The Aporia · Top Dem group reveals new congressional targets in bid to flip House: 'Proven fighters'

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 locally by qwen2.5:14b 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 five new races to its Red to Blue list, which aims to support candidates in competitive districts. The program is backing candidates in Virginia, South Carolina, Maine, Kentucky, and Florida, bringing the total number of designated races to 37. This move suggests that the DCCC believes it can win more seats as it tries to retake control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a slim majority. The new candidates will receive support including strategic guidance, staff resources, training, and fundraising assistance to help them win in November. Tom Perriello in Virginia, Nancy Lacore in South Carolina, Matt Dunlap in Maine, Zach Dembo in Kentucky, and Leela Gray in Florida are among those added to the program. According to DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene, all five candidates are "proven fighters" who will build coalitions across the ideological spectrum to power their victories.

Written for “Democratic Congressional Targets” on 2026-10-16, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Leo Briceno

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"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.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-08-20

🔮 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.

2026-08-20 · Fox News

Top Dem group reveals new congressional targets in bid to flip House: 'Proven fighters' · assertive framing

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

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. asserted

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. asserted

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. asserted

candidates → remain → office

Dunlap served as Maine Secretary of State, while Perriello is a former congressman. asserted

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%. asserted

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. asserted

race → decide → Golden

Golden is not pursuing re-election. asserted

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.

Top Dem group reveals new congressional targets in bid to flip House: 'Proven fighters'

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