The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), House Democrats’ campaign arm, announced that it is expanding its list of Republican-held congressional districts it hopes to flip in the 2026 midterm elections — an early sign that Democrats are preparing for an aggressive fight to reclaim the House.
The committee said it is adding five districts that were won by President Donald Trump in 2024 by 13 percentage points or less, arguing that recent Democratic performances in special elections point to what it described as a “sustained, dramatically positive political environment” for Democrats. Republicans note, however, that special elections are notoriously poor predictors of midterm outcomes, particularly in a presidential off-year with a much larger and more diverse electorate. (RELATED: Democrats Break Through In Conservative Louisiana And Texas Races)
“Democrats are on offense, and our map reflects the fact that everyday Americans are tired of Republicans’ broken promises and ready for change in Congress,” DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington said in a statement.
Republicans counter that the 2026 landscape still favors the GOP in many of these districts, most of which lean Republican at the presidential level and were drawn to reflect long-standing geographic and cultural realities. Historically, the president’s party often faces headwinds in midterm elections, but Republicans argue that Democratic control of the White House, combined with ongoing voter concerns about inflation, border security, crime, and foreign policy, could blunt or even reverse that trend.
The DCCC’s updated “Districts in Play” list now includes 44 seats. Among the newly added targets is Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Rep. Jeff Crank. The district has a strong conservative base centered around Colorado Springs and has reliably supported Republican candidates in recent federal elections.
Also added is Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, held by Republican Rep. Brad Finstad. The largely rural southern Minnesota district has trended increasingly Republican over the past decade, reflecting broader shifts among working-class and agricultural voters away from Democrats.
The committee is also targeting Montana’s 1st Congressional District, represented by Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke. While Democrats are promoting Sam Forstag as a potential “outsider” candidate, Republicans point out that Montana remains one of the GOP’s strongest states at the federal level, with voters repeatedly backing Republicans for Congress and statewide office. Forstag would first have to get through a Democratic primary against Ryan Busse, the party’s 2024 gubernatorial nominee.
Virginia’s 5th Congressional District was added as well. It is currently held by Republican Rep. John McGuire and has leaned Republican in recent cycles. Democrats have floated the possibility of mid-decade redistricting by the state’s Democratic-controlled legislature to make the seat more competitive, though that effort faces legal, political, and procedural hurdles and is far from certain. (RELATED: Florida Voters Challenge DeSantis Redistricting Plan In Court)
The final new target is South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, which is expected to be open as Republican Rep. Nancy Mace runs for governor. While open seats can be competitive, Republicans note that South Carolina remains a solidly red state and that GOP candidates are likely to benefit from strong turnout and a favorable statewide environment.
The DCCC said it has launched “nominee funds” in each of the targeted districts to support eventual Democratic nominees, though the group typically avoids intervening directly in primaries.
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