Are GOP Rep. Steve King's racist comments actually ruining his campaign?

A few big-name Republicans' congressional seats aren't looking so safe anymore.

Just a week before the midterm elections, Cook Political Report has moved Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) seat from "likely R" to "lean R." Rep. Devin Nunes' (R-Calif.) seat similarly shifted from "solid R" to "likely R." Two other seats, held by Republicans in Florida and northern California, also moved closer to the middle.

A Change Research poll showed King just one point ahead of Democratic challenger J.D. Scholten on Tuesday. The poll was conducted by a Democratic firm, but it's still enough to show King's seat is in danger, Cook notes. There's also the fact that King has met with far-right European leaders, made racist statements, and retweeted white nationalists on multiple occasions. King's controversial moves earned a blanket condemnation from National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) on Tuesday. Even dairy company Land O' Lakes is backing away from King due to his comments on immigrants.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

Meanwhile, Nunes' race against Democratic prosecutor Andrew Janz has attracted the most fundraising dollars of any House competition in the country. But that still didn't keep the House Intelligence Committee chair from losing ground to Janz in a new Change Research survey. The Democrat-funded survey puts 51 percent of voters behind Nunes and 46 percent behind Janz, but Cook still moved the race slightly toward the Democrat.

Check out what other races Cook shifted Tuesday below. Kathryn Krawczyk