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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGOP can't generate buzz for House seat in Florida, and some say it's unwinnable
WASHINGTON - The GOP's inability to find top-shelf candidates to run for Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's U.S. House seat in Florida has some Republicans ready to write off the race and shift money and attention to more winnable contests.
The seat that encompasses Little Havana, most of downtown Miami and Miami Beach is now considered unwinnable by some Republicans in Congress and fundraisers who could infuse millions into a competitive congressional race, according to interviews with high-ranking GOP officials and potential donors.
Others are slightly more hopeful but caution that a Republican path to victory is narrow, especially in an environment where President Donald Trump's approval ratings remain low and Republicans brace for a potential Democratic wave in 2018.
Keeping Ros-Lehtinen's seat was always going to be a challenge for Republicans after the longtime Miami congresswoman announced her retirement in May. Republicans couldn't draw top-tier recruits, such as Florida Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera; one announced candidate made national news for claiming to have boarded a spaceship with aliens; fundraising has lagged; and one of the top GOP candidates recently left the race.
"The seat is now going to go to the Democrats," said Raquel Regalado, a former Miami-Dade school board member and candidate for Miami-Dade mayor who recently announced she was dropping out of the Republican race to replace Ros-Lehtinen. "I think I was the only moderate who could have fought that fight for a bunch of different reasons. I don't think you're going to see a large GOP financial investment. They're looking for a moderate candidate, but I don't think they're going to find one."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-cant-generate-buzz-for-house-seat-in-florida-and-some-say-its-unwinnable/ar-BBHO54J?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=edgsp
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)We need to hold a US Senate seat. My sense is we will pick up a couple US House seats due to growth of blue parts of Florida and shrinkage of totally safe red areas.
Wounded Bear
(58,706 posts)and they're gonna be motivated.
iluvtennis
(19,871 posts)mountain grammy
(26,648 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,442 posts)Just need 24 to take back the House.
Wounded Bear
(58,706 posts)I'm feeling greedy.
BumRushDaShow
(129,442 posts)I think the GOP flipped 60+ seats in 2010 so we need to get our seats back!!!!
Sam McGee
(347 posts). . . how many more do we need?
BumRushDaShow
(129,442 posts)There were 3 vacancies (2 R & 1 D - Conyers). So assuming the D is no problem & the Rs get their R replacements, there would be 194 D & 241 R. Democrats need 24 total to get to 218 and if that FL seat is in play and we get it, then we would need 23.
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)That won't be soon forgotten.
No materr how many rolls of paper towels he throws at them.