House Dems add five candidates to ‘Red to Blue’ program

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) added five candidates to its “Red to Blue” program on Wednesday, raising the number of people to be helped with the fundraising campaign to 38.

The five candidates include Gil Cisneros, who’s running against retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.); Clarke Tucker, who’s looking to unseat Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.); Tom Malinowski, who’s running against Rep. Leonard Lance (R-N.J.); Juanita Perez Williams, who’s challenging Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.); and Ken Harbaugh, who’s running against Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio).

{mosads}“Incredible Democratic candidates with records of service are working hard every day to earn the trust of voters and build competitive, grass-roots campaigns,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján.

“With Democrats winning the debate on affordable health care and an economic agenda to raise wages and lower costs, we are in a great position to take back the House in November.”

The designation is not an endorsement, but the committee will provide those challengers with fundraising and organizational support.

In offering the support, the DCCC is signaling its preference in a few contested primaries.

Cisneros, for example, is one of six Democrats looking to flip a seat in a district that Hillary Clinton won in 2016.

California has a slate of competitive seats with crowded primaries, which complicates Democrats’ path thanks to the state’s top-two primary. Candidates regardless of party affiliation run in one primary and the top two vote-getters advance to the fall election.

Perez Williams, a former U.S. Navy officer, is facing a primary against Dana Balter, who is backed by local party leaders who have accused the DCCC of interference. The primary is on June 26.

Another notable addition to the DCCC’s program is Tucker, a state representative who has put a district that went for President Trump in play.

Tucker outraised Hill in the first three months of the year, which prompted nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report to shift the race from likely Republican to lean Republican.

 —Updated at 4:39 p.m.