Midterm campaign updates: GOP's Cheney endorses Ohio Democrat Tim Ryan for Senate

As the House prepares to leave Washington for the final weeks of the campaign season, Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland predicted to reporters on Thursday that his party will -- despite the political headwinds and voters' ire over inflation -- "hold the majority" and even "pick up some seats" on Nov. 8.

That outlook is at odds with history and the private assessments of most, if not all, of his Democratic colleagues who believe their party is likely to lose the House where they currently hold a single-digit majority. Republicans need to gain six of more than 30 tossup seats this fall to win back the chamber.

Hoyer argued that Democrats have a robust legislative record to campaign on, including the pandemic-relief American Rescue Plan and bipartisan semiconductor manufacturing and infrastructure investment packages. In some of the 48 districts he's visited, Hoyer said he's seen repair work underway on key roads and bridges as a result of the latter legislation.

He also acknowledged that "inflation is hurting people" and that Democrats "have to bring it down."

Hoyer identified five House races where Democrats could flip GOP seats: Nebraska's 2nd District (Rep. Don Bacon); Ohio's 1st (Rep. Steve Chabot); California's 21st (Rep. David Valadao); Illinois' 13th (Rep. Rodney Davis); and Michigan's 3rd (Rep. Peter Meijer).

He also said Democrats are working to defend a number of key seats, including districts in North Carolina and Rhode Island, where incumbents are retiring, and in redrawn seats in Pennsylvania and Ohio where the representatives chose to run for Senate.

Hoyer, 83, pushed back on questions about whether he'd continue to serve in leadership if Democrats lose the House: "It's silly to speculate. It's not silly to think about it."

He said he did not agree to abide by the 2018 promise made by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to limit the top three Democratic leaders at the time to four more years at the head of the caucus -- a deal cut to appease a threat from critics of the trio, who have collectively spent decades in power even as younger generations of lawmakers emerge.

-- ABC News' Benjamin Siegel

Arizona Democratic attorney general nominee Kris Mayes and her Republican opponent, Abe Hamadeh, found little common ground on a debate stage in Phoenix on Wednesday as they sparred over abortion and on the validity of the 2020 election.

While Mayes slammed a recent court decision upholding a state territory-era law prohibiting nearly all abortions in Arizona and mandating jail time for providers, Hamadeh said he'd follow the newly reinstated ban.

When it came to the 2020 election, Hamadeh said he believes the contest was "rigged" despite verified audits and hand recounts upholding Donald Trump's loss. Mayes told ABC News after the debate that every election-denier on the ballot this fall is "dangerous."

One issue both candidates agreed on was the importance of addressing the flow of drugs into their state, though they differed on how. Hamadeh said he would work to declare drug cartels a terrorist organization on "day one." Mayes said she would work with law enforcement officials along the border and go after funding in the state's $5 billion-surplus to tackle fentanyl.

Read more here.

-- ABC News' Libby Cathey

The Republican candidates for governor and Senate in Pennsylvania on Thursday sought the support of energy leaders at Shale Insight, a three-day conference in Erie convening industry heads from Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Senate hopeful Mehmet Oz and gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano, who spoke back-to-back, talked encouragingly about Pennsylvania’s energy potential and vowed to tap into the state’s resources to bring jobs and economic growth.

“The key is underneath our feet,” said Mastriano, who pledged to roll back hundreds of regulations were he to win his race against state Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

The joint appearance was rare for the statewide Republican ticket, whose campaigns have developed a somewhat cool relationship as Mastriano and Oz differ on key issues and have received different levels of financial support.

Oz, who spoke first, had left the ballroom with family and staff by the time Mastriano took the stage moments later. Neither mentioned the other while speaking.

-- ABC News' Will McDuffie

The Republican candidate to be Pennsylvania's governor, Doug Mastriano, appeared to take unusual measures to avoid questions on Wednesday as the RV that typically shuttles him between campaign events left a stop without the candidate on it after ABC News waited by the vehicle.

When ABC arrived at the small meet-and-greet in Galeton, a town of less than a thousand people near the New York border, the bus, embroidered with the campaign’s logo, was parked in front of a motorcycle shop hosting the event.

But toward the end of Mastriano’s remarks, when ABC went to the bus to meet the candidate as he walked toward it, as he did at the previous stop, the RV had been driven to the back of the building, near a rear door.

As ABC News waited by the bus, a campaign spokesperson named Matt walked out, said Mastriano would not have time for questions and then reentered the building.

A few minutes later, the RV backed away and drove out of sight.

On the other side of the building, an attendee confirmed that Mastriano had left in a car.

If Mastriano was in fact avoiding questions from the press, it would not be the first time he’s done so. But six weeks from Election Day, amid a campaign underfunded and shunned by some national Republican groups, Mastriano appears to forging ahead with a strategy focused on conservative grassroots turn-out in towns like Galeton.

-- ABC News' Will McDuffie

Power Trip

"Power Trip" follows 7 young reporters as they chase down candidates in the lead up to the midterms with George Stephanopoulos guiding them along the way.

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