Rep. Pat Ryan of New York expressed confidence Sunday that the Democratic Party’s chances of regaining control of the House of Representatives this fall would be improved if Vice President Harris were replaced by the Democratic presidential nominee.
When asked by CBS News “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan whether Harris’ candidacy would improve Democrats’ chances of winning a majority in the House of Representatives, Ryan said, “Absolutely.”
“I mean, I won the last election by 1.3 percentage points. I’m very tuned in to what’s going on in my district and I talk to people all day every day. It’s like putting rocket fuel in a jet engine and watching it take off,” he added. “I think it’s really important to understand. It’s one thing to be against a set of things, but to support a set of things and fundamental freedoms…it brings people together.”
When Brennan asked Ryan whether Ms Harris’ replacement on the Democratic National Convention list for President Biden made it easier for him to win the election, Mr Ryan replied, “Definitely.”
Reflecting on last week’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) and the past four weeks, the New York Democrat said he saw “tremendous energy, tremendous enthusiasm and tremendous joy and optimism” within the party during that time.
“When Kamala Harris talks about freedom, patriotism, reproductive freedom, economic freedom, the freedom to breathe clean air and water, people, regardless of party, want to believe in something and stand for something. And she’s done that. And I think we’re going to see that momentum grow over the next 72 days,” he added.
Ryan represents New York’s 18th Congressional District, which the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates as “Democrat-leaning.” He would be up for election in a special election in 2022. The Republican Party Flipping his seat in November is a top priority.
Ryan was one of more than 20 Democrats who called on Biden to drop out of the race after his lackluster debate performance with former President Trump early last month. At the time, Ryan said he didn’t believe Biden was the best Democrat to beat former President Trump in November’s presidential election.
Biden had been adamant about continuing the campaign for weeks, but ultimately decided to back down and endorse Harris as his successor.
Harris’ entry into the race catapulted the Democratic Party into a new wave of support, with support quickly solidifying around her and her new running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Harris quickly became the party’s official presidential candidate, accepting the nomination last Thursday.
Other pollsters have argued that Ms Harris’ entry into the race could have a positive impact on the campaigns of other Democratic candidates. Cook Political Report Poll Since Harris replaced Biden earlier this month, the vote share of already strong Senate candidates in several battleground states has increased in the race.
