One month out, Democrats say they are expanding House field

Daniela Altimari, CQ-Roll Call on Oct 4, 2024

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WASHINGTON — Democrats are expressing increasing optimism that regaining control of the House is within the party’s grasp.

“We have opportunities everywhere,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, a Democrat from Washington state and chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “We’re making sure we pick up seats in presidential battleground states like Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan, but I want to point out how vast and geographically diverse the House map is. We’re going on offense in states like New York, California and even Iowa ... and Alabama. Those are places that don’t get much national attention, but they illustrate how broad our map is.”

DelBene joined Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison and Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, at a remote press conference Friday, one month out from Election Day.

The GOP gained control of the House in 2022, powered largely by gains in New York and California, states that heavily favor Democrats, particularly in a general presidential election.

Democrats are hoping to regain those seats and as well as going on the offense in Iowa, where races featuring Republican Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the 1st District and Zach Nunn in the 3rd were recently shifted from "Tilt Republican" to "Toss-up" by Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales. And Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico’s 2nd District saw his race shift from "Toss-up" to "Tilt Democratic."

However not all changes in the House map favor Democrats. In Maine’s 2nd District, held by Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, the race has shifted from "Tilt Democratic" to "Toss-up."

A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee dismissed the Democrats’ optimism.

“Talk is cheap, but the money shows House Democrats in a full-blown retreat,’’ said Will Reinert, NRCC national press secretary. “Here are the facts — seven of the 10 most expensive House races in the country are in House Democrats’ own territory because Republicans are playing offense coast to coast.”

Republicans currently have a 220-212 majority. There are three vacancies, with two of those previously held by Democrats and one by a Republican.

Overall, Republicans need to win four of the 15 "Toss-up" races, according to Inside Elections, eight held by Democrats and seven by Republicans, to retain control of the House. Democrats, meanwhile, need to win a dozen of those contests to win a bare majority.