# US House races 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 23, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336 "2025-09-23T16:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/41 "2026-05-16T04:17:14Z")
[An interview in the NYT with Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/opinion/supreme-court-redistricting.html?unlocked_article_code=1.i1A.fc2J.fkNZVRXakhhj&smid=url-share) talks about how the ground in the midterms has shifted and may continue to do so. (And as always, I am sharing a gift link.) > Before the court rulings, our [Political Report](https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratings/573421) rated 217 House districts as solidly Democratic or leaning toward Democrats and 16 seats that were tossups. In these tossup districts, each side had a 50-50 chance to win. They are seats that are the most vulnerable. Under that scenario, Democrats would need to win just one of those 16 tossups to reach a majority in the House. > > Today we rate 207 districts as solidly Democratic or leaning toward Democrats and 18 as tossups. To win a majority, Democrats need to win at least 11 of the 50-50 contests (and hold all those leaning their way) in order to get a majority. It isn’t a doom and gloom piece but things have definitely shifted away from a D blowout in the House. According to Walter the Senate is still very tight. ---
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/42 "2026-05-17T23:17:14Z")
Updates on the “progressive” wing of the Democratic party in House races: -Democratic nominee Chris Backemeyer was believed to have a reasonable shot of ousting Republican incumbent in Nebraska 1, a district which last voted for a Democrat in 1964. Right on time, a “progressive independent” backed by The Intercept and other left-wing media [has parachuted in](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/05/15/new-nonpartisan-push-in-ne-01-as-austin-ahlman-jumps-into-race/) to split the vote and ensure a Republican victory. -In the race for the Democratic nomination in Texas 35, normal Democrat Johnny Garcia is trailing [Maureen Galindo](https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2026-05-14/democratic-runoff-in-texas-35th-congressional-district-roiled-by-comments-about-jews-and-israel), whose key issues include “Jewish control of the banking system,” the “Zionist occupation of America through ICE,” and who the “[real Jews](https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2026/05/14/texas-congressional-candidates-spar-over-antisemitism-allegations-ahead-of-democratic-runoff-race/)” are. Senate nominee James Talarico refused to campaign with Galindo after she called for “[a prison for Zionists](https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-896345)” and denounced the “synagogue of Satan.” ---
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/43 "2026-05-19T16:05:57Z")
DSA member Chris Rabb, who champions issues important to working-class Philadelphians such as the [Bondi Beach massacre](https://jewishinsider.com/2026/05/chris-rabb-bondi-beach-shooting-conspiracy-theory/) of Australian Jews being a “false flag” done by “Zionists,” is expected to win the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania 3 today. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/44 "2026-05-19T17:35:02Z")
As shocking as it may be, that summary leaves out some important information, such as that Chris Rabb explicitly disavows that Instagram post, says it was made by a former staffer who has been fired, and affirms that Bondi Beach was a horrific act of antisemitism. [cite](https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/chris-rabb-bondi-beach-post-20260501.html)–I’m having trouble finding a non-paywalled source of the quote, so this is the best I can do. > [@](#): > > A spokesperson for Rabb’s campaign said a former staffer was responsible for the repost that Rabb had “no knowledge” of, and that Rabb “has never and would never say anything like this abhorrent comment.” > > “The attack was a terrible tragedy targeting Jewish people based on their faith,” the campaign said in a statement. “Rep. Rabb has and does condemn antisemitism in the strongest terms.” ---
**Author:** ![ZosterSandstorm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e0b2c6/32.png) [@ZosterSandstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZosterSandstorm)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/45 "2026-05-19T17:39:00Z")
That’s correct, he did indeed get caught playing to his base, issued a statement claiming that the Chris Rabb campaign websites do not speak for the Chris Rabb campaign, then spent the next month continuing to appear with Hasan Piker and “Jewish” Voice for Peace on an obsessive Israel-conspiracy-theorist platform. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/46 "2026-05-19T17:39:23Z")
Why do you say “that’s correct” before saying all that incorrect stuff? Galindo sounds terrible, though. What’s your cite that she’s winning? Edit: oh, this is interesting, and explains why Galindo might have a chance: > **[Mysterious Meddling in Democratic Primaries Has G.O.P. Fingerprints](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/12/us/politics/gop-mystery-pac-midterms.html)** > > A new super PAC with ties to Republicans is intervening in Democratic primaries, in one instance helping a sex therapist in Texas accused of antisemitism. This is my shocked face. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/47 "2026-05-19T18:18:26Z")
I’m having a hard time seeing it… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/48 "2026-05-19T18:36:22Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > As shocking as it may be, that summary leaves out some important information, such as that Chris Rabb explicitly disavows that Instagram post, says it was made by a former staffer who has been fired, and affirms that Bondi Beach was a horrific act of antisemitism. > **[MSN](https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/chris-rabb-disavows-instagram-post-suggesting-bondi-beach-attack-on-jews-was-false-flag-by-zionists/ar-AA22cqym)** > Philadelphia State Rep. Chris Rabb, who is locked in a tight campaign for a seat in Congress, is disavowing a December post on his Instagram account that promoted an antisemitic conspiracy theory about the deadly Hanukkah massacre in Australia’s Bondi Beach, saying a former staffer was responsible. So, the so called Instagram post was not written by him. The accusation is bogus. And here’s the thing- it was ONE Instagram post. Nothing else he has said indicates antisemitism. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/49 "2026-05-19T20:35:42Z")
I’m hoping all this gerrymandering blows up good and hard in their faces. If you have, say, ten districts, “you” gerrymander seven or even eight of them to win with 52% of the vote and stuff all of “them” into two or three. However, if enough voters get disgusted at “your” party leader stuffing his pockets with both hands while publically stating he doesn’t care about what happens to people suddenly those narrow margins flip the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/50 "2026-05-19T20:37:58Z")
Wouldn’t that be awesome? Then we’ll all be posting in the _schadenfreude_ thread, too. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/51 "2026-05-19T20:43:02Z")
I could die of schadenfreude overdose. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/52 "2026-05-20T01:30:43Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > My wife and I have been watching Jeopardy lately on the Philadelphia ABC station, where this race is heavily advertised, with ads for both anti-corporate-greed blue-collar-resume Bob Brooks, endorsed by Josh Shapiro and Bernie Sanders, and Lamont McClure, the ringer whose ads position him as “the progressive in the race,” emphasizing his anti-Trump credentials in a district that Trump won in November 2024 by two points. With 53 percent of the vote is, the endorsed blue collar vibe guy, Bob Brooks, has 40 percent compared to 22 percent for the candidate I described as a GOP ringer, Lamont McClure. The race isn’t called, but it does look pretty strongly like the GOP funding of a candidate too progressive for the district failed. Unfortunately, from my moderate POV, Brooks has been running ads the last few days saying that he too is a progressive. Maybe McClure gave him got a scare. P.S. They just called the race for Brooks. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/53 "2026-05-20T02:15:15Z")
Ratfuck in Texas-35. The district leans red: it’s R+4. There’s a runoff on May 26 between Bluedog Dem Johnny Garcia and progressive Dem Maureen Galindo. The Republican Super PAC Lead Left is pulling hard for Galindo: > Lead Left, which has ties to GOP House leaders, on Friday reported spending [more than $40,000](https://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/fecimg/?202605089866911930) on [mailers](https://x.com/daveweigel/status/2053236193983119796) aimed at boosting [antisemitic sex therapist Maureen Galindo](https://freebeacon.com/democrats/democratic-sex-therapist-making-strong-run-for-texas-house-seat-slams-jews-who-own-hollywood-the-synagogue-of-satan-and-israeli-blood-money-in-wild-social-media-rants/), a real phrase we actually just wrote. The expenditure was first flagged [by CNN’s Patrick Svitek](https://x.com/PatrickSvitek/status/2052817816483450904). Galindo is a conservative oppo tank’s dream: she’s a progressive sex therapist with a habit of making antisemitic commentary. From the Downballot: > **[Morning Digest: Virginia Democrats' top House recruits are still running...](https://www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-digest-virginia-democrats-8d7)** > > A court ruling blocking the new districts shrinks the battlefield, but Democrats can still flip seats Bluesky chatter: > **[Dave Weigel (@daveweigel.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/daveweigel.bsky.social/post/3mmaqtm4vrc2s)** > > This author has chosen to make their posts visible only to people who are signed in. Go Johnny Garcia! * * * Both sides have their wack-jobs. The difference is that the Dems are better at self-policing relatively speaking as of this century so far. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/54 "2026-05-20T02:38:52Z")
Chris Rabb wins big in PA-9! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/55 "2026-05-20T04:13:17Z")
Massie lost in Kentucky, grrrr. > **[US Rep. Thomas Massie loses Kentucky GOP primary to Ed Gallrein in another...](https://apnews.com/article/massie-gallrein-trump-kentucky-republican-primary-03a658b1a45593ad04ebf6283a3fdb47)** > > Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has lost his Republican House primary after a concerted effort by President Donald Trump to oust him through challenger and ultimate winner Ed Gallrein. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/56 "2026-05-20T17:13:31Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > I’m hoping all this gerrymandering blows up good and hard in their faces. If you have, say, ten districts, “you” gerrymander seven or even eight of them to win with 52% of the vote and stuff all of “them” into two or three. However, if enough voters get disgusted at “your” party leader stuffing his pockets with both hands while publically stating he doesn’t care about what happens to people suddenly those narrow margins flip the other wa AFAICT every Republican candidate endorsed by Trump in this election cycle has won their primary, even defeating incumbents like Massie in Kentucky and Cassidy in Louisiana. The MAGA base is out there, and they continue their blind loyalty. Polls be damned, the only hope for Democrats this fall is not just a frustrated electorate, but a united Democratic party and a huge get out the vote push. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/57 "2026-05-20T17:49:04Z")
One member of the Indiana State Senate hung on despite Trump’s targeting of him: [https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/](https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2026/05/05/trump-backed-candidates-romp-to-wins-in-indiana-senate-races/) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/58 "2026-05-20T17:53:54Z")
I appreciate the correction. My warning still stands. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/59 "2026-05-20T18:31:09Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > …a united Democratic party… Alas, there’s the rub. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336/60 "2026-05-20T18:51:08Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > the only hope for Democrats this fall is not just a frustrated electorate, but a united Democratic party and a huge get out the vote push. No argument there. In fact I would add attract the low-information middle. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-house-races-2026/1023336.md?page=4)