Democrats Targeting Trump Districts
Democrats are expanding their House battleground map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, adding five congressional districts carried by President Donald Trump in 2024, a move that signals growing confidence within the party as November approaches.
The announcement comes as Democrats attempt to project momentum and claim they are within striking distance of reclaiming control of the U.S. House, even as Republicans maintain a narrow majority and continue to lead on several voter-priority issues.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee revealed it is now targeting Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, Minnesota’s 1st District, Montana’s 1st District, South Carolina’s open 1st District, and Virginia’s 5th District.
According to Democratic strategists, each of the newly added districts was won by President Trump by 13 percentage points or fewer in the 2024 presidential election, making them prime targets in a competitive midterm environment.
Party leaders say the expansion follows a series of off-year election results in 2025 that exceeded expectations for Democrats, fueling hopes the party can gain the three seats needed to flip the House this fall.
With the latest update, the DCCC is now tracking 44 Republican-held seats nationwide as potential pickup opportunities, following a similar expansion of its target list just weeks earlier.
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said the party believes voters are ready for change, arguing Americans are frustrated with Republican leadership and eager for new direction in Congress.
She also claimed Democrats are entering the midterm cycle with strong candidates and a winning message, predicting a potential House majority led by Hakeem Jeffries if the party succeeds in November.
Republicans, however, quickly rejected the Democratic narrative.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has identified 26 Democrat-held seats as top takeover targets and dismissed the DCCC’s move as political theater rather than reality.
NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella said Democrats are facing serious challenges beneath the surface, including lagging fundraising, vulnerable incumbents, and divisive primaries that risk producing candidates out of step with swing voters.
Republicans argue the broader midterm landscape continues to favor the GOP as voters focus on inflation, border security, crime, government spending, and dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership.
With control of Congress at stake, both parties are preparing for an expensive and highly competitive election season—but Republicans remain confident that President Trump’s coalition and voter priorities will keep the House in GOP hands.
