Dems in Trouble: Bad News Surfaces
Dems Face Chaos in Upcoming Midterms as House Reps Opt for Higher Office
The Democratic Party is facing a serious hurdle in the upcoming midterm elections as a wave of vulnerable House Democrats are choosing to seek higher office rather than defend their current seats.
This shift is creating significant complications for both the Democratic National Committee and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who have been aiming to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025.
On Thursday, Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) revealed that he would forgo re-election to the House and instead launch a Senate campaign. His decision follows Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s announcement that she will not seek another term, leaving a U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire up for grabs.
News 9 Exclusive: Chris Pappas announces he will run for U.S. Senate | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/MvNQaDcFt7
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) April 3, 2025
New Hampshire, while traditionally leaning Democrat in presidential elections, remains highly competitive.
Republicans see a golden opportunity to flip the open Senate seat, especially if former Governor Chris Sununu, a popular GOP figure in the state, enters the race.
A recent poll conducted by Quantus Insights, known for its accurate 2024 predictions, showed Sununu with a commanding nine-point lead over Pappas in a potential matchup. The poll found 53% support for Sununu compared to just 44% for Pappas, as Trending Politics reported.
Pappas’s departure also throws his House seat into play. His district, rated D+2 by the Cook Partisan Voting Index, is well within reach for Republicans—particularly now that the seat will lack an incumbent’s edge.
Meanwhile, there may be more turbulence for Democrats in the Granite State. Freshman Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) is reportedly exploring a Senate bid of her own. She’s been holding numerous town halls, possibly testing the waters for a campaign, according to Valley News.
Goodlander’s district mirrors Pappas’s with an identical D+2 rating. Like his, her seat has been labeled a flip opportunity by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), especially if it opens up in 2026.
Concerns over this trend of Democrats abandoning House seats were raised in March by Axios. One Capitol Hill source told the outlet that the worst-case scenario for Democratic leadership would be “multiple House departures for a single Senate seat.”
New Hampshire isn’t the only state seeing Democrats look for exits. In Ohio, Rep. Greg Landsman is reportedly eyeing a statewide run, and fellow Ohio Democrat Rep. Emilia Sykes has been meeting with political consultants and pro-abortion groups to prepare for a potential Senate campaign.
In Minnesota, Rep. Angie Craig is another Democrat rumored to be considering a Senate bid. Craig stirred speculation last month after publishing an op-ed in Time magazine directed at rural voters, suggesting broader political ambitions.
Michigan’s freshman Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet is also evaluating a Senate run. Her profile has been on the rise, recently receiving national attention from The Washington Post.
Another possible defector is Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), who represents a district considered the most vulnerable among House Democrats. Golden could challenge longtime Republican Senator Susan Collins, despite his district’s R+6 rating and its strong support for Donald Trump in 2024.
The NRCC has responded swiftly to these developments. “House Democrats are scurrying away from competitive districts like rats fleeing a sinking ship,” said NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen, according to Breitbart News.
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