In tonight’s special elections in two states – New Hampshire and Oklahoma – Democrats have flipped two seats that were formerly under Republican control– and even voted for Trump in the 2016 election.
In New Hampshire, Democrat Charlie St. Clair won 56 to 44 percent, becoming the first Democrat to win this district since 2012. More tellingly, because Trump took this district 56 to 39 percent, St. Clair’s margin of victory is a 28-point swing in the Democrats’ favor from the last election.
YES! Dems pick up *another* GOP seat in NH special tonight. Won 56-44 in seat Trump carried 56-39—a 28-point swing! https://t.co/BJLmLVfXG3 pic.twitter.com/TvMNsqLq4R
— Daily Kos Elections (@DKElections) September 13, 2017
Obama won this seat by less than a point, so Dem Charlie St. Clair's victory is a 12-point swing from 2012 results as well
— Daily Kos Elections (@DKElections) September 13, 2017
St. Clair will replace Republican Robert Fisher, who lied under oath about his involvement with a decidedly bigoted Reddit forum.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma, Democrat Jacob Rosecrants won the special election to the Oaklahoma State House 60 to 40 percent, also becoming the first Democrat to take the seat since 2012. Because Trump won this district 52 to 41 percent in November, Rosecrants’ win marks a 31-point swing from red to blue. More remarkably, Rosecrants vindicated his loss from 2016, in which he was defeated 60 to 40 percent—the same margin he won by tonight.
There we go! With all precincts reporting, Dems pick up Oklahoma's 46th House District 60-40! Second pickup tonight! https://t.co/KPovFMXWQG
— Daily Kos Elections (@DKElections) September 13, 2017
Rosecrants will replace Republican Scott Martin, who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2006.
As Democrats continue to unseat Republicans in a stunningly lopsided fashion, Congressional Republicans will continue to distance themselves from an increasingly unpopular Trump administration before they, too, find themselves out of a job.
