Better for Democrats: Taking congress in 2018 or not?

[Sir Mohamed]

What would help Democrats in 2020 more with regard to 2018: If the they retake at least the House or not?

Gaining one (or both) chambers in midterms of first-term presidents isn't necessarily helpful in the next presidential election. See 1954, 1994 or 2010.

[Since I'm the mad scientist proclaimed by myself]

It would reduce the republicans abilities to shoot themselves in the foot.

[Kamala]

Certainly doesn't hurt either - 2006, 1974 etc

[Confused Democrat]

2018

Someone needs to serve as a check on this president.

[Mr. Smith]

Getting ridiculously close but not quite, think 1978 or 1930.

[Figueira]

"Which would be better for Democrats: winning an election or losing an election?"

Winning, obviously.

[Skill and Chance]

Getting ridiculously close but not quite, think 1978 or 1930.

From a 2020 presidential standpoint, this would be even better for Dems than a wave that flips the House, but a 1934-like situation where the GOP actually gains several seats would be extremely bad.

[Vega]

Getting ridiculously close but not quite, think 1978 or 1930.

From a 2020 presidential standpoint, this would be even better for Dems than a wave that flips the House, but a 1934-like situation where the GOP actually gains several seats would be extremely bad.

Why do you say that?

[Kingpoleon]

May be better. Can you imagine if Trump, Warren, Sanders, and Pelosi managed to pass UHC, infrastructure spending, and work on fair trade?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Getting ridiculously close but not quite, think 1978 or 1930.

1978 wasn't close.

[Virginiá]

What would help Democrats in 2020 more with regard to 2018: If the they retake at least the House or not?

Gaining one (or both) chambers in midterms of first-term presidents isn't necessarily helpful in the next presidential election. See 1954, 1994 or 2010.

It would be best to win the House in 2018 so they can actually start conducting some oversight on Trump. If over 4 years Trump has pulled shady stuff and done anything illegal or reckless, Democrats can make it into an issue using their power in the House. Now, you might say, "Benghazi didn't stop Obama" - well, Benghazi was a tragedy mostly exploited and blown out of proportion by Republicans, and more focused on Clinton, and I think that is quite different than possible collusion with Russians to leak damaging material on his political opponent in the presidential election, or numerous conflicts of interest, and possible abuses of power.

As Chaffetz would say, Trump is target rich, and unlike Obama, he has started his presidency deeply unpopular. He already has basically no room for error.

[Shameless Lefty Hack]

Whether or not explicitly taking Congress in 2018 matters, if we don't put up really impressive margins in Congressional districts throughout the country in 2018 and 2020, that means we aren't putting up the margins we need to take the statehouses that we need in time for redistricting.

If we lose redistricting this census, I don't care what else happens. We're [inks]ed.

[Hammy]

If the Dems win Congress (at least half) on one hand Dems can introduce some legislation that might be popular, especially if they know it wont get passed, and blame Trump and the Republicans (which would be quite helpful.) At the same time Trump can claim he could've gotten this and that through if not for the Dems, so in the end it may result in higher turnout on both sides in 2020.

[NHI]

Certainly doesn't hurt either - 2006, 1974 etc

[RaphaelDLG]

If the Democrats underperform relative to historical expectations, that's really bad for the media narrative heading into 2020.

Also, let's not engage in some kind of Jimmy Dore three-dimensional chess/sacrifice bunt play.  That stuff never works, and the best move is just always to try to have good people with good policy take control and aggressively push big policy at every chance they get.

[Orser67]

Interesting question. I assume we're only talking about Democratic chances in the 2020 presidential election.

Taking control of one house of Congress would give Democrats oversight powers, which I think would probably help more than being able to run against a Republican Congress. For other presidents, I might worry about Democrats overplaying their hand with impeachment, but I'm not all that worried about that with Trump.

[Skill and Chance]

If they can take back the House and the Senate in 2018, they'll be guaranteed to have a Democratic trifecta in 2021. So yeah...

You're writing off 2020 already?  After how ridiculously wrong everyone was about 2016?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Dems will have a majority in 2020, and the House and Govs in 2018.  Trumps chances of winning reelection has dwindled.

Dems well in 2006 to take the presidency in 2008 so the same is true in 2018/2020.