A Republican weak spot in 2018: Longtime lawmakers in shifting districts
By Paul Kane June 1 at 6:00 AM
Outside San Diego, a 14-year incumbent climbed atop the roof of his district congressional office to photograph protesters opposed to his support for a Republican health-care bill.
Just up the highway in Orange County, a 28-year incumbent mused about his belief in a conspiracy about a Democratic National Committee staffer slain in Washington last year.
And across the continent, in northern New Jersey, an eight-year incumbent faced a hostile crowd at a town hall, winning loud applause only when he denounced President Trump.
These are strange times for some longtime House Republicans. After years, sometimes decades, coasting to reelection in traditional Republican strongholds, these lawmakers find themselves under fire from angry constituents swept up in organized efforts to oppose Trump. And in some cases, they are already seeing Democratic opponents line up against them for an election 17 months away.
Collectively, Democrats are much more focused on dozens of seats held by relatively new Republicans who have never run into the head winds of midterm elections with their own party’s president facing deep unpopularity.
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