Democrats look deep into Trump country for 2026 House pickups
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Democrats plan to invest in districts that went for President Trump in 2024 by as many as 18 percentage points in their efforts to retake the House by a decisive margin in November.
Why it matters: Partisan gerrymandering has resulted in a historically small number of highly competitive House seats — but that does not square with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' (D-N.Y.) growing ambitions.
- Emboldened by strong Democratic performances in recent special elections, Jeffries said at a press conference last week that his party is eyeing an increasing number of seats as potential pickups.
- "The battlefield was just expanded in terms of the seats that are in play from 39 to 44," he told reporters. "We only need to net three."
- "It's happening. Democrats are going to take control of the House. The only question is, 'What's the margin?'"
Driving the news: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Monday rolled out the first dozen candidates in its "Red to Blue" program, which aims to flip Republican-held districts.
- Many of the members on the list are perennial targets of the DCCC, including Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) and Scott Perry (R-Pa.).
- But others are relatively new names, such as Reps. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) and Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.).
Between the lines: Trump won three of these districts by double digits in 2024, and the median district voted for the president by 8.5 points.
- That means Democrats are banking on massive swings to win some of these races.
- In Virginia, they're hoping voters will approve new congressional lines that will make two of these districts far more favorable to them.
The intrigue: Nearly all of these "Red to Blue" candidates — while all the decisive fundraising leaders in their respective primaries — face at least one remaining opponent for the Democratic nomination.
- Jamie Ager has three primary foes, former Rep. Elaine Luria has five and Shannon Taylor has seven. At least one rival candidate in each of those races has raised a six-figure sum.
- Jeffries said at his press conference last week that "the DCCC doesn't get involved in primaries," but the committee's chair, Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), acknowledged last fall that playing in primaries was a possibility, stating, "We have, in a small number of cases, gotten involved."
- Candidates "earn a spot in the program by surpassing aggressive goals for grassroots engagement, local support, campaign organization, and fundraising," the DCCC said in its press release on the "Red to Blue" list.
What they're saying: "House Democrats are on offense and poised to take back the majority, thanks in large part to the strength of our candidates," DelBene said in a statement about the "Red to Blue" list.
- The DCCC press release noted that the list "arms top-tier candidates with organizational and fundraising support to help them continue to develop strong campaigns."
The other side: "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," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Mike Marinella.
- "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."
