House Democrats expand ‘red to blue’ program with Harris at top of ticket

EXCLUSIVE — House Democrats’ main campaign arm is expanding its “Red to Blue” fundraising program as the 2024 primary cycle comes to a close, with the party looking to flip several competitive seats and take control of the lower chamber next year. 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is adding three candidates to its program, which is designed to flip several red districts to Democratic control in November. The expansion marks the latest additions since Vice President Kamala Harris became the party’s presidential nominee earlier this month, signaling confidence among Democrats that her presence on the ticket will boost candidates in down-ballot races. 

The DCCC will induct Amish Shah of Arizona, Rebecca Cooke of Wisconsin, and Carl Marlinga of Michigan, according to a release first obtained by the Washington Examiner. All three candidates won their primaries over the last two weeks, solidifying the ballot for a handful of key House races in November. 

“Amish Shah, Rebecca Cooke, and Carl Marlinga have built formidable campaigns and are ready to take the fight to their extreme Republican opponents,” DCCC Chairwoman Suzan DelBene (D-WA) said in a statement. “I look forward to working with them to retake the majority so Congress can get back to work to defend reproductive rights, lower costs, defend Social Security and Medicare, and grow the middle class.”

Through the program, Democratic challengers will receive strategic guidance, as well as fundraising support and staff resources, to take on GOP incumbents.

Rebecca Cooke

Cooke won her high-profile primary in Wisconsin on Tuesday, setting the stage for her to face off against Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI). 

The race is considered a top pickup opportunity for Democrats despite being rated “Lean Republican” by the Cook Political Report. Van Orden won the seat in 2022 by less than 4 percentage points, flipping the district into Republican control for the first time since 1997. 

Since then, Van Orden has received criticism from many of his Democratic colleagues because of his presence on Capitol Hill during the Jan. 6 attack before being elected. The GOP incumbent has also come under fire after he reportedly yelled at a group of high school-aged Senate pages last summer for “defiling” the Capitol.

The DCCC is expected to pour much of its resources into the race, especially after internal polling showed Van Orden polling 1 point behind a generic Democratic challenger on the November ballot. 

In the internal polling, Van Orden performed the worst among self-identified independent voters as he trailed a generic Democrat by 14 points among that voting bloc. This group makes up 39% of the likely electorate in his district.

Amish Shah

Shah will face off against Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ), who has represented Arizona in the House for over a decade. Schweikert is seeking reelection to Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, which has been deemed a toss-up by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. 

Shah, a doctor and former state lawmaker, emerged from a crowded primary of six Democratic candidates to win the primary on Aug. 2 after garnering 23.5% of the vote. 

Republicans were quick to attack Shah after his victory, accusing him of being “extreme” and wanting to “dramatically raise their taxes, rip away their health insurance and exacerbate the border crisis.”

“Arizonans trust Representative David Schweikert to keep fighting to end the border crisis, combat inflation and lower taxes. Scottsdale and Phoenix voters will re-elect Congressman Schweikert to continue protecting their security and prosperity,” the National Republican Congressional Committee said in a statement. 

Still, Schweikert faces a tough challenge from Shah in what could be Arizona’s most competitive House race this year. Schweikert won by just 3,200 votes in 2022. 

Carl Marlinga

Marlinga emerged from his Democratic primary victorious earlier this month, setting the stage for a rematch against Rep. John James (R-MI), whom he lost to by less than 0.5 percentage points in 2022. 

Now, the DCCC considers Marlinga to be in a better position with higher name recognition that will help boost the Democratic candidate to victory. However, Marlinga may face an uphill battle as the district is rated as R+3 and expected to lean Republican, according to the Cook Political Report. 

Throughout the primary cycle, Marlinga pointed to his past as a former prosecutor and judge as key experience to be elected to the House. Marlinga has also hit out against James over his anti-abortion views, as well as his views on the economy and healthcare.