iowa's gop senate primary has six candidates. north carolina has nine. georgia eight gop contenders and alaska has five. some democrats think given the president's unpopularity the house majority is a lost cause, and they should focus on saving their majority in the senate, but the democrat in charge of electing house democrats says the gop has problems, too. >> they have not recovered from the shutdown. >> reporter: house republicans hold 232 seats, democrats 200. three seats are now vacant so democrats need 18 more for the majority. retirements cause headaches in both parties and veteran democrat henry waxman of california who would share a committee if democrats take control next year today announced he's retiring. republicans call it a reflection of democrat pessimism. >> i think it's another sign the democrats don't think they can get back in the majority, at least not in the near term. >> reporter: in north carolina's seventh district michael mcintire is leaving and both parties acknowledge the gop is