Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-04
West

California gains eight add.
tional seats and the Democrats
are likely to net seven of them,
somewhat less than they hoped
for when they gerrymandered
the State. They have on the
ballot one dead Congressman
(Clem Miller) and one seriously
i'll Cd, S. Saund) and Republi-
cans are likely to claim both
seats.
OF the four Republican In
cumbents marked for extinction
in the gerrymander, Repre-
sentative William Maitland is
the likeliest to survive; Rep
resentative Gordon McDonough,
the most vulnerable.
The other two are the only
known John Birch Society
members in the House: Repre-
sentative Edgar Hiestand is a
bit better than even money to
come back; Representative John
RouSselot, a bit worse.
Among the likely freshman
Democrats from California are
the first Negro and the first
Latin American the State has
sent to Washington, a pair Of
peace candidates" and three
or four of the ablest men in
the California Legislature.
May Regain Oregon Seat
In Oregon, Democrats still
expect to regain the 4th dis
trict with Robert Duncan, but
Republicans for the first time
see an outside chance to stave
him off. Defeat of Republican
Representative Walter Norblad
this year would be an upset,
even though his LIST district now
has more Democrats than Re-
publicans in it.
In Washington, six Of the
seven incunbents look quite
secure. The seventh, Demo-
cratic Representative Don Mag
nuson, will probably be spared
again by the vote drawing
power of Senator Warren Mag
nuson, no relative but a god
send, nonetheless.
In Idaho, Montana and Utah
there are six House seats 1.-TWO
in each State) that are among
the most closely-contested in
the nation. Democrats now hold
five of them. Two of the Demo-
cratic incumbents, Utah's David
King and Idaho's Oracle Pfost,
are trying for the Senate. The
odds favor some shift to the
Republicans, but, ironically, the
lone Republican incumbent,
Montana's James Battin, may
be toppled. The safest state
ment is simply that there are
six up for grabs.
In Colorado, the betting is
heavy that each party will
retain its present two seats.
Nevada's single seat and New
Mexico's pair seem certain to
stay Democratic. In Arizona,
each party Should re-elect its
incumbent, and the Democrat
is favored in the new 3rd Dis
trict.
Hawaii gains a second at
large seat; both are likely to
be Democratic. In Alaska, how
ever, Democratic Representa-
tive Ralph Rivers has his hands
full with the Republican con-
tender, Lowell Thomas, IT., the
son of the famed broadcaster.
Fearless Forecast
Where has the maze led? To J
the foolishly fearless forecast
that the Democrats current
89-seat majority in the House
is likely to be trimmed to about
II seats.
Totaling the seats that each
party can count safe and those
where each has a clear advan- .
tage, and playing the lunches
on those that are truly doubt
full, one can see Democrats
dropping from 263 seats to 253
and Republicans climbing from
174 to 1872. (The House, now
temporarily increased by two
seats to accommodate Alaska
and Hawaii, returns to It's per-
manent membership Of ABS
with this election.)
Somewhat more cautiously, It
can be said that the range of
probability runs from a net loss
Of no seats for the Democrats to
a net gain Of 20 seats for the
Republicans.