For eight years, Republicans stoked the fires of racism and divisiveness that gave rise to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. They now bemoan the bed they’ve made and worry about losing the House.
Paul Ryan Gives Warning
The Koch brothers, David and Charles Koch, are the well-known billionaires who consistently back conservative candidates. Without them, the Tea Party as we know it today might not exist. They were instrumental in electing many far right-wingers in wave of 2010. That election gave rise to the severely gerrymandered districts that we have now, which has given the GOP a near-stranglehold on the House of Representatives.
Gerrymandering has made Republicans complacent, and, up until this election, their complacency was understandable. A Democratic majority has been nearly impossible due to the way districts were redrawn six years ago.
Now, however, things are a bit different. With Trump’s position at the top of the Republican ticket, Republicans are concerned that their majority in the House may be in jeopardy. Ryan spoke at a meeting sponsored by the Koch brothers last week, and he voiced his concerns to those present.
According to the New York Times,
“…Mr. Ryan expressed concerns that the House was increasingly at risk, according to a Republican who was present for the conversation.
Mr. Ryan implored the donors not to assume that the House was impregnable and not to entirely focus their efforts on retaining the Senate.”
Republican Majority Could Be Gone
Even if Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton mops the floor with Trump in November, the likelihood of Democrats taking a majority in the House is still slim. Republicans currently hold 247 seats to the Democrats’ 186. Two seats are also currently vacant (Fattah, D-P.A. resigned; Takai, D-Hawaii, passed away). Democrats would have to turn more than 30 of those seats blue in order to take a majority.
Just a year ago, this wouldn’t have even been a discussion. Trump has changed everything, though, and he has the GOP on their toes.
This is why voting is so important, in EVERY election. When Democrats stayed home in droves in 2010, we let the Republicans, and especially the Tea Party, take over Congress. Congress redraws districts every ten years, and the party in power controls the redrawing process. That is how we wound up in this mess.
Vote in every election, and vote blue. Let’s take back the Congress this November.
Featured Image: Screenshot Via YouTube Video.
