The House Democratic campaign arm on Monday announced the 19 members considered most vulnerable in the 2018 election cycle who will benefit from its incumbent protection program.
More members could be added or removed from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) “Frontline Program,” which provides candidates with extra fundraising and campaign infrastructure support.
Democrats need to win 24 seats to win back the House in 2018, which will mean they need to protect virtually all of their incumbents in addition to flipping GOP-held districts. It’s a tall order after House Democrats flipped only nine seats in 2016, with a net gain of just six.
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The list includes most of the 12 Democrats who represent districts won by President Trump in November. But four such lawmakers are notably absent: Reps. Tim Walz (Minn.), Ron KindRonald (Ron) James KindCoronavirus culture war over reopening economy hits Capitol Hill How the GOP hopes to overcome steep odds in House battle The Hill’s Campaign Report: 200 days to Election Day 2020 MORE (Wis.), Matt Cartwright (Pa.) and Collin Peterson (Minn.).
Kind, Cartwright and Peterson are considered strong incumbents who generally haven’t faced tough general election challenges in recent years, despite representing districts won by Trump. Kind ran unopposed in last year’s election.
Walz, meanwhile, is considering a run for Minnesota governor in 2018 after narrowly winning reelection to the House last year. He said last month that he expects to make a decision about a possible gubernatorial bid by April.
The other eight Democrats in Trump-backing districts are on the DCCC’s list: Reps. Rick Nolan (Minn.), Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.), Cheri BustosCheryl (Cheri) Lea BustosGOP pulls support from California House candidate over ‘unacceptable’ social media posts Republican flips House seat in California special election GOP’s Don Bacon and challenger neck and neck in Democratic poll MORE (Ill.), Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), Tom O’Halleran (Ariz.), Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Carol Shea-Porter (N.H.) and Dave Loebsack (Iowa).
The rest are in districts won by Democrat Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE but still considered competitive next year: Reps. Ami BeraAmerish (Ami) Babulal BeraThe Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says country needs to rethink what ‘policing’ means; US cases surpass 2 million with no end to pandemic in sight Exclusive investigation on the coronavirus pandemic: Where was Congress? The Hill’s Coronavirus Report: David Miliband says world won’t be safe until poor nations get more aid; Cuomo rips WHO MORE (Calif.), Salud Carbajal (Calif.), Charlie Crist (Fla.), Elizabeth Esty (Conn.), Ruben Kihuen (Nev.), Ann McLane Kuster (N.H.), Stephanie Murphy (Fla.), Scott Peters (Calif.), Raul Ruiz (Calif.), Brad Schneider (Ill.) and Tom Suozzi (N.Y.).
“Each of these Democrats knows how to win tough races — proven by their success in a difficult national environment in 2016,” DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) said in a statement. “Incumbent protection is a critical part of the DCCC’s offensive strategy, and will allow us to maximize our gains in 2018.”
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) released an initial list of 36 Democratic targets last month that includes most of the lawmakers in the DCCC’s Frontline Program.
Democrats have indicated they’re targeting 59 GOP seats, focusing on Republicans representing districts carried by Clinton or narrowly won by Trump. A total of 23 GOP lawmakers represent Clinton districts, nearly the number of seats Democrats need to win the House majority.
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The NRCC so far has named 10 members, most of whom represent districts won by Clinton, to its incumbent protection program.
The NRCC sought to warn that the Democratic incumbents prioritized by the DCCC’s Frontline Program might face more than tough general election challenges in competitive districts.
“These Democrats have a difficult balancing act ahead of them. They not only have to worry about competitive challenges from Republican opponents, but also from potential primary opponents backed by the activist left itching to wipe out Democrats who don’t sufficiently adhere to their radical agenda,” said NRCC spokesman Jesse Hunt.
This story was updated at 1:44 p.m.