Campaign

House Dems unveil initial GOP targets in 2020

by Lisa Hagen - 01/28/19 3:30 PM ET

The House Democrats’ campaign arm on Monday unveiled its initial list of Republican targets as Democrats work to protect their House majority in 2020.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced it’ll initially focus on 33 GOP-held districts that range from key swing districts to districts that President Trump easily carried in 2016 but now may be within reach.

{mosads}Many of these 2020 targets were also key seats in the 2018 cycle, including GOP Reps. Rob Woodall (Ga.), Don Bacon (Neb.), George Holding (N.C.), Ted Budd (N.C.), Andy Barr (Ky.) and Steve Chabot (Ohio).

{mosads}The DCCC is making a big early bet on Texas after Democrats made two gains in House seats in suburban Houston and Dallas. The committee is targeting six GOP representatives in seats that Democrats lost by only a few points in 2018.

The committee is also putting targets on two GOP lawmakers under federal indictment, including Reps. Duncan Hunter (Calif.) and Chris Collins (N.Y.).

The DCCC has also singled out freshman Rep. Ross Spano (R-Fla.), who acknowledged after his election in November that he “may have been in violation” of campaign finance law by using $180,000 in loans from friends for his congressional campaign.

The DCCC will also be targeting the three GOP lawmakers remaining in districts won by Hillary Clinton in 2016: Reps. Will Hurd (Texas), John Katko (N.Y.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.).

“We have a clear path to expanding our Democratic Majority, and by putting our plans in motion earlier in the cycle than ever before, we are demonstrating to Democrats across the country that the political arm of House Democrats is operating in high gear from the start,” said DCCC Chairwoman Cheri Bustos (Ill.).

“By recruiting the best candidates, raising the resources needed to equip them with top-notch campaigns, and drawing a clear contrast between our work to strengthen hardworking families with the Washington Republicans’ agenda of blocking progress, we will build a Majority that lasts well into the future.”

Still, Democrats will be tasked with defending their newly won House majority, which includes dozens of challenging districts that have a history of trending more Republican. They’ll also be fighting to protect the 31 districts that Trump carried in 2016.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) will be playing offense in those 31 districts as well as looking to protect the three GOP lawmakers in Clinton districts.

Republicans will also be looking to rebound in many of these suburban districts where Trump remains unpopular among many female and college-educated voters.

Here’s the DCCC’s full list of 33 GOP targets:

Arizona’s 6th District: Rep. Dave Schweikert

California’s 22nd District: Rep. Devin Nunes

California’s 50th District: Rep. Duncan Hunter

Colorado’s 3rd District: Rep. Scott Tipton

Florida’s 15th District: Rep. Ross Spano

Florida’s 18th District: Rep. Brian Mast

Georgia’s 7th District: Rep. Rob Woodall

Iowa’s 4th District: Rep. Steve King

Illinois’s 13th District: Rep. Rodney Davis

Indiana’s 5th District: Rep. Susan Brooks

Kentucky’s 6th District: Rep. Andy Barr