House Democrats are adding seven members to their list of vulnerable incumbents as redistricting reshapes political maps across the country and Republicans prepare an onslaught ahead of the midterm elections.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) was already preparing to funnel crucial resources to more than two dozen Democratic incumbents facing expectedly tough reelection bids this year.
On Thursday, the Democratic House campaign arm expanded that list to 35 members, adding Reps. Greg Stanton (Ariz.), Sanford Bishop (Ga.), Bill Foster (Ill.), Dan Kildee (Mich.), Josh Gottheimer (N.J.) Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) and Jennifer Wexton (Va.).
One lawmaker that was previously on the DCCC’s list of “Frontliners,” Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), was removed from the program because redistricting shored up her seat for Democrats.
The DCCC also announced that it had expanded its list of offensive races, adding a handful of open or Republican-held seats to its target list, including three districts in California and two in Colorado.
Democrats are facing difficult political prospects in November. Republicans need to flip just five seats in the House to recapture control of the lower chamber. What’s more, the party of a new president tends to lose ground in Congress in midterm elections, meaning Democrats are facing strong historical headwinds, as well.
Democrats have also seen a deluge of retirements over the past year. Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) this week became the 29th House Democrat to opt out of seeking reelection to the House.
Still, party leaders are hoping that they’ll be able to buck historical trends this year, making the argument that voters will ultimately reward Democrats for passing sweeping legislation, including a massive pandemic relief bill and infrastructure package.
“Frontline House Democrats head into November with a record of delivering for the American people by fighting to end this pandemic, rebooting our economy, and putting millions of Americans to work rebuilding America,” Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the DCCC, said in a statement. “Across the country, Republicans will have to defend their extremist agenda that just doesn’t work for American families.”