By Jim Ellis
Jan. 11, 2019 — Now that the various state elections’ offices have certified the Nov. 6 final voting totals, we can begin to reflect and better analyze the particulars of the 2018 campaigns, which will provide clues to future targeting and possible performance.
Below are the 29 US House winners who received a final vote total of 51 percent or less, and we can be assured that most, if not all, of these veteran and new members will be major targets in the 2020 elections.
Fifteen of the districts yielded Democratic victories with 14 going to or remaining Republican. All US House results are final with the exception of the NC-9 contest that remains uncertified and is likely to go to a new election. The North Carolina State Board of Elections is scheduled to meet this week, and it is probable that they will order a new election as part of the proceedings.
Listed in order by party from the winner with the lowest percentages:
- IA-3: Cindy Axne (D) – 49.3% (Rep. David Young – 47.1%)
- NJ-3: Andy Kim (D) – 50.0% (Rep. Tom MacArthur – 48.7%)
- UT-4: Ben McAdams (D) – 50.1% (Rep. Mia Love – 49.9%)
- NY-22: Anthony Brindisi (D) – 50.1% (Rep. Claudia Tenney – 48.3%)
- VA-7: Abigail Spanberger (D) – 50.3% (Rep. Dave Brat – 48.4%)
- CA-21: T.J. Cox (D) – 50.4% (Rep. David Valadao – 49.6%)
- NY-19: Antonio Delgado (D) – 50.4% (Rep. John Faso – 45.3%)
- GA-6: Lucy McBath (D) – 50.5% (Rep. Karen Handel – 49.5%)
- ME-2: Jared Golden (D) – 50.5% (Rep. Bruce Poliquin – 49.5%)
- MI-8: Elissa Slotkin (D) – 50.6% (Rep. Mike Bishop – 46.8%)
- SC-1: Joe Cunningham (D) – 50.6% (Katie Arrington – 49.2%)
- OK-5: Kendra Horn (D) – 50.7% (Rep. Steve Russell – 49.3%)
- FL-26: Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) – 50.9% (Rep. Carlos Curbelo – 49.1%)
- NM-2: Xochitl Torres-Small (D) – 50.9% (Yvette Herrell – 49.1%)
- IA-1: Abby Finkenauer (D) – 51.0% (Rep. Rod Blum – 45.9%)
- KS-2: Steve Watkins (R) – 47.6% (Paul Davis – 46.8% – Rep. Lynn Jenkins retiring)
- NY-27: Chris Collins (R) – 47.8% (Nate McMurray – 47.4%)
- TX-23: Will Hurd (R) – 49.2% (Gina Ortiz Jones – 48.7%)
- GA-7: Rob Woodall (R) – 50.1% (Carolyn Bourdeaux – 49.9%)
- MN-1: Jim Hagedorn (R) – 50.1% (Dan Feehan – 49.7%)
- MI-6: Fred Upton (R) – 50.2% (Matt Longjohn – 45.7%)
- IA-4: Steve King (R) – 50.3% (JD Scholten – 47.0%)
- IL-13: Rodney Davis (R) – 50.4% (Betsy Dirksen Londrigen – 49.6%)
- TX-31: John Carter (R) – 50.6% (MJ Hegar – 47.7%)
- MN-8: Pete Stauber (R) – 50.7% (Joe Radinovich – 45.2%)
- NY-1: Lee Zeldin (R) – 50.7% (Perry Gershon – 46.6%)
- MT-AL: Greg Gianforte (R) – 50.9% (Kathleen Williams – 46.2%)
- KY-6: Andy Barr (R) – 51.0% (Amy McGrath – 47.8%)
- NE-2: Don Bacon (R) – 51.0% (Kara Eastman – 49.0%)