Donald Trump has made all things possible this year, including the potential erasure of a 30-seat deficit for Democrats in the House of Representatives. Possible? Yes. But far short of probable given that many party leaders didn't even start to believe until late March, after political prognosticator David Wasserman declared that he wouldn't rule out a Democratic takeover.
Those late-game believers have hampered recruitment, which remains Democrats' biggest hurdle, reports the Washington Post.
In the Orlando area, Democrats are touting Val Demings, a former police chief who is poised to win a safe Democratic seat. But in a neighboring district, the party has not found a challenger for John L. Mica, who represents a district with a fast-growing Latino population and where President Obama tied with Mitt Romney in 2012. The party has until a June 24 filing deadline to find a candidate.
In Colorado, Democrats convinced popular former state senator Gail Schwartz to challenge Republican Rep. Scott R. Tipton in the state’s rural western district. But next door in Arizona, Democrats are not mounting a strong challenge to Republican Rep. Martha McSally, who won her district two years ago by just 167 votes but has amassed a nearly $2 million war chest.
In Minnesota, the retirement of Republican Rep. John Kline has increased the likelihood of a Democratic pickup. But in Illinois, the party could not nail down quality recruits in two rural districts along the Mississippi River ahead of a November filing deadline.
On a positive note, the Democrats' war chest could help boost the chances of candidates who need a little extra help.
The DCCC recently announced that it raised $8.6 million in April, compared with the NRCC’s $5.4 million. In the first quarter, the DCCC was narrowly outraised by the NRCC.
The House Majority PAC, a pro-Democratic super PAC, also announced Friday that it raised a record $12.8 million. But the super PAC is likely to face strong competition from Republican groups, many of which plan to concentrate spending on congressional races.
