Election forecasters move Ryan seat toward Dems after his retirement

Source: The Hill



BY BEN KAMISAR - 04/11/18 10:09 AM EDT

Election handicappers are shifting Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) House district toward Democrats after his retirement Wednesday morning.

The Cook Political Report moved Wisconsin's 1st district from a "Solid Republican" seat to a "Lean Republican" seat based on the news, while Sabato's Crystal Ball out of the University of Virginia shifted the race from "likely Republican" to a toss-up.

No serious Republican candidate had been running against Ryan for the nomination. But now with his impending retirement, Republicans have until the June 1 filing deadline to find another candidate to best Paul Nehlen, a white nationalist candidate who lost handily to Ryan in the 2016 GOP primary.

Democrats have already put their strongest foot forward in the district in years. Ironworker Randy Bryce is the favorite in the Democratic primary bec ause of his strong fundraising— he ended the first quarter of 2018 with $2.3 million in the bank, a strong haul for a candidate running against such a strong Republican opponent.



Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/382633-election-forecasters-move-ryan-seat-toward-dems-after-his-retirement