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Could Congress Choose the President?

Key House Races in 2020

By John HeckenlivelyPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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There have been some suggestions that because Donald Trump is likely to lose the popular vote by an even larger margin than he did in 2016, and may lose the electoral college as well, that his attorneys may play out the clock and deliberately postpone things in enough states so that no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes and the election is thrown into the House of Representatives.

According to the Constitution, each state has one vote for President. Based on the makeup of the current House, Republicans have 26 states, Democrats have 22 and two are divided evenly: Michigan (7-7) and Pennsylvania (9-9). Florida is closely divided, with Republicans having a 14 to 13 advantage.

Therefore, if the “House elects the President” comes to pass, a handful of House elections could well determine who the President of the United States is in 2021. Here are the seats that could most likely tip the balance between the two parties.

Alaska At-Large

Alyse Galvin is making another bid against veteran congressman Don Young, who won with 53.3 percent in 2018. Galvin received 46.7 percent. Galvin is running as an Independent, and received almost 85 percent in the Democratic primary. She is a long-time advocate for public education through her organization Best Beginnings.

https://www.alyse4alaska.com/

https://www.bestbeginningsalaska.org/

Michigan 3

Attorney Hillary Scholten is taking on Peter Meijer, the scion of the supermarket chain. The seat is open due to the retirement of Justin Amash, who won as a Republican in 2018 (54.4%). Scholten, a native of Grand Rapids, is the daughter of a teacher and a journalist. She worked for the Department of Justice during the Obama administration.

https://www.hillaryscholten.com/

Michigan 6

Jon Hoadley, a state representative from Kalamazoo is representing Fred Upton, who won with 50.2 percent in 2018. Hoadley, the first openly gay House candidate in Michigan, has been attacked by the National Republican Congressional Committee with homophobic slurs. Their most bizarre attack is using “pedo sex poet” using college blog posts by Hoadley. Hoadley was elected to the Michigan legislature in 2014 and is currently serving his third term.

https://www.jonhoadley.com/

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/08/gop-campaign-group-accused-homophobic-trope-against-hoadley/5750335002/

Montana At Large

State legislator Kathleen Williams is making her second bid for Montana’s lone congressional seat, after losing to Greg Gianforte 50.9 to 46.2 in 2018. Gianforte is retiring, and Republicans have nominated State Auditor Matthew Rossendale. Williams is a long time environmental activist.

https://kathleenformontana.com/

As noted, Pennsylvania is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. There are three seats that Republicans won by under 52 percent.

Pennsylvania 1

Attorney/Psychiatrist Christina Finello is taking on Brian Fitzpatrick, who received 51.3 percent in 2018. Fitzpatrick is actually one of the few progressive Republicans left, and has frequently voted against the Trump administration over the last two years. Finello has been active in housing issues and corrections. The seat is in Bucks County, suburban Philadelphia, and is a strong possible pickup for Democrats.

https://www.finelloforcongress.com/meet-christina

Pennsylvania 10

Pennsylvania’s Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is facing Congressman Scott Perry, who won with 51.3 percent in 2018. DePasquale is an attorney who served several terms in the Pennsylvania legislature before becoming Auditor General in 2010. The race is rated as a Tossup by several organizations.

https://eugeneforcongress.com/about/

Pennsylvania 16

Schoolteacher Kristy Gnibus is taking on Mike Kelly, who won with 51.6 percent in 2018.

She is a veteran educator who is currently going for her Doctorate in Leadership. Gnibus is a single mother and a cancer survivor. After redistricting in 2018, the new 16th is in northwestern Pennsylvania, from Erie to just north of Pittsburgh.

https://www.kristyforcongress.com/

As noted above, Florida is divided 14 to 13 for Republicans. Here are three seats the Republicans narrowly won in 2018 that could potentially shift in 2020.

Florida 15

The district is competitive since incumbent Ross Spano lost in to Scott Franklin in the Primary.

Spano won with 53 percent in 2018. Democrats nominated television journalist Alan Cohn, who ran for Congress in 2014.Cohn was an investigative journalist noted for exposing political and corporate corruption.

https://alancohnforcongress.com/

Florida 16

State Representative Margaret Good is taking on veteran congressman Vern Buchanan, who won in 2018 with 54.6 percent. She defeated Buchanan’s son James in her race for the legislature.

Good is an honors graduate of the University of Florida Law School, where she was editor of the Law Review. Her campaign has been designated a “Red to Blue” seat by the DCCC.

https://margaretgood.com/

Florida 18

Attorney Pam Keith is taking on Brian Mast, who won with 54.3 percent in 2018. Keith is an honors graduate of Boston College Law School, and served in the Navy JAG Corps before going into private practice. This is her third bid for Congress after losing the House primary in 2018 and the US Senate primary for Florida in 2016. Keith has been endorsed by a wide range of progressive organizations, including Senator Elizabeth Warren.

https://www.pamkeithfl.com/

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