The Cook Political Report has adjusted its ratings in two key mid-Atlantic congressional races, shifting both in favor of the Republican Party.
The nonpartisan election forecaster made its first change in the race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, shifting its classification from “Lean D” to “Toss Up.” The race is for an open seat, following the announced departure of Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is leaving the House in January to run for governor. It now sees a competitive matchup between Eugene Vindman, brother of Alexander Vindman—who played a central role as a witness during Donald Trump‘s first impeachment—and Derrick Anderson, a former Green Beret.
New @CookPolitical House rating changes: two Mid-Atlantic races shift in Republicans’ favor.#NJ07 Kean (R) – Toss Up to Lean R#VA07 OPEN (Spanberger) (D) – Lean D to Toss Up
Full analysis by @ercovey: https://t.co/snRMaM81Ix
— Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) October 8, 2024
Despite Vindman significantly outspending Anderson on campaign ads, the race appears to have tightened.
Watch my closing message at tonight’s #VA07 forum.
I will always fight for the future of the people of #VA07, my home, the place that raised me, while my opponent focuses on the past. pic.twitter.com/kxFpWuZE8t
— Derrick Anderson (@DerrickforVA) September 18, 2024
The district covers a substantial portion of Central and Northern Virginia, including areas like Orange, Culpeper, Spotsylvania and Prince William counties, with Fredericksburg and Culpeper among its largest cities. It has a slight Democratic lean with a D+1 partisan voter index, which Cook’s Erin Covey notes may be Vindman’s saving grace in a presidential election year.
In another update, New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, currently held by Republican Thomas Kean Jr., has shifted from “Toss Up” to “Lean R.” This change is significant as Kean’s seat is one of only 16 Republican-held districts that President Joe Biden carried in the 2020 election.
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Kean may benefit from the favorable reputation of his father, former Governor Tom Kean, among his Northern New Jersey constituents. Moreover, his opponent, Democrat Sue Altman, has struggled to gain visibility in the costly New York City media market.
This article originally appeared on American Liberty News. It is republished with permission.
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