Poll shows voters favor Democratic candidates in battleground districts
President Trump may want to start tempering expectations for a so-called "red wave" in the November midterms.
A new poll released Monday shows that among likely voters, Democrats have the advantage in 69 battleground districts that will determine who controls the House of Representatives for the next two years, per The Washington Post. Voters in these districts were asked whether they favor the specific Republican or Democratic candidate running for the House, and 50 percent chose the Democrat while 46 percent chose the Republican.
Although this is only a four-point lead, it's concerning for the GOP considering in 2016, Republicans held a 15-point advantage in these districts; voters back then favored the Republican candidate 56 percent compared to just 41 percent for the Democratic candidate. It's also a concern for them because only six of the districts included in this poll are held by Democrats right now, while 63 are currently held by Republicans, and President Trump won 48 of them in the 2016 election. Even just specifically looking at the districts that Trump won, Democrats there still have a one-point advantage over Republicans, 48 percent to 47 percent.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The GOP will lose its majority in the House of Representatives if Democrats can manage to gain 23 seats. FiveThirtyEight currently estimates that Democrats have a 73.9 percent chance of doing so just that.
The Washington Post's poll was conducted by reaching 2,672 likely voters over computers, mobile devices, tablets, and phones from Sept. 19 through Oct. 5. The margin of error is +/- 2 percentage points. Read the full results at The Washington Post.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Marine Le Pen's fake jobs trial
The Explainer The far-right French leader could face a fine, jail time, and a five-year ban from public office if found guilty of embezzlement
By Abby Wilson Published
-
How to earn extra cash for Christmas
The Explainer The holiday season can be expensive but there are ways to bolster your festive finances
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Pentagon Discord leaker gets 15 years in prison
Speed Read Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, leaked classified military documents
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Saudi crown prince slams Israeli 'genocide' in Gaza
Speed Read Mohammed bin Salman has condemned Israel’s actions
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump fills key slots, tapping Congress, MAGA loyalists
Speed Read The president-elect continues to fill his administration with new foreign policy, environment and immigration roles assigned
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published