Senate

Schumer: 2020 ‘doesn’t bode well’ for GOP

by Jordain Carney - 11/07/18 6:34 PM ET

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) played defense Wednesday, saying Democrats had a “really good night” and warning Republicans to not feel confident heading into 2020.

“Last night was a really good night for Democrats and what happened last night doesn’t bode well for President Trump and Republicans in 2020 and beyond,” Schumer told reporters.

{mosads}Schumer pointed to Democrats taking over control of the House — calling the victory “far and away the most significant change” and “great news for America” — as well as highlighting the Democratic gubernatorial wins and state legislatures.

“Republicans lost women, minorities and suburban voters across the country in such margins that it should worry every Republican candidate in 2020 and President Trump,” Schumer added.

Though Democrats made gains in the House and were able to unseat Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Senate Republicans took down three Democrats: Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.) and Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.). A fourth, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), is headed toward a recount.

But Schumer countered that Trump’s narrative that Tuesday night was a “tremendous success” for Republicans was “delusional.”

Democrats went into 2018 with a deeply unfavorable map. They had to defend more than two dozen Senate seats, with 10 of those in states Trump won in 2016.

Schumer, on Wednesday, argued that “given the map” Democrats did better than some predicted and added that he believed Democrats were facing better odds in 2020.

“We’ll have a very good shot in 2020. … In 2020 our map is better, in 2022 our map is even better, still,” Schumer said.

They face a more favorable map in 2020. Democrats will have to defend 12 seats, while Republicans will be defending 21. Democrats have one senator who is already considered vulnerable — Alabama Sen. Doug Jones (D).

Republicans are expected to have anywhere from a 51 to a 54 seat majority in 2019 depending on the outcomes in Florida, Arizona and the Mississippi runoff election that is scheduled for later this month.

In addition to Nelson’s race, senators are still waiting to find out the outcome of the Arizona Senate race, which has not yet been called. Reps. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) are battling to succeed retiring Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.).

If Republicans sweep each of the three races that would mean Democrats would have to pick up four Senate seats and win back the White House or five seats to win control outright.