Democratic hopes for making up any ground in the House of Representatives are looking bleak as the highly-respected Cook Report has moved two Southeastern Pennsylvania Congressional races from "Leans Republican" to "Likely Republican."

The 6th District race is especially painful for Dems because it's an open race now that incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Gerlach is retiring. But fellow Republican Ryan Costello appears to have the best chance of replacing Gerlach over Democrat Manan Trivedi, who has already lost to Gerlach in 2010 and 2012 and is getting little traction pushing Obama's failed agenda.

The 6th stretches over parts of Chester, Montgomery, Berks and Lebanon counties. Gerlach has held the 6th District seat since it was created in 2002.

Trivedi has also been dogged by criticism of being a carpetbagger. He doesn't live in the 6th District and works in Washington, D.C.

In the 8th Congressional District, incumbent Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick looks like a good bet for re-election against Democratic challenger Kevin Strouse. This Bucks County district has been very competitive in recent elections.

According to PoliticsPA, a left-leaning website that keeps tabs on Keystone State politics, the 6th and 8th districts  were the Democratic Party's best shots are taking back House seats in Pennsylvania. Oh well, better luck in 2016.


Cook Political Report Adjusts Ratings for PA-6 and PA-8