The Cook Political Report: November 16, 1989

There is an old cliche that politicians never look past the next election. This cliche certainly has had some validity in the past, but it is unlikely to be uttered during this cycle's U.S. Senate and House elections. For the Senate, the 1990 elections will determine the number of seats the GOP will set their sights on as they make their bid for control in 1992. Democrats will have 20 seats at risk, with nine of those members elected with 52 percent of the vote or less. lf Democrats can gain seats, break even or hold their losses to a single seat, their odds of retaining control in 1992 are good. A loss of four seats this cycle would be devastating to Democrats, while a loss of five would give the GOP control of the Senate. The middle ground, or a Democratic loss of two or three seats, would be damaging to Democrats, but the 1992 outcome would remain very much in doubt.