Why Republicans may be in trouble in 2018

Plus: Inauguration trial No Images? Click here     A note from the editors: We're off starting tomorrow for the holidays. We'll be back in your inboxes in 2018.      After Alabama, Pollsters See Reasons To Expect A Democratic Surge Even before Democrats’ victory in last week’s Alabama Senate election, there were signs that Republicans may be in trouble in the year ahead. Democrats overperformed in dozens of other special elections this year. Their generic ballot numbers are remarkably strong. And while it’s early in the election cycle, some polling gives the party a distinct advantage in enthusiasm ahead of next year’s congressional midterms. Democrat Doug Jones’ win in Alabama, the culmination of an atypical race, was just the latest evidence of the potential for a blue wave of voters to show up in 2018, pollsters say. And it’s already affecting how they’re trying to figure out who will turn out next November. “What fascinated me is, as bizarre as this was, the things that we made assumptions about based on [the outcomes] in Virginia and Georgia and South Carolina did play out in Alabama in the same way,” Patrick Murray, Monmouth University’s polling director, told HuffPost. “I think we’re seeing a pattern form.” Normally, Murray said he’d set a high bar when trying to determine who’s likely to vote in a midterm election, screening out most people who don’t have a history of voting regularly. But next year, that may not be the right approach. “We are getting voters who are either new voters or have only voted in presidential elections who are coming out in these special elections or midterms,” Murray said. “That changes the model significantly.” READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? All six defendants were found not guilty in the felony trial of Trump inauguration protesters. The case could determine the fate of many of the nearly 200 people arrested during the inauguration. READ MORE Senate Democrats are preparing to kick passing protections for undocumented young people to next year, as the House promises a fight. Pushing the issue to next year would leave hundreds of thousands of undocumented young people in limbo, but Congress might do it anyway. READ MORE Sen. Mark Warner warned Trump that firing Robert Mueller would be a "gross abuse of power." He also slammed Republicans and Fox News for calling for an end to the Russia probe. READ MORE   In Memoriam: The Trump staffers that didn't even last a year with the administration    .     ICYMI The federal judiciary is ill-equipped to handle allegations of sexual harassment, a group of nearly 700 current and former federal judicial clerks and employees wrote in a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and other key members of the judiciary.   Here's the real story of Kristi Noem's "death tax" ordeal. The South Dakota Republican’s family seems to have had enough cash to pay the estate tax.   Census funding cuts might cost rural Americans billions. “With undercounted communities receiving less than their fair share of public funds, there will be undue economic pressure in rural communities, many of which are already struggling.”    . Want more?  Trump Receives Pre-Holiday Ego Boost From His Cabinet, GOP Leaders Virginia Will Break Tie For Key Seat By Randomly Pulling A Name From A Bowl The ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Theme Over Animatronic Trump Is Comedy Gold     How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2017 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe