McConnell on midterms: ‘We do have a pretty good map’

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he’s optimistic that Republicans can maintain control of the upper chamber in the 2018 midterm elections, adding that the GOP has a “pretty good map.” 

“We do have a pretty good map,” McConnell told Fox News.

“Twenty-five Democrats are up in ’18 and only 10 Republicans,” he noted. 

“The Democrats had a good map last year. We’re optimistic we can keep the majority,” McConnell added, noting key battleground states such as Florida and Nevada will be essential to maintaining control of the Senate. {mosads}

“If we hold Arizona and Nevada and pick up some of these others we’ll have a majority for two more years,” McConnell said. 

Arizona has become a focal point of the upcoming midterms after Sen. Jeff Flake (R), an outspoken critic of President Trump, announced he would not seek reelection. Two Republican Trump supporters, pardoned former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former state Sen. Kelli Ward, are running for his seat, as is Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema. 

Sen. Dean Heller (R) of Nevada, meanwhile, faces a tough primary race against Danny Tarkanian, and a possible general election challenger in Rep. Jacky Rosen (D) in the state where Hillary Clinton managed a narrow win in 2016.