Congress

Approval of the Congress generally remains quite bleak.

  Approve Disapprove
Real Clear Pol. 12/3/19 22.4% 65.6%
Real Clear Pol. 10/29/19 23.0% 64.8%
Real Clear Pol. 9/10/19 16.6% 71.4%
Real Clear Pol. 8/6/19 17.2% 71.4%
Real Clear Pol. 6/11/19 20.0% 69.8%
Real Clear Pol. 5/14/19 22.0% 66.2%
Real Clear Pol. 4/2/19 22.8% 66.8%
Real Clear Pol. 3/26/19 20.8% 68.8%
Real Clear Pol. 2/26/19 19.4% 70.0%
Real Clear Pol. 1/1/19 19.6% 69.3%
Real Clear Pol. 1/4/18 15.8% 72.6%

Three recent surveys show Democrats leading Republicans in a generic congressional ballot.

  Democrats Republicans
Economist/YouGov 12/3/19 47% 41%
Politico/Morning Consult 11/24/19 45% 36%
NPR/PBS/Marist 11/15/19 46% 41%

[WW uses David Wasserman and the Cook Political Report for the House chart below.]

As of December 6, 2019, 31 incumbent members of the House are not seeking re-election – 9 Democrats and 22 Republicans.

The House of Representatives

2020

  • Democrats 235
  • Republicans 198
  • Independents 1
  • Vacancies 1
  Democrats Republicans
Safe in 2020 182 161
Likely 17 20
Lean 18 10
Tossup 18 8

The Senate

[WW uses Jennifer E. Duffy of the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections for the Senate chart below. When those two organizations do not agree, WW uses Sabato as a tie breaker.]

In 2020, Republicans will be defending 23 seats while Democrats will be defending 12 seats. It is unlikely that the Republicans will lose control of the Senate in this election.

There is one change in the chart below since the last edition of the Watch. Collins has moved from Toss Up to Lean Republican.

  • Republicans 53
  • Democrats 45
  • Independents 2
  Democrats Republicans Independent
Seats not up in 2020 33 30 2
Safe in 2020 7
Coons
Durbin
Markey
Warner
Booker
Merkley
Reed
13
Sullivan
Cotton
Risch
Cassidy
Daines
Sasse
Inhofe
Graham
Rounds
Moore-Capito
WY (Enzi)
Tennessee (Alexander)
Hyde-Smith
 
Likely 3
Smith
Shaheen
NM (Udall)
5
McConnell
Cornyn
Kansas (Roberts)
Purdue
GA (Open)
 
Lean 1
Peters
3
Ernst
Jones
Collins
 
Toss Up 0 3
McSally
Gardner

Tillis