Democrats brace against potential 2018 Senate "disaster"

As difficult as the 2016 Senate map has been for Republicans, who had to defend numerous blue- and purple-state seats and could lose their majority, Democrats’ 2018 map looks practically unnavigable. The party starts with five ruby-red seats to defend: Indiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and West Virginia. Then, Democrats have a slew of Senate seats up in traditional swing states, including Florida, Ohio, and Wisconsin. If he doesn’t become vice president, Tim Kaine will also face reelection in closely divided Virginia in 2018. And if he does, a Democratic appointee could face an expensive special election in 2017 before the race for a full term the next year…

2018 is “already on the minds of Republicans,” said Scott Jennings, who ran a super PAC backing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky in 2014. “We’re on defense for two more months and then we go on offense for two years. Mitch McConnell could be looking at a supermajority.”

Much will depend on how the winners this November decide to wield their power in the White House and on Capitol Hill. Some Democrats blame their big 2010 midterm losses on the party’s embrace of divisive policies, like cap and trade and health care reform, in the wake of President Barack Obama’s victory. Voters already have more unfavorable opinions of both Clinton and Trump than they did of Obama when he faced a midterm wipeout in 2010. And a new presidential agenda could put red-state Democrats in a tough spot immediately in 2017.