House Republicans plot major push into Biden country
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Even as Democrats recover from their month of chaos and pick up some much-needed political momentum, Republicans are still planning to fight for House districts that President Biden won by double digits in 2020.
Why it matters: It's an ambitious playbook against the backdrop of a presidential election that will likely be decided by a handful of percentage points in either direction.
Driving the news: The National Republican Congressional Committee released its first 26 "Young Guns" on Monday — Republican candidates fighting for open or Democratic-controlled House seats.
- The program entitles those candidates to support and resources from the NRCC that are critical to winning a hotly contested congressional race.
- The 26 districts voted for President Biden by an average of roughly 7 percentage points in 2020 and for Democratic congressional candidates by an average of 5 points in 2022.
- The list includes districts that voted for Biden by as many as 12, 13 and even 16 points.
Between the lines: Democrats have regained their political footing with Vice President Kamala Harris taking the helm, but Republicans are signaling they are still bullish about winning deep in Biden territory.
- NRCC Chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), in a statement accompanying the Young Guns list, suggested that issues such as immigration, crime and inflation will buoy down-ballot Republicans.
Yes, but: The list also signals where Republicans may be more pessimistic — including some districts where, on paper, they should be competitive.
- Opponents to several swing-district House Democrats whose races are rated as competitive by Cook Political Report did not make the initial cut.
- Those incumbents include Reps. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.), Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.).
What they're saying: In a statement, NRCC spokesperson Will Reinert touted the diverse backgrounds featured in the first Young Guns list.
- "Winning in tough districts requires candidates who share the life stories ... of the people they are running to represent," he said.
- "From a truck driver to police officers to military heroes, these candidates allow us to compete all over the map and represent the future of the Republican Party."
- Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton said: "After a quick review of their extreme anti-abortion views, their plans to raise taxes on working families while giving tax breaks to the ultrawealthy and their poor Q2 fundraising results — looks like a list of proven losers to me."
The other side: House Majority PAC, House Democrats' primary super PAC, unveiled a list of media markets where they are dropping an additional $24 million for general election ads.
- The list encompasses congressional districts in Iowa, Wisconsin and Montana that were won by former President Trump in 2020, signaling that Democrats too plan to try to compete in GOP territory.
- "Our additional reservations are not only expanding the battleground, but also doubling down on offense," said HMP President Mike Smith.
