DCCC Expands "Red to Blue" Program

The DCCC, trying to appear that they are in fact playing some offense this cycle, expanded its "Red to Blue" list of top challengers in Republican-held seats or open seats by eleven over the weekend. Here they are:

AR-01: Chad Causey (D), the former chief of staff of retiring Rep. Marion Berry (D).

AR-02: State Sen. Joyce Elliot (D), who is running for the seat left open by Rep. Vic Snyder (D).

HI-01: State Sen. President Colleen Hanabusa (D), who is facing Rep. Charles Djou (R), who won the seat in a three-way special election.

IN-08: State Rep. Trent Van Haaften (D), who is for the seat left open by Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D), who is running for the state's open Senate seat.

MI-01: State Rep. Gary McDowell (D), who is running for the seat left open by Rep. Bart Snyder (D).

MN-06: State Sen. Tarryl Clark (D), who is taking on the controversial and well-funded Rep. Michele Bachmann (R). Clark recently saw her primary opponent, Maureen Reed, drop out to give Clark a clear shot to the general election.

MO-08: Tommy Sowers (D), who is taking on Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R). Emerson looks to be pretty safe at this point.

PA-06: Manan Trivedi (D), an Iraq War veteran who is taking on Rep. Jim Gerlach (R).

WA-03: Former state House Majority Leader Denny Heck (D), who is running for a seat left open by the retiring Rep. Brian Baird (D).

WV-01: State Sen. Mike Oliverio (D), who ousted Rep. Alan Mollohan (D) in the Democratic primary.

WI-07: State Sen. Julie Lassa (D), who is running to replace Rep. David Obey (D), who is retiring.

It's pretty hard to ignore how many "Red to Blue" candidates are competing for already-blue districts.

The Fix: "While Democrats insist they are still playing offense this year -- and indeed, it appears they can in at least a handful of districts -- they're mostly playing defense in the new Red to Blue districts.

Of the 26 total Red to Blue districts, 10 are open seats held by Democrats, 11 are held by Republicans seeking reelection, and five are open seats held by Republicans."