President Trump isn’t the only Republican who Democrats hope to unseat in 2020.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has a laundry list of congressional districts it believes are up for grabs in the next election cycle, and it includes at least a few Republican lawmakers who’ve been damaged badly by various ethics investigations and indefensibly stupid and vile public comments.
The target list, which was unveiled Monday, comes from a larger strategy memo drafted by Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., who currently chairs the DCCC, and DCCC Executive Director Allison Jaslow. Details of the memo were reported first by CNN. The plan in 2020, the memo said, is to mount an “aggressive effort to fortify and expand” the Democratic Party’s current House majority.
“As the saying goes, the best defense is a good offense, and we couldn’t agree more,” the memo reads.
“2018 was just the tip of the iceberg for Democrats,” it adds. “Today we are announcing our plan to go on offense and grow our New Democratic Majority. We have a clear path to expanding our Democratic Majority, and by putting our plans in motion earlier in the cycle than ever before, we are demonstrating to Democrats across the country that the political arm of House Democrats is operating in high gear from the start.”
Here are the 32 GOP lawmakers that Democrats say they are looking to take down in 2020:
- Ariz.-06 — Dave Schweikert (currently under investigation after Washington Examiner reporting)
- Calif.-22 — Devin Nunes
- Calif.-50 — Duncan Hunter (indicted on charges of using campaign cash for personal expenses, then blamed wife for it)
- Colo.-03 — Scott Tipton
- Fla.-15 — Ross Spano
- Fla.-18 — Brian Mast
- Ga.-07 — Rob Woodall
- Iowa-04 — Steve King (stripped of all committee assignments after remarks in defense of white nationalism)
- Ill.-13 — Rodney Davis
- Ind.-05 — Susan Brooks
- Ky.-06 — Andy Barr
- Mich.-06 — Fred Upton
- Minn.-01 — Jim Hagedorn
- Mo.-02 — Ann Wagner
- N.C.-02 — George Holding
- N.C.-09 — OPEN
- N.C.-13 — Ted Budd
- Neb.-02 — Don Bacon
- N.Y.-01 — Lee Zeldin
- N.Y.-02 — Peter King
- N.Y.-24 — John Katko
- N.Y.-27 — Chris Collins
- Ohio-01 — Steve Chabot
- Pa.-01 — Brian Fitzpatrick
- Pa.-10 — Scott Perry
- Pa.-16 — Mike Kelly
- Texas-10 — Mike McCaul
- Texas-21 — Chip Roy
- Texas-22 — Pete Olson
- Texas-23 — Will Hurd
- Texas-24 — Kenny Marchant
- Texas-31 — John Carter
- Wash.-03 — Jaime Herrera Beutler
Part of the Democratic 2020 strategy includes targeting heavily populated suburban populations, they explained.
“[M]any of the districts on our list have big suburban populations; many have also experienced rapid population growth in recent years – particularly in diverse communities” the memo reads, characterizing the districts as “ripe pick-up opportunities.”
This explains why the DCCC is focusing on no fewer than six congressional districts in Texas (the 10th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and the 31st), including ones located near Houston, Dallas, and Austin.
“If 2018 was the new 2006, then we’re already on course for 2020 to shape up as the new 2008, where Democrats expanded the House majority they had just won,” the memo reads, referring to Democrats’ midterm focus on ethics reforms and corruption.
It adds, “Similar to the 2008 cycle, Democrats go into 2020 with a House Majority and a battlefield with a clear path taking shape to win more seats.”
