Every establishment-backed Democrat advanced in their races to flip four GOP-held New Jersey House seats Tuesday.
The Democrats’ path to the majority will likely run through New Jersey where they’re attempting to flip all but one of the five Republican-held districts.
In the 2nd District, state Sen. Jeff Van Drew, a relatively conservative Democrat, beat out progressive Tanzie Youngblood. Democrats hope Van Drew’s centrist record will help win over disenfranchised Republicans. The retirement of Republican Rep. Frank Lobiondo gives Democrats a strong chance of flipping the South Jersey seat.
Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, beat four other Democrats to advance in the 11th District seat left open by retiring Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen.
Democrat Andy Kim will take on incumbent GOP Rep. Tom McArthur in the 3rd District and Democrat Tom Malinowski beat out two other Democrats to take on incumbent Republican Leonard Lance in the 7th District.
All four Democrats are already on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s coveted Red to Blue program, meaning they’ll receive extra resources.
New Jersey is one piece of the coastal battlefield, which includes California and New York where resistance to President Trump is making once GOP-strongholds vulnerable.
