Democrats Make Flipping Some Deep Red House Districts Priority For Midterms

Democrats are honing their focus on some districts that staunchly supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election as they look to retake the House of Representatives in November.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released their “highly competitive” Red to Blue candidate list on Monday, highlighting a dozen challengers slated to receive extra resources to flip Republican-held districts. Unseating some GOP incumbents in seats Trump carried by double digits — such as Republican Reps. Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Eli Crane of Arizona, already targets of the DCCC — is being made a priority in the campaign arm’s Red to Blue program.

“The candidates named to this first round of our Red to Blue program are united by their desire to fight for hardworking families in their districts — not the billionaires bankrolling Republicans’ corrupt and divisive machine,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a press release. “They are laser-focused on lowering costs, saving health care, and putting people first, as opposed to their Republican opponents who have abandoned everyday Americans so they can give handouts to the privileged and the elite.”

Republicans currently hold a narrow 218-214 House majority, and Democrats only need a net gain of four seats to secure a majority in the lower chamber. Democrats are also expected to win an April special election in a solidly blue New Jersey seat, meaning they will likely be three seats short of a majority heading into November.

Some of the candidates listed are long-standing targets of the DCCC, including Iowa Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, former House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Juan Ciscomani of Arizona. Michigan Rep. Bill Huizenga is also a target this cycle after his district was closely watched by the DCCC in 2024.