Lawmakers increasingly see 'electoral dynamite' in net neutrality fight

Democrats are increasing looking to make their support for net neutrality regulations a campaign issue in the midterm elections. On Capitol Hill, the Senate is expected to vote on a measure to restore the Obama-era rules repealed by the GOP-controlled Federal Communications Commission. Even if they fail they think the public fight will crystalize their image as the party battling to support an open internet. 

And they see it as creating a public record of Republicans voting against net neutrality, which they plan to use in future campaigns. “This bill does one simple thing: It gets every member of the Senate on the record for or against net neutrality,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said . “Republicans are going to regret it from a public policy standpoint and a political standpoint."