Democratic lawmakers are concerned the party is 'overconfident' about Biden's chances

7 cartoons about the CDC&#039;s surprising mask mandate reversal — (Image credit: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Some Democratic lawmakers, like Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), are feeling pretty good about former Vice President Joe Biden's chances against President Trump in November's presidential election, Politico reports. Brown predicted a Biden victory nationally and in his own battleground state, which he said would "mean an Electoral College landslide."

Polling at the moment does seem to suggest Biden's in a strong position — he's leading or within striking distance of most battleground states. But other Democrats are urging caution. They remember, after all, what happened in 2016. "I'm not confident at all," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who is close with Biden. "I think the easiest way to ensure Trump's re-election is to be overconfident. Too many Democrats are looking at national polls and finding them encouraging. Too many Democrats assumed that Hillary Clinton was a shoo-in and didn't vote or didn't work."

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) suggested her state is a perfect example. Michigan is seen as a potentially election-turning state, and while many Democrats think they'll take it back, Dingell said she's heard directly from voters in her district who are committed to backing Trump in November. The congresswoman tried to send warning signals in 2016 that Clinton could lose Michigan, and she's worried the party is setting itself up for another shocker. "Anybody who believes the polls right now is overconfident," she said. Read more at Politico.

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Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.