{"id":2519546,"date":"2025-12-10T09:06:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-expand-2026-targets-after-victories-in-florida-and-georgia\/"},"modified":"2025-12-10T09:08:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:08:30","slug":"democrats-expand-2026-targets-after-victories-in-florida-and-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-expand-2026-targets-after-victories-in-florida-and-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"\u200b\u200bDemocrats expand 2026 targets after victories in Florida and Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/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-2026-targets-after-victories-in-florida-and-georgia%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=2519546&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 article reports a series of recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-senator-roy-blunt-says-he-wont-run-for-re-election\/\" title=\"GOP Senator Roy Blunt Says He Won\u2019t Run for Re-Election\">election victories<\/a> boosting Democratic confidence ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Notably,Democrats flipped the Miami mayorship for the first time in nearly 30 years adn won a Georgia state House seat in a traditionally Republican district. These successes have encouraged the Democratic Legislative campaign Committee (DLCC) to expand their target map for 2026, aiming to compete in 42 state legislative chambers-the most ever targeted-and to invest $50 million in campaigns. The DLCC highlighted that Democrats outperformed expectations in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mcconnell-highlights-bidens-failures-eyes-gop-victory\/\" title=\"McConnell highlights Biden\u2019s failures, eyes GOP victory\">recent special elections<\/a>, which often favor their party due to lower turnout. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania pushing a Republican economic message and urging support for GOP candidates ahead of midterms, acknowledging the party&#8217;s recent political struggles. Nevertheless, Democrats remain optimistic about their momentum going into 2026, with DLCC leaders emphasizing wins across diverse regions and warning Republicans of the growing challenge.  <\/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\">&#8203;&#8203;Democrats set expanded targets after surprise victories in Florida and Georgia<\/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\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2439402\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A string of election victories on Tuesday has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats<\/a> bullish about the midterm elections, leading them to expand their target map for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\">2026<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In an upset win, the party flipped the Miami mayorship blue for the first time in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3912830\/democrat-eileen-higgins-miami-mayor\/\">nearly three decades<\/a>, fueling Democratic confidence, while Eric Gisler&rsquo;s sweeping victory in a Georgia state House race stole another seat from Republicans, offering further cause for celebration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3912792\/elise-stefanik-balancing-act-fighting-washington-primary-hochul-governor-new-york\/\">Stefanik&#8217;s balancing act of fighting Washington, a primary opponent, and Hochul: &#8216;Have to pitch a perfect game&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3912830\/democrat-eileen-higgins-miami-mayor\/\">Democrat Eileen Higgins wins Miami mayor race, ending 28 years of GOP control<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/3912256\/beshear-2026-iowa-georgia-nevada-democratic-governors-association\/\">Beshear projects electoral confidence for 2026 in Iowa, Georgia, and Nevada as he leads DGA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee responded to the positive results by announcing plans to expand its 2026 target map to include &ldquo;new flip&rdquo; opportunities across the country, including in both chambers of the Arizona and New Hampshire state legislatures. The DLCC, which serves as the campaign arm dedicated to electing Democrats to statehouses, also revealed it will seek to break and prevent Republican supermajorities in the Florida, Indiana, Missouri, and North Carolina legislatures.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The DLCC&rsquo;s data shows that state legislative Democrats overperformed 2025 elections in targeted districts by 4.5 points on average, which, if replicated in 2026 elections, would provide the most significant Democratic gains at this ballot level in two decades,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-democrat-congressman-alcee-hastings-dies-at-84\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Democrat Congressman Alcee Hastings Dies At 84\">committee wrote<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The DLCC said the new map would target a total of 42 chambers,&ldquo; the most targets ever.&rdquo; And it announced a $50 million investment in 2026 races, described as &ldquo;the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >largest single-year budget<\/a> to date.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Special elections and off-year elections often favor Democrats due to lower turnout. <\/p>\n<p>While Democrats were enjoying the results on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump was touting the Republican message <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3912580\/trump-affordability-speech-pennsylvania\/\">at a rally in Pennsylvania<\/a>, a critical battleground state for both parties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The president highlighted the administration&rsquo;s efforts to spur economic opportunity, as the White House continues to rip Democrats for seeking to dominate the affordability conversation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Democrat Eric Gisler talks to supporters about his election victory in a Georgia state House race on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025 at the Trappeze Pub in Athens, Ga.. (Christopher Dowd\/Athens Political Nerd via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Democrats talking about affordability is like Bonnie and Clyde preaching out public safety,&rdquo; Trump told the crowd, calling the party the &ldquo;enemy of the working class and reiterating statements in which he has blamed the Biden administration for overseeing a steep rise in inflation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Democrats say, &lsquo;Prices are too high.&rsquo; Yeah, prices are too high because they caused them to be high,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The president&rsquo;s appearance came as his senior advisers, including chief of staff Susie Wiles, have pushed him to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3911743\/trump-campaign-like-2024-midterm-elections-susie-wiles\/\">campaign for Republicans <\/a>ahead of the midterm elections. Their strategy follows the GOP&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3909357\/desantis-worried-voters-unique-to-trump-wont-back-gop-in-midterms\/\">rough year politically<\/a>, with losses in Virginia and New Jersey preceding the results in Georgia and Florida Tuesday evening.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;&lsquo;[Republicans] have to win the midterms, and you&rsquo;re the guy that&rsquo;s going to take us over the midterms,&#8217;&rdquo; Trump recalled his advisers telling him during the rally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But galvanized by their string of victories this year, Democrats hold an increasingly optimistic outlook ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 elections.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3891838\/vance-warns-gop-give-voters-something-believe-without-trump\/\"><strong>VANCE WARNS GOP NEEDS TO GIVE VOTERS SOMETHING TO &lsquo;BELIEVE IN&rsquo; WITHOUT TRUMP ON BALLOT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s clear state legislative Democrats have undeniable momentum heading into the new year,&rdquo; DLCC President Heather Williams said in a statement this week responding to Gisler&rsquo;s shock victory in Georgia.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Eric Gisler just defied expectations and flipped a deep red Trump district in Georgia. This victory builds on state Democrats&rsquo; momentum as we&rsquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-jr-rallies-in-georgia-for-david-perdue-we-need-candidates-who-will-actually-fight\/\" title=\"... Jr. Rallies in ... for David Perdue: We Need Candidates \u2018Who Will Actually Fight\u2019\">ve overperformed<\/a> and flipped red, blue, and purple districts across the country all year round. From Iowa to Pennsylvania to Virginia to Mississippi to now Georgia, we are competing and winning all across the map,&rdquo; she added, in a warning to Republicans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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 expand 2026 targets after Florida, Georgia wins<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2519547,"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\/2025\/12\/AP25344177481131.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[42974,3685,5113,4977],"class_list":["post-2519546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2026-elections","tag-democrats","tag-florida","tag-georgia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25344177481131.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519546","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=2519546"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2519550,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2519546\/revisions\/2519550"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2519547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2519546"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2519546"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2519546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}