Democratic officials have added eight new candidates to their slate of top contenders vying to reclaim a Democratic House majority during the midterm elections this fall. The candidates will receive a boost in fundraising and campaign support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as part of its "Red to Blue" program, which seeks to help competitive candidates win elections in battleground states.
Republican Majority at Risk
Republicans currently hold a five-seat majority in the House, but the president's party historically loses seats in midterm elections. Donald Trump's disapproval rating hit a record high this week, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll. The poll found that among registered voters, Democrats hold a five-point advantage as the favored midterm party – momentum the DCCC hopes to seize.
"These latest additions to our Red to Blue program represent the strength of our people-first message and the broad appeal of our top-tier candidates," the DCCC chair, Suzan DelBene, said in a statement on Monday. "These candidates will win because they are authentic, independent-minded leaders who are rooted in their communities, demonstrating they have what it takes to win and fight to make life more affordable for hardworking families."
Texas Contenders in Redrawn Districts
Among the top contenders are two Texans: Grammy award-winning singer Bobby Pulido and Bexar County deputy sheriff Johnny Garcia. They are seeking election in newly redrawn districts after Trump aides put pressure on Texas officials to create five new Republican House seats before the 2026 midterm elections. Red states, including Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee, are rushing to revise their congressional maps after a Supreme Court ruling gutted key anti-discrimination protections in the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations have said the ruling could upend midterm outcomes.
Arizona and Other Races
In Arizona, a red state that has not undergone controversial redistricting, the DCCC has endorsed former broadcast journalist Marlene Galan-Woods, who left the Republican Party in 2018. "I have always been pro-choice, pro-democracy, pro-climate. My values have never changed. What changed was the Republican party," Galan-Woods said in a 2024 televised debate. She will face off against five other Democratic candidates in the Arizona race. In at least half of the races where the Democratic party is elevating a House candidate, there is a seriously contested primary, the New York Times reported.
Jasmeet Bains, a doctor and state assembly representative, will be running with DCCC support in another hotly contested California race. The endorsement is a welcome boost to her campaign against Visalia school district board member Randy Villegas after both candidates failed to secure an official party endorsement during a February convention. Bob Brooks and Bob Harvie joined the DCCC's list from Pennsylvania, with Jessica Killin in Colorado and Joe Baldacci in Maine. The group has endorsed a total of 20 candidates hailing from 12 states across the country.
