Scoop: Senate Dems tap veteran strategist to lead 2026 campaigns

• The DSCC is a behemoth fundraiser, regularly raising hundreds of millions of dollars to fuel the party's Senate races.
• Barber is an internal hire: She spent four campaign cycles with the DSCC and is also an alum of the 2012 Obama reelection team.
• Democrats will fill out the rest of the DSCC's senior leadership with Jessica Knight Henry serving as deputy executive director and chief diversity and inclusion officer and Andrew Piatt as head of campaigns and paid media strategy.

What they're saying: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said the trio "are among the most talented, smart and tenacious strategists I have ever met."

• "Their tactical know-how, understanding of the electorate and drive to win will be great assets to our races, and I look forward to working with them to ensure Democrats win back the Senate majority," DSCC Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said.
• Barber said "Our work at the DSCC will ensure Senate Democrats field the best candidates, implement the smartest, most cutting-edge tactics, and run the strongest campaigns possible."

The bottom line: Democrats still face an uphill battle to regain the Senate majority they lost last November.