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The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Tuesday announced it is adding five new candidates to its “Red to Blue” slate targeting House seats that it hopes to flip from Republican to Democratic control.
The new additions, first shared with The Hill, come after primaries and redistricting shook up some of the DCCC’s initial calculations for its Red to Blue list, and it brings the total number of candidates in its program to 30.
Among the new additions is former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah, the nominee for the Maricopa County-area 1st Congressional District being vacated by Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for governor. The DCCC had initially backed former broadcast journalist Marlene Galán-Woods in the Democratic primary for the highly competitive Arizona seat, but Shah won last week’s primary by 5 points. The district is rated as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report.
It is also adding union leader and former smokejumper Sam Forstag in Montana’s 1st Congressional District, the nominee for the seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Ryan Zinke (R).
Forstag won the competitive primary for the Democratic nomination in June after getting endorsements from progressives Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Forstag will face Republican veteran Aaron Flint in the election for the seat rated “likely Republican” by Cook.
In Florida, the DCCC is backing former educator Pia Dandiya for Florida’s new 22nd Congressional District. The seat was made open after redistricting prompted Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) to run in the 23rd District. Dandiya had originally sought to challenge Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) in the 21st District before the GOP state Legislature adopted new congressional maps hoping to give Republicans an edge. Cook rates the district as “lean Republican.”
In Iowa, the DCCC is adding state Rep. Lindsay James, the nominee for the state’s open 2nd Congressional District, to its Red to Blue list. Former Democratic Iowa Reps. Abby Finkenauer and Dave Loebsack had publicly advocated for the DCCC to add James to its Red to Blue list. The seat, being vacated by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R) as she runs for Senate, is rated “lean Republican” by Cook.
The DCCC is also backing public school teacher and union leader Jake Johnson for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, a “likely Republican” seat currently held by Rep. Brad Finstad (R-Minn.).
The Red to Blue program run by the official campaign arm of House Democrats gives candidates access to fundraising support, strategic guidance and training. Candidates must meet certain goals for fundraising and local support to join.
“In less than 100 days, Democrats will take back the House majority and it will be powered by our incredible candidates such as the five named to Red to Blue today,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) said in a statement. “Whether in suburban, rural, or redistricted seats, the American people have soured on Republicans’ broken promises and failure to lower costs. Voters are outraged by higher prices on everything and a war of choice spiraling out of control. They are eager for change and new leaders who will fight for them, not be a rubberstamp for Donald Trump.”
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