Two years out?
Very little in politics is written in stone…..
But the Democrats sure would like to keep their US Majority thing going…..
Indiana GOP Sen. Mike Braun filed paperwork on Wednesday to run for governor, a move that will trigger an open seat race to replace him come 2024.
It’s among the first major chess moves of the emerging Senate map – one that, by the numbers, favors Republicans.
Of the 33 seats on the ballot, 23 are either held by Democrats or by independents who caucus with the party (Sens. Angus King of Maine and Bernie Sanders of Vermont.)
And of those 23 seats, there are at least five that seem likely targets for Republicans.
At the top of that list is the seat held by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who represents a state Donald Trump carried by 39 points in 2020…..
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The dynamics of the next Senate campaign could be influenced by a variety of outside factors, particularly the presidential election and the attention it generates. Biden, who turned 80 this month, has said his “intention” is to run for reelection and that he will make a final decision early next year. Former President Donald Trump has already announced a third White House bid, and multiple other Republicans are lining up to launch campaigns. The eventual nominee in each party could have a profound impact on down-ballot races, including those for Senate.
But perhaps the biggest question for Senate Democrats seeking reelection will be who Republicans nominate as their opponents. The GOP lost several Senate elections this year, including those in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Nevada, after Trump-backed candidates struggled to raise money and connect with a broader, more moderate range of voters during the general election…