Staff Reports
The liberal Democrats are in a heap of trouble, folks! The recent retirement announcement from centrist Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has sent shockwaves through the party, as they now face a steep uphill battle to maintain control of the Senate.
Democrats forced to run the table on incumbents to keep narrow Senate majority https://t.co/sKyytDwJ4k https://t.co/sKyytDwJ4k
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 22, 2023
Manchin, who was already hanging by a thread in his deep-red state, has left the Democrats scrambling to find a replacement who can hold onto his seat. With only a one-seat majority in the Senate, every seat is crucial for the Democrats to maintain control, and Manchin’s departure has dealt them a massive blow.
And that’s not the end of the bad news for the lefties. They’re also facing tough battles in other red states, with Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio being prime targets for the GOP. In Montana, former Navy SEAL Tim Sheehy, backed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is gearing up to take on Tester, while in Ohio, Brown’s staunchly progressive record has made him a top target for Republicans.
But it’s not just the red states where the Democrats are sweating. The party is also pouring resources into defending seats in swing states like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Nevada. Senators Bob Casey, Tammy Baldwin, and Jacky Rosen are all facing tough reelection battles, with Republicans hoping to capitalize on shifting political landscapes in these states to unseat the Democratic incumbents.
In Arizona, things are getting even trickier for the Democrats, with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema facing challenges from within her own party. The independent-minded Sinema’s low approval ratings and public disagreements with the Democratic Party have made her vulnerable, opening the door for potential primary challenges and complicating the Democrats’ prospects in the state.
Overall, the Democrats are facing an uphill battle to hold onto their Senate majority, with tough fights in red, swing, and even their own party’s strongholds. It’s going to be a wild ride leading up to the 2024 elections, and the Democrats will need all the luck they can get to maintain control of the Senate.
