Overview
- The DCCC announced Thursday that Leela Gray (FL‑13), Zach Dembo (KY‑6), Matt Dunlap (ME‑2), Nancy Lacore (SC‑1) and Tom Perriello (VA‑5) have been added to Red to Blue after clearing their primaries and advancing to the Nov. 3 general election.
- The five additions raise the Red to Blue roster to 37 races and come with strategic guidance, on‑the‑ground staff support, training and coordinated fundraising help from the DCCC.
- Nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates all five districts as either likely or solid Republican, with Maine’s 2nd District the most competitive after a 0.6% margin in 2024.
- Three of the recruits are military veterans, a theme Democrats plan to use to critique the Iran war, and Lacore stands out for raising more than $2 million through June with roughly $400,000 cash on hand.
- The move reflects a two‑track DCCC approach of concentrating heavy resources on a few competitive targets while widening its slate for messaging and pressure in deeper Republican districts, a strategy shaped by mid‑decade redistricting and the narrow House margin.