House Democrats are spreading their midterm map to five new GOP-held districts — even as their party fractures under a wave of socialist primary victories that ousted multiple incumbent Democrats.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced backing for five candidates with under 100 days until the November midterms.
The move signals confidence from party leaders. But Republicans see the expansion as evidence of desperation — especially after Democratic Socialists of America candidates toppled at least three sitting House Democrats in recent primaries.
“Whether in suburban, rural, or redistricted seats, the American people have soured on Republicans’ broken promises and failure to lower costs.”
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene claimed voters are “outraged by higher prices on everything” and want “new leaders who will fight for them, not be a rubberstamp for Donald Trump.”
The five new DCCC-backed candidates are physician Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st district, former high school principal Pia Dandiya in Florida’s 22nd, former chaplain Lindsay James in Iowa’s 2nd, math teacher and union leader Jake Johnson in Minnesota’s 1st, and firefighter Sam Forstag in Montana’s 1st.
Four of those seats are currently Republican-held. Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn., is running for reelection in one. Three others are open seats where the Republican incumbent is leaving — Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., who lost the GOP gubernatorial primary, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who is running for Senate, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who is retiring.
The Florida seat is represented by Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., but was redrawn by Florida Republicans to be more competitive. Frankel is running in the nearby 23rd district instead.
The DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program provides money and resources to candidates Democratic leaders consider competitive.
But House Republicans are seizing on a different narrative — the DSA surge that shocked the party establishment with recent primary wins in Colorado and New York.
The Democratic Socialists of America has surpassed 120,000 members and is fielding candidates nationwide. Republican leaders plan to crisscross the country in August arguing the Democratic Party has lurched to a “far more radical place than where most Americans are.”
House Democratic leaders have largely shrugged off accusations of an intraparty civil war. They argue Republicans have done nothing to lower living costs for everyday Americans.
The president’s party traditionally faces significant losses in Congress during midterm elections — a historical trend Republicans hope to buck in November.
