The sizable victory gaps in two key House special elections Tuesday buoyed the GOP and President Trump, who have been looking for signals of how the coronavirus will impact the elections.
The 14-point win by Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District and 12-point lead by Republican Mike Garcia in the Los Angeles area’s 25th Congressional District also suggest that the 2018 GOP hangover that made Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaker might be over.
“Big Congressional win in California for Mike Garcia, taking back a seat from the Democrats. This is the first time in many years that a California Dem seat has flipped back to a Republican. Also, Tom Tiffany beat his Democrat rival BIG in Wisconsin. Two great Congressional WINS!” tweeted Trump.
Big Congressional win in California for Mike Garcia, taking back a seat from the Democrats. This is the first time in many years that a California Dem seat has flipped back to a Republican. Also, Tom Tiffany beat his Democrat rival BIG in Wisconsin. Two great Congressional WINS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2020
Tiffany’s victory wasn’t a big surprise, but his challenger had picked up major endorsements. Democrat Tricia Zunker was endorsed by Cory Booker, Tammy Baldwin, Elizabeth Warren, and other big-name Democrats.
The two are expected to face each other in the regular fall election, but Tiffany, who will replace the retired Rep. Sean Duffy, is now expected to win again.
In California’s 25th, where election officials are still waiting for mail-in votes to be counted, Garcia is leading 56%-44%, with 76% of the vote in for the Democratic seat recently held by Rep. Katie Hill, who resigned in disgrace. Hillary Rodham Clinton won the district in 2016.
A New York Times reporter blogging on the race said, “There is no doubt that a win for Republicans in a state that is overwhelmingly controlled by Democrats would be remarkable.”
Club for Growth President David McIntosh said his group invested in both, and he said the wins indicate that the virus and 2018 didn’t hurt.
“These election results show that in the midst of a global pandemic, this level of voter turnout shows pro-growth, pro-deregulation policies trounce the big-spending power-grabbing agenda put forward by Pelosi’s Democrats,” he told Secrets.
“Just as the Trump administration’s initial rollback of regulations before the pandemic helped spur a 3% economic growth rate, another round of major reform of federal regulation will be key to reigniting our economy. Last night’s victories demonstrate that voters agree,” he added.
And Greg Mueller, the CEO of CRC Advisors and a GOP communications consultant, added, “This is no longer 2018. Democratic momentum has been stifled. The GOP base is energized, and the energy is similar to 2016. Conservative, pro-growth candidates trounced traditional liberal, big-government Democrats. Pre-election Democrat spin that the California race would be close and that President Trump and his handling of a pandemic would be a drag in these two races was torpedoed.”
