Doug Jones victory could upend GOP agenda in 2018
The possible election of Doug Jones, a Democrat, in deep-red Alabama would alter the balance of power in the Senate and could dramatically change the GOP’s agenda in 2018.
A Jones win would put more pressure on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to work with Democrats. Most significantly, it could scuttle efforts to replace ObamaCare and reform entitlement programs — a top priority for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) in 2018.
If the Senate Republican majority shrinks by one seat — giving them a razor thin 51-49 majority — it will give more leverage to GOP moderates such as Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), John McCain (Ariz.), Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.).
But it will also empower maverick conservatives such as Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who have threatened at times this year to derail the GOP agenda to win concessions.
In other words, a Jones win will make McConnell’s job a lot harder if he sticks to his strategy of passing major bills with party-line Republican support.
http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/364372-doug-jones-victory-could-upend-gop-agenda-in-2018
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