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· collected 2026-08-20 · by Leo Briceno
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has added 5 new congressional races to its Red to Blue list, bringing the total number of targeted seats to 37. The new targets include Tom Perriello in Virginia, Nancy Lacore in South Carolina, Matt Dunlap in Maine, Zach Dembo in Kentucky, and Leela Gray in Florida. All five candidates have prior public or military service, with some having held high-ranking positions in the military or government. According to DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene, these "proven fighters" will receive strategic guidance, staff resources, and fundraising support to help them win in November.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has added 5 new races to its Red to Blue list, which supports competitive districts with resources and guidance. The new additions bring the total number of designated races to 37. The DCCC is backing Tom Perriello in Virginia, Nancy Lacore in South Carolina, Matt Dunlap in Maine, Zach Dembo in Kentucky, and Leela Gray in Florida. According to DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene, the candidates are "proven fighters" who will focus on areas where voters feel Republicans have overpromised and underdelivered. The move suggests that the DCCC believes it has a chance to win these seats, which could be crucial in its bid to retake the House of Representatives from Republicans, who hold a slim majority.
Written for “House Congressional Targets” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.60 for article 1594 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-21
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is adding five new races to its Red to Blue list, a program that looks to equip candidates in particularly competitive districts.
asserted
that → add → districts
The Red to Blue program is backing Tom Perriello in Virginia, Nancy Lacore in South Carolina, Matt Dunlap in Maine, Zach Dembo in Kentucky and Leela Gray in Florida, bringing the program’s designated races to a total of 37.
asserted
program → back → 37
The additions indicate a growing number of seats the party’s House campaign arm believes it can win as they try to retake the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority.
asserted
Republicans → indicate → majority
The announcement also telegraphs further investment in those particular races.
asserted
announcement → telegraph → races
"All of these candidates are proven fighters who are running strong campaigns, talking to every voter, and building coalitions across the ideological spectrum to power their victories in November," DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., said in a statement.
asserted
DelBene → prove → statement
The five new candidates can expect to receive strategic guidance, staff resources, training and fundraising support "to ensure they are in the best possible position to win in November," Red to Blue stated in a press release.
asserted
Red → expect → release
Notably, all five candidates have some record of prior public or military service.
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candidates → have → service
Leela Gray, running in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, captured the Democratic nomination on Tuesday evening, highlighting her 30-year Army career, during which she rose to the rank of brigadier general.
asserted
she → run → general
Similarly, Zach Dembo, who is trying to flip Kentucky’s 6th District, served as a Navy JAG officer and DOJ prosecutor.
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who → try → officer
The remaining two candidates — Matt Dunlap in Maine’s 2nd District and Tom Perriello, the Democratic nominee in Virginia’s 5th Congressional District — both have held public office before.
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candidates → remain → office
Dunlap served as Maine Secretary of State, while Perriello is a former congressman.
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Perriello → serve → State
Three of them, VA-05, S.C.-01 and KY-06, were all won by the GOP by an average 19.3% margin of victory.
asserted
Three → win → victory
Only two of them, FL-13 and ME-02, were decided by less than 10%.
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two → decide → %
Notably, the Maine race is the most competitive out of the group, having been decided by just 0.6% in 2024 in a narrow win for Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine.
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race → decide → Golden
Golden is not pursuing re-election.
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Golden → pursue → election
In addition to their service backgrounds, DelBene, the DCCC chair, said the candidates would stress areas where voters might feel like Republicans have overpromised and underdelivered.
uncertain
Republicans → say → areas
"American families are struggling under the broken promises and higher costs caused by House Republicans, and they’re eager for leaders who will always put the well-being of their communities first, not rubber-stamp Trump’s failed agenda," DelBene said.
asserted
DelBene → struggle → agenda
Having cleared their respective primaries, all five candidates are now headed to their general elections on Nov. 3.
asserted
candidates → clear → Nov.
