Cook Political Report moves 4 GOP seats to ‘toss-up’ category

Four more Republican-held House seats are joining The Cook Political Report’s list of “toss-up” races, the election handicapper announced Wednesday.

Among the races moving over to the “toss-up” column: California’s 45th District, held by Rep. Mimi Walters; New Jersey’s 3rd District, held by Rep. Tom MacArthur; and Pennsylvania’s 10th District, held by Rep. Scott Perry. 

North Carolina’s 9th District, which is currently represented by outgoing Rep. Robert Pittenger (R), was also moved to the “toss-up” category, Cook reported. Pittenger was defeated by pastor Mark Harris in his primary earlier this year, but Republicans are intent on keeping the seat in GOP hands.

{mosads}The latest race-rating movements are welcome news for Democrats, who are working to stage a comeback in dozens of GOP-held congressional districts in a bid to retake the House.

But Cook’s changes weren’t all bad news for Republicans. Florida’s 26th District, currently represented by Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R), was moved out of the “toss-up” column to “lean Republican,” meaning the race remains competitive but with a GOP advantage.

Curbelo has widely been seen as one of the most vulnerable representatives from Florida. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton carried the district by 16 points over President Trump in 2016, and former President Obama beat out Republican nominee Mitt Romney there by about 11 points in 2012.

He is widely expected to face Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in the general election in November.