Democrats ‘Facing Wipeout’ in 2022

Democrats are increasingly panicked about losing their narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress this November. They worry that Biden’s crashing approval rating and their inability to manage issues like inflation and a wave of violent crime could hand control of the House and Senate to Republicans. 

New York Post: House Democrats are losing sleep that the looming midterm elections could be a wipeout, and will grant Republicans firm control of the chamber, insiders on both sides of the aisles told The Post.

“If we don’t fix things now, we will get mauled in November,” said one battleground Democratic member of Congress. “Anyone in a tough district knows it. The rest have their head stuck in the sand.”

He said inflation, spiraling urban crime, and supply-chain shortages are key issues Dems need to turn around.

Democratic Members of Congress and their staff are anticipating “grim” midterm election results. Twenty-nine House Democrats have announced their retirement — more than double the number of Republicans and a sign they believe their party will be in the minority. Additionally, 76 percent of Democratic staffers on Capitol Hill believe Republicans will retake control of the House.

Many Democrats are already blaming the party’s issues on Joe Biden. One Democratic operative said they were “shocked” at how little the Biden-Harris administration is doing to defend their majorities and others described the White House as “unprepared and unresponsive”.

CNN: Senior Democrats, including some White House aides, describe a West Wing lacking both a political strategy and the discipline to execute one. Focus groups are giving party operatives nightmares. Biden is coming across as old and absent, they say. Real and perceived fumbles play into deep fears that he’s not up to the job and that Democrats are incompetent. Few Americans can say what was in the massive bills he’s signed, though many have heard about Democratic infighting and failure in what he hasn’t signed.

Bottom Line: Democrats are panicked that their failure to manage multiple crises will give Republicans control of the House and the Senate.