In an indication that Democrats are occurring offense, the celebration’s marketing campaign arm has added 5 Republican-held seats to its record of potential pickups for 2026.
On Wednesday, the Democratic Congressional Marketing campaign Committee introduced that California’s forty eighth, Florida’s fifteenth, North Carolina’s third and eleventh, and Texas’ thirty fifth Congressional Districts are actually formally on its radar.
“The DCCC is confident we can win anywhere, and we are full speed ahead while Republicans are running scared,” DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington stated in an announcement. “House Democrats have the better message, stronger candidates, and as the data shows, the American people are on our side.”
Democrats are feeling emboldened after sweeping wins in November’s elections and a surprisingly sturdy exhibiting in a current particular election in Tennessee, the place the Democratic nominee outpaced President Donald Trump’s margin of victory in a ruby-red district by 13 factors.
Miami Mayor-elect Eileen Higgins, a Democrat who flipped the seat blue on Tuesday for the primary time in practically 30 years.
The announcement additionally comes on the heels of Democrat Eileen Higgins’ victory within the Miami mayoral race on Tuesday, flipping the seat blue for the primary time in practically 30 years. Whereas off-year mayoral races aren’t at all times indicative of a midterm voters, each events seen the competition as a possible bellwether of nationwide temper.
“All year long, Democrats have overperformed by double digits, and just last month we carried every single competitive House district in New Jersey and Virginia,” DelBene stated. “We are full speed ahead while Republicans are running scared.”
The addition of those districts brings the DCCC’s whole variety of GOP-held and open seats “in play” to 39. Just one open Democratic seat, within the district of retiring Rep. Jared Golden of Maine, is on the record.
The Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee pushed again.
“Democrats can daydream about ‘expanding’ the House map all they want, but reality keeps smacking them in the face,” spokesperson Mike Marinella stated. “The Democrat Party is in a fight for its soul, dominated by far-left chaos and radical policies that don’t reflect the issues important to working families.”
A number of of the brand new additions are tied to redistricting battles. In North Carolina, Republicans pushed by way of a partisan gerrymander that targets a seat held by Democratic Rep. Don Davis. However in doing so, Republicans weakened one other district, held by Rep. Greg Murphy.
The DCCC now sees that seat as a possible pickup whereas additionally concentrating on GOP Rep. Chuck Edwards’ seat, although his district wasn’t considerably modified by redistricting and can be a harder seat for Democrats to win.
Democrats additionally see potential in Texas’s thirty fifth District, which was redrawn from a Democratic stronghold into what would have favored Trump by 10 factors in 2024.
There are causes to suppose that Democrats might make actual features in Texas, particularly if they’ll chip away on the GOP’s current inroads with Hispanic voters—help that Democrats argue could not stick. Early polling suggests GOP features amongst Latino voters could also be much more fleeting.
California’s new addition is the seat of Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican whose district Democrats redrew to lean extra Democratic. Issa had thought of relocating to Texas to run for an additional seat however in the end determined to remain put.
Florida rounds out the record with Rep. Laurel Lee’s district, which Trump carried by 11 factors.
Taken collectively, the expanded map displays Democrats’ offensive posture. In a 12 months the place a blue wave stays potential, the celebration sees extra alternatives than ever to select up seats and push for a Home majority in 2026.
