‘It will be ugly’: GOP Senate win to ax hundreds of Democratic jobs

The spoils of political war? Estimates are that 300-600 Democratic committee and personal staff jobs would be on the chopping block if the Republicans pull off the expected victory.

“There will be a mass exodus of Senate Democrat staff from committees,” said one insider.

And Republicans will get to hire hundreds more aides. A loss on Tuesday that keeps the Democrats in charge of the Senate will cost no GOP jobs, other than those working for retiring lawmakers.

Under a Senate deal cut by Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the funding and staff breakdown on committees is about 60 percent for the majority, and 40 percent for the minority. It had been two-thirds majority, one-third minority, but the GOP cut the deal in order to keep their minimum funding at 40 percent.

Also getting hit would be the offices of Reid and other Democratic leaders.

For Democratic staffers, the potential layoffs couldn’t come at a worse time. According to officials, some will find jobs in the Obama administration, but those openings are few and will last only two years. And Hillary Clinton’s team is already loaded up with long-time aides, leaving few policy jobs for outsiders.

“There will be nowhere in the downtown private sector to go. Maybe 10 percent can find a slot in the Obama administration. It will be ugly,” said a former White House aide now working on K Street.

That’s because many lobbying firms are full-up with Democrats.

And there are already a sizable number of Democratic staffers already looking for work since their bosses are retiring.

“It could be a lot of individuals. And that’s not even counting all the people looking for work now with a retirement coming up,” said a key Senate Democratic staffer.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].