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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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House Democrats are widening their battlefield for 2026, adding five more Republican‑held districts to their list of potential pick‑ups as the party tries to reclaim the majority in November.
Republican National Committee (RNC) spokeswoman Delanie Bomar described the list as a "total joke," telling Newsweek in an emailed statement: "These Republican seats will remain Republican seats because Democrats wasted time doodling up new wishlists before dealing with the real mess within their own party."
Why It Matters
Expanding the map signals that Democrats see a broader path to the House majority than earlier in the cycle, widening the number of seats they believe are genuinely competitive.
Read More on Politics
By targeting districts President Donald Trump won by modest margins, the party is betting that voter discontent over cost‑of‑living pressures and health‑care affordability could shift enough swing seats to flip control of the chamber.
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What To Know
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced the expansion on Tuesday, unveiling new targets in Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina and Virginia.
It brings the party’s total “Districts in Play” list to 44 seats—a larger opening map than Democrats used heading into the 2024 cycle.
It also marks the second expansion in two months, according to the DCCC, which rolled out an initial list of 35 districts last April, then added more in December. The committee said the new additions are unified by a single metric: each was carried by Trump by 13 percentage points or less.
According to the DCCC, those margins combined with what it describes as a “dramatically positive political environment” for Democrats have encouraged strategists to broaden their targets. The committee points to Democrats “overperforming in all special elections since Trump was inaugurated,” including congressional specials by more than 17 points.
Republicans have a fundraising advantage over Democrats, specifically the Democratic National Committee, which is $100 million behind the RNC, The New York Times has reported.
Incumbent Democrats are also facing serious primaries from the left, with the DCCC chair recently admitting that protecting incumbents "takes some resources" away from battleground districts, per CNN.
Economic Discontent Shapes Map
The DCCC argued that dissatisfaction with Republicans' handling of core economic issues is creating fresh opportunities. It said Americans are frustrated by rising costs—from groceries to health care to energy bills—and are blaming what it characterizes as GOP‑driven policies, including allowing Affordable Care Act tax credits to lapse and imposing tariffs that increase consumer prices.
The 2026 Districts In Play
With the latest additions, Democrats now list 44 Republican‑held or open seats as potential flips. They include high‑profile battlegrounds, open‑seat contests and incumbents across regions that have seen shifting political winds.
Along with the updated battlefield, the DCCC says it has created nominee fund pages for the newly added districts, giving grassroots donors the option to support eventual Democratic nominees before primaries conclude.
The full list:
AK‑AL: Nick Begich
AZ‑01: OPEN
AZ‑02: Eli Crane
AZ‑06: Juan Ciscomani
CA‑22: David Valadao
CA‑48: Darrell Issa
CO‑05: Jeff Crank
CO‑08: Gabe Evans
FL‑07: Cory Mills
FL‑13: Anna Paulina Luna
FL‑15: Laurel Lee
FL‑27: María Elvira Salazar
IA‑01: Mariannette Miller‑Meeks
IA‑02: OPEN
IA‑03: Zach Nunn
KY‑06: OPEN
ME‑02: OPEN
MI‑04: Bill Huizenga
MI‑07: Tom Barrett
MI‑10: OPEN
MN‑01: Brad Finstad
MO‑02: Ann Wagner
MT‑01: Ryan Zinke
NC‑03: Greg Murphy
NC‑11: Chuck Edwards
NE‑02: OPEN
NJ‑07: Tom Kean Jr.
NY‑17: Mike Lawler
OH‑07: Max Miller
OH‑10: Mike Turner
OH‑15: Mike Carey
PA‑01: Brian Fitzpatrick
PA‑07: Ryan Mackenzie
PA‑08: Rob Bresnahan
PA‑10: Scott Perry
SC‑01: OPEN
TN‑05: Andy Ogles
TX‑15: Monica De La Cruz
TX‑35: OPEN
VA‑01: Rob Wittman
VA‑02: Jen Kiggans
VA‑05: John McGuire
WI‑01: Bryan Steil
WI‑03: Derrick Van Orden
What People Are Saying
DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene: “Democrats are on offense, and our map reflects the fact that everyday Americans are tired of Republicans’ broken promises and ready for change in Congress.
“Health care, housing, groceries, energy bills—they are all going up and it's directly because of Republican policies that favor the wealthiest few while leaving hardworking families behind. Going into the midterms, Democrats have the winning message, top‑tier candidates, and the public on our side, paving the way for a new Democratic House Majority under the leadership of a Speaker Hakeem Jeffries.”
RNC spokeswoman Delanie Bomar told Newsweek in an emailed statement: "Democrats are broke, bored, and being primaried from the Left, which is why this list is a total joke. These Republican seats will remain Republican seats because Democrats wasted time doodling up new wishlists before dealing with the real mess within their own party."
What Happens Next
Democrats enter the midterm cycle needing to flip a narrow margin to regain the House.
With months to go before filing deadlines in many states and candidate fields still taking shape, the map is likely to evolve, but for now, Democrats say this expansion signals a confidence they intend to carry into November.
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