me but you are right
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 08:54 PM
Feb 2017

I have never seen two weeks of complete chaos ever no matter the party. This is nuts!

nkpolitics1212

(8,617 posts)
17. AZ and NV are the two Republican held seats up in 2018 that are highly vulnerable to a
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:18 PM
Feb 2017

Democratic pick up.
AZ (Flake-R) faces a primary challenge from a Tea Partier, winner faces a top tier Democratic challenger Kirsten Sinema.
NV (Heller-R) US Reps Jacky Rosen-D or Ruben Kihuen-D run.
Regarding Kaine-VA.
Gillespie-R is running for Governor in 2017, if he loses then he could challenge Kaine-D and lose by a narrow margin.

spooky3

(34,476 posts)
19. Thanks. There is also web speculation that Carly Fiorina
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:45 PM
Feb 2017

Might challenge Kaine. She would do poorly in NoVA, despite moving there. People are pretty well informed about her business and political failures as well as her positions, which are inconsistent with those of most here.

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
10. Not if they don't...
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 08:58 PM
Feb 2017

... finally demonstrate a united front, stand strong, and ACTUALLY fight for the principles they claim to care about, win or lose.

If Dems don't step up and prove to the nation that they have a few inviolate principles they are willing to go all out for, whatever the outcome, they are not going to gain ground against those who are attracted to "Strong Man" Trump and his "principles."

If Dems keep to the "can't win, so don't fight" preemptive surrender maneuvering they have stuck with for the past couple decades, "turning things around" will remain out of reach.

It's up to us to light a fire under their asses.

They aren't going to change willingly.

“When people are insecure, they’d rather have somebody who is strong and wrong than someone who’s weak and right.”
--Bill Clinton

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
24. Yes. It's a tragedy. To date they've missed every opportunity ...
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 11:12 PM
Feb 2017

... to redeem themselves.

Refused to impeach Reagan for Iran Contra.

Refuse to support prosecution of Bush Sr. for his role.

Refused to rescue the nation from the black-robed election thieves by throwing out the Florida electors on Jan 6 2001

Refused to impeach Bush and Cheney for war crimes.

Refused to rescue the nation from another stolen election by throwing out the Ohio electors on Jan 6, 2005

Refused to filibuster Alito and thereby take a stand against the war criminals.

Refused to hold torturers accountable for their actions (Obama's blanket immunity).

Even with all their immoral failures, I still have a spark of hope. With every failure, we have an "I told you so." "Look how well your bleats of "backlash," calls for "bipartisonship," calls to focus on "more important things" over fighting for our bedrock principles, and ll those other rationalizations for inaction, have "paid off." Maybe it's time to rethink things. Huh?

Calculating

(2,957 posts)
11. It's pretty hopeless
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:01 PM
Feb 2017

Thanks to gerrymandering, vote suppression, and overall cheating, I doubt we'll see the dems regain control within the next decade. The only way they do is if Trump REALLY screws up and starts another depression or something.

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)
31. Actually, its the other way around. Cant get the house without fixing the gerrymandering first.
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 06:27 AM
Feb 2017

We do that, hopefully, by winning some statehouses back before the 2020 census.

madinmaryland

(64,933 posts)
16. There will be no election in 2020...
Wed Feb 1, 2017, 09:14 PM
Feb 2017

Get Real. The Repubicans will have banned any party of dissent. We will be living in a one party country.

joet67

(624 posts)
28. We are going to have to sustain momentum every day between now and then.
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 01:06 AM
Feb 2017

Including all manner of outreach. Organization. And registration. Engagement. And for goodness sakes, some good candidates up and down the ballot. (Yes I'm aware of the gerrymandering and voter suppression, which must also be simultaneously be tackled). We *can walk and chew gum, I presume. I'd say right at this moment is the time to be gathering names, addresses and phone numbers while we are all meeting riled-up people at rallies and such, for one thing.

PS: I'm a man, and I just put out the word on FB I'm looking for a pussy hat. LOL

Zing Zing Zingbah

(6,496 posts)
37. Susan Collins won't lose her seat but she may run for governor in 2018
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 09:33 AM
Feb 2017

and that would be an upgrade for us for sure in Maine. Bad part is LePage might run for US house or senate because after two terms as governor he actually thinks he is good leader (ugh). Here's hoping LePage never gets elected to anything again and thank god we have term limits on the governor.

nkpolitics1212

(8,617 posts)
38. Do you see LePage running against Angus King in 2018 or Do you see him running in 2020 to succeed
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 07:56 PM
Feb 2017

Collins if she becomes Governor?

Zing Zing Zingbah

(6,496 posts)
45. She'd be governor starting 2019 if she got elected
Fri Feb 3, 2017, 08:45 AM
Feb 2017

No idea what any of them would do really. If Collins gets fed up with the senate she may run for governor. LePage would be awful in any government position. I'm hoping he figures out that he sucks at it and just retires.

nkpolitics1212

(8,617 posts)
44. Democrats will take the White House in 2020.
Thu Feb 2, 2017, 10:04 PM
Feb 2017

The Clinton 2016 States plus PA,MI,and WI puts them at 278ev.
The Clinton 2016 States plus FL,NC,and AZ puts them at 287ev.

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