The political environment looks promising for Republicans in the House, said Sabato’s Crystal Ball on Wednesday. The political analysis and handicapping newsletter said two Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee, Sanford Bishop and Antonio Delgado, are facing races that have become more competitive than they once were.
The Crystal Ball rated both races as “leans Democratic,” a change from the previous “likely Democratic.” Bishop, elected to his 15th term, with 59 percent of the vote, represents southwestern Georgia. He also chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee in charge of USDA and FDA spending. Delgado won his second term in his upstate New York district, with 55 percent of the vote.
“In a Republican wave scenario, these are the kinds of districts that could get swept up: Places where Biden won between 53-55 percent of the vote that are clearly more Democratic than the nation as a whole, but not so much more Democratic that Republicans couldn’t win in a good environment,” said the Crystal Ball. “Republicans appear to have credible recruits in these districts that are raising enough money to be competitive.”
Republicans are a strong favorite to take control of the House after the midterm elections on Nov. 8, said the newsletter. At the moment, Democrats have a 221-209 majority, with five vacant seats.