A special election? In the middle of April? In a congressional district where Democrats routinely pull in a measly 30-some odd percent of the vote?
Snore …
The most exciting thing about today’s race in Kansas’ 4th Congressional District should have been the background story of whatever local palace intrigue might have taken place at the Republican nominating convention.
Instead, we’re getting stories about worried, sweaty Republicans. And that, in itself, is the big story. Because if they’re truly sweating this seat, the implications are dire. This should be a safe seat. This should be a boring election. This race should go unremarked upon by the general populace. After all, only about one-fifth of the districts in the House are more Trumpian than KS-04, as you can see above. If they have to fight in this district, there will be a lot of surprising seats on the board come 2018.
Donald Trump won this district by 27 points. Mike Pompeo won re-election to the House by more than 30 points, three times in a row. Any margin substantially closer than this means Republicans are in trouble. Cross your fingers, cross your toes, and come back for live coverage tonight, here at Daily Kos Elections.