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House Democrats’ campaign arm is bolstering five new candidates with less than 100 days to go until the November midterm elections.
It comes as Republicans are seizing on a slate of victories by candidates linked to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left party that’s been successful in toppling at least three incumbent House Democrats.
But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is still spreading its map and getting behind party hopefuls in five districts it believes are within reach, an apparent sign of confidence as both parties fight for control of Congress in the latter half of President Donald Trump’s final term.
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The five candidates are physician Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st congressional district, former high school principal Pia Dandiya in Florida’s 22nd congressional district, former chaplain Lindsay James in Iowa’s 2nd congressional district, math teacher and union leader Jake Johnson in Minnesota’s 1st congressional district, and firefighter Sam Forstag in Montana’s 1st congressional district.
One of those districts is currently being represented by a House Republican who is running for his seat again, Rep. Brad Finstad, R-Minn.
Three others are open seats being represented by House Republicans: Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., who recently lost the GOP gubernatorial primary in Arizona, Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who is running for U.S. Senate, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., who is retiring at the end of this year.
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The Florida seat is represented by Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., but was redrawn by Sunshine State Republicans to be more competitive for Republicans than it currently is. Frankel is running in the nearby 23rd congressional district.
It’s part of the DCCC’s “Red to Blue” program, which is aimed at bolstering candidates who Democratic leaders consider competitive by providing money and resources for their campaigns.
“Whether in suburban, rural, or redistricted seats, the American people have soured on Republicans’ broken promises and failure to lower costs,” DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said in a statement. “Voters are outraged by higher prices on everything and a war of choice spiraling out of control. They are eager for change and new leaders who will fight for them, not be a rubberstamp for Donald Trump.”
Republican leaders are readying to criss-cross the country in August in the hopes of bucking years-long political trends and retaining control of the House.
The president’s party traditionally faces significant losses in Congress during the midterms.
Part of their argument is pointing to the recent DSA victories in Colorado and New York, as well as DSA candidates on the rise elsewhere, as evidence that the Democratic Party is shifting to a far more radical place than where most Americans are.
But House Democratic leaders have largely shrugged off the attacks and accusations of an intraparty civil war, instead arguing that Republicans have done nothing to lower living costs for everyday Americans.
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