House Democrats are eyeing big gains in Tuesday’s elections, propelled by an enormous fundraising…

House Democrats are eyeing big gains in Tuesday’s elections, propelled by an enormous fundraising advantage, a host of GOP retirements and an unpopular Republican president whose erratic handling of the coronavirus pandemic has threatened to damage his party down the ballot. 
Not too long ago, the notion that Democrats would expand their majority in any significant fashion was virtually unthinkable. In January of 2019, at the start of the cycle, the party’s campaign arm was bracing to protect dozens of vulnerable lawmakers in red-leaning regions, 30 of whom represent districts won by President TrumpDonald John TrumpHillary Clinton responds to Chrissy Teigen tweet: ‘I love you back’Police called after Florida moms refuse to wear face masks at school board meeting about mask policySupreme Court rejects Trump effort to shorten North Carolina mail-ballot deadlineMORE in 2016. 
Twenty-two months later they’re on the offensive, buoyed by an historic fundraising haul, a highly energized base and President Trumps sinking approval numbers, which have combined to produce highly competitive races even deep into Trump country. 
The changing dynamics have insulated many frontline Democrats, the incumbents deemed most vulnerable, while allowing Democratic operatives to expand their list of red-to-blue candidates who are running tightly contested races in districts currently held by Republicans from 33 to 38. Eighteen of those 38 challengers have forced competitive contests in districts that Trump won by more than 10 points four years ago.
I would challenge anybody to say that going into this election cycle that anybody thought that we’d be playing deep into these [Trump] districts, said Rep. Cheri BustosCheryl (Cheri) Lea BustosGOP sees chance to take out Democratic House campaign chiefEnergized by polls, House Democrats push deeper into GOP territoryCook Report shifts 12 House races, all but one toward DemocratsMORE (Ill.), head of the Democrats’ campaign arm. 
I would certainly rather be a Democrat running for Congress right now than a Republican. Not that I’d want to be a Republican, period, she added. But we’re well positioned to have a good night.
In recent days, Trump has pushed back on that narrative, predicting that Republicans will not only keep control of the White and Senate but also win back the House. He suggested voters will blame his political nemesis, Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi: Trump should accept election results ‘like a man’The spectre of pension failures haunts this electionMicrosoft: Iranian hacking group targeting attendees of major international security conferencesMORE (D-Calif), for Washingtons failure to reach a deal on another coronavirus relief package. 
After the election, we’ll get the best stimulus package you’ve ever seen, because I think we’re going to take back the House because of her, Trump said of Pelosi. She, in turn, called his prediction delusional, and even many GOP lawmakers, aides and operatives are bracing for losses of anywhere between five and a dozen House seats.
It will be a shitshow, said one House Republican when asked how his party will fare on election night.
Still, Democrats are approaching Election Day cautiously, recalling only too well the 2016 cycle, when Trump stunned the country by defeating Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillary Clinton responds to Chrissy Teigen tweet: ‘I love you back’Trump fights for battleground ArizonaBiden leads Trump by 12 in new national pollMORE, despite polls showing a landslide for the Democrats. And several frontline Democrats including Reps. Collin PetersonCollin Clark PetersonEnergized by polls, House Democrats push deeper into GOP territoryDemocrats, GOP fighting over largest House battlefield in a decadeWhy the Supreme Court must be kept at nine justicesMORE (Minn.), Max RoseMax RoseCentrist Democrats got their COVID bill, now they want a voteLawmakers fear voter backlash over failure to reach COVID-19 relief dealThe Hill’s Morning Report – Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association – Pence lauds Harris as ‘experienced debater’; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prepMORE (N.Y.) and Xochitl Torres-Small (N.M.) remain highly vulnerable less than a week before Election Day.
We are not taking anything for granted, said House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerHoyer lays out ambitious Democratic agenda for 2021, with health care at topTop Democrats introduce resolution calling for mask mandate, testing program in SenateTrump orders aides to halt talks on COVID-19 reliefMORE (D-Md.). We understand we went through 2016; we all understand we were very bullish about the poll results, and it turned out to not be real. 
But this year, he added, it’s a different kind of polling data.
Fueling the optimism, election experts have steadily shifted races in the Democrats favor for weeks. In Virginia, for instance, first-term Reps. Abigail SpanbergerAbigail Davis SpanbergerDuring pandemic, ‘telehealth’ emerging as important lifeline to connect patients with caregiversChamber-backed Democrats embrace endorsements in final stretchSpanberger’s GOP challenger raises over .8 million in third quarter MORE (D) and Elaine LuriaElaine Goodman LuriaHouse lawmakers call for continued assistance to LebanonOn The Money: Sides tiptoe towards a COVID deal, but breakthrough appears distant | Expiring benefits raise stakes of stimulus talks | Stocks fade with eyes on CapitolDemocrat urges IRS to quickly process Gold Star families’ refund requestsMORE (D) were thought to be among the most vulnerable Democrats just a few months ago. Now theyre considered likely to prevail. 
The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, recently predicted the Democrats would pick up between five and 10 seats, with the possibility of netting 15. 
I think were gonna be closer to 15, Hoyer said.
Central to the Democrats rosy outlook has been their success in raising money. Between July and September of this year, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) brought in more than $70 million a record and has outraised the GOPs campaign arm by a whopping $57 million for the cycle. 
A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee did not respond to a request for comment. 
Democrats have also benefited from a rash of Republican open seats, as 32 GOP lawmakers are retiring, running for other offices or lost their primary earlier in the year. A 33rd, Rep. Justin AmashJustin AmashEnergized by polls, House Democrats push deeper into GOP territoryOcasio-Cortez draws hundreds of thousands of viewers on Twitch livestreamHillicon Valley: House votes to condemn QAnon | Americans worried about foreign election interference | DHS confirms request to tap protester phonesMORE (I-Mich.), quit the GOP in mid-2019 to protest what he deemed Trumps impeachable behavior and is also not seeking reelection. 
Among the more striking retirements was that of Rep. Susan BrooksSusan Wiant BrooksEnergized by polls, House Democrats push deeper into GOP territoryBipartisan lawmakers call for broadband expansion to eliminate inequitiesThe Hill’s Morning Report – Sponsored by Facebook – GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by NovemberMORE (R-Ind.), who had been tapped to lead the Republicans recruiting effort this cycle. Democrats are now confident they can flip her suburban Indianapolis seat blue.  
In fact, its suburban districts like hers where Democrats see some of their best pick-up opportunities as white, college-educated voters there, particularly women, flee from Trump and the Republican party. Two GOP incumbents who represent suburbs outside of St. Louis, Reps. Ann WagnerAnn Louise WagnerEnergized by polls, House Democrats push deeper into GOP territoryDemocrats, GOP fighting over largest House battlefield in a decadeRepublican fears grow over rising Democratic tideMORE (R-Mo.) and Rodney DavisRodney Lee DavisHillicon Valley: Zuckerberg to express openness to Section 230 reform | Facebook removes accounts linked to foreign influence efforts ahead of election | YouTube adding warnings to videos, searches on Election DayThe Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Facebook – One week out, where the Trump, Biden race standsHillicon Valley: Hospitals brace for more cyberattacks as coronavirus cases rise | Food service groups offer local alternatives to major delivery apps | Facebook says it helped 4.4M people register to voteMORE (R-Ill.), fended off tough challenges two years ago; Davis won reelection by only 2,058 votes. Both races this year are considered toss ups.
Rep. Steve ChabotSteven (Steve) Joseph ChabotHouse Judiciary Republicans mockingly tweet ‘Happy Birthday’ to Hillary Clinton after Barrett confirmationDemocrats, GOP fighting over largest House battlefield in a decadeRepublican fears grow over rising Democratic tideMORE (R-Ohio), whose district includes Cincinnati and its suburbs, is also facing a tough opponent for the second straight cycle, this time squaring off against Democrat Kate Schroder, a former executive with the Clinton Health Access Initiative.  
On Wednesday, the terrain in Texas appeared to improve for Democrats. The Cook Political Report shifted the Lone Star State from lean Republican to tossup, and the Biden campaign said vice presidential nominee Kamala HarrisKamala HarrisTrump fights for battleground ArizonaBiden to air 90-minute radio programs targeting Black votersThe Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden’s big battleground | Trump and Harris hit the trail in Arizona | Turnout surges among new votersMORE would stump in McAllen, Fort Worth and Houston on Friday. 
That could give down-ballot Democrats a boost in a number of races there. Democrats are in prime position to pick up the border-district seat held by retiring Rep. Will HurdWilliam Ballard HurdTrump predicts GOP will win the HouseChanging suburbs threaten GOP hold on TexasBottom lineMORE, the sole Black House Republican. They could also flip several other GOP seats, including ones held by retiring Rep. Kenny MarchantKenny Ewell MarchantDemocrats, GOP fighting over largest House battlefield in a decadeWarren, Porter to headline progressive fundraiser supporting seven swing state candidatesHouse Ethics panel recommends ,000 fine for Rep. Schweikert’s campaign finance violationsMORE in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and conservative Rep. Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyBiden pushes into Trump territoryIn partisan slugfest, can Chip Roy overcome Trump troubles?McCarthy faces pushback from anxious Republicans over interview commentsMORE in a sprawling district between San Antonio and Austin.
This district is very reflective of the national situation. Why? We’re highly suburban in two parts of it. We’re urban, suburban and rural, Roy, who is facing former state Sen. Wendy Davis (D), explained in a recent interview in Austin. We’re all of it in a significant way.
From a practical standpoint, Democratic gains would have little effect on the workings of Washington. The party has controlled the House for the last two years, under Pelosi, and passed hundreds of bills advancing their priorities on health care, the economy, climate change and campaign finance reform proposals they’re already vowing to revisit next year. 
Yet building a larger majority would provide Democrats a thicker buffer heading into 2022, when the party of the incumbent president has historically suffered big losses in Congress. That was the case in President Obamas first term, when Pelosi lost the gavel. And predicting that Joe BidenJoe BidenHillary Clinton responds to Chrissy Teigen tweet: ‘I love you back’Supreme Court rejects Trump effort to shorten North Carolina mail-ballot deadlineOvernight Defense: Trump campaign’s use of military helicopter raises ethics concerns | Air Force jets intercept aircraft over Trump rally | Senators introduce bill to expand visa screeningsMORE will win the White House, the once-again Speaker has made it no mystery that she wants to use the 2020 cycle to protect her gavel two years from now. 
If the GOP wins back the lower chamber in two years, it would surely lead to the same type of aggressive investigations that bogged down the Obama-Biden administration after a Tea Party wave swept John BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerBottom linePelosi and Trump go a full year without speakingJordan vows to back McCarthy as leader even if House loses more GOP seatsMORE and the Republicans into power in 2010.
With much at stake, both sides are scrambling in the campaigns final days to secure the best possible outcome Democrats hoping for a wave and Republicans fighting to prevent one. Yet both sides are already warning that the unusual nature of pandemic-year voting likely means the full results wont be known until days or even weeks after Nov. 3.
Bustos, for one, is already imploring reporters not to jump to conclusions about individual races until every vote is tallied. 
Wait for those votes to all be counted before making predictions, she said. Crack open a beer, take a little bit of a load off. Twitter can wait.
Juliegrace Brufke and Al Weaver contributed.