Democrats Add 8 More GOP-Held and Open Seats to Target List a Month Before Midterms

Democrats on Oct. 2 added eight Republican-favored districts to their “Districts in Play” list, bringing the number of seats they are targeting in the Nov. 3 midterm elections to 66.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC’s) new additions are Kansas’s Second District, held by Rep. Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.); Michigan’s First District, held by Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.); North Carolina’s 13th District, held by Rep. Brad Knott (R-N.C.); and New Jersey’s Second District, held by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.).

Also included are Oklahoma’s Fifth District, held by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.); Virginia’s Sixth District, held by Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.); Washington’s Fifth District, held by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.); and an open seat in Texas’s Ninth District.

“Almost one month out from the November election, Democrats are continuing to expand the midterm map into deep red territory as Republicans run scared,” DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) said in a statement.

“Democrats are poised to win the House Majority in November because voters are fed up with Republicans’ broken promises while Democrats are focused on lowering costs, tackling corruption, and making life easier for hardworking families.”

The committee said the list is now nearly double the number of districts it was targeting at the end of the 2024 cycle. 

“Democrats can slap a ‘battleground’ label on any district they want, but wishful thinking doesn’t change the fundamentals of the House map,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times.

“While they chase imaginary fairytales and get dragged left by their socialist nominees, House Republicans are outraising, outspending, and outworking Democrats where the majority will actually be won.”

The expansion follows an Aug. 5 update in which the DCCC added 12 districts, bringing the list to 58 at the time.

The Cook Political Report rates seven of the eight new targets as Solid Republican. It rates the Texas seat as Likely Republican. Across the House, Cook rates 16 Republican seats and six Democratic seats as toss-ups in its Sept. 25 ratings.

In Kansas’s Second District, Schmidt faces Democrat Don Coover. In Michigan’s First District, Bergman faces Democrat Callie Barr, an attorney he defeated in 2024. In North Carolina’s 13th District, Knott faces Democrat Paul Barringer, an attorney and healthcare consultant.

In New Jersey’s Second District, Van Drew faces Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock. Van Drew was elected to the House as a Democrat in 2018 and switched parties in 2019.

In Oklahoma’s Fifth District, Bice faces Democrat Jena Nelson, a former candidate for state superintendent.

In Virginia’s Sixth District, Cline faces Democrat Beth Macy, the author of “Dopesick.”

In Washington’s Fifth District, Baumgartner faces a rematch with Democrat Carmela Conroy, whom he defeated by 20 points in 2024.

The Texas seat is open after the state’s 2025 redistricting redrew the district to favor Republicans.

Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who has held the Ninth District since 2005, ran in the neighboring 18th District instead.

Republican Alex Mealer faces Democrat Leticia Gutierrez.