Dem who called for ‘new generation’ of leaders endorses three House candidates

Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), who has raised questions about House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) continued leadership, endorsed three U.S. military veterans as candidates for the House on Wednesday.

The former Marine announced his support for Dan Feehan in Minnesota, Aaron Scheinberg in West Virginia and Amy McGrath in Kentucky.

“I am proud to endorse this group of new leaders who have shown a clear commitment to service,” Moulton, himself a Marine veteran, said in a statement.

{mosads}”I am confident that these candidates will put service over self and country over party when they come to DC. I look forward to campaigning for them in the months ahead and serving with them in Congress.”

Of the three candidates, Feehan would appear to have the best chance for success. He is running for an open seat in Minnesota being vacated by Rep. Tim Walz (D), who has decided to run for governor. It is considered a toss-up district by the Cook Political Report. 

Scheinberg and McGrath face higher hurdles. 

The former would take on GOP Rep. Alex Mooney, who previously won his West Virginia seat by 16 percentage points in 2016. It’s also a state where President Trump is popular.

McGrath would join a crowded Democratic primary in Kentucky. The winner would take on Rep. Andy Barr (R), who won the seat by 22 percentage points in 2016. 

It is unusual for a rank-and-file member to announce endorsements, but Moulton has increasingly sought a national spotlight.

After Democrats lost a special election for the House in Georgia, Moulton called for new leadership. Republicans have repeatedly tied Pelosi to Democratic candidates.

In June, Moulton made an initial wave of endorsements for eight other military veterans.

“The status quo isn’t working,” he said in Wednesday’s statement. “We’re not going to fix the problems facing Americans today without a fresh perspective and a new approach in Washington.

“These candidates represent a new generation of leadership in the Democratic Party and are driven by a commitment to service,” the press release says.