Hoyer Confident Dems Will Win Back House In 2012

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday that he remains confident Democrats will take back the House in next years election, despite having lost some notable members like Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) to retirement. 

The recently announced vacancies of 17 House Democratic seats, including Frank and Texas Democrat Charlie Gonzalez who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, could be seen as cause for concern over Democrats’ ability to win big next November, especially with the increased number redrawn districts in many states across the country. 

Fewer Democrats, however, have made their decision not to seek re-election compared to the 23 House Republicans who left Congress following the 2008 election cycle when Democrats regained control of the lower chamber. The numbers could indicate to Democratic leadership that the enthusiasm and potential may still be alive for 2012, Hoyer said.

“We have less retirement now than we had in ‘94 [and] I don’t think this will adversely effect, in any way, Democrats’ ability to take back the House,” Hoyer told reporters. “I fully expect us to take back the House.”

Frank said that he himself is confident Democrats will take back the House, especially if the newest front-runner, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, becomes the nominee.  

“The answer is I don’t know, I don’t think anybody know,” Frank said about the potential for Democrats to win back the House in 2012. “Is Newt Gingrich going to be the Nominee? Then we win it back.”