Democrats Announce Challenges to Three GOP Incumbents

Democrats recruited a challenger for Southerland. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Four Democratic challengers announced on Tuesday their plans to run against three House GOP incumbents in California, Florida and Minnesota:

Florida’s 2nd District

Gwen Graham, daughter of former governor and Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., will challenge Rep. Steve Southerland II. Graham’s campaign described her as “Washington outsider,” and traced her roots in the Tallahassee-based Panhandle district back to her father’s tenure as governor beginning in 1979.

However, Graham’s father later served three terms in the Senate and she boasts relatives at The Washington Post. CQ Roll Call reported Gwen Graham was a likely contender earlier this year.

California’s 31 District

Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar will challenge one of House Democrats’ top  2014 targets, Republican Rep. Gary G. Miller. It’s Aguilar’s second try at Congress in as many cycles after he shocked Democrats by failing to make it to the general election in California’s new jungle primary system last year. Already in December, CQ Roll Call reported that Aguilar was interested in another run. Full story

Iowa: Democrat Sherzan Drops Bid to Challenge Latham

Businessman Mike Sherzan, a Democrat, has dropped his campaign for Iowa’s 3rd District, citing “personal health reasons” in a statement released Monday.

His announcement clears the way for another Democrat, perhaps former state Sen. Staci Appel, to challenge GOP Rep. Tom Latham in this competitive district.

House Democrats have targeted the 3rd District since the start of the cycle. In January, they touted Sherzan as one of their first potential recruits during the presidential inauguration festivities. He announced his campaign a month later.

Sherzan’s decision to leave the race comes after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee met with Appel about the race on her recent trip to Washington, D.C. But in a statement, he insisted his decision was based “solely upon my individual circumstances.”

“Finally, I have made this decision based solely upon my individual circumstances and what I believe to be in my best interest and that of my family,” Sherzan said. “Ending my candidacy is very disappointing to me personally.”

Iowa: House Democrats Talk to Ex-State Senator About Latham Challenge

Democrats are talking up a new candidate to challenge Rep. Tom Latham (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democrats hope former state Sen. Staci Appel will challenge GOP Rep. Tom Latham of Iowa this cycle, after the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee met with her recently in Washington, D.C., to discuss the race, according to a Democratic operative with knowledge of the encounter.

Appel, a former stock broker and one-term state senator from rural Ackworth, Iowa, is the wife of Iowa Supreme Court Justice Brent Appel.

Democrats view the 3rd District as one of their best pick-up opportunities of 2014. Last year, President Barack Obama carried the Des Moines-based seat. At the same time, Latham defeated then-Rep. Leonard L. Boswell, D-Iowa, there by nearly 9 points.

If Appel runs — and the source stressed that her candidacy is not a done deal — she will have company in a Democratic primary. Businessman Mike Sherzan announced his campaign for the seat last month, after the DCCC feted him during the presidential inauguration in January. Full story

North Carolina: Rouzer to Seek Rematch Against McIntyre

Rouzer, a Republican, will run for Congress again (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Former state Sen. David Rouzer will make another run for North Carolina’s 7th District, according to the Charlotte News Observer.

If Rouzer wins the GOP nomination, he will face a rematch against Rep. Mike McIntyre, D-N.C., in 2014.

McIntyre edged out Rouzer by 654 votes, the closest margin of any House race in the 2012 cycle. The ballot counting went past Election Day. It was the last congressional race to be called, in late November.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named McIntyre to its “Frontline” incumbent retention program earlier this month.

DCCC Courts Donors at Annual Issues Conference

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee hosted its third annual New York Issues Conference on Saturday, featuring access to top lawmaker panels for its supporters.

The event, a brainchild of DCCC Chairman Steve Israel of New York, is intended to fete committee donors from Capitol Hill to the Empire State. House candidates attended as well, one Democrat in attendance said.

New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy spoke on gun violence, and House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, both of California, talked about immigration, according to a copy of the agenda obtained by CQ Roll Call. Full story

Connecticut: Greenberg Announces Another Bid for 5th District

Democrats say Esty, right, could be vulnerable in 2014. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Republican businessman Mark Greenberg will make a third run for Congress in Connecticut’s 5th District, the Hartford Courant is reporting.

If Greenberg wins his party’s nod in 2014, he will challenge freshman Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty. This western Connecticut district is competitive and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently named Esty part of its Frontline incumbent protection program.

Full story

NRCC Raises $14.4 Million at Annual March Dinner

Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon heads the National Republican Congressional Committee. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The National Republican Congressional Committee raised a record $14.4 million off of its Wednesday evening fundraising dinner, according to a committee source.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker headlined the event, and Wisconsin Rep. Paul D. Ryan served as the chairman for the annual dinner for the committee’s top donors.  Full story

DCCC Announces Community Outreach Chairmen

Becerra will chair a new DCCC council. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced on Wednesday the members who will lead its community outreach programs. The members will chair councils designed to keep the committee connected with various supportive communities for Democrats, including Native Americans, immigrants, LGBT, labor and defense.

The chairmen of the councils are:

Full story

DCCC Trumpets Recruitment Strategy for ’14

Israel leads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (Bill Clark CQ/Roll Call File Photo)

Recruitment matters for House Democrats, who are already aggressively pursuing potential candidates in order to the expand the congressional playing field and put House control in play, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel said Wednesday.

“We will win in 2014 in 2013,” he said in a briefing for reporters and groups allied with the party.

Israel ticked through a number of internal DCCC recruiting programs which he said would put his party on a strong footing for the mid-term elections. In 2014, the party must net 17 seats to take control of the House.

Among handful of potential candidates he floated: Gwen Graham, the daughter of former Florida governor and Sen. Bob Graham, in Florida’s 2nd District, currently held by two-term Republican Rep. Steve Southerland II; and Brendan Mullen, a 2012 nominee who fell short against now-freshman Rep. Jackie Walorski, a Republican, in Indiana’s 2nd District. Voters in both districts tend to lean Republican.

“We will make 2014 a referendum on the tea party and we will win that referendum by recruiting. deploying and fielding candidates who run as solutionists and problem solvers,” Israel said.

Full story

House Democrats Outraise GOP Counterparts by $1.3M in February

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee outraised the National Republican Congressional Committee in February and ended the month with more money in the bank.

The DCCC took in $6.3 million in February to the NRCC’s $5 million haul. The DCCC had $7.6 million in cash on hand as of the end of last month, while the NRCC had only $4.4 million.

The NRCC had slightly less debt though: $10 million to the DCCC’s $10.9 million. The DCCC announced its fundraising totals earlier on Wednesday.

The DCCC also outraised the NRCC in January.

DCCC Raised $6.3 Million in February

Steve Israel led the DCCC to raise $6.3 million last month. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $6.3 million in February, ending last month with $7.6 million in cash on hand.

House Democrats’ campaign organization, charged with netting the 17 seats necessary to win control of the House, reported $10.9 million of debt at the end of February, according to figures provided by a DCCC official.

Fundraising numbers for the National Republican Congressional Committee were not immediately available.

Monthly fundraising reports for the committees are due to the Federal Election Commission on March 20.

In January, the DCCC outraised the NRCC by nearly $2 million.

California: Republicans Eyeing DeMaio to Challenge Freshman Peters

Peters is a top 2014 target for Republicans. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Republican strategists believe former San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio is considering a challenge to freshman Democratic Rep. Scott Peters, a top GOP target in 2014.

DeMaio boasts strong name ID in the 52nd District after losing to former Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., by a slim margin, in the San Diego mayoral election last year. But DeMaio performed well in the area where the district and city overlapped, according to one GOP strategist.

Reached for comment, DeMaio spokeswoman Jennifer Jacobs downplayed the rumors, saying “there is significant discussion and speculation about Carl’s future elective opportunities. However, at this time, Carl is focusing on opportunities to promote reform throughout California and for that matter, the country.” Full story

DCCC Announces 26 Members on Frontline Incumbent Retention Program

Israel leads the DCCC. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel named 26 of his colleagues to the Frontline program, a committee program designed to protect their most vulnerable incumbents.

“We call this program Frontline for a reason – these Members are on the vanguard of protecting and expanding the middle class,” Israel said in a written statement released Tuesday morning.

“While the 2014 campaign will be dominated by a strong offense taking on the Tea Party Republican Congress, our success begins with our Members,” added Israel, a Democrat from New York. “These battle-tested men and women have proven time and again that they can win because no one better reflects the values of their districts.”

Rep. Tim Walz, D-Minn. will spearhead the program as its chairman. He’s a Frontline alumnus as recently as the 2012 cycle.

Otherwise, the list includes several freshman members and Blue Dog Democrats:

Full story

Himes Will Chair DCCC National Finance Team in 2014

Himes will serve as national finance chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. (CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut will be the new national finance chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 2014 cycle, according to two well-placed Democratic sources on Capitol Hill.

Officials announced the new position for Himes, a three-term Democrat from Connecticut, at a morning meeting for members.

The committee previously named Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz of Pennsylvania as its finance chairwoman, but in recent weeks, she has indicated she plans to run for governor in 2014.

Himes has major fundraising bona fides. Not only does he serve on the House Financial Services Committee, he’s also a former employee of Goldman Sachs. His base in the 4th District is Greenwich, Conn., one of the wealthiest communities in the country.

Himes has been an active with the DCCC in recent cycles. In 2012, he served as chairman of the committee’s Frontline program for incumbent retention.

The DCCC did not immediately return a request for comment.

Here is a rundown of the previously named DCCC 2014 leadership team.

NRCC Announces Regional Chairmen; DCCC Names Frankel, Pingree to ‘Women LEAD’ Effort

The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Tuesday its new regional chairmen for the 2014 cycle. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee named Reps. Chellie Pingree of Maine and Lois Frankel of Florida as leaders of the committee’s “Women LEAD” campaign, aimed at recruiting and supporting female candidates.

The NRCC regional chairmen are:

• Alabama Rep. Martha Roby, who will serve as the Southern regional chairwoman
• Montana Rep. Steve Daines, who will serve as the central west regional chairman
• Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, who will serve as the Midwest regional chairman
• California Rep. Devin Nunes, who will serve as the western regional chairman
• New York Rep. Tom Reed, who will serve as the northeast regional chairman Full story