A key Senate Democrat who is up for re-election next year is urging GOP leaders to make it easier for Democrats to win Senate races in states won by President Donald Trump.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said in an interview Friday that Democrats have been struggling in a number of Senate races because they don’t have enough candidates and their opponents are running ads targeting vulnerable incumbents.
She said Republicans need to do more to appeal to those voters and win seats that are critical to the party’s future.
“Democrats are going to need to make a lot more gains than we’re seeing on the ground right now,” she said.
Murray, who is facing a primary challenger, is not seeking reelection in 2018.
Trump has made repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, a key part of his presidential campaign.
Democrats are not expected to win any seats, although they have gained seats in several states.
They’re also targeting Republican incumbents and are hoping to pick off some seats that Democrats need to take back control of the Senate in the midterms in 2018 and 2020.
Murray is running in an open seat in a Republican-leaning state.
She also is running against a candidate who won the 2016 Republican gubernatorial primary in the state.
The Washington Post contributed to this report.