This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/us/politics/pelosi-midterms-gains-predictions.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pelosi Tells Democratic Allies Party Will Make Big Gains in Midterms Pelosi Tells Democratic Allies Party Will Make Big Gains in Midterms
(35 minutes later)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi predicted sweeping Democratic gains in the midterm elections at a private meeting with political allies in Washington on Tuesday, but warned that President Trump might attempt to brand the election as “rigged” if the ultimate result was close, according to three people present for her remarks.House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi predicted sweeping Democratic gains in the midterm elections at a private meeting with political allies in Washington on Tuesday, but warned that President Trump might attempt to brand the election as “rigged” if the ultimate result was close, according to three people present for her remarks.
A California Democrat who is seeking to reclaim the House speakership, Ms. Pelosi briefed a luncheon of several dozen Democratic donors and political strategists, delivering a detailed forecast for the election that conveyed confidence Democrats would soon take the House majority.A California Democrat who is seeking to reclaim the House speakership, Ms. Pelosi briefed a luncheon of several dozen Democratic donors and political strategists, delivering a detailed forecast for the election that conveyed confidence Democrats would soon take the House majority.
She was joined by a collection of senior Democrats, including Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor, and Representative Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.She was joined by a collection of senior Democrats, including Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor, and Representative Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Going state by state over the political map, Ms. Pelosi said she expected Democrats to capture three or four Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania, between two and four in New Jersey and up to three in Illinois, people who attended the event said, speaking anonymously to discuss a private conversation. In several smaller states, Ms. Pelosi predicted a Democratic sweep of the most competitive congressional races, including gains of two seats each in Iowa and Kansas, and one seat in New Mexico.Going state by state over the political map, Ms. Pelosi said she expected Democrats to capture three or four Republican-held seats in Pennsylvania, between two and four in New Jersey and up to three in Illinois, people who attended the event said, speaking anonymously to discuss a private conversation. In several smaller states, Ms. Pelosi predicted a Democratic sweep of the most competitive congressional races, including gains of two seats each in Iowa and Kansas, and one seat in New Mexico.
That supremely optimistic outlook on the night reflects just how high Democratic hopes have risen for a takeover in the House, and one person who attended the event expressed surprise at just how far Ms. Pelosi went in the direction of predicting a robust victory. Most leaders in both parties now expect Democrats to take the majority, but even confident Democratic officials have been largely restrained in forecasting the scale of gains they anticipate.
[Read more about Nancy Pelosi on the campaign trail][Read more about Nancy Pelosi on the campaign trail]
Still, Ms. Pelosi urged Democrats not to take victory for granted even over the final hours of the campaign, and cautioned that they should not be surprised if Mr. Trump attempts to question the legitimacy of the election. She noted that Democrats have deployed hundreds of lawyers around the country to address any issues of election integrity.Still, Ms. Pelosi urged Democrats not to take victory for granted even over the final hours of the campaign, and cautioned that they should not be surprised if Mr. Trump attempts to question the legitimacy of the election. She noted that Democrats have deployed hundreds of lawyers around the country to address any issues of election integrity.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly made baseless claims of voter fraud in the past, including in the aftermath of his own 2016 victory.Mr. Trump has repeatedly made baseless claims of voter fraud in the past, including in the aftermath of his own 2016 victory.
Looking past an anticipated victory, Ms. Pelosi said a Democratic majority in the House would swiftly tackle issues of government ethics, infrastructure spending and health care.Looking past an anticipated victory, Ms. Pelosi said a Democratic majority in the House would swiftly tackle issues of government ethics, infrastructure spending and health care.
Impeachment, she said, was not on the agenda.Impeachment, she said, was not on the agenda.
Ms. Pelosi was not alone in her buoyant mood. Mr. McAuliffe, who with Ms. Pelosi has been raising millions of dollars to attack Republican-drawn congressional maps in state elections, said he expected the party to gain 40 seats in the House, including at least three in his home state.Ms. Pelosi was not alone in her buoyant mood. Mr. McAuliffe, who with Ms. Pelosi has been raising millions of dollars to attack Republican-drawn congressional maps in state elections, said he expected the party to gain 40 seats in the House, including at least three in his home state.
And Representative Henry Cuellar, who briefed the crowd on his native Texas, offered a prediction that thrilled the room: Representative Beto O’Rourke would defeat Senator Ted Cruz.And Representative Henry Cuellar, who briefed the crowd on his native Texas, offered a prediction that thrilled the room: Representative Beto O’Rourke would defeat Senator Ted Cruz.
Recalling a campaign swing he made with Mr. O’Rourke, Mr. Cuellar said he had never seen anything quite like the crowd that gathered for the insurgent Senate candidate.Recalling a campaign swing he made with Mr. O’Rourke, Mr. Cuellar said he had never seen anything quite like the crowd that gathered for the insurgent Senate candidate.