Upshot: The Social Network States of America

Also: Upshot's poll results so far View in [Browser]( | Add nytdirect@nytimes.com to your address book. [The New York Times]( [The New York Times]( Wednesday, September 19, 2018 [NYTimes.com/Upshot »]( [How Connected Is Your Community to Everywhere Else in America?]( By EMILY BADGER AND QUOCTRUNG BUI A remarkably detailed look at America’s social lives online [Results of Our Polling So Far]( The Upshot has partnered with Siena College to poll dozens of the most competitive House and Senate races across the country. [Independents Approve of the Economy, but Will It Help Republicans in the Midterms?]( By LYNN VAVRECK Relying on independents as a bellwether for political outcomes is not as straightforward as it seems. For one thing, many of them aren’t paying that much attention to politics. ADVERTISEMENT FEEDBACK For suggestions on how we can improve this newsletter, write to newsletters@nytimes.com. If you have a compelling data set you’d like us to pursue, send it to [dear.upshot@nytimes.com](mailto:dear.upshot@nytimes.com?subject=Upshot%20Newsletter%20Feedback). Weekly Highlights Calculator [A Few Measures of Family-Friendly Cities (the Northeast Does Not Fare Well)]( By MICHAEL KOLOMATSKY If you have a family, you might be better off living in the Midwest or the South. [Midterm Election Poll: Iowa’s 1st District, Blum vs. Finkenauer]( This district backed Barack Obama twice by double digits, then Donald J. Trump won it by four points. [Midterm Election Poll: New Jersey’s 7th District, Lance vs. Malinowski]( The district includes all of Hunterdon County and parts of five other counties in northwestern New Jersey. Mr. Lance, a moderate, won re-election in this district by 11 points in 2016 even as it swung toward a narrow victory for Hillary Clinton. [The Five Battlefields for Control of the House]( By THE NEW YORK TIMES Democrats or Republicans will piece together a House majority from across five main types of congressional districts that are most competitive this fall. Here’s our field guide to those races. In Case You Missed It ...  [Midterm Election Poll: Texas’ 7th District, Culberson vs. Fletcher]( This relatively wealthy and well-educated district is the sort of place that Democrats are hoping to flip because of displeasure with President Trump.  [Midterm Election Poll: California’s 25th District, Knight vs. Hill]( This district, just north of Los Angeles, is one of the Democrats’ biggest targets. Hillary Clinton won here in 2016, but it has been represented by a Republican since 1993. LIKE THIS EMAIL? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up [here.]( ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW UPSHOT [Facebook] [FACEBOOK]( [Twitter] [@UpshotNYT]( Get more [NYTimes.com newsletters »]( | Get unlimited access to NYTimes.com and our NYTimes apps. [Subscribe »]( ABOUT THIS EMAIL You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's The Upshot newsletter. [Unsubscribe]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Change Your Email]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Contact]( | [Advertise]( Copyright 2018 The New York Times Company 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018