Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said that Democrats have a “very narrow path” to retaking the majority in the Senate but offered a downbeat assessment of their chances of pulling it off.
“This is the toughest political map any one party has faced in 60 years,” Van Hollen said on “Fox News Sunday.” “The answer is, we do have a path.”
Pressed to say whether he believed Democrats would win back the Senate, Van Hollen responded that “there are too many close races” to say.
He added: “[B]ut the fact that we’re as competitive as we are is a real testament to our senators and our candidates.”
.@ChrisVanHollen: “this is the toughest political map any one party has faced in 60 years…we do have a path, it is a very narrow path.” pic.twitter.com/QGmqf6oat5
— FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) November 4, 2018
Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate and 26 Democratic senators are up for re-election on Tuesday, compared to just nine Republicans. Of the 26 Democrats, 10 are running in states President Trump won during the election in 2016.
Van Hollen named the races in Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee, and Texas where Democrats could pick up sets to win the majority. The nonpartisan Cook Political report has said each of those races are “toss-ups”, though the GOP remains confident in the Lone Star state. Democrats appear likely to lose a seat in North Dakota but have been buoyed by statistical ties in Missouri, where they are also in danger, Nevada, Arizona and Tennessee.
