US-SEN 2018: Which races are you still upset about?

[Ferguson97]

here's a question that I'm wondering how democrats will answer.

Would you have traded Manchin for Nelson?

On one hand, a senate seat is a senate seat. On the other hand, if you lose a seat like WV, then you don't have to worry about defending it anymore. In Florida, the headwinds are more neutral than in WV. Plus, the republicans would have little to be optimistic about in 2020. It's like - congratulations on making gains in deplorable places you probably should have won a long time ago!

No, because Florida will always be competitive but once Manchin loses WV is gone for good

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Landrieu and McCaskill would crush Cassidy and Hawley in a rematch

[America Needs R'hllor]

Oh, the most frustrating is certainly Florida. It was very nearly won, and extremely winnable, and just imagine what'd be the result of winning it: in 2020, Dems would just need to flip one of Maine and North Carolina (very good chance at least one flips, good but uncertain chance for both) in addition to the Colorado and Arizona flips. The Senate would be as good as flipped, if Biden wins the Presidency, and could even flip in the event of a Trump win. But no, Nelson had to go and lose it to one of the most vile politicians in the U.S. And the reprecussions continue- in 2024, Dems would have to defend Florida (Nelson probably retires) but not against an incumbent, and this gives them a much better chance to hold the Senate with West Virginia almost certainly flipping and Montana in danger.

Texas is the runner up for reasons others said.

[TiltsAreUnderrated]

TN-SEN, although IN is a close runner-up. ND-SEN was 100% unwinnable, MO could be wrested back in 2022 in a Republican midterm (it's not yet titanium R) and FL/MS/TX could be won in the future.

However, to hold IN or TN within this political generation, the Democratic Party would need an incumbent Senator. I think it could have been done if everything fell perfectly into place in 2018, but that was the last chance (within 16 years, at least) to take back either of those seats. TN > IN because Mike Braun seems to have an independent streak and Blackburn does not.

[Calthrina950]

TN-SEN, although IN is a close runner-up. ND-SEN was 100% unwinnable, MO could be wrested back in 2022 in a Republican midterm (it's not yet titanium R) and FL/MS/TX could be won in the future.

However, to hold IN or TN within this political generation, the Democratic Party would need an incumbent Senator. I think it could have been done if everything fell perfectly into place in 2018, but that was the last chance (within 16 years, at least) to take back either of those seats. TN > IN because Mike Braun seems to have an independent streak and Blackburn does not.

I'd certainly agree, and Braun was able to beat Republican Representatives Messer and Rokita in the primary because of marketing his status as an "outsider" businessman. I don't have that much of a problem with Braun, but I can't stand Blackburn (who was given a speaking slot at the RNC, probably as a thank-you for her staunch loyalty to Trump). Bredesen's loss shows that Tennessee will not be voting Democratic for at least a generation; Blackburn and Hagerty will have their seats for as long as they want.