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.
Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder — who was once the youngest mayor in Tennessee — is challenging Ogles, a Freedom Caucus member, who won his district by 18 points in 2024. The city Molder leads gave Trump 62% of the vote in 2024, according to VoteHub. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race between Ogles and Molder as “Likely Republican.”
Crane, who like Ogles is a Freedom Caucus member, is being challenged by Red to Blue-backed Jonathan Nez, the former president of the Navajo Nation. Crane won his seat, which is over 20% American Indian, by nine points against New in 2024, underperforming Trump who carried the district by a 15-point margin.
Miller-Meeks is facing former state Rep. Christina Bohannan for the third time, with Cook labeling the race a toss up. Trump won Iowa’s 1st congressional district by nine points in 2024. Small business owner Rebecca Cooke is also making her third run against Republican Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden, in a Wisconsin seat Trump carried by seven points.
Also on the list is former television journalist Janelle Stelson who is seeking a rematch against Perry in a Pennsylvania district, two years after losing by one point while Trump carried the seat by five. Former Democratic Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria, who served in the House from 2019 to 2023, is attempting her comeback bid against Republican Virginia Rep. Jen Kiggans, who unseated her in 2022. Trump carried the seat by just 0.2% of the vote in 2024.
Other additions to the DCCC’s list include farmer Jamie Ager who is challenging Republican North Carolina Rep. Chuck Edwards in a mountainous seat Trump carried by 10 points in the last presidential election. Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti also makes an appearance on the list. She is facing off against freshman Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Bresnahan in a seat Trump won by 9 points.
Redistricting is also playing a role in candidates’ chosen districts. Henrico County, prosecutor Shannon Taylor, a Red to Blue candidate currently challenging Republican Virginia Rep. Rob Wittman, will move to a different seat if a new Democratic-drawn map is implemented.
Virginia’s state legislature passed a redrawn map last week, but a judge in Southwest Virginia blocked a voter referendum on the map by granting a temporary restraining order.
Candidates elevated on the Red to Blue list will receive support with organizing and fundraising and will also go through training, according to the committee.
“Someone needs to buy the DCCC a gift card to help pay for all the lipstick they’re putting on the pig that is their recruitment class,” National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) spokesperson Mike Marinella told Axios. “Their pathetic list of deeply radical candidates consists of recycled losers, far-left activists, and full-blown socialists who will be soundly rejected by voters across the country.”
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