The DCCC added eight candidates to its "Red to Blue" program to bolster efforts to regain a House majority this fall. The move expands national fundraising and operational support for competitive campaigns in battleground states amid a poll showing Democrats with a modest advantage among registered voters. Notable additions include Texans Bobby Pulido and Johnny Garcia, Arizona's Marlene Galan-Woods, and California's Dr. Jasmeet Bains. The committee now backs 20 candidates across 12 states as redistricting fights and a recent Supreme Court ruling reshape the midterm map.
DCCC Elevates Eight New 'Top-Tier' Candidates in Push to Reclaim House Majority
Bobby Pulido, a Democratic congressional candidate for Texas, speaks in Edinburg, Texas, on 27 February 2026.Photograph: Gabriel V Cardenas/Bloomberg via Getty Images(Photograph: Gabriel V Cardenas/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) on Monday added eight candidates to its "Red to Blue" program, expanding its slate of competitive House hopefuls as Democrats aim to retake a House majority this fall. The move brings enhanced fundraising and operational support to targeted campaigns in battleground districts.
A recent Washington Post–ABC News–Ipsos poll found former President Donald Trump’s disapproval rating at a record high and showed Democrats holding a roughly five-point edge among registered voters as the preferred party for the midterms—momentum the DCCC says it will try to convert into wins.
"These latest additions to our Red to Blue program represent the strength of our people-first message and the broad appeal of our top-tier candidates," DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement. "These candidates will win because they are authentic, independent-minded leaders who are rooted in their communities and ready to fight to make life more affordable for hardworking families."
Notable Additions and Races to Watch
Among the newly elevated contenders are two Texans: Grammy Award–winning singer Bobby Pulido and Bexar County deputy sheriff Johnny Garcia. Both are running in newly redrawn districts created after pressure from allies of former President Trump on Texas officials to add Republican-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 cycle.
Several traditionally red states, including Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee, are moving quickly to revise congressional maps following a recent Supreme Court decision that weakened certain protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Analysts at the Council on Foreign Relations have warned the ruling could reshape midterm outcomes and intensify mapmaking battles.
In Arizona, the DCCC endorsed former broadcast journalist Marlene Galan-Woods, who left the Republican Party in 2018 and has emphasized being pro-choice, pro-democracy and pro-climate. Galan-Woods now faces five Democratic primary opponents in a competitive contest.
In California, Dr. Jasmeet Bains—a physician and state assembly member—received the DCCC boost in a contested race against Visalia school board member Randy Villegas after both failed to secure an official party endorsement at a February convention. Other additions include Bob Brooks and Bob Harvie from Pennsylvania, Jessica Killin in Colorado, and Joe Baldacci in Maine.
With these additions the DCCC now lists 20 endorsed candidates across 12 states. Many of the races where the committee is investing feature crowded and hotly contested primaries, underscoring that national backing can be decisive in advance of November.
Why It Matters
The DCCC's targeted investment aims to convert favorable national polling and anti-incumbent trends commonly seen in midterms into seat gains. As redistricting fights and legal rulings reshape battleground maps, both parties are refocusing resources on districts where small shifts in turnout and funding could determine control of the House.
Help us improve.
