Democrats’ campaign arm widens attack map with 12 new targets
the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is increasingly optimistic about the party’s prospects in the 2026 elections, expanding its target list by adding 12 additional races. These include districts the Democrats hope to flip, such as the seat of NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson, as well as races in Nevada, New York, Tennessee, and texas, bringing the total target races to 58. Notable races include upcoming contests in Nevada’s 2nd District, where Democrats see a potential opening due to the absence of an incumbent, and in New York’s 21st District, which features a retiring Republican. The campaign also focuses on vulnerable or open seats like Texas’s 23rd and Tennessee’s 9th, with Democratic candidates aiming to capitalize on recent redistricting and political shifts.Chairwoman Suzan DelBene emphasized the strategy of expanding into traditionally strong Republican areas by branding the Democrats’ message as focused on affordable living and criticizing Republican policies, with the goal of winning in November and securing hakeem Jeffries as the next House speaker.
The House Democratic campaign arm is growing increasingly bullish about the party’s 2026 prospects, adding 12 more races to its target list Wednesday.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s expansion includes districts across the 2026 map that Democrats hope to flip in November, including National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson’s (NC) seat.
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Alongside Hudson’s seat, the DCCC expanded its “Districts in Play” target list to include the districts of Reps. French Hill (R-AR), Jeff Hurd (R-CO), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), Mike Flood (R-NE), and Nick LaLota (R-NY).
Democrats are also eyeing the open House races in Nevada’s 2nd District, New York’s 21st District, Tennessee’s 9th District, and Texas’s 23rd District, bringing the total number of races the campaign arm is targeting to 58.
Tennessee’s 9th District, currently represented by retiring Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), is slated as a solid red seat by the Cook Political Report after the GOP-led state legislature redrew the congressional districts. State Rep. Justin Pearson, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), is running in the Democratic primary after initially challenging Cohen for the old iteration of the seat, based largely in Memphis.
In Nevada’s 2nd District, Democrats are hopeful that without a GOP incumbent, they might have a chance to flip the seat. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. David Flippo is the GOP nominee and has the backing of President Donald Trump. Flippo will face Democratic nominee Teresa Benitez-Thompson, a former state House majority leader, in November.
New York’s 21st District is currently represented by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who announced her retirement after a short-lived run for governor. Sticker Mule CEO Anthony Constantino is the GOP nominee and is facing Democratic nominee Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer.
The last open seat among the additions, Texas’s 23rd District, is vacant after former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned earlier this year after admitting to having an affair with a staffer who died by suicide. Republican nominee Brandon Herrera, a firearms manufacturer who has been criticized for several controversial statements, is facing Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout, who is an attorney.
Democrats are hoping to use the controversial comments from Herrera, which include Nazi references and a mention of his gun as the “original ghetto blaster,” against him in the race.
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DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene (WA) said in a statement that Democrats are “expanding the battlefield deep into Trump terrain because we have a winning message focused on fighting for an Affordable America.”
“At the same time, MAGA Republicans who historically have considered themselves ‘safe’ have let down the people they were elected to represent, passing disastrous policies that are crushing working families and our communities,” DelBene’s statement continued. “Democrats are going to win in November and make Hakeem Jeffries the next Speaker of the House.”
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