ELECTIONS
Democrats look to turn more GOP Senate strongholds into midterm battlegrounds
With the midterms nearing, Democrats and their campaign arms are trying to make more Republican-held Senate seats and House districts competitive, including by expanding the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” list and stepping up spending in key races.
With the midterms nearing, Democrats and their campaign arms are trying to make more Republican-held Senate seats and House districts competitive, including by expanding the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” list and stepping up spending in key races.
What This is
- Democrats have narrowed the gap in several traditionally Republican Senate races, including Alaska, Iowa, Texas, Kansas, Mississippi and Nebraska.
- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added five candidates to its “Red to Blue” program, which gives selected challengers extra campaign support.
- The five additions are Tom Perriello (Virginia’s 5th), Nancy Lacore (South Carolina’s 1st), Matt Dunlap (Maine’s 2nd), Zach Dembo (Kentucky’s 6th), and Leela Gray (Florida’s 13th).
- With these additions, the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” list rose to 37 candidates.
- The program support includes strategic guidance, staffing help, training, and fundraising resources.
- Several of the newly targeted districts are currently seen as strongly Republican, including districts that backed Donald Trump by double digits in 2024.
- Separately, the DCCC added Democrat Brian Poindexter in Ohio’s 7th District after allegations of domestic abuse against Rep. Max Miller, which Miller denies, and amid an ethics review.
Why This Matters
- If more GOP “strongholds” become real contests, both parties may have to spread money and staff across more states and districts.
- Senate ratings shifting to “toss-up” can quickly change donor behavior, outside ad spending, and where candidates and surrogates campaign.
- House target lists like “Red to Blue” help shape who gets early fundraising boosts and professional campaign support inside the party.
- Candidate misconduct allegations, like in Ohio’s 7th, can redraw a race by changing voter perceptions and forcing parties to triage resources.