Democrat Doug Jones’s historic win in Alabama cuts the GOP’s lead in the Senate to 51-49, and gives the Democrats a narrow path to winning back the majority in the 2018 midterm elections.

Democrats face a tough task retaking the Senate, as their party has to defend more than 20 seats while Republicans are only defending eight. But President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE’s low approval ratings and a backlash against Republicans from suburban voters, first seen in Virginia’s elections last month and now in Alabama, are good news for Democrats.

ADVERTISEMENT

The path to a Senate majority is straightforward.

Democrats will need to gain two seats, first by securing a win in Nevada, the only state Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE won in 2016 with an incumbent Republican senator on the ballot next year. Arizona, where Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeGOP lawmakers stick to Trump amid new criticism Kelly holds double-digit lead over McSally in Arizona: poll Trump asserts his power over Republicans MORE is retiring, has also long been seen as a potential pickup, while Democrats have a strong candidate for Tennessee’s open seat.

The party is also more hopeful about taking out Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump’s public standing sags after Floyd protests GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police MORE (R) in Texas. The Lone Star State, long thought of as a GOP stronghold, could be attainable if anti-Trump sentiment mounts.

“At the beginning of the year, for a variety of different reasons, I didn’t think reclaiming the majority was possible for Democrats,” said Jim Manley, former aide to former Senate Minority Leader Harry ReidHarry Mason ReidHarry Reid says he’s cancer free White House gets jolt from strong jobs report Murkowski, Mattis criticism ratchets up pressure on GOP over Trump MORE (D-Nev.).

“But in the last couple of months, I think it’s become more doable. What happened in Alabama is just the icing on the cake,” he said.

But while Alabama has Democrats optimistic about their chances of taking GOP seats, the party also has to protect its own incumbents. Trump won 10 states that are represented by Democrats up for reelection in 2018, carrying half of those states by double-digit margins.

Democrats acknowledge that hanging on to all 10 of those seats will be difficult, but they hope the ongoing feud between Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (Ky.) and Breitbart News chief Stephen Bannon over primaries could hurt the GOP’s ability to unite behind the best Republican candidates.

Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jersey

Democrats also feel encouraged by the results in the Virginia and Alabama elections. Enthusiasm in those races was high, particularly among suburban, female, black and young voters.

“There will be many more Alabamas in 2018,” Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Schumer requests briefing with White House coronavirus task force as cases rise Schumer on Trump’s tweet about 75-year-old protester: He ‘should go back to hiding in the bunker’ MORE (D-N.Y.) told reporters on Wednesday.

“So you put that all together — the base being energized, millennials, overwhelmingly Democratic; suburbs, swinging back to the Democrats — and it means that things are looking good for us,” he said.

The most realistic opportunities for Democrats will come in Nevada and Arizona. But Democrats are now looking beyond the two most vulnerable GOP-held seats.

Democrats were already feeling energized in Tennessee, after recruiting former Gov. Phil Bredesen to run for the seat. Bredesen was the last Democrat to win statewide office there, though he hasn’t campaigned for office in 11 years.

The party might also re-examine their chances in Texas, where Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke is looking to unseat Cruz. A Democrat hasn’t won a Senate seat in Texas since 1988.

High-profile Democrats, including Texas Rep. Joaquin CastroJoaquin CastroTop Hispanic Caucus members endorse Melissa Mark-Viverito in NY House primary Ousted watchdog says he told top State aides about Pompeo probe CHC says George Floyd death shows ‘tiny fraction’ of what people of color confront in their daily lives MORE, have already ruled out Senate runs. But some Democrats are hoping that potential candidates who have decided against challenging Republican incumbents in red states will reconsider after the recent Democratic victories.

With so many Democrats up for reelection, though, party resources could be stretched too thin to boost candidates with more difficult bids against Republican incumbents.

For example, Democrats cheered Bredesen’s bid in part because he has a reputation for putting his personal wealth behind his bids. But for now, Bredesen has said he won’t self-fund, which could be a setback for the party.

Meanwhile, O’Rourke isn’t accepting money from political action committees — a move that might endear him to campaign finance reformers, but will cut off another potential source of cash. O’Rourke has proven to be a prolific fundraiser, but he’ll need an extra boost to compete against Cruz.

“I think the smart play is to think real hard about going beyond those 10 senators up for reelection and start figuring out how to put some money into some other races that could, in fact, be winnable now,” Manley said.

Still, it remains to be seen if Democratic success in Alabama can translate. Jones pulled off his upset in part because he ran against a uniquely flawed candidate who had built up a record of controversies even before he was accused of pursuing teenagers sexually — all factors that could have helped Jones’s showing with black voters and women.

“We nominated a very flawed candidate even before the revelations came out in Alabama,” said Doug Heye, a former Republican National Committee spokesman. “We shouldn’t forget that anger or dissatisfaction with a candidate is often the greatest [get-out-the-vote] device you have.”