Cook shifts Senate ratings in three states

The Cook Political Report shifted its ratings in three U.S. Senate races on October 20, moving South Carolina and Mississippi toward Democrats and Minnesota toward Republicans, while keeping all three states in the same party columns. The forecaster moved South Carolina from Likely Republican to Lean Republican and Mississippi from Solid Republican to Likely Republican. Minnesota moved from Likely Democratic to Lean Democratic. The changes reflect altered assessments of competitiveness, not a change in which party is favored in each state. Jessica Taylor, Cook’s Senate and governors editor, said recent polling showed Minnesota Democratic nominee Peggy Flanagan performing slightly below what the national political environment might suggest. Flanagan, Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, is running against Republican Michele Tafoya, a former NFL broadcaster, for the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Tina Smith. Despite the downgrade, Flanagan remains favored in the Minnesota contest. The RealClearPolitics average cited in the reports showed her ahead of Tafoya by about 3.2 percentage points. Cook’s rating change was not presented as a direct result of that average. The...