As we know, the GOP has significant structural advantages going into the 2018 election; it is defending far fewer Senate seats, and the combination of natural population distribution and shrewd gerrymandering means a minority of voters can elect a GOP House majority. In every other respect, barring a successful war or a terrorist backlash, 2018 looks like a disaster for the Republicans. The election is going to be a referendum on Trump and his follies, and the man won’t even be on the ballot to mobilize his supporters. A Democratic House majority, in spite of their structural disadvantages, is a very real possibility.
The Democrats can simply run against Trump in 2018; it would be a mistake to try to spend too much time and money putting forth an alternative program, when the party is completely unified on the immediate need to do something about the man on golf cart. That option will not be available in 2020, however. I will be posting on the issues surrounding the 2020 Democratic platform throughout the week.