More than half of the members of Congress are millionaires according to recent personal financial disclosures. The median net worth of members of Congress who filed disclosures last year is just over $1 million. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is the wealthiest lawmaker in the Senate and overall, with nearly $260 million in net assets. Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-MT-AL) is the richest House member with $189 million. [Open Secrets April 23, 2020]
49% prefer that the 2020 elections deliver a Congress that is controlled by Democrats while 40.8% prefer a Congress controlled by Republicans. [RCP Average 4/14/20]
Approval of the Congress generally remains quite bleak.
| Approve | Disapprove | |
| Real Clear Pol. 5/26/20 | 28.5% | 56.8% |
| Real Clear Pol. 4/14/20 | 29.3% | 56.8% |
| Real Clear Pol. 2/11/20 | 22.4% | 65.6% |
| Real Clear Pol. 1/14/29 | 22.4% | 65.2% |
| 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. 1/1/19 | 19.6% | 69.3% |
[WW uses David Wasserman and the Cook Political Report for the House chart below.]
As of May 28, 2020, 37 incumbent members of the House are not seeking re-election – 10 are Democrats and 27 are Republicans.
The House of Representatives
2020
- Democrats 233
- Republicans 197
- Independents 1
- Vacancies 4
| Democrats | Republicans | |
| Safe in 2020 | 183 | 164 |
| Likely | 19 | 17 |
| Lean | 18 | 12 |
| Tossup | 17 | 5 |
The Senate
[WW uses Jessica Taylor 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 Republicans will lose control of the Senate in this election although chances appear to be improving for the Democrats.
Here are the changes from the last issue of the Watch.
Rep. Doug Collins seems to have a substantial lead over Senator Kelly Loeffler in the Senate Republican primary in Georgia. Rep. Kennedy appears to be leading Senator Ed Markey in the Democratic primary by a lead that varies depending on which poll you read.
- Republicans 53
- Democrats 45
- Independents 2
| Democrats | Republicans | Independent | |
| Seats not up in 2020 | 33 | 30 | 2 |
| Safe in 2020 | 8 Coons Durbin Markey Warner Booker Merkley Reed Shaheen |
11 Sullivan Cotton Risch Cassidy Hyde-Smith Sasse Inhofe Rounds Moore-Capito Wyoming (Enzi) Tennessee (Alexander) |
|
| Likely | 2 Smith NM (Udall) |
5 McConnell Cornyn Purdue Loeffler Graham |
|
| Lean | 2 Peters Gardner |
4 Ernst Jones (AL) Daines Kansas (Roberts) |
|
| Toss Up | 0 | 3 McSally Gardner Tillis |