{"id":2572589,"date":"2026-02-23T12:18:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T17:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-target-races-in-iowa-arizona-and-pennsylvania-to-flip-seats\/"},"modified":"2026-02-23T12:20:51","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T17:20:51","slug":"democrats-target-races-in-iowa-arizona-and-pennsylvania-to-flip-seats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-target-races-in-iowa-arizona-and-pennsylvania-to-flip-seats\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats target races in Iowa, Arizona, and Pennsylvania to flip seats"},"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\">22<\/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-target-races-in-iowa-arizona-and-pennsylvania-to-flip-seats%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=2572589&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 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has unveiled its first batch of targets for its \u201cred to blue\u201d effort ahead of the 2026 elections, aiming to flip 12 Republican-held seats in eight states and strengthen the Democrats\u2019 house majority. The districts include Arizona\u2019s 2nd (Jonathan Nez) and 6th (JoAnna Mendoza); Iowa\u2019s 1st (Christina bohannan) and 3rd (Sarah Trone Garriott); Michigan\u2019s 4th (sean McCann); North Carolina\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-lieutenant-governor-to-run-for-senate-seat-being-vacated-by-gops-toomey\/\" title=\"Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor to Run for Senate Seat Being Vacated by GOP\u2019s Toomey\">seat held<\/a> by Rep. Chuck Edwards (challenger Chaz Molder or candidate Ager is highlighted); Pennsylvania\u2019s 8th (Paige Cognetti) and 10th (Janelle Stelson); Tennessee\u2019s 5th (Chaz molder); Virginia\u2019s 1st (Shannon Taylor) and 2nd (Elaine luria); and Wisconsin\u2019s 3rd (Rebecca Cooke).<\/p>\n<p>The DCCC frames these races as opportunities in districts that swung toward Trump in recent elections and that analysts describe as competitive, with some labeled toss-ups or leaning Republican. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/obama-scales-back-birthday-party-plans-over-delta-variant-concerns\/\" title=\"Obama \u2018Scales Back\u2019 Birthday Party Plans Over \u2018Delta Variant\u2019 Concerns\">party plans<\/a> to bolster these candidates with targeted training, resources, fundraising support, and strategic guidance. DCCC chairwoman Suzan DelBene emphasizes focusing on cost of living, healthcare, and working families, while Republicans have dismissed the effort as an overambitious recruitment push. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >current house balance stands<\/a> at 218 Republicans to 214 Democrats, with three vacancies.  <\/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 target Iowa, Arizona, and Pennsylvania races as seats to flip<\/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_2513814\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The campaign arm for House Democrats announced 12 districts across eight different states that it is seeking to flip from red to blue in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">2026 elections<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dccc\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"467\">Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee<\/a> launched the first batch of candidates that it is backing in its &ldquo;red to blue&rdquo; program for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/midterm-elections\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"308\">midterm elections<\/a>. The batch includes several districts that swung in favor of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/gop\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1577\">GOP<\/a> congressional candidates in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2024-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11446\">2024<\/a> by large margins.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4466968\/shapiro-fetterman-dodges-endorsing-senator\/\">Shapiro details &#8216;constructive relationship&#8217; with Fetterman, dodges endorsing senator<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4466010\/third-party-spoiler-new-hampshire-senate-race-unless-trump-ends-war-crypto\/\">Third-party spoiler threatens to upend New Hampshire Senate race unless Trump ends &#8216;war on Crypto&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4466712\/trump-yanks-endorsement-colorado-republican\/\">Trump yanks endorsement from Colorado Republican over tariff vote<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The DCCC is backing Jonathan Nez in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"327\">Arizona<\/a>&lsquo;s 2nd Congressional District, JoAnna Mendoza in Arizona&rsquo;s 6th District, Christina Bohannan in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"468\">Iowa<\/a>&lsquo;s 1st District, Sarah Trone Garriott in Iowa&rsquo;s 3rd District, Sean McCann in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michigan\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"655\">Michigan<\/a>&lsquo;s 4th District, Jamie Ager in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"552\">North Carolina<\/a>&lsquo;s 11th District, Paige Cognetti in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"629\">Pennsylvania<\/a>&lsquo;s 8th District, Janelle Stelson in Pennsylvania&rsquo;s 10th District, Chaz Molder in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tennessee\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"600\">Tennessee<\/a>&lsquo;s 5th District, Shannon Taylor&nbsp;in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/virginia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"96\">Virginia<\/a>&lsquo;s 1st District, Elaine Luria in Virginia&rsquo;s 2nd District, and Rebecca Cooke in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wisconsin\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"239\">Wisconsin<\/a>&lsquo;s 3rd District.<\/p>\n<p>DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) said the 12 candidates are &ldquo;laser-focused on lowering costs, saving healthcare, and putting people first.&rdquo; The campaign arm will bolster each of the candidates with focused training, guidance, resources, and fundraising support. Many of the candidates are facing crowded Democratic primary fields.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The candidates named to this first round of our Red to Blue program are united by their desire to fight for hardworking families in their districts &mdash; not the billionaires bankrolling Republicans&rsquo; corrupt and divisive machine,&rdquo; DelBene said.<\/p>\n<p>In Arizona, Nez, a former president of the Navajo Nation, is running to take on Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ). Crane, who flipped the district in 2022 following the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/no-spike-in-florida-coronavirus-cases-despite-no-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"No Spike in Florida Coronavirus Cases Despite No Mask Mandate\">state&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s redistricting, defeated Nez in 2024 by 9 points. The district also swung for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.the-downballot.com\/p\/the-downballots-calculations-of-presidential\">Trump in 2024<\/a> by 15 percentage points. The district is listed as likely Republican with a 7-point voter index margin in 2026 by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cookpolitical.com\/ratings\/house-race-ratings\">Cook Political Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Mendoza, a Marine veteran and mother, is running to challenge Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ). Ciscomani has represented the district since 2023, winning in 2022 by 1.5 points and in 2024 by 2.5 points. The district is classified as a toss-up by Cook and favored Trump by just 0.7% in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>In Iowa, Bohannan, a former state representative, is running again to unseat Rep. Marianne Miller-Meeks (R-IA) in the Iowa City district. Miller-Meeks defeated Bohannan in 2024 by just 0.2 points, or 799 votes, after initially defeating her in 2022 by a wider 6.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/poll-by-wide-margin-americans-say-border-worse-under-biden\/\" title=\"Poll: By Wide Margin, Americans Say Border Worse Under Biden\">8-point margin<\/a>. Cook has the two-term GOP incumbent&rsquo;s district leaning Republican by 4 points on the voter index, listing it as a toss-up. The district went for Trump by 8.5 points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Garriott, a Lutheran minister, is seeking to challenge incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) in a district that includes Des Moines. Nunn flipped the district in 2022 by 0.7 points, then won reelection in 2024 by 3.9 points. Trump took the district in 2024 by 4.4 points. Cook lists the district as a toss-up, favoring Republicans by 2 points on the voter index.<\/p>\n<p>In Michigan, McCann is looking to take on Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) in a district that Cook ranks as likely Republican. Huizenga, who took office in 2023, won in 2024 by 11.7 points and in 2022 by 11.9 points. In a district that went for Trump by 5.5 points, Democrats are seeing hope in the facts that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) won the district in 2022 and that McCann flipped a GOP-held state Senate seat.<\/p>\n<p>In North Carolina, the DCCC is betting on Ager, a farmer, to unseat Trump-endorsed Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-NC). Edwards has carried the district since he won his primary against his scandal-ridden predecessor, Madison Cawthorn, in 2022. Edwards carried the general election in 2022 by 9.3 points and in 2024 by a 13.6 points. Trump took the district by 9.5 points in 2024. Cook switched the district from solidly Republican to likely Republican in September 2025.<\/p>\n<p>In Pennsylvania, Democrats are hoping Cognetti, the mayor of Scranton, can unseat centrist Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-PA) in the Cook-designated Republican-leaning district. Bresnahan carried the district by 1.6 points in 2024, unseating the Democratic incumbent, as Trump carried the district by 8.5 points against then-Vice President Kamala Harris.<\/p>\n<p>In the Keystone State&rsquo;s 10th District, the DCCC is supporting Stelson, a reporter, in her second bid to unseat Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA). Cook has the district as a toss-up. Perry had his closest margin of victory since taking office in 2019 in his 2024 race, in which he overcame Stelson by 1.2 points. Trump carried the district by 5.2 points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The DCCC is taking a big swing in Tennessee&rsquo;s 5th Congressional District, which Trump carried in 2024 by over 17 points. The DCCC is backing Molder, the mayor of Columbia, against Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) after Molder won his mayoral race in a double-digit Trump city. Ogles won by over 20 points in 2024 but has been the subject of an FBI campaign finance <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3113055\/fbi-seizes-andy-ogles-cellphone-investigation\/\">investigation<\/a>. Cook shifted the district from solid Republican to likely Republican in January.<\/p>\n<p>In Virginia, DCCC-backed Taylor, the attorney for Henrico County, is looking to unseat longtime incumbent Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA). Wittman and Trump carried the district in 2024 by 12.8 and 4.9 points, respectively. Cook has the district as leaning Republican.<\/p>\n<p>The DCCC is backing Luria&rsquo;s comeback bid as she looks to retake Virginia&rsquo;s 2nd Congressional District from Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA). Kiggans defeated Luria in 2022 by 3.4 points after the scheduled redistricting. But as Virginia looks to redistrict again before the 2026 elections, Democrats are again eyeing the seat that went for Trump by 0.2 points in 2024.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4356470\/mod-squad-elaine-luria-hope-spanberger-sherrill-slotkin-successes\/\">&lsquo;MOD SQUAD&rsquo;: LURIA SEES HOPE FROM SPANBERGER, SHERRILL, AND SLOTKIN&rsquo;S SUCCESSES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The DCCC is backing Cooke, a small buisness owner, in Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd Congressional District as she launches another bid to unseat incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI). Cooke lost by 2.7 points in 2024 in the district that went for Trump by 7.4 points. Cook rates the district as a toss-up.<\/p>\n<p>National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella called the DCCC&rsquo;s list of targets in many Trump-heavyweight districts &ldquo;pathetic&rdquo; in a statement to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Someone needs to buy the DCCC a gift card to help pay for all the lipstick they&rsquo;re putting on the pig that is their recruitment class,&rdquo; Marinella said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4465730\/maga-backlash-thune-save-act-filibuster\/\" type=\"post\" id=\"4465730\">MAGA RIGHT SOURS ON THUNE OVER SAVE ACT FIGHT<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Their pathetic list of deeply radical candidates consists of recycled losers, far-left activists, and full-blown socialists who will be soundly rejected by voters across the country,&rdquo; he continued.<\/p>\n<p>There are 218 House Republicans and 214 Democrats, with three vacancies.<\/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>Dems target 12 districts in 8 states to flip in 2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2572590,"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\/2026\/02\/AP26008608050872.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4472,3685,6571,5626,5836],"class_list":["post-2572589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-arizona","tag-democrats","tag-elections","tag-iowa","tag-pennsylvania"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26008608050872.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572589","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2572589"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2572593,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2572589\/revisions\/2572593"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2572590"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2572589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2572589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2572589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}