US Election 2020 not just Trump vs Biden, Democrats aiming for full control of Congress

Democrats pushed to seal control of House for two more years Tuesday as y banked on ir health care focus, dominant fundraising and bro suburban indignation with President Donald Trump to make ir majority in chamber even larger. Republicans were hoping to oust some of 29 Democrats in districts Trump won in 2016, mostly freshmen, in places like Iowa, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, rural New Mexico, upstate New York and Virginia.

But nearly all Democratic incumbents in potentially vulnerable districts were outspending ir GOP challengers, often by vast margins. Democrats were also aiming millions at Republican-held seats from areas around Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston and Indianapolis, and even GOP strongholds like Little Rock, Arkansas, western Coloro and Alaska.

Both parties' operatives agreed that GOP was mostly playing defense and would be fortunate to limit Democratic gains to a modest single digits. Democrats control House 232-197, with five open seats and one independent. It takes 218 seats to control chamber. president's numbers have fallen off a bit in districts he won by double-digits, he's t performing at that level in some places, and that's creating a bit of a down-ballot drag," said GOP strategist Liesl Hickey.

Should Democrat Joe Biden defeat Trump and Democrats win Senate majority, party would fully control White House and Congress for only second time since 1995. y last held presidency, Senate and House in 2009 and 2010, first two years of Barack Obama's presidency.

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A larger Democratic majority would make it easier for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to pass party priorities that include expanding health care cover and creating jobs with new infrastructure projects. After a two-year run as one of her party's most effective counterpoints to Trump, 80-year-old Pelosi is all but certain to serve two more years running House. A handful of outspoken progressives from safe Democratic districts in New York and elsewhere are assured of winning ir elections, making showdowns likely about how aggressively to pursue a liberal nda. Even so, moderates seem certain to outnumber progressives.

For Republicans, a failure to move significantly toward retaking House  let alone losing seats  would trigger a reckoning about why y remain trapped in chamber's mirity. A major question would be how to regain suburban voters who have fled GOP in droves, largely in reaction to Trump's embrace of racially insensitive appeals, frequent reliance on falsehoods and policies on immigration and social justice that many moderates view as harsh.

As in 2018 when y grabbed House control, Democratic s emphasized pledges to make health care more accessible, preserve cover for pre-existing conditions and shield voters from Republicans out to terminate those requirements. Many Republicans say y want to dismantle Obama's health care law while retaining its cover for pre-existing conditions, but y've t presented a detailed proposal for doing that.

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coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 230,000 Americans and is worsening in nearly every state, has only amplified Democrats' focus on health care. Trump's repeated false statements downplaying virus' severity have also given Democrats political fodder. This has pushed fight to health care battlefield, and that's a great place for us," said Democratic consultant Ian Russell.

Ar GOP disvant was that far more of ir incumbents are alrey leaving Congress. Republicans were defending 35 open seats of lawmakers who didn't seek reelection, resigned or lost party primaries. re were just 13 Democratic-held vacant seats caused by departures, including one death  Georgia Rep. John Lewis, civil rights hero.

This year's House elections were projected to cost a record $7.3 billion in spending by candidates' campaigns and outside groups, according to an estimate by npartisan Center for Responsive Politics. By mid-October, candidates' campaigns alone h reported raising $1.7 billion, ar record. Unfortunately for GOP, money wasn't evenly distributed. It continues to be a challenging environment for House," said Republican strategist Corry Bliss, citing a green tsunami of Democratic campaign cash.

All 29 House Democrats in districts that Trump carried in 2016 outraised ir GOP challengers, according to an Associated Press analysis of Federal Election Commission reports covering campaign finance through mid-October. In 19 of those races, Democrats' edge was 2-1 or more. imbalance was nearly as stark among 42 Democrats who party leers dubbed Frontliners" because y seemed vulnerable, qualifying m for extra campaign help. Of that group, 40 amassed more money than ir Republican opponent, including 26 who stockpiled at least double ir amount.

In contrast, of 53 Democratic seats that Republican leers named as takeover targets, Democrats raised more money in 49 races. Democrats even h an vant, though less so, among 37 GOP-held seats y picked as offensive targets. Though most of se seats are held by Republican incumbents, Democratic challengers outraised ir GOP rivals in 21 races.

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