Democrats target six additional House seats as Republicans fall behind in polls

What This is

• House Democrats have expanded their list of Republican-held seats they think they can flip, including districts Trump carried by double-digit margins.
• Democrats say worsening numbers for President Trump are helping make once-safe Republican districts more competitive.
• Several polls show Democrats ahead on the generic congressional ballot, including a YouGov/The Economist survey that put Democrats up 16 points among likely voters.
• Some Republicans are reallocating money and attention in what aides describe as “triage,” focusing on limiting losses rather than expanding the map.
• New and redrawn House maps, including in Texas and Florida, were meant to help Republicans but are producing tighter races than expected in some districts.
• Democrats are also trying to compete in Republican-leaning areas by running candidates who stress independence from party leaders and a focus on costs and local issues.
• Republican candidates in some places are publicly distancing themselves from Trump on issues like the Iran war, immigration enforcement, and the economy to appeal to swing voters.

Why This Matters

• House control determines whether President Trump can pass major bills or faces a hard stop in Congress.
• Close House margins can make a few members powerful, shaping what legislation can pass and whether government funding deals hold.
• The fight highlights a basic democratic question: how much a president’s popularity should drive votes for local representatives.
• It will test whether money and advertising can outweigh broad voter dissatisfaction in a polarized era.