Ex-CNN Editor: Senate Map Favors Republicans

According to a former CNN editor-at-large, Republicans have a significant advantage in this year’s Senate map.

Chris Cillizza, who previously worked at CNN and now runs his own Substack and YouTube channel, analyzed the 2024 Senate races and suggested that Republicans have a strong chance of flipping the upper chamber. Currently, Democrats hold a two-seat advantage with 23 seats up for vote compared to 11 held by Republicans.

Three Democratic seats are in states expected to vote for Trump, while no Republican seats in states that Biden won are up for re-election. If Trump is re-elected, Republicans only need to flip one seat since the Vice President breaks ties in the Senate.

Cillizza noted that West Virginia’s seat, currently held by Democrat-turned-independent Joe Manchin, is likely to flip Republican as Governor Jim Justice is running on the Republican ticket.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown faces a tough re-election battle against Republican Bernie Moreno in a state Trump won by eight points in 2020.

Cillizza highlighted Montana Senator Jon Tester’s challenging fourth-term race against wealthy businessman Tim Sheehy in a state where Trump is expected to win easily.

Even in Nevada, where Biden won in 2020, Democrat Senator Jacky Rosen faces a difficult re-election campaign due to the state’s struggling economy.

Cillizza also pointed out that Democrats must defend seats in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, while the 11 Republican seats up for re-election are less worrisome for the GOP.

Cillizza predicts a 70% chance of Republicans controlling the Senate in 2025 and believes that if Democrats do, it would be remarkable.