Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich put his midterm election predictions into writing Thursday in an op-ed for FoxNews.com.
One thing Gingrich is absolutely certain of is that Republicans will retain control of the Senate, dashing Chuck Schumer’s hopes of becoming Majority Leader.
“I have looked at every Senate race this year, and I do not see any way the Democrats can win majority control of the chamber when voters cast ballots just a few days from now,” he said. “At a minimum, we will have a two-vote Republican majority after Tuesday.”
This is most significant for President Trump and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s efforts to bring constitutionalists back to the courts.
“This shift of the courts was the biggest achievement of President Trump’s first two years,” he noted. “Now it is likely guaranteed to continue.”
He said Republicans will likely gain at least three seats in the Senate, but he would not disclose his optimistic prediction, explaining it’s “so high I am afraid to put in writing.”
Gingrich also commented on the significance of West Virginia’s Senate race.
“If Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. loses Tuesday, it will be a sign that no candidate can overcome being on the wrong team in a state President Trump carried by a 42 percent margin,” he said.
As for the House, Gingrich was less certain, noting it could go either way. “I think the GOP range is probably a low of 204 to a high of 229. A party needs at least 218 seats to have majority control of the House. None of us will know for sure which party comes up on top until the votes are counted,” he explained.