What's it like to run for Congress when the odds are stacked heavily against you?

Some 80% of U.S. House races are rated solid for one party, which leaves candidates on the wrong side of those ratings with thin budgets, few donors and small teams. Lisa Kinney, a Democrat and former state senator, is seeking Wyoming's only House seat, which has gone to Republicans since the late 1970s. In Connecticut, Republican George Austin, a home builder and former football coach, is challenging Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney, who has held the 2nd District seat since 2007, according to NPR.

Kinney has no campaign office and only a few helpers, so she spends long days driving the state, stressing public lands and cheaper health care. At a Casper diner, some patrons brushed her off, while others objected to Democratic stances on immigration enforcement and trans issues. One independent voter, Joe Beck, said he had already backed her but expected a rough outcome. Her husband, Rodney Lang, said a loss would still strengthen the party.

Eric Ostermeier of the nonpartisan site Smart Politics noted that 19 state delegations are single-party, the most since 1953. He cited gerrymandering, voters sorting themselves geographically, and the difficulty state candidates face in separating themselves from the national party.

Summarized by PolitiKool from NPR’s reporting. Read the full story at NPR →