re: #1 NO SMOCKING GUN!

Interesting factoid. Even though the Democrats gained control of the House, the GOP still has the majority of congressmen in 26 states, because of their dominance in small states. This means that in the event that a 3rd party candidate actually won some states, preventing either major party candidate from getting to 270 electoral votes, the House would elect the GOP candidate President, even if he finished third in the popular vote.

My count is GOP 25, Democrats 24, one evenly divided (MI). PA is in the Democrats’ column only until the May special election to replace Tom Marino, when it will likely be evenly divided again. And it would be the House elected in 2020 that would decide the Electoral College in that scenario.