Cook Political Report shifts Georgia, Kansas, South Carolina Senate races toward Democrats
The nonpartisan forecaster cites a Republican OBGYN's billing scandal in Kansas, cash gaps in Georgia, and GOP jitters in South Carolina.
What to know
- Cook Political Report shifted Georgia, Kansas, and South Carolina Senate races toward Democrats just over a month before the November midterms.
- Kansas's downgrade to 'Lean Republican' follows reporting that Sen. Roger Marshall sued patients for unpaid OBGYN bills, an issue Democrats plan to run ads on.
- South Carolina moved to 'Likely Republican' despite Sen. Graham remaining a heavy favorite, reflecting GOP concern about soft polling numbers and turnout.
- The shifts follow similar moves by Sabato's Crystal Ball this week, part of a broader forecaster trend as Republicans contend with the Iran war and high energy prices.
“It is simply becoming clear that Rep. Mike Collins does not have the time or money — in addition to the type of profile — to make this race truly competitive. As such, it moves from Lean Democrat to Likely Democrat.”
Jessica Taylor, Cook Political Report analyst · Washington Examiner ↗ · Sep 22
Jessica Taylor Senate editor, Cook Political Report
Roger Marshall R-Kan., incumbent senatorAdam Hamilton Democratic Senate candidate, Kansas
Jon Ossoff D-Ga., incumbent senatorMike Collins R-Ga., House member and Senate candidate
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
-
2
Ossoff campaign and Democrats tout the shifts as momentum
Democrats celebrated the reclassifications as evidence of positive momentum, with the Ossoff campaign noting the Georgia race remains a heavily contested battleground.
“Georgia is a battleground state and Senator Ossoff is already facing millions of dollars of Republican spending against him…”
— Ossoff campaign spokesperson -
1
Cook cites Marshall's OBGYN billing lawsuits in Kansas downgrade
The Kansas shift followed reporting, including by the New York Times, that Sen. Roger Marshall had sued patients over unpaid medical bills from his OBGYN practice, an issue Democrats plan to highlight against him as challenger Adam Hamilton polls strongly.
-
background
Cook Political Report reclassifies three Senate races toward Democrats — Cook moved Georgia from 'Lean Democrat' to 'Likely Democrat,' Kansas from 'Likely Republican' to 'Lean Republican,' and South Carolina from 'Solid Republican' to 'Likely Republican,' citing a 'very blue environment forming' nationally.
Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet
-
first by Washington Examiner, 11h ago · also Axios, The Hill
2 more headlines
- Cook nudges three Senate races toward Democrats Axios · 9h ago
- Cook Political Report shifts Kansas, South Carolina Senate races toward Democrats The Hill · 8h ago