Loughlin and Cicilline: What Happens If Congress Goes Republican?

Loughlin and Cicilline: What Happens If Congress Goes Republican?

Republican John Loughlin has a new argument for why voters should send him to Congress instead of Democrat David Cicilline: because Republicans are likely to take over the U.S. House, he says Rhode Island needs a representative in the majority party.

“Even the most conservative pundits at this point agree that it’s likely that the House is going to be a Republican House and based on that I think it would serve Rhode Island’s interests very well to have a member who can function in that environment,” Loughlin said, noting that most of the state’s Congressional delegation still would be Democratic. “I think it would be very advantageous for Rhode Island to have a member in the majority party.”

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Cook Political Report predicts GOP takeover

Several national political journals says a Republican takeover is certainly a strong possibility. The Cook Political Report is forecasting that the GOP will pick up 40 House seats—the party needs to pick up 39 seats to gain the majority. Cook ranks 47 of the races as toss-ups, while RealClearPolitics.com says 36 could go either way.

Having a member in the majority party, would make a difference in committee assignments and ensure that when federal resources are allocated, Rhode Island gets its fair share, according to Loughlin.

He added: “With all due respect to my opponent if he wins, he’s going to be a backbencher in a minority party with zero experience.”

Cicilline’s campaign for one wasn’t buying it. “We’re in the last nine days of the campaign. John Loughlin is grasping at straws,” said spokesman Rich Luchette. “The fact is that David Cicilline will be able to deliver more for Rhode Island regardless of who is in control of Congress.”

May not sway voters

Darrell West, a former professor political science at Brown University and now a vice president at the Brookings Institution, said it’s a tough pitch to make to voters.

“It’s a too complicated argument for voters because it’s pure speculation at this point whether Republicans will have a majority in the House,” West told GoLocalProv. “They need to pick up 39 seats and voters don’t pay attention to races around the country. So they’re not in a position to incorporate that kind of thinking into their electoral decisions.”

One of the few former Republican U.S. reps from Rhode Island, Claudine Schneider, also rejected Loughlin’s argument. “I would never use that. I don’t think that’s good criteria for selecting someone to represent you,” said Schneider, who represented for the Second District from 1980 to 1990 and now lives in Boulder, Colorado.

She said voters should make their decisions based on the personal qualities of the candidates. She said a good representative should be someone who has integrity, be a problem-solver, have courage in their convictions and stand up for what they believe in. She didn’t specify which candidate for the First Congressional District best meets those criteria.