Rep. Delaney will vacate his likely Democratic Washington, DC suburban district for the long shot presidential effort, a campaign he is beginning right away. Since the Congressman maintains a fortune of well over $100 million, he does have the personal assets to at least begin a professional campaign and has his sites set on Iowa.
The open 6th District becomes the 17th seat such seat for 2018, seven of which are Democratic. Since Delaney had been speculated upon as a gubernatorial candidate, two Democratic state legislators, Majority Leader Bill Frick and state Del. Aruna Miller, had already been organizing their congressional campaigns. We can now expect more candidates to enter the contest. Democrats will be favored to hold the seat, but Delaney’s close call (50-48%) in 2014 gives Republicans some hope of becoming competitive here.
--Jim Ellis