Forecaster: Redistricting Aids GOP, but Democrats Still Favored If Environment Holds

A leading election forecaster shifted five House races toward Republicans on Monday following Tennessee’s newly redrawn congressional map and a Virginia Supreme Court ruling this past week blocking a Democratic-led mid-decade redraw. But, Sabato’s Crystal Ball Managing Editor Kyle Kondik said Democrats remain favored to win the chamber in November because Republicans “face a number of big-picture headaches as [President Donald] Trump’s approval rating has dipped a bit under 40% and economic pessimism reigns.” A project of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, Sabato’s Crystal Ball now rates 211 districts as at least Leans Republican, 208 as at least Leans Democratic, and 16 as Toss-ups. ...