These shifts follow a series of previous updates that moved 15 and 16 seats away from the GOP. As of Oct 1, Cook rated the House with 208 seats for Democrats, 205 for Republicans, and 22 toss-ups. Founder Charlie Cook has described a Democratic takeover of the House as a "done deal," projecting a net gain of approximately 20 seats for the Democratic party.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Cook Shifts 18 House Race Ratings Toward Democrats
US Politics12 days ago
Four Republican incumbents in the US House now face Lean Democrat ratings according to the latest projections from the Cook Political Report. The nonpartisan analyst shifted 18 more House race ratings in favor of Democrats with less than 4 weeks remaining until the election, including moving 4 previously Lean Republican races into the Toss Up column. Three of the downgraded GOP incumbents won their races by less than 2 points in 2024, while the reports note that heavy Republican ad spending has yet to move the needle or reduce the influence of Donald Trump.
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