Republicans can lose up to three seats today and still keep the Senate majority.
asserted
Republicans → lose → majority
Any further losses, however, carry immense consequences.
asserted
losses → carry → consequences
Most in the party are already clocking North Carolina as lost to the Democrats.
asserted
Most → clock → Democrats
Losing the Senate would deprive Republicans of control over President Donald Trump’s nominees — including lifetime judicial appointments.
asserted
Losing → lose → appointments
And provided the House flips Democratic, Republicans could see a procession of impeachment trials for Cabinet members — and perhaps even the president.
“The two oldest members of the Supreme Court are both Republican [appointees].
uncertain
members → provide → Court
We want to make sure that if one of them decides to retire, or both, in the next two years, that President Trump can make an appointment that will get confirmed in the United States Senate,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Semafor on Monday amid a day of campaigning in Iowa.
asserted
Barrasso → want → Iowa
Republicans can quickly table impeachment trials with a simple majority if they keep Senate control; just two years ago, a Democratic majority dismissed the impeachment of then-Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
asserted
majority → table → Mayorkas
Next year, if Democrats claim the majority in both chambers, the GOP can’t expect quick dismissals.
uncertain
GOP → claim → dismissals
“We’re going to need to be able to make sure that those are dealt with quickly in the Senate and are not allowed to be dragged out, which is what you’d have with a Democrat majority,” Barrasso added.
asserted
Barrasso → go → majority
The national mood is poor, and Republicans are fighting it out deep in red territory.
asserted
Republicans → fight → territory
They are hoping a pair of eleventh-hour dramas in Alaska and Michigian — and their most battle-hardened incumbent — will help bail out their embattled Senate majority.
asserted
pair → hop → majority
Republicans’ best pickup opportunity at the start of the cycle has faded away in Georgia.
asserted
opportunity → fade → Georgia
But GOP leaders see Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens’ surprise endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers as fueling their best chance in Michigan since their last Senate win in 1994.
asserted
leaders → see → 1994
Stevens’ endorsement “brings more energy and more attention to that race, and it’s going to help in Michigan,” Barrasso said.
asserted
Barrasso → bring → Michigan
“That is going to be a positive influence for the Republicans in the race tomorrow, and in turn I believe is going to generate more turnout and more votes for Mike Rogers.
asserted
I → go → Rogers
The last batch of Michigan polls still show Democrat Abdul El-Sayed ahead of Rogers, though they won’t take into account Stevens’ stunning turn over the weekend.
asserted
they → show → weekend
If Republicans somehow flip the Michigan seat, Democrats would have to net five pick-ups elsewhere, which would mean winning a majority of races in eight GOP-held states: North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Maine, Alaska, Kansas, South Carolina and Iowa.
asserted
which → flip → states
Alaska has been one of Democrats’ core focuses since the start of the year, and the race still looks close.
asserted
race → look → year
Republicans are praying that enough Alaskans saw The New York Times’ story on Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign allies working to recruit a spoiler candidate who might siphon votes from GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
uncertain
who → pray → Sullivan
“The more people that know about the situation, I think the more it’s going to help Sen. Dan Sullivan.
asserted
it → know → Sullivan
I believe he wins the race,” Barrasso said.
asserted
Barrasso → believe → race
Asked if Peltola would be seated if she wins, Barrasso demurred: “We’re not there yet.
asserted
We → ask → ?
I believe Dan Sullivan is going to win.”
asserted
Sullivan → believe → ?
He also predicted GOP Sen. Susan Collins would defeat Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine, holding a seat she has occupied since winning it in 1996.
asserted
she → predict → 1996
He said that Trump’s rallies are critical to stoking turnout by the GOP base in a cycle that’s typically brutal for modern presidents.
asserted
that → say → presidents
“Nobody can get out a crowd or energize a crowd like President Trump,” Barrasso said.
asserted
Barrasso → get → Trump
The Aporia
