House Dems target six new seats — that Trump carried by an average of 16 points

Por Andrew Howard — POLITICO – TOP Stories

Democrats’ House campaign arm is expanding its targets even further into Trump country, as the party grows increasingly bullish they will not just win, but win big next month.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added six more candidates to its coveted “Red to Blue” list on Monday, districts President Donald Trump won by an average of 16 points or more in 2024, according to plans shared first with POLITICO.

In an interview on Sunday, DCCC political director Brooke Butler also had a big prediction for Election Day, saying she expects Democrats will win House control — and that their majority could reach 240 seats.

“Anywhere between 218 and 240 feels very viable,” she said. “We feel confident that we will get to 218. The question that I’ve told people from the beginning cycle is ‘How much?’”

The DCCC is targeting the following incumbents and seats:

• Arkansas’ 2nd District: Democrat Chris Jones against GOP Rep. French Hill (Trump +15.5)
• Colorado’s 3rd District: Democrat Dwayne Romero against GOP Rep. Jeff Hurd (Trump +9.7) 
• Florida’s 27th District: Democrat Eliott Rodriguez against GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (Trump +14.6). 
• New York’s 21st District: Democrat Blake Gendebien against Republican Anthony Constantino (Trump +20.7)
• Nevada’s 2nd District: Democrat Teresa Benitez-Thompson against Republican David Flippo (Trump +13.9)
• Tennessee’s 9th District: Democrat Justin J. Pearson against Republican Brent Taylor (Trump +21.1) 

The addition of these deep-red seats to the “Red to Blue” program means the Democratic Party will be lending extra resources — and potentially advertising dollars — to these races.
It’s the latest sign that Democrats are increasingly confident about the midterm environment, which has grown more fraught for Republicans as the war in Iran drags on and Americans continue to navigate the high cost of gas and other goods.

The Democratic Party has continued to slowly expand their targets in both the House and the Senate as Election Day nears. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have traveled to a number of red areas, including Kansas and Oklahoma, in order to shore up support from the GOP base.

“The ability to really be viable and be competitive in some of the redder territory is proven by Trump going to places like Oklahoma and Arkansas,” Butler said of the president’s latest travel. “They see how vulnerable they are and even some of the reddest places in this country because of the way their policies have negatively impacted the American people.”

She also said the DCCC might add more seats to the “Red to Blue” program: “If gas keeps going and diesel kicks back up, I don’t see why we couldn’t at this point.”

But Republicans have significantly more money to spend in the homestretch of the campaign. The National Republican Congressional Committee has roughly $13 million more in the bank over the DCCC after the latest campaign finance reports.

Plus, Republicans have an edge in super PAC cash, a disparity that has left Democrats split over where to spend their more-limited resources.

The NRCC dismissed the DCCC’s expansion.

“The DCCC is stretching its map a mile wide and an inch deep, pretending every district in America is suddenly a battleground,” spokesperson Mike Marinella said in a statement. “Democrats can put as many names on a list as they want, but they’re still begging for resources just to match Republicans’ air superiority while bailing out their radical socialist nominees.”

It’s clear some Republicans are growing anxious about some of these districts, however.

Outside groups on both sides have started pouring money into Nevada’s 2nd District to shore up Flippo, who outgoing Rep. Mark Amodei has declined to endorse, calling him “not my cup of tea.”

Hill, one of the Republican incumbents whose district was just added to the list, said Friday that while he had “no concerns” about winning his seat, other Republicans could be in trouble.

“I consider the atmosphere a very tough political environment right now because of President [Donald] Trump’s lack of favorability at the top, and you know people are concerned about, as I say, what it’s like to live under an inflated economy the last four years,” Hill told POLITICO.

Salazar also seemingly understands her vulnerability. She recently made a high-profile break from Trump on immigration, cutting a campaign video accusing the administration of having “gone too far” in its enforcement efforts.

“Be careful what your advisers are telling you about immigration policy,” Salazar said in the ad. “The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories