U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash) announced on Wednesday that he would not be seeking re-election. Mark Smith joined Kaci Aitchison and Travis Mayfield on Q13 News This Morning to discuss what this could mean. Professor Smith explains that out of the 435 districts around this country the majority of them are not competitive (meaning they strongly side with one party). “There are only about two dozen maybe three dozen that are pretty close to the margin…this is one of those seats, one of those districts. So you could see a change in party control depending on which candidates both parties recruit and how the voters react to them.”
Professor Smith noted that there are many things that factor in to how voters will vote: the candidates, their backgrounds, what kind of campaigns they run and who supports them. He also pointed out that national politics also play a part especially during a midterm year. Historically, he explains, “you see a kind of surge where you get support then once you’re in office and start doing things it is kind of hard to maintain your coalition and you might start alienating some people who then want to vote on the other side.”
You can watch the full interview here.