{"id":2342106,"date":"2024-09-16T22:13:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T02:13:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-expand-targets-to-include-midwest-seats-previously-out-of-reach-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-09-16T22:14:59","modified_gmt":"2024-09-17T02:14:59","slug":"democrats-expand-targets-to-include-midwest-seats-previously-out-of-reach-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-expand-targets-to-include-midwest-seats-previously-out-of-reach-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats expand targets to include Midwest seats previously out of reach &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdemocrats-expand-targets-to-include-midwest-seats-previously-out-of-reach-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342106&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The \u2062article discusses the Democratic Party&#8217;s strategy to expand its influence in the Midwest ahead of the upcoming \u200ccongressional elections, \u200dparticularly focusing on\u200c several competitive races in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan. The ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket has boosted\u2064 optimism\u2063 within the party about flipping congressional seats previously considered unattainable.<\/p>\n<p>In Iowa, Democrats are targeting Rep. Mariannette \u2063Miller-Meeks, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-democrats-eyeing-majority-look-to-18-gop-held-districts-biden-won\/\" title=\"House Democrats target 18 GOP-held districts won by Biden.\">narrowly\u2062 won<\/a> her\u2062 previous elections. Democratic\u200c challenger Christina Bohannan\u2063 is seeking \u200da rematch, with significant\u2062 funding from the party supporting her campaign. Another critical race in Iowa&#8217;s 3rd District \u2062features Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam, who is reportedly close in polling to the incumbent, Rep. Zach \u2062Nunn.<\/p>\n<p>Wisconsin&#8217;s 3rd District is also on the Democrats&#8217; radar, as challenger Rebecca Cooke \u2064is\u200d currently leading incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden\u2064 in a recent poll. In Michigan, the party is backing \u200bCarl Marlinga against Republican Rep.\u200b John James, aiming to reclaim a district that has not seen a Democratic representative since 2003.<\/p>\n<p>the article highlights the Democratic Party&#8217;s increased focus\u200c and resources directed at flipping these key Midwest seats in anticipation \u200bof the elections, showcasing their strategic electoral shifts \u2062in response to political dynamics.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Democrats expand targets to include Midwest seats previously out of reach<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1758673\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Vice President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Kamala Harris<\/a>&rsquo;s ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket has her party more bullish about flipping multiple congressional seats in the Midwest and expanding its footprint in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/house\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>House<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>There&rsquo;s a big blue target on the backs of vulnerable Republicans in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/inside-congress\/2024\/09\/16\/house-dems-sleeper-seats-suddenly-in-sight-00179407\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> according<\/a> to a new <em>Politico<\/em> report.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Some of the Midwestern seats were previously viewed as out of reach for Democrats but have been increasingly viewed as pickups for Democrats given Harris&rsquo;s gains across the country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Iowa&rsquo;s Meeks faces Democratic challenger <\/h2>\n<p>Democrats are, for the third cycle in a row, targeting a flip in Iowa&rsquo;s 1st Congressional District, pouring resources into ousting Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3153683\/miller-meeks-ethics-request-iowa-address\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Mariannette Miller-Meeks<\/a> (R-IA).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Miller-Meeks won her first election in the southeastern Iowa district by just six votes in 2020. Two years later, she defeated Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan by a safe 7 percentage points.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Meeks at the Power to the Patients pre-Congressional Baseball Game event, with Everclear, to demand transparency in healthcare on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, in Washington. (Joy Asico\/AP Images for Power to the Patients)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>But Bohannan challenged Miller-Meeks to a rematch this election cycle, and Democrats believe she stands a real chance of flipping the seat this time around. Miller-Meeks faces low favorability ratings in her district, just 355, according to <em>Politico<\/em>. Given her perceived weakness, Democrats are pouring millions into ousting her.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-trump-pac-kickstarts-100-million-fundraiser-for-ai-campaign-targeting-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Pro-Trump PAC kickstarts 0 million fundraiser for AI campaign targeting - Washington Examiner\">lower chamber&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s chief Democratic super PAC said earlier this month it would pour $2.3 million into boosting Bohannan. The House Majority PAC&rsquo;s announcement came after it funneled $350,000 into the 1st District race in July.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Iowa&rsquo;s Baccam closes in on Nunn<\/h2>\n<p>Iowa&rsquo;s purple 3rd District has Democratic hopes even higher. Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3078328\/iowa-democrat-looking-flip-seat-blue-fundraising-haul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>flipped the seat red<\/a> when he narrowly defeated Democratic incumbent Cindy Axne two years ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>New polling reportedly has Democratic challenger Lanon Baccam within 1 point of Nunn.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>With $6.8 million in Democratic funding funneled to Baccam, the Democrats have outspent Nunn&rsquo;s $5.7 million, according to AdImpact.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">  Baccam speaks to supporters during a primary night rally, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The race is still rated as &ldquo;Leans Republican&rdquo;, according to the nonpartisan <em>Cook Political Report<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wisconsin challenger polls ahead of Republican incumbent<\/h2>\n<p>Just north of Iowa, Democrats hope to pick up another House seat in neighboring Wisconsin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A new poll by the Democratic House Majority PAC shows Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) is trailing his challenger by 2 points in the state&rsquo;s 3rd District.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Then-House Majority Leader Mike Johnson (R-LA), left, and Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) confer in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. (AP Photo\/J. Scott Applewhite)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Rebecca Cooke now leads Orden 49% to 47% in a district former President Donald Trump won by nearly 5 points in 2020. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/playbook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>poll<\/a> holds a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9%. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee signaled it viewed Orden <a href=\"https:\/\/dccc.org\/carl-marlinga-added-to-dcccs-coveted-red-to-blue-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>as a top target <\/a>when it added Cooke to the organization&rsquo;s &ldquo;Red to Blue&rdquo; program last month. Meanwhile, the Democratic-led House Majority PAC has funneled millions into the race in recent months.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Orden, who is a former Navy SEAL, is endorsed by Trump. He flipped the Wisconsin seat red in 2022 for the first time in decades and held a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-watch-for-in-utahs-primary-elections-how-influential-is-trump-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"What to watch for in Utah\u2019s primary elections: How influential is Trump? - Washington Examiner\">major fundraising advantage<\/a> over Cooke at the end of July.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Last but not least: Michigan<\/h2>\n<p>In Michigan, the Democratic Party is targeting&nbsp;the incumbent Republican representative from the state&rsquo;s 10th District.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The House Majority PAC is backing Democratic candidate and former federal judge Carl Marlinga with a $1.4 TV ad buy starting Tuesday. The DCCC <a href=\"https:\/\/dccc.org\/carl-marlinga-added-to-dcccs-coveted-red-to-blue-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>added Marlinga<\/a> to the organization&rsquo;s Red to Blue program alongside Cooke in August.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A Democrat hasn&rsquo;t represented the Michigan district since 2003, though Rep. John James (R-IA) only <a href=\"https:\/\/ballotpedia.org\/John_James_(Michigan)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>won<\/a> the seat by 0.5% in 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Marlinga is hopeful Harris&rsquo;s presence at the top of his party&rsquo;s ticket will help propel him to victory this November. National polling indicates Harris holds a razor-thin lead over Trump in Michigan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marlinga is seen during a Get Out the Vote rally, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo\/Carlos Osorio)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Before President Joe Biden dropped his bid for reelection in July, he trailed Trump in the battleground state.&nbsp;Harris now holds a slim lead over the GOP leader in the state.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Top Democrats are hopeful Harris&rsquo;s momentum will help expand their party&rsquo;s footprint in both chambers of Congress.&nbsp;Republicans hold a slim four-seat advantage in the House.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re very euphoric now,&rdquo; former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said in August as she <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=O4skUx3vKaU\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>reflected<\/a> on Harris&rsquo;s impact on the 2024 elections. &ldquo;Everybody&rsquo;s excited. I just got on my phone a message from one of our candidates in the Midwest, saying, &lsquo;My fundraising has gone up 300%, my volunteers 150%, my polls are good.&rsquo;&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1758673\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1758673\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats are broadening their focus to include congressional seats in the Midwest that were once considered unattainable. With Vice President Kamala Harris leading the Democratic ticket, the party is optimistic about winning several seats in this region. A recent report from Politico highlights that vulnerable Republican incumbents in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan are now prime targets for Democrats. <\/p>\n<p>In Iowa&#8217;s 1st Congressional District, Democrats are making a concerted effort to unseat Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) for the third consecutive election cycle. Miller-Meeks won her initial election by a mere six votes in 2020 and secured her seat again two years later with a more comfortable margin of seven percentage points against Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan. However, Bohannan is challenging Miller-Meeks again this cycle, and Democrats believe she has a strong chance of flipping the seat due to Miller-Meeks&#8217; low favorability ratings\u2014only 35% according to Politico\u2014and significant financial backing from Democratic super PACs.<\/p>\n<p>In Iowa&#8217;s competitive 3rd District, hopes are high for Democrat Lanon Baccam as he reportedly trails Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) by just one point in recent polling. The funding disparity favors Baccam with $6.8 million compared to Nunn\u2019s $5.7 million.<\/p>\n<p>Moving north into Wisconsin, Democrats see potential for another pickup as new polling indicates that Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) is behind his challenger Rebecca Cooke by two points in the state\u2019s 3rd District\u2014a district previously won by Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, Michigan&#8217;s Democratic Party is targeting incumbent Republican Rep. John James from the state\u2019s 10th District with support from House Majority PAC through substantial ad buys aimed at boosting former federal judge Carl Marlinga&#8217;s campaign.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, top Democrats believe Harris\u2019 presence at the forefront will enhance their chances of expanding their representation across both chambers of Congress as they aim to overcome Republicans&#8217; narrow four-seat advantage in the House<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2342107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Baccum.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[3685,6571,5658,4158,32076],"class_list":["post-2342106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-democrats","tag-elections","tag-midwest","tag-strategy","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Baccum.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342106"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342106\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}