Midterms offer clues for Trump, Dems in ‘20

WASHINGTON >> This week’s midterm elections offered revealing lessons for both parties as battle lines begin to emerge for the 2020 presidential election.

For Democrats, the potential path back to the White House opened somewhat with a string of statewide victories in Rust Belt states that long backed the party’s nominees but flipped to President Donald Trump in 2016. But Republicans found strength in critical states that often hold the keys to the presidency.

Gains for Democrats in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania were offset by mixed results in Ohio and GOP dominance in electoral powerhouse Florida.

In Ohio, Republicans came out on top in the governor’s race and a handful of other statewide offices. The GOP kept their 12-4 majority in the U.S. House delegation.

Ohio Democrat Rep. Tim Ryan, who won another term representing a district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016, called it a “really bad election night” for Ohio Democrats.