The Asian Age

Dems on ‘ seat- grabbing’ spree in quest for Congress control

-

Washington, 25: Representa­tive Pete Sessions, a veteran Republican, was re- elected to his affluent Dallasarea House seat in 2016 with 71 percent of the vote, the remaining 29 percent split between the Libertaria­n and Green Party candidates.

Hillary Clinton won the district by three percentage points, but no Democratic candidate even showed up to ride her coattails. Meanwhile, the New York Times report said, in 2018, there is likely to be 10.

According to NYT report, federal election commission filings show that if a wave crashes on the Republican House majority in November, as many have predicted, Democratic surfers will be on their boards to catch it.

Nearly a year out from the election, Democratic candidates have filed in all but 20 House districts held by Republican­s.

Democrats in 80 districts do not have a Republican opponent for their seat, by comparison. Dec.

The Democrats are not just filing to run in districts where Mrs. Clinton performed well.

They are also running for conservati­ve seats that were unconteste­d in 2016 and where Republican­s remain heavy favourites, in states like Texas, Arkansas and Nebraska.

Four Democrats — a farmer, a soccer coach, an immigratio­n lawyer and a health care consultant — are on the primary ballot in Illinois’ 16th District, a C- shaped district outside Chicago running from Wisconsin border.

The Republican incumbent, Representa­tive Adam Kinzinger, ran unopposed in 2016, when President Trump won the district by 17 points.

Mr. Kinzinger is not high on anyone’s endangered list but Democrats are clamouring to enter the ring. “I started seeing changes to US policy that concern me,” said Sara Dady, one of the candidates.

“I’ve been practicing immigratio­n law under three administra­tions. I have a client who has a green card. He did everything right. He was denied boarding. To me that is not the America I know and love.”

Democrats are investing in candidates like Ms. Dady. She attended three trainings before declaring her candidacy, including events hosted by the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Associatio­n and Representa­tive Cheri Bustos, who represents another Illinois district. to the Indiana

 ?? — AP ?? Members of the US military eat Christmas dinner at the Resolute Support Headquarte­rs in Kabul on Monday.
— AP Members of the US military eat Christmas dinner at the Resolute Support Headquarte­rs in Kabul on Monday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India