With 15 months to go before the 2010 midterm elections, CQ Politics, a division of Congressional Quarterly, has released its map and ratings for all 435 House races. The interactive map includes analysis for all competitive races as well as a compilation of previous election results.
And while 15 months is a long way away, what CQ has to say is good news for the Democrats. The "in" party usually suffers losses in the midterm elections — 2002 (GOP gains) and 1998 (Dem gains) being rare exceptions. Their verdict for 2010: Democrats "appear secure" in the House majority they won in 2006 and added to in '08.
They show, as of now, three Republican House seats in jeopardy: two are leaning Democratic and one clearly favors the Dems.
Illinois 10 — Republican Mark Kirk is running for the Senate (leans D).
Louisiana 02 — Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao, who defeated scandal-plagued William Jefferson (D) last year (D favored).
Pennsylvania 06 — Republican Jim Gerlach is running for governor (leans D).
No Democratic seat is in apparent jeopardy of a Republican pickup, though two are seen as "tossups":
Idaho 01 — held by freshman Democrat Walt Minnick.
Maryland 01 — held by freshman Democrat Frank Kratovil.
One GOP district, the soon-to-be-vacant New York 23 seat of John McHugh, President Obama's choice for Army Secretary, is also seen as a tossup for the upcoming special election.
Here is CQ Politics' complete ratings chart for all House seats, as well as the full story.
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