The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it is adding five new races to its Red to Blue program, bringing the total number of designated competitive districts to 37 as Democrats seek to retake control of the House of Representatives from Republicans who hold a slim majority.
Red to Blue is the party's formal candidate support initiative that provides strategic guidance, staff resources, training and fundraising assistance to candidates in competitive districts. The newly targeted seats are Virginia's 5th Congressional District, South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, Maine's 2nd Congressional District, Kentucky's 6th Congressional District and Florida's 13th Congressional District.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have pushed back on Democratic optimism about flipping competitive seats. GOP strategists note that three of the five newly targeted districts were won by Republican candidates with an average margin of victory exceeding 19 percentage points in recent elections.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Republicans have previously argued that Democrat-aligned groups are overextending their resources by targeting historically safe GOP seats. The party has emphasized its commitment to defending all Republican-held districts and has pointed to strong fundraising numbers from incumbent members.
The party has also sought to frame the 2026 midterm elections as a referendum on Democratic governance, arguing that voters remain focused on economic concerns and border security rather than House races where incumbents have built deep community ties over multiple terms.
What the Left Is Saying
DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said in a statement that all five candidates are well-positioned for victory. "All of these candidates are proven fighters who are running strong campaigns, talking to every voter, and building coalitions across the ideological spectrum to power their victories in November," DelBene said.
The Democratic campaign arm argues voters are frustrated with Republican governance. "American families are struggling under the broken promises and higher costs caused by House Republicans, and they're eager for leaders who will always put the well-being of their communities first, not rubber-stamp Trump's failed agenda," DelBene added.
Each candidate brings a background in public or military service. Leela Gray, who won the Democratic nomination in Florida's 13th District on Tuesday evening, highlighted her 30-year Army career during which she rose to the rank of brigadier general. Nancy Lacore, running in South Carolina's 1st District, is a former three-star Navy admiral. Zach Dembo, seeking to flip Kentucky's 6th District, served as a Navy JAG officer and DOJ prosecutor.
What the Numbers Show
Three of the five newly added districts were carried by Republican candidates with margins exceeding the national House average. Virginia's 5th District, South Carolina's 1st District and Kentucky's 6th District averaged a 19.3 percentage point margin of victory for Republicans in their most recent elections.
Only two of the five targeted districts were decided by less than 10 percentage points. Florida's 13th District and Maine's 2nd Congressional District fell into this category, with Maine's race representing the tightest margin among the group at just 0.6 percentage points in 2024.
The Maine 2nd District seat is open because Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, who won that narrow 2024 contest, is not seeking re-election. The district has drawn significant attention from both parties as a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats.
Republicans currently hold a 217-215 majority in the House of Representatives with three vacancies. With such a slim margin, flipping even two or three seats would significantly alter the balance of power in the chamber and affect legislative priorities through the remainder of the congressional term.
The Bottom Line
The DCCC's expansion of its Red to Blue program signals Democratic confidence that multiple pathways exist to win the House majority ahead of November elections. However, Republican strategists argue that targeting districts with large historical margins of victory represents a misallocation of party resources.
All five candidates have cleared their respective primaries and will appear on the general election ballot on Nov. 3. The outcome of these races could determine which party controls the House for the final stretch of the current congressional session, affecting committee assignments, legislative agendas and oversight priorities.